When I was growing up, I learned that multitasking is a positive thing. The better at it you were, the more efficient you could be, and you would have more time for things you actually wanted to do.
Simple…right?
Well, actually I don’t believe multitasking is that great for you and your musicianship.
I’ve done some investigating on the topic during my everyday routine, and I want to share some of my discoveries with you. I’ve found that the more stuff I try to pack into one short time period, the more scattered I feel and the less I get done, not to mention the quality of whatever I’m doing decreases. Can you relate?
Here’s an example:
The other day, I was cooking breakfast, and noticed that there was a heaping pile dishes in the sink from the night before. I figured it would be easy enough to cook and clean simultaneously, so I put food on the burners – grits, steamed kale, fried eggs, bacon, and toast. Then, I proceeded to clean the massive amount of dishes in the sink – oh, I had music playing as well.
I instantly got sucked into the task at hand, ignored the music completely, and forgot there was food on the hot stove. All of a sudden I heard sizzling, and smelt burning butter. I looked over and the stovetop had gone rogue! I sped up my dishwashing (I only had a couple bowls left!), hurried to the stove, turned the heat to the minimum, ferociously stirred the grits, flipped the bacon and eggs, and turned the toaster oven off.
It was a close call, but in the end, the breakfast was decent, and the dishes were mostly clean. Both jobs were poorly done, and I didn’t hear a single bit of the amazing music that was playing (Glenn Gould playing Bach’s English Suites, if you’re interested.
Though I completed all of my tasks that morning, the results were subpar and barely productive, all thanks to multitasking.
Check it out – This cooking example can be used as a metaphor for a practice routine, or really anything you do in life, such as your career or your health.
If you read a book with headphones on, chances are you aren’t fully receiving what either art forms are offering to you.
I even consider thinking randomly while you’re practicing or listening to music as multitasking.
The entire point of giving yourself to the moment is to fully concentrate (without extraneous thoughts) on the task at hand, whether it be taking a shower, listening to music, or washing dishes.
Try to receive every second of your life.
If you watch television while you practice, you wont be giving your full attention to your craft or T.V. show that’s playing. If you’re going to watch a show, do just that. Let yourself be completely taken by the task at hand, with no other distractions. This is a simple enough concept to try out in your everyday life, and after you try it, I guarantee your life will feel fuller, more invigorating, and more satisfying.
So why exactly is multitasking inefficient and a waste of time?
1. It takes you out of the moment.
When you musically improvise, it’s essential that your mind does not get in the way. True creative improvisation comes from the heart. Your logical, thought-based mind needs to step aside for pure creation to happen.
If you’re thinking about tempo, fingerings, chord voices, or playing in time, you wont be able to create at your fullest potential.
Stay in the moment – the moment where your unique creativity lives.
2. It scatters your mind.
A scattered mind is an untrained mind. The better your concentration skills are, the less likely you are to make mistakes when you’re playing your instrument. You’re ability to become immersed in the music with enhance, and you’ll enjoy yourself a lot more.
You have the ability to literally change your brain’s structure. If you can practice doing one thing at a time, your brain will shape to support that. Unfortunately, the opposite can occur when you multitask, so it’s important to practice mindfulness as much as possible.
The next time you notice your mind is in a frenzy, check yourself. Are you trying to do to much in one moment?
Close your eyes, breathe, and take a minute to relax.
3. It prevents you from seeing and feeling real, lasting improvement.
More time spent practicing is NOT always the answer.
The way in which you live your life in every moment can transform the way you perceive and play music.
I went through a period of time were I thought I need to practice 4 or 5 hours a day, just to “keep up” with the other musicians in my circles. My thoughts were competitive and ego-based, and ultimately, they weren’t supportive.
I learned that if I could change my everyday habits and start to shift my thinking to allow for more focus on a single thought, feeling, or action, being happier about my life and playing happened with little or no effort. Also, as a result of less multitasking, my musical abilities improved at a much faster rate.
The way you live your life and focus your thoughts is a direct reflection of your musicianship.
Do you notice that you multitask throughout your day?
Maybe you can see it, maybe you can’t, but now that you’ve read this post, you can make change happen.
The first step to changing anything is becoming aware. If you notice yourself multitasking at some point, take a moment to really feel what you should be doing in that given moment.
Chances are all you need to do is slow down, notice your breathe, and make a simple choice.
Try this, and leave a comment to let me know what you did and how it felt!
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