Why the Mind Must Lead

I trust you are having a wonderful Labor Day Holiday. It is good to honor the brave men and women that have stood up for safe working conditions, an honest wage, and all the other good and just benefits a hard worker should be blessed with.

So, why must the mind lead? And how does it relate to violin playing? First off, when one does any activity with consciousness – whether walking, breathing, or performing a tune you’ve known for years – there is a satisfaction and pleasure that is not present when the same activity is conducted by rote.

Most of us can play to, say, 90% of our present ability whilst on a kind of autopilot. Surprisingly, this can even be done whilst sight-reading, providing the music is not too difficult.

But there is no way any of us will play to 100% of our ability, or stretch ourselves to new heights, while playing this way. It just won’t happen.

Now, try the following.

Pause for a few moments, and imagine yourself playing the open string exercise I included in ‘Kreutzer for Violin Mastery’ – if you don’t have it you can visualize yourself playing whole notes. Do it with real energy. Breathe, Feel the bow in your hand and the Weight you’re applying into the string. Manage the flow of the bow down the string in your mind’s eye. Hear the full, rich tone rising out of the violin.

Really put energy into the visualization.

Do you feel a little tingling in your right hand where the bow would reside? Are you also aware of a growing warmth spreading down your arm?

If so you’re experiencing the body’s autonomic response to your visualization – e.g. increased blood flow and heightened tactile sensitivity.

When you’re creatively involved with the movements of your body in this way you’ll experience increased mobility, less problems with strain or injury, and a greater impact on any listener within earshot.

I am still raising the percentage of time I spend fully conscious while practicing. It’s amazing how the mind wants to wander. I just keep calling it back, calling it back, and calling it back.

If you do this, with each passing day, week, and month, you will find yourself in a deeper and more effective state of active meditation as you practice.

All the best,

Clayton Haslop

P.S. I’ve heard from many aspiring virtuosi that are having a ball with Volume 1 of Paganini for Violin Virtuosity.