Musical interlude: McCoy Tyner, Wave (Supertrios, 1977). This is the tune and the recording of it that made me want to be a jazz pianist. With Ron Carter on bass and Tony Williams on drums. A Supertrio. I’m one of those people who has dabbled in yoga and meditation and mindfulness over the years (more so during the pandemic lockdown), but I’ve never been very good at sitting still, let alone stilling my mind.
"Practice gives you permission to make mistakes and let them go." This is so true! As an artist I find that more time in the studio creates space for practice, play and mistakes, things that might never leave the studio but take the work somewhere new and interesting.
Thank you Elizabeth, I love the nuance you’ve placed on practice. It IS about the journey and I like how you’ve broken down the points about what it can bring.
Other than writing I don’t have anything similar to this but one thing I’ve found very helpful for staying centered and knowing I can do hard things is stepping into a cold shower. When I was reading your piece that’s what came to mind. Many of the benefits you get from practicing the piano I get from the cold water (except better piano skills of course🤣).
One point I really appreciated was when you said you may have stepped away from the piano because you didn’t know how to practice, or the importance of the stages. This applies to so many things!
Thank you for sending this extraordinary recalibrateme article. It resonated and delighted me on several levels. I am so happy for you Lisathat you have truly learned and appreciated the wonders of practice; not just piano, but various things. I too subscribe in this method of practice and share it daily with my music students. It especially resonates with piano students whom are retired. Reading your thoughts on this topic filled me with joy and I am so grateful to you for sharing this.
"Practice gives you permission to make mistakes and let them go." This is so true! As an artist I find that more time in the studio creates space for practice, play and mistakes, things that might never leave the studio but take the work somewhere new and interesting.
Thank you Elizabeth, I love the nuance you’ve placed on practice. It IS about the journey and I like how you’ve broken down the points about what it can bring.
Other than writing I don’t have anything similar to this but one thing I’ve found very helpful for staying centered and knowing I can do hard things is stepping into a cold shower. When I was reading your piece that’s what came to mind. Many of the benefits you get from practicing the piano I get from the cold water (except better piano skills of course🤣).
One point I really appreciated was when you said you may have stepped away from the piano because you didn’t know how to practice, or the importance of the stages. This applies to so many things!
Jill, I so appreciate your comments, especially knowing that you are a lifelong music teacher. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sending this extraordinary recalibrateme article. It resonated and delighted me on several levels. I am so happy for you Lisathat you have truly learned and appreciated the wonders of practice; not just piano, but various things. I too subscribe in this method of practice and share it daily with my music students. It especially resonates with piano students whom are retired. Reading your thoughts on this topic filled me with joy and I am so grateful to you for sharing this.