Comments on: Pay Attention

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:38:40 +0000

Thanks David. I’ve used this stuff with quite a few professional musicians, and once they ‘get it’, they love it. I’m always very impressed by their powers of concentration.

Interesting site you have. I love this piece, ‘Keep your instrument out to motivate practicing’ – obvious when you say it, but probably not before! http://www.moltomusic.com/motivation/keep-your-instrument-out-to-motivate-practicing/

By: David Motto

David Motto — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:59:26 +0000

Fantastic article! As a musician who blogs and often makes presentations to other musicians and music educators on practicing successfully, I often am asked how musicians can increase their level of focus while practicing and performing. Your explanation of mindfulness and the exercise for increasing awareness would have a huge payoff for musicians at all levels.

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:53:56 +0000

Thanks Jason, great description of mindfulness in the moment. I bet the music sounds good too!

By: Jason Parker

Jason Parker — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:56:18 +0000

Fantastic post! It’s cool to see scientific minds delving into what I consider more spiritual pursuits. This is a perfect distillation of two of my great joys…Buddhism and Jazz improvisation.

As a practicing jazz musician and an aspiring buddhist, I strive for mindfulness in every moment, and in every act. It’s not easy to achieve in our fast-paced world, but it goes to the heart of music and life.

When I am happiest on stage is when I’m completely immersed in the moment, listening and reacting to what my bandmates are playing. It is the act of conversation that floats my boat in a jazz performance.

When I am happiest in life is when I’m completely immersed in the moment, listening and reacting to what life is doing around me. It is the act over conversation that floats my boat in life.

Coincidence? I think not!

By: Kara

Kara — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:09:37 +0000

Thank you for mentioning Garr Reynolds in your post. I work for Peachpit Press and thought you and your readers might be interested in knowing that he just released his first online streaming video, Presentation Zen: The Video, where he expands on the ideas presented in his book and blog. The DVD is now available for purchase as well. More info can be found here:

http://su.pr/6N0VlM

By: Daily Links for Tuesday, June 23th, 2009

Daily Links for Tuesday, June 23th, 2009 — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:40:40 +0000

[...] Pay Attention | Lateral Action [...]

By: Mike Saville

Mike Saville — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:16:31 +0000

Thanks for the post – of particular relevance to my music practice community.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:13:39 +0000

Damon – Thanks Jazz improvisation is an excellent example. I don’t play myself, but as I understand it, it’s a high-wire balancing act between the formal constraints of the original piece and doing your own thing. I’m not surprised it takes mindfulness!

Nate – Yes, mindfulness is often the key to sports or similar activities. Timothy Gallwey writes about this in The Inner Game of Tennis. I practise aikido and mindfulness (or the lack of it) is invariably the difference between doing it well or badly.

Donnell – Yes, the breath is even better than the feet as a meditation object!

By: Donnell King

Donnell King — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:56:40 +0000

Excellent, excellent post. Thank you for the research report as well as the observations about its significance for speakers.

A tip along similar lines (in that it makes use of something always present, and of particular interest to speakers) comes from old basic meditation techniques, and in this context could be called, “How’s my breathing?” Just “watching” the breath as it comes in and out through the nostrils, without trying to change it. It’s always there, but usually taken for granted. Spending even 10 seconds with this has a similar centering effect.

By: Nate @ thewaythatyouwander

Nate @ thewaythatyouwander — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:53:10 +0000

Just did that little mental exercise and it was right on point! Very cool. I’m a basketball player, just finished my 3rd year of college ball and I think that this idea of mindfulness can be very beneficial to athletes.