The Associated Press today reported on a study in which neuroscientists used MRI scans to peek inside the brains of musicians.

In a study by researchers at the University of Tuebingen, the brains of eight violinists with German orchestras and eight amateurs were analyzed as they silently tapped out the first 16 bars of Mozart's violin concerto in G major.

Brain scans showed professionals had significant activity in the part of their brains that controlled hearing, said Dr. Gabriela Scheler of the University of Tuebingen.

"When the professionals move their fingers, they are also hearing the music in their heads," Scheler said.

"Amateurs, by contrast, showed more activity in the motor cortex, the region that controls finger movements, suggesting they were more preoccupied with hitting the correct notes," she said [in case you didn't notice, this is the significant bit.]

Scheler, a former violinist with the Nuremberg Philharmonic Orchestra, said the findings suggested that professionals have "liberated" their minds from worrying about hitting the right notes. As a result, they are able to listen, judge and control their play, Scheler said.

Neuroscientists often study how we hear and play music because it is one of the few activities that use many functions of the brain, including memory, learning, motor control, emotion, hearing and creativity, said Dr. Robert Zatorre of the Montreal Neurological Institute.

"It offers a window onto the highest levels of human cognition," Zatorre said

Which is a great reason to always practice or noodle if you are watching TV.

Right brain vs. left brain leanings are minimized, which in turn can creep into your improvisations, allowing for purer expression.

Many years ago I met Tommy Tedesco and asked him how he learned to play. His answer was sitting on the couch watching TV. We might be onto something here.

Tommy Tedesco was a Prince. I lived in L.A. in '84-'85, and he used to play this little Italian restaurant a few miles from where I lived. He was down to earth, approachable, and always zany and witty. I'll never forget when he did the Gong Show wearing a pink tutu. Man was a nut. Most recorded guitarist in history, I think (?).

Whitey, I checked it out, and I seem to be missing part of my brain. I think it's the part that does the thinkin'. Hey, I'm no Freud or Dr. Ruth, but I find the whole right vs. left brain thing fascinating. As I understand it, one side controls logic and reason, the other, creative. I'm not sure which side does what. From what I've been able to gather, most of us lean more to one side or the other, but some magical stuff can happen when the two brain halves are in symmetry. I think that's what's going on when we have that those rare and fleeting moments as players when everything is flowing and even our mistakes sound good; We look down at our fingers and have no clue what's motivating 'em, stream of consciousness stuff.

If I'm not working on something specific, I always practice to the TV. Especially some old Clint Eastwood western or something with a real vibey score. Our cable package has continuous music channels (DMX, I think it's called). I'll flip back and forth between jazz, rock, blues, americana, latin, dance, whatever. I'll try to cop the groove and changes, play some fills, and improvise a few choruses. Great way to hone your ear and cop the vibe of different styles, as well. I even dig improvising over classical music. I don't think Schubert really designed his music for screaming Strat solos though.

It's all about getting the Alpha waves flowing. Many studies have shown that Alpha waves almost always precede moments of insight and creative inspiration. They make hard work feel like it's nothing.