Getting sloppy

[JTMartin]

Just wondering if anybody else has this problem. Have been playing for over 6 months (guitar player also) have about 25 fiddle tunes under my belt that I can play pretty clean by myself but when I play with a group after an hour or two my playing starts getting sloppy. I don't think its physical because my hands or fingers don't get tired. I'm thinking its more in my brain. By the way I'm 44 which didn't seem that old 10 years ago. Has anyone else noticed they can play better and longer by themselves than with a group?

[JeffD]

What I have noticed is that some of the folks in the jams I attend like to push the speed up so fast that I am compelled to play faster than I can, which makes me sloppy. At home I play as fast as I want, and no faster.

But speed aside, my playing is a little sharper and more precise in front of a group. I think it is the adrenalie giving me better focus.

[Bertram Henze]

Normally, I experience the reverse effect: starting with cold muscles gives me sloppy kickoff, getting easier and faster as the hours go by. Maybe your fellow musicians have that, too, thus playing slowly at first but running away on you later, like JeffD suggested. In that case, it would not be something in your brain, but in theirs. This could be verified by letting a silent metronome run along (do the jigs start at, say, 120 and later go up to 140?).

If true, this can be taken care of by practising higher speeds with a metronome and, if neccessary, building shortcuts into difficult passages and thereby have emergency highspeed versions of the tunes (I do this all the time to have my OM keep pace with the fiddles).

Bertram

[gnelson651]

I have some lower back problems so while my hands and fingers are not tired, other parts of my body can be affected. This will affect your playing in what is called muscle sympathy, especially in your neck and shoulder area. My playing at home is not affected because I'm sitting down while practicing.

I carry around a portable camp stool (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=39329808&memberId=12500226&storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1) and use it to sit on when I start to feel tension while jamming. They're light weight, quick to set up and take down and can be clipped to your case or belt for easy carrying.