Staying in the game: The best practices, attitudes, metacognitive strategies, and intrinsic motivations of aging musicians
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2020 Renewal is the best game in town

12/30/2019

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I learning that it's important to check the sources of our knowledge in the autumn of our careers. So much of what we think we know, just ain't so. If it every was. 

"With all the knowledge of the world on the internet how can there be so many stupid people?" Ronny Chieng comedian

I've been working with some colleagues on my piano playing in the Jazz and Classical styles. I may have been saved just in time. Many, but not all, of my assumptions have been tested and found wanting. From the origins of Gregorian chant, rootless voicings, phrasing Mozart, bebop licks,  and accents in Baroque keyboard literature. 
Nothing like fresh perspectives served on a slice of humble pie.

2020 will be an exciting time of woodshedding. 

David 

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Old School

12/27/2019

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I was reading the comments for this video from the younger set.

1. I love your “old school” approach to recording
2. Tasty tasty tasty playing ..... mint feel.... loads of old school playing!!
3. Sick shit! Ol skool yummy fusion! Incredible playing Thomas!!!

Damn, I'm thinking what masterful modern playing. Apparently I need help just to catch up to 1990!

Cheers, 

David


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A decade approaches: "one more chance to get it right"

12/21/2019

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"One more chance to get it right". Maybe our last chance. Time is short, let's get busy.

When evaluating a new opportunity, it's either "Hell Ya!" or forget it. That quickly narrows down the possibilities. 


Time to mediate on our choices over the last 10 years. 
  1. Great choices
  2. Neutral choices
  3. Bad choices
  4. Disastrous choices

I'm pleased I have only numbers 1,3 to contemplate. 
Best choice? Get married
Bad choice? Projecting onto a young whipper snapper "Great expectations". Youth and ambition are seductive. Of course the ending was bad, he was a lazy bastard. Oh well, live and learn. As Henry Ford, I believed said, "you can't make a reputation on what you are going to do".

Healthy New Year, 

David


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Practice Mindset, Preparing to Practice

12/14/2019

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Preparing to practice is the space between our intention and playing the first note. My ideal routine?
  1. I'm rested
  2. I'm hydrated
  3. I'm not rushed
  4. I've got my materials, "ready at hand"
  5. I've thought about todays work in light of my long term goals
  6. I've written down my plan
  7. I'm prepared mentally to focus on just a few things
  8. I'm comfortably dressed
  9. I've stretched
  10. I'll start by listening or watching a few masters play to set off some endorphins of joy
  11. I start

best, 

​David Story
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Planning the next decade

12/7/2019

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  1.  1st goal is to be here in 10 years. 
  2. 2nd goal? Be happily married.
  3. 3rd goal? Study and practice with the most effective coaches I can find in drumming and piano.
  4.  4th goal? That in four more years I start cutting back one day a week, until I'm down to 3 days a week of teaching. About 20 hours. Financial impendence is arriving soon. 
What is your ten year plan?

David

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Why retire?

12/6/2019

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A couple of my friends of retirement age are still playing up a storm. And in the game. Why?

They both responded similarly, "what and sit around all day waiting to die?" I agree, let the grime reaper catch us on the bandstand, or packing up. 

That being said, being prepared just in case is a good idea. 

Cheers, 

​David
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Meet my current coaches

12/2/2019

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Bernie 1970s era coach, Mark 2020 coach. 
Lowell Whitty working on my NOLA funk and swing
Jackie working on my classical phrasing on the piano
Terry Clarke, a constant source of inspiration since I was a kid. 
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Maintaining our intrinsic motivation as we age

12/1/2019

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  1. Intrinsic motivation: "I love doing this."
  2. Self-determined extrinsic motivation: "I should do this; it will be good for me"
  3. Non self-determined extrinsic motivation: "if you don't get off the couch and exercise you are going to die early" or more hopefully, "If you do that I'll give you this positive thing"
  4. Amotivation: "whatever"

A lot of research has been done on children's motivation and educational outcomes. It seems that allowing increasing choice to students as they age and supporting those choices in positive ways leads to better overall outcomes. Click on the picture above for more information.

At our age we need to understand these four types in order to stay in the game. The psychologists seem to agree the first two types of motivation are the strongest and most important to a positive outcome in any activity. Nagging from others and our own indifference are motivational suppressers. 

Intrinsic motivation comes from knowing yourself. Self-determined extrinsic motivation comes from knowing what's good for you. In other words, education. 

How to keep demotivation at bay? Here are some possible ideas. 
  1. healthy living
  2. goals that make you shout, "hell ya".
  3. a social group(s) that supports your devoted efforts. 
  4. an environment that offers opportunities to express yourself and your core identity 
  5. access to resources: freedom, time, money, etc.

best regards,

David 



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    Author

    David Story: Professional pianist, drummer, composer, and educator. Well into his 5th enthusiastic musical decade, David works with adults pursuing musical dreams in the autumn of life, while he maintains an active presence in the Toronto arts scene.

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