Mindfulness - Knowing you

Mindfulness is everywhere just now.  There are mindfulness apps, there are coaches, and there are plenty of scolds telling us that we need to be more mindful.

This is however, much like so many other things.  There is no end to the line of people telling you what you should do. You need to eat low fat low carb clean whatever-is-popular-today.  You need to have these countertops, this color cabinets, and definitely not have an avocado refrigerator!  You have to wear skinnies, or was it wide-leg? Oops, nope, it’s ankle pants.

There are a lot of people telling you what is right for you.  But you probably already know what is right for you!

Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention. Of being “in the moment”.  Of focusing on what you are doing right now.  Of not being fixated on on what has happened before or what might happen later, but only on what is happening.

And in our current world, it is easy to get caught up in not being focused.  And so, there are loads of people willing to tell you how to be focused.  But the most important part of mindfulness is knowing you.

You likely already know what works for you. Answers online may help but will not change that essential you.  And if you’re paying attention, you will have a pretty good idea of what you need to work on.  Rather than telling you to breathe or meditate or do yoga, I’d like to suggest a few other ways to be mindful during your practice and playing. How do you get your mind to focus on playing the harp rather than on all the other stuff you could be thinking about?

1. Breathe.  Ok, I know I said I wasn’t going to tell you to breathe, but I am always amazed at how many people truly don’t breathe when sitting on the bench.  I have gone so far as to draw breath marks into the music or to add a breath into the phrase as I teach a tune.  Breathing is something that requires a little attention when you’re focusing on something else (like learning or mastering a tune).
2. Check in. Just as when you arrive in a hotel, you have to check in so they know you are there and you can get settled, you can check in with yourself – see what baggage you have brought (and leave it on the floor), make sure you are comfortable, that there is enough light, and that you know when your time there will end.
3. Attend. Actually pay attention to what you are doing.  Don’t think about work or what’s for dinner, why you can’t play the same things as Betty Sue, or what you’re going to play for your Carnegie Hall audition in 150 years. Pay attention to what you are doing right then.  Scales? Focus on your fingering, placement, sound quality, and control.  If you’re doing etude work, assure you’re getting out of the etude the point of the activity rather than just banging through it.
4. Be content. You are practicing.  This would suggest that you are building a skill, a repertoire element, or a performance package.  The key word there is building – developing.  Be content that you are making progress.  Don’t waste time being upset, chagrinned, angry, or despondent that you have only made as much progress as you have – rather, be content that you have made progress.
5. Don’t settle.  Why yes, this is the tempered opposite of the item above.  Don’t settle for anything less than your best effort.  Don’t accept sloppy scales, a fumbled second phrase, trailing fingers, or anything else that smacks of not paying attention. Don’t flog yourself but do genuinely work while you’re on your bench.  This is a path to being content!
6. Mind the time.  While it would be ever so nice to have four hours a day to practice, that is impractical for most.  So be sure you know how much time you’re going to dedicate and use it. Use all of it.  But honor your plan and only use all of it, but no more.  This will help you be focused on what you’re doing rather than wondering, “How much longer? Are we there yet?”

Of course, you can also have a mindfulness practice of more standard mindfulness stuff – that can only aid your focus when practicing.  But you know you - do what works for you.  

What other things do you do to help yourself focus and be mindful when you’re on your bench?  Leave me a comment, I’d love to hear what you do!