Crossroads

August 9, 2007 at 3:03 PM

I had a bit of a chat with a friend today, who asked me "Do you know what you want to do with your life?" and after a bit of a think, I'm not sure that I do.

I really love Orchestral music, and I love playing in orchestras. I couldn't think of anything better than to spend the rest of my life playing in an Orchestra somewhere. However, at the moment, I don't have the commitment to get to the standard.

She challenged me to choose a day, and decide from that moment to practice 6 hours a day for 6 months, then make the decision then whether I still want to go for an orchestral position or pursue something else.

It seems like an ok offer. Work hard for 6 months, then re-evaluate, with enough time left in my degree to focus on something else if I decide that it's not worth it. And if I get through it, then decide that I don't want to do it, I've then done 6 months of intense practice, and will surely be the better for it.

However, in order to commit the time to do 6 hours a day, I'm going to have to give up certain things, including one income source, and also a life (As you can imagine, doing 6 hours of practice a day, working, as well as uni classes and uni study doesn't leave much time for a life).

It will also mean that other things will take a lower priority - the internet being the first off the ranks. I'll have to spend much less time on the computer (and hence blogging and other procrastination activities such as Myspace and Facebook). Also my composition (which has always kinda been on the backburner) probably won't get a look in for the 6 months.

One problem that I would need to face is the fact that I don't really know how to practice for 6 hours a day. I'm sure that I can learn how, and know of a few places where I'll start off, but practicing for 6 hours seems like a lot (and that's because it is), and I don't want to give such a large commitment, with out knowing that I'm actually going to be working to the best of my ability in the time practicing.

Anyway, This is a large commitment for me, so I'd love to hear some comments from people - either in the comments here, or if you'd like to respond privately, you can e-mail me at a temporary account that I've set up - choices@benclapton.id.au.

Thanks

From Richard Hellinger
Posted on August 9, 2007 at 4:23 PM

That does seem like it would be a difficult commitment. I wouldn't know how to practice for 6 hours a day either, but after it was all done I am sure you would have expanded your repetoire immensely.

From Tommy Atkinson
Posted on August 9, 2007 at 4:43 PM

i did a similar "experiment" the summer after my junior year of college (i was a performance major) because i didn't think i was up to par to compete to enter any kind of master's program. so, from early may through late august, i practiced (i'm not exaggerating) 8 hours a day, every day. it really improved my technique (i went from being in the back-ish of the first violins in orchestra to being assistant CM) and i learned my repertoire really well, so i was able to get into a really good grad school. i also won an orchestra job in september of that year. so, i really encourage your journey; i'm sure it will be wildly successful!

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on August 9, 2007 at 5:00 PM

When somebody named Clapton says "Crossroads" it just does something to me ;)

From Karen Allendoerfer
Posted on August 9, 2007 at 5:01 PM

What does your teacher/professor say about the plan? Could s/he help you with making the most of 6 hours a day?

It's funny, I agree that 6 hours a day sounds like a lot, and I've never personally managed 6 hours a day in my life, especially not while I was in school.

But now that I really don't have the time due to day job and family responsibilities and have to make the most of 0.5 -1, I can actually sort of imagine filling 6. If you split it up and do 2 in the morning right when you get up and 2 in the evening before going to bed, then you've only got 2 more hours to find during the day. Get a stand for your violin so you don't have to keep putting it in and out of the case several times a day.

Depending on when your energy levels are high and low, you could also do something like devoting the morning session to scales, etudes, and Urstudien, the afternoon to orchestral music and excerpts, and the evening to concertos and other repertoire.

Map out your personal energy and activity levels on an hourly basis for a few days and see where things would fit best.

From Charlie Caldwell
Posted on August 9, 2007 at 5:11 PM

Practicing six hours a day is a lot. I don't think I could ever do that unless I was forced to. It is incredibly difficult to maintain focus over a long period of time. Just remember that even Heifetz observed the Sabbath.

From Megan Chapelas
Posted on August 9, 2007 at 6:09 PM

Ben,

How much do you practice now? Six hours is a lot, and you'll certainly see a difference with five. Consistently, not three hours one day and six the next, etc. (That leaves you an hour for Facebook/Myspace/blogging too - addictive, I know!) I actually think it's a really good idea, to be honest. Give it your all - one real shot - and then you'll know where you stand. Making a plan is essential, though. Decide what you need/want to improve most, choose how you're going to spend your time, set goals and deadlines, and see how it goes. It all comes down to what you say - do you want it enough to try? And (what could be holding you back - this is certainly always in my mind) what will happen if you give everything and it's not enough? Think about it afterwards - there will be time.

From Albert Justice
Posted on August 9, 2007 at 6:14 PM

What Karen and others said.

But also, get some advice on how to proceed more specifically. And consider:

During the times when the greats were getting competency, they weren't scheduled to 25 hours a day every day. So go slowly and don't over do it. I have to switch contexts carefully going between physical work and practice time; and, when I don't I cause myself overuse problems.

And consider a bell-curve of time extending it to 8 months, 3, then 4, then 5, then 6, then focused 5, then focused 4, then focused 3 or something like that. Refining new experienced practice festivals creates a challenge of it's own if you are not use to that intensity.

Finally, ask around a little here and other places--someone will jump in who can advise you, though Karen gave you some good hints to start with. Be specific but flexible would be my input in terms of what to put where in the program.

From Megan Chapelas
Posted on August 9, 2007 at 7:47 PM

p.s. Ben, message me if you want to talk more concretely about a way of organising your longer practice sessions.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on August 10, 2007 at 4:40 AM

I like Karen's suggestion about tailoring your practice schedule to your own body/mind schedule. I also agree that it's important to discuss this with your teacher. Also, keep in mind that you need to practice more and to practice smarter. Your teacher's advice on this is very important.

From kimberlee dray
Posted on August 10, 2007 at 4:31 PM

One way to practice six hours a day:

Get up at 5:00 a.m and practice for two hours (twenty minute bursts with 3-5 minute breaks). Do etudes and scales, other warm ups, including stretching and meditation.

Leave the violin out all day on the bed. Practice whenever you have a minute. Isolate tough spots in your music and check them off the list as you do them. Use odd moments. If the violin is out, you'll tend to do that. That's why we leave the computer on, the phone handy (so we can use them at odd moments). I get between three and four hours a day this way.

Anything left over you didn't accomplish during the day, finish at night.

Beware of injury. Injury=too much too soon. Your friend's plan is actually a very good recipe for injury, and I wouldn't reccommend plunging in for six hours before working up to it. Slow and steady gains--playing the violin is an athletic activity.

I normally don't practice six hours unless I have an inordinately large amount of music I'm trying to learn all at once. You just can't accomplish any more in one day after your muscles and focus is fried.

Good luck! If this is really what you want, you can do it. If you put yourself to the test, I think you'll come out discovering how much this instrument really means to you. That's the journey.

But, Ben, imho, the reward at the end is not enough to keep you going. You have to feel rewarded merely in the struggle itself. Giving that much time and energy with the goal being to get into an orchestra . . . well, you might end up unhappy even if you obtain the goal, because maybe you'll find you were interested in the pursuit rather than the music. So, I think there's something else here, and the deeper question is how much do you need to play the violin in order to have a full life, and how much are you willing to sacrifice?

From kimberlee dray
Posted on August 10, 2007 at 10:09 PM

Rats, I can't edit that comment anymore. I just read it over again and I wish I hadn't said anything. I'm sure you'll make the right decision. Don't listen to me, Ben. Listen to yourself. I wish there was something more helpful I could offer, but you have my support.

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Crossroads

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