Savoring
Stepping Out of Your Experience
I am doing the popular Yale course, “The Science of Well-Being” through Coursera. The course guides you through an exploration of mindsets, signature strengths, and rewiring thinking patterns to contribute to Well-Being.
This week one of the topics is “savoring” or as Dr. Santos describes it, “stepping out of your experience… appreciating it as it is happening.” This practice is what I hope to be inspiring you to do through the cues of “Practicing Turned Upside Down.”
When we are in the moment, mindful, we have choices and access to fine-tuning how we play (how we do anything!). Everything from articulation, to air movement to embouchure shape, you name it, we have access.
Moving mindfully through my early notes yesterday, I was struck by the finger movements between the notes. I noticed how a finger moved down onto the key, the gradual increase in contact, and then how one-note transitioned to the next.
I became curious about this transition from one note to the next. Taking a few minutes to savor the movements allowed me to identify tension that was compensating for insufficient air movement and inefficient movement in general.
Taking this time to be aware, focuses playing awareness at a whole new level. Regularly integrating it into practice, makes it accessible in performance.
Other places you can practice savoring include:
Typing at your computer, noticing how your hands move around the keyboard as well as the movements to press the keys. Can you feel the travel of the key?
You could savor the arm motions of brushing your teeth or washing dishes. This may not be high on your list of things to savor, but just think what you could learn if you did notice? Perhaps stooping over the sink?
Practicing awareness informs your playing. I love taking advantage of ANY opportunity to practice, I just don’t have enough hours in the day!
Be curious…
Building the Phrase is coming July 13-15th! Join Drew Ricciardi & I for a deep dive into playing!