Double Bass should I wind down practice routine before exam

[marvin spangles]

Hi Guys
I am doing grade 8 in a weeks time. My practice routine has been an hour of scales then working on the pieces for about an hour and a half.
this may not be much for a lot of serious pros but its a lot for me. I was wondering if I'd benefit from winding down a little a few days before the exam. Any advice welcome. i was noticing a light numbness in my left hand finger tips at the beginning of my practice schedule when I am doing slurred scales. It disappears after I have warmed up.

 

[Eli_Upright12]

Hi Guys
I am doing grade 8 in a weeks time. My practice routine has been an hour of scales then working on the pieces for about an hour and a half.
this may not be much for a lot of serious pros but its a lot for me. I was wondering if I'd benefit from winding down a little a few days before the exam. Any advice welcome. i was noticing a light numbness in my left hand finger tips at the beginning of my practice schedule when I am doing slurred scales. It disappears after I have warmed up.

I had that happen too. I think that's just your circulation getting going. I always noticed it happened more if I was practicing in a cold area, it never happened during the summer.

 

[Illfavor]

I have had that numbness issue as well, also only in cold environments. I would consult a physician, as any numbness can be a sign of serious neurological issues.

I wouldn't change your practice routine unless it's negatively affecting your life in other ways.

 

[David Potts]

One of my professional colleagues used what he called his Three Times Theory before auditions. He practiced his music until he could play the entire audition material straight through three times to his satisfaction before he felt fully prepared. His theory was that when he got nervous on the day he might lose two of the three but would still have one strong performance left in the tank!! He has been a very successful auditionee, becoming Principal Double Bass in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra aged 29. On the audition day he could not put a finger wrong.

I would think that after all the scale playing you have done you could afford to cut back to, say. two side-by side scales (eg E and F) in Major and two minors, with arpeggios that add Dominant and Diminished 7ths too. You could mix in core bowings and different bowing styles, a range of accents and crescendo/diminuendo control.

At this late stage spend only enough time warming up to prepare mentally and physically to do high-quality practice. Devote the remaining time to being so strong with the music that you can't fall apart on the day when nerves kick in. Put a bracket around any passage that is still giving problems and work slowly backwards and forwards through it until you are finger-sure and the notes all speak properly. Play your pieces many times through with your accompanist (also in the exam venue if possible). Play your pieces for anyone who will listen.

Pins and needles (numbness) in your thumb and first few fingers can be traced back to pressure on the nerves where they exit the spine and can be the result of poor posture (my problem). They might also be the result of pronating your left wrist too much, being too tense or just pushing yourself too hard. My way of getting rid of them quickly is to drop my hand by my side and relax while correcting my posture. If they persist get them checked out by a physiotherapistl. There are arm and shoulder stretches to do that can help both your muscles and nerves.

Break a leg!! (another, actor's way of saying Good Luck!)

DP

 

[marvin spangles]

Thanks guys and David in particular for your advice.
Sensible stuff.
yes I have made a backing track of the accompaniments and am practicing with these at slower tempi and then at performance tempi. I try to play through regardless of errors to see if I have both the mental and physical stamina.
thanks again.