Dear Brain

[Mary Smith]

Dear Brain

You can shut up now, and let the fingers do the work for you.  The fingers are in charge now, dear brain.  Follow them, trust them.  Let the memory of their muscles guide you.  Yes brain, the fingers are not always right, but that's okay, because neither are you.  The fingers know what to do, and they can even fix their own mistakes, if you just practice.  Congratulations brain, you can take a few months off from school and let the ears and fingers take over.   You're not needed right now, and frankly you tend to get in the way.   http://scoring225.blogspot.com/2012/04/dear-brain.html

[Mary Jo Cochran]

Since I am one who has built speed twice (back in 1980, and now), I am a good choice to respond.  There are many times when I have had this kind of discussion with myself.  I am trying and trying, and it seems to be getting worse. 

 

We make things happen (our fingers move) from our brain sending messages.  Our brain gets overworked and can't function.  A good example is when you're real tired and you just can't think anymore. 

 

When I start having this conversation with myself like you're describing above, that's when I know I need to take a few days away from practicing, at least two days.  It works.