One of the most difficult things about this musical journey has been the fact that the learning ladder doesn’t get taller, it gets deeper. I can’t begin a practice session standing on the “firm foundation” of what I did yesterday. Instead I have to be willing to once again attend to the smallest, most basic details. Sometimes even in exactly the same measures. I am then responsible for more layers. Every morning I start at the bottom of the ladder. Not because I did not gain height the day before. But because I must tend to every rung, every detail. Today I will climb higher, faster, or more efficiently than I did yesterday.
The depth is not intimidating. Once I get past the mental discipline of allowing myself to zero in, or really to just pay attention, the depth is liberating. I am not responsible for 22 pages of music. I am responsible to make these two measures better. To thoroughly address them. And without fail the result is that all the music rises to a higher level. Because I have addressed the primary issue- me as the player. The music only comes off the page in the way that I project it.
Dr. Garcia told me yesterday that we fear not errors of commission, but rather errors of thought. If we are thinking correctly and our finger slips, that does not damage the ethos of our music. The affective goal can still be met. We are definitely to blame for errors of our thoughts. And if we do not play the music each time with emotion, we ought not even play it.
The philosophical stuff is effective, but it boils down to a daily commitment to detail. And that comes from willingness to discipline, bridle, sharpen the mind.
Ah, how wise is a God who commands that we spend a whole day (!) in rest. Refocusing our minds. How quick we are to think our “shortcuts” will yield better results.
The depth is not intimidating. Once I get past the mental discipline of allowing myself to zero in, or really to just pay attention, the depth is liberating. I am not responsible for 22 pages of music. I am responsible to make these two measures better. To thoroughly address them. And without fail the result is that all the music rises to a higher level. Because I have addressed the primary issue- me as the player. The music only comes off the page in the way that I project it.
Dr. Garcia told me yesterday that we fear not errors of commission, but rather errors of thought. If we are thinking correctly and our finger slips, that does not damage the ethos of our music. The affective goal can still be met. We are definitely to blame for errors of our thoughts. And if we do not play the music each time with emotion, we ought not even play it.
The philosophical stuff is effective, but it boils down to a daily commitment to detail. And that comes from willingness to discipline, bridle, sharpen the mind.
Ah, how wise is a God who commands that we spend a whole day (!) in rest. Refocusing our minds. How quick we are to think our “shortcuts” will yield better results.