How much is psychological?

[plunkyplink]

I'm very interested in psychology, and I've learned a lot about psychology and things like, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, and Rational Thinking. It's like piano practise to me, I just enjoy reading about it, talking about it, and applying it to my life. I'm currently reading about manipulation, very interesting!

I've noticed there is quite a few posts that are more about psychological issues than actual music issues. Things such as anxiety, stress, and worrying about what people think or say. Then the thought occurred to me,"how much of successful, dazzling, performance is actually psychological." Perhaps, one is better off to devote time and energy to managing mental issues, and maybe a little less time on practising and obsessing to the point of severe discomfort.

I would say that a successful musical career or performance is 50% psychological, 30% work, 10% business and marketing sense, and 10% talent/charisma/star quality/luck. What do you think?

[m1469]

100 % psychological -- we can't do anything without some sort of mental command, whether it's conscious or subconscious.

[stevie]

100 % psychological -- we can't do anything without some sort of mental command, whether it's conscious or subconscious.

what does farting fall under?

[piazzo23]

what does farting fall under?

Consciuos. If you have problems with that go to a gastro.

[stevie]

Consciuos. If you have problems with that go to a gastro.

but we fart in our sleep, some things are just automatic bodily functions, and this is relevant to pianism, we can learn alot from farts.

[gruffalo]

no, you fart in your sleep stevie.

[m]

but we fart in our sleep, some things are just automatic bodily functions, and this is relevant to pianism, we can learn alot from farts.

Valid point. It seems a lot of pianists out there have learnt a lot from their farts in term of sound, sheer musicality, and atmosphere, with that special kind of aura surrounding their performance. I am just wondiring as for the technical aspect of practicing. Seems like lots of curry might help to greatly improve pianistic and musical skills.

[bennom]

I'm very interested in psychology, and I've learned a lot about psychology and things like, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, and Rational Thinking. It's like piano practise to me, I just enjoy reading about it, talking about it, and applying it to my life. I'm currently reading about manipulation, very interesting!

I've noticed there is quite a few posts that are more about psychological issues than actual music issues. Things such as anxiety, stress, and worrying about what people think or say. Then the thought occurred to me,"how much of successful, dazzling, performance is actually psychological." Perhaps, one is better off to devote time and energy to managing mental issues, and maybe a little less time on practising and obsessing to the point of severe discomfort.

I would say that a successful musical career or performance is 50% psychological, 30% work, 10% business and marketing sense, and 10% talent/charisma/star quality/luck. What do you think?

Besides the obvious fact that 100% of human mentality is obsessed with farting , I would like to try to make a serious answer to your questions.

I am totally convinced that by controlling your mind, you can avoid becoming a victim of circumstance. That is, if you handle nervousness in the right way, it will enhance your perfomance insted of diminishing it. I have learnt this the hard way, and I usually think that this kind of stuff must be learnt the hard way.

On the other hand, if someone just would have given me some hints about this when I was young, I could have worked with "mental issues" much earlier on, in the beginning of my studies. So I guess my answer to your first question is "yes".

Regarding the percentage background of a succesful career: I would give "business and marketing sense" something like 40-50%, but I don't want to sound cynical, so I'll end here.

[plunkyplink]

Thanks Bennom for the intelligent answer. 

40-50% business and marketing, hmmm, you're probably right. I was thinking of how Arnold Schwartzenagger would pysche out his competition at Mr. Universe competitions and win. He would tell his competitor things like, "you're not quite ready yet, another year maybe".If you can manage stage fright and general stress, and not fall for people who view you as competition trying to psyche you out, I think you can go pretty far.

[m]

career or performance is 50% psychological, 30% work, 10% business and marketing sense, and 10% talent/charisma/star quality/luck. What do you think?

I would say 95% marketing/money in your pocket (or behind you), 1% psychological (just for the heck of what it is, but mostly, nobody really cares) and last 0.5% for whatever is left for the way you somehow could play piano (this one is really does not matter).
The 2.5% margin could be filled wth whatever you like (luck, or something like this. Very well you could insert here talent/charisma/star quality, but any of these in most cases do not matter, either).

Trust me, thats the way how modern music business operates... unfortunately.

[piazzo23]

but we fart in our sleep, some things are just automatic bodily functions, and this is relevant to pianism, we can learn alot from farts.

Yes, but that´s because you relax.
When you die you crap yourself.