Learning Music

Playing Music is Not Important!

February 25, 2010

I’m not going to go into a long dissertation on this, but the bottom line is that music is an optional vocation. Music is an extra, a gift of leisure if you will. It’s totally a voluntary effort. That’s why it takes effort to engage and learn music. It’s easy to put off practicing and learning, because there are no real consequences.

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Wanting to Sound Good

February 18, 2010

A most profound statement. A quote from Kenny Werner in Effortless Mastery – “When you approach your instrument, no matter what lofty goals you say you have, wanting to sound good will predominate and render you impotent.” This statement is obvious in it’s intent to convey how a mindset may be self destructive. I have personally experienced this so many times that when I reread this, it was like being smacked upside the head.

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Do Your Goals Limit Your Playing?

February 11, 2010

Reading chapter 4 of Effortless Mastery is about limited goals and getting beyond them. Really I see two sets of goals. The first of which is the ultimate goal of why you play. The second is that of practice. Two different objectives..

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I Wish I’d Never Quit My Music Lessons

February 4, 2010

How many times have you heard “I wish I’d never quit my (piano, guitar, trumpet, cello) lessons from folks that might have heard you play or hear someone else play? There are lots of reasons that many young students quit lessons, but one that Kenny Werner expounded on has me very intrigued this week.

Can education system be the problem with learning to play an instrument? The answer will only be given in what ever situation you are in now and what approach is taken with the study of music.

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5 Minutes Practicing Music

January 28, 2010

One of the most difficult concepts to master in learning music is the practice time. Playing 1 to 8 hours can be the allusive goal. However, taking just 5 minutes of music practice may be the better approach. Try this approach I’ve learned to improve your chances of success…

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The Distractions of Life and the Music Student

January 21, 2010

In Effortless Mastery, Kenny Werner describes his story of growing up in Manhattan and his school, television, lack of attention, and playing piano. He describes the dysfunctional life and learning that took place. Effortless Mastery – Book & CD – (By Kenny Werner, Includes Compact Disc) Price: — 6 used & new available from USD [...]

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Effortless Mastery and Kenny Werner Workshop

January 7, 2010

Kenny Werner Workshop and concert was a great opportunity to revisit the playing vs practicing concept and to reestablish a mindset of learning music. Every musician should pick up this book. Having sat in on the live workshop and program has given me new motivation and causing me to think about the study and art of music playing again.

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