It's the music

Earlier today i was playing ping pong with some friends at work and I realised that playing harder and faster wasn't going to help me improve. I needed to slow my game down, lose a few points and an ego, let myself warm up and focus on my actions rather than my points.

Earlier today I was practicing guitar and I realised that the exercise I was working on was difficult. So I stepped back one in the book and tried to master that rather than continue to hit a wall with the current exercise.

Earlier today I was practicing piano and I realised that the exercise I was working on was difficult. So I stepped back one in the book and tried to master that rather than continue to hit a wall with the current exercise.

Just now I have been practicing the violin and wondering why I'm not up to the instrument like I might have been yesterday / previously. I thougth it was me. Instead I took the same approach and worked on something simpler. It paid dividends.

My point is: it's the musician, it's the music.

Playing music that is too difficult leads to no progress.
A technique that causes tension is invariable a technique that should be considered 'too advanced' and reattempted in days/weeks to come following the improvement of techniques that are progressive.

It's on the musician. It's the music.

It's not the body. It's the brain.

Playing suitable music is the best way to progress. Working on simpler techniques is the best way to progress.

..... days later.

My point is.
- For some reason I know my level with ping pong. I know when I am challenging someone who is too good for me at ping pong.
- For some reason I know my level with the guitar. I am keenly aware of my failures as a guitarist and can disect inabilities.
- For some reason I konw my level with the piano. I am not hanging from a cliff and fighting to climb. I accept that I am unskilled at some level.
- For some reason with the violin I am UNABLE TO correctly assess my level. For some reason I feel as though I am struggling.
- Most interestingly. I also immediately know what is beyond me with my drawing. I can accept my limitations with my art and yet share what I do achieve willingly. I take pride in my imperfect drawings.

I am in denial about my imperfections as a violinist. I am incapable of assessing my ability as a violinist.