Playing by heart

I love this expression. It means to play from memory, or without looking at the sheet music, but that to me is playing from the brain.

To really play by heart, you have to trust in yourself and your technique to articulate and express what is stirring inside you. You have to listen to what your inner voice is aching to say and let go of judgment both internal and external.

Developing my capacity to play this way, whether you call it improvising, spontaneous composition or playing by heart, has been life changing for me and also my playing of standard repertoire.