Vision takes quite a bit of brain power.
It accounts for a significant portion of the brain’s energy metabolism. It consumes roughly 70% of the brain’s energy.
Given this fact, I've always wondered why there's an increasing number of children who struggle to read music notation.
Please keep in mind that deciphering notes and reading music fluently are not the same as recognizing all alphabets and reading a sentence.
Perhaps some of you have already heard about the link between excessive screen time and notation reading.
I noticed a significant difference when my students used any digital devices while waiting for their lessons. The most significant difference is in their attention span and positive attitude.
I see they struggle to focus, but I suspect it is because they have shifted their condition from a fun (game, perhaps?) to a learning environment with no cushion.
Then I realized their uncomfortable feelings were rooted in notation readings.
Then I realized there was a connection between the sight-vision we use in everyday life and what we see on screens.
My screen time has also dramatically increased over the last 4-5 years.
So, I experimented my case.
While playing the piano, I’ve recently noticed a few coordination issues.
Tonight, I suddenly came up with an idea.
What happens if I limit my vision?
These strange-looking glasses are designed to improve our vision.
The mechanism is that while these small dots prevent our eyes from focusing in the center, while also releasing eye tension, and encouraging us to use our peripheral vision. If you have one, you’ll know that you can see further and more clearly without glasses. (In the case of nearsightedness).
I removed my contact lenses, put on these glasses, and played the piano.
The first thing I noticed was that I could hear the sound of my piano much better than before. It sounded at least twice as clear and laudable to me.
That is not all.
I felt like my proprioception improved significantly!
I could feel my two hands very clearly.
Part of coordination issues I’m experiencing is due to the fact that I have changed my piano playing technique over the last two years, and my old habits continue to bother and confuse me on occasion.
Also, reading brand new music and detailed works makes me feel challenged.
So I tried them. There's nothing to lose.
The results were amazing.
It's not just that I can hear and feel the piano's sounds better; I should mention that I always open the piano's roof when I practice, but I also felt like my proprioception was boosted. I could clearly recognize every single finger on both hands, as well as how they played the piano.
I closed my eyes because it was difficult to read the music with these glasses.
I read the music in my mind. Wherever I couldn't recall the notes, I missed them. When I picked up the notes, physical motion (how to move between the notes and which ones to play) and music were quickly matched and absorbed in my memory.
What surprised me even more was the moment I opened my eyes.
My vision was disturbed, and I couldn't focus my eyes sharply; however, I could hear even better!
I could actually feel the physical volume of the sounds emanating from the piano in front of me. Some voices that I wasn't paying attention to suddenly appeared in my ears.
I whispered, "How come?"
Now, the sound, my hands, and the music are all in sync and settled in my body.
I was floored, to be honest.
What a wonderful surprise!
Contact lenses that dried out my eyes. It’s uncomfortable to wearing glasses while playing.
When I'm not wearing any of them, I can't see anything!
These glasses were not only lifesavers, but they also taught me about how vision affects our learning experiences.
I have a lot of music to prepare for the concert.
I'm so excited about this discovery!
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