J and the Principles

[Jdudeo]

My name's Gabriel J. Garcia and I was born and raised in London, UK. I'm 21 and I work in an architectural firm doing 3D visualisation. I picked up guitar about 2 years ago but I've been playing bass about 2 years longer than that. I always taught myself because I'd done it with many things in the past with much success (my jobs). After about half a year with guitar I noticed that it wasn't working any more and I wasn't getting much better, but it was getting more painful. At that point I had no choice but to consult the internet and typed something like "how to practice guitar properly" and I had the Principles. I was skeptical at first but the testimonials convinced me I should try it so I got the book and have never gone back. I feel very lucky that I discovered it so early because since that initial Principles purchase my mind has expanded incredibly as I've become aware of all sorts of things. I started to notice tension all the time when I was away from the guitar and had become sensitive to what my body had been telling me.

Then I started to notice that the tension felt a little different on certain days and if I really paid attention I could sense a subtle vibe and this got me really interested in astrology and spirituality and anything to do with the mind. I discovered opti-learning (the "principles" of using your brain) and became curious about the "principled" way to do anything, including things like walking and sleeping. I guess when I think about the principles I think of something that has to do with the underlying nature of solving any problem. "As in life, so in guitar", I am forever grateful to Jamie for all her teachings and wise words.

As for my musical background, I started playing piano when I was about 5 and had a couple of teachers but I stopped playing after my last teacher left because I always thought of it as something my parents forced me to do and that I did if I didn't have anything else to do. I learned how to use turntables when I was about 11 because we had a DJ stay at our house for a while but I couldn't spin any more after he left and I ended up making music with pre-recorded sounds on the Sony Playstation, later followed by eJay on the computer.

My first band was a thrash band I played bass in that sounded a lot like Metallica but we never got to the point of playing any gigs. I play bass in my current band as well (http://www.myspace.com/reapinghavoc) and we've played a few gigs with some big dates lined up! I play guitar in my experimental metal side project with my childhood friend who plays the accordion and a drum machine and that's a lot of fun. All my bands have been metal and it's my favourite genre but I really love all kinds of music from traditional indian music to the playing of Allan Holdsworth and try to incorporate a bit of everything in my playing.

[Jamie]

Thanks Gabriel, an interesting story. I am glad you took a chance on my work!

The essence of a "principled" approach to anything is quite simple: paying attention, being truly present. Most people are stuck behind the barrier of their own mind, and are not really aware of the infinite matrix of relationships in which their apparent separate "being" appears. As the barrier of the mind becomes purified, like a clear lens, we achieve a power we did not have before.

It is as simple as that.

Everything one learns about the guitar by using the Principles will leave you saying "hmmm, I never noticed that before"!

[chefrusso]

always taught myself because I'd done it with many things in the past with much success (my jobs). After about half a year with guitar I noticed that it wasn't working any more and I wasn't getting much better, but it was getting more painful. At that point I had no choice but to consult the internet and typed something like "how to practice guitar properly" and I had the Principles. I was skeptical at first but the testimonials convinced me I should try it so I got the book and have never gone back.

I know exactly what you mean Gabriel since I am what people would consider a "self-taught" chef. In all reality, however, I learned from key resources and mentors early on in my cooking career that really helped me bridge the gap from "cook" to "chef". To me, the Principles book is synonymous with the great cookbooks like "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" or the "New Professional Chef", that I spent so many hours studying early on in my career. These were my foundational books in cooking just as "the Principles of Correct Practice for Guitar" has become my foundational book in guitar and it allows me to learn and acquire so many other materials that are available to me today, (not to mention all the other books here!). Ney stated in another here that we are in the "Golden Age" of learning to play guitar and he's absolutely right. There is so much information on the subject available to us with the click of a mouse! Without a solid foundation, however, all the information in the world couldn't make me a better guitar player.

Thank you for your story!

[Jdudeo]

The essence of a "principled" approach to anything is quite simple: paying attention, being truly present. Most people are stuck behind the barrier of their own mind, and are not really aware of the infinite matrix of relationships in which their apparent separate "being" appears. As the barrier of the mind becomes purified, like a clear lens, we achieve a power we did not have before.

Very true, this is definitely what's happened to me since the Principles.

I learned from key resources and mentors early on in my cooking career that really helped me bridge the gap from "cook" to "chef". To me, the Principles book is synonymous with the great cookbooks like "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" or the "New Professional Chef", that I spent so many hours studying early on in my career.

I also used various sources to learn methods and terminology from and also picked up several tips and tricks from colleagues and fellow artists, I guess when I say self taught I mean that I was in charge of my own education. Most people in my field are architects or have studied 3D at university or taken a course before taking on any paid work.

We're definitely in a golden age of information and communication right now, but you're right, without the right approach it's all worthless.

Thanks for reading!

[chefrusso]

I also used various sources to learn methods and terminology from and also picked up several tips and tricks from colleagues and fellow artists, I guess when I say self taught I mean that I was in charge of my own education. Most people in my field are architects or have studied 3D at university or taken a course before taking on any paid work.

You and I have followed the same path, and I do really feel like we've been in charge of our own education. Most of the people in my field had been trained in some of the best culinary schools in the world! Doesn't mean I can't cook the "pants off" a lot of 'em, or at the very least, cook at their very high level!

Maybe that's why you and I found our way here, so easily. It was already part of the program for us!