Double Bass tired and cool down...

[foilracer]

I looked around a bit but didn't find a specific answer to "at end of a practice session you'd like to play one or two more arco passages...what kind of exercise/ excerpt would (should) you play?" Any one have some suggestions? Thanks!

 

[wathaet]

I looked around a bit but didn't find a specific answer to "at end of a practice session you'd like to play one or two more arco passages...what kind of exercise/ excerpt would (should) you play?" Any one have some suggestions? Thanks!

Many of my brass and wind colleagues tend to be very disciplined about this. Often very basic stuff, long notes, controlled tapers etc.
Thanks for asking, it reminds me that I should probably do this as well. After rehersal it is usually a scramble to get home at the end of the day, but in my practise sessions I could end better.

 

[foilracer]

Many of my brass and wind colleagues tend to be very disciplined about this. Often very basic stuff, long notes, controlled tapers etc.
Thanks for asking, it reminds me that I should probably do this as well. After rehersal it is usually a scramble to get home at the end of the day, but in my practise sessions I could end better.

Good suggestion...at the end of daily practice I've used my "memory" excerpts but sometimes they don't go well and I think I may do more harm than good. It makes sense that we should finish everything in a positive way...long tones and quiet...does anyone use a "psychological" trick as well? It is also important to end with some desire to get started the next day...any tips I'm missing?

 

[s van order]

I looked around a bit but didn't find a specific answer to "at end of a practice session you'd like to play one or two more arco passages...what kind of exercise/ excerpt would (should) you play?" Any one have some suggestions? Thanks!

Cool question, I look forward to reading responses. I close practice with slow whole bows, close to the bridge, and verrry slow vibrato, wah wah wah. Sometimes I then play a slow simple ballad like Shenandoah. It sort of cools down the muscles and prepares me to exit the practice bubble.

 

[LouisF]

I'm strictly an amateur senior citizen, but I try and end with some section (even if it's just a few phrases) of the Bach suites, not so much for how it ends my practice, but for how it sends me out of the room and into the "real" world

 

[Don Kasper]

I'm strictly an amateur senior citizen, but I try and end with some section (even if it's just a few phrases) of the Bach suites, not so much for how it ends my practice, but for how it sends me out of the room and into the "real" world

It also re-establishes your "Alpha Male Street Cred" within the Bass section!

 

[LouisF]

Exactly!

 

[foilracer]

I'm strictly an amateur senior citizen, but I try and end with some section (even if it's just a few phrases) of the Bach suites, not so much for how it ends my practice, but for how it sends me out of the room and into the "real" world

Thanks bassists!....great answers to my question and also addressing "getting done with the session" ...as I've never given it a proper thought other than "I'm done"...or I'm glad that's over or...what's for dinner? I really like the idea of leaving the bubble and returning to the world in a civilized manner...next big step is to leave rehearsals with a good attitude more often.

 

[oldNewbie]

Thanks bassists!.... I really like the idea of leaving the bubble and returning to the world in a civilized manner...next big step is to leave rehearsals with a good attitude more often.

Thanks for bringing this up. Hey teachers, I've got limited time (2 hrs ish in my day) to practice generally. My first hour is crammed with long tones, the Strokin' book ,scales, mechanics stuff. Rep and "band practice" then as long as I've got.... but think I could move , say long tones to the end ? Bowings? I'll ask my teacher next week anyway, but am interested in your views.
And leaving every session, whatever it is, with a good attitude, thanks for that.

 

[David Potts]

We musicians spend hours on our instruments and need to take good care of our bodies and posture. I would think about finishing (and prior to beginning) practice and performance with some exercises and stretches. The LH and fingers can warm up on the strings but what about the rest. Some simple exercises before playing will get the blood flowing where needed. Playing a string instrument pulls and rolls the shoulders forward and over time we tend to become more hollow chested and round shouldered. Our heads and necks twist and pull back. Muscles tend to shorten and stiffen as we cool down. This is where a few minutes of stretching will help.

I will pull together and scan the material I have and come back to this thread later with attachments.

 

[jsf729]

We musicians spend hours on our instruments and need to take good care of our bodies and posture. I would think about finishing (and prior to beginning) practice and performance with some exercises and stretches. The LH and fingers can warm up on the strings but what about the rest. Some simple exercises before playing will get the blood flowing where needed. Playing a string instrument pulls and rolls the shoulders forward and over time we tend to become more hollow chested and round shouldered. Our heads and necks twist and pull back. Muscles end to shorten and stiffen as we cool down. This is where a few minutes of stretching will help.

I will pull together and scan the material I have and come back to this thread later with attachments.

Looking forward to what you have to offer David. As I'm getting older, I'm feeling the necessity for some good stretching exercises. Something tells me this isn't going to get any easier!

 

[Neil Pye]

I often play scales at the beginning of a session, but always leave arpeggios to the end. Slowish 3 octave arpeggios are a stress free way of ending a session, in my experience. I do agree though, an exit plan is a great idea, and stretches sound like a good plan too!

 

[Ggordon]

I looked around a bit but didn't find a specific answer to "at end of a practice session you'd like to play one or two more arco passages...what kind of exercise/ excerpt would (should) you play?" Any one have some suggestions? Thanks!

Hi!
Interesting question but difficult to answer without proper context.
It depends is the best answer I can come up with.
What are your goals? What level are you? When do you practice? What do you do now at the end of a session? How long are your practice sessions?
I do different things based on my work.
Sometimes a run through, other times I continue what I am doing because I am in a good flow state. Sometimes the clock just runa out and I gotta go.

 

[David Potts]

Here I am again with stretches, and some more exercises to follow soon. DP

 

[LouisF]

This is pretty much in line with David's recommendations:

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[Ggordon]

Actually I do not think there is much evidence that stretching actually is beneficial for injury prevention and or rehab.
I do not mean to stir it up but there just is not any real proof that it works.
This goes for all that foam rolling and fascia work as well.

That being said there is much to say for the routine of self care and its placebo effects.
A short google search will bring up much in defense of this.
I think the stretching ritual creates a vehicle for self awareness. Stretching does little for muscles and tendons in the long term.
If anything the stretching can create slightly higher pain threshholds to the certain stretching one does. Thats it. Very little if any carry over.
I really do not think cool down is needed.

 

[David Potts]

Very interesting, Ggordon. I have quickly looked up Dr Google and found the sort of evidence that you mention. Conventional wisdom is not always correct. I do, however, think that warming up not just our hands is necessary. Given the size of the bass and the distances that we have to shift I would suggest that doing a simple pre=playing warm-up routine for at least the shoulders and arms is desirable. A few simple stretches could be incorporated. This prepares our minds as well as our bodies to give their best from the very first note, Historically it was called "limbering up" by sports people.

Now we are drifting off-topic. Personally I would like to just put the bass away after a good practice session or performance. I have known and know some colleagues who just can't stop "fiddling around" before, during breaks and after rehearsals. Rest breaks are to rest in, aren"t they? Stretches wait until I'm home.

We should start a new thread in the Pedagogy forum if we wish to further discuss the pros and cons of stretches and exercises?

 

[Ggordon]

I

Very interesting, Ggordon. I have quickly looked up Dr Google and found the sort of evidence that you mention. Conventional wisdom is not always correct. I do, however, think that warming up not just our hands is necessary. Given the size of the bass and the distances that we have to shift I would suggest that doing a simple pre=playing warm-up routine for at least the shoulders and arms is desirable. A few simple stretches could be incorporated. This prepares our minds as well as our bodies to give their best from the very first note, Historically it was called "limbering up" by sports people.

Now we are drifting off-topic. Personally I would like to just put the bass away after a good practice session or performance. I have known and know some colleagues who just can't stop "fiddling around" before, during breaks and after rehearsals. Rest breaks are to rest in, aren"t they? Stretches wait until I'm home.

We should start a new thread in the Pedagogy forum if we wish to further discuss the pros and cons of stretches and exercises?

Yes maybe move this to another thread.
At one time in my carreer I would spend time stretching after my playing to no avail. I have done it all from tai chi to becoming A feldenkrais teacher in my search for mobilty and maximal corporeal efficiency.
I thinl what you up loaded is a very good start for people who have no clue and are searching for guidance.

 

[oldNewbie]

Very interesting, Ggordon. I have quickly looked up Dr Google and found the sort of evidence that you mention. Conventional wisdom is not always correct.
We should start a new thread in the Pedagogy forum if we wish to further discuss the pros and cons of stretches and exercises?

I doubt that conventional wisdom (mainstream medical opinion backed by research) says stretching does no good. The articles that come up quickly in my Googling, anyway- claim two measurements - range of motion and lower quad strength are the same and lower, respectively after stretching. Later writers with deadlines to fill make the claim that stretching does no good in general based on these limited results, then amplified by herd behavior of their readers in turn. Similarly with claims about fasciae and rolling.Stretching and exercise are vital for maintenance especially as we get older

I'd love to see a thread on stretching, and others on the physical aspects of playing. I'd wager there is a lot in the great, big world outside of bass players that can help the cause ;-).

David Potts, the pdfs you uploaded are a fine start.

 

[Ggordon]

What is stretching anyway? What is being stretched? How is it beneficial if at all. What is the actual mechanism?
Ok back to the op.
Do we need to cool down at all?
Why not just stop playing and go about the rest of the day?
Bass playing albeit strenuous at times is certainly not that physically taxing compared to many other activities.
Or?...