Page 1 of 1

What do you listen for when listening to yourself

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2019 5:52 am
by dopey
That felt a bit inceptionish..

Since starting to play again, I've tried to always record my sessions. Thinking it be valuable to listen to myself, and improve as a player. I have either a daily train commute or car ride, so sometimes just listen through my prior days practice session on the way to work.

For those that do this; what are you listening for? What are some examples of what you may try the next practice to improve __ thing you heard on the recording?

What i've noticed thus far:
1.) Can really hear the drop off in air when going higher -- Tells me I should focus more on air.
2.) My attacks are not nearly as centered as i'd like pitch wise. -- Scales, Appregios
3.) Lack of confidence when playing a given note comes is very noticeable whether due to unfamiliarity on Eb or realizing mid-buzz I am playing the wrong fingering(due to learning Eb..)-- Play more confident

Re: What do you listen for when listening to yourself

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2019 9:10 am
by timayer
In general, I try to listen to whether I am executing the musical line, i.e., making an understandable and clear statement. Recording myself is invaluable for that. Whatever I hear in the recording that is lackluster becomes what I work on, i.e., the specific thing I am listening for. Then back to recording, etc...

I have always found that hearing myself outside my own head is difficult. I know what I'm trying to do, so I am inclined to hear that I did it. Sort of like how parents can understand their toddlers' speech when no one else can. You know what they're saying, so you hear it clearly, despite it needing further refinement. Once I've heard an issue on a recording, however, I CAN hear it in my playing and can fix it.

Anything can be an issue with a line - Intonation, tone, rhythm/beat, dynamics, you name it. But if you simply listen to the music, you'll hear what's missing. And if you record yourself, what's missing from what you expected/intended is glaring. If I notice I'm consistently missing the same thing (i.e., my pedal range is consistently badly articulated), I'll bust out with exercises. But I also try not to over-diagnose and make an exercise out of every mistake I make. If I always play a passage how I want and miss it one time, I don't care.