With great jazz playing fresh in my ear, I can play from inspiration,
instead of fear…
hey, that rhymes….so fun.
Excited at first? Has your plan to blog daily lost it’s dazzle?
Yesterday I posted for the first time in a long time, and I don’t know why or how, but my whole day went better. I recall how it was when I started; I thought “this blog will be my positive start to each day, a way to listen to the loving voices in me and defuse the doubting, depressed ones.” Then alas, I fell off the trolley.,..but as in my post from yesterday, I now simply BEGIN AGAIN.
Because it works, it feels good…no need to analyze or justify, if something keeps you working on your goals, frees you from negative monkey mind, just keep doing it for Gods’ sake!
What does it take to get you (i. e. me) in your own corner, rooting for yourself? You (I) root for others and would never think of saying, “so…you find blogging a great benefit…oh well, don’t bother, you’re too busy, you don’t have anything to say…”
…and yet that kind of self talk is what kept me away from blogging.
One of my favorite parts about this blog is when I post a jazz video. Then when I begin practicing guitar I have a vivid sound and picture of why I am putting in all this effort on drills and such…Today’s video is by jazz guitar icon Grant Green, with a great band backing him up.
For me, it is imperative that I watch role models doing things that I aspires to. Rather than compare myself and feel I have fallen short, I love hearing the great jazz, it ignites my desire to play the best I can, to allow myself to picture the gigs I plan to get, and picture them going fantastically, and the venues inviting me to come and play all the time, for a decent amount of money or other compensation.
You see, just writing that makes it seem possible, not a distant pipe dream…it makes me wanna up my guitar practice to 7 a day..not hard at all.
I hope my story helps you to start blogging again if you have drifted away like me.
What is your “Path With A Heart?” Know it–for it is the only path that is any good.
If I don’t “make it” as an artist, should I quit?
That isn’t the question, that isn’t even the even the…That misses the whole point. A musician friend on Facebook posted that he was discouraged about not making more money with music and not getting emotional support from community and family–thus he was thinking of quitting.
I wrote to him:
either or, do or not…anytime there is a side we must take there is stress…No side needs to be taken, this is Zen so it may go by un-clarified…but…no need to choose a side…An old Zen Koan said, Eat your food wash your bowl. Get up, music, eat sleep, live, take out trash, feed dogs…life.. The path with a heart is the only path that is any good (paraphrased from Carlos Castaneda).
Can I Learn This Song?
This is amazing guitar work by Kenny Burrel…Trying to learn a bit of it…and following this guitarist as he is the only one still alive of this era and style. He plays every month at that Catalina Club in Hollywood–never travels anymore. Must be about 83 ish now and still playing gigs…that is cool
If You Don’ Know How, First Learn HOW to know HOW: Blogging Will HELP YOU LEARN
Today I have pain from my hours of guitar practice. But I will not let that stop me. I can take ibuprofen, stretch my arms and hands every 30 minutes. That should do it.
Today I am breaking through on how to play improvised jazz. It is all in the scale patterns. Memorizing them in each key…then, when I am playing a song, based on what key it is in, I can improvise all up and down the fretboard using scale patterns one through seven.
Never thought I would be able to – and I still don’t know how YET. But I think I know HOW to know HOW. When it is a more complex goal, this step – how to know how – could make all the difference. I will let you know how it works.
If you are wondering will I ever post music of my own, this blog is for me to say things that I don’t have to worry about anyone judging. Since I work in music, a potential client reading about me doubting my skills could be detrimental to me getting gigs.
I love WordPress and this community. It has helped me to start each day taking the ZEN attitude – by writing what I know and feel spiritually. Without this blog it was hard for me to stay positive.
This blog/writing a “journal”, is life changing. IF YOU DON’T HAVE A BLOG – GET ONE! Or at least start journaling.
Blogging brings about huge personal growth for people like me–people wishing to get beyond their baggage and to realize their dream. I have dreamed all my life of success in music. I am on my way now, BY GEORGE!
