Tag: music practice
Mindfulness and Musical Perfectionism – the hidden costs of chasing after an unexamined illusion
What is perfection? If someone asked you to describe your own idea of perfection, what would you say? For many musicians, ideas about perfection lie on some continuum between internally imposed and externally influenced idealizations about musical competency. Furthermore, these idealizations are by definition… Continue Reading “Mindfulness and Musical Perfectionism – the hidden costs of chasing after an unexamined illusion”
Three breaths – re-engaging during practice and rehearsals
A recent conversation with my colleague Sharon Paul demonstrated to me how powerful even a simple mindfulness-based technique can be in changing the dynamics of a practice session or rehearsal. Sharon is the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Oregon, and is… Continue Reading “Three breaths – re-engaging during practice and rehearsals”