I find that when I’m playing a set of two or three tunes, three times each, I tire out quite easily. I get to the last tune and although I might know it well enough, I just have to stop playing…
This is a problem, especially if I’ve started a set in a session. I also accompany a bodhran class, so I’m playing solo for the bodhran students who are playing along with me, and I get really tired!!
Does this happen to anybody else? Is this something I’ll develop over more time? Am I just too stressed out when I’m playing?
I know when I start a new instrument, I usually don’t relax enough, but after (usually a long) while I become more confident and relax with it. Maybe you just need a little more confidence to relax with your playing. I usually don’t get tired out. My problem is that my whistle ends up getting too clogged, so I have to stop. Or, if that doesn’t happen I just start to space out, and I start screwing up. (I’ve tried the soap trick, but I’m of the drool school of thought, and I mostly just need to stop putting so much spit into my whistle. )
Oh, yes. It’s especially maddening when you’re doing a long set and you’ve been playing well above your normal level - and you do some silly flub at the end.
Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, I call it.
I agree with Danner that very often the problem is that I tense up - the more I’m able to relax when I play, the less likely I am to make silly/embarassing flubs caused by overtension.
yeah, I’m running into this too, although it’s more of a factor for me on flute than whistle. I’ve been trying to buff up my concentration so to speak by playing sets of jigs with a metronome. I try to keep it rather slow, between 80 and 90 bpm, and start by playing 2 jigs 2 times through without blundering it all up. Then I’ll throw in a third jig, and eventually try to play them all 3 times. It’s been challenging, but things are improving.
I’m good at that especially if I just nailed a particularly difficult part. Then I give myself a little cheer in my head for making it through and I’ll mess up on the easy part that comes a few notes later because I was excited.
I have been playing a little high C wooden whistle and just got a low F Alba. My fingers feel like they’re going to drop off with the stretch and not being able to use the tips to cover the holes. It’s very tiring, but i’m sure it’ll be worth beefing up my skinny arms for.
I remember last year when i first started on classical guitar, my left shoulder would only last about two minutes before i had to stop. Now i’m up to about 15 minutes.
)
especially if I just nailed a particularly difficult part. Then I give myself a little cheer in my head for making it through and I’ll mess up on the easy part that comes a few notes later because I was excited.