Thursday, November 8, 2007

The Repetition

Do it once. Then do it again. The more you write, the more you paint, the more you sing, the more you dance, the more you live, the better you get.

It’s that simple.

4 comments:

zen said...

This is a reply that is way overdue, but here goes.

I believe repetition allows us to absorb technique, which is a means to express our intent, into our subconscious.

When we first learn how to drive, we are so very aware of every little thing we do. Until we do it so very often that driving become a part of us. Turning left is not a series of gesture to shift into lower gear, turn on signals, look over the mirror and turning the steering wheel.

But rather, once driving become natural, turning left is simply "turning left".

I spoke about this once with an Opera singer, and she told me that this is exactly what they are trying to do when they sing. They are trying to express the song through them, without them being aware of their singing.

I told her that this is the same with programming. We want to build systems without being distracted by how we do it.

"...it is like a finger pointing away to the moon. Don't be distracted by the finger, or you will miss all that heavenly glory..."
- Bruce Lee

But it is not easy NOT to be distracted by the finger, no?

zen said...

This is a reply that is way overdue, but here goes.

I believe repetition allows us to absorb technique, which is a means to express our intent, into our subconscious.

When we first learn how to drive, we are so very aware of every little thing we do. Until we do it so very often that driving become a part of us. Turning left is not a series of gesture to shift into lower gear, turn on signals, look over the mirror and turning the steering wheel.

But rather, once driving become natural, turning left is simply "turning left".

I spoke about this once with an Opera singer, and she told me that this is exactly what they are trying to do when they sing. They are trying to express the song through them, without them being aware of their singing.

I told her that this is the same with programming. We want to build systems without being distracted by how we do it.

"...it is like a finger pointing away to the moon. Don't be distracted by the finger, or you will miss all that heavenly glory..."
- Bruce Lee

But it is not easy NOT to be distracted by the finger, no?

Doomed But Cheerful! said...

My music teacher told me this years and years ago. They had been told it by Fritz Kreisler, the violinist.

I think this is true. =]

Tana said...

Is it the same with love.