Passage

Saturday morning I was warming up in preparation of our final day of recording with Tony Geballe.  I found a simple if disjointed melodic idea I played with a bit and then moved on.  Having made a mental note to remember this idea, I revisited this fragment during Monday's practice.  Then on Tuesday night, the idea began to simmer.  I came up with a quick working title as this helps to frame an idea for me, but Where Ya Goin'? did not really fit.  May have had more to do with where the melody was heading, than an actual sentiment or mood.

Yesterday I began to notate what I had of this idea to accompany the rough takes I had, in case I lose track of this over the coming busy weeks.  While capturing what I had in this way, another twist  arrived.  Later on the beach, looking at the surf, another possibility arose.  I tested this idea this morning, am unsure that it works, but strive to remain open to the inherent possibilities.  Early this morning I ran into a friend and we were talking about Transitions.  His work is helping organizations manage transitions.

In my current musical practice, I am in transition on various levels and pondered this as a working title.  Consulting the dictionary for a synonym for transitions I came upon Passage, which is currently the working title.  Noticing a word I did not know Saltation, I read the definition: discontinous movement, advance by leaps. Much closer to the quality of what is happening musically, but not sure this works as a title.  In genetics Saltation mean: a single mutation that drastically alters the phenotype.  I'm looking for that mutation that will bring this piece to life.

Taking a short break to allow the current ideas to percolate, then back to the guitar before one more dip in the Atlantic Ocean.

Photo by Nigel Howe

Why Practice Qi Gong

Recently a friend asked me why do I practice Qi Gong?

I had been exposed to QI Gong on meditation retreats and guitar seminars.  While I liked the affects, I did not practice on my own until I was injured.  A nasty case of tendinitis in my left wrist had me stop playing guitar.  After little progress with Western Medicine I received an acupuncture treatment which had an immediate effect.  Of course the nature of tendinitis and inflammation meant I had to have repeated treatments.  One day I noticed that my acupuncturist Dr. Nianzu Li, also taught Qi Gong.

After the treatment I asked him if there was an exercise which would help my condition. He showed me “Opening the Energy Gates” which I practiced daily until my next visit to his office. I showed him the exercise and he commented that I was doing good.  He then shared a secret with me, if I practiced Qi Gong, I’d probably not need to see him for acupuncture.  I signed up for his next class. 

That was over twelve years ago.  I have learned many forms in this time, relishing in the calm and energy that the practice of Qi Gong delivers.  I developed a daily practice. When Master Li offered a teacher training program I joined with my wife.  Our practice and learning accelerated and I continue to reap the rewards of daily practice.  When we began teaching our own class, I was happy as others embraced Qi Gong for the first time and many have continued their studies.

Last year I had an opportunity to present Qi Gong during a week long residential Guitar Seminar.  What would best serve the guitarists on the course?  I settled upon the Daoist 12 Postures form.  One of the intentions in this form is to release the spine, known as the Heavenly Pillar in Mandarin.  Several of the participants told me how this helped them release their own issues arriving from poor use of their bodies. The various postures are simple, yet powerful and allow the shoulders, arms, elbows, wrist and hands to release the various tensions related to the demands of playing an instrument.  These exercises are great pre-instrument practice warm ups and can be done anywhere at anytime.  Even back stage prior to performing. 

My wife & I will be offering the Daoist 12 Postures for the first time in a class offered by the Takoma Park Recreation Department.  While Qi Gong is great for musicians, the benefits of stimulating our energy flow is great for all.  We’ve had students from the age of 15 to 78.  Join us.

Without

What would it be like to play without desire?

To allow the notes to release from my guitar, just as the waves release from the Ocean.

What might this sound like?

First Notes

 At 10am this morning I began my first guitar practice of the New Year.  I paused as I wanted to know what note I would play and why I choose it as the first note of the year.  I decided on a simple exercise given to me in my early days of Guitar Craft played on an open A string.  I would play this exercise for 5 minutes.

Five minutes of touching the innocence with which I have originally encountered the guitar.  Five minutes of receiving a reminders of the value of small qualitative acts.  Five minutes of embracing an old commitment that has borne much fruit and five minutes of wondering what is now possible.

A few minutes later while playing through The Call, I decided that this same exercise would be how I end my last guitar practice of the year.  Seemed a bit clever at the time.

Then when I sat down with my guitar this evening, I knew my relationship with music had a beginning this year and can touch the end simultaneously.  This is better than clever.

May all of you have a peace filled and loving year.  Rise to the challenges you meet and give a hand to another. 




Photo by Josh James.

Matka Boska

The first words I wrote in my journal at 5:15 this morning were "Happy Birthday Mama!"  Though it was been more years than I can imagine since she has passed, I was happy today.  This is not always the case on her Birthday, but today I am.  I know that this makes her happy.  All she ever wanted was for her children to be safe and happy.


This evening I played Matka Boska for her.  A piece that came to me in it's entirety years ago and as soon as it did I knew she was close by.  She used say Matka Boska, Blessed Mother when at a lost for how to deal with her children.  I gave her many opportunities to reach out to God.  Today I know she understands, forgives, and still just wants the best for me and my family.  If only I could hold her in my arms one more time ...

Life is short. 

Photo by Peter James

Every Day Qi Gong

Our next class begins at the Takoma Park Community Center on September 30th.  With the busy stressful lives many of us lead today there is even more reason to cultivate our health. We are calling this class Every Day Qi Gong and it is culled from our studies over the past 15 years.  Qi means energy and Gong translates as work or cultivation.  The movements presented will be simple to learn yet extremely powerful in stimulating our energy systems. There is always something special about practicing in a group.  The collective energy supports and guides us deeper than we can go as individuals. 

The heath benefits of Qi Gong have been known in China for thousands of years.  Over the past 40 years,  Western science has been studying and documenting the beneficial aspects of these simple stimulative movements.  In July of 2015, the American Journal of Preventive Medicine  reviewed nine studies of Tai Chi (the most popular and well known form of Qi Gong in America) and found those that practice regularly “appear to have a protective effect against age-related cognitive decline.”  Coupled with the physical benefits of Qi Gong practice, we have access to a complete system for gently caring for our total body and mind.

     Physical benefits go beyond the strengthening of muscles and balance. Qi Gong exercises open the Six Gates—the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle. According to Chinese medicine, the major joints are the gateways of qi for our complex human system, encouraging the smooth flow of energy and blood throughout the body. Qi is the determining factor in health; each organ and each area of the body depend on a regular, vigorous stream of qi to function properly. Qi is the motive force for blood. Qi is both energy and information for every cell.

  When joints are stiff or frozen, the gates “close,” impeding qi flow both near and far from the joint.  Rather than view the problem of tight, painful joints as local, isolated, and limited, we need to understand that the effects are wide-ranging and influence the health base of the entire body. Soft, gentle, relaxed movement of joints results in better hydration, opens the joint space, and releases irritating toxins—important factors for alleviating or preventing arthritis.   Qi Gong Exercises are completely adaptable to each individual’s health status, as are all the exercises we teach. 
   
The exercises we will offer in Every Day Qi Gong are simple, easy to recall and have formed the basis for our daily practice.  Choose your health and wellness today.  Please join us, you are worth it!

Use this link to access the class on the Takoma Park Class Registration page .  Let us know if you need assistance in registering.  In the meantime, please be gentle with your good selves.  We look forward to practicing with you once again.

Equal Night

Last walk of summer,

foot falls heavy, without spring.

Nox chases chaos.