Why Mindfulness Should Matter to Musicians
What is ‘Mindfulness’?
Mindfulness is paying attention and being present in the moment. Bringing awareness to your thoughts, breathing, and physical body. Practicing mindfulness helps us focus and stay present. It enables us to check in with our feelings, emotions, and thoughts and better process our inner and outer worlds. How does this tie into practicing and performing as a musician?
Music & Mindfulness
I am now going on 26 years playing violin, along the way I picked up piano and viola as well, but it was only recently that I began to realize how much mindfulness helped me thrive as a young musician and eventually as a young adult. Whether it was during everyday practicing, preparing for an audition, or getting ready for the next concert/performance. Unbeknownst to my younger self, I was bringing mindfulness practices into my music practices and way of thinking and functioning as a musician.
Although I may add I have never been one to give up easily, whether you’d like to call that being stubborn or strong-willed, that’s up to you. But I believe a combination of both being obstinate and acutely aware helped me become the accomplished musician that I am and was, even by the age of 14.
Now that I am teaching music, it has been as a teacher that I have become aware of these mindful best practices both as a performer and as a teacher. Not only have I been striving to instill in my students a positive attitude and strong work ethic, I have been “pushing” them in a way that encourages personal growth over perfectionism, personal confidence over comparing themselves to others, and personal effort over wasted practice time doubting their abilities. Notice the personal for each… it is when we reflect inward that we are able to pull from our own strength to continue to progress in any outward endeavor we pursue. And this is what mindfulness helps us do. This is what mindfulness helps my students do. It also helps us notice whether or not we are doing something for the right reason. As long as we give our best it is okay to decide later on that activity is no longer for us. And these are the words I bring to my students who decide to move on from playing. But even for these students, my hope is they continue these helpful and healthy habits of self reflection, perseverance, and patience.
What are mindfulness activities/practices for musicians?
paying attention to breathing: taking a deep breath before starting to play, focusing on slowing breaths when nervous/waiting to perform, remembering not to hold your breath while playing or focusing on the music
good posture while playing: standing up straight, shoulders rolled back, relaxing your muscles
making a weekly practice plan/taking practice notes while you practice
focusing on one exercise, scale, or passage at a time: zoning in on the micro to accomplish the macro
being completely present while reading sheet music
being completely present with your instrument while playing music from memory
tracking progress based on your own personal efforts/practice time put in
bringing your awareness to how your body feels while playing: do you need to adjust your instrument, do you have any pain or discomfort anywhere & why, do you need to practice more to build up stamina
bringing your awareness to your emotions: how do you feel before you practice? how do you feel after you practice? how does playing/practicing your instrument help you process your emotions or feelings from your day
As our bodies grow so should our awareness of our posture and technique to protect ourselves from injury. Through mindfulness string players can gain the tools necessary to be aware of their physical and emotional needs at all times!