[TPIN] What does your brain do when you're playing?

[Joe Bertin]

> 1.When you play, do you consciously know what note you're playing or is it
> by feel?

I've always felt that music is very much a language.  If you "know" (well rehearsed) your subject
intimately, and have a vocabulary (technique) the words will flow.

When we were performing regularly, all material was committed to memory.  I rarely ever thought
about notes, just played.

> 2. If you do play by "feel", how do you maintain confidence in your 
> ability?

You "KNOW" the material so well, that when you make a mistake it's a surprise.

 3. Are there days when the "feel" is off, and you play wrong notes?

Yep.  Called a bad night.  If you are seasoned enough, they won't usually
be catastrophic, and you can cover it.  If it's a "big one", leave it behind you.
Obsessing about a mistake will ruin the rest of your performance.

> 4. What does it feel like to go on stage with no prepared music, and play
> what's in your head?

It can be a euphoric experience, almost religious.  Really.

5.  When do you know when to play or when not to play?

All music has some structure.  Musicians in small bands develop a performing 
relationship that is somewhat predictable, because of the number of times you've 
played that song together.  Like Jon said, someone will tell you if you're going
to do something different like repeating a section of the song.