Do we get in the way of "our" Music?

Here is a very important concept worth exploring...Does our own music hold us back and, in our efforts to produce a naturally beautiful line, keep us much too labored? There is a reason why many string teachers incorporate certain ideas and practices, like "economy of motion" and "Alexander technique", into their lessons. Music is built upon the depth of simplicity, graceful execution of technique, and eternally flowing line. Music pulls us along, as we wonder, consider, and feel its ageless, and omnipotent, spirit. That's right, it goes on, with or without us. We must always seek to connect with a certain sacred silence. Furthermore, it must accompany us during both the rests and the most challenging passages. In short, it is the one constant. It is our safe zone, island of inner stillness etc. Pablo Casals often expressed the importance of the silence between the notes. I'd like to believe that this alluded to the mental, physical, and spiritual state of the the performer, before, during, and after the performance.

Just how are we conceiving and processing the music, in every moment? If we are to become conduits for music's sake, must we truly surrender to serenity? In addition, is ultimate freedom letting go, when we feel the need to hold on, dwell on difficulty, drown in mud, be human etc.? I do believe that music is that vehicle that chauffeurs us into the heavens-some ethereal place. Music, like any great religion or spiritual practice, always seems to find our hearts, even if we forget about it from time to time. Music requires constant devotion, fearless trust, and an insatiable desire for peace. Yes, something as simple as the vibrations, if we enjoy them without the anxiety-ridden ego, become our very own sanctuary.

Any art, if mastered with honest intention, becomes an irrefutable statement about devotion, creation, and eternal bliss. Please understand, however, that this flowing river of music is for everyone, performers and audience alike. We do not own it! If we obsess too much about our performance goals, we will then become obsessed with our desires, limiting any true musical freedom. Music, in all its splendor, is still beautiful without us. We have no choice, but to accept this notion. The most we may hope for, in any performance, is that our faith may bring us an endless reservoir of possibilities. Are we ready for that magical wave, knowing that we do don't control the tide? As Bruce Lee once instructed a student, "It is like a finger, pointing to the moon...Focus on the finger and you miss out on all that heavenly glory...

These thought patterns only work if they are consistently conditioned, without any interference from the ego. Most importantly, our music is a matter of constant thought, training/conditioning, and lifelong personal growth. Essentially, if we are not growing, we are certainly not flowing. I have often been a fan of any relevant practice, like Yoga, that centers its importance around deep breathing, meditation, and ego-less self control. The irony is that the more we want to control the self, the further we stray from the sincere feelings of musical mastery. Thus, we block the our most natural and expressive freedom-the wonder of momentary creation. What a paradox? Through Christianity, I learn humility, listening, and loving acceptance of others, as daily exercises. These lessons prove most applicable in the musical environment. I want to connect with all my fellow musicians and listeners, in a most authentic way, within each note. A note must mean something! Therefore, every note must have emotional content!

Lastly, what comes before and after that note must come from the heart. It must be pure and honest. It must be blessed, kissed, and sent on its way. As Bruce Lee also stated, "Be water, my friend." Rather than making music, we become the music. As T.S. Eliot so eloquently expressed, "You are the music while the music lasts." Music must always align with our heart-felt intentions and be born from Love. Otherwise, we are not musicians, only technicians. Any great technician will eventually hit a quagmire and become increasingly frustrated. However, any great musician will always have an endless abundance of self-discovery, through an enriching human experience/connection, because he/she decides to trust the music above all else...

If we are musicians in training (and we always are), this simple practice, of getting ourselves out of the way, becomes one very essential focal point. At first, remembering to breathe does not seem like a very advanced concept. However, I have seen many "advanced" cellists forget such a simple God-given pleasure, amidst the ricochet section of the Dvorak... Funny how the most simple concepts become so easy to forget, especially during challenging passages. When I first worked on this passage, I had a frown and did not enjoy my labored efforts... My teacher, at the time, suggested that I smile during the entire section. I did, and instantly felt freedom-motion without constraint. This was my first musical experience, associated with trusting, letting go, and getting myself out of the way. For the first time ever, I was able to let my music be free, without me...