A couple posts ago, I discussed the need for chunking, especially if your playing has a "stop-start" quality to it. Being able to chunk is also essential in the process of thinking ahead, since it frees up mental resources to consider what's next. This process is like driving a car; you can't just focus on what's directly in front of you, but rather you have to divide your mental energy between what you're doing (controlling the car) and what's coming up. On the other hand, if you focus too far in front of you, you won't have enough mental energy left to focus on what's coming up or on controlling the car itself. Its an issue of mental resources and timing.
The same applies to playing music. You have to focus just a bit in front of what you're doing, but not so far in front that you spread yourself too thin. This requires that you're able to put at least some of what you're currently playing on "auto-pilot". Just like like you can't think about every single detail of how to steer while driving, you can't focus 100 percent of your mental energy on one passage at the expense of what lies ahead.
There's a simple way to test this autopilot. Take a half-measure or measure of something you're working on, and practice it with complete concentration. Then divert your attention away and see if you can play that section while reading a book, checking the time of a clock, etc. If you're able to divide your attention like this, you'll certainly be able to think/listen ahead to what is coming up.
It's also interesting to note that if you try doing this with a longer stretch of music (say while reading a book), you'll probably stumble every few seconds--either with the reading or with the playing. With each stumble, you'll have to apply a "jolt" of conscious energy to whatever was lagging to keep things going. So its an interesting example of how the mind is handling information in chunks. Could it be that getting into a flow is also an issue of correctly timing these "jolts" of mental energy?
Can anyone recommend a good source for flutes online or on the east cost?
Posted by: Piano Insurance | February 06, 2010 at 06:23 PM
Awesome site and content, I think this is really a step which alot of people overlook in their piano developement.
Joey
Founder of: www.bestpianolearningsoftware.com
Posted by: joe | February 26, 2010 at 02:58 PM
Nice tips! I'm gonna give this a try. Thanks!
Posted by: Nicole | March 01, 2010 at 07:58 PM
Well you're definitely right. Whenever I try learning sheet music from http://www.sheetmus.com, I just think ahead. I've done it so much now that I don't even have to think about other stuff it comes automatically.
Posted by: Joaquin | March 16, 2010 at 03:06 AM
Sorry for the comment above, I meant http://www.sheetmus.com I didn't know you had to put a space between the end of the link and the coma. Thanks for the article anyway.
Posted by: Joaquin | March 16, 2010 at 03:07 AM