Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Taking 5, the value of rest

Taking 5

In his book "On Practicing" Ricardo Iznaola prescribes a regimen of focused practicing and scheduled resting periods. Mr. Iznaola is right in his recommendation that refreshing the brain and body is just as important as cramming it with knowledge and muscular technique. His book is a very helpful one and something all guitarists should own.

The fact is that we can't absorb new information at a constant rate for an entire given period of time. When we practice, certain times of our practice period are more productive than others due our attention span. The beginning and the end of a period are the times when most information sticks. Enthusiasm when you first pick up the guitar sparks learning and anticipation of a break period can spur learning at the end of a practice session.

The appreciation of music comes from a familiarity with it. Often times music is associated with events in our lives and we keep a personal soundtrack playing in our heads. I am sure that I am not the first person to say that in order to get closer to the music you must step away from the guitar. Peering deeply into the everyday and commonplace beauty of life will inspire you to perform with more vigor. The experience of life will be the source of energy that will drive your music.
Sometimes what we need is to hear the piece again after a rest in order to have new ideas about it. Play a piece you haven't played in months or years, and I bet you will be surprised at how it comes to life. Settle down and love the sound of your guitar, then take a walk and play that love through your head the rest of the day.

Less is more
My teacher Emmett Finley had two favorite phrases, the first being "Death is my Favorite Tempo." Morbid, maybe. Reassuring, possibly. Poetic, definitely. He frequently uttered this gem in response to my enthusiastic tempos. At the core, he is saying that it is best to go slow and hit your marks than to rush through leaving notes and ideas behind. Don't be afraid to play slow. His second phrase was "Every note is a symphony," meaning that without the proper care of every note, the music will loose it's greater integrity. By taking time with each note you can ensure its beauty.
About Bach my teacher Alex Komodore said, "Every note is a diamond in the necklace," and all of them must shine equally bright.
The wonderful performer and teacher Adam Holzman said in a masterclass, "Play it slow enough that you can play it perfectly." I love that.
On stage during a masterclass the great Oscar Ghiglia said, "One time I was playing very slow, so that I could hear what was going on." Nothing is more to the point. Without going at a speed that you can control, you will not be able to analyze what you're playing. That means you won't be able to offer your music at it's highest level. What good is that? Don't settle for anything less than the best.
On the subject Fred Hand says, "If you are trying to improve a passage, you need to play it slowly in order to learn the movements and the notes. It's essential that you slow it down."

The guitar is selfish
Without a doubt, practicing is a selfish act. Revel in it! If practicing is something we do to improve ourselves, then it is a wonderful thing. It could be that "taking 5" means sitting down to the guitar and playing your favorite pieces. It's called "playing" for a reason. Don't turn it into "work".
Only by being selfish can we then offer a better version of ourselves to the world. By oscillating between periods of self improvement and public service we can continually improve our community.

Note: The "Spacing Principle" is a rule that states that the best time to review something previously learned is right before you are about to forget it. Musicians usually practice in an orderly habit and so are reviewing things daily. Because of this they always review their material at the right time, even though they don't know when that is. This reward for daily review is call the "practicing phenomenon". For an amazing program that can help you track your brain to determine when you will forget something, check out Super Memo, developed by Steve Wozniak.

Thanks for reading, happy practicing and breaking!

Daniel Hallford

Daniel Hallford is a Guitarist and Teacher in New York City
Visit him at http://www.DanielHallfordGuitar.com
dhguitarist@gmail.com