Sketches of Truth

This morning I was reading a blog of Susan Mossman Taylor titled Yes, and.... She talked about the actor's improvisation rule of saying Yes to what another has done in an improv setting and then adding to it.  This is not a verbal 'yes' but is an agreement to move the story along.  I've seen this in action at times and it amazes me how these improv actors create on the spot.

I was thinking of the random word association exercise by Edward de Bono I played with yesterday and decided to apply it to her blog.  Since today is the 30th day of April,  I picked the 30th word in the first paragraph which is "sketches."  Then I selected "Truth" from the next paragraph.  Hence the title of Sketches of Truth to serve as a guide to a musical improvisation.

As I pondered the word truth, understanding came to mind and resonated as an underlying theme to feed the improv.  I needed a first note and looked at her name "A" became that note.  For some reason in the early morning hour I thought Susan had six letters in the name so perhaps the rhythm could be in six.  This did not work, but a simple beautiful six note melody did arrive.  After saying Yes to this melody, I decided the next phrase would be seven notes.  When I found this the next phrase was eight notes long. A simple "adding to what had already been done.  Then I abandoned this strategy and a few simple arpeggios arrived and I found an ending.

What theme might nourish tomorrows Sketch? 

Photo by Cliff

Rusty Frames

Needing a topic for this blog tonight, I thought about an exercise on Lateral Thinking developed by Edward de Bono.  Using a list of random words to stimulate thoughts and associations I arrived at "rust" and "frames."  Smiling as I've just returned from teaching a Qi Gong class where the work we do is to stimulate our energy systems.  Prior to the class and afterwards I demonstrated the Alexander Technique Lie Down to two different students with little aches and stiffness in their necks.

All of us put much stress on our physical and mental frames and after decades of less than optimal care we begin to harvest the consequences.  But fortunately with disciplines like AT and Qi Gong  we can unlock the causes and conditions that have led us to where we are in how we use our selves.  Neither of these disciplines are quick fixes but they are effective.  And as Neil Young astutely pointed out years ago Rust Never Sleeps.

Frames reminded me of some improvisations I did years ago that generated a couple scores I recently came across and want to look at again. Now I have an area to begin my next practice session. 

 Photo by Horia Varlane

Shoot the Arrow

I shoot the arrow, then paint the target around it. You make the niches in which you finally reside. 

Brian Eno 

First an acoustic guitar quartet

then a trio

an electronic music duet

now a soloist.

Not planned

just following

the aim

to be a musician.

Find a note or three

expand the feeling,

maybe

just maybe

Music arrives.

Honor those that came before,

Offer hope to those to come.

Find a note 

or 

just be one.

 

Photo by Jar Away

Let Go

If you want to make someone feel emotion,

you have to make them let go.

Listening is an act of surrender

Brian Eno

And so is playing. 

Loving.

Creating.

Just be alive.

Photo by Jar Away

Possible Silence

... what I loved about Webb were the possibilities in his silence.  He was just there, like a small noon shadow 

 Michael Ondaatje
Coming Through Slaughter

What are the possibilities for me to be in silence?

To dwell in silence?

Silence must be cultivated.

Respected.

Cherished.

Possible Silences 

Possible lives.

Be In It

                                              Learning
                                 Inspiring
                                 Foregoing
                                 Evolving

Photo by Kevin Dooley

Just For One Note

Remember, you are a cell in a larger body, creating energy and nourishment for the whole. Each note is an awakening, its' sounds a reminder.  Just for one note be fully alive.  Seek humility and strive to stay alive, allow the breath to harmonize your attention and lack thereof.  Stay alive - one phrase at a time.  Stay alive - one piece at a time.  Seek guidance from beauty and be open to truth.  Who could harm if capable of listening deeply?  Contemplate listening; your listening and then become one ... just one note at a time.

Photo by Peter James 

You can check out Peter's Bandcamp page here