Musical Expression
4 essays on musical expression.
- January 4, 2024“Why Does My Music Sound So Robotic?”
After playing her piece for me in a lesson one day, Sara, who was twelve at the time, asked, “Why does my music sound so robotic?” What a great question! What self-awareness! I was so pleased she had asked this because even though she had gotten all the notes right that day, her playing had sounded rather robotic. I was glad to know we were both on the same page about feeling emotionally unsatisfied with her performance. The stage was now set for discovering what to do about it.
- December 14, 2023“Guitar Face”: Authentic Expression or Creative Blockage?
Let’s imagine that you’re up on stage, playing a demanding and dynamic piece of music. You play all the right notes, you have perfect technique, you have a brilliant sound, you look like you’re trying to exorcize a demon from your instrument, and yet after the performance you feel unfulfilled and unmoved. You tried your hardest, but you just didn’t connect with real inspiration or genuine feeling. Why not?
- February 18, 2022"Can you even play *scales* from the heart? Live Demo" -- 100 Days of Soulforce #9
We all love to play from the heart while on stage, but what about in the practice room? Are you just going through the motions as you do your scales and exercises?…
- September 3, 2018The Musical Body: Cultivating Effortless Mastery
Some of us achieve the highest levels of mastery through incredible struggle, strain, angst, and pain. Others of us achieve the highest levels of mastery seemingly without having to try hard at…