Hector Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Promise not to take the mickey yeah? Over the course of the last year I've gradually been thinking more and more about a broader approach to improving myself as a bass player. Mostly, this involves doing a lot more exercise with the logic being that I'll be a better bass player if I'm fitter - fuller awareness of my own body, especially in terms of having a stronger core, which gives me better posture when standing to play. I've noticed some lovely improvements - it started with stretching before gigs/practising and has now snowballed. I've also been practising mindfulness meditation (don't worry, not at kale smoothie drinking, collecting ptolemy from baby yoga class, yin yang tatoo on my wrist level) which was for other less fun reasons, and have found that it really helps my playing/improvising/practising mindset in a number of ways. Is anyone else thinking in these terms? Am I barking up the wrong tree here? I do really feel that it's almost impossible to separate the musical aspects of my life from the rest, but it's not really spoken about that much (or least I haven't heard it discussed). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Hughes Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Absolutely. You should get in touch with a guy called Dave Kane on Facebook. Awesome upright player and yoga teacher, based in Leeds. Give him a shout, I'm sure he'll be happy to get into the finer details of it with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 I've just had a massive full english and my upright playing is awful so you could be on to something! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbie Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 You are totally right, it applies to all things as you say, not just playing bass. Be a healthy, serene person, and all things you do will improve as a result. You still need to practice scales though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtroun Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 I think of it more like cross-training. Being a rugby fan, I know the players don't spend all week bashing into each other but spend a lot of time working on their fitness. So being fed up with not having the stamina I really need I've been running regularly. I also sing in a choir and do a fair amount of sight-singing practice as part of my routine in the interests of developing my ears and overall musicality. I also spend a lot of time developing my internet chops (d'oh!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slumjacket Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 I think there's something to be said for health and meditation in relation to musical study. I haven't been playing DB long but I've already come to realise that you need a bit of physical strength and stamina whilst trying to relax and focus on what you're playing. Il often practice just long notes with the bow, sounds a bit boring but of you focus on the tone it's almost like meditating... I think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rOB Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Can't see how taking good care of yourself could hurt your playing. Let us know hoe you get on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah thomas Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Couldn't agree more - I do gentle back exercises, have stopped smoking and drink less than I used to - all to further upright bass playing. I feel a lot better too. It's easier to put in the daily practice without the aches and pains and general muzziness of the head ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 [quote name='Hector' timestamp='1424528243' post='2697346'] Promise not to take the mickey yeah? Over the course of the last year I've gradually been thinking more and more about a broader approach to improving myself as a bass player. Mostly, this involves doing a lot more exercise with the logic being that I'll be a better bass player if I'm fitter - fuller awareness of my own body, especially in terms of having a stronger core, which gives me better posture when standing to play. I've noticed some lovely improvements - it started with stretching before gigs/practising and has now snowballed. I've also been practising mindfulness meditation (don't worry, not at kale smoothie drinking, collecting ptolemy from baby yoga class, yin yang tatoo on my wrist level) which was for other less fun reasons, and have found that it really helps my playing/improvising/practising mindset in a number of ways. Is anyone else thinking in these terms? Am I barking up the wrong tree here? I do really feel that it's almost impossible to separate the musical aspects of my life from the rest, but it's not really spoken about that much (or least I haven't heard it discussed). [/quote] Completely with this and finding more people coming round to it. We all want to keep playing for as long as possible, and the more we look after ourselves only benefits this. Embrace the kale smoothies What you put into your body really matters as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah thomas Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 On the opposite side of the coin, I've just smashed myself in the lip trying to put my bass in its case whilst worrying about work, trying to cook dinner and pour the coffee. Bah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owencf Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I get the distinct feeling my situation will be changing, how does one fit practice in when progeny arrive? i seriously hadnt thought this whole pregnancy thing through. But yeah healthier living, and a less stressy environment help me practice. Now to just win lotto, buy an Island somewhere near Shetland so i can sandbag up and practice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbie Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Babies love double basses Owen. For the past 2 years I have been practicing when my daughter is asleep, she never ever stirs. Its great to see how the sound of the bass to her is a comforting thing of normality as it is for music in general. You're gonna have a great time. PS- I played in Shetland in November once: living there at that time of year is not for the faint hearted... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hector Posted March 11, 2015 Author Share Posted March 11, 2015 (edited) Thanks for the support gang. Gareth, have added Dave on FB. I think yoga might be a natural progression on my healthy eating/living side of things. It's going pretty well - the exercise is really helping me feel generally more energetic, and a bit more sprightly playing - did a 7 hour round train journey bass in tow for a 2hour lesson and a 3 hour non-stop house bass session at a jam night. Feeling fine today! The mindfulness stuff is really great, in a lot of different ways that I'm still discovering. One quite striking thing that it's helped with already is really listening to my own body. I generally think that there's no "right way" to play the bass in some respects, and what you need to do is find a way that works for your body's construction. Part of playing the bass requires the building of strength, and this can sometimes be a bit sore - it helps being a bit more able to distinguish between bad sore (technique that doesn't work for me) and good sore (building strength and facility on the instrument). It's a different sort of headspace - focus rather than concentration (which implies effort). I've been using this as a guide, which I strongly recommend if anyone's interested in mindfulness at all: [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mindfulness-practical-guide-finding-frantic/dp/074995308X"]http://www.amazon.co...c/dp/074995308X[/url] Perhaps when I've been at it for 6 months or so I'll report back on progress in more detail p.s. Congrats Owen! Edited March 11, 2015 by Hector Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeEvans Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Yehudi Menuhin did a lot of yoga and he got to play with Ravi Shankar, Astor Piazzolla, Benjamin Britten, Edward Elgar, William Walton and Wilhelm Furtwangler as well as hanging out with Stefan Grappelli in cool jazz clubs in Paris. So you won't go too far wrong there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luulox Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 I might try the book as I seem to spend quite a lot of my time stressed or worrying! Can't hurt 😊 Cheers Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 [quote name='JoeEvans' timestamp='1426180926' post='2715373'] Yehudi Menuhin did a lot of yoga and he got to play with Ravi Shankar, Astor Piazzolla, Benjamin Britten, Edward Elgar, William Walton and Wilhelm Furtwangler as well as hanging out with Stefan Grappelli in cool jazz clubs in Paris. So you won't go too far wrong there... [/quote] But it didn't do anything for his jazz, did it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 (edited) I've not done it for bass playing reasons, but planking has definitely strengthened my core. I generally feel stronger all around, and I'm sure it's benefitted my back. It only occasionally twinged a bit before. But since planking, it feels solid as a rock now. EDIT: I'm not sure how I found this thread in EUB and Double Bass. I thought that I was answering an Off Topic post. Edited March 12, 2015 by Annoying Twit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeEvans Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 [quote name='bassace' timestamp='1426184706' post='2715433'] But it didn't do anything for his jazz, did it? [/quote] Who knows - it might have been even worse without the yoga! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatback Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 Totally agree with this. It's going to take me so long to learn to play this thing that I need some seriously extended life span. Can I add Ginseng and hormones stolen from a spring lamb? And all this effort could have been avoided if I'd started at two years of age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 Great thread - the OP is absolutely on the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatback Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 (edited) For anyone interested in what might be going on in the brain with this mindfulness business: [url="http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2014/06/12/what-does-mindfulness-meditation-do-to-your-brain/"]http://blogs.scienti...-to-your-brain/[/url] Been telling myself for ages to take it up. Just what I need. Edited March 25, 2015 by fatback Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 A close associate of mine is a mindfulness coach and published author....its very interesting indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 Mindfullness is marmite. It was rolled out locally as a training event and some think it is the answer to everything whilst others think it is a load of old b*ll*cks. Bit like rap I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Sausage Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1427449458' post='2730426'] Mindfullness is marmite. It was rolled out locally as a training event and some think it is the answer to everything whilst others think it is a load of old b*ll*cks. Bit like rap I guess. [/quote] Ha ha, I can get down with this. Also with the yin and yang thing there must be an argument for being unfit, use of drink and drugs etc. Thinking about it some of the very best musicians were wreckheads! I'll stay on that side. You know, just to keep balance. I'll be the yang to the yin. Plus it's a bit easier, less sweating! I don't actually play upright either! so that makes it even easier! Edited March 27, 2015 by Lord Sausage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatback Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1427449458' post='2730426'] Mindfullness is marmite. It was rolled out locally as a training event and some think it is the answer to everything whilst others think it is a load of old b*ll*cks. Bit like rap I guess. [/quote] Check the article above. Biology, not marmite. But mindfulness is a lot simpler, it seems, than the baloney that some people surround it with. And like most technical exercises it can be done well or badly, i guess. Very effective against chronic anxiety, the evidence seem to say. Then again, so is playing the double bass. Or maybe that just collects all your anxieties into one easily managed package. Edited March 27, 2015 by fatback Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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