Lunlunta.
A sense of the way forward for Guitar Craft & how to re-organise the functional aspects of Guitar Craft operations.
11.34 T'ai Chi with Luciano at 09.30
Meeting with Level One at 10.15. Given the limitations of guitar abilities, I adopted a different approach: one that would conventionally be used on courses at Levels Three & Four. For me, the meeting was directed towards finding an approach that I can use with less experienced students, but which more experienced students would also recognise as valuable. Suggestion to the meeting: choose one thing to take away from the meeting & put it in the bank.
Meeting with Level Two at 11.00. I recommended that they apply to join the Level One, saying please, please may we join your group? All but one accepted this recommendation.
The re-organisation of Guitar Craft functioning is underway.
13.57 Comments over lunch:
How one moment of in-attention can spoil the group's working. Some situations can be contained, some repaired, and some are lost.
Attention span.
Tight lips & frightened eyes - we are not asked to change this behaviour: we are asked to notice it. If we try to change this expression, for example, with a fixed smile & unmoving eyes, this is the same as what it's replacing. For, now, we observe our behaviour & notice its characteristics without attempting to change anything. When we "merely" notice, something has already changed.
Battle: struggle is a better term. And this is only one strategy. Sometimes, the appropriate strategy is to do nothing. The Quiet Time before dinner is to allow the energies activated in the day's struggle to settle, to find their place.
Knowing & understanding: you can take understanding onstage. In front of perhaps two thousand people, knowing what is needed is not enough. Knowing plus an instrumental facility is more substantial, but remains partial without a feel for what is being done. An example was used of Luciano's rasguedos with Zum. RF knows what a rasguedo is, and can even (pitifully) attempt it. But Luciano's have a feel & are musical.
Work this afternoon: Level One in small groups & individual meetings with the Guitar Buddies. Personal Alexander meetings.
Tai chi at 18.00. Quiet Time at 18.30
20.02 Comments over dinner:
It was suggested that, for a Yorkshireman, size matters.
RF: Did anyone notice that the overall standard of the Level One fell when the Level Two joined it?
Commentator: I didn't say that!
RF: No. I did.
Irritation. In time we see that we are the person who irritates us: we are the same person. Then, increasingly irritation has a lesser hold on us. There is a tendency to hold onto our irritation and our negativity: it makes us feel alive! To be free of this is a considerable freedom. Speaking generally, if a person is in a way of discipline, of having a personal practice, this freedom may be acquired in 12-14 years, if practised seriously.
Goodwill. Some people have this seemingly naturally, by favourable conditions of their birth & upbringing. Where this is a natural grace, the person who radiates goodwill may not be able to show others how to practice goodwill for themselves. If we have an unpleasant nature, and dislike people this is no obstacle to sending goodwill to others. Actually, it is easier to send goodwill to those we dislike than to those we like. There is an implicit demand on transactions with those we like: to like us in return. To send goodwill to someone we dislike is therefore cleaner, more straightforward.
Meeting with Level Four Residential & AAD Tea at 20.30. House of Guitars meeting in dining room at 21.30.
22.53 Very good comments from the AAD team.
A good-hearted House of Guitars, with 74 guitars & 76 participants guitars in the circle. A new variation on introducing multiple notes in the circle. Thrakking with new variants on magic chords. And a rhythm in 4/4 (actually 2+ 6/8). This may be a first in Guitar Craft.
