Where is your mind during practice? On your fingers, the notes, or the music’s emotion? Let’s take a moment to explore how the direction of your attention can dramatically enhance the quality of your playing.
Understanding Attentional Focus
It’s easy to get caught up in the mechanics of playing—the fingering, the rhythms, the accuracy. While these are essential components of learning, directing your attention externally—toward the sound you’re producing and the emotional content of the music—can lead to more expressive and ultimately more effective performances. This concept of attentional focus plays a significant role in how we internalize music and communicate it to others.
When your attention is turned inward, it’s often about control—trying to get your fingers to do the right thing. But when you focus outwardly on the music, you’re allowing your ears and imagination to take the lead. This can free your playing and allow your technique to serve the music, rather than the other way around. You enter a state of flow.
Implementing External Focus
By shifting your focus to the music itself, you engage more deeply with your instrument. Use active listening. This can be very challenging for pieces you have been working on for a long time. Try to have fresh ears by bringing new ideas to your music, whether it’s playing at a faster or slower tempo than usual, or louder or softer, or with a different balance of the hands. All of these techniques will help you stay tuned mentally to your music. This approach encourages a more holistic understanding of your pieces and fosters a stronger connection with your audience.
The Payoff
By embracing external attentional focus, you not only improve your technical skills but also elevate your musical expression, leading to performances that resonate with both you and your listeners.
If you’re inspired to take your musical focus to the next level, the Living Pianos Mastermind Club offers the guidance you need. Discover how to train your ears, refine your interpretation, and bring fresh life to your playing—all with the support of expert instruction and a passionate community. Click here to schedule your free consultation and experience what focused, expressive practice can truly achieve!