Playing and practicing takes a great deal of effort and time from a person.
Sometimes, one has to be ready to put things to rest and energize, regroup one's thoughts, and come back to playing with a rejuvenated and healthy attitude.
On one occasion, as I went to one of my cello lessons before I even began playing, my teacher felt it was best not to have the lesson for that day. I must have looked tired, and he must have picked up on that.
I have often discussed the value of practicing one's instrument to make progress. It is equally important, however, to understand the importance of resting and letting go.
The idea of resting is not, however, limited to the moments when we are exhausted from the rehearsals or the performances. It also applies to different situations when young students begin playing an instrument.
When I started teaching my daughter to play the cello, she was about six. Two minutes into the lesson, she would say, "Mommy, can we do this tomorrow?" This led her to choose another instrument, and in the end, she began learning to play the clarinet instead. I had to let things be, and that allowed us to make a sound decision.
Placing the left-hand fingers on the cello can be challenging initially, and I realized that she had felt uncomfortable. She was not ready to deal with the instrument's demands. I had to stop trying to teach her because I wanted her to love playing music.
Nowadays, my daughter comes home and runs to her room so she can practice her clarinet. It was not always like that when I asked her to practice. However, there are days when she tells me that she needs to take a break. And we make allowance for these days.
Consequently, even though it is important to stay consistent with one's practicing routines, it is also essential to remain flexible and know when to
take a much-needed break.
A similar situation occurred to me last Monday when, after a problematic rehearsal, I realized that I had to stop practicing altogether. I needed to clear my head and resume my practice the following day. I did so the next day and felt much more successful than if I had pushed myself hard into practicing.
Another incident was when my older daughter had to choose between continuing her studies in cello or trombone playing. When she had two things going simultaneously, it became too much for her. She had to make a choice.
Having said all that, rest for too long would not be recommended, as the hands need to work out to be in shape. It is also the case that taking rests can vary from person to person. Therefore, it's important to respect individual needs and understand that no one formula applies to everybody. One can take common-sense measures between having a consistent practicing routine and a rest period.
Therefore, take some time out next time you need some well-deserved rest.
How do you pace yourself between practicing and resting? Please share with us in the comments below.
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