The Power of Intention
Organize your Playing!
We have been approaching playing from many new perspectives. Celebrate how you have grown. To make these ideas a part of your playing it takes practice.
One technique I find to be helpful in this process is to employ the idea of intention. An intention is something you can organize your playing around. If I find that I tighten up in a particular piece that has a lot of fast technique and articulation, I could choose the intention, “I am going to enjoy how my feet contact the ground as I play this.” When I feel out of control in any way, I state the intention in my mind.
The power of the intention is that it brings you back into the present moment. The best intentions are large and specific, big picture views of playing. I find movement or awareness intentions to be most successful. If you, for example, choose “I am going to play it right.” I would challenge you to define what is right. There are so many ways to play a phrase. Our playing can be as unique and individual as we each are.
Today. employ the use of intention. Here are a few suggestions…
I am going to enjoy the movement of my ribs as I play this.
I am going to see the peripheral space as I play this.
I am going to enjoy my fingers dancing on the keys.
I am going to feel weight shifting at my base (sitting bones or feet)
Be curious….