MENTAL SKILLS
What Undermines Musicians Confidence?
How Deliberate Musician Can Help You?
Deliberate Thinking. Effortless Playing
Mental Skills for Young Musicians
© 2013 The Deliberate Musician
BUILT BY Sunset Harbor
MUSICIAN SKILLS
JAZZ GUITAR
LIFE SKILLS
THE PROBLEM WITH TIME
We use the PAST for our Identity (what people thought of us, what we have done, how we have played or performed...)
The FUTURE for our Fulfillment (what people will think of us, what we will do - learn this song, play on stage, get a recording deal...)
FOCUS ON DOING IN THE NOW
When you are focused on what you are DOING in the moment, you will no longer depend on the future for fulfillment and satisfaction.
You won't look for salvation. Therefore, you are not attached to the results. Neither failure nor success will have the power to change your inner state of being.
LOST IN PRACTICING. WHERE DID THE TIME GO?
Have you ever got lost in practicing? You thought only one hour had gone by, but it was
really five hours!
The reason for this is you gave more attention to DOING, you stayed in the moment, the NOW.
If was a fun experience!
You did not think about the FUTURE (what if I can't learn this, what if I sound bad...) Or the PAST (I failed before, so it will happen again...)
REMEMBER: IT IS NOT HOW LONG YOU PRACTICE, BUT HOW MUCH ATTENTION YOU GIVE TO THE DOING.
As soon as you honor the present moment, all struggle and frustration will dissolve,and the music will flow with ease. Do Not Be Concerned With The Results Of Your Action. Just give attention to the action itself, the DOING. This is the key to effortless practice!
When Practicing, ASK yourself: Is there joy, ease, and lightness in what I am doing? If there isn't, then TIME (past or the future) is covering up your present moment.
To get the most from your practice session, you may not have to change what you are doing, but how. How is always more important the WHY.
See if you can give more attention to the DOING than the Result (the future). Give your attention to whatever the moment presents.
Mental Skills Every Musician Must Know!
How to get the most from your Practicing by Transforming a sometimes Frustrating,
Monotonous, and overly strenuous labor
into an exhilarating and rewarding experience!
Another way we could illustrate this is if we draw a line on a piece of paper where the
PAST is on the LEFT and the FUTURE is on the RIGHT.
For most musicians it is difficult finding TIME to practice.
Once you do find the TIME, how do you maintain focus
and not become overwhelmed with the tasks at hand.
The word TIME is the KEY. TIME is not only the problem, but
the Solution. It is not so much the word TIME, but how we perceive it.
We tend to think of TIME as horizontal. The past is behind us.
The future is in front of us and it goes on in this sequential
ever-unfolding way.
