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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000009.txt from 2003/01
From: "Isaac Bull" <contrareed@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [DR-L] Re: Maintaining a steady tempo- hooked on the ticker
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 04:05:54 -0500
Hi Angela -
Sounds like sort of "mind over matter" to me....maybe a bit of a
"concentration" problem. If you are (conciously or not) worried about
technical problems, practice the passages you know are problematic at much
slower tempos and speed them up later. If you have practiced a passage
until you know in your sleep, playing it in good rhythm should come
automatically. Isolate segments of passages down to individual note groups
and then repeat these over and over, using different rhythms (including
dotted, triplets, etc.)
For passages where you know you might rush (or slow down), a simple written
reminder might help (I often write in my music to remind myself (ie "don't
rush" or whatever).
Also, avoid any "external" movement ("foot tapping" falls in this category,
as does extraneous arm movement etc. - it can be a hindrance to you and
impede proper concentration on accurate rhythm. Not that you should be
"stiif as a board", but conserve yourself and do everything to help you
concentrate (being relaxed beforehand also helps).
Continuity in your practicing should help you too....get into the "habit" of
doing things - develop a "routine" and stick to it.
The main thing that will help you (long term) to develop good rythm is being
able to "internalize" the music. If it's still "on the page" and not coming
from "inside you", you won't be making music to your full potential. Do
lots of listening and try to familiarize yourself with many types of music
and individual works. The more you "know it" the more naturally you will be
able to express it. try singing it - this is another way of internalizing.
All this does come with experience also - don't expect "instant results".
Just few suggestions.....IMHO....
Hope this might be helpful.
Good luck...and happy practicing.
Isaac
----- Original Message -----
From: "Angela Wells" <oneflute1oboe@-----.com>
To: <flutistgroup@-----.edu>
Sent: Thursday, January 02, 2003 2:04 PM
Subject: [DR-L] Re: Maintaining a steady tempo- hooked on the ticker
> Lately I've noticed that I still cannot maintain a steady tempo by
> myself when playing scales, exercises, etudes, solos, etc.
>
> When practicing I have my metronome on almost all the time, eating
> through batteries on a monthly basis. I feel at one with it, and I can
stay
> perfectly with it at all times.
>
> However, when I turn the metronome off, I'll be halfway through
> whatever I'm playing and realize that I'm not anywhere near the tempo that
I
> started at. It's not a matter of not being perfectly on time in order to
do
> more with musical phrases- usually it's speeding up easier parts in order
to
> get through them faster, and then having to slow down again when I get to
> technically challenging parts.
>
> How do I solve this? There are no metronomes allowed at semester
juries
> and senior recitals, and I'm a bit worried about my conducting too.
>
> :-)Angela:-)
> Music education major with Metronome Dependency Syndrome
>
>
> DOUBLEREED-L mailing list
> DOUBLEREED-L@-----.edu
> http://lists.washburn.edu/mailman/listinfo/doublereed-l
