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Nick Grinlinton's Musings

Thoughts from a guitarist, composer and runner.

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Nick Grinlinton's Musings

Category: Music

What Running Taught Me About Music

Posted on March 10, 2021January 7, 2025 Nick GrinlintonLeave a commentPosted in Music, Running

In many ways, being a musician prepared me for my discovery of running. I definitely wouldn’t have dreamed of taking up serious running 15 years ago as a freshman at a conservatory. Chord voicings, transcriptions, ensemble work and theory seemed to occupy most of my time. In retrospect, I probably took music too seriously and didn’t […]

Music Principles I Applied to Running

Posted on July 9, 2018April 27, 2025 Nick GrinlintonLeave a commentPosted in Music, Running

I started training seriously at age 27. Throughout high school and college, athletics never entered my mind because I played and practiced music so much. If I didn’t play at a club, I worked on composing, transcribing or rehearsing with other ensembles. Since running consistently for four years, I’ve been able to tie in the same […]

Tempo and Running

Posted on October 4, 2016January 6, 2025 Nick GrinlintonLeave a commentPosted in Music, Running

As a musician by trait and a developing runner, I feel a connection between playing the guitar in different bands and training for different events. With both environments I need to feel the rhythm and groove. It’s imperative to react to what is happening around me either in a race or playing with other musicians. […]

Running Helps with Playing Music

Posted on June 27, 2016March 12, 2023 Nick GrinlintonLeave a commentPosted in Music, Running

Would you believe me if I said running improves your ability to play music? As a musician I find the more I run, the better I play. You might ask, “How is this possible?” The studies have and will continue to pour in on how cardiovascular fitness boosts the functions of the brain. I’d like […]

A Word on Writing Rhythms

Posted on November 11, 2012December 24, 2013 Nick GrinlintonLeave a commentPosted in Music

Here are four examples of rhythms: Ex 1: Ex 2:

Thoughts on Playing Music

Posted on November 4, 2012November 6, 2018 Nick GrinlintonLeave a commentPosted in Music

If you think you’ve made a mistake, it probably did not happen. No need to stress yourself out. If you are playing a piece and it feels just right, it is probably too fast. If you play a piece and it feels too slow, it is probably at the right tempo. If you consistently work […]

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