I was helping a student find her inner violinist today. I told her it’s time to come into her own and stop being a “kid musician” and just be a “musician.” She nodded thoughtfully, then said: “do I have to move around? Because that always messes me up.”

I told her no, at least not for now. Movement is okay, but it certainly shouldn’t be getting in the way. (And it’s a logical question, right? She sees musicians moving all the time, and when she tried to move like they did it was just a gigantic distraction.) I assured her that expression may (later) result in some physical movement or a funny facial expression, but that those are just symptoms of the magic.

The magic is in the magic. And the stillness is beautiful, too.