Moments of Randomness are Meant to be Caught When Applicable

February 28, 2008 at 5:46 AM

I practice 6 hours a day, every day. How? Well, let me break it down for you:

Monday: 5:30pm-8:30pm—Physical Practice/ 9pm-12am—Straining my eyes in front of the computer watching youtube videos of great violinist, and writing, chatting on violinist.com.
Tuesday: 3:30pm-7:30pm—Physical Practice. 8:00pm-12am—squinching as I glare into the screen of the computer asking myself, “How does Anne-Sophie get that soft sound in some places?”
Wednesday: Same schedule as Monday, basically.

I think you get the point, so I’ll refrain from listing anymore. Most of my practice time is spent thinking and dreaming about the violin, and watching and listening to others play it. I must say the latter component of mental, emotional, and spiritual practice has improved me more in the last two months than the previous five years of physical practice.
Why? The brain is a great tool to any endeavor, so one must therefore stimulate it—by feeding it. One cannot write unless they read books. The same goes for music. Take in what other performers do then you can apply what you see to your own playing because by then what you saw the performer doing is cemented in your brain. Many would argue that you should try to develop your own style and not listen or copy other violinists, but I say, “Poppypoopysuitersandzigeunerweisensocks!!!” First of all, I highly doubt that I’ll be able to play like the greats just by watching them unless I am highly talented of course. One can only cross their fingers and hope. Secondly, what I am usually watching for when I look at performers is, how fast are they pulling their bow? What effect does that have on their sound? How curved is their pinky? Does it help or inhibit their trills/vibrato? What sounding point do the greats play on? Does it change?
Anyways, I have to say that I am so proud of one thing in particular. I CAN watch other performers now and NOT become so filled with jealousy, envy, and sadness about my own capabilities that I am filled with dread to pick up my own violin and hear the annoying sound of it. So, I guess my self-esteem in the violin area is going up. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Note to the reader: Some will say that I do not have esteem issues and that in fact I am quite arrogant, but who are you going to believe? Me (truthness itself) or them (the very embodiment of lies)?

From Terez Mertes
Posted on February 28, 2008 at 2:48 PM

Well put, and I must agree that the "invisible practicing" that goes on when not physically practicing is a big component of learning a craft. (I'll second the "writers must read books" comment too!)

This entry has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.

Moments of Randomness are Meant to be Caught When Applicable

Subscribe

Laurie's Books