Comments on: practicing, why bother? http://www.nobleviola.com/2007/02/20/216/ Life on the working end of the viola. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:01:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Charles Noble http://www.nobleviola.com/2007/02/20/216/comment-page-1/#comment-1839 Charles Noble Mon, 26 Feb 2007 22:52:35 +0000 http://www.nobleviola.com/wordpress/2007/02/20/216/#comment-1839 I had just this sort of moment at today's rehearsal, which include the Britten Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra. It's got a nasty fugue at the end which has some really awkward high position stuff for the violas towards the end. I've worked it quite a bit in the past (it's been a staple on the NSO and Philly auditions lists the past few go 'rounds) and I was wondering how it would work out (I was sick and missed the first rehearsal and had not practiced the tricky bits in advance). Fortunately, the long-term memory kicked in and it went fine, all without too much active brain activity (as a violist, I like to keep brain activity to a minimum). I had just this sort of moment at today’s rehearsal, which include the Britten Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. It’s got a nasty fugue at the end which has some really awkward high position stuff for the violas towards the end. I’ve worked it quite a bit in the past (it’s been a staple on the NSO and Philly auditions lists the past few go ’rounds) and I was wondering how it would work out (I was sick and missed the first rehearsal and had not practiced the tricky bits in advance). Fortunately, the long-term memory kicked in and it went fine, all without too much active brain activity (as a violist, I like to keep brain activity to a minimum).

]]> By: kirsty http://www.nobleviola.com/2007/02/20/216/comment-page-1/#comment-1833 kirsty Mon, 26 Feb 2007 20:41:00 +0000 http://www.nobleviola.com/wordpress/2007/02/20/216/#comment-1833 Thank you so much for this post. I am a bass player playing with the louisiana phil on New Orleans for the year and you have made me feel normal. I realize it sounds crazy but I've always just assumed it was my own inability that let me down in those vortex moments or that I should have practiced more (which I could always do more of...). I have a lot of notes to learn or refamiliarize myself with over the next couple of weeks and your post has undoubtedly inspired me to practice with more motivation and to perhaps give myself a break in the knowledge that it won't just be me feeling like a deer stuck in headlights when that "bit" comes along. And also I will hopefully remember to take comfort in the fact that my fingers know more than my misfiring, panicking brain does at that vortex point. I will make a point of remembering that Nike slogan - "Just Do It". Thank you! Kirsty Thank you so much for this post. I am a bass player playing with the louisiana phil on New Orleans for the year and you have made me feel normal. I realize it sounds crazy but I’ve always just assumed it was my own inability that let me down in those vortex moments or that I should have practiced more (which I could always do more of…).
I have a lot of notes to learn or refamiliarize myself with over the next couple of weeks and your post has undoubtedly inspired me to practice with more motivation and to perhaps give myself a break in the knowledge that it won’t just be me feeling like a deer stuck in headlights when that “bit” comes along. And also I will hopefully remember to take comfort in the fact that my fingers know more than my misfiring, panicking brain does at that vortex point. I will make a point of remembering that Nike slogan – “Just Do It”.
Thank you!
Kirsty

]]> By: erin http://www.nobleviola.com/2007/02/20/216/comment-page-1/#comment-1045 erin Wed, 21 Feb 2007 21:10:57 +0000 http://www.nobleviola.com/wordpress/2007/02/20/216/#comment-1045 Hilarious, as I was reading this my husband was drilling this passage he's been fighting with all week in the other room. I like the feeling of when you've practised something so much, even when you're terrified and it seems impossible your fingers somehow manage it without the rest of you - it feels like falling down stairs and landing on my feet. Hilarious, as I was reading this my husband was drilling this passage he’s been fighting with all week in the other room.

I like the feeling of when you’ve practised something so much, even when you’re terrified and it seems impossible your fingers somehow manage it without the rest of you – it feels like falling down stairs and landing on my feet.

]]>