Photo by Carbon 111
A tweet by Elissa Milne about playing the C Harmonic Major Scale beginning on the 3rd scale position (E) and moving in contrary motion caught my eye this morning. I decided to begin my practice by exploring this. While I begin with certainty in my approach to the guitar, I find it useful to embrace the unknown as a way to disrupt habitual reactions, while also expanding my knowledge.
Moving to working with the difficult section in the tremolo piece, I am slowly bringing this up to speed. Taking a brief break from this I picked up a folder with a print version of an older blog post - Transitions. After reading this, I thought about transitioning between takes of this difficult part. I have used the AT principle of inhibition in working with this, as a way to keep my aware of my use. Today I decided after one take of the difficult part to play the theme from Aspiration, so simple and beautiful. Pausing to direct my use via AT, I then I returned to the difficult section and after this play through I played the opening to A Journeyman's Way Home. Again something that I can play effortlessly and also connect with positively. I continued this moving between the difficult section interspersed with sections of pieces that I have mastered. There seemed to be a qualitative flow from the effortless sections to the difficult section. Between each 'playing' I paused to work with AT. I'll continue to explore this over time.
After a break to work on this blog I returned to the guitar, and began exploring the Harmonic Major scale again. Moving from this unknown improvisation, I then played through a different difficult section I am working with. Then back to improvising in Harmonic Major and then returning to the difficult. Again paying attention to my use via the Alexander Technique when my playing paused. A different flavor from my earlier efforts, but again I stayed within my body more, and am learning from the mixing of these efforts.
Must be something in the air today. Your post reminded me of my Tarot study today - on VIII Strength which mediates the pathway between fear and mastery. Strength arises from being in process rather than polarizing or swing between the poles of fear and mastery.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I make up you are doing. Being conscious in process and creating, as a result, fluidity. What a beautiful gift to bring to the adventure of music.