The Musician Toolkit episode 74 - How to Improve Your Observation

Summary

In this insightful episode of the Musician Toolkit, David Lane emphasizes the importance of the skill of observation for musicians. He discusses how being attentive and avoiding preconceptions can lead to a deeper understanding of one's environment and music. Drawing from the example of Sherlock Holmes, David illustrates the difference between seeing and observing, and how this applies to musicianship. He shares an exercise involving a clock, encouraging listeners to notice as many details as possible about everyday objects to enhance their observational skills. David also provides practical tips for applying observation to music practice, such as analyzing sheet music for patterns and details. He concludes by highlighting the benefits of improved observation skills not just in music, but across various aspects of life, and invites listeners to share their feedback and experiences with observation.

Takeaways

• 🧐 **Observation Skill**: Being observant is crucial and requires paying attention without preconceptions, seeing what's there instead of what you think should be there.
• 🎼 **Musical Observation**: Observation is a key skill in music, where noticing details such as rhythm, key, fingerings, dynamics, and articulation patterns can enhance understanding and performance.
• 📚 **Literature Reference**: The script references Sherlock Holmes's ability to observe and deduce, highlighting the importance of attention to detail.
• 🔍 **Practical Exercise**: An exercise is suggested to count steps while walking or to list observations about a common object, like a clock, to improve observational skills.
• 🎓 **Educational Application**: Observation is not just for musicians; it's a skill that can make you smarter, sharper, and more successful in any field.
• 🎹 **Music Study**: When studying music, look beyond the surface to explore details, patterns, and the structure of a piece to deepen your understanding.
• 📝 **Documentation**: Keeping a journal to document observations about music pieces can help in recognizing patterns and details, thus improving one's musicianship.
• 🌳 **Environmental Awareness**: Encouragement to observe the environment, such as the sounds around you or the details of nature, to practice and enhance observational skills.
• 🚶‍♂️ **Daily Practice**: Make observation a daily practice by consciously noting details during routine activities like walking or being in a room.
• 📈 **Skill Development**: The skill of observation is likened to a muscle that can be exercised and improved over time, benefiting not just musicians but anyone looking to be more attentive.
• 🌟 **Standing Out**: In a world of superficial interactions, the ability to pay attention to details can make an individual stand out in their personal and professional life.

Q & A

What is the importance of being observant according to the speaker?

Being observant is crucial as it requires paying attention without having preconceptions. It involves seeing what is there instead of what one thinks should be there, which is a valuable skill in various aspects of life, including music.

Why does the speaker mention Sherlock Holmes in the context of observation?

The speaker refers to Sherlock Holmes to illustrate the concept of observation at a high level. Holmes is known for his exceptional observational skills, which allow him to deduce much from a single glance or interaction.

What is the significance of the story 'A Scandal in Bohemia' in the context of this discussion?

The story 'A Scandal in Bohemia' is mentioned to highlight the difference between seeing and observing. In the story, Sherlock Holmes points out to Dr. Watson that one can see something without truly observing it, as demonstrated by Watson's inability to remember the number of steps leading to their apartment.

How does the speaker suggest improving one's observational skills?

The speaker suggests that improving observational skills is like exercising a muscle. He recommends practices such as counting steps while climbing stairs, noting details about everyday objects, and actively seeking out and noting details in one's environment.

What is the exercise with the clock in the video meant to demonstrate?

The clock exercise is designed to demonstrate the power of detailed observation. By asking viewers to list as many observations about the clock as possible, the speaker aims to show how many details we might overlook in our day-to-day lives.

How does the speaker relate the skill of observation to music study?

The speaker relates the skill of observation to music study by emphasizing the importance of noticing details in a piece of music, such as rhythm, key, fingerings, dynamics, and patterns. He suggests that the more details a musician can observe, the better they will understand and interpret the music.

What is the purpose of the speaker's request for feedback from the listeners?

The speaker requests feedback to better tailor the content of future episodes to the listeners' preferences. He wants to know what type of episodes the audience would like more or less of, to improve the podcast and make it more valuable to them.

Why does the speaker mention the potential changes to the podcast after episode 100?

The speaker mentions potential changes to signal his intention to evolve the podcast's focus and possibly its name to better reflect the content and to keep it engaging and relevant to the listeners.

What is the significance of the speaker's discussion about the intermediate level piano piece by Clementi?

The discussion about the Clementi piano piece serves as an example of how deep observation can lead to a richer understanding of music. By pointing out various elements such as rhythm, key changes, and patterns, the speaker demonstrates how observation can enhance musical analysis.

How does the speaker use the example of counting steps to emphasize the importance of observation?

The speaker uses the example of counting steps to show that observation can be practiced in simple, everyday activities. It's a tangible way to exercise the skill of observation and to train the mind to be more attentive to details.

What is the broader implication of improving one's observational skills as discussed by the speaker?

The broader implication is that improved observational skills can enhance performance and success in various areas of life, not just in music. It can make an individual more aware, attentive to details, and capable of making better-informed decisions.

Outlines

00:00

😀 The Importance of Observation

David Lane introduces the topic of observation, emphasizing its importance in seeing things as they are rather than through preconceived notions. He shares his personal experience with time management and the unexpected efficiency he has experienced recently. David also discusses his plans for the podcast's future direction and asks for listener feedback to help shape the show's focus.

05:04

🔍 Developing the Skill of Observation

The second paragraph delves into the lack of observational skills among students and adults, as noted by David from his teaching experience. He references Sherlock Holmes's approach to observation, highlighting the difference between seeing and observing. David shares his personal practice of counting steps as an exercise in observation and explains how preconceptions can hinder the ability to find objects when they don't match expected colors or characteristics.

10:04

🎶 Applying Observation to Music

In this paragraph, David discusses how observation is a skill that can be exercised and improved, much like a muscle. He provides a personal example of counting steps in his home and while walking. David then transitions to applying observation to music, specifically when studying a piece like Clementi's Sonata in C. He plays an improvisation and talks about the numerous details one can notice in a piece of music, encouraging listeners to look for both big picture and small details.

15:05

🕒 Observation Exercise with a Clock

David presents an exercise where he asks listeners to observe a clock and write down as many details as possible. After a 45-second improvisation, he lists 20 observations he made about the clock, including its color, shape, material, and brand. He emphasizes the importance of noticing details and how this skill can be applied to music and other areas of life to become a better, more successful individual.

20:05

🌳 Enhancing Observation in Daily Life

The final paragraph encourages listeners to enhance their observational skills in everyday life. David suggests taking note of details in their surroundings, such as the ceiling, walls, and even the bark of trees during a walk. He also recommends paying attention to sounds and avoiding the habit of quickly moving on to the next thing, which is common in the digital age. He concludes by reminding listeners of the value of observation in standing out and being successful in various aspects of life.

Keywords

💡Observation

Observation is the act of carefully watching or monitoring something to gain an accurate understanding or insight. In the video, it is emphasized as a crucial skill for musicians to develop, as it allows them to notice details in their music that they might otherwise miss. The video uses the example of counting steps to illustrate how observation can be a learned habit.

💡Preconceptions

Preconceptions refer to pre-existing ideas or opinions that one might have before actually experiencing something. The video discusses how preconceptions can hinder the skill of observation, as they can prevent individuals from seeing things as they truly are. An example given is searching for an object while holding a preconceived notion of its color, which can make it difficult to find if it's a different color.

💡Musicians

Musicians are individuals who compose, perform, or produce music. The video is aimed at musicians, discussing how the skill of observation can enhance their musicianship. It touches on how being observant can lead to a deeper understanding of music pieces and can make one a better and more successful musician.

💡Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective known for his exceptional observation skills. In the video, he is referenced to illustrate the concept of observation. Holmes is able to deduce much information from a single glance, which is a level of observation that the video encourages musicians to strive for in their study of music.

💡Piano Sonata

A piano sonata is a type of music composition for a solo piano, typically consisting of several movements. The video uses Clementi's Piano Sonata in C, Opus 36, Number 1, as an example to demonstrate how observation can be applied to analyze and understand the intricacies of a musical piece.

💡Improvisation

Improvisation is the process of composing or performing music spontaneously, without prior preparation. In the video, the host plays a 45-second improvisation on the piano to give listeners time to observe a clock, highlighting the importance of being able to create and think on one's feet, which is a skill related to observation.

💡Sterling and Noble

Sterling and Noble is mentioned as the brand of the clock used in the observation exercise within the video. It serves as an example of the level of detail one might notice when observing an object closely, as the host lists specific observations about the clock, including its brand name.

💡Dynamics

In music, dynamics refer to the volume levels of a piece, which can be indicated by various markings such as crescendo or decrescendo. The video discusses the importance of observing these markings to understand how the music should be played, emphasizing the need for attention to detail in musical scores.

💡Key Signatures

Key signatures are the sharps or flats at the beginning of a musical staff that indicate the key of a piece. The video points out the absence of a key signature in the example piece, which signifies that the piece is in C major. Recognizing key signatures is a fundamental aspect of musical observation.

💡Rhythm

Rhythm in music refers to the pattern of long and short durations that create the beat. The video stresses the importance of observing the rhythm as one of the first steps in studying a piece of music, as it forms the foundation upon which melody and harmony are built.

💡Feedback

Feedback is the response or critique given by listeners or viewers, which can be used to improve content. The video encourages listeners to provide feedback on their preferences regarding the podcast's episodes and topics, highlighting the importance of audience input in shaping future content.

Highlights

Being observant requires paying attention and not having preconceptions.

Observation is a skill that can be developed through practice, such as counting steps or noticing details in one's environment.

David Lane shares his experience of being more efficient than anticipated, getting ahead in his tasks.

The importance of tightening the focus of the podcast and seeking feedback from listeners for future planning.

A discussion on the value of observation in music, drawing parallels to Sherlock Holmes' deductive skills.

The exercise of observing a clock and listing 20 different observations to improve observational skills.

Observation is compared to a muscle that can be exercised to improve overall attentiveness and success in various fields.

An example of detailed observation in music, analyzing Clementi's Piano Sonata in C major, Opus 36, No. 1.

The recommendation to use a notebook to write down observations about a piece of music to enhance understanding and interpretation.

The suggestion to make observations spherical, not just horizontally but also vertically, to be fully aware of one's surroundings.

The advice to occasionally go for a walk without listening to any audio to focus on the sounds and details of the environment.

The importance of not just looking at phones and scrolling through content, but to truly see and engage with the world around us.

The impact of superficial engagement with technology on our ability to observe and appreciate details.

Encouragement to increase one's powers of observation by practicing it as often as possible.

Invitation for listeners to share their tips or thoughts on observation that could be featured in a future podcast episode.

A reminder for listeners to share valuable episodes with others and to leave a five-star rating and review to support the podcast.

Gratitude expressed to listeners for their participation and the announcement of the next episode's release.

Transcripts

being observant requires that you pay

attention it also requires that you

don't have

preconceptions it takes a lot of work to

see what's there instead of what you

think should be

[Music]

there hello and welcome to the musician

toolkit episode number 74 my name is

David Lane and it is great to be with

you once again I hope all of you are

having a good week I'm recording this

just a few days in advance and uh my

week so far has been great it's been one

of those weeks that is completely

opposite of normal you know the normal

for me is I plan one hour to do

something and realize I should have

planned two or three I mean that's not

always the case but it is so often the

case and I've gotten better over years

I've realized that whatever I think

whatever my impulse is to a lot for a

task I automatically schedule two or

three times more than that so I'm

getting closer to that all the time but

I've had two days in a row this week

where everything was quicker than I had

anticipated and I got to the point to

where I'm actually doing this intro a

full day early so I'm a full day ahead

I'm I'm recording this on a Wednesday

normally Thursday is the day that I've

allotted to uh you know add the intro

you know to make sure that I've um I'm

not missing any recent feedback or

anything that needs to go onto the

episode to keep this portion as current

as possible okay I'm only going to

mention this at the beginning of maybe a

few more episodes before I kind of let

this go but uh as a reminder it really

will help me for future planning to know

your preference if this is a type of

episode that you would like more of or

fewer of so I urge you to uh let me know

either way you can send me a message at

David lanm music.com or you can send me

a direct message on Instagram at David

Lane music or on Facebook at David mlane

music this is not anything you need to

go to to my speakpipe channel for

to uh tell me anything to include on the

podcast this is just private feedback

it's just helping me know your

preference

now I'll go ahead and say you know not

to sway you either way I really like

today's episode that I'm going to get to

in just a moment um I think it's

something that um that I'm I think

you'll be able to tell I'm pretty

passionate about it and you know I look

forward to sharing that with you but

just once again we're almost episode 75

we're almost 3/4 of the way to 100 and

I've just bookmarked 100 is my goal goal

for when I get to that episode I want

episode 100 onward to seem different

than the first 99 episodes and I'm not

going to really give away what all those

changes are but one thing that's really

important to me is to tighten up the

focus of this podcast I I've had a lot

of fun of just being like all things

musician musicianship and you know found

ways to tie it in to a podcast about

musician tools but that's the other

thing I might even be considering the

name of this podcast I might be deciding

whether or not the topics we cover suits

the name and there's a lot of ways to go

about that but it starts with your

honest open feedback about what you

would like to hear more of and what you

would what you could stand to have fewer

of as far as episodes go so anyway on to

today's topic I'm talking about

something that I posted a video on a few

months ago on YouTube and I'm actually

going to play the audio from that

YouTube video and I'm just going to add

a little bit to it so if you've seen the

YouTube

video which I'm going to pay I'm going

to put the link in my show notes because

it it is visual is something that would

be a little bit better if you were to

watch it although I think there's enough

narration in the video that you can kind

of follow what's going

on even if you're not looking at it but

I do think there's some added value if

you can go take a look at it but if you

have seen that already I'm going to

elaborate a little bit and I think it's

important enough to just kind of to hit

this topic more than once so this is

about the skill of

observation and it was something that

when I started

teaching it didn't take me long to know

notice that most students of a lot of

Ages not not just young students but

adults as

well have not developed the skill or

habit of observation very well you know

I've read all of the Sherlock Holmes

short stories and novels at least once

by uh Sir Arthur Conan Doyle The

Originals the first two are novels I

believe I believe they're called a study

and scar

and a sign of four and then he wrote his

first collection of short stories

compiled as The Adventures of Sherlock

Holmes and I don't hold me to it because

I haven't read it recently but I believe

it's the first short story in that

collection where as an exercise Sherlock

Holmes asks Dr Watson how many steps

there are leading up from the street to

the front

door actually rather than par

paraphrasing I just pulled out the book

so let me read this this is from the

story called a scandal in

Bohemia and this is a

conversation between Sherlock Holmes and

Dr Watson it starts with Sherlock Holmes

speaking and he says you see but you do

not observe the distinction is clear for

example you have frequently seen the

steps which lead up from the hall to

this room frequently how often well some

hundreds of times then how many are

there how many I don't

know quite so you have not observed and

yet you have seen that is just my point

now I know that there are 17 steps

because I have both seen and observed

and I just love that that is like the

singular point that I love about the

series you know the series is all about

how Sherlock Holmes deduces so much from

like a glance or just you know meeting

someone they can he can tell where

they've been and all that and he Wows

everybody with like a certain type of

Mark that's found on their shoe or

something about their fingernails or

some kind of stain on their shirt so not

that you have to you know get into this

Superman uh level super detective level

of observation like Sherlock Holmes H

has I found that interesting when I

first read that because I always notice

how many steps there are and I started

doing that just as a matter of it may

come in handy if I'm carrying something

like a big box or something and I can't

see my feet can't see the steps I want

to count and know with accuracy I can

tell you at my house there are 13 steps

between the first two floors uh I can

tell you where I teach in Winston Salem

there's 18 steps leading from the store

floor down to the basement level where I

teach being observant requires that you

pay attention it also requires that you

don't have

preconceptions it takes a lot of work to

see what's there instead of what you

think should be there I'm going to give

you an example of something and and let

me know you know comment or on this post

or send me a message if if if you agree

cuz I'd like to know if this is common

or not I find that I cannot find what

I'm looking for if I think it's a

different color than what it is my wife

can go ask me to look for I mean it

could be a water bottle it could be

something like that it could be that big

but a lot of times it's something a

little different like she wants me to go

find a jewelry box or something like

that and I might think in my head this

is a burgundy red box when in fact it's

blue I will pass by that blue box over

and over never seeing it because my

brain is looking for something bergundy

red now if she tells me to go find that

that box that jewelry box or whatever

and I don't she doesn't tell me what

color it is and I allow my mind to be

open that it could be any color I will

probably find it fairly easily so with

observation it gets in the way if you

have assumptions so you have to remove

those assumptions and then you have to

actually look you have to see you have

to observe so you know this is a good

first exercise every time you take the

steps just count them and then recap

before you visit them again I think

there's 16 there I think there's 18

there by the way you'll find it's quite

often stairs tend to come when you're

climbing them in 8 10 12 14 or 16 I

actually found that fascinating that I

13 steps in this house cuz that's not a

common number at least in my

experience also take go on a normal walk

in your house and count how many steps

you take for going from one room to the

next or if you're walking in a

neighborhood you go from one street sign

to the next how often do you go I found

it's very close to within about a dozen

or so on average of being 200 steps for

my Pace going between one block and the

next

and if I'm in a downtown area it tends

to be a little narrower one way might be

150 steps now it may seem like this is a

bit much but again observation is like a

muscle and you are exercising that every

time you can so before I say anymore I'm

going to share the audio portion of the

YouTube video I did where I talk about a

clock in my studio and I talk about the

TW 20 things that you can observe with

that and uh you know you'll hear the

portion where I allow those watch ing to

write down as many things as they can in

I think 45 seconds and I play a little

piano piece that I made up a little

improvisation and then I talk about the

20 observations that I have and then I

compare that to when you're studying

music like I take the simple Clemente

Opus 36 number one Piano Sonata or sorry

piano satina in

C and while I'm playing the first

movement I talk about with kind of a

voice over all of the things not really

all the things but just many of the

things that I notice so here is the

audio of that video on YouTube and again

you can find the the full link and the

show notes I want to talk about a

typical intermediate level piano piece

something like Clemente Santina Opus 36

number one so I'm just going to count

off some things that you need to notice

so let's start off with the obvious ones

we want to start off with what is the

Rhythm and of course before we do that

we look at the time signature we want to

make sure that it's treble cleff on the

top staff base cleff on the bottom staff

we want to notice what key we're in and

we see the absence of a key signature we

know that we're in C major depending on

the addition we may have some

fingerings we almost certainly have a

Tempo might is Mark algro you want to

notice if there are slurs if there's

tados if they are accents you want to

look at the Dynamics and that's kind of

interesting too because

some of the Dynamics are marked like

with the word Crescendo and others are

shown with the hair

pin we want to notice that there's a

repeat sign at the halfway point and

also at the very end but then we want to

get into other things we want to notice

how it changes to the key of G major

halfway through the

exposition and how it goes through a few

other Keys before it comes back to C

major to stay put we want to notice how

the recapitulation is very similar to

the exposition but also how it's

different there are most Moes three four

five note patterns that pop up

throughout the very first measure

appears later toward the end as a figure

that goes upside down and we can go on

and on and this is part of what it is to

explore a piece of music you get away

from the surface and then you start

looking for other things other details

you have to look big picture you have to

look small

picture so now I want to talk about the

clock that I have on this wall over here

so grab yourself a sheet of paper a

scratch sheet of paper will be fine and

I want you to look at this clock and I

want you to write down as many things as

you notice about it it doesn't matter

how mundane it is I just want you to

notice every detail that you can see now

I know it's not going to be as much as

you would get if you were in the same

room and you could touch it or you could

you know see the three dimensions of it

so I'll help you out as we go but let's

just start with can you name five things

that you notice about this clock can you

name 10 things about this clock so I'm

going to let you look at it while I play

a 45 second improvisation for you so go

ahead and write down what you see Ready

Set Go

[Music]

okay time's up so let's look at my list

of the things that I noticed about this

clock so we'll start with the fact that

it's green it's kind of a swamp green

color uh the second thing I noticed is

that it's round so I know I'm hitting

the obvious here but it is a round

object there are three different

pointers what we call hands for the hour

the minute and the second uh the fourth

thing I notice is that you know we have

big numbers going from 1 to

12 the fifth thing that I notic is that

we have these little minute tick markers

along the edge for each minute there are

some small numbers all divisible by five

the seventh thing I noticed is that and

of course you wouldn't necessarily know

this for sure unless you're in the room

but it's made of plastic the eighth

thing also I notice it's not flat it

does have three dimensions ninth there

is some paint fading in various places

10th another one is a little obvious but

it ticks once per second or 60 beats per

minute there are scratches on the face

number 12 this is interesting if you

look at those big numbers there are five

ones and there are two twos the 13th

thing I notice is that all three of

those hands the hour minute and second

they all join in the center kind of held

by a little knob there in the middle

14th thing this is a Sterling and Noble

brand clock 15th thing I noticed is when

I look at that brand Sterling and Noble

it uses all capital letters the 16th

thing that I notic is that if you look

at those little numbers when you go from

15 to 20 and when you go from 40 to 45

the numbers change directions in the way

they're facing the 17th thing that I

noticed is when you look at the Little

Numbers there are seven zeros there are

eight fives and there is not a single

seven eight or n the 18th thing that I

noticed is when I look at the back it

takes one ablea battery the 19th thing I

notice is also in the back there is a

place for it to hang and the 20th and

the final thing that I noticed this in

looking at this exercise is that there

are two bits uh that poke out for no

apparent reason maybe you guys can tell

me what what it means but I I have no

idea what that is for so this is an

exercise that you should try very often

just pick any object and write down as

many things as you can notice and of

course start doing this with your music

the more you notice the better of a

musician you will be so just as an

exercise what I would recommend that you

do is take a journal take a notebook and

then take some sheet music that you're

working on and just look at the first

page something you're practicing and

write down however many you want but I

would say at least 10 but maybe 15 or 20

things you notice about it could be a

melodic pattern that repeats maybe you

notice a two measures that are very very

similar but one the intervals are upside

down from the other like instead of

going up and then back down it goes down

and then back up maybe you'll notice a

rhythm that's the same but the notes are

different maybe there's an articulation

pattern but just go through just that

page just one page of of music and how

much can you write down that you have

noticed about that piece and again this

is a this is a skill that transcends

music you will be a a smarter sharper

more successful individual if you

improve your powers of observation so

look at any corner or wall or section of

your room and just write down as many

things as you can it could be like a a

crack in the in the paint it could it

could be any kind of a flaw it could it

could be what's on the wall look up at

the ceiling as well how many how many

times do you go in a room and not look

at the ceiling not look up make your

observation spherical so not just

360° horizontally but also up and down

all around you being aware of your

surroundings next time you go for a walk

if you're the type of person like I

normally am and you like to listen to

either audiobook or podcast or maybe

music um just just once every now and

then don't play anything and just listen

to The Sounds around you notice try to

notice every bird song that you hear try

to notice the sound of the traffic don't

tune it out but pay attention to that

and and when you're looking down notice

cracks in the pavement try to maybe not

step on any of them you know just that's

that's a good way of kind of observing

what's on the ground if there are leaves

on the ground notice the shape of the

leaves try to look at every tree notice

what kind of bark pattern has this is

really important to do in an era of

superficiality where we just kind of

open up our phones and we just scroll

and we just see things and if we're not

interested within 1.5 seconds we're

swiping to the next thing or we're

spinning on there is going to come a

time where someone who can pay attention

someone who can see the details is going

to stand out whether or not you're

professional musician or you just use

music to help yourself in other walks of

life skill of observation will make you

a better musician but it will also make

you better probably in the top half or

more of whatever you do by the way I

record in a house that has another

person and multiple pets my window is

facing a busy street there's traffic

going by all the time now I have a

pretty good microphone that filters all

that out but I bet if you put on

headphones and turn on Up the Volume you

would notice all kinds of things in the

background increase your powers of

observation by exercising it as often as

you can and that's going to wrap up

episode number 74 now I opened up this

episode talking about one kind of

feedback I do want to remind you that

you can also give me another type of

feedback and that is a direct response

on the content of the episode that you

wouldn't mind me sharing or at least

considering having share on a future

podcast episode so if you have any tips

for observation or if you have any

thoughts about observation anything that

you observed while listening to this

episode I can't promise that I will

share everything that is submitted but

you can let me know with your voice

sending me a voicemail at speakpipe

tocom SL musician toolkit as a reminder

the things that you can always do to

help this podcast the most is to please

share each episode that you find

valuable so if you enjoy this episode

you know someone else who might enjoy it

share it with them directly share it on

your social media feeds all of that is

what we need to continue to grow this

audience to help nurture and build

better and more well-rounded musicians

if you feel so inclined please leave a

five star rating and review wherever

you're allowed to do that on whatever

podcast PL platform you're listening to

anyway that's going to wrap it up for

today I want to thank you once again so

much for listening and I'll be back with

you again next week