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Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...

Ruknrole

Ruknrole

Professional Amateur
Sep 21, 2018
660
1,904
youtube.com
#1
Today I just happen to do a 180 from the amp and look up, and I caught myself in the mirror. This reminded me of an interview I saw of Steve Vai, where he said that he looked at himself in the mirror all the time when practicing, because he wanted to practice looking cool, or something to that effect. I always thought that was kind of corny, and maybe even vain.

The funny thing is I kept looking, not because I was looking at myself, but because I was looking at how awesome my Bass looked. I also noticed that my fretting hand looked a bit tense while practicing “one finger per fret” technique, and proceeded to relax it. This made me realize right away that looking at yourself in the mirror while practicing could be a great tool to improve on technique. Kind of watching film but in real-time.

Anyways, got me wondering if any of you look at yourself in the mirror when practicing (or did at one point), either as an aid or just to admire your Bass? Or do I just add this as an item on my crazy list?

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#4
Yes, I used to, in order to check my technique. Learned this while I studied classical guitar. My old guitar professor used to say, "what looks good, sounds good". And with "looking good" he meant that the movements of the hands should be as minimal, calm and efficient as possible. In my opinion and experience he was right, so I transferred this advice to my bass playing too.
 
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#9
Actors, dancers, runway models, magicians, pickpockets, cardsharps, politicians, and similar criminals all practice in front of mirrors.

Since what we do takes a little from each of the above disciplines, why shouldn’t we take advantage of the same training tools?

Music aside, I’ve found a mirror a very effective reinforcer for helping maintain the weight loss I recently achieved. ;)
 
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#10
I have used a mirror for practicing to determine how to maintain minimum left hand movement. I can see / notice unnecessary movement from the front view better than I can from the “above” view. There’s also some kind of mental / visual link to playing and watching the mirror image of the left hand that helps reinforce patterns of difficult passages. I can think / play through the part a few times without watching, then watch my left hand looking like a right hand a few times and I learn the part quicker. I’m sure there is an explanation that uses formal terms, but I don’t know those terms, I just know it helps my brain and hand figure out how to work together a little quicker.
 
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#12
My gigs for the last ten years have all been on videoed and posted on line or broadcast. I learned a great deal by watching them. As a result, very early on, I became very aware of my appearance ( posture, smiling and making my actual enjoyment and engagement with the music visually apparent)

So I was practicing in front of a mirror ( in this case I was trying to address a posture and technique issue) and my wife saw me and said “ what are you doing, practicing looking cool?”

I replied, “ no, I am practicing not looking stupid “

That has always been my first goal.
 
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#13
Ruknrole said:
Today I just happen to do a 180 from the amp and look up, and I caught myself in the mirror. This reminded me of an interview I saw of Steve Vai, where he said that he looked at himself in the mirror all the time when practicing, because he wanted to practice looking cool, or something to that effect. I always thought that was kind of corny, and maybe even vain.

The funny thing is I kept looking, not because I was looking at myself, but because I was looking at how awesome my Bass looked. I also noticed that my fretting hand looked a bit tense while practicing “one finger per fret” technique, and proceeded to relax it. This made me realize right away that looking at yourself in the mirror while practicing could be a great tool to improve on technique. Kind of watching film but in real-time.

Anyways, got me wondering if any of you look at yourself in the mirror when practicing (or did at one point), either as an aid or just to admire your Bass? Or do I just add this as an item on my crazy list?

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I do sometimes. My wife laughs at me, and calls me a narcissist. Hahaha. Im just checkin my shizzi yo!
 
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#19
Mirrors. Yes, you can definitely Walter Mitty yourself prancing, pouting, and perfecting your strut (ha!). But really, it IS invaluable to watching your hands in a way you just can't do otherwise, a vantage point you just can't get otherwise to see some wonky things your hands may be doing.

The follow-on to this to REALLY break yourself of watching your hands or relying on the side dots, etc., to tell you where you are? You can either wait till after dark or do it anytime if you have a windowless room where you practice . . . . . turn off the lights and play in the pitch black. You'll be surprised that your hands will know where you are better than you thought they would and will absolutely break you of ever watching your hands again.
 
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