"Not my instrument"

[George K]

I'm watching a Zoom talk which includes the members of the percussion section of the Elgin Symphony. Participating are Music Director, Andrew Grams, principal percussionist Bobby Everson, and other members of the percussion section.

Everson commented that when you audition, when you approach the instrument on the stage, it's the first time you've seen that instrument. The height might be different, the spacing of the bars on a xylophone might be different, the sound of a triangle might be different from what you're used to.

I'd never even considered that.

If you're interested, you can catch a bit of it here:

https://www.facebook.com/ElginSymphonyOrchestra/videos/680609609460554/?notif_id=1593129665163356&notif_t=live_video_explicit

[Aqua Letifer]

Huh. Yeah, I never would have considered that, either!

[Rainman]

I used to teach my students that fact: The floor is different, the environment around the piano is different, the height of the keyboard, the height of the bench, lighting, shadows, and on and on. This would be part of the long-range discussion of "why can I play so well at home, but things fall apart, from memory issues to missed notes, when I'm playing somewhere else, even at my mom's house."

The answer is to be aware of that fact, and to play in as many different places or more formal venues as possible, and most importantly, to know what to do to instantly compensate. For example, sitting in front of an old Mason & Hamlin that has very heavy action. You better know what to do, after the first couple of bars, or, you're sunk.

I've wondered about basketball players facing the same or similar thing. The Blazers are used to their court(s), the angle of the seats, the spacing along the sidelines, plus a floor that may feel different and always has different colors and designs.

My guess is that the greatest basketball players are able to compensate quickly, while some players miss repeatedly, get frustrated and angry, then miss even more shots.

I know pretty much nothing about basketball. Just a hunch.

[Horace]

Another example from sports is the Patriots, who have to adjust to the real rules every away game. It’s such a seismic shift from video/audio of the opponent sideline and huddles, deflated balls, and totally fraudulent officiating. It shows great adaptability.

[Rainman]

@Horace said in "Not my instrument":

Another example from sports is the Patriots, who have to adjust to the real rules every away game. It’s such a seismic shift from video/audio of the opponent sideline and huddles, deflated balls, and totally fraudulent officiating. It shows great adaptability.

I know even less about baseball.