does anyone else hate to practice when other people are around?

I don't know if it was here or another forum, where someone said everyone is gone today so I finally got to practice..lol. It took me a long time to get used to having my hubby around, and instead of politely ignoring me he'd actually say, what was that you just did? That sounded different..I just hated it. He has even come up behind me when I was on the piano blaring away and it startled the crap out of me. and broke my concentration.

In warmer weather I park my minivan somewhere in a big retail parking lot and climb into the middle seat and work on songs. I have a recorder in there, with a case of bottled water and a pitch pipe. But I tend to go flat without consistent accompaniment, and of course I can't stand up.

Now I've got two grown kids here, since last June, and they sleep most the day (I think). It is kind of perverse fun to wake them up running scales...but whoohoo they're finally leaving for California in a couple weeks.

Anyone else have this hangup? I know other musicians who have broken with their spouses over this, and a classical pianist who *demands* his 2-3 hours private practice every day OR ELSE.

Yeah, sometimes I just pull through with it, but mostly I can't focus if anyone's around

For normal warmups or rehearsal type stuff, I don't have a problem with others' presence. Part of that comes from the years spent in nightclubs. I've played and sung in places so bad, a barroom brawl would break out and the band would just keep on playing.

Sort of made me immune to most distractions.

It's only when I'm writing, arranging, or recording that I need a little peace and quiet. That takes some creative (and technical) focus.

For normal warmups or rehearsal type stuff, I don't have a problem with others' presence. Part of that comes from the years spent in nightclubs. I've played and sung in places so bad, a barroom brawl would break out and the band would just keep on playing. .

We used to start playing "Under the Double Eagle" during fights..

I will sing regular songs in front of family but it's the new weird things I'm working on that I'm self-conscious about. I just wish everyone would get lost once in awhile. There used to be a lot more solitude around here a couple years ago.

actually, y'all are looking this the wrong way.

if you are in your own place, and there are people over who you don't want over, you bust out with your practicing. that usually gets rid of them pretty quickly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

one-night stands, guy friends, girlfriends, mommies, it works w/ em all for me.

lol, Duke.

I practice in my living room using a piano. Occasionally my family is around, and they can hear me, but I don't really care.

But if we have a guest at our house then I don't practice.

Oh yeah, I never open my mouth to sing if anyone else is around, EVER. Never have. ONLY when I'm completely alone and cannot be heard by anyone. It annoys me cause I "can't" sing or even make up new original songs (that require me to sing as I create, which is how I tend to write my songs) at least 2-3 days a week cause I'm not alone.

There's few better ways to get rid of people who you don't want over then to say you gotta practice your singing and to start doing it.

Yes, they WILL look at you if you went over the deep end when you start doing lip bubbles, and "moo may mah moh", and they will probably tell this to your mutual friends. But goddamn, it gets them out FAST!!!!

When it comes to focusing on writing songs and making musical arrangements I can understand and respect the need for solitude.

But.

If singing with people about makes you uncomfortable, that is just a symptom of your personal failure to not care about what others think about you. This is human behaviour but serves no practical purpose in our modern society. Try to get rid of it as fast as you can by exposing yourself a lot, there are no shortcuts.

other than drugs

I'm just kinda shy and embarrassed when people are around. I usually practice with headphones on too so they can't here my backing so I see to just be a nuisance according to my brother

This thread seems to be related to "The mental side of singing..." thread that was posted a few days ago.

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?2731425-The-mental-side-of-singing...

I think I do a pretty good job of not caring, for the most part. After posting this lament, I took special joy in waking up our house guests yesterday.

But I think it goes back to being young, and kids telling others they can't sing, don't try. I heard the little wife tell my stepson that. I wanted to tell her STFU. There was plenty of that kind of talk in my crowd, stupid people discouraging others because they themselves didn't have talent, or any patience to learn something new.

As it is now, I sing at my gigs every week, and in church. I even singing to myself while walking through WalMart.

I've heard more than one voice teacher talk about how you should mentally go back to that time BEFORE all the adults around you convinced you to pipe down and shut up.

Yeah, its a bit weird when singing using headphones and no one else can hear the music except for you. I don't mind practicing like I said, but tracking a song using headphones when others are nearby is less comfortable for me.

By the way, I don't think you should practice too much using headphones, especially if they're closed-back headphones, since you may not be able to hear yourself properly, even with monitoring on. I noticed this from my own singing.

Don't worry to much, I leave on side off my ear so I can hear my self properly.

Yeah, good thinking!

I do that when tracking, I take one side off, even with monitoring on.

Yeah, good thinking! I do that when tracking, I take one side off, even with monitoring on.

Thanks, I would turn on monitoring but there's a really annoying delay, so uncovered ear works better.

its definitely easier for me to rehearse alone...its not about stage fright or being too self aware, its more of a mind set ....letting people hear before your happy with a song is like letting people taste a cake thats not finnished...

once im comfortable with playback, i dont care who or how many are around..

always the best practice times for me are empty rehearsal rooms and basements.

i always wear headphones. sing into a sm57 hooked up to Reaper with compression and verb. use this when doing exercises, writing lyrics, etc.

This is sort of part of why I hate even making new music (even without vocals) around people. It's not finished, and I can't relax and get into the completely creatively relaxed headspace if I think someone can hear me. I only play stuff to people once it's at a certain stage of completion, even if that stage is REALLY rough and early.

Murphy's Law: Whenever the possibility is manifest for people to f#*% with your {censored}, people will undoubtedly f#*% with your {censored} without fail

I fail to see how that can help - plus it could get you arrested

I usually dont sing much at home but its mostly due to having a younger child around and the only time i get to do "me-time" is when he is in bed.