August 9, 2005 at 2:52 PM

Yeah, so, how the heck do people "at my level of playing" find four hours a day to practice?

How the heck am I even at that level, when I barely spend an hour every couple of days at practicing?

Husbands require so much attention. Really. Not that I don't love him, but can't he be more like my cat?

And this whole employment deal. I like my job. Really. But, nine hours per day?

Social life -- friends actually expect attention, don't they? Yeah, I think they do.

And orchestra -- I'm really rather peeved, because the orchestra concert is on the same weekend as my yearly expedition into the realm of Vermont gaming geeks. It's my favorite ever convention to go to, and we've been there every year since it started, and two more of my friends were going to go! But, the convention changed weekends midstream, so the concert date ended up being set when we thought the convention was the week before. I called the manager, but haven't heard back yet. I don't expect it'll change. And in all fairness, it shouldn't have to.

That doesn't change the fact that I'm peeved about it.

I read an article about "multipotentiality" the other day, and I think I have that particular disease -- the symptoms include not being able to make up one's mind about what to do with oneself. I do too much, and I like doing too much.

My house hasn't been vacuumed in ages.

From Irene Chow
Posted on August 10, 2005 at 12:24 AM

Dear Patty,
Boy, did you hit the nail on the head!
Great blog entry.
Irene

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on August 10, 2005 at 5:17 AM

I often wish I didn't have to work for a living so I could do important things, mainly playing my violin a whole lot more than I do.

From Emily Grossman
Posted on August 10, 2005 at 9:33 AM

Ha, I'm gonna copy that and use it for my blog entry.

From Patty Rutins
Posted on August 10, 2005 at 3:52 PM

Certainly good to know that I'm not alone in my time confusion! Maybe we should start a support group-- in our spare time... ;)

From Sander Marcus
Posted on August 10, 2005 at 6:03 PM

Hi, Patty:

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 not. But you have to do the minimum. You are then "off the hook" for the day.
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.
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 better than not playing at all.
5. It will help your motivation and your management of time.

Hope that helps.

Cordially, Sandy Marcus
sanderm1@aol.com

From Patty Rutins
Posted on August 10, 2005 at 8:42 PM

When I was a kid, I hated to practice. Always liked to play, but I hated "practice".

Now, I love it. Practicing is something I do because I want to, not because I have to. The need is my own, not something someone else imposes upon me.

Your advice is excellent, Sandy. I often tell people that the way to practice is a little at a time --leave the case open in the room you're constantly in, and just pick it up whenever you walk by.

Unfortunately, I don't have a room like that. I can't leave the case open anymore, because my cats aren't as polite as my old one was. The main room doesn't have enough space to really use for practicing, and my music room (aka the guest room) is upstairs out of the way.

When I get home (about 5:30pm), my husband emerges from his computer cavern and wants to see me. I want to see him. We have dinner, hang out with each other. I get stuck. I don't get upstairs.

Then it's 10pm, all of a sudden. I tear myself away because I need to go to bed. Oops, I haven't been upstairs all day. Oops, I haven't practiced yet. Well, I can stay up a little longer...

Once I start practicing, it's an hour before I know what's happened.

Three minutes? On those nights when it's already 11:30, I'll try the three minute approach.

It's the three hours that I have trouble with. :)

From Sander Marcus
Posted on August 10, 2005 at 9:14 PM

Hi again, Patty: For the time being, forget the 3 hours and forget kicking yourself for not doing it. 3 minutes is something you can do on your busiest, worst day. And, as I said, it's much, much better than not practicing at all and feeling guilty about it. In addition, there's something about playing every day, even if it's for a few minutes, with full concentration that keeps your technique relative intact and makes you feel confident about accomplishing something. Indeed, do try it. It certainly helped me and others I've shared it with. In fact, I got an article on this published in "The Instrumentalist" in 1975.
Cordially, Sandy

From Sander Marcus
Posted on August 10, 2005 at 9:23 PM

One more comment. It's a psychological thing. If 3 minutes is your "chore," and you then feel like playing 3 hours, then the 3 hours is something you want to do, but you get used to the "chore" being only 3 minutes. It's the expectation and the burden of a 3 hour "chore" that's the problem.
Cordially, Sandy

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on August 12, 2005 at 5:30 AM

I have the problem that when I start practicing, I can't stop. I've tried setting an alarm, but when it goes off, I just ignore it. Sometimes I don't get out my violin because I know that I'll play it for hours.

From Patty Rutins
Posted on August 15, 2005 at 6:37 PM

Yep, that's my problem, too, Pauline. The other day I tried the "3 minutes" thing, and I ended up playing for most of an hour before I reluctantly put the violin away. Granted, it got me to play when I would have otherwise said, "No, I'll play too long and be up too late" -- but I played too long and was up too late. I enjoyed it, of course. I'll probably do it again. Now I can use "3 minutes" as an excuse! "No, honey, I just need to play for 3 minutes..."

Well, tonight I'll have enough time to lose myself well and properly, I hope. :)

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August 9, 2005 at 2:52 PM

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