Book Summary: Playing With Ease - Practice Techniques and Staying Healthy
David Leisner is a renowned classical guitarist and teacher, known for overcoming focal dystonia, and using his experiences to teach others about playing in a mindful way to avoid injury. Focal dystonia is considered incurable, and Leisner’s journey with the injury took him to many doctors, physios, and natural therapies but none could help him return to his guitar for many years. Leisner had the innovative approach of using the larger muscles to pluck the string which is unique and rather unconventional compared to the method guitarists are taught in their early lessons as students.
Key Points
Mindfulness: Leisner emphasizes the importance of being aware of your body and mind while playing. By focusing on your breathing and body posture, you can reduce tension and play with more ease. For example, Leisner suggests taking deep breaths before playing to help calm your nerves and focus your mind. This also helps with musicality because we often liken our melodies to the voice, and by breathing in an intentional way we can more closely imitate this. He also recommends paying attention to your posture and making sure you're sitting in a way that's comfortable and sustainable. The Alexander Technique is a popular method for combatting postural issues and staying healthy. More information on the Alexander Technique can be found here: https://alexandertechnique.com/
Deliberate practice: Leisner discusses the importance of practicing with intention. Breaking practice sessions into smaller chunks is better for both your body and your ability to focus. This is a well-known practice technique but people still find it counterintuitive to the belief that they must practice hours and hours everyday to improve. Splitting sessions into smaller chunks ensures that you have the energy and focus to be more productive and use practice time more efficiently. Leisner also breaks practice into “Soul work” and “Analytical work” which generally refers to doing overview practice of a piece before diving into the fine details. “Analytical work” can be done in several ways which includes fixing mistakes, practicing at a variety of tempos with a metronome, and right-hand only practice.
Playing with the large muscles: This is perhaps the biggest take-away from the book. By using the larger muscles that are in the arm and even the back, rather than the small muscles of the fingers, playing becomes easier and effortless. It is best described by experiencing a sensation of dead-weight in your arm and thinking of falling through the string (even when plucking upwards!). In my own playing I discovered it much easier to play with a warm, nice tone when using this method. It is easier to follow these instructions in the book and in the videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqxI4uSkB9w
These are only a few very condensed ideas from David Leisner’s “Playing With Ease”, but if you are interested in these topics then I highly recommend the book. The book can take a while to get through if you try each of the exercises as you read, but it is worth it.