 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Karen
Date: 2002-02-06 19:02
Has anybody had the experience of "good" and "bad" practising-days?... I´ve just given up after two hours of practising ´cause I´m really unsatisfied with how I sound. Yesterday I played with the same set-up (same reed etc) and I really LIKED my tone! Funny? Am I getting weird or what?
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Author: Becky
Date: 2002-02-06 19:12
Hi Karen,
I've had those days too. It could be because of those darn ORNERY Reeds. A reed that worked well for ya today, may not for you tomorrow. Just put it away and try another. I do that several times until I can find one that will work for me.
If it still "ain't my day" I just put it all away and try again later.
You are Not weird. (Reeds are!!) 
Becky
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Author: LynnB
Date: 2002-02-06 19:24
When I'm having one of those days where I just can't stand myself, I stick to scales and long tones. I'll try real music on another day - yuk!
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2002-02-06 19:42
There's a pattern we tend to follow for "God only knows" why; we practice and improve for a time and then all of a sudden a plateau comes along and we seem to get nowhere. Then, we seem to be "worse." Followed by sudden bursts of improvement. It's the same with every instrument and every player. What makes or breaks us is whether or not we "push through" and continue to play and practice regardless of our own "critique" of ourselves. It's a fundamental law of use that if we continue to repeat doing something over and over we will increase our ability to do that thing.
Also, temperature changes and other factors enter into the tone of a clarinet. Some days the reed just won't work right. Some days you can do nothing wrong and you sound great. Focus on that perfect tone from whomever you have chosen as your "role model" and keep on keeping on.
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-02-06 20:34
Brenda - as always, your postings are erudite and informative. I have to agree with you totally on the plateau's of musical skill theory. It can be very frustrating, but never give up, because when you least expect it your playing will suddenly burst ahead. Maybe its all to do with things moving from the brain to the cerebelum?
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Author: Emms
Date: 2002-02-06 21:41
Karen, this is normality for me. Don't judge yourself day by day, but look back a few weeks / months to really appreciate any improvement
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Author: Brian
Date: 2002-02-06 22:08
Yes Karen you're just like the rest of us...we must all be a little weird to be so in love with the clarinet!
Ans Brenda is right...you are your own worst critic!
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Author: Kirk
Date: 2002-02-07 01:01
Karen,
I agree with everyone else...I have my bad days too. I will switch reeds and re-soak it and try again. If I still stink, then I just play long notes or do some scales. Sometimes, if you have a rough day filled with hassles it filters into your playing. Temperatures and humidity can affect how reeds react.
If we all didn't have any off days, how could we appreciate the good ones ?
Happy Clarineting !!
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Author: Mike Harrelson
Date: 2002-02-07 03:31
For what it's worth, off days for brass players is probably worse. At least we can "hit" the notes on our off days...
Also if I may, yet another theory on off days. Perhaps on some of the off days we all have, maybe we're just doing a better job of listening to ourselves. Maybe sometimes we're not "off" so much, just getting better at knowing how well we want to play... and even doing a better job of practicing those things we should be working on - the things we can't play.
"Really bad players probably think they sound good all the time"
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Author: willie
Date: 2002-02-07 05:54
I have had some BAD days where I really had to force myself to practice. Sometimes it helps to have some different music in your files ranging from simple to outrageous, a variety to pick from. I just went through my parts for "Night on Ball Mountain" tonight and got very frustrated. I grabbed my old fake book, honked off a couple tunes to clear my head, then went back to the Ball Mountain. Seemed to help me concentrate better. Fingers still got tangled but I handled it better.
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Author: Emms
Date: 2002-02-07 07:54
I wonder if it is good to practise on bad days. Are we not confusing our minds about what we are supposed to be learning? Sometimes a day off refreshes us and 'clears the head'.
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Author: kgl
Date: 2002-02-07 12:20
Jim S.--
It's "Night on BALD Mountain"---well-known piece by Mussorgsky.
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Author: Emms
Date: 2002-02-07 12:32
Could be a different night on a different mountain! More rounded, rather than treeless! (Or just a toupeeing error)
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-02-07 14:29
Ah, but some also refer to it as "Bare" or "Bear" mountain. I have assumed for many years that it's a translation problem and that the composer meant it was a desolate or barren mountain. I agree with those who say or infer that when you have one of those "bad hair days" just play something you enjoy or whatever. But don't just put the horn away. We all have such days and you might even be coming down with a cold or something.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-02-07 14:51
Willie, we are rehearsing the BalD Mountain also, even the bass cl part has a number of challenging fingerings [for me] and I gripe about it, Luck, Don
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Author: William
Date: 2002-02-07 15:55
Back to the subject!! I find that when I am having difficulty playing something and nothing I try seems to work, it helps to put down my instrument for a few moments and relax a bit--even if only to run the swab through the bore one time, get a fresh cup of coffee or give my reed a "wall test," . Too often, practice becomes so intense as to defeat its very purpose. The old saying, "analysis is paralysis" is sometimes true when we try "too hard" to make things work. Often, when I return to my instrument, the problems disappear and the notes flow like sap in springtime. But, not always--sometimes, I just have "one of those days" and none of the above works. However, those days are rendered less frequent by taking small moments to let my old brain reorganize itself. Alfer all, is isn't really in your fingers, it all starts with your brain's ability to focus the many contributing aspects of your performance. So, if things arn't going just right, take a little time to let you brain rejuvinate--for me, it usually works. Now, back to Jean-Jean. Good Clarineting!!!!!!!!!
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Author: Ginny
Date: 2002-02-07 16:27
I think the weather has an effect on the reed and everything.
I also had a frustrating day yesterday...I'm thinking of at least quiting lessons for me, why spend all that money? I don't seem to be progressing at all. My son gets all the time, the teacher is really only interested in him.
Whine whine whine
Ginny
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2002-02-07 19:28
The secret of long-term success in anything is often summed up in one word, "focus." When I'm having a day where my mechanical skills aren't working correctly I try to put my mind into gear and "think" through the music and about the music and what task remains ahead in order to "conquer" the piece in question. Perhaps I'll even sit down with a clarinet book about technique or acoustics or something of that nature and try to "remain in the game" with something entirely different from the thing that's frustrating me. Sometimes it will just "click" while I'm driving to the post office or doing some other non-related thing and I'll go back to work with my instrument in hand and have a "break through." It's there all the time, it's just a matter of finding how to press through the barriers.
Another motto I've lived with as an artist for the past 40 plus years is, "The things that are the most difficult for me are the things which will bring the greatest reward." Works in lots of areas.
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-02-08 17:35
I recall when everybody used to refer to the "Polovetsian Dances" too. Fine words of wisdom Brenda.....and add perseveration(boy,had to look that one up in the Funk and Wagnalls). The brain is an amazing organ...it works for us even when we are asleep. How many times I've gone to sleep with an unsolved problem and awakened with the solution.
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