Can't believe the majority likes the morning!  My playing suffers from morning "stiffness"   and I play much better at night or at least evening. But my teacher likes to teach at the morning....  : (

Statistics have showned that the best athletic performances are very often in the evening.  So why not violin?   In an article I read, they said that in the 70s, the Japanese gymnasts were terrific but in the evening or afternoon.  Everytime they compeeted at that time, they won over the Russians and everytime it was in the morning, the Russians won...  Is this funny! 

Anyway, everyone has his\her time am this is the way it works! : )

Anne-Marie

My lessons are always in the evening, but once in a while on a weekend I've had one in the morning, and I much prefer that time. I play better in the morning---my mind is clear and I don't have any collected distractions from the day.

I'd say as far as teaching goes, its about a tie between morning and mid-day. By late afternoon I'm usually getting kind of droopy and hungry, so I don't do as well. I'd say the biggest factor is whether or not I have breaks though. Because I teach at a music store, my schedule can be somewhat limited. Last week I had to teach 8 lessons in a row — exhausting!

I also tend to have my own lessons around late morning/midday, which I like. Enough time so I can warm up, but not so much that I'm tired.

My day begins at 3:20 am.  When I play or practice that's the time I'm on my game.  Afternoon (12:30 pm) I'm wiped out!  After a nap I'm at my game at 6:00 pm.  But Not like the early am.

I had an 8:00 am lesson time in college, because the students had to work around Mr. K's symphony schedule.  I didn't mind a bit because in those days I started practicing at 6:00 am.  I'm not sure how Mr. K felt about 8:00 am, but he was always there, with a HUGE pot of coffee!

Everybody seems to have their own preferences...

Also, my students have been much more chipper since school was let out, but who can blame them!  No more tests, quizzes, fire drills, standing in line, and whatever else they do all day in school these days. 

For me the best time (afternoon) reflects my personality. I'm a night owl and really don't get going till about 11am! Even though I may get up about 7am I still don't really feel I'm completely with it until then.  I have taught as early as 10am but it's not my best time.  I also prefer practising in the afternoon to practising in the morning.

I'm right there with you Gail. 11am really does feel that break in point of the day, even if you wake up really early.

I used to have lessons in the afternoon and that was great for me. By then, my breakfast and whatever snack I've had since will have kicked in and it's usually when I feel I can really take in things and learn a lot. My concentration and playing ability feels very focused at that time also.

I had morning lessons at 9am for the last half of the school year and that pretty much killed me and my rate of progress. Also, I was usually up doing theory homework since theory class was right after my lessons. It just wasn't a good mix. I'm pretty sure I was running off of pure life energy in order to get through those mornings. (I don't drink coffee. )

Evening lessons would be great.  : )

 I usually have after noon lessons.  Consistance works bes for me.  I just get used to any time frame for lessons. 

   As for practice:  Mornings. I used to have to light a cnadle, comb my hair, wear something nice, tuck away the cell phone, and banish the dogs to the other end of the house. As an adult beginer I was trying all the "tricks" I could think of to get to that elusive violin "zone."

   Now I practice anytime i can even if it is late at night. (I just slip on the 'mute' over the bridge and play for hours after 10:00 P.M. I still like to practice at 9:00 A.M.. or earlier in a room in the house with mostly windows facing east. i think it is the morning light that gets me going. Also i don't need the candles and all that. I replace that with other things for a practice routine. In the early stages I knew very little so I had to have the ritual--the routine to get started.

Meditation? yoga? Do any of you have "rituals" established to get you in the "violin practice zone?"

I always feel my best in the morning - even while in college, my best practice was done in the mornings. However, I don't usually like morning lessons because I often haven't had enough time to warm up (or cram!). I prefer late-morning and early afternoon lessons.

And I've found that I can teach my best lessons in the morning - that's usually when my students are freshest!

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I don't "do" mornings!   I'm always raring to go at 2am in the middle of the night or even later, just as long as I can get at least 6 hours sleep afterwards.  My best time for lessons is definitely in the late afternoon/evening and my best time for practice is sort of late afternoon onwards til REALLY late.  It takes so much effort to concentrate properly in the mornings and I've always been that way since as young as I can remember.  My mom would wake me for school and make sure I actually physically got out of bed, then leave me to get dressed, but often 15 minutes later she'd wonder where I was and look in my room to see me fast asleep under the covers again - awww, cute!   When I was at university the 9am lectures were a killer for me, always wanted to curl up in the corner and fall asleep... especially in Music Analysis...

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