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The
Principles of Practice
Based on "The Principles of Correct
Practice for Guitar"
by Jamie Andreas
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| IN
THIS ISSUE |
April
6, 2003 Volume 113
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Outside the Box
The great French philosopher Rene Descartes ushered in a new era
of human history in the seventeenth century, when he uttered his
famous dictum "I think therefore I am" ("cogito ergo
sum). This pronouncement, and its implications, expressed the paradigm
that made possible the extensive manipulation of our physical world
which gave rise to the Industrial Revolution
which has brought forth the utopia in which we now live (sarcasm
intended).
How did it do that? By positing the fact of his existence on the
awareness of thought, Descartes introduced the notion that the "thinker"
is different than the "thought". He unknowingly assumed
that there is an entity called "I" that is separate from
what is outside itself, and can objectively observe that outside
reality. Because it stressed the existence of this "I"
as a mental being, it also helped create the split between mind
and body that is characteristic of Western, as opposed to Eastern
thought.
This way of thinking does have a lot to say for itself, it can be
very useful as far as it goes. By assuming that "I" am
a mental being that can objectively study and manipulate what is
outside of me, I can learn science and build cool machines, win
friends and influence people. However, for those interested in actually
being able to understand the nature of reality, (and in fact, live
life to the fullest), it will be found to be a paradigm that leads
to inevitable dead ends. It has the advantage of providing the basis
for traditional scientific method, which is founded in the ability
to measure, and predict. But not all of "what is" can
be measured, predicted, or even known by the mind.
In any case, the discoveries of relativity and quantum physics have
proven the limitations of this paradigm. We know now that there
are levels of reality that cannot be observed objectively, but in
fact are changed by the very process of observation. We know now
that, just as the ancient yogis and other wise men realized for
themselves, and taught to others, we live in a Universe that is
"alive", and we are connected to it, and it is connected
to us. This is sometimes called "the participatory nature of
reality" (see the classic "The Tao Of Physics" for
further explanation).
This assumption (which means "untested belief") that we
are an independent entity that can observe a universe outside of
us as if we were watching a machine, is very dangerous. It is also
very common, because the popular consciousness has not caught up
with 20th century physics (even though it has been proven that time
does not exist outside the mind, few of us really live as if we
believed it.) The greatest danger that we face when we base our
lives on this assumption is that we begin to believe that the way
we "think" things are, is the way they really "are".
We never discover the real truth: things aren't anything in and
of themselves, every "thing" we observe is being, literally,
influenced (we may say created), by us, in every moment.
Now, you may be saying "hmmm, yes, that is all well and good!
Haven't thought about it lately, but yes, now that you bring it
up, it makes perfect sense. I believe it is exactly right. But,
WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ME AS A GUITAR PLAYER!!??
The fact is, it has to do with everybody as an anything! But for
we guitar players, it is why, for instance, we are capable of sitting
there and practicing and not being aware at all of the full reality
of what is happening, why we can be so unaware of our bodies, because
we are so used to being tucked up tightly inside our heads, thinking,
thinking, thinking, and missing everything! Our attention is constricted,
bound to our thinking process, which is mostly an endless and mindless
stream of jabbering mental chatter, memory traces of the past and
worry waves about the future. As all this garbage of the mind floats
happily and mindlessly along, we look at the cesspool and call it
"I"!
We are not our thoughts. We are not our emotions. We are not our
memories. We are what is happening now, in every moment, but we
are not paying attention to what is happening now, we are really
paying attention to all that other crap! As soon as we stop looking
at the garbage and calling it "I", as soon as we start
to pay attention to what is happening NOW, life, and everything
in it, takes on an entirely different quality.
This is why people so often say to me "since reading The Principles,
I find they apply to everything." People tell me all the time
"my skiing really improved, I used The Principles", or,
"my golf game got so much better", or it may be bowling,
or tennis. Why is this so? It is very simple. The first point made
in The Principles is this: your intense PRESENCE, your ATTENTION,
is absolutely required to be a good or great guitarist, or a good
or great anything. The second point made is: you are probably NOT
paying attention, and you are not even paying attention to the fact
that you are not paying attention.
As soon as we DO pay attention, really pay attention, something
happens. Movement occurs, growth occurs, change occurs. This is
the key to learning anything. As far as guitar goes, once this is
established, it is just a matter of knowing what to pay attention
to.
There is a very good popular phrase, describing an ability usually
ascribed to very intelligent and creative people. It is called "thinking
outside of the box". This is actually an example of what I
have been talking about. It means the ability to step outside the
assumed boundaries of a situation or condition, and see it from
a radically different perspective, one that is full of potential
for new discoveries and awareness's. When someone can "think
outside of the box" they can solve problems other people can't
because they can see things other people can't see (because those people are stuck
IN the box, and can't see past its boundaries). Often, this thinking
outside of the box does not resemble normal, linear thinking, but
rather, comes as what is called the "intuitive flash"
common to great scientists and great artists.
Being stuck in the box, as so many people are, life looks rather
limited, with an inevitable structure. When we have the ability
to break out of the box, we have the ability for endless expansion
and growth. The way to break out of the box is to realize that "I"
am NOT a little entity inside my head, looking out at the world.
"I" am the one who looks, and "I" am what is
being looked at as well. It is all one thing, appearing, to the
conditioned mind, to be two.When I realize the truth, I now have
a power to change my world that I did not have before, because I
realize that I am not at the mercy of "what is happening",
I am connected to, and can influence, what is happening.
The mind that is stuck "in the box" assumes that what
it THINKS is happening, IS happening. It thinks that "things
just are a certain way, and that's it". So, it doesn't know
that "things" can be different, if "it" is different.
Playing the guitar, for instance.
This dull, usual mind, thinks "playing the guitar is hard,
bar chords are hard, playing fast is hard. Somehow, some people
can do these hard things. Maybe I can learn to do these hard things,
maybe I can't". The reality is, those who can do them, have
learned to see that these things are not "hard". They
simply will be whatever they are MADE to be based upon your level
of understanding, and the nature of your participation (as dictated
by your understanding). The very word "hard" defines the
reality of the situation in a way that promotes failure. "Hard"
implies impenetrable, difficult to penetrate. We should use the
word "complex", meaning composed of many parts, and requiring
great attention and understanding.
If I dive into water from very high up, and I hit is a certain way,
the water can indeed be "hard". So hard, in fact, it could
break my bones! If I land another way, if I understand certain things,
the water can be very "soft" to my body. It depends on
my "participation" with the water. The water itself, is
nothing. It will be what it will be based on how "I" am,
and how "I" relate to the water. If the person who hit
the water "hard" goes around telling people, ":wow,
look out for water, its hard, like rocks. Don't tell me you actually
drink the stuff!", that person would receive many incredulous
stares! Many of us have similar ignorant beliefs, based on the root
assumption that "if I experience it that way, that is the way
it is".
No matter what our level of development, In order to make progress
as a guitarist, it is necessary to do a very difficult thing, something
I have described in The Principles as "being aware of our unawareness".
I sometimes call it "being capable of self-transcendence".
And this ability depends on being able to STOP being who you habitually
are, and grow beyond yourself. And this must be done, literally,
in every moment. It begins when we understand that the way we think
things are, the way we experience things, is not the way it necessarily
"is", and in fact, there are many "layers" to
reality, there are many possibilities, again, depending on our understanding
and participation.
This means we must always be "suspicious" of ourselves
in all things. We must never take for granted, never live on assumptions,
never stop paying attention, really paying attention, to everything,
but especially to this thing we call "I", that seems to
be the center of everything. It isn't. It is one of an infinite
number of centers.
This is why I recommend in The Principles always keeping the thought
" I don't know how to play the guitar". As soon as you
think you know, you will not be able to see anything new. You cannot
put anything into a cup that is already full. The fact is, we can
never know what anything is, because "it" is changing
all the time. And we, whatever we are, must be changing at least
as fast as "it" is, to simply keep up with "it"!
In our time, Quantum Physics has proven that there is a higher
level of truth than that proclaimed by Descartes, and a higher level
of understanding our Universe than that proclaimed by Newtonian
physics. As great as the Newtonian conception of the Universe as
a "giant clock" was, it could not penetrate beyond a certain
point. When sub-atomic phenomena were discovered and observed, Newtonian
physics broke down. Quantum Physics proved that when attention is
brought down to the level of sub-atomic particles, it is not actually
possible to objectively observe or "know" reality, because
reality changes BECAUSE it is being observed. So, we are a part
of, we ARE, what is happening.
It is easy to see this same principle at work everywhere. Look at
that curious phenomena we call "the news". "The News"
is the observation of human doings by human beings. In our time,
this observation has become so microscopic, that "the news"
actually changes because it is being observed. "Human doings"
change, because other humans are watching them.
When we fully realize this, that we do not just watch what is happening,
but we are what is happening, we become capable of always becoming
more than we are. We take up permanent residence "outside of
the box".
As much as I appreciate the technological wonders that the paradigms
of Descartes and Newton made possible, I have always been more attracted
to the great mystical wisdom of Socrates. This profound and likeable
fellow was proclaimed as the wisest man in all the world, which
caused him much consternation, because the essence of his philosophy
was "the only thing I know for certain is that I know nothing
for certain". He found that everyone else seemed to believe
they "knew the way things were". His method was to simply
question people about what they thought they knew. After Socrates
careful questioning, the person who had been so sure of their knowledge,
was forced to recognize they had no real knowledge whatsoever, but
were actually operating on a collection of dubious assumptions.
Some people appreciated having their ignorance pointed out, others
did not.
Socrates' most famous pronouncement is "the unexamined life
is not worth living". This is another way of saying what I
have been saying. Inattention to life yields a small and shallow
life. Socrates saw more deeply into life than anyone of his time
because he was totally open, always living outside of the box. Principled
Players will endeavor to live up to this ideal also, especially
when practicing. If we can keep this attitude with the intensity
it requires and deserves, always able to do that most difficult
thing, becoming aware of our unawareness rather than remaining asleep
to it, we will experience a constant growth and expansion toward
our ever expanding goals, finding ourselves always stepping outside
of the box, into infinite possibilities.
Classic threads by Principled Players on Principled Subjects
Great
thread on why principles stress elbow movement in picking, and
why it doesn't mean no other motions are used...explained by Ney,
Drew, Rick.
A
discussion of some powerful techniques being used by some Principled
Fingerpickers to achieve independence between the middle and ring
fingers.
Fascinating
history of the development of various pick styles presented
by pick master and pick historian Ney Mello!
Nothing like the first time! Mike tells about what could be the
beginning of a (principled) teaching career, as he reports on his
first impromptu, and satisfying, teaching experience.
Jasmine is experiencing the usual "growing pains" in her
search for confidence as a player. Some intense advice
on finding our musical identity and authority given by Ney, Jamie,
Donna, and others.
WHAT IS PRECISE TIME? (Only the key to virtuosity, that's all)
Here is an interesting exchange between Ney and Jens in the forum,
discussing the nuances of holding the pick.
Ney:
Al Di Meola was very fortunate to have Robert Aslanian, one of
the very rare naturally principled teachers for Jazz guitar since
he was a kid in NJ. One of the things Al stresses in person is super
slow practice with correct precise time.
Jens: What does Al DiMeola mean by practicing precise time??? That
you play in time?
Well, I remember my early years as a young sloppy player, having
a teacher TRY to explain what Ney is really talking about. The intensity
of his efforts to make me understand did not quite match the depths
of my ignorance, which was unfortunate for me. As a teacher, I never
underestimate the depth of the student's ignorance, and never let
up until understanding is achieved, and demonstrated and proven
by performance.
Like most ignorant guitar students, when I had to play fast, I would
just speed up and try to play fast! My teacher tried to explain
that I should not just "try to play faster", which gives
no clear instructions to the fingers (which is why they just tripped
over each other).
People who are studying the Rhythm Course in "The Path"
are getting the correct understanding that was eluding me at the
time, whether they realize it or not. They are learning the real
"secret of speed playing", in fact, the secret of all
playing. There is no such thing as speed! Great players do not think
of speed. They determine the necessary "size of the note",
and perform motions that create the precisely correct beginning
and end of every note.
This concept is clearly laid out in "The Path", under
such sections as "Why a Musician is Like a Carpenter".
Although "The Path" does not deal with developing speed
ability, it nonetheless lays the proper foundation of understanding
that will allow that ability to be developed.
If that doesn't entice you to buy a copy, I don't know what will!
Reader Reaction
Hello Jamie: Just a quick note to say I totally agree with the "double
trouble" theory. When I first started playing the only instrument
I could borrow was a classical guitar (I wanted to play an acoustic).
I was told it is really hard to learn on because of the wide neck,
but heck it was what I had. I set about learning the basics and
in about six months was able to get a reasonably good acoustic (although
I made the mistake of getting a dreadnaught - to big for me). Anyways,
when I got the acoustic it seemed so easy. Stretches? What stretches?
And when I have occasionally played an electric it seems SO easy.
Peace,
Lisa
The Best Things in Life Are Free!
MEL
BAY CHECKPOINT 13: PAGE 38 "A SERENADE"
I have put up another checkpoint for those giving themselves a thorough
musical and technical foundation with The
Mel Bay Study Group. I hope more and more people will appreciate
what they are getting here, and make use of it. In checkpoint 13
I am giving you incredible detailed, step by step instructions for
a very challenging solo, one that I am sure is vexing many students
of this book. There is a 3 measure 8th note run through a C, C#dim,
D7 arpeggio that is very difficult to negotiate in tempo unless
done using certain techniques, and practiced in a Principled manner.
I have provided what you need to know here.
I am happy to hear from people using this course of study, and doing
well with it. Chris Belot has sent me many great mp3s demonstrating
his progress (Home on The Range was quite good, Chris!).
All
material copyright © 2003 by Jamie Andreas, GuitarPrinciples.com |
