Like most people, when you were a student, you probably learned that concentration involves narrowing your attention and you likely experienced a corresponding increase in overall tension, even if you weren’t aware of it (young children often resist concentrating for this very reason). 🧠 Over time, “hard” concentration starts to feel normal; never do you guess there might be any other way.

In fact, many people feel like their work has no real value unless it’s “hard” work—they need to feel a certain level of tension while engaged. This fits the twisted idea that if things feel too easy, they can’t be right. 💭

Brought on by the “no pain no gain” philosophy and the puritanical idea that struggle and suffering are good, we conclude that if what we do feels too easy or we’re having too much fun, then we’re being lazy or doing something wrong. We should buckle down and put in more effort! ⚡

Unfortunately, when you work on your music in a way that subtly raises the tension levels in your whole mind-body system, practicing can actually slow down your progress and sabotage your performance, even when you’ve worked really hard and prepared in a conscientious, systematic way. 🎻

It’s pretty obvious if you think about it: if you concentrate hard when practicing and your tension levels are higher than when you’re calm and centered (like when you’re meditating or relaxing at the beach), then your muscles will be contracting more than they need to.

That makes it slightly more difficult to breathe, move your fingers, shift your arms, make smooth bow changes rapidly, play with exactness and precise intonation—or respond instantly to the whims of your conductor, who suddenly decides to take an entirely different tempo in performance than what you’d rehearsed!

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Care to share?

With Love & Light,
Jennifer ❤️

The above is an excerpt from ‘Make Great Music with Ease! The Secret to Smarter Practice, Confident Performance, and Living a Happier Life'

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