I’ve been working on learning a new song on the guitar for many days now. It hasn’t helped that I’ve been traveling a lot and haven’t had a guitar to practice on. Even so, I was having a difficult time getting the rhythm part which included a lot of single string picking. The more I tried, the more frustrated I got. I decided to take about a week off from playing that part. I wanted to let my frustration cool down.
Tonight, I picked up the guitar and tried the part again. No luck. I was not getting it. My determination only increased. There was no reason I couldn’t get this. So, I played the song several times on my stereo trying to play along with it. I then turned off the stereo and played the part at about half speed.
Viola! I finally saw/felt the pattern of play that I was reaching for. I practiced for about 30 minutes on this one piece. I continually improved over that time. It was a great feeling.
Every time I reach an impasse with my music, I give myself some leeway to make a bunch of mistakes, stay relaxed but focused, believe that I can figure it out and remember that I’m doing this to have fun. Sometimes I have to release my frustration and replace it with some patience, but generally speaking my four part formula works. I use it for other aspects of my life also.
If you are working on something new, just remember my four steps and maybe you will have the breakthrough you are looking for.
Have a great day!
Michael
It is better to create than to be learned, creating is the true essence of life – Barthold Georg Niebuhr
Don’t think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It’s self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can’t try to do things. You simply must do things. – Ray Bradbury
I started taking guitar lessons last October 7th. I have a fantastic guitar teacher who keeps me quite challenged. I’ve had to deal with feelings of intimidation at least initially, but not really any more. What’s really fulfilling is that the past few months of lessons and practicing are starting to pay off. I’m working on two guitar pieces that are still quite small in duration but I like the sound and the flow of the melodies. I talked to my teacher today about adding and expanding what I had created. It was a great discussion that encompassed a lot of the theory and techniques he had been teaching me. I got some great ideas on how take my new creations in some other directions. I’m having a lot of fun.
The creative process has always been a little challenging for me whether I’m playing music, taking photographs or writing. I’m learning how much you have to “let go”, stop thinking and allow the creative process work on its own. I liken it to going on a ride and enjoying the scenery. I’m also discovering that creating requires you to open up and bare yourself. That’s difficult for me. But, bearing your soul is what makes the creation real. It doesn’t really matter whether your creation is “judged” good or bad by others. The important part is to create. So, here I am today creating, sharing the creation, generating new ideas plus being excited about the entire process.
Life is good.
Michael
Erica and went to see Van Morrison tonight at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) in Rhode Island. I’ve always wanted to see him and it was worth the wait. Mr. Morrison and his band were extraordinary. They played almost two hours with no breaks at all. It’s was solid Van Morrison minute to minute. PPAC is a small theater with excellent acoustics. We had a great view from the edge of the first balcony. The seats were perfect.
Van Morrison is a versatile musician, comfortable and expert whether playing the saxophone, harmonica, guitar or keyboards. His voice has been heard for over 40 years and is as unique as his music.
Van Morrison started off a little tentative, but he realized very soon how enthusiastic this crowd was going to be. His performance and intensity increased with each song. It was really fun to see the passion fly off the stage note for note. I think my favorite song was their extended rendition of Moondance.
When it was over, I left wanting more (selfish I know) but was incredibly happy to see and hear everything in the performance tonight.
Michael
I love how life can give little surprises when you least expect it. Today I was in Barnes and Noble wandering around looking for something interesting to read when I began hearing beautiful melodies as if being sung by angels. I followed the sound to the back of the store. In the children’s section, I found a middle school girl’s choir softly singing Christmas carols.
I watched for about 10 minutes. Their harmonies were really fantastic. Many people in the store had stopped to watch and listen. Their voices were so perfect that many stood transfixed. As I started to walk around again, I could continue to hear their soft melodies wafting through the building. The music kept a smile on my face the entire time.
As I started to leave, I witnessed a stunning sunset. The colors were brilliant partly due to the very cold and dry air today. All the colors from blue to red were highly saturated and almost unnatural looking. I watched in amazement for about several minutes until it had faded into black. (Unfortunately my camera was at home. Never again. But, on second thought maybe I was just supposed to enjoy the sunset without photographing it.)
I went to the store on impulse. If I had waited 15 or 20 minutes, I would have missed both the girl’s choir and the sunset. If you get the urge to go do something, go do it. Don’t wait. Don’t come up with excuses why you shouldn’t. Just go. The more you listen to those urges and impulses the more you’ll hear them. Who knows, you might have some fun.
Have a great day!
Michael
As I mentioned previously, I started taking guitar lessons on October 4th. The experience so far has exceeded my expectations. I’ve learned more in a month about music than I had in many years prior.
I have a really great teacher that keeps pushing me well beyond what I believe that I’m capable of doing. He really doesn’t let me stay on the edge of what I know. He is constantly prodding me forward to go way past my comfort zone.
For my next lesson, I’m supposed to create a solo composition based on what he has taught me so far. In music terms, I’m to use my new found knowledge of the diatonic chords in the scale of E, sixths and the seven modes (scales) to create something totally unique.
I find it fascinating how in the process of doing something that I completely enjoy, I’m feeling very uncomfortable. All sorts of thoughts went through my head like: How am I supposed to do this so fast? What can I possibly create in 11 days? Will it sound really stupid? I have no clue what to do or what I’m doing. Is my teacher being unrealistic?
The other side of my mind is incredibly excited because it’s (I’m) thinking if this is the expectation in one month of lessons, what will I be able to do in 12 months? It really is challenging and a lot of fun.
I’m concerned that what I create will be amateurish, simplistic and not that good. But, I know that I will surge forward in my capabilities just by doing this exercise. So, in the long run, it’s not about the end result, it’s solely about the creative journey. In just one month of practicing what I’ve learned, I can already see vast improvement. It will only get better.
The bottom line is that I’m playing guitar for two reasons: 1) It’s a lot of fun and 2) I want to see if I can play what I’m hearing in my head.
Have a great day!
Michael
I started guitar lessons this past Friday. I’ve been playing the guitar off and on since I was a teenager, but I never took formal lessons nor did I ever learn to read music. I didn’t really “believe” I could learn to read music. I stepped up and decided to change.
Well, I have to say I learned a lot more than I had expected during my first 30 minute lesson. I was quite surprised. Some terms I had heard for years all of a sudden became clear and I understood them for the first time.
I had always wanted to take lessons and learn to read music. Why didn’t I do that before? The reasons seem odd to me now, but I had a limiting belief that I couldn’t learn to read music. I didn’t think I would ever really “get it.”
My new belief……I do have the capability for learning to read music. New thoughts….New beliefs. Great concept!
My advice is that if there is something you have always wanted to do, drop the reasons for not doing it. Throw out those tired old excuses and take that small first step to fulfilling a dream. You’ll be a better person for it and you will enjoy your life a whole lot more.
I’ve decided that I don’t want to have any “What if” questions when I get very old. I want to have answers, regardless of what those answers will be.
Have a great day!
Michael
I decided to look back at my New Year’s Promises. I’m doing great on five of my promises:
- I promise to blog regularly, minimum 4 times a week.
- I promise to like/love my self more. (This may be a minute by minute adventure.
)
- I promise to have fun at everything I do. (Sounds hard, but I’ve been practicing for the last 2 years.)
- I promise to practice the concept of being responsible for only my “stuff” within relationships. The other half shall be totally responsible for their “stuff”.
- I promise to take more photographs than 2006.
I need to make a few minor adjustments on one promise based on some work challenges that are currently going on:
- I promise to continue making decisions based on how much fun I will have.
One promise I have not done at all:
- I promise to play the guitar regularly, minimum 3 times per week.
It’s really interesting to me that since I made promises this year instead of resolutions, I’ve kept more than previous years and have felt somewhat guilty (not in a bad way) on the one I haven’t kept.
Yesterday, I started to play my guitar again. It felt really good to play some music and strum along with one of my favorite artists, Neil Young. It will take a couple of weeks to get my stamina back (i.e. this translates to building up calluses on my fingers). Once I get there it will be easier to play more. And yes, I did play today.
I wonder sometimes how we let things get in the way of doing activities that we enjoy. There really isn’t a good excuse plus the benefits of doing things you love are enormous.
But, overall, I’m very happy with keeping my New Year’s promises.
Dad and Uncle Don: Start playing the guitar if you are out of regular practice. We have some music to make together at Christmas.
Michael
Don’t walk, but run to see the video called Drifting by Andy McKee. Andy has an unusual style of guitar playing. If you close your eyes during this one, it sounds like 2 or 3 people playing.
I find his music style incredibly creative; really pushing the envelope. Listen to some of his other pieces. I also liked the one called Art of Motion. Around 2:36 minutes into the piece, he does some very fast fingering.
I also find this inspiring; someone taking an instrument and exploring new heights. It’s definitely thinking and playing out of the box.
Check out Andy’s website for more info on this amazing musician. His 2006 CD called Art of Motion can be found on Amazon.
Have a great day!
Michael
I just bought the 2006 CD called, The Road to Escondido, which is a collaboration between J.J. Cale and Eric Clapton. It’s surprising that these two amazing musicians haven’t worked together before. Especially, since two of Eric Clapton’s early hits, Cocaine and After Midnight, were written by J.J. Cale. I’ve read that they have been good friends for a long time.
The 14 tracks on this CD are full of soul, blues, jazz and the special honky-tonk of J.J. Cale (wikipedia article). I think my favorite track is Hard to Thrill, which is one of the three songs not written by J.J. Cale. Eric Clapton (wikipedia article) and John Mayer wrote Hard to Thrill, a laid back bluesy number. Some other tracks I really like are: Danger, Missing Person, When This War is Over, Dead End Road, It’s Easy, Anyway the Wind Blows, Three Little Girls, Didn’t Cry Sister, and Last Will and Testament. Hmmmm. That’s almost the entire CD.
Their music is a great boost to my happiness level. Their collaboration is long overdue but much appreciated by me. I’ll be listening to this CD for quite some time. I suggest you take a listen for yourself.
Michael
Hmmmm. I was up most of the night with a project. So, I’m quite low-keyed and sleepy eyed tonight. Kan’nal is playing in the background. Excellent group by the way. They have nice rythms that can get fairly primal. Check them out.
I remember years ago when I was tired or run down, it made me feel emotionally down also. Over the last several years, I’ve been able to maintain my level of happiness (for lack of a better phrase) regardless of my physical state of being; whether I’m tired, run-down, sick, cold, hot, etc. I’ll find something to do to fit my physical state but keep my emotional state high. It could be reading a book, watching a movie, talking with a friend, listening to music, surfing the net, and etc. Really anything that keeps me occupied and not focused on being physically down. I’ve found that I get well and/or recover quicker plus the time goes by much faster.
Anyone can do this practice. It really is only a choice. For some it will be difficult at first since you are breaking some old habits. But it comes down to making any situation the best it can be. Once you reach that state all of a sudden more possibilities and potentials present themselves.
I’m sure you’ve met people that endure great pain day in and day out. Some of these people are quite grumpy, others down right mean and angry at the world. But, I’m sure you have met those who you would be hard pressed to tell if they were having any difficulties at all. It really is simply a choice. Try it sometime. Just a little change. Don’t try to make a big leap. Feel a little bit better first. Once you are there, try feeling a little bit better and on and on. In no time you can go from angry to happy and feel a whole lot better because of it.
My quote for the evening is from Howard Cutler.
Right now, at this very moment, we have a mind, which is all the basic equipment we need to achieve complete happiness. – Howard Cutler
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