[wolfgang]

I was going to say the same thing - mediate while playing the piano.

However I can understand that while learning a piece that may not work. Although, isn't it already a meditation in a way? Or at least a focused mind state? I remember learning some piano and found it to be very focusing and once you get the fingering and can play the piece through - it really is a meditation to play it in that you can really focus on each note and the expression of the sound. I also found using a metronome to really bring about some sort of meditational feeling. Like listen for the metronome's beat to be so right on yours that you can't hear the metronome (as long as there is a note on the beat).

I can remember getting a feeling behind my head, a little up in the air as if I was watching from there instead of inside my body. Like once the piece was hardwired into my fingers, I could become the observer while the piece "got played" instead of me playing it.

I would think if you do any improvisation with other people you can get a kind of mediation out of that too. To be able to let go while playing some solo lines is really fun, as long as you can bring it back home and not blow it out.

But formally I'd say go for some regular 15-20 minute quiet meditations. I'm a irregular meditator and use binaural beat CDs. If you can be regular about it the mind starts to think you are more into it and will cooperate more such that it's easier to find the quiet space during meditation. At least I know when I've been more regular it gets that way. Irregular meditation works too but sometimes doesn't feel as deep or focused, in my experience.

The other thing is I always look for ways to bring the feeling of a mediation into activity. Like when jamming with guitar playing buddies or skiing or surfing or walking or exercise. I know it's a different brain state then sitting meditation, although sometimes I think I go pretty deep with the activities too. Although I can't imagine being able to be in theta brain wave (that's just a bit above delta) state and doing something that requires alertness, like skiing. Maybe the meditation I find out of skiing is more of a focused brain state instead of a lowering of brain waves, like a sitting meditation does.