Vision Music

[woland99]

I am reading "Effortless Mastery" by Kenny Werner now.
Being from Poland (a VERY Catholic country) the very
idea of anything being "effortless" is foreign - back home
all things are achieved by blood, sweat, tears and grinding
your arms up to elbows while trying. Si I welcome different
perspective.
Any fans/followers of that book here?

JT

[Gorecki]

[John G]

I've read the book, twice actually. I read it several years ago, then someone mentioned it to me recently, so I pulled it out and read it again. I think I was able to connect a lot better to it the second time around, considering I wasn't the least bit interested in jazz the first time I read it and it makes constant references to jazz musicians and improvisation.

The main point of the book is to really love what it is you are playing. Regardless of how it comes out sounding, you must embrace the sound as something you have created and you are proud of. When you love every note you play, then you will find that there are no wrong notes, every note is "right" and perfect. When you have finally accepted this fact, you must work to create a link between the music that's inside you and is trying to get out and what you are actually playing. If you can connect directly to your inner musician and not let your consciousness stop you and correct you, then you are able to "play effortlessly."

That's the concept of the book compressed into a few sentences, so clearly I am leaving out A LOT. This book is not about taking shortcuts, quite the opposite in fact. But the book is very interesting and makes you think. It could have a profound effect on you, or you could think it's crap and abandon it after a few chapters. Nevertheless, I would recommend it to any musician- it's a pretty easy read and moves very quickly.

John

[Tony]

I read the book. To sum it up it about the art of Zen as applied to anything you want to master. John G has it down..

Instead of perceiving it as a struggle learn to go with it, thereby making
things seem effortless. Detach yourself from struggle.

Ultimately we want to become the best guitar player we can and are willing to work hard for it. This is how we normally approach things.
Instead of thinking that way be content with our everyday practice and don't struggle so much with what we have not acheived because that will come only with time and we can't change time. Effortless Mastery.

[woland99]

[Larry_DC]

[Mark]