if----->then

CaptainJR

Shiver me timbers.
Silver Member
First off, I lied in another post. Not intentionally of course, but none the less I did. In the thread where we compared pool and golf I qualified my response of saying golf was more difficult by saying the many other coordination oriented activities I've become accomplished at. I said golf was the most difficult of them all. Piano was in the list. I don't know what I was thinking, but neither golf or pool takes the discipline of piano. I know people that have taken up golf and pool that have become proficient enough, in just a few months to play well enough to do well in league play,. I've known nobody that has become even slightly proficient in the piano in less than two to three years of diligent practice. Not that these people don't exist, but I'm talking about the average 'Joe'.

All that is not what this thread is about though. When I realized that I had stated something so incorrect, it got me thinking about comparing the two skills, pool and piano. You may have seen some of my threads here on the mental game an concentration. After practicing the piano for about one hour and thirty minutes last night it came to me. "If I can concentrate that hard and that long while playing the piano, then why can't I while playing pool?"

The answer, I don't know yet. But I think I might be onto something. Maybe thinking of playing pool more like a performance, I never thought of it that way really. I mean, yes I've been proud when I've made a good run or a great shot in front of people, but I've not walked up to the table thinking 'let me see if I can give a memorable performance'. Accuracy, making the ball vs. playing the correct note. Intensity, speed of stroke vs. how hard I hit a piano key. subtlety, engligh vs. how I hit the key (ball of the finger, tip of the finger, sliding or direct). This all gave me a lot to think about. The nuances of the game and how important they are. How much concentration is required to accomplish them. One thing, I know there is a flow of concentration when I play the piano. I've never felt like my concentration flowed in pool.

Anyone else ever compared pool to something else they do well and came up with something that helped their pool game?
 
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CaptainJR said:
First off, I lied in another post. Not intentionally of course, but none the less I did. In the thread where we compared pool and golf I qualified my response of saying golf was more difficult by saying the many other coordination oriented activities I've become accomplished at. I said golf was the most difficult of them all. Piano was in the list. I don't know what I was thinking, but neither golf or pool takes the discipline of piano. I know people that have taken up golf and pool that have become proficient enough, in just a few months to play well enough to do well in league play,. I've known nobody that has become even slightly proficient in the piano in less than two to three years of diligent practice. Not that these people don't exist, but I'm talking about the average 'Joe'.

All that is not what this thread is about though. When I realized that I had stated something so incorrect, it got me thinking about comparing the two skills, pool and piano. You may have seen some of my threads here on the mental game an concentration. After practicing the piano for about one hour and thirty minutes last night it came to me. "If I can concentrate that hard and that long while playing the piano, then why can't I while playing pool?"

The answer, I don't know yet. But I think I might be onto something. Maybe thinking of playing pool more like a performance, I never thought of it that way really. I mean, yes I've been proud when I've made a good run or a great shot in front of people, but I've not walked up to the table thinking 'let me see if I can give a memorable performance'. Accuracy, making the ball vs. playing the correct note. Intensity, speed of stroke vs. how hard I hit a piano key. subtlety, engligh vs. how I hit the key (ball of the finger, tip of the finger, sliding or direct). This all gave me a lot to think about. The nuances of the game and how important they are. How much concentration is required to accomplish them. One thing, I know there is a flow of concentration when I play the piano. I've never felt like my concentration flowed in pool.

Anyone else ever compared pool to something else they do well and came up with something that helped their pool game?

Good thoughts, Captain.

From a book I have:

Playing a game of pool is like playing a song. A runout takes as much time as a song. Each has a catchy beginning, a melody (the notes on the staff, the balls on the cloth), crescendos and decrescendos, vibratos, and of course, most important of all rhythm.

I think you're on to something.

Do you play better pool after playing the piano? I ask, because I've experimented with playing the guitar before league in order to get my mind set and integrated with my body's movements. I've never quantified the results, but it seems to me that it is easier to get into deadstroke after I do this.

Let's jam sometime,

Jeff Livingston
 
chefjeff said:
Good thoughts, Captain.

From a book I have:

Playing a game of pool is like playing a song. A runout takes as much time as a song. Each has a catchy beginning, a melody (the notes on the staff, the balls on the cloth), crescendos and decrescendos, vibratos, and of course, most important of all rhythm.

I think you're on to something.

Do you play better pool after playing the piano? I ask, because I've experimented with playing the guitar before league in order to get my mind set and integrated with my body's movements. I've never quantified the results, but it seems to me that it is easier to get into deadstroke after I do this.

Let's jam sometime,

Jeff Livingston

I Like It!!! I Like It!!! 'Playing the piano before playing pool'. hmmm I'm sure I've played piano before playing pool, but It was an accident. Probably because I wanted to practice some, rather than to relax or focus me for the pool playing.

If it works I guess I'll have to buy a portable piano to take along to tournaments. 8>) Wonder how long it would take me to hone my guitar skills? Guitar would be much easier to carry around.

I think I'll take a look at this tonight. Play piano for a while, then head to the basement.

Thank you
JR

P.S. I wish I could 'jam'. I never spent the time to learn how to play by ear, at all. The only time I play without music is if I have that piece memorized.
 
Hi

Well i am not overly profficent at musical instruments but i know that as of me taking up pool seriously i have also been a student at university and for me playing in weekly tournaments was somewhat of a release. After studing sometimes for long periods of time i find it extremly useful to know i can go and play pool for a few hours and think of nothing but pool, all thoughts of study or work go away and i think of nothing but pool for a few hours.

So knowing that pool is my release from study in a way allows me to concentrate fully on my pool, as i have saved those hours to think of nothing else.

Maybe not quite the same lines as your post, but just my thoughts on the matter.

Thanks NZBoy
 
NZBoy said:
Hi

Well i am not overly profficent at musical instruments but i know that as of me taking up pool seriously i have also been a student at university and for me playing in weekly tournaments was somewhat of a release. After studing sometimes for long periods of time i find it extremly useful to know i can go and play pool for a few hours and think of nothing but pool, all thoughts of study or work go away and i think of nothing but pool for a few hours.

So knowing that pool is my release from study in a way allows me to concentrate fully on my pool, as i have saved those hours to think of nothing else.

Maybe not quite the same lines as your post, but just my thoughts on the matter.

Thanks NZBoy

Very relevant NZBoy. You just reversed it. Like, the next time I'm scheduled to play piano for a big crowd, instead of sitting around over practicing or letting butterflies gather in my stomach. Maybe I should head to the pool hall for a couple hours. Very good.
 
Doc Holiday usually drank 2 shots of whisky before engaging in a gunfight! Well, it worked for Doc :D .
 
NZBoy said:
Hi

Well i am not overly profficent at musical instruments but i know that as of me taking up pool seriously i have also been a student at university and for me playing in weekly tournaments was somewhat of a release. After studing sometimes for long periods of time i find it extremly useful to know i can go and play pool for a few hours and think of nothing but pool, all thoughts of study or work go away and i think of nothing but pool for a few hours.

So knowing that pool is my release from study in a way allows me to concentrate fully on my pool, as i have saved those hours to think of nothing else.

Maybe not quite the same lines as your post, but just my thoughts on the matter.

Thanks NZBoy

Nice to have you on board, NZBoy.

I understand the way pool can be a release from everyday life. May I ask you a question?...If you neglect your studies and THEN go play pool, do you still think of nothing but pool?...Or do you start thinking of what you SHOULD really be doing instead, and thus hurt your pool game?

Thanks,

Jeff Livingston
 
CaptainJR said:
I Like It!!! I Like It!!! 'Playing the piano before playing pool'. hmmm I'm sure I've played piano before playing pool, but It was an accident. Probably because I wanted to practice some, rather than to relax or focus me for the pool playing.

If it works I guess I'll have to buy a portable piano to take along to tournaments. 8>) Wonder how long it would take me to hone my guitar skills? Guitar would be much easier to carry around.

I think I'll take a look at this tonight. Play piano for a while, then head to the basement.

Thank you
JR

P.S. I wish I could 'jam'. I never spent the time to learn how to play by ear, at all. The only time I play without music is if I have that piece memorized.

My wife plays clarinet in the local community band, but she won't ("can't") jam with me. I took 2 years of piano when (too) young and then formed a rock band in junior high school (The Bug Bombs) so I learned to play guitar mostly from relistening to records. I can read music but I'm very slow at it.

Perhaps this difference is reflected in our styles of pool playing?

How about this?...instead of a piano, carry an harmonica. You can learn some scales and then play the blues when you lose. something along the lines of, I Got the Left-Side Bracket Blues... :cool:

Let us know if the piano playing helps with your pool.

Jeff Leadbelly Livingston
 
Hi Chefjeff

In response to your question regarding if i haven't studied and go and play pool instead, does that affect me?

Well i have to admit sometimes I don't always do what i should be doing and i think having that nagging on your mind does affect my play. I think with pool being so mental the times when something else is on your mind (be it study, work whatever) it is hard to give 100% and its genrally the lapses in concentration that cause the big problems when playing.

I think though most pool players know the feeling of being at the table and having the nagging thoughts telling us we should be somewhere else, yet how many of us stay and play anyway? I know i definitly do.

But on the whole i think im a resonably good student just trying to find the right balance with things.

NZBoy
 
Pool and piano, what a unique combination!! Like Captain JR, I too play the piano and have played since I was 9 years old. I am always able to maintain a maximum amount of concentration while playing the piano, but when playing pool I also suffer from lack of focus(especially after a few hours). Captain JR I think you may be on to something! If I think of pool as a performance, maybe I can attain the same level of focus as I have throughout the years playing the piano. That is awesome advice and I cant wait to try it out tomorrow at the pool room!!

Christyd
 
christyd said:
Pool and piano, what a unique combination!! Like Captain JR, I too play the piano and have played since I was 9 years old. I am always able to maintain a maximum amount of concentration while playing the piano, but when playing pool I also suffer from lack of focus(especially after a few hours). Captain JR I think you may be on to something! If I think of pool as a performance, maybe I can attain the same level of focus as I have throughout the years playing the piano. That is awesome advice and I cant wait to try it out tomorrow at the pool room!!

Christyd

Im glad Im not playing tomarow, I think the boys in the pool room may be in trouble :D

Woody <------ Still waiting to hear Christy play the piano :)
 
i don't think comparisons aaccurate...apples and oranges as the saying goes. however, i think a judgement based on ease of entry is a good criteria. ie,,,relatively speaking , how easy is basketball compared to football, when there is such an influx of high-schoolers and underclassmen. it is easy to see that there needs to be more maturity in skills and physique to play football.

in pool, how much easier is it for a youngster to compete, compared to the entry level in golf?
 
bruin70 said:
i don't think comparisons aaccurate...apples and oranges as the saying goes. however, i think a judgement based on ease of entry is a good criteria. ie,,,relatively speaking , how easy is basketball compared to football, when there is such an influx of high-schoolers and underclassmen. it is easy to see that there needs to be more maturity in skills and physique to play football.

in pool, how much easier is it for a youngster to compete, compared to the entry level in golf?

geez bruin, read the whole post. Nobody is talking about comparing anything.
 
CaptainJR said:
I agree Woody. I'll even play first, then I think Christy is obligated to play for us.

http://robertsdigitography.com/CaptJRs/music/AutumnLeaves.mp3

More music at... http://www.robertsdigitography.com/CaptJRs/CaptJRs.htm
click on 'music page'

Your turn Christy ;)

Wow!!
Captain JR, I just finished listening to "Bridge over Troubled Water". You did a beautiful job! :) I love your website and I would suggest to anyone reading this post that you all go to the link Captain JR provided and listen for yourself. JR I would love to put my music on a site like this. How do I go about doing it? All I have is a few cassette tapes of my favorites. LOL. I just got my first computer 2 years ago and I am unsure of everything it's capable of. :confused: Let me know how I can do this. I appreciate any help you can give me. Oh yeah, dont forget about the mental advice too!! :D

Thanks
Christyd
 
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CaptainJR said:
geez bruin, read the whole post. Nobody is talking about comparing anything.

err,,,uh.....oh :):):) i think my eyes started to tire. ooops
 
christyd said:
Wow!!
Captain JR, I just finished listening to "Bridge over Troubled Water". You did a beautiful job! :) I love your website and I would suggest to anyone reading this post that you all go to the link Captain JR provided and listen for yourself. JR I would love to put my music on a site like this. How do I go about doing it? All I have is a few cassette tapes of my favorites. LOL. I just got my first computer 2 years ago and I am unsure of everything it's capable of. :confused: Let me know how I can do this. I appreciate any help you can give me. Oh yeah, dont forget about the mental advice too!! :D

Thanks
Christyd

I'll try to get you started with an outline. If you need more specifics, it would probably be best to ask a computer knowledgeable friend to help you. There can be several little detail along the way that can be a problem, that would be very difficult to help with through email.

1. get your songs on your computer - connect cassette player out to computer mic in. Most computers have a sound recorder. Use the sound recorder to record your music unto your computer. (make sure when you first connect it that the mic in volume level is low, then adjust up to a nice level. You don't want to blow out your speakers or anything)

2. Convert to MP3 format - Your songs will probably be recorded in WAV file format. They are very large files, to big to use on the internet, would take to long to upload or download. MP3 format is the norm. Bring up your song in windows media player. You can convert to MP3 in there.

3. Get a web site - There are several places on the internet that you can get free web space. The only difference between free web space and paid for web space is there would be something before your web name. (xxxxxx/christyd.com rather than just christyd.com) oh, one other difference, on the free ones you and your visitors have to put up with some advertisements.

4 Put your music on the site - Most hosting places have software to help you make your web site. Making links and helping you upload your music.

That's about it, but this makes it sound a little easier than it actually is. Not that it is that difficult, but this all takes time. I'll anxiously wait to hear some of your music.
JR
 
Thanks for the info Captain JR,although I must admit that I don't understand most of it, LOL. I will have to find a computer literate friend to help me and will let you know when its ready. Hopefully it will be in this lifetime! Thanks again.

Christyd
 
RichardCranium said:
U know....I can play the radio with the best of them...does that count???

Actually....seriously...You see athletes of all types listening to various music before competition...some during...You probably don't need to carry a piano around with you....just get a head set and play your favorite "piano piece" .......

Have you ever noticed you play better with certain types of music playing in the background...Its all about the Tempo, Rythym, Beat...what ever you want to call it...

This seems to be true. My pool buddy and I tend to hook up to aol's music radio and listen to old time blues a lot when we practice here. But when we get to the bar, it's usually AC DC singing Hells Bells or some screeching song that I tend to cringe to because it is so grating to my nerves.

So after complaining to the bar owners (stupid, I know, but I did) I figured out that I could put money in the juke box (my Dad would kill me if he knew this: "The radio is free," he'd say) and not have to listen to unwanted music.

Has anyone tried to play with classical music playing? It is said to help when one is studying and I've tried a little of it when playing. It seems to help my concentration but I discontinued the experiment because there is NO classical music in bars and I didn't want to have the different music affect my play.

I sometimes hum a Michael Jones song (new age) to help my rhythm, but that stuff can get boring real fast.

Jeff Livingston
 
christyd said:
Thanks for the info Captain JR,although I must admit that I don't understand most of it, LOL. I will have to find a computer literate friend to help me and will let you know when its ready. Hopefully it will be in this lifetime! Thanks again.

Christyd

Christy I might be able to help you out with this :)
 
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