Staying in the game: The best practices, attitudes, metacognitive strategies, and intrinsic motivations of aging musicians
  • Home
  • Events
  • About the Author
  • Contact
  • Solo Piano

LIVE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Drumming Injury, Piano Injury; A body reaches it's limit

11/28/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
They say you don't know your limits until you reach them. This week I reached the physical limit of my body, in it's current shape. Yes, I hurt. Upper extremities including shoulder muscles are sore.

The causes:
  1. Too much practice, too many rehearsals, too many shows. 
  2. Not enough sleep.
  3. Not enough exercise in the last while.
  4. Too much stress from life.
  5. Diet is a little off with too much sugar and caffeine. 
  6. Some faulty technique on the drum set.

The cure:
  1. Get more sleep.
  2. Just say no.
  3. Back to regular workouts.
  4. Review the book above, one more time, for some coaching and encouragement
  5. After Wednesday, I'll take a few days off the instruments.
  6. Stretching before playing from now on.
  7. Stretching after playing from now on.
  8. Review the Moeller technique on the drums. Rock music is punishing to play at any age, but especially at this age. 
  9. Take some time off at Christmas for some R&R
  10. Get a massage from a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT).

I hope someone reading this will find this helpful. 

Cheers,

David Story
www.davidstory.ca


0 Comments

Starting from scratch at 70

11/21/2016

0 Comments

 
She takes up the drums and 70, now 72 she plays in two jazz bands. Go girl! Proof below.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/more-older-adults-learn-its-never-too-late-to-pick-up-a-musical-instrument/2016/11/10/628857ec-a570-11e6-8fc0-7be8f848c492_story.html

Benefits:

"Research shows that music stimulates the brain and enhances memory in older people. In one study, adults aged 60 to 85 without previous musical experience showed improved verbal fluency and processing speed after a few months of weekly piano lessons." Jennifer Bugos, assistant professor of music education at the University of South Florida 

I say imagine what it does for those who keep playing throughout their lives.

Cheers,

​David

0 Comments

Practicing in our mature years

11/12/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Goals and Pacing are what counts.

Goals: Having a clear idea of what is most important at any given time is the key to not wasting our precious time and energies. We need goals in a couple of areas.
  1. Immediate practice goals to be ready for our next performance
  2. Intermediate practice goals to keep ourselves in top musical shape technically
  3. Ongoing goals to maintain our repertoire
  4. Goals to grow musically, even as our bodies slow down
Growth can continue until we decide not to. There are always ways to stay excited and motivated. See some of the other previous posts for more.

Pacing: Spaced repetition
  1. Preserves energy
  2. Maximizes retention
  3. Saves time
The following "Guardian" article explains that "Using spaced repetition as a study technique is effective because you are deliberately hacking the way your brain works"

It also works as a practice tactic. 

Final thought: "What is the one thing that would make the biggest difference in your musical competency? This is your highest value activity? 
  • Phrasing
  • Comping
  • Time
  • Tuning
  • Sight reading
  • Repertoire depth
Here our mine.
  1. Piano, mastering the Royal Conservatory of Music piano repertoire books. Why? This will keep my piano skills in top shape. Secondly, it will add real value to my lessons.
  2. Drums, mastering and refining my time sense. As Terry Clarke says, "it's all about time". Feel comes from time. No time, no feel, no groove, no gigs.
Cheers,

David Story

My next performance is Sunday November 27 2016 in Toronto Ontario New Music and Dance. Details: http://luminousgestures.weebly.com/ 



0 Comments

One for the mature team: 416 Festival 2016, Toronto Ontario

11/5/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
The old guys still have the stuff. Tonight in Toronto at the 416 Festival Terry Clarke, Bruce Cassidy, Glen Hall, Kieran Overs, and David Story took to the stage. I figure everyone had between 40 and 55+years of playing experience. Let's think, that is 250+ years of collective experience. Yikes! And they still play like young guys, full of beans and ready to play.

How do they do it?

I'll speak for myself first.
  1. I'm in shape physically and musically.
  2. I like the guys I was performing with.
  3. I feel part of the musical community I was playing for.

What I observed in the guys today at both rehearsal and later on stage.
  1. They like each other. They have a long shared history going back decades. The banter and teasing is hilarious.  They've played together in the Boss Brass, Dr. Music, Gil Evans Orchestra and lots more. They have stories to share. And, they share them, non-stop.
  2. They keep musically active and creatively engaged. 
  3. They are apparently fearless on stage. Strong and confident, the kind of confidence that comes from years of experience. 

My conclusions?
  1. Take care of yourself.
  2. Stay in the game.
  3. Surround yourselves with community.
  4. Try some new things. Some of the guys were relatively new to the kind of music we played tonight. They had a go at it with gusto.

​David Story

0 Comments

    Author

    David Story: Professional pianist, drummer, composer, and educator. Well into his 5th enthusiastic musical decade, David works with adults pursuing musical dreams in the autumn of life, while he maintains an active presence in the Toronto arts scene.

    Categories

    All
    Attitude Adjustment
    Covid 19 Avoidance
    Covid-19 Avoidance
    FADE/DISSOLVE: Cinematic Noise Trio
    Fitness After Age 60
    Goal Setting For Seniors
    Great Music Teachers
    Healthy Aging
    Marketing
    Old Dog New Tricks
    Practicing And The "Rage To Master"
    Renewal After 60
    Reviews
    Stories
    Surviving Covid 19
    Time Management

    Archives

    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Events
  • About the Author
  • Contact
  • Solo Piano