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| Robert Fripp's Diary | Login | Register | Help |
12.51  Morning sitting at 07.15. Not everyone was happy to be there. A comment at breakfast: The morning sitting is active; this is distinct from meditation, which is receptive. We are active towards our inner lives. But what is our “inner life”? Our thinking & feelings are beyond our direction, but this animal we inhabit is closer to hand. What is the particular quality of being alive inside this animal we inhabit? We bring our attention into, for example, the left hand & experience the presence of organic life within this human animal. Before we ask our body to do something for half an hour, we ask it to do nothing for half an hour. For this, it is necessary to develop a relationship with the body; and for this we engage the attention & bring it within the body. Initially, we invite its co-operation in relaxing. We hear the cacophony we know well, certainly when we attempt to do nothing. As we bring our attention into the body, perhaps we find that we are no longer quite inside the cacophony, but a little apart from it. The cacophony continues, but we are a little distance from the noise. In time, we extend our attention from the body to approach our feelings and our thinking. But, the body is where we begin. Performance at breakfast from the Local Team. Not everyone yet understands the hold at the end of a piece & some miss the direction of the Team leader. Intermediates at 10.30 in the Intermediate Zone. But, there was a significant level of difficulty with primary requirements, such as recognising simple patterns, like counting to 5 or 7 while striking a note; this apart from & a separate matter from keeping a common pulse. Experiencing desperation in this situation, suggestions were invited as to how I might help: count the 1 was offered. So, I counted the one of each bar, without any noticeable effect on the notes circuiting, their timing or relationship to common pulse. Simply put, a seemingly futile offering of help. Announced: I can’t do this any more. I have to move on. I am open to suggestions as to how I might help. 12.51 Beginners in the Chapel at 11.45 Time & counting were awful. While counting & playing on 1 in bars of 5 & 7, the one was elusive. To give a sense of this, to a reader without practical musical experience and/or a sense of Guitar Craft practice, not being able to count a one in a bar, repeatedly, is rather like not being able to find the soles of your feet while walking. What is the sound of hands clapping one? Although not a Guitar Craft koan, an answer to this does not seem readily available to the course. 16.44 Lunch at 13.00. Reports from the course were presented to a member, returning from a family emergency for a day, as to what had been happening during their absence. Comment: good time is fundamental to a player. The aim is to play in time, in tune & in tone. Tone, analogically & metaphorically developing a personal harmony, may take time; but an intermediate player will be able to play in time & in tune. A reference to good time, holding a pattern, and bringing the two together. Twenty-one years ago, I was prepared to focus much of my attention on small fundamentals in a Beginner’s playing; eg the notes within a G major scale. One of the more experienced students wondered why a person of my background & experience was prepared & willing to do so. The answer is, I saw that as part of my work. Today, I no longer see it as part of my work to show adults how to, eg count to five; and this to some who have been coming to Guitar Craft for several years. I have to move on, having a responsibility to myself, and beyond. So, a criterion for being part of an Intermediate group is, we can play in tune & in time. This is not even being able to play C major into 3 octaves. Meeting with the Set-up Team & Patrick in the Chapel immediately after lunch. Tea at 16.00 with a guest arriving for tea & dinner. Personal meetings recommenced at 15.00. 18.04 The subject of personal meetings are tending towards life choices. The Great Divide of this course continues. 22.58 T’ai chi didn’t quite begin at 18.30, but did so shortly afterwards. Dinner at 19.00 with a guest, who declared their aim as fishing. Comments & observations were presented. What is our work this evening? Three approaches: Timewalkers with Bill; those interested in the repertoire with Leo; those who aspire to music in the Chapel at 21.30. A meeting of the Special Study Group at 20.30, then to the Chapel. Aspirant Musicians in the Chapel at 21.30: when ready, please begin. Then 6 small groups, each extemporising for 1-3 minutes. Then each of the 6 groups allocated a chord. This moved to two larger whizzing groups; the first comprising small groups 1-3, the second, groups 4-6. Moving to a whole circle whizz that, despite all reasonable projected possibilities, reached the impossible. The whizz took off after about 50 whole-circle circulations, becoming a whole at the 97th. movement around the Full Circle (according to Bill, who was visiting our work in the Chapel from Timewalking). Bill has called in to St. George, to comment on his re-visit to the course, and has just left. Aspirant Musicians in the Chapel at 21.30: when ready, please begin. Then 6 small groups, each extemporising for 1-3 minutes. Then each of the 6 groups allocated a chord. This moved to two larger whizzing groups; the first comprising small groups 1-3, the second, groups 4-6. Moving to a whole circle whizz that, despite all reasonable projected possibilities, reached the impossible. The whizz took off after about 50 whole-circle circulations, becoming a whole at the 97th. movement around the Full Circle (according to Bill, who was visiting our work in the Chapel from Timewalking). Bill has called in to St. George, to comment on his re-visit to the course, and has just left.  Search Robert Fripp's diary archive. |
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