“It’s not difficult, just unfamiliar”

 

Knowledge creates comfort. If you know what’s going to happen next, if you are physically and mentally prepared for a motion, you will act out of a place of familiarity, not unfamiliarity.

There’s a quote I absolutely love that perfectly describes what I’m talking about: “It’s not difficult, just unfamiliar”. If you are prepared for whatever is going to happen next, you are less likely to perceive situations/sections/motions, etc. as a challenge. Challenges and unfamiliar situations have a tendency to push us towards a fight or flight mode (remember the lion?) which causes our muscles to tense up.

Always Be One Step Ahead:
-hear ahead
-feel ahead
-tap ahead
-sing ahead
-speak ahead
-look/read ahead

String Crossings:
-set up as chords (or put down the following note/finger ahead of time)
-be on the next string level ahead of time (right arm)

Runs:
-hear/sing next note ahead of time
-tap groups of 2,3, 4 fingers at the same time (practice patterns)
-say next finger number ahead of time

Shifts:
-tap (don’t look at) the position you are going to shift into
-sing upcoming note
-have your arms in position of the upcoming note

Vibrato:
-vibrate upcoming note ahead of time (by placing the finger on the higher or lower string ahead of time)
-feel the next finger and make sure to keep it loose
-practice vibrating two, or three fingers at the same time

Tricky Bowings:
-say “up” or “down” ahead of time

Stopping the Bow:
Most of you have heard me say this over and over again- “Stop the bow!”
Stopping the bow gives you enough time to prepare yourself for what’s coming next. Taking a break  makes you more aware of the present moment and the information that needs to be processed next.