Keeping Focused

[Axe-aholic]

Lately I've noticed myself having a lot of trouble concentrating on what I'm doing. My mind wanders constantly. Now, I got it pretty much under control for everything except learning and memorizing peices. Whenver I pick up my guitar and try to memorize (or play through) a classical peice my mind goes off almost immediately. Everytime I catch myself I pull my mind back (after slapping myself across the face) but it just happens again after a few minutes. It's really frustrating because it takes forever to memorize a few simple measures....Any help?

[EricV]

Hmmm... odd. You don´t have that problem with strict "mechanical" exercises ? Because, usually those are the ones that make it hard to focus, while learning and working on an actual piece of music keeps it more interesting.
Steve Morse mentioned in the interview we did #with him that he prefers to play etudes instead of doing just plain exercises.
Anyway... hmmm...
I guess you are already taking it step by step, right ? Working on, like, 2 or 4 bars atz a time, trying to get that down perfectly ( maybe at a slower tempo ) then working on the next few.
I do it that way. A few weeks ago, I learned the first 24 bars of Bach´s "Preludium in C minor" ( WTC Book 1 ), and I worked on like, 4 bars at a time, then the next 4, then I worked on playing through those 8 bars.
I also try to figure out some system... that prelude has some reoccuring patterns etc., and once I notice those, I really get into it... it helps to memorize the piece faster.
So trying to find a "system" or "keypoints" helps a lot.
Also, you could try to write the piece down differently. If it´s i.e a series of arpeggios, say D-A-Bm-F#-G-D-G-A... if the arp-pattern stays the same ( or is easy to remember ), you can just write yourself a "leadsheet" with those chords and play though the piece based on those notes iunstead of the notation...
In general, don´t forget to take a break occasionally, don´t push yourself to hard. Sometimes, forcing yoursefl to continue even when it´s tough will make it even harder to focus, and less enjoyable
I am sure others will have some good suggestions too
Eric

[Cuno]

Sounds like you're doing something boring! :D Maybe you need some other type of excercise for a while?

Jogging, or going to the gym helps when i have trouble focusing. I usually go for a run in the woods before each band practise. It does wonders for me.

[rmuscat]

do you follow some kind of practice schedule!? if so, i'd consider trying to chang the order of things. say follow your warmup immediately by studying pieces instead of example warmup followed by scales etc ... something might have changed in your lifestyle which makes your mind more tired then usual (or it could be just an information overload happens to me ALL the time), so changing order might actually tell if that's the problem.

[Axe-aholic]

Hmmm... odd. You don´t have that problem with strict "mechanical" exercises ? Because, usually those are the ones that make it hard to focus, while learning and working on an actual piece of music keeps it more interesting.
Well, I used too, but recently I started focusing on whatever the mechanical exercise is supposed to help me with and paying close attention to that (like the picking pattern etc). But when playing a song (the song that is giving me trouble right now is Bach's Gavotte En Rondeau from something or other) there isn't that 'one thing' to focus on.
The looking for patterns thing sounds like a good idea, and I do tend to rush through I guess. How far should I break it down to? Should I try to memorize just like 1 measure at a time?

do you follow some kind of practice schedule!? if so, i'd consider trying to chang the order of things. say follow your warmup immediately by studying pieces instead of example warmup followed by scales etc ... something might have changed in your lifestyle which makes your mind more tired then usual (or it could be just an information overload happens to me ALL the time), so changing order might actually tell if that's the problem.
Hmm, you may have something there..i usually practice song lerning stuff as the last thing I do in the evenings..maybe I'm just too tired to focus at that point? But then if I switch the order the thing I replace it with will be just as hard to focus on...I'll give it a shot though

Thanks

[Axe-aholic]

Hmmm... odd. You don´t have that problem with strict "mechanical" exercises ? Because, usually those are the ones that make it hard to focus, while learning and working on an actual piece of music keeps it more interesting.
Well, I used too, but recently I started focusing on whatever the mechanical exercise is supposed to help me with and paying close attention to that (like the picking pattern etc). But when playing a song (the song that is giving me trouble right now is Bach's Gavotte En Rondeau from something or other) there isn't that 'one thing' to focus on.
The looking for patterns thing sounds like a good idea, and I do tend to rush through I guess. How far should I break it down to? Should I try to memorize just like 1 measure at a time?

do you follow some kind of practice schedule!? if so, i'd consider trying to chang the order of things. say follow your warmup immediately by studying pieces instead of example warmup followed by scales etc ... something might have changed in your lifestyle which makes your mind more tired then usual (or it could be just an information overload happens to me ALL the time), so changing order might actually tell if that's the problem.
Hmm, you may have something there..i usually practice song lerning stuff as the last thing I do in the evenings..maybe I'm just too tired to focus at that point? But then if I switch the order the thing I replace it with will be just as hard to focus on...I'll give it a shot though

Thanks

[Sjonesmusic]

Lately I've noticed myself having a lot of trouble concentrating on what I'm doing. My mind wanders constantly. Now, I got it pretty much under control for everything except learning and memorizing peices. Whenver I pick up my guitar and try to memorize (or play through) a classical peice my mind goes off almost immediately. Everytime I catch myself I pull my mind back (after slapping myself across the face) but it just happens again after a few minutes. It's really frustrating because it takes forever to memorize a few simple measures....Any help?

This book changed my life, in the way it relates to practice and performance:

http://www.innergameofmusic.com/

This book helped immensely also:

the Natural Classical Guitar (http://www.flamencoconnection.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=FC&Product_Code=2487&Category_Code=7E)

Hope these help!!

I can't recommend them higher!

Peace,

Scott