Ain't life funny?

[Carey D]

So I haven't touched my mandolin in a week and a half -- then tonight I pick it up and play the cleanest scales I've played in months. What gives? Guess I needed a break or something:-)?

Keep pickin',
Carey D

[ira]

i have found that in the rare times that i've put down my mando in my 2 years of playing. that in the following session (a few days or so later) that i often play well. i attribute it to the joy of playing. maybe you were feeling like it was a little stale and the refresher gave you a breather. i know that for me the joy shines through.

[mandoJeremy]

Yes I understand. Part of it is a mental rest for yourself. After 13 years of playing I can lay it down for a week or two occasionally and it has taken on a new life when I pick it back up.

[sbarnes]

there have been actual scientific studies about this phenomenon.....i can't quote them but....
i was a hs band director for 25 years and know for a fact you can over rehearse something....
if you can get a piece up to performance level then give it a rest....it supposedely 'percolates' in the brain and then when you come back to it the performance will actually be stronger.....the kicker is how much of a rest....too little and no 'percolating' - too much and the performance will not be even as sharp as before the break..
touchy.....

Not sure if it relates, but when I was playing golf a lot and would take a break, I would have a similar experience. #My own theory was that going back after a break, I was much more conservative in what I thought I could do. #The parallel would be that you are mentioning playing scales not the fastest song you've ever played. #You expect to be rusty so you put more thought into being precise.

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

Not sure if it relates, but when I was playing golf a lot and would take a break, I would have a similar experience. #
My golf game was going through a slump, so I just took two weeks off and then quit. More time to play mandolin now.

[Scotti Adams]

..happens to me too.....I even start hearing different ways to do breaks when I am away from it....everybody needs to take a rest once in awhile and come back to it refreshed. its just like anything else..it can get mundane and monontenous....walk away from it when you can...it does your pickin good...probably just as much as the actual act of playing does...

[TeleMark]

Sounds kinda like a "taper." In triathlon or running sports, it's advisable to cut back on training in the time leading up to an event. It allows the muscles to recover (important in playing), and recharges the batteries.

It's always a scary time on triathlon forums in the couple of weeks leading up to an Ironman race... LOTS of bickering and flaming going on, as highly-tuned folks find themselves with more downtime than they are used to, and no good way to burn it up.

TeleMark http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

[London Al]

You need to give your ears and muscles a break now and then.
You get it back together, stronger, after a rest, Like most things in life I reckon.
Al

[mancmando]

i reakon this works for a few reasons:

1) if you haven't played for a while then you forget how nice it sounds, and it is always a real pleasure to play because it sounds so good - hence it sounds like you're playing well

2) I think the nerves in the brain develop slowly, and there is a delayed effect between practicing something, and that practise manifesting itself in improved technique because the brain is developing - hence it can feel like you've improved your technique by doing no practice - also, once you've learnt how to play (which is a real effort), then it takes a really long time to unlearn this - I've also heard that you can practice your technique without playing by mentally playing (ie imagining you are playing), as this reinforces the nerve responses that are required to play.

3) if you haven't played for a while then you get out of the habit of playing those standard licks that you always used to play, which has the effect of taking you out of that rut you were in, and suddenly your playing seems more creative.....

I think this helps to explain this really nice aspect of playing. A useful way of using this is to play 2 instruments and have phases of playing one, then the other.....

[jim simpson]

I love the sound of the mandolin each time I pick it up and play it however I seldom feel inspired to pick it up to play unless I'm gigging with my band or pickin' twice a month at a jam session. I think about practicing by myself to maybe learn new stuff but still don't do it for the most part. I know other players tell me they have to practice all the time to stay in shape so it's hard for me to relate to their situation. Does anyone else experience this? I guess I'm fortunate to have frequent playing opportunities.