Life Ponderings

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What does music do for you?

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I have been pondering asking this question for sometime, and it is not just simply what does music mean to you, because that is a something psychological built on social constructs and personal development and value. But what does music do for you, it is an open question and I would love to know your thoughts, does it start conversations? Give you goosebumps, make you angry, make you cry, pay your bills, enforce your brand identity?Thoughts?PeaceNeil

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Practising blindfold - Quick ways to improve your guitar playing

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Practising blindfold

Okay, this might sound like a really odd lesson, but please bear with me as I think it will really help your playing.This lesson might all sound a little zen or karate kidesque, but it certainly works for me.

So what does it involve?

Well, basically it involves either, closing your eyes, blindfolding yourself, playing in the dark, or not looking at the neck of the guitar. I think having the eyes closed or blindfolded is probably a better approach to this exercise.

So what is the point?

Well, one reason is that when performing on stage, you need to be able to play without looking at your instrument, as you have to engage with the crowd, usually by looking at them, also on stage it can be quite common for it to be very dark, thus knowing where notes are on the instrument is a really big help. But, I think the other reason more importantly is that it helps you focus both on the sound of the note you are making and you get to hear the interval (or at least think carefully about the interval you are about to make).

"Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." - Carl Jung

By removing one of the senses, you are so much more reliant on the others, and in this case as a guitarist or musician, I think there a focusing on the sense which should actually be primary in the activity of music making....your ears. Why I think this works1)You slow down and think, this is something we should probably do more of when playing guitar2)The sound of each note and each interval becomes the key focus3)You start think of each note as it's own entity and it's relation to the others, thus appreciating intervals.Give it a go, you might be surprised at the results.For similar concepts and ways to improve your playing NOW, download a copy of my book.

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 PeaceNeil 

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Carpe Diem : The Pros and Cons

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We are always told to seize the day, live by Carpe Diem, and to some extent it is how I have lived a lot of my life. I think it is something important to focus on as a creative, because sometimes you have to seize the moment and go with your creative muse which can call at any time day or night and usually when you least expect it.

For the bigger things in life, sometimes it means having the most amazing experiences, which you may never would have had if you hadn't seized the opportunity, but unfortunately that doesn't make the fact that these always have to end at some point.

I think it is better to have had the experience than not....how about you?

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Peace

Neil

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Martian Love Secrets - Steve Vai - Tocal Day 12

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Isn't it funny how synergies or serendipidies occur? I am just getting ready to start the Specialist Blues, Rock and Jazz guitar program at Berklee on Monday (so excited) and I was clearing out some old guitar lessons and I came across some photocopies of the Martian Love Secret lessons by Steve Vai from 1989 (!!!). I actually had the original magazine (from which I made the copy) and I remember reading and devouring the lessons as a teenager. There was something about these lessons which really spoke to me, and changed the way I approached the guitar and even more dramatically life. I really recommend you give them a read if you need to be inspired and are looking for something beyond some simple guitar exercises.I had seen Steve Vai performing the year previously (1988!) with David Lee Roth on the Skyscraper tour and that had been a revalatory experience too, it is funny that all these years later I am finally embarking on the course I wanted to all those years ago.Believe in yourself and your dreams"I am that....."PeaceNeil

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Creative Branding and the musician

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I found this article by Deane particular informative, interesting and thought provoking as it hits home something which I know I struggle with endlessly and I also know a number of you out out there also struggle with the same issue...how do I brand myself as a creative person or even as a freelancer? Especially as we have to deal with wearing multiple hats on different days to get different gigs and work. I have to say though, I really like the approach Deane has about being blunt about what you do, the idea of outposts is very important too, I don't think Facebook is the place to have a base, it is here (well for me) at your domain and Facebook is the bar/coffeeshop you go to socialise and tell people about what you are doing....then get them to come and look at your base. The question is crucial though...who am I?EnjoyPeaceNeil