progress!

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progress!

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Stu

Posts: 2553
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

progress!

I just wanted to say...I absolutely love making definite prgress!!!

I'm talking technically.

I often see threads on here from people saying, I'm frustrated or bored and need a break etc...and even remember posting on one of those threads that.. "a period like this is usually followed by a noticable increase in ability .....infact thats why they happen!" and although I wrote this and was/am aware of this phenomenom I still don'trealise it when its happening. I automatically think "oh I'm rubbish at the guitar, I'm not improving, I feel uninspired etc" and its never until a few days later that I notice the sudden jump in ability and everything seems ok again. infact better

Although this has happened many many times since I started playing I still get caught out by it and get downhearted.

It's just happened.... I played a lot last week. (and was feeling a bit down on my ability) For dance class and did focused practice on falsetas and tech excercises and when I played on Sunday I felt like the man!!

my picado is faster and stronger, my tremolo is clean and crisp even on other strings than (e) and my general playing of certain falsetas that were troubling me only five or so days ago has massively improved.

I guess the point of this post is to share my pleasure at making progress but also to let folk know that progress is usually preceded by a period in the doldrums, where things dont seem to be moving forward...so dont get frustrated!...know theres some good stuff coming round the corner.

Im no pro and am not really that good a player but these little moments of development/progress are invaluable to keep you inspired and hungry for more.

Anyone share similar experiences or am I an oddball???

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 27 2010 7:24:11

flybynight

Posts: 121
Joined: Aug. 14 2009

RE: progress! (in reply to Stu)

My experience is a bit different, but taking time off is so important.

I had a forced 5 months off, from neck/shoulder problems. I spent the time devouring as much flamenco as possible, trying to do palmas over tracks, trying to internalise the 'groove' and aire side of things, and listening to differences in technique between different guitars and guitarists.

I did tons of 'practicing in my mind', imagining how my hands should move to play like player x.

And now 3 weeks into playing again (after much chiropractor and alexander technique stuff), I'm playing better than before.

I can't put it down to improvements in technique, so I can only guess that the flamenco slowly soaked its way into my brain and then into my hands, and all that mental practicing worked out.

It's really great, and life affirming, because 3 months ago, I wasn't sure if I could play at all again, and now I can play better then ever. And because I can play better, I'm enjoying it even more than ever.

I'm almost looking forward to getting ill again from overplaying.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 27 2010 8:07:57

Stu

Posts: 2553
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: progress! (in reply to flybynight)

thats great stuff! glad youre fit to play again??

...hmmm..??? so.... what your saying is..... I should puposefully injure myself....consider it done!

quote:

I did tons of 'practicing in my mind', imagining how my hands should move to play like player x

I like this! remember learning about this in GCSE PE at school!

just found this....guess this takes us off topic a bit or does it??
http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/v/visualization_training.html

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 27 2010 8:23:01

Elie

Posts: 1837
Joined: Apr. 10 2010

RE: progress! (in reply to Stu)

congratulation on ur progress my friend ... hope u get better and better .

quote:

"oh I'm rubbish at the guitar, I'm not improving, I feel uninspired etc"

I'm glad that I never felt like that ..

well guess what you're not the only one who is in progress .. me too hahah :)

My experience is a bit different as well , mine is funny actually I got some ego problems ,I was like "I can play anything , give me any piece and I will play it"
"no one can beat me" when it comes to technique or arpeggio exercises I found it embarrassing for me to play them or practice them because I'm at a higher level, also to make it worst in the music school which I studied I was the best player ( higher marks on everything, harmony rhythm history etc / got 99/100 in the guitar test )
and I couldn't fine anyone who can be better than me , at the age of 18 I started to teach guitar (I will be 20 on June) and that made me so egoist ..

after I joined this forum I found wonderful players here and they broke my ego apart (I needed that)

so I got back to practice exercises .. Picado - mainly , arpeggio and tremelo also alzapua ... since I joined this foro im wakin up at 6 am to play just techniques for an hour before I go to my university ..

and man everything changed I'm a new player now .. better in everything
stronger and clearer sound
so thank you foro and I'm so happy because I joined it .

good luck my friend .

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 27 2010 8:31:48

flybynight

Posts: 121
Joined: Aug. 14 2009

RE: progress! (in reply to Stu)

Yep - I must add that this foro is always the 'starting point' I come to each day to get some inspiration, find a new player, get a different point of view, consult the Flamencopedia Klimanica etc. Everything starts here.

We should definitely do a whole thread on visualisation and the psychological games you can play with yourself, the (mostly destructive) role of ego, how to fight a 'rising ego' in the moment when your blood pressure goes up etc. "Between simulus and response, there is the freedom to choose", and all that good stuff.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 27 2010 8:53:53

Arash

Posts: 4495
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

RE: progress! (in reply to Stu)

Hey Stu, glad to hear that.

My experience recently is: whenever i expect to get better, i don't.
And whenever i don't expect anything at all, i do. lol
Weird , like Life, i guess.

Anyway, nice to hear about your progress and those positive moments.

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 27 2010 10:16:39

Elie

Posts: 1837
Joined: Apr. 10 2010

RE: progress! (in reply to Stu)

quote:

We should definitely do a whole thread on visualisation and the psychological games you can play with yourself, the (mostly destructive) role of ego, how to fight a 'rising ego' in the moment when your blood pressure goes up etc. "Between simulus and response, there is the freedom to choose", and all that good stuff.

brilliant Idea

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 27 2010 10:55:54