August 14, 2005 at 4:53 AM

I have felt so disconnected from the violin lately. I just don't want to practice anymore. Playing the violin no longer gives me the joy it once did. Whenever I start to practice my mind starts to wonder after 30 min and then I quite practicing for 30 min and sit at the computer doing absolutely nothing. I just don't feel like playing the violin anymore. I still love the violin and classical music in general but lately it seems I'm just not motivated anymore to play my violin. I can't fiqured out if it is because I am going to college soon and I am just nervous or if it is because I no longer truely want to play the violin. I hope it's the former.

I am just feeling so down about everything right now in general. In fact, I have this way most of the year on just about everything I do. I can't seem to get really excited about something for more than a day and then it wears off. I have also begun to discover I have no real friends to speak of. Sure I have people I talk to, but it is just base stuff, I have no best friend. I have no one I can share my secrets, my passions, my desires, my deepest feelings with. I know guys generally don't do this, according to legend, but we do and we need to do it sometimes so we know we are not alone.

Two weeks from today I will be embarking on a new journey, college. It will be full of unknowns, and music. Maybe that is what I need, to be surrounded by those who are just as fanactical about playing a stringed instrument as I am. I can't comfirm this yet but it will remain to be seen.

From Carley Anderson
Posted on August 14, 2005 at 10:10 AM

I know how you feel...I think it's natural to go through low times with the violin. Trust yourself...you don't want to quit...sometimes I think our minds are just preoccupied with something else, and it's tough to concentrate.

About the friend deal: Remember...God can be your closest friend when you don't have any on earth.

Just some thoughts...

From Sander Marcus
Posted on August 14, 2005 at 1:17 PM

Hello, Andrew: That is a common problem to all of us. I responded to another blog with the following. I hope it helps. Cordially, Sandy Marcus
------
As a professional psychologist and an amateur violinist, I figured out a solution for myself when I was in graduate school years ago.
I had no time to practice, and I didn't like practicing, anyway.
So I figured out a system. The rules are:
1. You have to practice a MINIMUM every day. Every day, without exception. You can play more than the minimum or just the minimum. But you have to do the minimum. You are then "off the hook" for the day. You can keep playing, or go on to other priorities.
2. The minimum is 3 minutes. Don't laugh. After 3 minutes, do whatever you want.
3. But that 3 minutes is with FULL CONCENTRATION. You take a detail of an exercise or scale or shift or bow change or whatever. Play it slowly with full concentration and with the goal of making it PERFECT. You can do something different every day. 3 minutes. After that, do what you want.
Advantages?
1. You play EVERY DAY, because you can do 3 minutes on your worst, most crowded day.
2. You learn to concentrate every time you pick up the instrument.
3. You get a sense of accomplishment rather than frustration.
4. It's much, much better than not playing at all.
5. It will help your motivation and your management of time, because you're not faced with only 2 unsatisfactory choices (either not play at all, or grind away for hours you don't have the time and energy for).
6. Therefore, you can keep the violin as a priority.

Hope that helps.

Cordially, Sandy Marcus
sanderm1@aol.com

From Amber Bailey
Posted on August 14, 2005 at 2:03 PM

Hi, my name is Amber. I was just wanting to tell you that what you are going through is just a burn out on the stuff you've been playing. Try some new music. Try some New styles of music. Anything to keep your intrest going. I mean, if you know that you want to play violin. Then don't let anything else stop you! Oh good luck in College!

From Sheila Ganapathy
Posted on August 14, 2005 at 2:04 PM

I was faced with similar dilemmas when entering college. What I can tell you is that being around music freaks and finding someone that you can (realistically) admire and keep as a model in college definately motivates you to practice. When you see so many people and you think they're all so much better than me, it just makes you want to work harder. And fyi, I never really had any friends coming into college. The first three semesters I was okay with it b/c I just wanted to concentrate on the music but after that I started to feel lonely. I think that feeling lonely is a process that everyone goes through in college b/c you meet all these new people and no one really knows you. A friend of mine from high school felt the same way although lot later than i felt it. You eventually get over it and you realize in another ten years nobody cares about how many friends you had, what you did on saturday nights or if you were popular or not. All that really matters is that you have your family (always reliable) and that you are where you want to be. Live to please yourself, not others.

From Andrew Paa
Posted on August 14, 2005 at 11:26 PM

Thank you all so very much!!! This support system means a lot to me and I find it to e very helpful. I am going to a recital of a friend of mine from orchestra, she is very good (going to CIM), and that should make me want to practice, as does the fact that I just realized I only have 2 weeks to get ready for an audition.

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August 14, 2005 at 4:53 AM

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