The Inner Game of Music

Respect to the author Barry Green

Who told you that playing music was difficult?

Music and Sport are both played, yet they require control over the body, discipline, inspiration, structure, spontaneity and technique. Both are performed in front of audiences  who have come to appreciate excellence. Just like both of these, humans are the ones who get in their own way. So, how about we find ways of not getting in our own way. Performing something can take the fun out of music if you're nervous (every other Monday yeah?) It can also take the fun out of sport as it takes control of our ego, such as, when it's just you and the goalie, if you're Gazza you've got no problem. How did he get to that level of confidence? He made it look so natural (are we on the same wave length here?)

Fear and control are what tutors sometimes enforce, only, how are you meant to make it natural if you have these instructions fencing your path? Some can be like running through barbed wire.

Mozart

Wolfgang and J.S.Bach toured Britain quite a lot, only to find themselves in taverns after hours. Brass spittoons where what they used to play with, only Mozart went the extra mile and made it make sounds and spin around while Bach just spat in the target area. Mozart was also excellent at Billiards. He used to enjoy the sound of the balls hitting each other made, it also influenced his music. Was it a child's enthusiasm that got him doing this? Well, it is definitely true that children have an effortless capacity to learn. As a child, you had no idea that music can be said to be difficult. It is good if you think that what you are playing is quite easy i suppose. 

Okay, so, who told you music is hard to play?

"Oh well, they're kids, they learn fast." Ergh, excuse me but adults have bigger brains we're just diseased with masks we wear (cliche.) You have got to let go and live in the moment if you want to be good at anything, when do you think it would be a good idea to get self-concious about something you're doing? Well, sometimes, learning a certain piece or phrase becomes the easiest thing ever. Why is this? In my experience, some things have taken months to learn whilst something that is harder has only taken a week. It is the "rage" that makes you in the moment and in a state of learning where, as you are teaching yourself, you learn in the best way. Sometimes, concerts just go exactly to plan and you are moved by how well you do. Why is this? One example from own experience was a concert in Montreux where our Swiss Student was watching us, it was the best, most intense concert of all time that left people in tears (internally.) Another example that can be explained was in Czech Republic where I decided to act as someone who was emotionally caught up in the moment and the music. At the end, ladies were catching my eye and waving at me when all 200 of us were standing and bowing with tears almost taking us over.

The Two Brothers

"The inner game of skiing" was the inspiration for "The inner game of music." The author of this decided to write the book when he and his brother both decided to go skiing only learn it in different ways. The loser, the author of the book, went for expert tuition for an entire year whilst his brother, being slightly physically disabled went and learnt by himself. At the slope, they both raced with the brother beating the author by a long way. He made everything look natural and effortless. How did he do this? "The inner game of skiing!" and a little help from his friends (but no expert tuition.) He had learnt by himself and from a good book. The book taught him to not think about what he was doing, just put it into your subconscious. There's a thing. Subconscious is not as powerful as the concentrated conscious, but it does do things effortlessly as there is nothing to clog it up. Clogging the consciousness is a bad idea, especially with instructions.

What about Music?

Applying this to the bass then, that is, the self-tuition. Just like Barry Green, instruct yourself to focus on your bowing arm and how much tension there is in it. Okay, say you have about five (if you need help after all,) raise that tension to a 7 / 8 and then back down again. You should find that you can now pinpoint where the tension thus you can get rid of it.

The 3 skills you must learn are

• Awareness
• Trust
• Will

You must always try techniques out before you apply them to your teaching. It's not easy to create something simple, to do that, you must know everything surrounding what it is you are trying to accomplish. Getting rid of inner anxieties is the way forward to achieving your goals. If you are a musician, try playing tennis under the guide "inner game of tennis," you should find results as Barry Green did. It'll keep you from playing boringly.

The Two Games

It is a game. And just like in computer games, you can apply your skills to other games, such as, first-person shoot 'em ups are all easy to play once you've got to grip with one. Same with instruments and sports. The reason it is called a game is because it comes with it's own challenges, kill this guy and you will gain a level? Hahaha!! not really. Not with instruments. More like, learn these three pieces, these 11 scales, 7 arpeggios, 4 chromatic scales, diminished 7th scales, double stopping scales, dominant 7th scales and these 12 Studies. Then you'll rise a level. Well I suppose with games you have to master the 'A' button and the Trigger button etc. This is the outer game. This is getting the technique etc just right / better compared to before. Tim Gallway said that there is the 'outer game' which is what you are doing, but there is also an 'inner game.' This is more subtle and easily forgotten. All the obstacles of this game are mental like. That is, concentration and self-doubt. When you play the outer game to much, the game ends up playing you. The inner game can be applied to everything else unlike the outer game. It is what makes you interesting and it gives you soul.

Tim says 'We are playing the inner game every moment of the day and winning or losing all the time." I think you know what i mean come on. Look at yourself, are you doing what you should be doing deep down or are you suppressed? The inner game is thus the key to success in later life and we all realize that.

Inhibiting attitudes and tendencies cause our muscles to tighten up. Fear of failure (or rejection) comes along.