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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Zen Observations
Zen Observations
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J-Sin
54 posts
Aug 04, 2011
11:41 AM
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Over the last few years I have developed a liking for Zen literature & philosophy. For the last six months or so, I’ve also practiced zazen in a local Zen center and at home.
I feel that my understanding of this tradition is still very limited, but as a harmonica player I feel I’ve experienced several ”satoris” (moments of intuitive awakening).
The first bend, the symphonic feel of the first octave split and the first overblow all come from very outside the box realisations. When they happen, we feel that something hidden has all the sudden revealed to us. After that we learn that it has been there all along.
When we learn & teach harmonica, we have to rely on images and visions more than almost any other instrument (except singing maybe). It’s in our mouths, between the jaws, in the throat, in the intuitive flow of breathing. Teaching someone to bend is not an easy task at all, and besides the ”technical” or ”spatial” dimension, we should also encourage the intuitive mind not to blow but to breathe.
There’s this story about a monk practicing stern sitting meditation. He told his teacher that the objective of this exercise is to become like a Buddha. Upon hearing this, his teacher started to polish a rock.
”What are you doing?” the monk asked.
”I’m polishing this rock so that it would reflect like a mirror.”
”How's that possible?”
”How is it possible to become like a Buddha by sitting?” the teacher replied.
Somehow, (without making harmonica playing sound like a cult), we should make our students to understand that bends are not that easily obtained by ”trying”. My first bend popped out of that thing accidentally after days of vigorous practice. I just picked it up like a child.
Even a beginner starts to have a priori ideas on how the instrument should be played. In my experience, music comes out of not relying on these ideas, and not ”trying”.
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Reed To The Beat!
Finno-Turkish Lazer-Klezmer
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Honkin On Bobo
712 posts
Aug 04, 2011
12:07 PM
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"In my experience, music comes out of not relying on these ideas, and not ”trying”."
This fit's in perfectly with my personal philosohy. Right now, I'm not "trying" by watching a re-run of John Stewart's Daily Show.
I'm looking forward to my harp skills improving in leaps and bounds. ;)
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Big Daddy Ray
89 posts
Aug 04, 2011
2:14 PM
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Do or do not do. There is no try.
This line may come from a fictional character, Yoda, but they are very true words. You are either making the harmonica do what you want it to do or you are not. This also brings to mind the fact that things happen when they are meant to.
Sometimes a certain harp technique, such as bends, is like looking for love. You most often find it when you are not concentrating on finding it.
Have you read the Bhagavad Gita? Great read.
I,too have been fascinated by Buddhist philosophies and also am a Reiki Practitioner.
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Tommy the Hat
181 posts
Aug 04, 2011
2:46 PM
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Thinking too much is always a problem. No mind.
If you practice catching that salt shaker that falls out of the cabinet unexpectedly when you open it, you'll never get it right. It just has to happen. Without thought.
Whether it's harp or any instrument, boxing, martial arts, sports and many other endeavors, they all take practice, no argument there. But, there are many who become very good at "practicing" and never learn to apply. Their focus may be too narrow. Too much "thought."
In my opinion, you should learn technique and then forget it. No mind.
No if I could only figure this all out then maybe i could finally play this thing! lol
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Tommy
Bronx Mojo
Last Edited by on Aug 04, 2011 2:47 PM
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