Faith and achievement

[Thumpalumpacus]

Actually, Benny, listening to music is great training, the same way we humans learn speech by listening to others.

Maybe.  But I know a lot of people who have listened to Mozart, and couldn't do what I did.  In fact-- pretty much all of them.

Well, I'm not saying it's sufficient, at all. I'm not even saying it's absolutely necessary, unless you're trying to perform one of his pieces, or write in his style. But in listening to music, you can certainly brain-train from things like identifying key and tonality, time, chord extensions and alterations -- all manner of musical details which you can use in playing if you're attentive in listening.

I've learnt guitar solos without a guitar in hand, and on one occasion, without the song being played except in my mind's ear. And if you've heard my playing, you'll hear immediately that I'm no savant at all.

It's no surprise non-musicians cannot write in any style ... they don't have the capacity to analyze the music, nor see the inspiration as it unfolds. They don't speak the language.

The funny thing is that when I'm in the zone, it seems so easy, that I rarely bother to turn on a mic, since I feel I've "broken through" and I'll be able to play like that from then on.  This is probably one of my biggest regrets in my life.

I need to return to the habit of recording my practices, it certainly helped my growth.

Regarding the Zone, I reckon the biggest thing helping me get there is this idea I have, of getting out of my own way. I'm not sure I can express it very well, but for me it means clearing my mind and being inside the music. When I'm there, I'm not playing the song, the song is playing me and I am only the instrument. It is still coming from within me, but I'm not busy in the overlay of thoughts about my tax returns, or rent being due, or what was that noise the truck was making on the way home today? I'm not even thinking much about the song, unless there's some trickery in it that will tax my skill.

I think we each approach the art with different outlooks, and I'm fine with that. I hope you don't think I'm trying to change your mind, because I'm not -- I'm only speaking how it works for me, and trying to explain why I see it as I do.