Practicing our instrument or voice involves intricate coordination. We must be aware of the movement of our body and breathing, how we’re feeling and responding to sound, and at the same time we’re working with beautiful music written by someone who had big ideas and intentions that we’re trying to connect with and interpret. This is an extraordinary process that requires a lot from us.
When we practice, we build habits. Many of us are working with deadlines and busy lives which do not always allow us to go slow. And when we don’t go slow enough, we can’t notice and fully absorb the multitude of tiny details, movements, and feelings that occur during our practice. Furthermore, the pressures of daily life and our busy schedules can leave our mind racing, and it can be very difficult for a racing mind to notice all those small details. In this way, we can develop a habit of not noticing, and this can rob us from feeling satisfied and connected to the music the way we felt when we first became attracted to it.
Being aware that our mind is racing can be very helpful. And the good news is: it’s possible to slow down our minds. Doing this can not only help us work more efficiently and get more out of our practice, it can help us connect to the music and to our feelings more deeply.
Meditation is one practice that helps us slow down the mind. I like to call it the practice before we practice. And I encourage you to investigate a meditation approach that feels right for you. You can search the internet to find meditation centers in your community, online courses and even apps that can be helpful.
I’d like to share a brief contemplation exercise you can use to help calm your mind and get more out of your practice sessions and performing. I use it to slow my mind and open my heart to the music I’m making and the audiences I’m sharing it with. I call it: The Generous Heart Exercise.
If you are able to do this now, all you need is a quiet place to sit for a few minutes. If you’re new to meditation, you can begin by sitting upright and comfortably on any sturdy seat with your feet flat on the floor. Otherwise, sit in your favorite meditation position. Give yourself a few moments to feel your body sitting. After that, I invite you to take 3 to 5 intentional deep breaths as slowly as feels natural to you. You may close your eyes or keep them open. Now you can begin the exercise. Take as much time as you like. 1 to 2 minutes is typically a good starting point for each part of the exercise and you can modify the time as feels right for you.
1) Take a few moments to reflect on any acts of generosity you have received in your life. This can be from any time in your life and can be any generosity such as kind words, kind acts, or anything at all that feels like generosity to you.
2) Next, take a few moments to reflect on ways you are generous with yourself. Perhaps you have spiritual practices or exercise routines, hobbies you engage in, or volunteer services you provide. Any way you are generous with yourself will work. You could even consider this moment you are giving yourself right now.
3) Finally, take a few moments to reflect on ways you are generous with others. As you ponder the ways you are generous with others, I invite you to reflect on how your generosity might make a difference.
When you have completed the exercise I encourage you to gently bring your attention back to your body sitting, and take a few deep breaths as you begin to feel your body. And when you feel ready, you can open your eyes.
If you like to journal, you might like to write down your experiences or feelings that came up during the exercise.
I think it’s important to say it’s possible you might also feel nothing and that is normal. You can do the exercise again perhaps on a different day and see how it goes. Meditation and contemplation exericses like these are very personal experiences. We all feel them differently. This means there is no “right” or “wrong” way to experience it and you can play with it and see how it goes over time. I would be happy to hear about your experience and invite you to let me know in the comments section of this post.
I hope you found this exercise useful in some way.
Thank you for taking some time to read this post and for trying this exercise. I wish you much peace and joy in all that you do.
-Louis