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Ewerton said
I'm just starting on violin, but here's a tip from 10 years of guitar playing: The best thing to think about when you're playing is nothing, if you leave your mind free, you'll be able to play a lot better. It's just not going to happen if you keep thinking about a million things.
I'll second that, but it's not easy to think of nothing, especially if you're performing. Having a fall-back 'subject' to think about is useful - in band they used to tell us to concentrate on the note on the page if getting nervous when performing.
EDIT: of course that doesn't work if you're playing from memory!
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I like to focus on making beautiful music. I focus mostly on listening and not much on playing. I then hope that the work, and practice that went into preparing for the performance takes over. Sometimes focusing on dynamics, phrasing, and beautiful music is a bit like doing what Ewerton says since you are not focusing on technique.
Also, everyone is different. I had a teacher that was very successful but required a tremendous amount of work to achieve his success. Whenever he had a concert (concertmaster of soloist) he worked like crazy compared to anyone I know. He needed to focus on technique to make his performances work. I believe most big performers do not focus on technique.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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I'm really just thinking about the song I'm playing, what it sounds like, since that is the only way I can get the rhythm of it halfway decent. And I literally have to keep thinking 'loose, loose, loose' because I have a way of being super stiff and tense, as my family would be glad to attest to, lol
@fulfillingsoul I have used a tuner myself (sorry if I go against the grain of everyone else here) but, if I don't know what a correct note sounds like, how am I supposed to learn it? Especially the fact I'm all on my own with this.
I have purposely put it on the nut of the violin so I wouldn't be able to see it when I'm looking at the sheet music, I strictly only used it for scales. It's helped me a great deal and I can say now, that I recognize it by ear most times when I hit the right spot (you'll start being aware of that nice ring the correct pitch has to it)
It's easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself. Johann S.Bach
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@AnnyJ You can also consider using free InsTuner App on your Ipad/Iphone. It is a tuner and also produces drone tone of notes to learn how they sound like. A favourite of mine.
@fulfillingsoul I have used a tuner myself (sorry if I go against the grain of everyone else here) but, if I don't know what a correct note sounds like, how am I supposed to learn it? Especially the fact I'm all on my own with this.
I have purposely put it on the nut of the violin so I wouldn't be able to see it when I'm looking at the sheet music, I strictly only used it for scales. It's helped me a great deal and I can say now, that I recognize it by ear most times when I hit the right spot (you'll start being aware of that nice ring the correct pitch has to it)
"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."
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Nothing wrong with using a tuner if that's what works for you 
To keep myself on topic... What I thought about today while playing was "yay! I did it!" Because my pinky finger was finally curving nicely and not hurting, lol. Oh... And also thinking about how sick I am of hearing myself play Ode to Joy, lol.
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@fulfillingsoul thank you, although I'm pretty much low-tech here, I don't own any smartphones or tablets, lol
@damfino I hope my post didn't come of as angry, I apologize if it did, because that wasn't at all what the tone was supposed to be
, I was just sharing personal experience (or lack thereof, ).
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It's easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself. Johann S.Bach
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No, you didn't sound angry at all
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@AnnyJ - I often use a tuner for the first 10 - 20 minutes of practice or the first notes of any tune or scale. I do try to "hear the correct notes and well as hear the incorrect notes" I play the scale a few times to see if I think it is right, then I double check to see if what I hear is correct.
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Wow - I'm impressed by how many think of intonation, tone, pitch, etc. I guess that's the academic answer! I took the question to be much more philosophical...
I imagine myself playing a song the song like I imagine I want it to be heard. I play a lot of Civil War tunes because of a love for history I have. So when I'm playing them I'm thinking about sitting around a fire with my civil war buddies playing off tunes they would know. Or if I'm playing something more classical I imagine myself on stage playing to a room full of people. And if it's just a fun tune then I imagine my family and friends around me at a holiday or something.
Maybe I should stop dreaming less and focus on the mechanics more
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kylesito said ...........Maybe I should stop dreaming less and focus on the mechanics more
Actually, I think that's the exact opposite of what you should do unless you're practising a specific technical aspect of playing or learning a new piece! 
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