Posted by Lindenblüte on October 9, 2006, at 10:34:28
In reply to Complex Tasks, posted by Declan on October 5, 2006, at 19:04:39
Most "complex tasks" can be broken down into simple ones. I'm going to use a very esoteric example. Last year, I prepared the first movement of Mendelssohn's Emin concerto for violin for an audition.
The first step is to get excited about this piece. I bought a nice recording (then another and another).
I listened not only to the solo part, but also the orchestration- how the violin is supported by other violins or wood winds, or occasionally- nobody!
Next, I tried to sightread it. It was really discouraging. I knew the piece well, and I wanted to be able to play it at full tempo, with perfect intonation, and even some nuances.
At this point, I would have given up, except that I *really* wanted to do this for myself- to teach myself new repertoire without a teacher.
I broke it into chunks- chunks where there are long sustained lines. chunks where there are little finger patterns that my left hand has to master. chunks where my bow has to do complicated patterns, or little bouncies.
Then I learned the chunks. Then it was time for polishing. The hardest part is reuniting the chunks- making the transitions sound smooth, intuitive, and natural. The next step of polishing is always the intonation work for me. Set the metrognome to 40 bpm. play a note. pause. sing the next note in my head. play the next note. etc. this can only go on for about 15 minutes at a time. Then I worked on specific techniques for maximising the power and sound I can get out of my instrument for this type of solo piece. It requires some technical interventions that I rarely employ in my orchestral playing.
Then I play through the piece from the beginning, with a specific musical goal. If I realize that I have totally messed up a phrase- I will play it 10-100 times until it's second nature. Eventually I will get to the end of the piece after about a week, comfortable with the expression and my control of it on my instrument. I might need to go back and do some intonation touch-ups, change some of my tempi and perhaps do some tweaking here and there after playing for my husband.
SO- Declan, I know that there is something soothing about doing nice simple repetitive tasks. but my point is that even the most complicated kinds of tasks (learning and performing a concerto) can be broken down into simple patterns, and even when simple patterns are joined and become more complex, with more repetition, and a focus on the GOAL, they will seem more manageable.
Rather than think about walking as a complicated activity (you're right, by the way) break it up into segments- city blocks, having to pass 10 people successfully) and recognize your small accomplishments as such.
-Li
p.s. I walk/drive on the right. My husband drives on both sides ('cause he's international) but when he walks, it drives me CRAZY, because he always hogs the left side of the sidewalk. Doesn't seem to bother him one whit though!
poster:Lindenblüte
thread:692170
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/esteem/20060921/msgs/693307.html