We are what we think. Are the stories I tell myself about life useful? Am I happy? Courageous? Productive? Look beyond the shadows these stories cast upon me and others. Plant new seeds in the garden of the mind. Changing thoughts shifts actions. New stories arise. Now is the time to begin. Am I listening Patrick? Are you?
How do I listen to myself?
Often I need help hearing myself. Right now I really need to listen to myself. How will I create time and energy to get the work done I need to do in releasing Fences, Frames and Alleys?
Do I want to listen? What if these were my cherished last notes?
Getting ready for the gig tomorrow. Morning practice was fruitful. Afternoon enlightening. Then I decided to pick up the guitar around 8pm even though I was tired. I know better but …
Self-judgement. The ancestors loaded me up on this one. Grateful I have a meditation practice that aids in releasing this and other formations. Sill the right causes and conditions arise and there I am. Making my music practice harder for myself. We begin again constantly and then some. Able to laugh now, even earlier but man what a pain. I know better than to practice when tired, but like the book says “we dwell in forgetfulness."
Tomorrow at 3pm EST I will perform 4 original solo guitar pieces for HomeSong4Life. Listen here:
Good to take inventory periodically. If I do not know what I have, how I am using my time and resources then I may miss my aim. Is my vision realistic? Time is precious. Life is precious. How I use my time is how I serve life. May I play with presence, passion and precision.
Determined the set for Thursday at 3pm HomeSong 4 Life gig. I will perform Taking Flight for the first time in a public setting. World premiere? Audacious. Back to practicing.
In art there are only fast or slow developments. Essentially it is a matter of evolution, not revolution. - Bela Bartok
Bartok has certainly been part of my evolution. When I first began to listen to his string quartets they were too much for me. Now they bath me in silence. Particularly the Fifth and Sixth Quartets. A language I have begun to comprehend. Emotionally moving while spiritually enriching. Tonight I am listening to the Concerto for Viola and Orchestra. I’ve had this recording on the shelf for years but have yet to really engage with the music.
A busy day with too many meetings. Listened to a few works in progress to see if I could move them forward. Also set up a scheme for an improvisation while reciting a poem as part of a challenge based on Austin Kleon’s Steal Like An Artist. During The Creatives workshop I joined a group known as The Ravens for accountability purposes. we continue to meet and are reading and working with Kleon’s ideas for inspiration.
A few minutes later I enter my practice space and look around. What object could serve my inspiration? Smiling at a souvenir from SE Asia that I have not noticed lately. Cables, paper, books all catch my eye. Then I notice the book Harmonic Experience, which I recently reopened. We spoke of it in tea yesterday. Could this be my object? Feeling the weight of the book in my hands. touching the cover, remembering times this work has challenged me and left me feeling lost. Maybe not.
A few minutes later I hear myself saying what if I went back to the beginning. After reading the introduction I move forward a couple pages to the first exercise. Ten minutes later I move to the next one “singing in unison.” I choose an A and sing. Coming a bit more alive, I decide yes this is my object. After a few minutes I sing with a low C on the 12 fret of the sixth string.
Moving into practicing a piece I begin by singing along with the first note. I am more present with this piece than usual. Searching is the title, and I am not yet playing the entire piece well. I focus on the final section. Occasionally singing the low A this section begins with. Ease enters my fingers. Moving onto another piece, I sing the first note again and practice. I am happy I chose to go back to the beginning of this book.
Looking at an idea that has been coming out the past two days, I sing along with the C that is guiding this idea. As I play through a set of arpeggios, I hear where they want to go next and follow. The next notes reveal themselves. Gratitude awakens for this exercise and I pause for a walk with my wife.
Played a four song set for HomeSongs4Life based in Scotland today. Have a listen.
https://www.facebook.com/Homesongers/videos/1384245841915175
An interesting moment arose as I was putting on new strings in the morning. Noticing that I was distracted it, I paused. Remembering that how I do one thing is how I do everything I resumed taking off the old A string but with attention this time. Recognizing that I am working with my guitar and if I have the intention to be present with changing my strings this will positively impact what else I do, including the upcoming peformance.
