Variables
After reading Guanaco's "Lousy lesson " post today, I started to think about all the variables that are present when we sit down to play the cello. Considering all the possible combinations and permutations of endpin length, chair height, cello angle, music stand height, bow hair tension, tuning, room acoustics, lighting, and atmospheric conditions such as temperature and humidity, is it any wonder that we encounter difficulties in our playing and performing? It's doubtful that we ever play under the same exact conditions twice.
Labels: cello playing
posted by cellodonna @ 12:43 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
And those are just the external factors. Think of all the physical and mental factors that come into play. In my case there was some unresolved muscle tension, some "road weariness" from the long drive, and certainly a good bit of mental stress (that got worse as my performance deteriorated).
Oh yes, there's cascading failures when one's confidence ebbs. There are days when one is really "ON" and then there are all those other days. My one teacher noted that I could have easily fooled her into thinking that I had practiced if I had only played confidently. My husband (who is a violinist) also says that one's emotional state has a lot to do with the playing. Fear is the mind killer (quote from DUNE, I think.)We need to relax and enjoy our music rather than trying so hard...easier said than done.
Hi there...thanks for checking out my blog!
I've been thinking about this post a lot since I read a few weeks ago, Donna. It's a great observation, and one that I hadn't considered every before. I don't think we do anything exactly the same, twice.
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