Entangled

Entangled body/mind.

Let thoughts fall winds clear our path.

Freedom comes then goes.

I need to give myself permission to pause during my practice session. When I notice my body is tense or the mind dancing with non-related thoughts. Pushing through will not provide me with freedom. Practice is not a performance. I am not in front of anyone, no set time frame for getting off the stage.

If I want to perform well, then pausing during practice is the way forward. When my body and mind are entangled or confused a simple pause for a few breaths invites in freedom. A simple pause for constructive thinking opens the door to letting go of the entanglement. And as Mio Morales pointed out in his Cycle Study session of the Alexander Technique this morning the improvement arrives here and now but also better prepares me into the future. As the Guitar Craft aphorism aptly describes: Small incremental changes are transformative.

Pauses open me to how I am using myself right now. Guiding my nervous system to find ease. And then repeating the questions or directions again. Bringing my hands to the guitar and noticing how I am using my body. Pausing again and then again. Noticing the energetic shift to freedom and then noticing again, when I am diligent, that habit has returned. Will I remember to pause again? Will you?  

Photo by Mohamed Hassan

 

Performance

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. What about a video? Many thanks to David Fee and Home Songs For Life, bringing music into our troubled world Monday through Friday every week of 2021. What  a man. 

Exploring

As I sat down with my guitar this morning I did not want to launch right into practicing the set for tomorrow for Homesongs For Life gig at 3pm EST.  I needed to open this session with an improvisation.  Fifty minutes later I had written down some notes and needed a break.  Then another 30 minutes of playing with this idea and then a walk. 

After the walk I ran the set.  Felt good about how I played.  Addressed a few of the difficult transitions. A little more time with the new idea.  I knew I needed to hear the arpeggios but did not have time to put them in the scoring program.  Decided I would use my time in the silent zoom work session in the afternoon to score the notes.  I did not score the introduction, just the arpeggios. As I listened to them I heard where they wanted to go next. 

Without the introduction here part of what I was working with:

https://soundcloud.com/user-463131538/sunday-110-improv/s-CC7Hx5HhXDm

Would you like to here some completed recorded works? Go to:

https://patricksmithguitar.bandcamp.com

Photo by Julius Silver

Foundation

How we do one thing is how we do everything is a concept I was introduced to in Guitar Craft. Am I paying attention, present with the task I am performing? Can I be aware of my body, mind and heart while playing one note? While playing a piece of music? 

For myself the answers depend on my foundational practices. Reflecting on my thoughts and actions in my journal sheds light and insights into my being. Practicing Qi Gong in the morning serves not just my health and spirit but informs how I use my hands. Without my sitting practice I’d be lost in monkey mind and emotions. 

Every day I root myself to the Creative Spirit and the Universe with these practices. Then when I open the guitar case something becomes possible.

After breakfast I had Brian Eno’s Shutov Assembly playing as I was trimming my nails and taking care of a couple things. My wife was writing. As I went to practice I was about to turn it off and decided it would be a gentle distraction for me to help get me ready for the gig. As I settled in, I decided to improvise some single line melodies through the ambient soundscape of Eno. Liking what I heard, I got out my phone to record myself.  A sweet melody emerged. 

Then I moved onto Searching. And decided to video this also. As I brought my hands to the guitar I realized my palms were perspiring a bit. Just like a performance. I out a small amount of talcum powder on. The challenge of Eno in the background was helping my focus. With a quiet mind I was moving through the piece when the thought arose about the difficult phrase coming up. I told myself “let it flow” but playing with those few seconds of anticipation were enough to blow the line. More thoughts arose and it took me a couple breaths to return to the present moment of my playing. Where would I be without my foundation?

Photo by Pexels

Tiny Reconstructions

 I now know Searching well enough to know what I do not know.  Focused my practice on a few transitions that needed work to develop ease.  Always amazed how anticipation introduces tension.  Grateful for the recent work I’ve been doing with Mio Morales Cycle Study to foster constructive thinking ala the Alexander Technique. Progress. 

Explored the idea from Wednesday to see if I could take it further. Still on the fence. 

photo by betexion

Looking Within

 

My thoughts roll in. Sometimes I observe them. Judgements of others often interfere with my ability to listen. Judgements of myself interfere with everything. Especially when playing guitar. If I lessened my judgements of others would I be easier on myself? Which of my thoughts are constructive and supportive of music coming into our world? How often does my thinking interfere with my playing? This is why it is so important to be present and attentive to my practice.

Focus today was primarily on the set for Monday. After an hour of practice I took a walk. During this time I was able to visualize Breaking Light and parts of Searching. More practice until a meeting at 11:30 to play the set for a guitarist friend and get feedback. Also listened to his pieces. A win-win.

Photo by qimono

Struggles

 You can’t always get what you want. - Mick Jagger

I worked on Grappling this morning. Have transcribed 75 seconds of these 4 minutes. Then I need to clean up some of the phrases/sections and see what is there.

Continued working on relearning Breaking Light. Met with my friend and played the first three pieces of my four piece set poorly. Opening with what I chose is not working. I saw this clearly after I played  the set for my wife later. I also listened to his work and was able to give him feedback. Valuable time. We will meet again Thursday.

I decided to open with Breaking Light and see what works as number two piece. I need to figure out how to get some of my more intense works into this four piece set limit.  May I get what I need.

Photo by Counseling