Today, I'd like you to try a simple experiment. Before you play a single note, place a piece of music in front of you and simply notice what your mind says. Does it tell you it's too difficult? Does it tell you it's boring? Does it tell you that you're not good enough? Or perhaps it tells you this piece is beautiful, exciting or easy. Whatever arises, don't try to change it. Just notice it. One of the fascinating things about the mind is that it's constantly assigning meaning to everything it sees. I think part of the reason for this is that we all want to feel important. Sometimes we become the hero who conquers the impossible piece. Other times we become the victim who believes we were never talented enough in the first place. Every great story has drama. Without even realising it, we often create that same drama around learning music. The music becomes covered in memories—old mistakes, old teachers, old performances, old fears and old expectations. But here's the thing... Those thoughts are not the music. The notes haven't changed. Only the story has. Your mind is an extraordinary problem-solving machine. But in order to solve problems, it first has to find problems. Watch how quickly it searches for something to fix, something to judge or something to fear. Then ask yourself: Is this actually in the music... or is it only in my thinking? Today's practice is simply to observe. Notice the labels. Notice the stories. Notice the emotions. And then gently return your attention to the music itself. You might discover that what seemed so frightening a few moments ago was simply another thought passing through your mind. I'd love to hear what you noticed today. What was the very first story your mind told you when you looked at your music?

Today's reflection might feel a little uncomfortable... but sometimes those are the ones that change us the most. Take a moment to ask yourself: Why did you start learning music? For me, the answer was pretty simple. When I was a kid, I thought girls liked guitar players! There was no great mystery to it. I wanted music to give me something. Love. Attention. Approval. A sense of identity. As I grew older, I realised I wasn't alone. Many of us begin learning music because we hope it will make us somebody. We imagine becoming the hero who finally masters that difficult piece, impresses an audience or proves something to ourselves. But here's a question that completely changes the conversation... What if music didn't need a purpose? What if it didn't need to make you successful? What if it didn't need to make you important? What if music was simply... music? At first, that idea can feel unsettling. If music doesn't complete our identity, then what are we striving for? The mind doesn't like that question. It quickly fills the space with stories. "I'm not talented enough." "This piece is too difficult." "I'll never be able to play like that." Notice something. Those thoughts aren't coming from the music. They're coming from your interpretation of the music. Fear isn't a feature of the notes. It's a thought. And I'd even go as far as saying it's one of the poorest guesses the mind can make. It imagines danger before it understands what's actually happening. If you're going to use something to guide your musical journey, I wouldn't recommend fear. I'd recommend curiosity. I'd recommend common sense. I'd recommend experience. 🎵 Today's Practice Choose a piece of music. Before you play a single note, spend one minute simply looking at it. Notice every story your mind creates. Don't fight the thoughts. Don't judge them. Just notice them. Then quietly remind yourself: These thoughts are not the music. The notes haven't changed. Only the story has. I'd love to hear your thoughts on today's reflection.

I’m a guitar beginner ( been at it 2.5 years). I wonder how the easy key applies to guitar. I have access to a chart of the Nashville Numbering System, which seems to use the same concept of numbers for the different notes of a key. Is that true; I can use the NNS instead of the Easy Key?

Here’s something I’ve been reflecting on today. Imagine you play one wrong note. Nothing more. Just one note. A moment later your mind says: “Everyone noticed.” “My teacher must be disappointed.” “I’m terrible at this.” But… did any of that actually happen? Or did the mind quietly fill in the blanks? One of the biggest lessons music has taught me is that we often react, not to what happened, but to the story we’ve created about what happened. The note wasn’t painful. The story was. The next time something doesn’t go to plan, try asking yourself: 🎵 What do I actually know? 🎵 What story have I added? That simple question can change everything. Sometimes the greatest breakthrough isn’t improving your playing… it’s learning to recognise when your mind is showing you something that isn’t really there. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Discussion 🎵 Have you ever assumed someone was judging your playing, only to discover they weren’t? 🎵 What’s one story your mind likes to tell you when you make a mistake? 🎵 How might your practice change if you questioned those stories a little more often?

Wondering how long and how often everyone practices their particular instrument? I try for 30 to 60 minutes a day, concentrating on pieces I’m currently learning and playing things I really enjoy. I probably should devote more time to scales and appeggios etc. I like to change things up so I don’t get bored and if I don’t really like something I find it’s best to leave it for someone else to enjoy.