tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759353.post7362442278130659866..comments2023-08-29T02:42:23.063-05:00Comments on ¡Bemsha SWING!: Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09371893596402673898noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759353.post-5064383645972846162009-04-15T09:25:00.000-05:002009-04-15T09:25:00.000-05:00You'll probably hate this suggestion, but I th...You'll probably hate this suggestion, but I think it's a good antidote:<br /><br />sit down frequently, jump in, and play as badly as you can. (Flazz: flarfy jazz).<br /><br />Either that or sit down just to "practice," i.e., whatever drums' equivalent is to piano's scales & finger exercises.<br /><br />Or the most obvious (to me) question you can ask your ego: "bad" compared to what? "Bad" in what way?<br /><br />Or you could always practice some Tai Chi before you sit down to play.Annandale Dream Gazettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08155953951163636760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759353.post-34935914005884132742009-04-10T17:27:00.000-05:002009-04-10T17:27:00.000-05:00Before I start playing my piano, I tell myself, "N...Before I start playing my piano, I tell myself, "No matter how bad *I* might sound, the piano itself always sounds beautiful." This relaxes me and then the music comes out.<BR/><BR/>When my technique is especially awful, I play something very simple -- Bach for Beginners, Protestant hymns ("Abide with Me" gets called on pretty often!) -- and, again, marvel at the sound of my instrument. <BR/><BR/>I insist on being happily relaxed at the piano, in other words. In some mystic way, my piano insists on it too, it seems. *smiles*Phaedrushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02148859605829540331noreply@blogger.com