Midweek Musings...Meditation in Middle C

"Midweek Musings" are a bit of a departure to offer our readers some variety and a break from all the chaos the world can dish up.
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Teaching reminds us what we need to remember.

I have a few adult cello students. Beginners with a music background. My adult students are hard on themselves and easily frustrated by things that younger students tend to accept as part of the learning process.

The assumption being - because we are older somehow learning something new should be easier. We forget that no matter the age - it is still new.

Sometimes the assignment needs to reflect the emotional need of the student. The technical will come - but it shouldn't come at the expense of the spirit.

Today I assigned the scale of Middle C as a meditative practice - the entire assignment for the week. Middle C is an easy scale. There are no sharps or flats and it is an approachable key to sing.

My instruction was to play the scale slow, long continuous sound in the bowing, eyes closed. No corrections. If you don't like what you are doing - just notice and keep going. Don't stop and start over. Try to quiet the inner critic.

Nothing else. No technical instruction, no pressure. Just make a beautiful sound and enjoy it. Use it as a way to decompress and feel the sound in your body.

Maybe we could all do with a little mediation in our own Middle C scale.

Pick something that is easy and use is as a way to dive deeper. Focus and make it rich. Notice without self criticism. Keep moving. Keep it simple. Feel the resonance.

What is your Middle C practice?

Take the time to pause and reset when the world gets to be too much. When the inner critic gets too loud, when we forget to breathe deep and let go of what really isn't important.

Make space for the stuff that is truly worth your time...joy, love, grace, gratitude, compassion, connection, peace.

May your heart always be full.
Julia