David Motto’s Practice Tip of the Week:
Blow Off Steam

The Power of Difficult Emotions

Unlike many activities that should not be attempted when you are upset (like driving a car or cleaning steak knives), playing a musical instrument can actually be enhanced by difficult emotions.

If you are upset, angry, or frustrated, try taking it out on your instrument.  No, don’t throw your instrument to the floor or send it sailing through the nearest window!  Just play it.

When you try this, two things tend to happen – and they’re both good!

Releasing Negative Emotions

First, you may be able to release the negative emotions and start to feel better.  You’ll feel the anger or frustration subside as you play with reckless abandon.  You might just find yourself feeling calm after a few minutes.

This is a powerful, psychological tool that musicians have in their lives. Many people don’t have a strategy for undoing difficult emotions. These emotions stay inside them and can ruin an entire day. As a musician, you have a built-in mechanism in your life to help you decrease or even eliminate the power that challenging emotions hold over so many people.

Gaining Unique Insights

Here’s a second advantage to playing music when you’re upset: You may gain unique insight into the music you’re practicing.

If you are angry, for instance, you will probably practice with more intensity, louder dynamics, and rougher tone than you usually use. The added intensity can be just what the music needs.

If you’re feeling lonely or withdrawn, you’ll give your music just the opposite treatment. You’ll play more delicately than usual. Maybe slower than you’re used to playing. You’ll create fragile tones that you don’t usually use.

For many musicians, it actually takes these challenging emotions to get them to realize how they want their music to sound all the time. And, every now and then, you’ll actually develop a new technique that you accidentally discovered through playing while upset.

Channeling Your Emotions

Expressing difficult emotions can lead to a supercharged practice session. Then, when you practice on a day when you’re feeling positive, you’ll still have the memory of communicating emotionally through your music. You’ll have a new approach you can use for any song you’re working on.

So, the next time you’re upset, channel it through your music!

To Your Musical Success!
David Motto