This is an English translation of an article published in Nikkan San on Dec. 6, 2020, as a part of my column, “The Way of the Pianist.”
Welcome, December! Many of are spending our holidays quieter than usual with the continuing social distance measures. It can be an opportunity to be more reflective. I am making a suggestion in this entry. Why don’t we make our resolution for next year, now? I have a reason for saying this based on my musical practice, and neuroscience. Bear with me. I will explain.
As you practice, you are constantly looking for creative ways to achieving your musical ideals with the least effort and time. I’ve learned some things from this effort – and many of them, I’ve learned retrospectively, have basis in neuroscientific findings. One of them is that time before and after practicing is equally important to the time at the keyboard.
The process of learning does not happen from the first note you play at the piano. From the moment that you decided to practice, your brain starts thinking about your previous practice sessions and plans how it should go this time. (I should change the fingerings in the difficult passage…to what?) (How can I play that chord more beautifully?) These thoughts may not be even conscious, but trust me, this is an important process. And after the last note you play for that session, your brain starts reviewing. (In the next practice session, I should practice this passage slowly.) (Perhaps if I were to relax more in my wrist…)
In addition, to maximize the subconscious practicing before and after, there is something you can do. It is to not start and stop your practicing at obvious places. Let’s say you’ve finished practicing your piece to your perfect contentment and satisfaction. Then, start the next piece – just for a minute, the first several bars. That makes your brain curious about continuing the practice. Don’t think that you must perfect something before you can let yourself take a break. If you leave your brain wondering how you can play a certain passage better, for example, you might be surprised when you come back to it after a break! Your brain does amazing work subconsciously!
That’s why I ask you now – at the beginning of December. What is your resolution going to be for 2021? I think starting to think about that make your holidays more enjoyable!