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Back in shape with easy steps
Sometimes it`s nice to come back, isn`t it? After a long break we can start again to do what we love, with much more enthusiasm and joy than before.
In the last article I wrote about short, medium and long breaks and about my decision to take this year a longer break than usually. I`m happy about this decision, and for this reason I would like to share with you some good things that happened to me. The warm-up exercises were little longer than usually because the sound quality it was not the same as before. But this was the first impact with my instrument after a long break. For the beginning I started to play some easy pieces. It was not a new material, I played them many years ago. It`s better to start with something what you played before and to let the new material for later. The pieces once played are still there in our memory and they can be recall quite fast. It`s very interesting to realize that after some minutes of practice our sound and technique are almost the same as before. What it changes sometimes is our point of view about the interpretation. I think there is a very positive aspect when we can see and hear more details than before and we are able to play a piece with more maturity. After spending some time with easy pieces I decided to work some difficult passages from the orchestral repertoire. The difficult passages which I played into the past frustrated me a little, because I expected to recall them faster than it happened. But it is normal, difficult passages are still difficult also if you practiced them a lot, so be patience! With the new passages the result was good and at some point much better than I expected because I was confident and ready to learn something new again.
As a conclusion from my perspective: a short, medium or a long break is just a break, time to rest and to forget about performance. Don`t be scared to play what you want, also after a long break. The sound, technique and interpretation are still there. Start the practice session gradually, with some warm-up exercises, easy pieces and then practice also something difficult. You`ll became more confident realizing that it works and you are very fast in shape again!
Lidia
02 Sep 2016 09:51
Ioana, I agree with you regarding the length of a break. I strongly believe that each person is different and for this reason we can`t speak about a "standard" break. As you say, trying to explore life in more aspects through meditation, love, traveling and many other actions plays an important role for the professional growth. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and your experience as a musician with us!
Have a nice day!
Lidia
Uli Sperling
02 Sep 2016 08:26
I also found this article about effective breaks very interesting:
http://99u.com/articles/54325/a-science-backed-guide-to-taking-truly-restful-breaks
Ioana Tătătran
01 Sep 2016 12:44
Hi there, Lidia.
First of all, I'm very happy for you and all the good that you let be in your life! Wish you health, all the happiness you can experience and infinite love! :)
I very much enjoyed reading this article, as it reminded me of the "old times", when I also studied music and had the courage to take a break once in a while. :) I studied singing and musicology, as you know. Whether it was about the perfect sound emission or about learning a new score or writing a new musicological study, I experienced the same feeling - at least in my first years of music study - FEAR. I was afraid of loosing a sensation, a feeling, the speed of reflexes, and so on. I later realized it was such a nonsense... :)
A well deserved break is so important in order to gain a better and more mature perspective on the study, interpretation, sound, about all aspects, in fact. I believe it happens the same in sports or any other career that implies hard study, experience and an automatized process. It is so important to stop, from time to time, and look at the big picture... How could you do this if you did't detach yourself from everything you do on daily basis and enjoy all the activities that relax your mind and soul? In my opinion, breaks, short and long, are imperative in order to evolve! And... about the length... it is again a matter of perspective, it is very relative what it means for each person. For me, a one week break would have been very very short this year, so I took two. I didn't need so much two years ago, when a one week break was just perfect for me. Maybe, in the future, I will feel that I need 6 months break... why not? :) In the end, it isn't actually a break, even if you don't do your regular exercises... Meditating about an idea, getting inspired from everything that's around you, batteries loading from... I don't know... love (?)... are also "exercises" for your professional evolution.
I very much like the way you described the steps in practicing after the longer pause - very natural and logic from my perspective. I love listening to your performances, I get inspired from your teaching and reading your articles - really professional, Lidia!
Looking forward for the next ones! :)
Best,
Ioana
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Lidia
02 Sep 2016 10:07
Uli, I enjoyed reading the article! Thanks for sharing it!
Shortly: Switch off! Take short breaks early and often! Get out of the office!
For more information: http://99u.com/articles/54325/a-science-backed-guide-to-taking-truly-restful-breaks