JAVS Fall 2020

More troublesome than the minor physical problems are the mental difficulties that have cropped up in my maturity. For one, it seems like it takes me longer to memorize music than I remember! Another issue is staying focused. When giving talks on creative practice techniques, one of my main points is: “Be There.” In other words, rid yourself of outside distractions, concentrate on the task at hand. 8 For some reason, that is more difficult for me now. I can start my practice session clear headed and focused, but little gremlins 9 creep in where they didn’t in earlier years. This often occurs when I am trying to memorize a section or movement or, when playing by memory. I have Preludes I, II and III memorized and can play them musically, but the fifth suite Prelude is proving to be difficult. The fugue is four pages long and a bit complicated. I have it committed to memory, but when the little gremlins creep in I make errors—it’s frustrating. Lastly, not always, but occasionally, when I am playing something fast, it feels like my brain has difficulty keeping up with my fingers. I have a good friend, Julie Howard, who is a trained gerontologist. 10 I asked her if what I am experiencing is normal for my age. Julie said: What Tom is experiencing is considered normal as part of aging. However, what makes Tom quite remarkable is his ability to use his cognitive reserve. To experience some degree of cognitive slowing—the ability to process information at a slower rate—is an expected part of what many older adults show in studies that focus on cognitive processing speed. According to a study by the National Institute on Health 11 , from midlife onwards, cognitive processing speed declines with age. This slowing occurs in otherwise healthy, normal adults who show no sign of a neurodegenerative disease. In addition to cognitive slowing, many older adults also have difficulty with focused attention. So, while it may be difficult for Tom to memorize a new piece, the fifth suite Prelude for example, he is really doing two things at once. His attention is divided between his cognitive task to memorize and his fine motor skills to play the piece. Staying focused while learning a new skill or task is a normal challenge for any age. Having difficulty with divided attention is a common complaint for many older adults. A USC-led study 12 finds that seniors’ attention shortfall is associated with the locus coeruleus, a tiny region of the brainstem that

connects to many other parts of the brain. The locus coeruleus helps focus brain activity during periods of stress or excitement. “Increased distractibility is a sign of cognitive aging,” said senior author Mara Mather, an expert on memory and professor at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. The study found that older adults are even more susceptible to distraction under stress or emotional arousal, indicating that the nucleus’s ability to intensify focus weakens over time. “Trying hard to complete a task increases emotional arousal, so when younger adults try hard, this should increase their ability to ignore distracting information,” said Mather, who has a joint appointment at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. “But for older adults, trying hard may make both what they are trying to focus on, and other information stand out more.” Recalling my previous comments, Tom’s ability to use his cognitive reserve, which is one’s ability to find alternate ways to do tasks, relying on the richness of one’s cognitive reserve (education, social networks, leisure or work experiences etc.), he demonstrates a wonderful example of successful healthy aging! Continuing to challenge himself with tasks that may even create difficulty or frustration will be just the types of opportunities for him to continue to foster his neuronal growth! This neuronal growth or plasticity can stave off neurodegenerative diseases and at a minimum contribute to overall quality of life! Keep on playing Tom! These are trying times yet the threads that bind us will surely hold. Now is an excellent time for reflection and it’s always a great time to be a violist. I am given hope by the many violists who played brilliantly into their 60s and 70s. I was fortunate to hear, in live performance, many including Joseph de Pasquale, William Primrose, Walter Trampler and Emanuel Vardi. They gave me inspiration then, they give me hope now. It is comforting to know that what I am experiencing and have described is a normal part of the aging process. Today there is army of outstanding violists of all ages, many more than I remember as I grew up. Several will weave their magic at our 2021 AVS Festival in Knoxville (look for the announcements). It is my wish that all violists live to play well into their 70s and beyond, if they wish. They will have to make adjustments in

Journal of the American Viola Society / Vol. 36, No. 2, Fall 2020

49