My hook shot at 14 was often surprising probably because I was short, it was unexpected but what other possibility did I have of getting around the height of other basketball boys? The hook shot was only my right hand. The difference between how I did that then and how I practice something on piano is that on piano I spend a lot of time working both sides. Seemed the natural place to go for development in tennis and ping pong too. I don’t know anyone who did but speaking pianistically it kept calling me or rather I kept noticing the shortcomings musically to only work one side.
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What’s similar however, is when you practice you are sort of a spectator of your own efforts. The new piece I’m working on right now cannot be played with certainty. I slow it down, try to find a speed where I can pull it off but every so often I lose my patience and go for it at the speed I really wish I could already execute and if I’m lucky, for a second or two it might work. When it does I’m amazed because the I of I wasn’t doing anything but watching. Sometimes as the hook shot left my hand I knew instantly it was a dud or instantly it was a contender. The ones that actually perfectly swoosh, you’re hoping for it but the you of you can’t take any credit except for showing up and having a great seat. The original virtual reality.