5 Tips to Fine-Tune Your Focus

​Have you received your "King/Queen of Multitasking" Crown yet? If not and you're a piano player, you will...just give it a bit more time. 

Science has shown us that piano players and other musicians have excelled abilities when it comes to multitasking and accomplishing several different actions successfully and at the same time. 

Do you ever wonder how it is that we can actually do several things at one time...well? Our brains aren't even wired to multitask! Not on the conscious level, that is. 

Think about it...when you get up from the computer to go to the refrigerator to get some water, do you pay attention to each and every step you make, or are you thinking about the water you're about to drink? Right! Your mind is focused on what you're goal is...the water. You didn't think about one step you took, most likely. 

Let's rephrase that...your conscious mind was focused on the goal - your water. Your subconscious mind took care of the walking part.

So what we commonly call 'multitasking' may in fact be just the way we direct the focus of our conscious mind, and once we've "gotten it" in our conscious minds, our subconscious mind can take over a bit and help out. 

When we learn to play the piano, we really focus on lots of things at one time! We learn note names, their places on the keyboard, how they look in our music, how long to count them, how to play them short or long, loud or soft. Many, many things. 

In order to really learn our music, notes, counting, and everything else, we have to learn how to use our "focus" and where to direct it in each practice session. When we know how to do this, we learn our music faster and easier, with less stress.

              *When you ever start to feel overwhelmed while practicing, put into practice this information...we get overwhelmed                   when we are trying to do too much at one time...and the stress is actually our body's way of telling us to chill out a bit,               and back off. *

Here are 5 ways to fine-tune your focus so you can accomplish more in your practicing. 

1. When you sit down to practice, think of specific things that you want/need to work on, instead of the entire piece or exercise. Don't try to play the entire piece each day, just practice the specific sections that need extra work. 
2. Don't try to mix different things like rhythm and notes in one practice session. Learn just notes one day or one week, then tackle rhythm next. 
3. Learn the scale of the piece you're working on, as this will help you learn the notes really well. Do this first, then start playing the notes as they are written in your piece. 
4. When you first start out playing each day, play slowly. Playing slowly gives you a good idea of where you still need to apply your focus to work out any problems. Then when you start increasing your tempo, you won't make nearly as many mistakes. 
5. Pay attention to what your body is telling you and how you're feeling emotionally. Our bodies teach us a lot, if we listen. When you start making a lot of mistakes, or you start getting frustrated, both are good signs that you need to take a break, or stop trying to do too many things at once. 

Focus - is just another tool in our toolbox that when used correctly will really help us play the piano better. It's a type of discipline that we can fine-tune and sharpen as we go. The more we use it, the better we get at what we're doing. 

Once you know your notes in the Key of C, you won't think about each and every note forever...just like you don't think about every step you take when going to the fridge. Your subconscious will take over, or at least step in and help you manage everything that you're trying to do all at once. 

So apply your focus and keep it in your practicing so you can play that piece and exercise well and be proud of what you've accomplished!

Stay Tuned to PianoLessonsOnTheWeb.com to learn much more and achieve your dreams of playing the piano!

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