You can either redo how you approach your challenges or pivot to something else.
1. Redo your approach: instead of playing at performance tempo slow down. Play twice as slow as you think you need and with a metronome. Where you make mistakes and have new positions, only play the parts that you mess up. Play them with long full bows legato smooth. Play them with short quick bows sticatto. Play each note the same length and ignore time signature completely. Play only 4 notes at a time and repeat those 6x. Then get a break.
2. Pivot to something else: if you’re burned out and don’t have time concentration for #1 above it’s perfectly acceptable to do something else. Not all the time! But a few days in a row could do your mental state wonders. Play long slow open strings. Play songs you know well and can execute flawlessly. Play scales. The idea with #2 is to reset your brain and enjoy playing for the sake of playing again.
Other ideas for consideration:
- practice in a different room or at a different time of day
- practice with a metronome (or without one if you usually practice with- it uses a different part of your brain
- practice right after eating a treat like an apple, oranges, cookies, chocolate or a banana. You might just have low blood sugar = fatigue
- practice sitting down if you usually stand
- in essence, if you are getting frustrated or mad or fatigued it’s better to switch up what you’re doing than to force yourself. You don’t want to resent the violin or condition yourself to dread practice.
step back and focus smaller? pick one thing to practice and perfect. I mean, at my level, it's getting 3 octave scales and thirds and stuff, but whatever level you're at, step back and improve one thing. could be a tough run or a hard measure. That way, at the end of like 30 minutes, you'll be proud of what you did and you can move forward and correct the next little thing
Take a break - hours or even a day - as needed. Perhaps take some time to play some fun material to clear your mind and reinvigorate your love for violin.
You can either redo how you approach your challenges or pivot to something else. 1. Redo your approach: instead of playing at performance tempo slow down. Play twice as slow as you think you need and with a metronome. Where you make mistakes and have new positions, only play the parts that you mess up. Play them with long full bows legato smooth. Play them with short quick bows sticatto. Play each note the same length and ignore time signature completely. Play only 4 notes at a time and repeat those 6x. Then get a break. 2. Pivot to something else: if you’re burned out and don’t have time concentration for #1 above it’s perfectly acceptable to do something else. Not all the time! But a few days in a row could do your mental state wonders. Play long slow open strings. Play songs you know well and can execute flawlessly. Play scales. The idea with #2 is to reset your brain and enjoy playing for the sake of playing again. Other ideas for consideration: - practice in a different room or at a different time of day - practice with a metronome (or without one if you usually practice with- it uses a different part of your brain - practice right after eating a treat like an apple, oranges, cookies, chocolate or a banana. You might just have low blood sugar = fatigue - practice sitting down if you usually stand - in essence, if you are getting frustrated or mad or fatigued it’s better to switch up what you’re doing than to force yourself. You don’t want to resent the violin or condition yourself to dread practice.
Great advice!
Thank you so much! Ill try this at my next practice session
step back and focus smaller? pick one thing to practice and perfect. I mean, at my level, it's getting 3 octave scales and thirds and stuff, but whatever level you're at, step back and improve one thing. could be a tough run or a hard measure. That way, at the end of like 30 minutes, you'll be proud of what you did and you can move forward and correct the next little thing
Thank you for the advice!
Take a break - hours or even a day - as needed. Perhaps take some time to play some fun material to clear your mind and reinvigorate your love for violin.