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

[Dave Arndt]

-----Original Message-----
From: tpin-bounces+darndt=oriongate.net at tpin.okcu.edu
[mailto:tpin-bounces+darndt=oriongate.net at tpin.okcu.edu] On Behalf Of Adi
Soon

<<
The reason why I asked the question was when I was able to hear a tune, and
immediately reproduce it perfectly on the trumpet, I am a little
uncomfortable that I cannot immediately, tell you what notes I played,
unless I went over it slowly and transcribed it on paper.
>>

I don't think very many players would/could do that - you would need a
perfect phonographic memory, like Mozart.  How many of us can even remember
*exactly* what was said in a  *conversation* that took place 5 minutes
earlier?  You would remember the "gist" of the conversation, but not
verbatum.  

For me (what I meant) when I said "I always know what note I'm playing"...
I'm not thinking about it pro-actively... But somewhere in my "noodle" I am
registering the fact that I'm playing a certain note - but I'm not thinking
about it that much.  It's more along the lines of "what tonality are we in"
or "what mode" - even then, in performance, it's more sub-conscious than
anyting else.  When practicing though, I think about it - a lot.


<<
: When playing long pieces, is the playing process during performance just a
series of mechanically repeated actions honed through rehearsal?
What is the role of memory vs unconscious reflexes in playing music?
>>

I hear an idea in my head, ideally, in conjunction with what is going on
around me <g>, and I "go for it". What is produced is a by-product of
mechanical practice and repeated actions, combined with some spontaneous
(and instantaneous) creative urge (or something!)...


- Dave