How Do You Make Music?

The answer to this question may seem obvious: I play my instrument, or I sing. What I am interested in is the ‘how’ underneath sound, articulation, phrasing, color, etc. In my experience, the answer is not that straightforward.

This occurred to me one day while performing weighted lunges across the turf. I noticed ankle and hip instability as I made my way down the turf, which led me to think about the ‘how’ of what I was doing. Why would anyone choose to carry heavy weights while lunging? It is not particularly enjoyable.

Is the point of these lunges to perform the movement and check off a box that I did something challenging? Or is it to recruit the appropriate muscles, move in a controlled way, and challenge the moving and stabilizing muscles that would help me stand with poise, walk across the stage with confidence? For me, this is it!

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This brings us back to music-making, where the same principle holds: practicing movement to build a palette of sounds, colors, dynamics, and articulations that can be used to create expression.

For many years, my practice was judged by the product I shared at the expense of the movements underlying expression or the ‘how’ of music-making. I went to the practice room to play it as instructed. More cresendo here! Watch the intonation there!

Today, understanding the body in movement brings the ‘how’ to life and offers choices for creating expression. Practicing is broadening my musical palette and combining its elements into expression. Movement matters! In fact, it determines the productivity of my practice time. It is no longer about the amount of time I get to play; it’s the quality of that time.

How are you relating to the ground? Planted on one leg or fluidly shifting between both?

Are you using the ground for support and to initiate movement, or is tension in your body pulling you up away from the ground?

How are you breathing? (or not) Are your breaths taking advantage of the natural mechanics of breathing (as in speaking), or is your breathing effortful?

How are you relating to your instrument? Are you gripping the instrument, or is it balanced in your hands?

How are your fingers moving? Are you squeezing too much?

Are you listening to your expression in the space, noticing the resonance, or are you just hearing the notes and rhythms?

Does your movement support your musical intention, or does it contradict the lines? Take a video, turn off the sound, what do you see?

All of these elements contribute to learning music. If overlooked, you may find you feel less confident under pressure and have to invest way more time in learning repertoire.

I invite you to ask these questions in your next practice session. Perhaps the ease and expression you are after is closer than you imagined!

Be curious! Let me know what you uncover.