It’s All in Your Mind: The Power of Visualization in Music - Part 1
Before you dismiss the idea of visualization out of hand, take a moment to think of how music began. A composer had an idea. That idea did not come out of thin air, but rather originated in his mind. In other words, he visualized the idea, then he translated that idea into musical notes, either on paper, or on an instrument. In other words, the composer’s mind had to act before his hands transformed the idea into music.
Similarly, visualization can help you achieve your best, by training your mind and body to work together in near-perfect synchronization. Fortunately, modern science has taken some of the mystery out of what once was a fanciful idea dreamed up by philosophers: namely, that the mind and body, the conscious and the subconscious, are all intricately connected, working together like a well-engineered machine. Science clearly demonstrates the effect of the mind on the body. The body’s workings impact the mind - quite significantly - as well. For example, if your body consumes too much alcohol, your mind will not function well enough to do a simple task such as driving. Conversely, stress and anxiety often produce physiological symptoms, such as heartburn, skin disorders, even heart attacks. Certainly, then, training your mind will impact your physical performance in any discipline, particularly with respect to creative disciplines such as music. Visualization, simply put, is a form of mental training that will help a person improve his or her real-world performance.
In order to understand visualization, recall how your mind actually works. The mind has two divisions: the conscious and subconscious. The conscious mind, governed by the cerebral cortex, is the one that thinks and gives commands to the subconscious and the body. The subconscious mind, together with the body (including the mid- and lower brain) carries out these commands. With dazzling precision, they automatically execute all the body’s vital functions, such as breathing, digestion, elimination, and repair.
Recent studies demonstrate that every mental state has a corresponding physiological correlate. That very connection - between mind and body - is the basis for visualization. The body and subconscious have difficulty telling the difference between a real experience and one vividly imagined in the conscious mind, since the neurons and synapses that transmit the information function the same in both instances. Thus, such things as mental guitar practice can have much the same effect as actual physical practice.
Like a robot, the subconscious mind will do whatever the conscious mind commands, similar to a computer, yet infinitely more complex. Whatever we programs into it will be actualized, more quickly and with fewer errors, than would have been accomplished on our trusty laptop. Positive input, therefore, produces positive results. Unfortunately, the opposite is true as well. Furthermore, the more an idea is repeated, the more likely it is that the idea will bear fruit. Therefore, the success or failure of your playing depends entirely upon what data your conscious mind enters into your subconscious. It is not merely the work of chance.
Feel free to visit LA Guitar Academy's website for professional guitar lessons in the Los Angeles area, or go to LAGA Online's home page to take online guitar lessons from the LAGA Faculty.
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