Seize the Moment

My body is a bit twitchy today.  Partially a result of constantly being awakened last night, no malice involved, just the way it was.  And the two nights prior I've had trouble sleeping.  An hour ago I was drifting off to nap, when the phone rang.  C'est la vie.  Now I'm fed and looking at how to use my evening.

If only I could give an AT instruction that "lengthened and widened" the time I have available.  One errand must be run, a commitment to myself needs to be addressed at 8:30 pm, and also my guitar.  So I guess it is time to pick up my guitar and then tend to the other two.  Now why was this so befuddling before I began to write?

I guess I did lengthen and widen the "use" of my evening. 

How Do You Think?

                                   Photo by: Tj Matthews
This was a tweet posted by Missy Vineyard, an Alexander Technique teacher on twitter last week. 

"Common question: How do you FEEL? More important question: how do you THINK? Think for change--with the Alexander Technique."

This morning, every one I encounter at work are asking one another - "How are you feeling?"  Today this was a reminder, an invitation for me to think constructively about how am I using myself.  Am I aware of my neck, my back, my legs, even my breathing?  In becoming aware, can I allow myself the opportunity to release my neck and head, to allow my spine to lengthen, to notice what inane thoughts I might have been thinking when the question entered my ears.  


Convenient to clandestinely have my colleagues bringing me back to the present moment.  I wonder what would happen if I began asking them "How do you think?"  Perhaps some enlightened conversation would ensue, more likely some "Look I'm busy today."  Who knows?  Incorporating constructive thinking has become increasingly important in my day, with positive impact on my music making.  My wrist, left shoulder, and neck have not had any liniment rubbed into them in months.  Since there has been no pain, I rest better. According to feedback from others, my playing has improved, and several people have even commented that I have better "posture."


The past few days while working on a difficult section in a piece of music, I found that by incorporating the AT principle of inhibition, I found ways to introduce ease into my left hand, thereby improving my execution of the phrase.  By repeatedly coming back to myself, and using AT, I was able to practice in a way that was both effective and efficient.  With this increased awareness, I could also notice when it was time to let go of this particular practice and move onto something else.  Then with a refreshed mind, I could begin again, and again. 

Smiling as I realize tomorrow and for the rest of my days, that the same question will be asked of me and others, and that each time I hear this " How are you feeling," I have the opportunity to pause and address my thinking.  The hour is getting late and I need to spend time with my guitar. But first, a lie down.  By the way -  How are you thinking?

What Did I Learn Today?

Went over to Steve's home to experiment with recording.  Software glitches, false starts and over driven preamps are all part of the process.  Not necessarily new information, just reminders of taking on the recording process.  Patience and good humor prevailed, and time spent with a dear friend is always nourishing.  I did apply the Alexander Technique throughout our recording process today.  Constructive thinking, keeping me in the present moment, and facilitating my use.  I don't think we captured any complete 'live' take, but the preparation on short notice was informative. 

The Burmese lunch we shared that included Tea Salad and a Ginger Salad were excellent.  Afterward a very good sitting with the Washington Mindfulness Community.  During the Dharma Sharing, one practitioner pointed out that they are learning that they do not need to say everything they are thinking.  Always sage advice, and then they went on to say that they do not need to think about everything that comes to mind - profound.

And so it goes.

Phrasing

The past three evenings and for 45 minutes this morning, I've been addressing two pieces of music.  One section, in one of the pieces in particular.  Patiently, at times lovingly, noticing what I am doing, breaking this movement down, and beginning again.  Constantly pausing and incorporating the Alexander Technique to allow my body to be as relaxed, yet alert as possible.

When my attention wavered I would take a short break, and work on finding & packing equipment I will take with me tomorrow.  Slowly noticing improvement, knowing that this kind of work also improves my playing overall, not just in this particular phrase.  I'm always fascinated how I can be this patient working on a phrase with my guitar and this generally causes me to reflect on communication with people.  If only I could be so patient with them when the phrases are not flowing the way that I would wish.

Even having the wish moves me closer to having greater empathy and understanding with others and myself.  The more I tune myself with Qi Gong, AT, & meditation, the impossible moves a bit closer.  New strings are now on my Godin, so I need to play them in for a bit before I complete my day.  But first, I will pause.

Timbres, Tempers, & Tone

My day began with wonder & joy.  Rested and feeling like myself again, after my recent bout with the flu.  I moved into a energizing Qi Gong session, noticing how since I worked on some of these exercises with David in AT class, that the energy continues to flow more freely. 

During my commute, I was listening to some of my live takes to determine where I am in the process.  The car was not an ideal situation for this, but this did immerse back into the project.  At one point, I paused the music and arrived at a traffic light.  Connecticut Avenue was my cross street and this is generally full of traffic in the morning.  Today the northbound lane, which I was closet too was fairly sparse.  As traffic approached, and my Prius was quiet, I marveled at the sounds the tires were making on the pavement.  I realized that I had been listening intently enough that my ears were focused. Various drones at varying tempi, continued to delight me until the light changed.  Arriving at the next major intersection, a truck changing gears caught my attention.

Onto the clamor of managing a professional kitchen, my listening dulled to hearing at best.  Just as I was about to leave, an interaction with a customer service manager, got me steamed.  Good timing has not been a part of their performance this week, and seems that once the initial mistake was made days ago, the reverberations continued to grow.  An hour later I was able to leave, not totally confident that they will come through.

Listening to rock & roll from my youth, was aggravating my mood so I choose to listen to Agnus Dei, a collection of classical choral music, given to me as a present years ago.  My usual time to listen to this is in the morning, but today the power of this music, calmed my emotions and allowed me to turn my attention to greater thoughts.  Listening during this day has triggered delight, wonder, anger, calm and reverence.  And I still need to play my guitar.

Responding to Listening

My old friend and musical partner Steev Geest contacted me today regarding recording.  His timing was impeccable, as I was pondering the very thought the past two days of how to invigorate the live recording project.  Tony and I are so close to completing the recording, but I still need a couple more pieces.  Now that my professional demands have lessened, the opportunity arises.  We decided to meet this Sunday to experiment with the equipment.

I was excited to get to practicing after a nap and dinner.  Beginning with the Alexander Technique, I came into a relationship with my body.  Allowing my body to release and my mind to quiet.  As I began to play, my guitar sounded so sweet.  Part of this was switching from my practice amp to my Genz Benz, but the tone had a certain presence.  Listening as I played, I was a bit surprised at how easily I had arrived in the moment.  As a rest would arise in the piece, I would think "let my neck be free and everything else."  This simple focused thought allowing my body and mind to release into my playing.

After working Gathered Hearts for 15 minutes, I moved onto Lost Balloon.  Just listening as I played, again using the thought "let me neck be ..."  I worked on the two sections of this piece that needed addressing; just enjoying the movement of my fingers and the freedom in myself.  I played this through twice and then paused. 

I began improvising, and immediately heard a beginning.  Playing with this for a bit, and then I needed a bathroom break.   Returning to the guitar, I was excited about the potential piece that was coming out.  No longer quiet in my mind, and feeling the anticipation in my body, I decided to inhibit my impulse to continue.  Instead I did a lie down, allowing myself to rest, and contemplate my body.

Returning to the guitar, there was still a bit of anxious anticipation.  Had I disrupted the creative flow? Perhaps, but I also knew that the place I had arrived at, needed to be released.  As I begin to play with the new idea, I was thinking about listening, but was not.  Taking time to run through the AT directions, I began again.  My listening was actual now, and I experimented with various musical directions and moods.  I did a quick recording to capture the idea.

Then I returned to play through GH and LB again, this time with the tape running.  Again I found myself thinking or talking to myself about listening.  But this is not listening, so the fingers stumble as I was not present with my actions.  Pausing to begin again, I used AT to come back to myself .  As the piece began, I was simply listening and playing; integrated once again, if only for a short time.  Over and over, I must return to the present moment, using the Alexander Technique, my breath, and sometimes even my ears.  In this moment is where life is lived, where music lives.  Grateful for the paths, and those on the path that point the way to this moment.

Just Another Night of Practice

Returned to AT class with David Jernigan tonight.  We worked through Sandra's Five Relations.  David gave me a very good sense of the head-pelvis counterbalance. He also pointed out that after years of practicing meditation, that I might not notice much in the area of the "ribs releasing back into the back," as this is already happening.

At home I spent time with my wife and visiting nephew, and then moved to my guitar.  I revisited the section of Broken Wing that opened up to me last night, and am enjoying the slight changes in how I play this.  Being freer in the rhythm of this section allows the emotion to surface.  I then played through the entire piece twice and decided to keep the changes.  Moving onto Nick's Song, I worked on getting the chord changes of the newly acquired last section into my hand.

This arrived during the power outage in our home last week.  I'm glad that I notated the section as I have not returned to this until tonight.  Without the notation, this section would have been lost to me tonight.  A great reason for me to incorporate notation into my regime.  Time, it always comes back to time.  Yet somehow even with my limited time to devote to music, I do somehow continue to find the time to do what it takes.