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Are you subconsciously

#85
JAUQO III-X said:
When you are in the exact moment of playing, are you subconsciously aware of every thing you're playing before and during your playing?
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I'm consciously aware of it and simultaneously planning what to do in at least the next few bars, not to mention making sure the drummer and I are locked, keeping an ear on the keys and guitars to see if they change anything (they sometimes do), watching the crowd for any interesting sights or checking the score of the Yankees game, etc.

I guess I do a lot when I play.
 
#87
JAUQO III-X said:
There was no test. It was just a question.
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I guess I misunderstood one of your responses - when you told someone they were "closer than you give yourself credit for" it seemed to imply that you had an answer of some sort.

I think it's already been established that "subconsciously aware" is a paradox, so maybe the original question could be restated.

You'll find that there will be those who explain the phenomenon of "being in the moment" from a scientific standpoint or a spiritual standpoint, or possibly a combination of both.
The classical vs romantic approach at work.
I fall somewhere in between, realizing that there are scientific explanations for how things manifest, but when I let all of the excess words and thoughts go, and find myself immersed in the Now, science is of little use to me because I'm in a wordless state and the music is coming "out of me" if you will.

It could no doubt be explained by whatever version of today's science is in effect, but it's more entertaining for me and personally fulfilling to immerse myself in the feeling of spirit as I play.

This is my "controlled folly" for those who catch the reference.
 
#88
Interesting question: I once played a gig (playing lead guitar) and it came time for me to solo. The band was so deep into the groove and we could feel the audience loving everything we were doing, it was a great perfomance if I must say. At the end of the gig my band mates came over to me with this look of amazement and I was wondering if I did something wrong, but they told me that I was playing riffs, modes and scales they've never heard me play before. Fortunately the whole thing was recorded and as I listened back I was amazed at some of the runs I did. One lick in particular really blew me away and I know this might not make sense to anyone but it took me two week to learn a lick that I already played on stage. I could be wrong but I think this is what Jauqo is asking.
 
#89
zenrad said:
I guess I misunderstood one of your responses - when you told someone they were "closer than you give yourself credit for" it seemed to imply that you had an answer of some sort.
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That isn't what I got from that post. I thought he was saying that Will is closer to playing from a state of unconscious competence that he was giving himself credit for. And I agree---Will can play!!

Of course, I could be waaaaay off. I don't want to speak for Jauqo.
 
#90
NickyBass said:
That isn't what I got from that post. I thought he was saying that Will is closer to playing from a state of unconscious competence that he was giving himself credit for. And I agree
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Nicky that is indeed what I was saying.


NickyBass said:
Of course, I could be waaaaay off. I don't want to speak for Jauqo.
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You were on point.
 
#91
JAUQO III-X said:
Nicky that is indeed what I was saying.

You were on point.
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It's funny how people interpret the words of others.

Don't know if you're a fan of RadioLab but here's a link:

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/

Listen to the very first podcast titled "Words". It gives a lot of insight into both verbal and non-verbal communication. It even gives me a few ideas about how we think about music.
 
#92
Bassman7PM said:
Interesting question: I once played a gig (playing lead guitar) and it came time for me to solo. The band was so deep into the groove and we could feel the audience loving everything we were doing, it was a great perfomance if I must say. At the end of the gig my band mates came over to me with this look of amazement and I was wondering if I did something wrong, but they told me that I was playing riffs, modes and scales they've never heard me play before. Fortunately the whole thing was recorded and as I listened back I was amazed at some of the runs I did. One lick in particular really blew me away and I know this might not make sense to anyone but it took me two week to learn a lick that I already played on stage. I could be wrong but I think this is what Jauqo is asking.
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I honestly think what you experienced was really getting to that subconscious level where there's no "self-talk," no self-doubt, just you, your axe, and your band. Amazing stuff can happen here--where your muscle memory seems directly plugged in to your musical pathos. Not saying that happens to me often, or even hardly at all--as a matter of fact I think I'm only just scratching the surface.

But you can't "will" it, logically to happen. Much more of a "being" sorta thing. You have to not rationalize it too much.

Bassist Barry Green wrote a book called "The Inner Game of Music" that addresses this really well. He actually based it off of another book, "The Inner Game of Tennis," by Timothy Gallwey. I read it some time ago and probably should pick it up again--it's a good read! :)
 
#95
I don't believe it matters whether or not you are playing something you have played many times before or something new, but I absolutely believe that there are moments when you are truly playing in this moment. At that moment, conscious and sub-conscious are irrelevant. I have not experienced this often, but I like it a lot.
 

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