Am currently involved in "Japan Music Week" and the Jinnan Jazz Festival. Already, the creative juices are starting to flow. Feels good!
Search for Japan Music Week on FACEBOOK for more info.
Monday, August 24, 2009
August 13
Am currently involved in "Japan Music Week" and the Jinnan Jazz Festival. Already, the creative juices are starting to flow. Feels good!
Search for Japan Music Week on FACEBOOK for more info.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
August 12
Haven't posted on this blog for 12 days after doing 72 days in a row.
It's called "hitting the wall."
It's called "hitting the wall."
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
August 10
Effortless Mastery Message #004: What Musical Depth is Really About Inspirational message from Kenny Werner
Many people are trapped in the delusion,
"Music is important. I am only valid if I play it correctly."
Because of this misconception many musicians live and die
and never know the true joy of music in their lives.
Many jazz players feel that there is an experience in
improvisation that they are not having, or not having enough of.
Classical musicians also report "dryness" in their renderings
of the great composers.
It's like the priest who secretly has no love for God.
The customs are observed, but there is no true feeling.
If the lamp is not lit, music can be as dreary as anything else.
Along with the desire for a deeper experience
comes an intense drive to be a better player.
These aspects often work against each other.
There is only one true purpose to music.
It exists for our enjoyment and enrichment only.
I think a hint that reveals this is the fact that
the verb to commit the act of music is "play."
How serious is it supposed to be if we're supposed to "play?"
It's very hard to let go in the combat of performance,
but the Effortless Mastery exercises will help you
to claim music for your own pleasure.
This realization liberates performers
from the tyranny of the wrong note.
Instead of sweating their performance,
they look forward to it with delicious joy.
After all, it is the performer's "guilty pleasure.
We will talk more about this in subsequent emails.
For now, just understand that:
The greatest performers in any game are the ones
who experience the pure joy of playing more
than the responsibility to play it correctly . . .
"Music can flash through the musician
like lightening through the sky . . ."
if it is unobstructed by thoughts.
Therefore, the elimination of thoughts is a very relevant issue.
That's why the first step in the book
is practicing the elimination of thoughts.
So...
Can you witness your hands moving on your instrument,
your club or your tennis racket without being attached?
Can you throw a dart, pitch a ball or shoot a basket
without caring about hitting the mark?
Can you focus on your breath
without being attached to how well you play?
Thank you for being here
as part of our Effortless Mastery Community.
Kenny Werner
and
Dr. Andrew Colyer
P.S. How are we doing?
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=Ie.0J&m=1q3hs9dV2_7vP1&b=6Zr_aAIbKd6A9nP3ooUK6A
Dr. Andrew Colyer
ConsciousWorldMedia.com
86 Quarfelt Road, Clinton Corners, NY 12514, USA
Many people are trapped in the delusion,
"Music is important. I am only valid if I play it correctly."
Because of this misconception many musicians live and die
and never know the true joy of music in their lives.
Many jazz players feel that there is an experience in
improvisation that they are not having, or not having enough of.
Classical musicians also report "dryness" in their renderings
of the great composers.
It's like the priest who secretly has no love for God.
The customs are observed, but there is no true feeling.
If the lamp is not lit, music can be as dreary as anything else.
Along with the desire for a deeper experience
comes an intense drive to be a better player.
These aspects often work against each other.
There is only one true purpose to music.
It exists for our enjoyment and enrichment only.
I think a hint that reveals this is the fact that
the verb to commit the act of music is "play."
How serious is it supposed to be if we're supposed to "play?"
It's very hard to let go in the combat of performance,
but the Effortless Mastery exercises will help you
to claim music for your own pleasure.
This realization liberates performers
from the tyranny of the wrong note.
Instead of sweating their performance,
they look forward to it with delicious joy.
After all, it is the performer's "guilty pleasure.
We will talk more about this in subsequent emails.
For now, just understand that:
The greatest performers in any game are the ones
who experience the pure joy of playing more
than the responsibility to play it correctly . . .
"Music can flash through the musician
like lightening through the sky . . ."
if it is unobstructed by thoughts.
Therefore, the elimination of thoughts is a very relevant issue.
That's why the first step in the book
is practicing the elimination of thoughts.
So...
Can you witness your hands moving on your instrument,
your club or your tennis racket without being attached?
Can you throw a dart, pitch a ball or shoot a basket
without caring about hitting the mark?
Can you focus on your breath
without being attached to how well you play?
Thank you for being here
as part of our Effortless Mastery Community.
Kenny Werner
and
Dr. Andrew Colyer
P.S. How are we doing?
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=Ie.0J&m=1q3hs9dV2_7vP1&b=6Zr_aAIbKd6A9nP3ooUK6A
Dr. Andrew Colyer
ConsciousWorldMedia.com
86 Quarfelt Road, Clinton Corners, NY 12514, USA
August 9
Interesting.
I'm amazed at how an art form like jazz has been reduced to bgm (background music) at cocktail parties and hotel lounges/bars.
I've been told often by agents/managers in the past several years, "We are interested in you being seen and not really heard. We don't want your jazz fans coming here to listen to you. They don't drink enough and stay too long. We want a quick turnover in the seats."
And some "posers" or non-players have the "balls" to say that improvised music is dead? Ha ha the language hasn't died, only some of the speakers of the language have lost their way.
We create our culture or we let our culture be created for us.
If you dare to find out more about the culture creators, read this one....^_-
I'm amazed at how an art form like jazz has been reduced to bgm (background music) at cocktail parties and hotel lounges/bars.
I've been told often by agents/managers in the past several years, "We are interested in you being seen and not really heard. We don't want your jazz fans coming here to listen to you. They don't drink enough and stay too long. We want a quick turnover in the seats."
And some "posers" or non-players have the "balls" to say that improvised music is dead? Ha ha the language hasn't died, only some of the speakers of the language have lost their way.
We create our culture or we let our culture be created for us.
If you dare to find out more about the culture creators, read this one....^_-
August 8
"When you play jazz, you have to live it. You know, those notes mean something. They don't just come from your brain, they come from your heart and soul too. So I think in order to have that heart and soul, you have to experience life. So I relate my music to my life and my lifestyle. You can't separate the two."
Woody Shaw interviewed by Louise Gilbreth 106.7 Jazz Masters WRVR
Saturday, August 8, 2009
August 7
Can't say enough but, don't want to say too much about this interview. Lawrence says some priceless things. I would put some quotes here but, there are simply too many. Young creators really should listen to this (many times) and older creators should listen to get "re-grounded" into the things that drew them into the creative world in the beginning.
Lawrence Williams Interview (video
Art of Lawrence Williams
Lawrence Williams Interview (video
Art of Lawrence Williams
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