Why did we start playing music? For the joy of it.
Since then we have gotten stressed about our instrument and worried about whether we sound good or not. So how do we get back to that initial joy? Here is what has worked for me:
In everyday practice
Everyday practice can easily feel tiring or run down. And that makes sense! But what if we started to introduce curiosity and experimentation in practice.
For instance:
“How would it sound if I played this phrase like —-”
“I wonder why the composer decided to do —-”
Then our practice starts to feel interesting and fun. The experimentation takes us on a journey. In my experience that has lead to finding joy in my playing again.
In a performance or audition
Before a performance it is crucial to cultivate joy. When I am warming up, there is a ritual that I always do:
I sit, close my eyes, and imagine a time when I felt joyful playing my instrument. I then focus on that sensation of joy and imagine feeling it in the performance I am about to do. Taking a moment to just put that sensation of joy into the performance has really helped my performances be more exciting and joyous. It takes practice, but it is so useful!
I wish you all the best on your joyful musical endeavors.
All my best,
Eleanor
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