[Applause] okay this is it I’m going to play my
okay this is it I’m going to play my
okay this is it I’m going to play my violin at a TEDx talk I have to do my
violin at a TEDx talk I have to do my
violin at a TEDx talk I have to do my best I have to play with a big and
best I have to play with a big and
best I have to play with a big and beautiful sound I have to impress all my
beautiful sound I have to impress all my
beautiful sound I have to impress all my friends and all my teachers I have to
friends and all my teachers I have to
friends and all my teachers I have to remember everything I have learned I
remember everything I have learned I
remember everything I have learned I cannot disappoint my family they have
cannot disappoint my family they have
cannot disappoint my family they have done so much for me I really have to
done so much for me I really have to
done so much for me I really have to nail this performance I mean this is
nail this performance I mean this is
nail this performance I mean this is going to be on the Internet I’m going to
going to be on the Internet I’m going to
going to be on the Internet I’m going to have so many views if I do it right I’m
have so many views if I do it right I’m
have so many views if I do it right I’m sure so many doors are going to open for
sure so many doors are going to open for
sure so many doors are going to open for me it’s going to be great I mean it has
me it’s going to be great I mean it has
me it’s going to be great I mean it has to be I have been playing the violin for
to be I have been playing the violin for
to be I have been playing the violin for more than 20 years so I should be good
more than 20 years so I should be good
more than 20 years so I should be good at it by now but what if I make a
at it by now but what if I make a
at it by now but what if I make a mistake what if I play badly oh my god
mistake what if I play badly oh my god
mistake what if I play badly oh my god this is going to be on the internet I
this is going to be on the internet I
this is going to be on the internet I knew I should have practiced even harder
knew I should have practiced even harder
knew I should have practiced even harder now I’m sweating and shaking and my back
now I’m sweating and shaking and my back
now I’m sweating and shaking and my back is hurting again no this is too much
is hurting again no this is too much
is hurting again no this is too much pressure for me
pressure for me
pressure for me I think I’m going to live guys can we
I think I’m going to live guys can we
I think I’m going to live guys can we can we stop recording this
what if instead of following all those
what if instead of following all those mental conversations about the things I
mental conversations about the things I
mental conversations about the things I did or the things I should have done
did or the things I should have done
did or the things I should have done differently I get my mind permission to
differently I get my mind permission to
differently I get my mind permission to rest what if instead of projecting all
rest what if instead of projecting all
rest what if instead of projecting all the possible catastrophic scenarios I
the possible catastrophic scenarios I
the possible catastrophic scenarios I get my mind a break what if I don’t try
get my mind a break what if I don’t try
get my mind a break what if I don’t try to play well what if I don’t try to
to play well what if I don’t try to
to play well what if I don’t try to impress anybody what if I don’t try to
impress anybody what if I don’t try to
impress anybody what if I don’t try to get anything out of this TEDx talk what
get anything out of this TEDx talk what
get anything out of this TEDx talk what if instead before playing I listen to
if instead before playing I listen to
if instead before playing I listen to the sounds coming from this room for a
the sounds coming from this room for a
the sounds coming from this room for a moment
what if I feel my feet on the floor what
what if I feel my feet on the floor what if I feel my breath what if I see all of
if I feel my breath what if I see all of
if I feel my breath what if I see all of you in front of me you fellow human
you in front of me you fellow human
you in front of me you fellow human beings just like me
beings just like me
beings just like me what if I smile at you some of you may
what if I smile at you some of you may
what if I smile at you some of you may smile back at me what if I just play the
smile back at me what if I just play the
smile back at me what if I just play the violin
being able to listen to music is an
being able to listen to music is an amazing gift being able to play music is
amazing gift being able to play music is
amazing gift being able to play music is an even greater gift
an even greater gift
an even greater gift I believe everybody knows this now
I believe everybody knows this now
I believe everybody knows this now something that you may or may not know
something that you may or may not know
something that you may or may not know is that for many many musicians learning
is that for many many musicians learning
is that for many many musicians learning to play an instrument or making music
to play an instrument or making music
to play an instrument or making music can be both physically and mentally
can be both physically and mentally
can be both physically and mentally painful this is my story one day when I
painful this is my story one day when I
painful this is my story one day when I was six years old my mother came home
was six years old my mother came home
was six years old my mother came home with a new toy a very small violin and
with a new toy a very small violin and
with a new toy a very small violin and like every child with a new toy I was
like every child with a new toy I was
like every child with a new toy I was very happy excited inspired I was being
very happy excited inspired I was being
very happy excited inspired I was being creative and imaginative I was really
creative and imaginative I was really
creative and imaginative I was really having fun then I went to the music
having fun then I went to the music
having fun then I went to the music school conservatories universities and
school conservatories universities and
school conservatories universities and playing many professional orchestras 20
playing many professional orchestras 20
playing many professional orchestras 20 years later I found myself being
years later I found myself being
years later I found myself being depressed anxious not knowing what to do
depressed anxious not knowing what to do
depressed anxious not knowing what to do with my life afraid of performing in
with my life afraid of performing in
with my life afraid of performing in front of people and with severe pain in
front of people and with severe pain in
front of people and with severe pain in my back neck shoulders and fingers one
my back neck shoulders and fingers one
my back neck shoulders and fingers one day my fingers even started to bleed
day my fingers even started to bleed
day my fingers even started to bleed because of the excessive pressure I was
because of the excessive pressure I was
because of the excessive pressure I was pulling on the strings
pulling on the strings
pulling on the strings I didn’t know what to do and nobody was
I didn’t know what to do and nobody was
I didn’t know what to do and nobody was openly talking about this I couldn’t
openly talking about this I couldn’t
openly talking about this I couldn’t find any help within the traditional
find any help within the traditional
find any help within the traditional music education so I decided to look for
music education so I decided to look for
music education so I decided to look for some answers on my own I decided to
some answers on my own I decided to
some answers on my own I decided to learn about my body I did yoga exercise
learn about my body I did yoga exercise
learn about my body I did yoga exercise I meditated for two hours every day I
I meditated for two hours every day I
I meditated for two hours every day I read books about alternative education
read books about alternative education
read books about alternative education and holistic education I listened to
and holistic education I listened to
and holistic education I listened to spiritual teachers and motivational
spiritual teachers and motivational
spiritual teachers and motivational speakers I attended workshops in order
speakers I attended workshops in order
speakers I attended workshops in order to develop my intuition and body
to develop my intuition and body
to develop my intuition and body intelligence and I spent six months
intelligence and I spent six months
intelligence and I spent six months living at a yoga firm but more important
living at a yoga firm but more important
living at a yoga firm but more important than that I learned from myself I
than that I learned from myself I
than that I learned from myself I learned there is possible to find peace
learned there is possible to find peace
learned there is possible to find peace within myself I learned there in order
within myself I learned there in order
within myself I learned there in order to be happy I just need to practice
to be happy I just need to practice
to be happy I just need to practice happiness I spent a whole year trying to
happiness I spent a whole year trying to
happiness I spent a whole year trying to figure it out by myself how to play the
figure it out by myself how to play the
figure it out by myself how to play the violin not listening to my teachers or
violin not listening to my teachers or
violin not listening to my teachers or even to my mind
even to my mind
even to my mind but for the first time to my body and
but for the first time to my body and
but for the first time to my body and this is still a work in progress but I’m
this is still a work in progress but I’m
this is still a work in progress but I’m very happy to say that I finally learned
very happy to say that I finally learned
very happy to say that I finally learned how to play the violin without pain but
how to play the violin without pain but
how to play the violin without pain but it was one of the lucky ones who found
it was one of the lucky ones who found
it was one of the lucky ones who found some answers there are musicians who
some answers there are musicians who
some answers there are musicians who have a different story they go through
have a different story they go through
have a different story they go through the same pain I went but they are not
the same pain I went but they are not
the same pain I went but they are not lucky enough to find a sustainable
lucky enough to find a sustainable
lucky enough to find a sustainable solution so they ended up with an
solution so they ended up with an
solution so they ended up with an unsustainable solution they take pills
unsustainable solution they take pills
unsustainable solution they take pills to control fears go regularly to some
to control fears go regularly to some
to control fears go regularly to some kind of physical or psychological
kind of physical or psychological
kind of physical or psychological therapy or in some cases they even have
therapy or in some cases they even have
therapy or in some cases they even have to under Sir Jerry in order to fix a
to under Sir Jerry in order to fix a
to under Sir Jerry in order to fix a very serious injury for these musicians
very serious injury for these musicians
very serious injury for these musicians physical and mental pains are almost
physical and mental pains are almost
physical and mental pains are almost expected as part of a life in music if
expected as part of a life in music if
expected as part of a life in music if you are in physical pain is because you
you are in physical pain is because you
you are in physical pain is because you are working very hard if you are in
are working very hard if you are in
are working very hard if you are in mental pain is because you are very deep
mental pain is because you are very deep
mental pain is because you are very deep or a real artist
or a real artist
or a real artist so is it written in stone that we have
so is it written in stone that we have
so is it written in stone that we have to go through all these issues in order
to go through all these issues in order
to go through all these issues in order to be a musician you would expect to
to be a musician you would expect to
to be a musician you would expect to hear all these stories of physical and
hear all these stories of physical and
hear all these stories of physical and mental pain from soldiers after fighting
mental pain from soldiers after fighting
mental pain from soldiers after fighting in a war but music really does it really
in a war but music really does it really
in a war but music really does it really make sense to be in pain when making
make sense to be in pain when making
make sense to be in pain when making music of course I believe the answer is
music of course I believe the answer is
music of course I believe the answer is no so why there are so many musicians
no so why there are so many musicians
no so why there are so many musicians struggling with all these issues let me
struggling with all these issues let me
struggling with all these issues let me show you why and from here try to see if
show you why and from here try to see if
show you why and from here try to see if you can apply this into your life even
you can apply this into your life even
you can apply this into your life even if you are not a musician so right now
if you are not a musician so right now
if you are not a musician so right now you are all looking at me so you are
you are all looking at me so you are
you are all looking at me so you are practicing scene you’re also listening
practicing scene you’re also listening
practicing scene you’re also listening to me hopefully so you’re practicing
to me hopefully so you’re practicing
to me hopefully so you’re practicing listening you are also thinking about
listening you are also thinking about
listening you are also thinking about the things I’m saying so you are
the things I’m saying so you are
the things I’m saying so you are practising thinking therefore during
practising thinking therefore during
practising thinking therefore during this talk you’ll be practicing scene
this talk you’ll be practicing scene
this talk you’ll be practicing scene listening and thinking for a few minutes
listening and thinking for a few minutes
listening and thinking for a few minutes so now please don’t move
so now please don’t move
so now please don’t move nobody moves what about the way you are
nobody moves what about the way you are
nobody moves what about the way you are sitting if you are not aware of your
sitting if you are not aware of your
sitting if you are not aware of your posture and that posture is not good for
posture and that posture is not good for
posture and that posture is not good for your body
your body
your body you’ll be unconsciously practising and
you’ll be unconsciously practising and
you’ll be unconsciously practising and unhealthy posture
unhealthy posture
unhealthy posture you’ll be unconsciously reinforcing and
you’ll be unconsciously reinforcing and
you’ll be unconsciously reinforcing and unhealthy habit then after the talk your
unhealthy habit then after the talk your
unhealthy habit then after the talk your body may hurt you may feel bad maybe
body may hurt you may feel bad maybe
body may hurt you may feel bad maybe even stress and you wouldn’t even know
even stress and you wouldn’t even know
even stress and you wouldn’t even know why so now that you are aware of your
why so now that you are aware of your
why so now that you are aware of your posture how do you want to sit
cool so now imagine that you are
cool so now imagine that you are unconsciously practicing and unhealthy
unconsciously practicing and unhealthy
unconsciously practicing and unhealthy posture or unconsciously reinforcing an
posture or unconsciously reinforcing an
posture or unconsciously reinforcing an unhealthy habit not for a few minutes
unhealthy habit not for a few minutes
unhealthy habit not for a few minutes but for years in the same way imagine
but for years in the same way imagine
but for years in the same way imagine that you are unconsciously practicing
that you are unconsciously practicing
that you are unconsciously practicing being afraid of performing in front of
being afraid of performing in front of
being afraid of performing in front of people afraid of what may happen in the
people afraid of what may happen in the
people afraid of what may happen in the future
future
future afraid of disappointing the people who
afraid of disappointing the people who
afraid of disappointing the people who love you afraid of not being worth it
love you afraid of not being worth it
love you afraid of not being worth it imagine that you are unconsciously
imagine that you are unconsciously
imagine that you are unconsciously practicing to always compare and compete
practicing to always compare and compete
practicing to always compare and compete with your colleagues imagine that you
with your colleagues imagine that you
with your colleagues imagine that you are unconsciously practicing finding
are unconsciously practicing finding
are unconsciously practicing finding happiness outside of you imagine that
happiness outside of you imagine that
happiness outside of you imagine that you do that not for a few minutes but
you do that not for a few minutes but
you do that not for a few minutes but for years unfortunately this is what
for years unfortunately this is what
for years unfortunately this is what many of us do regardless of our
many of us do regardless of our
many of us do regardless of our profession including musicians so what
profession including musicians so what
profession including musicians so what can we do about it
can we do about it
can we do about it I believe the answer is to become aware
I believe the answer is to become aware
I believe the answer is to become aware of what we are actually practicing think
of what we are actually practicing think
of what we are actually practicing think about it
about it
about it how can we change something if we cannot
how can we change something if we cannot
how can we change something if we cannot see it take the example of your posture
see it take the example of your posture
see it take the example of your posture the moment you you begin to be aware of
the moment you you begin to be aware of
the moment you you begin to be aware of your body you immediately knew how to
your body you immediately knew how to
your body you immediately knew how to sit properly nobody had to tell you how
sit properly nobody had to tell you how
sit properly nobody had to tell you how to do it whatever you do in life
to do it whatever you do in life
to do it whatever you do in life open your awareness to see those
open your awareness to see those
open your awareness to see those unhealthy habit that are stopping you
unhealthy habit that are stopping you
unhealthy habit that are stopping you from thriving and those healthy habit
from thriving and those healthy habit
from thriving and those healthy habit that promote your well-being by
that promote your well-being by
that promote your well-being by practicing awareness we start noticing
practicing awareness we start noticing
practicing awareness we start noticing more things about our life so it is not
more things about our life so it is not
more things about our life so it is not so much about noticing what we are doing
so much about noticing what we are doing
so much about noticing what we are doing wrong it is also about noticing the good
wrong it is also about noticing the good
wrong it is also about noticing the good habits that we already have so that we
habits that we already have so that we
habits that we already have so that we can appreciate them and this is why I
can appreciate them and this is why I
can appreciate them and this is why I develop a sustainable well-being program
develop a sustainable well-being program
develop a sustainable well-being program for musicians in this program I am
for musicians in this program I am
for musicians in this program I am teaching how to expand our awareness in
teaching how to expand our awareness in
teaching how to expand our awareness in order to see those unhealthy habits and
order to see those unhealthy habits and
order to see those unhealthy habits and replace them with positive ones we learn
replace them with positive ones we learn
replace them with positive ones we learn how to take
how to take
how to take care of our body mind and emotions I
care of our body mind and emotions I
care of our body mind and emotions I have been teaching this program at
have been teaching this program at
have been teaching this program at prestigious and recognized music
prestigious and recognized music
prestigious and recognized music institutions like El Sistema
institutions like El Sistema
institutions like El Sistema which is then the national system of
which is then the national system of
which is then the national system of youth and children’s orchestras and
youth and children’s orchestras and
youth and children’s orchestras and choirs in Venezuela as well as
choirs in Venezuela as well as
choirs in Venezuela as well as universities and youth orchestras in the
universities and youth orchestras in the
universities and youth orchestras in the u.s. I would like to see musicians
u.s. I would like to see musicians
u.s. I would like to see musicians experienced in a life without physical
experienced in a life without physical
experienced in a life without physical and mental pain I would like to see
and mental pain I would like to see
and mental pain I would like to see musicians with the necessary tools to
musicians with the necessary tools to
musicians with the necessary tools to take care of themselves I would like to
take care of themselves I would like to
take care of themselves I would like to see musicians that had very hight goals
see musicians that had very hight goals
see musicians that had very hight goals but at the same time are satisfied with
but at the same time are satisfied with
but at the same time are satisfied with what they have already accomplished I
what they have already accomplished I
what they have already accomplished I would like to see more music
would like to see more music
would like to see more music institutions that care and actively
institutions that care and actively
institutions that care and actively promote musicians well Ben and I will
promote musicians well Ben and I will
promote musicians well Ben and I will like all of you to become aware of what
like all of you to become aware of what
like all of you to become aware of what we are actually practicing be curious to
we are actually practicing be curious to
we are actually practicing be curious to find those unhealthy habits so that you
find those unhealthy habits so that you
find those unhealthy habits so that you can change them be curious to find those
can change them be curious to find those
can change them be curious to find those healthy habits so that you can
healthy habits so that you can
healthy habits so that you can appreciate them I cannot promise you
appreciate them I cannot promise you
appreciate them I cannot promise you happiness but you will definitely learn
happiness but you will definitely learn
happiness but you will definitely learn more about yourself
”
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