Strategies (was: Re: Improv loops (was Re: Upcoming gig)

[Per Boysen <per@boysen.se>]

On Jun 14, 2005, at 21:45, Hartung, Kris wrote:

> Since I started looping and playing mostly improvisational,
> spontaneously composed performances, I don't practice or rehearse for
> them...

That's interesting! I guess it depends on what you actually read into  
the word "practicing"? I like to practice very much, almost all my  
waking time, but more in the essence of "preparing". Sometimes the  
best preparation is to isolate oneself from any music at all and try  
not to hear music in your head all the time. Very difficult, but if  
you only succeed half ways it will pay you back enormously when you  
finally pick up an instrument to improvise. Sometimes I play a lot as  
preparation, but use a different instrument than I will be performing  
with. Or I play a different musical style. One of the greatest  
advices I have ever been given was to never ever practice "the easy  
way"; When you do a mistake during practice, take it seriously. You  
have to do mistakes to avoid them or turn them into something good.  
Do not make a difference between "practicing" and performing!  (By  
"mistake" I'm not talking about a sloppy note here and there, merely  
the attitude of being lazy, delivering a fad expression which leads  
to not feeling inspired by your own playing). Before given that  
advice I did not improve much (musically) by practicing. I'm glad  
things have changed now.

But in a shorter perspective - like the last five to ten minutes  
before you will perform - it may be a good thing to fool around a  
little with the instrument without actually playing anything. Just  
letting your body melt into the instrument while emptying/focusing  
your mind.

I'm very interested in mental attitudes concerning performing and  
practicing, since it seems to play a very big part for what comes out  
as music. I would be delighted to read what others think and what you  
are using for tricks to get it right.

Greetings from Sweden

Per Boysen
www.looproom.com (international)
www.boysen.se (Swedish)
--->  iTunes Music Store (digital)
www.cdbaby.com/perboysen