The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey

The most common complaint of sportsmen ringing down the corridors of the ages is, “It’s not that I don’t know what to do, it’s that I don’t do what I know!” All that is needed is to unlearn those habits which interfere with it and then to just let it happen. This process doesn’t have to be learned we already know it. The player of the inner game comes to value the art of relaxed concentration above all other skills he discovers a true basis for self-confidence and he learns that the secret to winning any game lies in not trying too hard.

In short, it is played to overcome all habits of mind which inhibit excellence in performance. This is the game that takes place in the mind of the player, and it is played against such obstacles as lapses in concentration, nervousness, self-doubt and self-condemnation. It is the thesis of this book that neither mastery nor satisfaction can be found in the playing of any game without giving some attention to the relatively neglected skills of the inner game. The outer game is played against an external opponent to overcome external obstacles, and to reach an external goal. “It’s not about the win or the loss if we’re here to experience, then we are free.” IntroductionĮvery game is composed of two parts, an outer game and an inner game. “It’s not about the tennis,” he reminds me. They must clear their minds of all confusion and earn the ability to let themselves play freely. All of these along with listening skills – an essential part of the Inner Game – are discussed throughout.Ī methodology with a proven track record, The Inner Game of Music will be invaluable to anyone seriously interested in music, whether professional or amateur, composer, performer, or simply an appreciative listener.What is the real game? It is a game in which the heart is entertained, the game in which you are entertained. There are also chapters on ensemble playing, improvisation, composition and creativity. In precise, easy to understand language, Green and Gallwey explain how natural skills can be nurtured and enhanced, and through a series of special exercises they demonstrate the ways in which musicians can achieve exact intonation, artistic phrasing, and improved technique. And for those who don’t play an instrument but who feel their appreciation of music will be enhanced if they understand more about the process of playing, this book is ideal.

Using the same principles of “natural learning” Timothy Gallwey developed so successfully for tennis, golf and skiing and applying them to his own field, noted musician Barry Green shows how to acknowledge and overcome these internal obstacles in order to bring a new quality to the experience and learning of music. The Inner Game of Music is that which takes place in the mind, played against such elusive opponents as nervousness, self-doubt, and fear of failure.

The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey