Practice and/or “mindfulness”

[Camarillo]

I’m gigging more than I used to in the last couple of years. Small venues, pubs, restaurants, that kind of situation in with a few dozens of people.
Some performances go very well, in some others some mistake occurs.
Mistakes could indicate a lack of practice (or technique) but I feel that most of them are related to a weak “mindfulness”. What I mean is when you’re focused on your playing and into the song you play it right. Seems a stupid matter but, as an overthinker, as I am, is a vital part of performance. Every thought generates a mistake and every mistake generates a thought so things can get really messy…
I think this is valid in live situations, where you need to do a good job in front of strangers, but in rehearsals also and practicing alone as well.
In my opinion “mindfulness” is one of the skills that defines a pro musician from an amateur, more than technique and acrobatic chops.
Am I the only one?
Opinions?

 

[Elk]

You are correct. This is why it's so important to practice things over and over and over (and over and over and over). It's not merely about improving facility but improving our brains ability to stay present even when it wants to wander -- be it due to overthinking, boredom etc.

 

[mikeoso]

It's a hot word recently, but often misapplied in popular culture. As a long-time meditator, I know that mindfullness is crucial to inner peace. I've also been a teacher, public speaker, actor, and gigging musician much of my life. Mindfullness is crucial in all of those...because it really means attention and focus. In fact, doing anything well, even driving in traffic, should require mindfullness.

Just dont get "demure" and "cutesie".

 

[fdeck]

It seems like the term "mindfulness" is floating around right now because of a meditation practice of the same name. I can't say that I've ever experienced it. But it seems to be a much more elaborate thing than just paying attention.

For me, the times when I've been disciplined about practicing are also when I've been able to let my mind wander during gigs without messing up. If you have to think about what you're doing, it's too late. Thinking can be for the higher level aspects of playing, such as interpretation, the overall sound of the ensemble, interacting with band mates and the audience, etc.

Admittedly I'm skeptical about anything that's a substitute for practice and technique. I've got a gig 2 weeks from now, that will require all of my technique, plus practice, just to play the parts. If I haven't gotten the parts down, no amount of concentrating on the gig is going to help me.

Mindfulness - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[jthisdell]

To play your best you need to be thinking of nothing but playing.

 

[KenD]

To play your best you need to be thinking of nothing but playing.

Agree. IMO the conscious thinking is absolutely necessary in individual practice and in working out arrangements in a group but the goal of that thinking is to integrate it into our subconscious so that our "muse" can flow out unimpeded, riding unconsciously on what was integrated.

 

[BuddhaFingas]

Focus and concentration are becoming lost arts in society, and not without help from the social environment.

Everything clamoring for your attention ahead of everything else.

Even as a raw beginner of a player, it's a conscious effort to clear my mind to practice, and when I don't succeed, mistakes multiply.

Life seems an endless stream of popup ads, some days.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

“Mindfulness is our ability to be aware of what is going on both inside us and around us. It is the continuous awareness of our bodies, emotions, and thoughts, without judging them."

-Thich Nhat Hahn

One way to understand mindfulness is to perhaps view it as a method to develop a detached type of observation of both your inner world and the world around you in order to achieve peace, balance your emotions, and promote compassion for yourself and the world.

It may be somewhat akin the being in the zone or a state of heightened concentration you mention, OP, but I'm not sure if what most people see as mindfulness, per the Thich Nhat Hanh definition above, aligns with what you're saying.

Cool concept to apply to music either way.

 

[gtmalone]

I had a problem with making a mistake then dwelling on it which affected what I played next leading to more mistakes. I've (mostly) learned to move on. The mistake has passed, forget it for now and focus on what is left. Sort out the problem after the performance.

It's been my experience that the audience only remembers the start and end of a song and not much of what happens in the middle. About the only thing that brings attention to us is stop playing because of a mistake. If the bass stops, guess where everyone looks! This doesn't mean not working on your craft, but play the music and have fun instead of worrying about mistakes.

 

[J Wilson]

Back when I gigged 5 or 6 nights a week with bands that rehearsed well and I could play the set list backwards and double-time, the only thing I was mindful of was where were we going for breakfast afterwards.

The better prepared I became, the better I could quit overthinking it and play well.

 

[Altitude]

I agree in a general sense that to maximize performance in anything we do we have to establish a sense of flow where we’re thinking of nothing else but the thing we’re doing. But also that we can’t be thinking too specifically about what we’re doing. I guarantee that the more I think about the lick that’s coming up, the less chance that I’ll play it right.

Just read a pretty good book about separating mindfulness from conscious thought called Don’t Believe Everything You Think. It’s less about maximizing performance quality and more about not torturing ourselves with counterproductive thoughts. But I do recommend.

 

[MojoPin]

I make the most mistakes in the middle of a song when I have to poop so you may be on to something there.

 

[dbflats]

I've found that mistakes made while recording are much worse than those made in live performance

 

[Five or Six]

You can get it right at practice, (practice=alone) but, did the rest of the band "practice? "Practice" is important! But, rehearsal is just as important as well to put songs together! I like to know what's going on with everyone before I go out into the public. I refuse to make an ass of myself. I've heard so many times here: "we don't rehearse ". OK, that's fine, and are you playing without mistakes? If you are playing out a bunch, no need, I agree. Been there, done that!

Anyway, I know if I'm playing a gig and my mind starts to wander some, it's easy to become more prone to making a mistake. We play some of these songs so often that it's easy to get off track. Someone mentioned something about when playing and paying attention. That's so true, no matter how old and mundane a song has become. But, those are the songs that may just catch you sleeping!

 

[Jugghaid]

You're overthinking it.

Just play.

 

[BadMonk]

Complete "mindfulness" is virtually impossible to achieve, for mere mortals like myself. Is mindfulness a static, unchanging state of mind or body or spirit? Does it mutate and change according to the environment, i.e., practicing, gigging, noodling, etc.? In any event, mistakes will always be made. Anybody play a piece of music perfectly? Maybe mindfulness in music is to remain present and let learn to let things go, like mistakes or life's problems or that itch under your nose. I don't know obviously...my mistake.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I’m gigging more than I used to in the last couple of years. Small venues, pubs, restaurants, that kind of situation in with a few dozens of people.
Some performances go very well, in some others some mistake occurs.
Mistakes could indicate a lack of practice (or technique) but I feel that most of them are related to a weak “mindfulness”. What I mean is when you’re focused on your playing and into the song you play it right. Seems a stupid matter but, as an overthinker, as I am, is a vital part of performance. Every thought generates a mistake and every mistake generates a thought so things can get really messy…
I think this is valid in live situations, where you need to do a good job in front of strangers, but in rehearsals also and practicing alone as well.
In my opinion “mindfulness” is one of the skills that defines a pro musician from an amateur, more than technique and acrobatic chops.
Am I the only one?
Opinions?

I make mistakes even when thoroughly prepared, in the moment, and totally focused. I’m human. Unless I’m missing my guess here, you are too. Mistakes are the human part of playing music. Ever see a painting that looks like just like a photograph? That said , there are mistakes and there are Mistakes.

IMO, as long as you begin the song properly in the right key, end at the right time, and you don’t screw up the song form you’re in good shape. Odds are nobody 20 minutes after that song is over is going to remember on song #4, during the bridge you hit a 16th note slightly late on an Ab instead of an A natural. On the other hand, your band mates and a fair amount of the audience might remember if you started the song on an Ab instead of A.

My advice if you are really concerned about the impact of your mistakes, record your next gig and review. When you do, count how many sections of songs you do very well. Then count the bobbles. I’ll bet you’re a lot better than you’re giving yourself credit.

 

[KohanMike]

In my opinion “mindfulness” is one of the skills that defines a pro musician from an amateur, more than technique and acrobatic chops.
Am I the only one? Opinions?

Yes, I find if I don't stay focussed on my arrangement, that I make more mistakes, but at the same time, I also find that I'm better at covering up my mistakes than preventing them.

 

[ga_edwards]

Focus and concentration are becoming lost arts in society, and not without help from the social environment.

Des Bishop sums mindfulness in the modern world quite well

 

[MuseChaser]

As one other poster hinted at/stated above, in terms of music, we're really talking about focus and concentration on the music itself, above all else, whether it be while practicing or performing. Complete immersion in the sounds you hear in your head prior to their production through the use of your body and instrument, the sounds coming from your colleagues, visual cues and information, tactile feedback from your instrument, awareness of any physical strain or stress that could be alleviated.

At least three senses are providing CONSTANT input, all of which must be immediately processed and acted upon, mostly at a subconscious level if a performance is to go well. To achieve that, the brain can't be cluttered up with extraneous thoughts.

After a great gig with great players, I'm mentally exhausted, but at peace and energized. After a bad gig with incompetent players, I'm physically exhausted, bored, and bugged.

After the usual two or three hours practice session at home, it takes me at least another hour or two to "come down," or get "out of the zone" and get back to normal communication with my wife and others. Fortunately, after 47 years together, she gets that.

Don't need a new age word or new definition to describe what's been around and known to most professional players forever.