A Balanced Diet.

It's been a while since I've posted. I'm up to my neck in practicing, and I've found myself exploring ways to get to that next level of playing again. I think one thing that really held me back in my past life of being a musician was my lack of depth in playing. Sure, I could play fast and accurate. Technically almost perfect. Big deal, really.

When I look back I realize that I was missing that spark in my performances. Sure, I could pour out my soul in a practice room...but get me on stage and it was like a savant zombie. Showing emotion in your playing is actually really hard and takes a lot of work. I imagine that it's like writing a heartbreaking poem and then standing in front of everyone you know with your guts hanging out...in your underwear. Yikes.

Anyway, back in college I read "The Inner Game of Tennis" to work on controlling my nerves and achieving focus. Now I'm working on "The Inner Game of Music" to help me play more honestly.

There are about 10 "pathways" that they teach throughout the book. Some are stupidly obvious but incredibly hard to master. Some are lightbulb moments.

Here are some of them in a nutshell:

Courage - overcoming anxious moments.

Communication - merging musical styles with other players, instead of a leader / follower relationship.

Discipline - not playing fast and accurate, but, as Eddie Daniels says, "eliminating the garbage between the notes."

Confidence - not based on bravura, but on preperation.

Fun - ha! totally obvious, but not always easy to do.

Concentration - finding that "sacred space" where anxiety is replaced by musical instinct.

Creativity - allowing yourself to live in a world of constant discovery. Being honest in your playing.

Inspiration - following the path that music takes into that deeper place within.

Much to think about!