ok i have had some major breakthroughs with some problems that my "friend" was having, and now i want to take it one step further. i didnt get alot done today as i accidently gave myself 2 black eyes(dont ask its embarrassing) anyways, here is the remaining questions i have.....

1. when do you play your best? why?

2. when was the best you ever played(another words when you got done you said wow and impressed yourself).

2a. why would you consider that to be the best you ever played?

edited:
3. now i would ask of you one more thing(please) if you could sit at your piano and think about your special wow time. focus on it for a minute and then play something you are confident in playing.

3a. did you notice any difference in your playing after this?? if so please share




these are the last 3 questions i will pester you guys with, but you wont believe how much you guys have helped. i just want to take this a step further before i start putting all this down on paper......then i will share with you guys. i cant do this overnight, as i am doing tons of research as well. i just really need some feedback here. please and thank-you in advance, YOU guys are the best!!!!

ps sorry the one last question ended up being a little more

1. It's an obvious thing, but I play my best when I am not tired. The most important element for me is concentration, and I am better able to concentrate when I'm not tired. Also, I play much better when I don't feel pressured. Pressure could come from anything, for example knowing I have to do something after practice, or knowing there's a time limit on me. Pressure could come from inside me, when I set myself up thinking "I have to play this well" or "I only have one chance to tplay this." External pressures can't be eliminated, so one thing I work on is dealing with that pressure and not letting it affect my concentration. Also, I'm trying to learn to spot the ways I create pressure for myself and get rid of those. Other than that, there's not really a specific element (like "in the morning" or something like that) that's needed for me to "play my best." More often than not, it's justrandom, I'll surprise myself. The last time I just happened to be lucky to have been recording myself. I didn't start with any expectations, but when I finished I was more than pleasantly surprised!

2. I feel very fortunate to be able to think of a few different times. Once I was just practicing all by myself, and when I finished playing one specific piece, it was "true" that I had tears in my eyes. Another time, I played in a recital, and I felt pretty good about it, but what really made it great was that when I went to say to a close friend who'd come to listen, she had tears in her eyes and told me that my piece touched her. And more recently, when I played Overcome at elementary school, and when I recorded my online recital piece.

2a. I'm glad you asked this question, because it's very important. The times when I have felt I've played my best certain were times when mistakes and mistouches were few and far between, though not necessarily absent. My playing was not necessarily perfect, but nothing stopped the flow of the music, what I was trying to say was not impeded by any small mistake that might have been present. So what, for me, can be defined as "playing my best" is not dependent on a flawless, mistake-free performance. What makes a performance good (or best) is when I am able to bring out the music, and the story in the music, the feeling in the music and the feeling in me. When I can do that, a mistake here or there becomes irrelevant.

Of course that's just how I think about it.

One perfect spring Sunday afternoon about two years ago when I sat down to play and not to practice. I played all the Satie gnossiennes and gymnopoedies without error and at an all time best. Past those foothills, I did an all-time best of LvB 27,2 I-III, and got so emboldened as to do Lecuona's "Malaguena", all-out and the only time I've ever truly in my own mind "nailed it". Later that night, I went out with my telescope to look at Jupiter. A pair of neighbors (one a piano performance PhD and the other a cellist) saw me and came over and asked, "What CD was that you were listening to this afternoon? That was great!" I was happy to my very soul and it was "good to be alive", and to be able to say with pure joy of new-found confidence, "That was me!"

I have no idea what made the difference that one day. If I had, I'd nurture it. But it's never happened again. But I think it *was* related to that absolute intention to *play*, for personal joy, and not to practice for learning. I knew on the fourth page of the Lecuona that I was "cooking" like never before and it was a pure adrenaline rush. Somehow I was on a razor's edge of crisply focused awareness while at the same time being relaxed. And not caring that I might make a mistake, I made none. Every fiber of my consciousness was in that moment at one with the music.

It hasn't happened since. It's enough that I know it's possible. It made me realize I'm not crazy to have spent five years at this, nor was it crazy to buy five pianos, including a concert grand, so late in life. And it's somehow enough to know that it is possible and could happen any time conditions are right again. The ongoing battle is always to just keep improving the conditions.

1. Normally when things are quiet, I'm in a relaxed mood, and I'm looking forward to practising a particular piece.

2. When I first learned how to play a piece called Comptine d'un autre ete: l'apres midi. I had been struggling with a particular bit, and one night it all seemed to work.

2(a) It was a tricky section, and (at the time) was my favourite piano piece. Was really happy with what the result was.

3. As much as I tried, I couldn't get something as good. Its 8.10am, so I'm a bit tired and the fingers haven't limbered-up yet. I can see what you are getting at - Positive Mental Attitude, but I also need a good warm-up, preparation, and practise as well. I agree though - thinking good thoughts and keeping positive does make for better playing!

Euan, yes PMA is good but what i am looking for actually goes a little deeper than that but yes that is part of it i dont want to get into it here as i dont want the answers to be hindered in any way shape or form. i need honest real unhindered answers for this......so i will wait on everyones response. i am actually putting together something pretty cool and have found sooo much just from the previous answers on the other post and i really need honest answers on this one to bring about the results i hope they bring i will share the results of this later. as well as my problems i er my friend was having (which is what started this). this has got to be one of the best experiences i have had since i started piano. almost like an awakening!!!

ok i am getting weirder......

1.[/b] When I'm sad about something. I think, it is because I'm vulnerable at these times. Being vulnerable helps focusing on the music itself, not on the fingering etc. You just perform.

2.[/b] After a near break-up with my girlfriend. Fur Elise. I didn't say wow though, my mind was somewhere else obviously.

2a.[/b] Because I was making music, not pressing the right keys.

3.[/b] I haven't actually tried this, but let me just guess what would happen. I would probably mess up just because this is an experiment meaning my mind would be thinking "OK, let's see if I can play this without any mistakes" or something like that. And when I think about making mistakes, I almost always make mistakes which takes us to question 1 again, that is, I play best when I'm not worried about playing my best. That doesn't mean this method (thinking about your best moments) doesn't help, but I would guess that it would help more if you're performing before an audience since you will feel more confident.

I see you added a question after I answered. I will try that tonight when I practice and let you know how it goes.

BTW, you shouldn't feel like you need to say "this is my last question." Keep asking as many questions as you need to. The act of answering is beneficial for all of us, and it's interesting to read each person's response. So ask as much as you like!

I feel like I'm back in college - this is cool...I agree with Shiro - please continue to make me think - it hurts at first but gets easier with practice......

1 - It has happened a few times and always when I don't expect it. Everything just goes perfect (or at least I "hear" it perfect) - it is a great feeling and I wish I knew why. Seems when I am not trying, just stop at the keyboard and play is when it seems to "work".

2 - When I was practicing a Bach piece working out the kinks and out of nowhere, it was perfect - I could not believe it was me playing.

2a - This is hard to say, but usually I am "working" at playing - this time I just relaxed and it "happened", kinda flowed out my fingers - no thought, just music

3 - OK
3a - No, actually maybe a little worse because I was measuring (thinking) against my version of perfect and I was trying to force it. I know it sounds weird, but if I try, that gets in the way, I think I need to relax more. Might explain why I seem to screw up when I know someone is listening.

3a. Well, I tried this exercise, but I don't think I was doing right, or perhaps I should say that I wasn't doing it in a beneficial way. After I finished, I realized I was distracted, and rather than thinking about how I felt when I've played well, I was just sort of thinking about hose times, kind of the way you'd flip through a card-file. So when I played, it was actually kind of yucky! :rolleyes: I was looking for something, rather than just playing.

Now, this shouldn't be taken to mean that this sort of exercise isn't worth while. All it shows is that misplaced concentration is a bad thing. Duh, as if you needed me to tell you that! :p

1. When I'm not being bothered to do something else. (Externally or internally)

2. I have never said WOW! (I've said, 'That's it' before, but never WOW!)

2a. I'll let you know when it happens edited:

3. n/a

3a. n/a

1. when do you play your best? why?[/b]

When I'm not rushed, tired or thinking too hard about it.

2. when was the best you ever played(another words when you got done you said wow and impressed yourself).[/b]

It's happened twice that I am aware. Once a few months ago, in just one small section of a piece when it just flowed completely freely and (to me, at least) beautifully. And then once again, last week, on another piece that I am in the poishing stage of, and, again, I was just playing it, without thinking consciously about the dynamics and phrasing and all the other stuff I've been working on.

2a. why would you consider that to be the best you ever played?[/b]

Because it pleased ME.

3. now i would ask of you one more thing(please) if you could sit at your piano and think about your special wow time. focus on it for a minute and then play something you are confident in playing.

3a. did you notice any difference in your playing after this?? if so please share[/b]

To some extent, it was worse, because I became kind of hyper-aware that I could do it right, and once that happens, I am not freeing myself to just play- I am trying to play- if you can see the difference there.

thank-you guys for answering my questions. i just thought you guys would get annoyed with me. as i do have more to ask, BUT i was hesitant(tried to keep this one short but i couldnt). there are reasons for 1 and 2 which you probably know led you to 3. i might as well ask more questions just not yet. i would really like a few more answers on this thread put it together then move on to another thread with another set of questions, as i like to really solidify the results i had with experiences you have had.
this is so much fun, if i get annoying with all these questions let me know. thank-you guys again.

i thought i would bump my own posts to hopefully get just a few more answers. and also to share a little about what i have done so far. here is a pic of my note taking.....this is only part of my project. the rest is hands on...and research. anyhow thought i would share this part of it so far....

As always, when I opened my eyes this morning, I was thinking about piano-stuff ( as if I had been thinking about it while sleeping and was carrying it over to my waking up self.) The veryt first thing I thought was "oh I have to tell Funburger that!"

What occurred to my half-awake self is this: your #3 experiment can't work, if you think of "working" as meaning the experiment helps you to play closer to your best. There are two reasons why I thought this.

1) Thinking back to a previous playing experience puts your mind in the past, making you think back to that time. However, what is needed for a good performance is to be fully, 100% present in the here and now. Rather than preparing to play by thinking back, we would probably do better to focus on the present, to bring our minds completely into what we are about to do now, almost as if it was a completely unique event (which it then would become.)

2) Thinking back to a previous experience seems to put you into "comparing" mode, or measuring mode, before you even start to play. From my own experiences, and the comments of others here and elsewhere, it seems that most of us play our best when we are not being judgemental, when we are both not expecting any specific result and not judging the result that is coming alive under our fingers. We may have a performance experience in the past that we think of as our "best" performance. But in the future, we may again play our best, and that performance (even if it's the same piece) may be completely different from the pervious "best" performance, and the ways in which it is "best" might be completely different. So not getting into a judgemental mode is one important element. And the other element is that we need to be open to whatever kind of performance we have in us at that point, to something different from what we've experienced in the past.

Ok, that's just what I was thinking about this morning! I may read through it after another cup of coffee and feel differently, but when I got up I thought it was worth sharing!

Funburger -

You are so special - very unique. I like the picture of your research - scattered about - everywhere on the (I suppose) livingroom floor. *giggle* I hope you recovery from your two black eyes - what wall did you walk into - yikes.

I'll help out here - for your friend - I practice best when I just sit down and do it. With me, I never know when I'm going to do it. Lately I've been really into my music, though. And if I talk with a friend - call a friend - that spurs me on to do my music.... and then I get into it. I don't know what it is about practice... I look at the clock and think I have all the time in the world...

But I tell you one thing that's always the same, once I plant my arse on that cushy piano bench, and turn on my digital and think about one little song I want to play.... it all come flooding in... flooding back to me... the joy of playing a song... any song - an old song, a new song.... anything. Just leaning on those keys and makig them ring... and feeling the music move inside me. I hope you're able to gather enough information and put it in a nice package for whatever other purpose you are doing this project for. Again - feel better... awwww... I wish we have a comfort smiley here.... please image one...

Peace...
Sharon

I have been thinking about this as well, Shiro...perhaps the secret is to remember the feelings and overall relaxation and trying to reproduce those instead of the playing part. I can't wait for Funburger to tell me how sick and in need of professional help I am......

gmm1, thats it!!!! that is exactly where i have been getting at!!! i wanted you guys to dig deeper.....and that you did!!!! YEAH now we can move onto my next set of questions which i will start in another thread....and hope that everyone is ready for it

sharon, you are wiser beyond your years!!! and much to sweet!!! yes i was having some deep troubles....but things are coming together rather nicely. this research that started for my "friend" has gone much deeper than i could have ever imagined and actually expanded to more research and i am beginning to think this process is never ending.... i am trying to get to a point that i dont want to express just yet so lets just leave it at that....and now onto the next thread if everyone is ready....

although i wont start it right this second, as i need to put some stuff together from this one, and i havent taken all my notes just yet.....

1. when do you play your best? why?

I think I play my best after a few days break from the piano. I'm not sure why this is, it may be because my expectations are lower or it may be because I'm so happy with being able to play the piano again after an absence.

2. when was the best you ever played(another words when you got done you said wow and impressed yourself).

This would be difficult to answer, I think I would say it would have been a couple years ago when I taught myself to play a certain Chopin Waltz.

2a. why would you consider that to be the best you ever played?

Probably because it was so much fun to play, it was technically challenging, and "technically fun" to play. Also, I had an enormous sense of accomplishment having learned to play it. (and truth be told, I probably did not play it very well by classical standards)

edited:
3. now i would ask of you one more thing(please) if you could sit at your piano and think about your special wow time. focus on it for a minute and then play something you are confident in playing.

Sorry, I'm at the office now (no piano)

3a. did you notice any difference in your playing after this?? if so please share