I have reflected on this question before, but more specifically, what can be done about a passage or passages you have been working on, and your efforts have not yielded the results you had been hoping for. That is to say that day after day, you came back to the exact phrase, and the same difficulties and challenges persisted in haunting your practice sessions. You were unable to achieve consistency in the intonation, bowing, phrasing, sound quality, or all of the above. And should you have put in a great deal of time and effort into something, and it is still not happening to your liking, then it is time for a change of pace and style in the way you work.
Apart from consulting your teacher and/or another professional, one thing you can do is to walk away from the problem, at least for a few days. And you can do the latter if you have put in enough effort. That does not mean to stop practicing or giving up on the attainment of the goal. It also does not mean that you abandon the project, as it might be an assignment given by your teacher, or it might be a part you need to prepare for an ensemble or an excerpt for an orchestra.
You can return to basics by playing your scales, etudes, and exercises.
By doing so, you also must observe your habits. Have you developed habits that you could do without? Sometimes, when we are anxious to acquire the sound we are looking for, it can contribute to tension issues, and some unnecessary gestures might develop along the way. By simplifying our routine, we can observe closely such behaviors and make the necessary corrections.
You must also share these concerns with your teacher to be able to find solutions to these issues. Your teacher might be able to suggest possible solutions that might take you longer to discover on your own.
Another way is to also work on another piece or composition, a sonata you are required to learn, to get your mind off the difficulty you were facing in the piece in question. At the end of your practice, go back and rework some of the problematic passages you encountered challenges with to see if there are any changes.
The idea is basically to remove the focus from the problematic situation and establish a more positive attitude toward it. Things will be much better when you return the following day or days, and review what you have been doing and practice some more. If there are lingering issues, identify the problem again.
What is causing the difficulty?
Is it because when you shift on the string, you are not keeping your steadiness, as in cello playing, for example? Or you are changing the angle of your hand, wrist, and arm, which is wasting your time as you shift.
If the problem has to do with bowing, you can also incorporate the bowing of the phrase into your scale routine and practice it that way.
Is the problem intonation, rhythm, or sound quality? Isolate it and work on that.
The important thing is not to let go of the determination to achieve the passage as perfectly as possible.
Repetition is a key component in practicing, but it is also common knowledge that practicing the same mistake over and over will not help our cause. Therefore, pause, stay calm, and try again. Observe your hand, your posture, and make sure that you are relaxed and poised, as these things affect your playing.
And after working hard, it is essential to relax, let go by taking a walk and admire nature. Our mindset is vital as well, if we think something is hard it is likely to be so, but we think of it as easy then we can find a way to make it work for us. I have often told this to my daughters (trombonist and clarinetist) and other students when I coach them and they encounter demanding passages and this regardless of what instruments they play.
Think easy and not difficult.
As for me, I am enjoying the sun pouring into my office right at this moment and will be heading off to my practice room soon.
How do you solve your technical difficulties? Have you encountered a similar situation? Please share with us in the comments below.
And Happy Practicing!
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