Blog Comments

Wow! What a great holiday trip.Sounds like you had a wonderful time, happy you're back and safe. (Ya just never know, right?) Thanks for sharing what sounds like a fantastic time. It's always a kick to find some new musical inspiration, and sometimes it comes from unexpected directions. I think those may be the most fun!

Cool indeed.

Whenever that happens to me, it usually seems to occur at some time after 2:00 a.m. And I feel like I want to go on and on, and sometimes, in addition to playing well, I can actually (gasp) even improvise! Now that last part is so rare that it never, ever takes place any time before midnight! LOL! But when I'm in this blissful place, all too soon I must leave my magical zone and quit playing, and go to bed, or else I would just stay up all night long and sleep till noon. (Can you tell I am an owl, through and through?)

I wish I were able to collect, or scrape up, or pour into a bottle... whatever 'substance' that is, so I could freely use it whenever I want, on my terms... But no, sadly, I can't, try as I might. It's just one more example of life's little frustrations and annoyances!

bratsche

Thanks, Mike...I think most of us who share this mandolin obsession share many of the same problems at one time or another. What was really weird about my visualization experience was that I wasn't trying to do it. When I try, it doesn't work...I have too many neurological interferences. Keep blogging...when I see you've posted a blog, I always read it right away!

From someone in roughly the same age range, Big Fist Pump! Couldn't agree more with everything you said. I especially like your thoughts about having a passion for something. Whatever it may be, that's what will keep you not just alive, but living. Sounds like you're living! (and well)

Visualization has been proved to enhance performance in athletes from the NFL to the Olympics, and is taught by some of the best coaches. You managed to discover how well it works for yourself! Fantastic. What a great tool to help you improve and get where you want to be. I can't believe I haven't visited your blog before. Interesting stuff! Always enjoy hearing your perspectives.

Originally Posted by Richard J

I started two years ago on my 61st birthday. I can't believe I never thought about learning to play a stringed instrument before, but I'm so glad that the older you get the wiser you get.

That's for sure...we waste so much time and take too much for granted when we are young. Enjoy your adventure...I know I am!

I started two years ago on my 61st birthday. I can't believe I never thought about learning to play a stringed instrument before, but I'm so glad that the older you get the wiser you get.

Originally Posted by Dave Peters from the UK

Great article. It's a corny saying but it's true -age is just a number. And although I've been playing all my life, I'm just as keen to learn now as ever I was! It never leaves you. Keep on pickin'

Thanks, Dave. As long as we have an attitude like yours, we will always be excited about life.

Originally Posted by PastorDoug

Amen. I'm a year ahead of you and starting lessons again. Ain't it great!!!

Yes, it is! Congratulations! Life is grand!!

Amen. I'm a year ahead of you and starting lessons again. Ain't it great!!!

Great article. It's a corny saying but it's true -age is just a number. And although I've been playing all my life, I'm just as keen to learn now as ever I was! It never leaves you. Keep on pickin'

Originally Posted by bratsche

Bravissima! Well-written piece, and a great mindset!

I'm just two years behind you, and didn't began this whole plucking thing until the end of the last century. Not having had kids of my own makes me not think so much in terms of what age my grandchildren might be, but being forced to face this grey head in the mirror kind of makes certain thoughts of mortality unavoidable. Since I've been playing my bowed music since I was 9, though, I never really thought continuing to practice and learn was at all odd, until seeing the stagnation signs beginning in certain members of my peer group. Now, that's alarming!

"The desire to learn has no expiration date." I love it, and am going design it as a t-shirt, if you don't mind! Besides, it sounds a lot more affirming and positive than "The day you stop learning new things, you're already dead!"


bratsche

No, I don't mind...let me know if they become available to the public...I will buy one. Also, thanks for your thoughts. I have noticed that, unfortunately for some people, the stagnation you speak of begins in their 20s. I have always been grateful that learning has been a life-long joy for me!

Bravissima! Well-written piece, and a great mindset!

I'm just two years behind you, and didn't began this whole plucking thing until the end of the last century. Not having had kids of my own makes me not think so much in terms of what age my grandchildren might be, but being forced to face this grey head in the mirror kind of makes certain thoughts of mortality unavoidable. Since I've been playing my bowed music since I was 9, though, I never really thought continuing to practice and learn was at all odd, until seeing the stagnation signs beginning in certain members of my peer group. Now, that's alarming!

"The desire to learn has no expiration date." I love it, and am going design it as a t-shirt, if you don't mind! Besides, it sounds a lot more affirming and positive than "The day you stop learning new things, you're already dead!"


bratsche

Originally Posted by Drachirryz

"He immediately whips out his guitar and starts playing some pretty classic riffs...as in 1960s riffs, although I am certain this boy has no idea of this fact."

I wonder what his reaction would be if you could play some of those riffs on the mandolin.

That's something to aim for, to be sure. If he heard a woman old enough to be his grandmother playing the same riffs as he does, he would probably never play them again.

"He immediately whips out his guitar and starts playing some pretty classic riffs...as in 1960s riffs, although I am certain this boy has no idea of this fact."

I wonder what his reaction would be if you could play some of those riffs on the mandolin.

Originally Posted by abuteague

Lorrainehornig,
If I have to perform a piece, I practice while standing up, walking around, after exercise, or with a bright light in my face. I have played while something else was playing on the radio. I think of it as increasing the resilience of memory.
It is like a test instead of a practice. Check out this video on the topic.

Thanks, that was a great video!

Bertram Henze - Thanks so much...that was awesome! I just downloaded that book to my iPad.

The effect is also thoroughly described in Sian Beilock's book Choke.
My recipe works in two steps:
1 - silence. No words in my head.
2 - darkness. No pictures in my head.

#1 is the easier of the two, but #2 is not impossible either. Both can be practised whenever you are in autopilot mode - driving your car, sitting in a restaurant, watching TV, whatever does not require your thinking. There may be words and pictures outside your head, that's OK as long as you don't let them in.

After a while you won't need this aid anymore because you learn to trust your playing. The lack of trust is the core problem. Your procedural memory does the playing, but your doubtful declarative memory (which does the thinking) gets in the way like a pesky car passenger who tries to tell the driver how to drive.

Lorrainehornig,
If I have to perform a piece, I practice while standing up, walking around, after exercise, or with a bright light in my face. I have played while something else was playing on the radio. I think of it as increasing the resilience of memory.
It is like a test instead of a practice. Check out this video on the topic.

You are quite welcomed, PastorDoug!

Thanks for sharing.

JeffD...thanks!

Good stuff. I loved it.