I've noticed something over the years, and it's been pointed out to me as well...
I play best when I'm not thinking. Just look at the notes and transfer them to the violin. When my mind is on nothing I play far better. If I start thinking or my mind wanders, I make far too many mistakes.
Keeping my mind blank isn't as easy as it sounds. I'm a writer as well as an artist and violinist. Like most authors, I daydream a lot. It's something I've done ever since I was a child. Sometimes I daydream stories or scenes for my novels. Most of what I daydream never gets put onto paper. Yet, I daydream almost every second of every day (unless I'm driving...I try not to dream while doing that).
So, making my mind go blank isn't as easy for me as it would be for some people. Still, I try. One day maybe I'll be able to play more than one piece before my mind goes for a stroll. lol One day I'll be able to hyperfocus on my music. I already do it when I draw/paint. The world disappears around me and all that exists is what I'm working on. With writing, it's kinda the same thing for most of my novels. At those times I mostly daydream when I get stuck. The rest of the time the words just flow out of my fingertips and onto the screen with little thought. Making it sound good happens in the editing.
With music it's different and I don't know why. Sometimes, I'll daydream about what it'll be like to perform on the sidewalk. At other times, I'll daydream about getting a teacher to help me learn better. When this happens I start fumbling and missing notes. But, if I clear my mind of such distractions, I play well. Not perfectly, and that's why I practice. lol
I need to get out of my head. Keep my mind away from the world and my thoughts and just be one with the music I'm playing. It's not easy. I imagine it will be easier with practice. Afterall, I just played two songs before my mind began to wander. That's an improvement that will only get better with time.
All I have to do is live in the moment.
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