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Billy B Heavyweight Member
Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 6130 Location: Des Moines
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Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2022 9:29 am Post subject: concentration |
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Students often say they can’t hear the details of the sound because they lost their concentration. If they would take the time to listen deeply to the details of the sound their concentration will follow. _________________ Bill Bergren |
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mafields627 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 09 Nov 2001 Posts: 3776 Location: AL
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Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2022 9:43 am Post subject: |
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I think this is a very interesting statement. Have you observed this getting worse over the years you have played and taught?
Particularly over the past few COVID years I have noticed that very few of my students have the ability to intensely focus on anything for a length of time. I also teach several classes in a computer lab and the students absolutely cannot handle silence in the room. _________________ --Matt--
No representation is made that the quality of this post is greater than the quality of that of any other poster. Oh, and get a teacher! |
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JayKosta Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2018 Posts: 3309 Location: Endwell NY USA
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Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2022 9:49 am Post subject: |
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Do the students claim that they've 'lost their concentration' on ALL aspects of playing, or that their concentration on 'details of sound' has declined due to increased concentration on some other aspect of playing?
Is there a type of teaching that identifies the various aspects of playing that the student should always be aware of, and how to 'balance' their concentration among the various aspects.
edit: perhaps it's a matter of 'being aware' of doing all the aspects as instructed, and to 'clearly hear the sound' as the end-product of doing (and adjusting) those aspects. _________________ Most Important Note ? - the next one !
KNOW (see) what the next note is BEFORE you have to play it.
PLAY the next note 'on time' and 'in rhythm'.
Oh ya, watch the conductor - they set what is 'on time'.
Last edited by JayKosta on Tue Feb 22, 2022 10:01 am; edited 1 time in total |
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PH Bill Adam/Carmine Caruso Forum Moderator
Joined: 26 Nov 2001 Posts: 5860 Location: New Albany, Indiana
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Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2022 9:57 am Post subject: |
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JayKosta wrote: | Do the students claim that they've 'lost their concentration' on ALL aspects of playing, or that their concentration on 'details of sound' has declined due to increased concentration on some other aspect of playing?
Is there a type of teaching that identifies the various aspects of playing that the student should always be aware of, and how to 'balance' their concentration among the various aspects. |
The only thing the student should always be aware of is hearing the sound, both in their imagination (primarily) and in the room (secondarily). Everything else is distraction. _________________ Bach trumpet artist-clinician
Clinical Professor of Jazz Trumpet, University of Illinois
Professor Emeritus of Jazz Studies, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
Faculty Jamey Aebersold Jazz Workshops 1976-2019
JazzRetreats.com |
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9033 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
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Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2022 10:12 am Post subject: |
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JayKosta wrote: | Is there a type of teaching that identifies the various aspects of playing that the student should always be aware of, and how to 'balance' their concentration among the various aspects.. |
Meditation. One learns to tame the "Monkey Mind ". There are too many things floating around and competing to take up space in our minds. I find Meditation very helpful, in this instance, to control the mind and focus of the "One Point" of tone. _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn |
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Richard III Heavyweight Member
Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 2655 Location: Anacortes, WA
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Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2022 10:30 am Post subject: |
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Take their phones away. _________________ Richard
King 1130 Flugabone
King 12C mouthpiece |
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mcstock Veteran Member
Joined: 25 Nov 2001 Posts: 466 Location: Norman, OK
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2022 3:44 am Post subject: Re: concentration |
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A theory professor at UNT who studied cognition, learning strategies, etc. made the point that we shouldn’t use the word “concentrate” as it has connotations of effect, struggle, and almost inevitable failure. Instead he wanted you to become fascinated by what you’re working on. Much more useful frame of mind.
Matt
Billy B wrote: | Students often say they can’t hear the details of the sound because they lost their concentration. If they would take the time to listen deeply to the details of the sound their concentration will follow. |
_________________ “It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.”
Epictetus |
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Billy B Heavyweight Member
Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 6130 Location: Des Moines
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2022 5:03 am Post subject: |
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The point I am making is cause and effect. You listen to achieve concentration, not the other way around. It is as simple as that. _________________ Bill Bergren |
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Billy B Heavyweight Member
Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 6130 Location: Des Moines
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2022 5:05 am Post subject: Re: concentration |
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mcstock wrote: | A theory professor at UNT who studied cognition, learning strategies, etc. made the point that we shouldn’t use the word “concentrate” as it has connotations of effect, struggle, and almost inevitable failure. Instead he wanted you to become fascinated by what you’re working on. Much more useful frame of mind.
Matt
Billy B wrote: | Students often say they can’t hear the details of the sound because they lost their concentration. If they would take the time to listen deeply to the details of the sound their concentration will follow. |
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I never heard Adam use the word concentrate. "Focus on the sound" _________________ Bill Bergren |
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Andy Cooper Heavyweight Member
Joined: 15 Nov 2001 Posts: 1833 Location: Terre Haute, IN USA
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2022 8:34 am Post subject: |
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You are waiting for a friend in a crowded restaurant (think Cracker Barrel). The acoustics are pretty "live". You are surrounded by a babble of sound.Your friend arrives - "I just saw Fred Smith as I came in" she states. (Fred has a distinctive regional accent and trademark laugh.)
Yep - you hear him and then his laugh. Fred had been talking and laughing before your friend arrived but you did not notice him. Now you can make out parts of his conversation in the midst of the babble.
If, when your friend had arrived, she had simply directed you to concentrate on the sounds around you - would you have noticed Fred or just the fireplace crackling, a toddler crying ?
So is the problem with "hearing" or "concentration" - or the lack of a good audio "picture" of the search item to concentrate on.
(Keep in mind - the sound you hear behind the horn in a practice room is not the sound the audience hears. Time spent playing in an empty auditorium is well spent.) |
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