Am I Practising Right? 3) Why Am I Trying To Race Through Everything?

This took some real head-scratching for me. Why? Is it so that next time I go to a jam session I can show off with how fast I can solo over Giant Steps? So that once I’m done with my scales for the day I can watch The Simpsons? The more I think about it, the more I’m accepting that music is something I’ve chosen to do, and the journey will never end. The journey will last as long as I last. And when I put it that way, it makes me really want to enjoy it.

Think of your favourite meal. Right now, for me, that happens to be pizza. Wild mushroom and spinach topping. Replace that with your favourite dish.

If it was right in front of you, how would you eat it? Would you savour every bite, letting the flavours melt in your mouth? Or would you scoff it down as fast as you can, because it just tastes so damn good that you want it ALL RIGHT NOW?

I’m a scoffer. If I don’t consciously try to eat slower, which I’m trying to do more and more, I scoff. If something tastes good, I just want it. I don’t think about enjoying the subtleties of each flavour. I’m slowly trying to change that, to appreciate every mouthful, and be mindful of what’s going on whilst I eat.

What is the point in eating so quickly though? It’s gone quicker. The pleasure lasts less. Often I feel bloated when I eat quickly, and regret how I ate. Is it not surely better to enjoy the present bite slowly, and more thoroughly, than race to the next bite?

I think this applies very directly to the musician. If you’re constantly looking forward at what you want to be able to do, and more specifically what you can’t yet do, and try and take shortcuts, trying to beat time, you’re never going to appreciate what’s happening right now.

And what’s happening right now, is that you’re an amazing, talented, and above all, unique musician. Sure, you’re gonna get a lot better. But why not enjoy now, as well as enjoying the bright future?

Here’s an exercise to apply this idea: (inspired by a Steve Vai exercise)

Zoom in.

Take the smallest bit of music you can, and DO JUST THAT for an hour.

This could be picking one note, and one note only, for an hour. You’re thinking “God, that sounds so boring”, but what you’ll soon realise is that there are infinite possibilities as to HOW to play that note. By slowing down, appreciating EVERY LITTLE BITE, you’ll discover them. You’ll discover things you would never have discovered by rushing.

If you’re a jazz player, pick your favourite standard. Set your metronome to 60 bpm, and play straight quavers over the chord progression. You’ll come up with phrases you would never have come up with at faster tempos, because they force you into clichés, and licks your fingers just know. This makes you think.

Do that with every standard you ever learn and pretty soon you’ll be amazing yourself with your confidence in improvisation. And don’t you just love amazing yourself?

If you can’t do this for an hour right now, that’s fine. Do it for as long as you feel you can. Then leave it. Come back to it one day.

Carry this through to other areas of your life, because I believe that it’s all one big thing. Tonight when you brush your teeth, brush each tooth individually. When you’re lying in bed trying to get to sleep, visualise each little body part relaxing and falling asleep. When you have breakfast tomorrow morning, chew each mouthful 43 times.

What’s the point in a beautiful life if you don’t stop to enjoy the scenery? This moment, right now is all you’ll ever have...