The Art of Practicing

I'm rereading this book that I have owned for a while and read in high school or early college called "The Art of Practicing" by Madeline Bruser. Now that I'm, um, older and wiser, it holds a whole new level of meaning for me, and which is really exciting. I'm looking forward to reading it, since I started last year's Stephenie Meyer book "The Host" and it totally sucks, and there's now way I'm reading 600 pages of that crap. Here are some of the most pertinent lines from the chapters I've reread:

"Countless times students ask,'Do you think I have talent? Do you think I'll be able to play well?' Each person's talent is unique, and some are more gifted than others, but an intense desire to play well indicates that music is already inside the person, pressing toward the surface and needing to come out. Know this and take heart from it as you make your particular journey with music."

Erin, that's for you and ME!

"The performer's job is...to open fully to music, to let it come in, physically and mentally, and to become an unobstructed channel for its transmission for its transmission to other people. We cannot possibly give music to others without first receiving it ourselves. Practicing is the process of receiving what was written."

Well put! What an interesting and more personal interpretation of practicing.

"When musicians develop injuries that interrupt their practicing for months, they get depressed. Cut off from the communion with great music, they feel deprived of an essential food. We forget so easily our NEED to practice. So stop for a minute and think about the chance you have. You never know when you might lose it. Even if nothing ever interrupts your musical life, sooner or later your life will end. Remembering this fact can inspire you to make the most of the time you have."

I certainly understand the injuries thing, and I empathize with Carol immensely. To have so much music in your heart, and to not be able to express it is truly awful. To have the ability to express it, and not realize it is worse.

Currently listening to: recordings of Bach 6 by different people, recordings of myself...

Injuries suck.

Being injured, in any context, sucks.  Don't let anyone make believe otherwise, because it's a load of crap.  Whether you break an arm, fall off a bike, do something weird in yoga, or whatever, being hurt is a pretty unpleasant experience.  But...

The cool thing is, you can learn a lot from it.  I have, as of late, developed minor tendonitis in my wrist, where my thumb adjoins in the wrist, formally known as De Quervain's tendonitis.  I have managed to keep it pretty much at bay in the last week, by icing and not playing at all, but at first, it was beyond upsetting, since I felt like my life was over.  (it wasn't and it isn't, not yet, at least).  I had to play a little while I was teaching yesterday, and it was ok.  It gotten a little swollen at night time, since I taught for 2+ hours, but hopefully I can start actually playing in baby increments starting tomorrow. But here's some cool stuff I learned:

1) I actually want to play the viola.  This may not seem that amazing to some of y'alls, but it's something that's been up in the air for a while in may life.

2) I actually want a career where I play the viola and don't just teach little kids violin.

3) I want to teach older folks (high school and college) how to play the viola.  

4) Mental practicing is pretty helpful.  And so is solfege.  None of these substitute for the real deal of shredding on a viola, but they are helpful aids, and I appreciate that.  I've also clarified some of my musical ideas on the pieces I'm working on by studying them, rather than focusing on the playing bit.  (Except now, I really really really want to play!!!!)

5) and lastly, it has been basically spring break, part II, since I can't play much, and I'm just doing what I did on spring break, except with more socializing.  So it's really not that bad.

(On a side note, I have also clarified my desire to absorb as much of carol's awesome technical teachings as possible.  I've realized that I only have her for a year more now, and I want to get all of her top secret teaching ideas before I peace out.  I do wish I was the T.A., so I could technically practice this stuff on the right clientele, but for now, I'll just teach whomever seeks me out, and that'll suffice for now.)

Currently listening to: the Dears, Hindemith, (and i went to three sax concerts this weekend, so that counts)