littleseb - 3-3-2010 at 03:43 AM
how quick we loose what we've learned!
i was very very busy at work and other commitements, so i didn't get much time to practice over the last couple of weeks. picked up the oud last night
and felt very disheartened.....my fingers were stiff, slow, uncoordinated. i felt like a grandfather with arthritis. not playing for a couple of weeks
probably set me back six months!
Luttgutt - 3-3-2010 at 05:20 AM
Hi littleseb!
You can always use a "stress ball" on the left arm (if you are NOT lefty). That helps keep the fingers in shape! And you can use it almost anytime
Good luck
Ararat66 - 3-3-2010 at 07:38 AM
Hi Seb
Don't worry, you'll soon get it back and you may find that you leap forward after the rest, I usually do - I find I am much looser if not a bit rusty
but that some ingrained habits that have been obstacles, have often fallen away.
I play 'fingerstyle' guitar probably more than oud, certainly at the moment but then the oud will surge back - so don't worry and pay attention to new
progress after this break - it may surprise you.
Cheers
Leon
Kelly - 3-3-2010 at 10:22 AM
Hi Littleseb
All the hard work and effort is not lost its just waiting to be picked up from where you left it!
Hope to share some tunes with you all soon
paulO - 3-3-2010 at 10:30 AM
Hi littleseb,
A clarinet player I've worked with over the years (Souren Baronian) has a "ten minutes a day" practice rule. If you pick up your instrument for just
10 minutes, you at least don't lose touch with it -- and more often than not, you'll end up playing a lot longer than the alotted 10 minutes. May or
may not apply to your situation, but just my 2 cents. Just be patient with yourself regarding your progress, no beat downs on you from you ! Play on
dude !
From Leon's Post: "Don't worry, you'll soon get it back and you may find that you leap forward after the rest, I usually do - I find I am much looser
if not a bit rusty but that some ingrained habits that have been obstacles, have often fallen away."
Regards...PaulO
jdowning - 3-3-2010 at 01:39 PM
Relax - meditate before practice if it helps - analyse a piece - practice slowly until muscles and fingers memorise the correct sequential movements
for a piece automatically without thinking. Speed is not a virtue - create 'space' in your playing. Savour the sonorities of the instrument.
Enjoy!
alfaraby - 3-4-2010 at 09:04 AM
Abdelwahab, the immortal Egyptian musician, used to say :
" If you leave your oud for a day, it will leave you two days " !
So keep up with you friend and "talk" to him 15 minutes before going to bed. No one doesn't really have these minutes, unless he's away from
home !
I'd advice using the Chinese set of metal balls to loosen the left hand. They sure may do the job !
Good luck
Yours indeed
Alfaraby
littleseb - 3-5-2010 at 03:14 AM
I know, I know!
I have played instruments all my life (started playing cello when i was five), and taking time off always made me feel stiff and clumsy......but then
again you are right - it's amazing how much actually sticks in one's memory. And breaks can be a good thing. Sometimes they make you play even better
ones you are over the initial stiffness.
Just wanted to share my thoughts.
Happy Friday oudists!