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Topic: Practice without practicing ? |
Dwayne Martineau
From:
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Posted 30 Mar 2005 11:43 am |
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A few weeks ago on CBC radio, the science program (Quirks & Quarks) had a special on the brain.
One of the guests had conducted a research project that went like this:
> Group A spent six weeks(?) doing a finger exercise. A weight was attached to one index finger and they lifted it over and over.
> Group B spent the same amount of time thinking about doing the exercise. They laid their hand flat and simply visualized lifting the weight.
At the end of the study, Group B had gained more finger strength than Group A.
The people who visualized exercising could physically move more weight than those who actually exercised.
Their conclusion was that the strength of the signal going from the brain to the finger was more important than the amount of muscle tissue in the finger.
... ...
Sometimes, when I play after a long break from practicing, I seem better... like the things I was struggling with have sunk in and become second nature.
I also know when I visualize an entire performance beforehand, I'm confident and relaxed and always have a great show.
If I don't, I feel cold and nervous.
Thoughts? Opinions?
What's your experience in this?
Have you ever experienced a leap in steel progress after a period of contemplating the instrument, but not playing it?
Do you spend time visualizing playing?
[This message was edited by Dwayne Martineau on 31 March 2005 at 09:13 AM.] |
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Yann Obergfell
From:
Gottenhouse, France - Soon in Bloomington, Indiana
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Posted 30 Mar 2005 11:58 am
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| yes, I've experienced this. Especially when I do an exercise, and I can't do it, I think about it and when I get back to my instrument I am actually able to play it. It's pretty amazing. Kinda background work, like a computer. |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 30 Mar 2005 12:51 pm
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I find that people like my playing a lot better when they just contemplate it and don't actually have to hear it. 
But I guess that's a different thing. |
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Ricky Davis
From:
Bertram, Texas USA
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Posted 30 Mar 2005 12:52 pm
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I never sit down and physically practice anymore(I mainly play gigs every night); but I do still progress and play new/interesting enough stuff to keep away the stagnation that can come from not learning; and I do it all by "Imagery".
While I'm driving to the gig or watching golf or working on a Steel; I will see my steel/fretboard/strings in my head and see myself playing and searching for new ideas all the time. When I get to the gig; I find that; finding those ideas and seeing those tones I want, are so much easier and come to me physically in a instant.
I learned Imagery from back in my Gymnastic days and taught it to my students and having 7 national vaulting champions in 7 years in a row; will attest to the success of "Imagery"...aha.....ha.
Ricky |
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Keith Cordell
From:
San Diego
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Posted 30 Mar 2005 1:12 pm
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| Interesting... I had dropped playing regular guitar for a few months to get my skill up on steel; I picked it back up for a half hour a day, and I find that concepts I had trouble with before are simpler, my coordination is better and I have more options on the single note stuff. First time in years I had been away from it, so I was surprised. Callusses are ripped up a bit, though... |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Andre Nizzari
From:
Bronx, NY
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Posted 30 Mar 2005 1:53 pm
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Hey Dwane, I practice a lot and sometimes I find when I haven't played in a few hours and go back to playing I feel refreshed with my playing. If I'm playing a gig or jam, I find that I play much better without planning ahead and just improvising. Usally, it will work out good, though sometimes,I plan ahead solos and riffs, when I'm recording new music in my room. p.s. Rick who's that chick? 
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http://www.andreandthenighthounds.com/
[This message was edited by Andre Nizzari on 30 March 2005 at 01:55 PM.] |
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Jim Hankins
From:
Yuba City, California, USA
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Posted 30 Mar 2005 1:55 pm
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| Rick is that Alicia K.? She is easy on the eyes, though I am not into her music. Anyway , similarly to Keith, since I picked up steel my six string playing has dropped to almost nothing. (steel is just funner!)However when I do occasionally pick up the six string, I believe I play it better than ever. Either the steel playing is helping, or something sub conscious, as I am not doing conscious "imaging" for regular guitar, or anything, Jim |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Dwayne Martineau
From:
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Posted 30 Mar 2005 2:20 pm
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Yeah, I didn't practice "regular" guitar for at least a month after I got my steel.
When I picked it up, I was playing better then I ever had.
Mental cross-training, I guess.
I think all the musing on music theory that learning steel requires... and learning to separate your fingers and thumb... helps on any instrument. Steel forces you to get outside your old box.
Rick A., that's the best thing I've seen on the Forum. Also, the girl is pretty.
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Jeff Strouse
From:
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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Posted 30 Mar 2005 3:02 pm
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I've slept with tab under my pillow, but it hasn't helped me yet...
I've also slept with pictures of Adriana Lima... 
But seriously, I have noticed that if I don't have a chance to practice for a few days, I can suddenly play a lick that I was having trouble with (sometimes). Or, I might suddenly find a chord or phrase out of the blue that I was looking for. The brain is an amazing thing.
Overall though, I sound the best when I play the air steel guitar...[This message was edited by Jeff Strouse on 30 March 2005 at 03:06 PM.] |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 30 Mar 2005 4:00 pm
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| Actually there are quite a bit of studies on the way brain synapsis form in a musician's brain in order to play new techniques. Some people call it muscle memory, but the muscles have no memory: it is the synapsis that are formed in the brain that allow us to learn and internalize a new riff. That's why when I'm practicing something and I suck at it, I know that it is just a matter of patience: there is time needed for the brain to form the connections. |
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Mike Ruffin
From:
El Paso, Texas, USA
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Posted 30 Mar 2005 4:36 pm
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Rick
Your taste in women is just as good as your taste in guitars!! |
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Terry Farmer
From:
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
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Posted 30 Mar 2005 4:48 pm
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| She comes to my house once or twice a month also. My wife just lays the Victoria's Secret Catalog down on my recliner. Giselle comes with her. ;o) |
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Bill Blacklock
From:
Powell River, British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 30 Mar 2005 8:18 pm
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| My steel playing has been really horrible the last while (nice girl!!), so I pulled the tele out from under the couch were it's been parked for the last two years. It was wonderful, it seems my regular playing has improved by not playing at all, my fingers are soar as hell. |
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Bill Blacklock
From:
Powell River, British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 30 Mar 2005 8:19 pm
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| Really nice girl!! |
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Posted 31 Mar 2005 12:53 am
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| This must be new to the West. Zen, anyone? |
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Dave Horch
From:
Frederick, Maryland, USA
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Posted 31 Mar 2005 2:32 am
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Right click, set as background.  |
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Dwayne Martineau
From:
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Posted 31 Mar 2005 9:29 am
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| Quote: |
| This must be new to the West. Zen, anyone? |
I'll have some! That's like poi, right?
Half of Jerry Byrd's video is a zen koan...
"the sound of not playing..."
But I think it's pretty astounding that you can get physically stronger just by thinking about it.
Maybe you really can...
...after all.
Alright, I'm going to sit here and think about my gut and love handles until I'm buff.
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Dwayne Martineau
From:
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Posted 31 Mar 2005 9:55 am
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| If a deaf bulldog falls on Adriana Lima, does it make a sound? |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 31 Mar 2005 10:07 am
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Hey ...
Hoopii may be deaf, blind, 9 yrs old and neutered (only after he developed prostate problems and sired many a pup)
But he's still a "Babe Magnet" ... |
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Dwayne Martineau
From:
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Posted 31 Mar 2005 10:17 am
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| Hoopii! Aw. That's a great name. |
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 1 Apr 2005 12:08 am
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I play myself to sleep every night! I haven’t checked lately to see if I’ve improved or not! I did notice that every few days I hear a certain ‘lick’ in my head and I go to my steel and play it in real~time and find that I’ve actually discovered a new chord or a new way to play a certain passage! It seems to be very helpful to have a little music running through your head, now and then!
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“Big John” Bechtel
’49-’50 Fender T–8 Custom
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15” Eminence
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Denny Turner
From:
Oahu, Hawaii USA
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Posted 2 Apr 2005 7:00 pm
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If anyone doesn't practice in their minds; I might suggest starting with different scales and chords and arpeggios / licks therein ...putting scale numbers to each note. Practicing in the mind is an infinite and very good / effective realm.
Aloha,
DT~
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