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Comment |
Laura
Wichers
Moderator
Posts: 1047
(7/6/01 8:47:48 am)
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Practicing
performance focus
I'll admit it: My focus during performing is less than perfect. It
is not a nerves thing. There I am, playing Bach or whatever, and
instead of concentrating on what the next phrase is, I'm thinking
about the book I just read or the groceries I need to buy. The lack
of focus doesn't severely impair my performance, but it certainly
isn't helping and is obvious at least to my teacher.
A few
threads back, someone mentioned how Lynn Harrell was always "on."
Well, where's the switch? Any suggestions on finding it would be
appreciated!
Laura
Edited by: Laura
Wichers at: 7/6/01 8:48:30 am
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Ellen
G 
Registered User
Posts: 801
(7/6/01 9:12:03 am)
Reply
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Re: Practicing
performance focus
Well this is a surprise! I thought it was a mom/Ellie thing. It's
been a curse for me for years, whether I'm on the racquetball court,
golf course. I have had periods of intense concentration in sports
where I could watch my opponent's weight change when setting up for
a shot and react appropriately. There are other times when the ball
and my racquet just sort of found each other, and I wondered why I
was even there. Same things as you: Do I need to stop for milk on
the way home? Blah blah blah. I used to think of Mr. Myagi (sp?) in
"The Karate Kid." FOCUS! But then I would also picture John Candy in
"Splash" coming onto the racquetball court with a cooler! You can
see how my mind wanders. Summer ennui; I'm entitled.
I need
to do a lot of mental preparation early in the day in order to
perform properly for whatever I'm doing. I don't have time for the
sports anymore, but the same thing happens with cello. Clearly I am
not in the same performance category as you are, but even if it's
quartets or a lesson, if the mental preparation has been done in
advance, I surprise myself with what I'm capable of.
Don't
know how to tell you to GET to that stage, though. I've not found
any formula that consistently works. I just didn't expect someone
your age to have your head as full of stuff as someone my age. We're
busy people with a lot in our schedules, and there's always a
nagging thought that something has not been laid to rest.
If
you do find the secret, let me in on it, ok? E
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Stefan79
Registered User
Posts: 307
(7/6/01 10:10:41 am)
Reply
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Re: Practicing
performance focus
I know what you mean...I do the same thing when I'm
practicing...
When
I perform, I do it in three ways:
1. I just think about the
music.
2. I just think about other things.
3. I don't think at
all.
When I played the Saint-Saëns with orchestra I didn't
think about anything, I just played and was completely with the
music. The week after that, when I played the first Saint-Saëns
sonata in a recital, I just couldn't stop thinking about what I had
to do the day after that.
I'm not sure how to practice
performance focus though...maybe you should make yourself be focused
all the time, until it's natural. Mr. Myagi from "Karate Kid" might
not be a very bad idea...
/
Stefan
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MsCheryl
Registered
User
Posts: 247
(7/6/01 10:39:33
am)
Reply
|
The great
quandary
This is one of the "questions of the ages". Many have written books
on it (Zen and the Art of...., the Inner Game of......). I have been
there a few times and it's perfect - but more often I am thinking of
how I am going to get Child A to Place B while Child B has to be at
Place C all while I decide what to have for dinner. I amaze myself
with my multitasking capabilities, when all I really want is to be
able to hone in on what the music needs!
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Andrea
Registered User
Posts: 31
(7/8/01 12:01:30 am)
Reply
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The innner
game
I saw someone mentioned the Inner Game of Music. I just picked it
up the othe day for my sister and I was reading it and thinking I
need to get myself a copy. It seems like a very sound method to me
and the book teaches it in a very direct simple manner. There are
clear excersises to follow and logical explanations for everything.
It's a thourough book and I think it's worth at least a peek at for
someone with concentration problems.
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BettyLou
Registered User
Posts: 64
(7/9/01 3:38:51 pm)
Reply
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What can you do
for others?
Honey, you just have to accept that you're not going to be "on" all
the time. The way I create more focus is to really zero in on
listening. If I have practiced my part enough, and have it "under"
my fingers, then I can just let go and see how deeply I can
integrate my contribution, by listening to what everyone else is
doing, section, quartet, trio, whatever. Most people fall into the
trap of "I don't sound right; my bow needs more rosin; my bridge
needs to be moved; where's that buzz coming from?; my intonation is
iffy" which leads to:
"I need to change the cat litter when
these people leave; I need to buy more lip gloss; I forgot to have a
baby" etc.. . . In other words, less about myself, more about what
the other musicians are trying to accomplish. As soon as you can
focus on the others, it frees you up and you haven't time to think
about your grocery list, save that for sex!
with all my
boundary-free love, as usual,
BettyLou
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Dick500
Registered User
Posts: 100
(7/10/01 10:27:37 am)
Reply
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Re: Focus
There are three time frames in my head--the past, the present, and
the future. Actually, the past and future are both functions of the
present seeing as that is actually where I live all of the
time.
There are two kinds of thinking I am capable
of--reactive and preparatory. Reactive thinking is basically
dwelling on the past--"Oops, what was that that I just did", etc.
Preparatory thinking is planning for the future--"I am going to do
this now", etc.
Obviously, I have to react to things like
what the other people on stage are doing. But then, in order to make
those observations productive rather than just occupying space my
brain, I turn the reactive thoughts into preparatory thoughts on the
order of "I am going to this about that, now" etc.
A lot of
the stuff I can do behind my cello is on autopilot. However, I never
allow myself to stray from the most important task I set for
myself--namely constantly doing preparatory thinking on both
technical and musical issues. If nothing particuarly taxing for my
preparatory thought process is coming up, I think aboutsomething
that I'm going to do anyway. All the time. No straying from it. No
how.
That's how I personally stay in focus. Being in the
zone--whether it be the end zone, the ozone, or the calzone-- is
easy when I continuously think about what I am going to do next. As
a matter of fact, no matter how much I've practiced, a good part of
my preparation is actually practicing "what to think about
next."
Dick
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