3 Pianistic Planes-mind,body and spirit

[Will Barrow]

Hey Piano Peeps,
Here's some pontifications on a concept I've been thinking about:what I call the 3 pianistic planes[lotsa "p's" going on here];mind,body and spirit.These planes are very much interrelated,but each has a distinct role in our playing.And this is true for an absolute beginner,accomplished pro or anyone in between.
First the mind.....The mind helps us to organize,memorize and conceptualize information-where notes are on the keyboard,what the notes on a page are,how a rhythm goes,etc.This is all vital and useful stuff.Unfortunately,the mind also is responsible for distracting us-pulling out attention away,making us tense[felt in the body,but initiated in the mind-conciously or unconciously]and having us judge what we're playing.Judgement to the extent that we become somewhat,or even completely,discouraged,frustrated,impatient,etc.So the mind is our necessary ally when playing,but can also be our adversary.
Learning to use your mind for what it is most helpful for,and learning to be aware of it's shenanigans,is really helpful in getting maximum enjoyment
at the piano.
The body also does useful/vital stuff.....It connects us the piano physically/viscerally.We train it to realize at the keyboard the music we hear in our heads.It's is sensory and sensual-we feel the keys with it,hearwith it..When we become really connected to the tactile element-the feel of the keys it heightens our enjoyment.I once had a teacher in NYC that had me do an exercise where I'd strike a key with one finger and really become attuned[in a meditative state]to the shape,temperature,etc. of the key-in fact I worked on awareness and relaxation with this teacher much more than the content of what I was playing at the time.....The pianistic plane of the body has it's own challenges also-injuries/physical limitations/arthritis,etc..And just the shear phytsical learning/muscle memory curve of developing dexterity at the piano and independence between hands can be daunting.That's why you want to take your time training the muscles of the body.Go slowly.Do relaxation exercises for your hands/fingers/arms and also your body[back,etc.].Sit with good posture.....Take breaks......breath.Enjoy the physicality of playing.
The spirit-is the kingpin,as far as I'm concerned.It connects us with bliss,gratitude and wonderment at the piano.The body and mind both help and hinder these things-being aware of how/when they do so moves us closer to consummate piano enjoyment.I believe you can nurture your pianistic spirit by listening to great piano music,by playing things that resonate with you,by sharing it/playing for others,by playing with others and by allowing yourself maximum enjoyment-whatever level you're at.May your pianistic spirit soar!
Will

[old timer]

Hi Will and all
Your pontification really resonated with me,Will.
I was making what I thought was fair progress up to L 6 when I decided to trade in my DXG25(I think) for a Yamaha P 85,thats when I realised that the 71 keyboard was hiding the fact that my hearing of the high notes stopped at about 75,with hearing aids,I shouldn't have been too suprised since I am approaching 83,anyway I fiddled with the DP and visited my hearing aid Tech and got a slight improvement and came to terms with the facts of life as they apply and got back to practice and found a wall at which point frustration and a slight depression set in,thats when you arrived,Will and showed me the error of my ways,its almost as though you were addrssing me which rather indicates that I am not alone,so there I got that off my chest ,or something.
Now I'm ready to go back and pick up the pieces,thanks for being there.
Once again onward and upward,at least to Key76
"Bye For Now
Ron(Old Timer)
Back to having fun!!

[Roland]

Hi Will
Always like your entries, very enlightening.

Talking of Mind Spirit and Body I have made an interresting discovery ,which may help some of you, when it comes to learning new parts.

Before I used to practice and practice and....just make mostly the same mistakes all the time and it became stop ...start....stop..start you know what I mean...and "WHY?"....because I was thinking to hard what the fingers have to do next.
But now...I do it very slowly, but just a few times...but make sure that the fingering and everything else like chords patterns are always exactly the same everytime.
Then I have a good rest for a while but then next time "I don't think at all what next step I have to do"...but totally trust the memory of the mind.
To my suprise ...everything now works smoothly without any mistakes at all, which makes for relaxing learning and greatly speeds up the process.

[skooby]

I agree with Ron. Each time I come to this discussion forum I get something I need. In this case it's Will's reference to the mind's shenanigans. I've had a passing affair with the piano since I took lessons briefly at 8, and I've become very conscious of the things that drive me off task. But the mind will come up with new rationalizations, and will catch you off guard. So I'm trying to employ Will's suggestions for maintaining the joy, and finding new ways to overcome obstacles. But underneath it all, for me there has to be a default, "no excuses" clause. Because I know there will be times, between the satisfaction and the joy, where that's all that will keep me moving in the direction I want to go.

[old timer]

Hi skooby
Deep stuff there,lets join minds on this wonderful journey called music.

Ron

[Kent]

Welcome
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