{"id":34186,"date":"2018-07-31T08:00:06","date_gmt":"2018-07-31T15:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/classicalguitarshed.foureyes.com\/?p=34186"},"modified":"2020-10-22T07:20:10","modified_gmt":"2020-10-22T14:20:10","slug":"tq-anais-nin-courage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/tq-anais-nin-courage\/","title":{"rendered":"Anais Nin on Musical Courage and Risky Practice"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tuesday Quotes are short explorations of music, life, and the daily endeavor of practicing classical guitar. Find more here<\/a>. Enjoy!<\/p>\n

\n
\n

\u201cLife shrinks or expands in proportion to one\u2019s courage.\u201d
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Ana\u00efs Nin<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

As we sit down to our guitar practice, and consider what we\u2019ll do for the next little while, the world seems safe.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll play this tune, and maybe that one. We\u2019ll be \u201cgood\u201d and run some scales.<\/p>\n

It all feels comfortable and straightforward. As Bach reportedly said, \u201cMusic is easy – just play the right notes at the right times.\u201d<\/p>\n

So we try to play the right notes and call it a day.<\/p>\n

But music isn\u2019t that easy. Not real music anyway.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a transformation that happens that turns notes on a page into emotionally meaningful music. And it doesn\u2019t happen by itself.<\/p>\n

Notes only become \u201cmusic\u201d through a collaboration between composer and player.<\/p>\n

When we just play the notes, and \u201clet the music speak for itself\u201d, it\u2019s not yet music. It\u2019s just notes. It\u2019s a starting point – a script. It\u2019s our call to action.<\/p>\n

And in a familiar environment like our practice space, it can be hard to step outside our comfort zone. After all, who are we to make bold choices and experiment?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s scary to experiment. As silly as it sounds, it\u2019s scary to count aloud and clap rhythms. It\u2019s scary to play a scale getting louder and softer. It\u2019s scary to play one part of the music (like the melody<\/a>) and ignore the rest.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s all risk and vulnerability. And this is while we\u2019re alone. It can be downright terrifying<\/a> to let someone else hear us.<\/p>\n

This is where we need courage. And the more expressive we want our music to be, the more courage we need. We all want meaning and fulfillment from our daily practice. And for that we have to push our current limits.<\/p>\n

The goal isn\u2019t to play notes. The goal is to make music. And music requires vulnerability and engagement, even though it feels safer to play it cool.<\/p>\n

Luckily, we get braver with practice. In time we become more comfortable being uncomfortable. We recognize the failures and mistakes<\/a> for what they are: necessary steps on the way to artistry.<\/p>\n

To adapt Nin\u2019s quote, \u201cMusic (and the quality of our practice) shrink or expand in proportion to our courage\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tuesday Quotes are short explorations of music, life, and the daily endeavor of practicing classical guitar. Find more here. Enjoy! \u201cLife shrinks or expands in proportion to one\u2019s courage.\u201d Ana\u00efs Nin As we sit down to our guitar practice, and consider what we\u2019ll do for the next little while, the world seems safe. We\u2019ll play this tune, and maybe that … <\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":2973,"featured_media":34183,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[328],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34186","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tuesday-quotes"],"yoast_head":"\n[Quote] Anais Nin on Musical Courage and Risky Practice<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Anais Nin on Musical Courage and Risky Practice\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Tuesday Quotes are short explorations of music, life, and the daily endeavor of practicing classical guitar. Find more here. Enjoy! \u201cLife shrinks or expands in proportion to one\u2019s courage.\u201d Ana\u00efs Nin As we sit down to our guitar practice, and consider what we\u2019ll do for the next little while, the world seems safe. We\u2019ll play this tune, and maybe that ... 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