Listening critically as you play... for or against?

[@yoni23able]

Hi Phil. This and the last video you made, on expressive swing, have been wonderful. I'm not sure if there's a difference in intent, but you are touching on extremely high-level concepts in a way that is universal. As you know, storytelling is my thing. It's not about performance but communication at the highest level by trying to understand what the fundamentals actually are. That said, in the case of my playing, your swing video helped provide a deeper understanding of how groove and swing can come from poetic intention. This lesson applies not just to the performance of music but also to my other interest in physical movement (and you do mention dance). Not watching oneself but embodying the feel when moving fluently. Thanks.

[@PhilBestMusic]

I'm so glad they resonated with you. Speech and language (poetry, storytelling or just chatting) and all kinds of movement have rhythm at their base, I believe. I'd even go a bit further and say that rhythm is the symmetry and flow that forms the fabric of reality!

[@jeffe2222]

Phil, I love your insights on performance. Thank you

[@PhilBestMusic]

I'm glad it's useful! Thanks for watching!

[@RobertHopkinsArt]

I can't play piano fluently... Yet... But someday I hope to be able to. Guitar, yes. Piano, no. It's so much more work for me to play piano than guitar. The two parts to piano make my little brain hurt while trying to improvise. Something that I enjoy and really helps my playing on guitar is to play along with Alexa, playing a random genre of my choosing, and I will play in complete darkness. Dark enough that I can not see the guitar fretboard. This has taught me to play with feeling and abstraction. I have learned to visualize the fretboard in my mind while I play. I have always kept accurate time using my back teeth too! I started out as a drummer and that made all the difference to my accurate playing. Great video, Phil!

[@PhilBestMusic]

I totally relate to your description of playing in the dark. Going inside like that is where you find the magic! Thanks for watching!

[@lshwadchuck5643]

Well-timed video for me. If I become more *familiar* what it *feels like* letting go, and practise defying the self-conscious feelings beneath critical self-talk... it'll set me free to, well, enjoy.

[@PhilBestMusic]

The feeling of letting go - a relaxed defiance of our insecure, self-conscious, results-seeking motivation that has us listen to the music we play critically - is such a good feeling. Keep going for it!

[@adrianaclay7782]

Hello! Sorry to comment on a random video with this question. I just found your channel this afternoon and i am absolutely enamored!! I have been eanting to learn music in a way that felt like it was actually connected to me, not just receiving instruction on what to do all the time. And i am thrilled to find that there is special explanation. I didn't think i would be so lucky as to find something like this My question is: what all do i need to buy to get started? I feel a little unclear on that. I bought the 15 steps, and i am happy to pay more for the other peices that i need, but in different explanation points, it seems like you talk about the materials in different ways? Maybe it's just me 😅 anyway, thank you!

[@adrianaclay7782]

Thrilled about **spacial explanation

[@PhilBestMusic]

Thanks for watching and for getting some materials from PlayPianoFluently. I'm glad you feel inspired by my approach. I explain on the website that I recommend starting with the core materials. The 15 steps is the most essential and the concise model is a bit like a reference manual. The additional materials are designed to go deeper into specific areas and offer more prescribed practices. This unconventional structure is to promote self-directed learning (rather than a course with fixed objectives) and to help people purchase only what they need.

[@foaadfallah2143]

Very nice❤

[@PhilBestMusic]

Thanks 🤗

[@nugzar.paitchadzepaitchadze]

wonderful melody improvized in minor scale. the very ,That begins at about 11.15 min. I love all your performancies. the're just to say flawless.

[@PhilBestMusic]

Thank you!

[@TD-qj1rn]

I think the same goes for acting. Once you TRY to act, i.e. analyze how you look, speak, react, etc., it becomes unnatural and very obvious.

[@PhilBestMusic]

Yes, I agree! There are very rare individuals who manage to "appear" natural and don't use any method acting but even then, I can't help thinking that real feeling would communicate even better.