Practitioner Principles for Continual Contemplation

Partitioner Principles for Continual Contemplation

•       Take time, do not rush.

•       Slow down but do not get lost.

•       Less is more.

•       Simplicity is key.

•       Play from and with spaciousness.

•       Give space for silence.

•       Give precedence to subtlety.

•       Play from presence.

•       Concentrate on the present task.

•       Do not do everything at once.

•       Avoid multitasking.

•       You do not have to be loud to be effective.

•       If it is loud, it is already too loud for the participant.

•       Feel it first, follow the sensation of sound rather than the volume.

•       Mind your own posture. Bend the knees.

•       Do not add to chaos/dissonance.

•       Always contribute to harmony.

•       Pick up and put down instruments with mindfulness.

•       Know your instrument.

•       Tune your instrument like you care; always and unapologetically.

•       Make use of what you have.

•       Use patterns but do not get stuck in patterns.

•       Incorporate and play with the environment.

•       Teach what you know. Avoid false claims.

•       Speak simply, directly, calmly and factually.

•       Listen, listen, listen (remember the 5 listenings)

Remember the common verb for the act of music is to play. Don’t take things too personal, have fun, practice often and always be a student.

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