SOPP404: Instead of practicing I ate and slept on the couch all evening

Before we go to the podcast of today, I'd like to thank people who gave feedback about my 6 compositions which were last weekend performed by an orchestra.

Anne wrote:

Thanks for sharing these.  I love the lush harmonies in these compositions.  I listened to all of them.  Congratulations – your organ pieces translated well to the orchestral format.

Leon wrote:

​Saw and heard your FB post. Very nice piece of music, and use of the flute. Thanks for these additional details!

Irineo wrote:

Hello back there, maestro. 
Thank you so,much for these videos.
No. 1 = sweet/tender/interesting (splendid arrangement as well).
No. 2 = soft/discrete.
No. 3 = serene/laid back.
No. 4 = odd/uncommon/for the mind (instead of the heart).
No. 5 = ethereal.
Noe. 6 = dynamic/fleeting/playful/interesting contrasts (very nice as well).
Keep at it, maestro

If you missed this post or want to watch the videos again, here it is.

And now let's go to the podcast for today.

Vidas: Hi guys, this is Vidas.

Ausra: And Ausra.
 
V: Let’s start episode 404, of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Sally. And she writes an answer to the question, ‘What did you work on today?’ At the end of each day, students from the Total Organist program, they all get this question, and some of them choose to reply on BaseCamp. So Sally wrote:
 
Unfortunately, nothing. I work during the day as a Software Engineer, and when I got home I was cold and tired. Instead of practicing I ate and slept on the couch all evening. Let's hope I feel more motivated tonight. I need to work on my prelude for this week, and continued work on the pedal studies I started.

V: You know what I wrote to her? I wrote...
 
A: No, I don’t know.
 
V: I wrote, I will quote, “rest is good”. Three words only! Would you agree, Ausra?
 
A: Yes.
 
V: Shorter answer, right?
 
A: I think this winter I also rest more than I practice.
 
V: Yeah. If you return home from work really exhausted and tired, I think it’s best to take a rest or take a walk or do something, not too strenuous, physically and mentally too. And plus, since working as a Software Engineer is presumably mental work a lot, in most cases, right? Then organ playing is also mental work. It’s also similar so maybe physical, doing some physical activity is better than continuing mental activity without interruption. Ausra?
 
A: Yes, I think you need to find balance in things because if you do only mental work, only physical work, it won’t be good.
 
V: What would happen if you only did mental work, without any physical activity?
 
A: Well, you muscles would…
 
V: Atrophy?
 
A: Yes. Plus I think you might develop some serious mental problems, too.
 
V: Mental or physical?
 
A: Mental because if you’re doing to much mental work, it might damage your mental health.
 
V: Oh, I thought maybe if I only did mental work then my brain would expand and I would very wise.
 
A: Because I think that physical activity helps to clear your mind.
 
V: Mmmm. I see.
 
A: And to pump blood into your brain too, which is crucial if you do mental work.
 
V: What if I did only physical activity during the day, and no mental work? What would happen then?
 
A: Well, I think it’s healthier than otherwise.
 
V: Yes.
 
A: But, well, if you would do only physical work I think you would forget how to count, how to read, and then you would be in trouble too.
 
V: Right. I would be like hunter-gatherer. Ausra and I, we are listening to audio book called ‘Sapiens’. And it’s like a commentary on the history of civilizations. And yesterday evening we listened to the chapter about the life of, in the day of Adam and Eve, basically, prehistoric times. And those people moved a lot. But they say that they didn’t work too hard, like sometimes people work today—ten or twelve hours a day, in some countries, in the factory for example. In those days, like maybe thirty thousand years ago, they would just work for several hours until they gathered mushrooms and berries and edible roots.
 
A: Snails and frogs...
 
V: Uh-huh. Maybe hunting would require more time, I guess. So, of course, it’s safe to say that I will never become a true hunter or a gatherer in the 21st Century.
 
A: Well, you never know.
 
V: Why? Why?
 
A: Things might change.
 
V: Like internet would disappear?
 
A: Sure, and then you will have to go to the forest to pick up berries and mushrooms.
 
V: And how will we record our podcast conversations then?
 
A: Well, then there will be no podcast conversations.
 
V: The end of SecretsOfOrganPlaying.
 
A: True.
 
V: So, I hope this time will never come, when electricity and internet will disappear, Ausra.
 
A: Well you never know. We might get some strong magnetic storms and internet will be down.
 
V: Mmm-hmm.
 
A: And everything will be down. But anyway, we are just making fun. I think that it’s very important for everybody to find the right balance in their lives, because I think it’s time to work and it’s time to relax. It’s time to practice and it’s time to lay down on sofa.
 
V: You[’re] like citing the bible now.
 
A: Yes. It’s very good actually, story, from Ecclesiastes, yes?
 
V: Mmm-hmm. Cohélet, I think. It’s the same thing but…
 
A: Well, anyway I think, everybody who go to church, knows this story and knows what I’m talking about.
 
V: So, I hope Sally can practice whenever she feels rested and after sleeping and eating, maybe she will get more energy and feel more motivated to practice, right? And maybe tomorrow will be easier day, even at work. You never know how you will feel. Maybe she will have a better rest at night.
 
A: True.
 
V: And then next day will be easier to practice organ as well. Thank you guys for listening and sending your wonderful questions. We love helping you grow. And remember, when you practice...
 
A: Miracles happen!