|
Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
The Optimal Performance State
The Optimal Performance State
Page:
1
Frank
3350 posts
Nov 22, 2013
2:26 PM
|
required to see things and/or integrate things in a new way. As Lykken (1998) indicates, nearly
every agreed upon creative genus has been endowed with an incredible capacity for hard work
and prolonged concentration. He cites a quotation from Issac Newton, who when asked how he
was able to make his remarkable discoveries, replied: “I keep the subject constantly before me
and wait until the first dawning’s open little by little into the full light (p. 31).”
I’ve already mentioned the importance of having direct mental access to the data you need to
solve a problem or express yourself. I’ve also mentioned the importance of having a template
that you use to help you make use of, and/or express to others, the data that you have at your
disposal. Let me expand on that a bit.
Somehow our brains are organized to make that information that is of the greatest interest to us,
the easiest to recall. That’s probably because we spend more time with the information we are
interested in, thereby expanding the number of ways we can gain access to it. Good physicians
have a remarkable memory for minor details about patient histories, sports fans may be able to
recall an incredible array of statistical information about their favorite team, or even about every
professional team in the league. A world class marathon runner may be able to tell you the top
ten finishers and their times in the Boston marathon since it’s inception. A scientist will have
filed away seemingly inconsequential facts and figures if they seem remotely related to a problem
that he or she is interested in.
Those individuals who are able to use the information they have accumulated to provide others
with a new understanding of an old problem, and/or to anticipate future issues and implications
from the data they have acquired, religiously follow a systematic process for extrapolating that
kind of information. Implicitly, or explicitly they are continually engaging in the kind of critical
thinking and assessment that is associated with the development of scientific theories. They have
practiced that type of thinking until it becomes automatic. Individuals who find new ways to
express the data (e.g., artists, composers, authors) have developed patterns that they use over and
over again. That pattern may be a formula for writing novels, or a method of painting. What
ever it is, it’s been practiced to the point that it becomes second nature.
It should be obvious, that you will have a difficult time “faking it.” If you haven’t found a
subject that you are really interested in, it will be very difficult for you to get into the zone.
Writing and/or developing things for other people can be extremely frustrating when you aren’t
really interested in the product. Chances are if the motivation for involvement is to pay the rent,
or overcome a hurdle that is in the way of what you are really interested in, it will be almost
impossible for you to get into the flow state
|
Frank
3353 posts
Nov 22, 2013
2:29 PM
|
Finally, readers are reminded that there is no substitution for hard work and practice. One of the
ways to increase practice time for athletes who wish to improve physical performance, is through
the use of mental rehearsal. That rehearsal, however, should be conducted using an internal
perspective, emphasizing kinesthetic as well as visual feedback, involving the entire performance
sequence, and occurring in real time. For those individuals involved in the expression of
thoughts, ideas, and feelings, the rehearsal that goes on involves the expansion and exploration of
information (e.g., by asking questions about it). Some suggestions are also offered for overcoming
the distractions associated with a lack of confidence and/or performance anxiety.
|
tookatooka
3581 posts
Nov 22, 2013
3:18 PM
|
So, what you trying to say?
|
Frank
3354 posts
Nov 22, 2013
3:30 PM
|
I was hoping you would read it and paraphrase the guts of it in 500 words or less :)
|
SuperBee
1547 posts
Nov 22, 2013
4:03 PM
|
I know there is good stuff in here, but I gotta go practice something.
----------
JellyShakersFacebookPage
JellyShakersTipJar
|
wolfkristiansen
241 posts
Nov 22, 2013
4:36 PM
|
Frank, you've inspired me to dredge up my 2010 post on this topic. It's about musicians, not athletes. But it's about being "in the zone", which is what your learned author is talking about. A place I strive to find myself in every time I step onto the stage.
Here's that 2010 post, with some added (current) comments at the end:
"My greatest creativity comes when I, and my fellow musicians, get collectively "in the zone". This has been well described by others, and it's real.
For me, as a blues lover, it can also be described as being when I truly "feel the blues" inside me. It's bursting to come out. It feels like an overflowing spring. At times like that, my rhythm is effortless (other times I struggle), my melodic and harmonic ideas come effortlessly and spontaneously, and I truly create! I play outside my patterns.
Sometimes I hear recordings of those magic moments, and try to recreate them note for note the next time I play. It doesn't work.
This kind of creativity doesn't come solely from within. It comes from somewhere "out there". Where? I don't know. There's something otherworldly going on.
When it does happen, it's the most satisfying feeling in the world. For both the performer and the audience. Make no mistake, the audience hears it when you are "in the zone". It electrifies them. I'm not talking about the way they're moved to whistle and cheer when a musician puts on a big show, playing fast and loud and grimacing a lot. I'm talking about the playing that leaves them in a trance. You know that happens when there's a one or two second delay before they applaud, at the end of the song. During those seconds, they're busy coming back to earth after being transported to another world.
And of course, that feeling, where you're creating in every bar of the music, is better than any other feeling, including sex. Please don't tell our wives, (or husbands, for the female players in the forum)."
Some current comments as I think about this three years later-- there is no escaping the mundane mechanics of attaining instrumental prowess before reaching musical nirvana; translation, you need to put in long hours of quality practice time on the harmonica. There's no substitute. Just as an athlete has to put in long hours of practice; e.g. making three-pointers.
Once you know your axe, the other conditions have to be just right-- e.g. you're playing with like-minded musicians who are in the same musical space as you, everyone's focussing on the moment (not wondering if they left the front door unlocked or the coffee-pot on), the band is well rehearsed, etc. In other words, you have to put in long hours of sometimes tedious work, work that gives the musician(s) and the band the freedom not to worry about technique and structure and instead let the music come out.
One more condition that works for me: I wouldn't be honest if I didn't bring it up. A beer or three helps me avoid a distraction that is always there when I'm sober-- stage fright, even after almost four decades of playing on stage. When that distraction is gone, the music comes bursting out.
Cheers,
wolf kristiansen
|
kudzurunner
4394 posts
Nov 22, 2013
5:23 PM
|
I will translate:
Just do it.
Don't overthink it.
Practice--or exercise--so that you have the technique that allows you to dwell in the moment and just do it.
|
Komuso
222 posts
Nov 22, 2013
5:42 PM
|
Summary: Deliberate focused practice is key. Perfection is not the goal, but the ability to recover from mistakes is what distinguishes the wolves from the sheep.
----------
Paul Cohen aka Komuso Tokugawa
HarpNinja - Your harmonica Mojo Dojo
Bringing the Boogie to the Bitstream
|
Komuso
223 posts
Nov 22, 2013
5:53 PM
|
It's called Play;-)
----------
Paul Cohen aka Komuso Tokugawa
HarpNinja - Your harmonica Mojo Dojo
Bringing the Boogie to the Bitstream
|
wolfkristiansen
242 posts
Nov 22, 2013
8:08 PM
|
I'm exaggerating here to get the idea across. Harpdude, are you saying you can dial up "zone" whenever you want by practice, passion, confidence, a good audience and beer?
As I think back, I've never known when that beautiful state, "playing in the zone", will strike. It comes of its own accord, and stays away of its own accord too.
But when it happens, all the ho-hum gigs are wiped from memory. Sort of like winning a jackpot on the 50th try on the slots. The first 49 tries don't exist.
Cheers,
wolf kristiansen
|
dougharps
478 posts
Nov 22, 2013
8:37 PM
|
I find that the fastest way to assure that you can be in the moment when playing is to always remember to not think of an elephant.
Edit:
Remember, wherever you may go, there you are!
----------
Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Nov 22, 2013 8:39 PM
|
wolfkristiansen
243 posts
Nov 23, 2013
12:03 AM
|
Hello again Frank. Everything Robert M. Nideffer, Ph.D wrote about this subject rings true with me. As it did with you, I'm sure.
You probably read the whole article. I read most of it. I read enough to understand and accept without hesitation the truth in what he says.
Nideffer's article is about athletes. It applies equally to musicians. Both use muscles, and muscle memory, to produce a worthy, desired result. Harp players use subtle, precisely timed hand, lip, tongue and diaphragm manipulation to produce music; i.e. we use our muscles, coordination and timing, just like athletes. We bring our heads and hearts to the enterprise, but so does every good athlete. ("He's a smart player" "He plays the game with heart". etc.)
Head and heart are more important than muscle in the musical world; vice versa in the athletic world. Both skills serve as entertainment. Both have a deeper core. Both produce awe-inspiring results when their practitioners are "in the zone".
Here's my question-- what in this insightful, long article inspired you to copy it to this forum? Something jumped out at you. You gave us a hint with your quotes from the article; tell us all.
Cheers,
wolf kristiansen
|
Komuso
224 posts
Nov 23, 2013
12:34 AM
|
"Head and heart are more important than muscle in the musical world; vice versa in the athletic world."
Having competed at world level and been trained by world class sports psychologists I'd disagree with this and say they are all equally important for both music and sport. World class sport is a mind game played by very fit people.
Django Reinhardt learned to play virtuoso like with only two fingers...but what a way to use two fingers!
The "alcohol/drugs make you perform better" always ends in tears too...eventually.
fyi link to pdf http://www.taisdata.com/articles/optimal.pdf
----------
Paul Cohen aka Komuso Tokugawa
HarpNinja - Your harmonica Mojo Dojo
Bringing the Boogie to the Bitstream
Last Edited by Komuso on Nov 23, 2013 12:44 AM
|
rbeetsme
1428 posts
Nov 23, 2013
5:25 AM
|
I've heard Mississippi
|
Frank
3359 posts
Nov 23, 2013
6:12 AM
|
Goodmorning Wolf... I always love reading (expert) views on any subject. and Nideffer communicates eloquently on "The Optimal Performance State".
I really enjoy how he describes the differences of "the flow" and " the zone"... Absolutely fascinating ideas.
Like you Wolf, I connect with his insights and find them very intriquing and educational.
I really have nothing to add to the discussion at the moment, the article is a fun read and it speaks for itself in layman terms.
|
jbone
1422 posts
Nov 23, 2013
1:58 PM
|
That is the place I have played my utmost. Pretty much never recorded sadly. But it is definitely its own reward, when all is going not just right but perfectly, and you are riding that wave of perfection.
Time is suspended and you know exactly what note to hit, when, and just so.
It's one of the best highs ever. Now imagine finding that place with the one you love the most. THAT is the apex.
----------
http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa7La7yYYeE
|
nacoran
7369 posts
Nov 23, 2013
10:53 PM
|
I was playing back yard baseball once, and a new pitcher came in. He lobbed one over- it wasn't a pitch many people would swing at, about knee level when it was about 3 feet in front of me and dropping, but I know that's the one for me. I got the head of the bat out and crushed it. Everyone just stared and watch it. I was still standing at home plate when it bounced off the top of the wall. I got thrown out at second!
(I hit the same pitch for a monster fly ball in a softball game once. It was the hardest hit ball of the game. It was so slow coming in my teammates had time to yell 'don't swing'. The outfielder ran way back and at the last second just held his glove out. I don't think he even knew it was coming down, but he caught it. I trotted home from between second and third and my teammate said, 'I told you'! I looked at him and said, 'That's the hardest I've ever hit a ball. It's not my fault he was playing deep and there was no fence!'
Swing for the fences.
(I had a really good day jamming on the harp the other day. I felt like I could play any note and make it fit. It doesn't happen often, but when it does...)
----------
Nate
Facebook
Thread Organizer (A list of all sorts of useful threads)
|
Frank
3373 posts
Nov 24, 2013
9:33 AM
|
I was pitching a little league game and decided to throw a change up...I woke up in the hospital with the news, that the ball had struck me in the neck... an 1/8th of an inch more to the right I would be dead - Not exactly sure what the moral to this story is but Nate just reminded me that death, like the harmonica, is worth living for - so I agree - swing for the fences, dance like no one is watching and ride a bull name fu-man-chu....c'est la vie :)
Last Edited by Frank on Nov 24, 2013 9:35 AM
|
TetonJohn
171 posts
Nov 24, 2013
10:37 AM
|
I apologize for not reading the OP details.
I do see that later in thread there is some discussion of practice as an important element of preparation for that optimal state (which involves staying in the moment). Interesting, that discussion of practice has focused on the technical practice of playing the instrument. There is another side to the practice coin which is the practice of staying in the moment. There are many who say this is a skill that can be developed like any other, typically, through some form of meditation practice -- a practice that, just like musical practice requires discipline and regularity.
Last Edited by TetonJohn on Nov 24, 2013 12:16 PM
|
Frank
3376 posts
Nov 24, 2013
12:10 PM
|
post was evaporated
Last Edited by Frank on Nov 25, 2013 12:41 PM
|
The Iceman
1299 posts
Nov 25, 2013
12:46 PM
|
When I'm in "The Zone", time has no meaning.
I will think a note and it instantly appears out of the harmonica (or at the keyboard)...no playing memorized ideas note for note. No translation to muscle movement or technique...all that stuff has been taken care of through repetition and muscle memory.
I will also be listening to myself as if in the audience, sometimes thinking "Wow, that was a nice musical line...OMG, it was ME playing."
----------
The Iceman
Last Edited by The Iceman on Nov 25, 2013 12:48 PM
|
Post a Message
|
