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I've recently been frustrated by a strange phenomenon that I already noticed over the years, but which has pretty much come into full effect now that I am playing a lot every day - I seem to play "better" during the evening/at night than during the day. I don't know why that is.
It seems unrelated to the time actually spent practicing every day too, and to the time when I start - I can start at 10 in the morning and play till 3 in the afternoon or do the same thing a few hours later - but what happens only! at around 10 or 11 is that my hands feel a lot more warmed up and I play actually better, which I can quantify with things like picado speed, rasgueados feel a lot smoother, etc.
It's very frustrating for me because...well, 11 is the time I start to feel very tired and need to head to bed. So I can't actually really make use of that time where I seem to play better. Has anyone ever experienced something similar? It doesn't make any sense to me.
RE: Playing better at night than dur... (in reply to Munin)
quote:
It's very frustrating for me because...well, 11 is the time I start to feel very tired and need to head to bed. So I can't actually really make use of that time where I seem to play better. Has anyone ever experienced something similar? It doesn't make any sense to me.
Yip, I can relate to that....for me it has to do with the amount of traffic on the highway I am living near. Perhaps you are a highly sensitive person too...picking up the frequencies people live on during the day. (Ok, may sound a little esotheric, but I experience such things)
The downside probably is when playing at night are the people who like the sleep and get back to work at 06:00 again.
Do you have people around you, who can demand something of you during the early evening. If you can detach from that, get in the flamenco mood, without being bothered, it might work out.
RE: Playing better at night than dur... (in reply to Munin)
well in my situation my technique doesn't get better at night ( it stays the same ) but I just like to play after midnight dunno , usually when I compose somthing it's after midnight (surely if my mate didn't shout at me to stop playing lol)
RE: Playing better at night than dur... (in reply to Munin)
quote:
at around 10 or 11 is that my hands feel a lot more warmed up and I play actually better,
and
quote:
well, 11 is the time I start to feel very tired and need to head to bed
don't You think there's a relation between those two? May Your feeling very tired, puts you in a state of mind where you don't concentrate closely, just letting things go??
Let me tell You a short story about me learning tresillos. As I first figured it out it went very well for me. very relaxed. But I wanted it to be a little more crisp and separated staccato or whatever. I started to really experiment with every little tiny movement in my hand slowly fast etc and got to the point when it fell apart totally. I was crazy about that so much and angry for myself. So I fed up completely and gave up - I went to learn the iai tresillos much better. After a time it just came back as soon as I didn' payed attention to it. Now it feels more or less stable and sounds better. It's so strange....
My teacher told me a story of a guy who was a great guitarist winning competitions etc till he wanted to change with something (refine) in his left hand position and got to the point of totally stucked in something way under he's previous level. So sometimes practicing mechanical skills, runs etc while watching the TV or whatever could be a conscious decision.
Anybody had similar experiences? - sorry if I hijack the thread, but its maybe in relation with that
Posts: 1957
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton
RE: Playing better at night than dur... (in reply to Munin)
i don't have the english vocabulary to use the correct words in this subject, but naturally after a night's sleep your body is more rigid and tends to loosen up the longer you're awaken...so playing should become easier...that's exactly why Ravi Shankar suggests to his students that they practice technique during the mornings!
Posts: 15730
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Playing better at night than dur... (in reply to Munin)
Inspiration is the thing. The night tends to be a more inspiring time. I always play better at night. IN spain, we have to do guitar class with Gerardo at 10 am, usually not perfectly sober. it is tuff, but after class I am usually quite inspired after seeing him play.
The other day I saw that PDL concert in the morning after downloading it, and was inspired all afternoon to play.
RE: Playing better at night than dur... (in reply to Munin)
Interesting topic, and impressions that ressemble mine too.
As I find myself prefering the night ever since / asked myself how come, I concluded that it might have to do with the silence. Away from days hustle and bustle, the mind seems much more in contemplative mood, which again supports creativity as well well as perception / feedback while praticing. In addition to that, with the traffic outside ceasing and better acoustics ( yet even here on country side ) it feels to me as if one could be perceiving sound details much better / have far better idea of how you are touching the strings. Things seem like under an acoustic and sensible magnifying glass.
quote:
naturally after a night's sleep your body is more rigid and tends to loosen up the longer you're awaken..
Which is why it is practically of little sense to make contractive muscular exercises ( other than slight yoga ) early in the morning, straining the body against natural condition of blood circulation and joints and at lessend muscular efficiency. Considering common day schedule, 5:00 pm is the optimal time for physical exercises during the day.
quote:
So sometimes practicing mechanical skills, runs etc while watching the TV or whatever could be a conscious decision.
Only recomendable where technique has been perfected and is being of established routine in the same time already.
Otherwise unaware practicing like before TV will be contra productive as it enhances and fixes unconscious and unergonomic execution. One can be setting himself back considerably that way without even realizing.
In the end: The more controlled / informed and aware you exercise the more efficient it will be. Which, as I think, is why the silence of the night seems so suitable.
Only after technique has been internalized with perfect ergonomy is there constructive outcome and even progress with playing uncounsciously ( focussing then on the musical aspect alone ).
When still learning, the more consciously the better.
RE: Playing better at night than dur... (in reply to xirdneH_imiJ)
quote:
ORIGINAL: xirdneH_imiJ
i don't have the english vocabulary to use the correct words in this subject, but naturally after a night's sleep your body is more rigid and tends to loosen up the longer you're awaken...so playing should become easier...that's exactly why Ravi Shankar suggests to his students that they practice technique during the mornings!
Interesting...that could be it. For me it's really not so much a mental improvement but a very tangible, physical feeling of improvement, my hands suddenly feel very "warm" and much more secure, I do a lot less mistakes, like I was performing at 110%. If I could induce this state whenever I wanted to, I would make amazing improvements.
RE: Playing better at night than dur... (in reply to Munin)
Same issue for me...planning to soundproof my apartment to combat that. it'll make me poor, but if I can beat out rumbas by 4am without the guy next door noticing, I'll consider it money well spent.
RE: Playing better at night than dur... (in reply to Munin)
To xirdneH_imiJ :
quote:
naturally after a night's sleep your body is more rigid and tends to loosen up the longer you're awaken...so playing should become easier...that's exactly why Ravi Shankar suggests to his students that they practice technique during the mornings!
Well, I don't know how it works, but I also practise in the morning, usually between 4 nad 6 (having two kids, it's the only free time for me). And it gives me much more than when I was practising during the day or evening. I'm more concentrated on what I do. It is more difficult to move fingers the right way, but after I finish, I can feel every muscle in my hands. They are tired, but relaxed.
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it'll make me poor, but if I can beat out rumbas by 4am without the guy next door noticing, I'll consider it money well spent.
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