If you struggle with nerves and inconsistent performances, know that you’re not alone! Join 45,000+ musicians and receive weekly research-based practice tips that will help you get more out of your daily practice and perform more like yourself when it counts.
Hans Jørgen Jensen: On Practicing With the Mind, Not Just the Fingers
A few weeks ago, my dog herniated a disk. He could barely sit, let alone walk and squat to do his business.
The vet gave him some drugs (apparently dogs take codeine?!), and told us that he needed to be kept in his crate, pretty much 24/7 for the next few weeks, to allow his spine to heal.
For the first week or so, it seemed like nothing was changing, and we began to worry - what do we do if this is how he is for the rest of his life?
But one day, suddenly, he had a smidge more pep in his step. The next day, things were better still. And he has continued to improve with each passing day.
Umm...and what does this have to do with music?
Is it a talent issue? Did I start too late?
Well, have you ever had one of those days (or weeks), where nothing seems to be improving, and you start to wonder if the real problem is simply a lack of ability or talent?
It's easy for our mind to go there, but often, the issue is more a matter of having patience - and taking comfort in the knowledge that the improvements will come if you're practicing the right way.
And how do you know if you're practicing the right way?
Well, if you've had difficulties getting things up to tempo, playing more in tune, nailing tricky shifts, or becoming a more expressive player, cellist Hans Jørgen Jensen shares years of wisdom and counterintuitive insights on how to approach these issues in your daily practice. And yes, most of the concepts apply to all musicians as well, not just string players!
Get all the nerdy details and this week’s practice hacks right here:
Hans Jørgen Jensen: On Practicing With the Mind, Not Just the Fingers
-Noa
A couple things from the archives
- Speaking of effective practice, there are a few specific strategies that seem to matter quite a bit. See if your practice incorporates the top three strategies on this list: 8 Things Top Practicers Do Differently
- In case you're curious to hear a wind player's perspective on practicing, Philadelphia Orchestra principal bassoonist Daniel Matsukawa shares the three components of becoming a better practicer in this episode.
Deep thought o' the week
"Patience is not the ability to wait. Patience is to be calm no matter what happens, constantly take action to turn it to positive growth opportunities, and have faith to believe that it will all work out in the end while you are waiting."
-Roy T. Bennett, author
The Bulletproof Musician
If you struggle with nerves and inconsistent performances, know that you’re not alone! Join 45,000+ musicians and receive weekly research-based practice tips that will help you get more out of your daily practice and perform more like yourself when it counts.
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