I don't have that problem, but I know many people who do. Have you gotten tested for ADD or ADHD. They are both attention deficit disorders and if you have them you can get medicine that will help you concentrate.

It's one thing to not focus as you mentioned and actually having attention deficit disorder. To have attention defficit it must severely affect your daily life to the point of not functioning. Ex disruptive in public settings, so hyper maybe running into a street without paying attention to your surroundings ect... Now if that's the case by all means go to a doctor to get checked out.

However I know of lots of people that get into ruts or at times can't focus. I find espeically if I'm juggling lots of things. For instance in college with a band concert, finals, clinical end of term things, working can get overwhelming and getting down to studying and playing my flute I'd procrastinate just didn't have the energy. It can also happen if I'm bored too. As far as practice if that happens I stop. Maybe listen to some flute music instead if that. Then hopefully next day be fresh to play again. I try to only practice when I want to. That's hard to say if you're practicing for school or performance but for me it's not worth it. When I was in high school and like that and I felt like that just practice fast passages and try to get technical with the notes that's it and stop to at least try that then focus everything else at a later time. I learned on this site to provide incentive to practice ex listen to flute music, only play fun songs (I play soundtrack themes)ect. There's online flutelist radio too that helps.

I'm a big procrastinator. Sometimes I just have to slap myself to concetrate and it it works. However if I'm really not focusing and bored after several times I give up. Sometimes I may need a couple of days actually to not play then I go back and feel refreshed. I'm not suggesting this but onetime working a several day stretch at my job I just did not have any desire to play and kept having this nagging feeling I HAVE to practice or I'll loose skills. But after the 3rd day I stopped trying to worry about it so much and not feel pressure to do it. I then went to practice when I was fully refreshed and ready on my day off and was surprised how much I got out of it. So you do have to find quality practice somehow. Good luck to you.

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Sorry I used an example for attention defficit about running in the street and disruptive that's more for hyperactive cases. But even attention deficit that's like failing multiple classes based soley on not focusing. I'm just saying attention deficit disorders really affect a person verus average lapse of concentration that can happen anytime to anyone.

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Oh...and cute cat! >^..^<

here's a suggestion I have learned from teaching for so many years.

Decide if you are a starter or a finisher, be honest with yourself. If you are good at getting going, work on finishing, in your daily practice that might me altering your routine or practicing the end of a piece before the beginning, and vice versa if you are slow at starting things.

Also, try to concentrate on quality not quantity, see what you can accomplish in short periods of time, then build the quantity..

Toni,

I would suggest a few things:
1. Keep a good sleep schedule. Your brain needs a proper amount of sleep, and keeping on schedule is VERY important.
2. Stay very well hydrated. Drink a lot of water. The brain needs good "lubrication".
3. Make sure you are eating healthy. Your brain also needs proper nutrition, on a good schedule. Remember to try to get some protein in the morning. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
4. Please tell your parents about your concerns. It would be a good idea to see a doctor to rule out any problems.
5. At school, talk with your counselor or school psychologist (or equivalent)about your concerns. There are things that can be done to help you build your attending skills.
6. When studying/doing homework or practicing, make sure you have a distraction free environment.
7. Improve your time awareness. Keep an extra eye on the clock for awhile to give yourself an idea how long you've been on a task. You may be surprised.
8. Set goals. Write down what you want to accomplish. Being organized can often help decrease the distractability and inattention.

You have a lot of things going on in your life at your age. Doing the above things may help you along.

And again, talk to your parents. Good luck.

Toni. I think you better make plans and allocate your time accordingly. Then try to condition your mind into emptying itself from worries about the other stuff by telling yourself that everything has its own time. You may put a goal each day but let things be when each goals are unfinished at the end of each session. Sometimes this sort of worries are the ones that take our focus away. Be strict with time and always be REALISTIC. Meaning that you also have to put time for your own enjoyment (be it for TV watching or for partying) and honestly incorporating into your plan what you can normally accomplish each time (don't bite what you can't chew).

In your time plan, you must include an idle session where you can repolish or catch up on things that you failed to finish (or do anything). This is a regimen that is hard to keep (may take you 2 months to get into momentum) but is very useful in initiating discipline that is not too strict.

I have ADD. but it accually helps me somehow. If I accually do start focusing completly it slows me down a little bit because I have to think about every little thing. When I'm not focusing, I do almost everything subconscously(sp?). Plus, whatever I'm thinking about while I'm playing goes into the flute sound. So I play better when I'm daydreaming about something else.

Thats just me though, It most likely is different for different people.

Well, I think I just have normal attention lapses. But my memory is certainly not normal. I find myself going into a room and completely forgetting what I went in there for. Someone can tell me something, and I'll forget what they said 2 mins. later. It's really hard when we do volleyball drills at practice to remember everything to do. I usually find myself holding everyone else up because I can't remember where to go next! It has become a real problem during school as well. I can't remember how to spell words sometimes. It's odd, but I never forget a piece of music that I've played. I can even play it from memory. Weird huh?

I have that same problem. Can't remember anything, often forget what I'm doing and sometimes I'll think about saying something and then a few minutes later I can't remember if I already said it or not. Yet, I have no problem memorizing a piece of music.

I think I agree the most with Kip and Patrick on this Toni. You sounds like I was in high school. Volleyball, Band, Choir, Spanish Club, AP classes galore, and surprise I didn't have a mental breakdown.

From what you have said in your previous posts you have scheduled practice time for Volleyball and you obviously take specific time to work on your homework. Have you considered possibly going to bed a little earlier and practicing in the morning? Personally I am NOT a morning person, but if you are trying to practice at the end of the day, and the daily worries have you stressed, maybe you could do it first thing to clear your head. The deep breaths while practicing help invigorate you and are a good relaxing way to start the day. It's almost like morning yoga!

I agree with Patrick about his quality vs. quantity ideas. It might be better to sit down and say to yourself: Today I am going to practice scales and measures 20-25 of this really hard piece in the next 30 minutes. If you find your mind wandering switch back and forth between the scales and the piece, and make the change on yourself fast. I do this a lot if I am working on long tones and find myself thinking about chores, bill paying, or anything else that is distracting. The sudden change in tempo or play style will usually snap your head back in the right direction.

I hope the advice everyone has given you helps. Let us know!

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You sounds like I was in high school

And that is how I type when I am not fully awake. sounds= sound. *sighs*

that happens to me all of the time...i'll start playing with all my attention on the music, but then the music will remind me of something, and I'll be able to play for a while, then my eyes will trail off and I'll get lost...but I dont have any of those disorders...

awww..yes. that advice of kippex was nice. i've done that lately because i had TOOO much things going on. and that helps! really does! i'm more organized now!:] and feel better tooo. hehe!