Re: [Harp-L] Practice Makes Better -- Part 6

[peter lind <pjazz_peter@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Not sure how this fit's the anti authority theme, but at times there  
are limitations on how loud you can play. Maybe this is dealing with  
"Authority". Hotel room late at night or baby in the apartment next  
door late evening. You have this song that keeps going around in your  
head, but you don't want to bother anyone. How low can you play and  
get the feeling of the song, the rhythm, precise bends and over blows  
at a minimal decibel level. Limitations create adaptation.

Peter

On Oct 2, 2012, at 1:52 AM, Elizabeth Hess wrote:

> "Anti-Authority"
>
> I wonder if I'm the only one who has a bit of an anti-authority  
> streak.  Sometimes I resist practicing JUST BECAUSE someone told me  
> I should, or must.  Sometimes I even rebel against MYSELF, when I  
> tell myself that I should or must practice.  Even when I understand  
> that practicing is in my own best interests, I still don't do it.
>
> I have to resort to mental tricks to get myself out of this  
> particular hole.
>
> One is "Suit up and show up."  All I ask myself is the very tiniest  
> of tasks, like taking a harmonica out of the case and putting it  
> right back again.  That's all -- not even playing it.  The idea is  
> to "reprogram myself" to do some practice-releated tasks until some  
> part of me says, "Oh, alright, I'll play a little something."
>
> Another trick I play on myself is to ask myself, "What happens if I  
> practice [every day, today, once this week, etc.]?"  By turning the  
> work into an experiment rather than an exercise in compliance, I can  
> often get myself out of this mental trap.
>
> Another is to give myself permission to practice anything EXCEPT  
> what I think I "should" be practicing.  Just to get myself back in  
> physical contact with the harp.  Something just for fun, or  
> something comfortable and familiar.
>
> I admonish myself to get my money's worth -- from my lessons, from  
> my gear.
>
> I invite myself to try something completely new or different.
>
> I try to imagine what my life would be like if I NEVER practiced.
>
> I take a day off.
>
> I go to a jam and come face to face with how much better I want to be.
>
> Other tricks or ideas?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Elizabeth H. (aka "Tin Lizzie")