Guitar Craft Levels 1 & 2 - Convento di S. Maria della Pace, Sassoferrato, Italy

Posted by Robert Fripp
1 Feb 2002
Friday, February 1, 2002

07.06

A sense of the next step for GC in Europe has flown by.

It has become clearer than even before that, in order to accept my own responsibilities to the more experienced students within GC, that my attention cannot continue to be directed towards characters who have little alertness and a poor sense of personal presence.

This is not a problem: it doesn’t matter that a large proportion of the Level One students are clueless, it matters that they don’t know they are clueless. Then, they offer danger to the course and others on it. When they know they are clueless, I can help. But the swelling arrogance of a couple of the team is such that they are beyond where I might presently assist them.

08.26  Mass cluelessness is erupting among the Level One. Hernan reports that in the dining room post-performance last night, with a pumping-down of tiramisu underway, a flash went off – one of the Level One photographed the event without asking beforehand. And the photographer of the notice board has been taking photographs of it all week, it appears.

Then the man responsible for ringing this morning’s wake-up bell, who had volunteered for the post yesterday following the non-ringing by the person formerly responsible, did not: another of the Level One had taken this upon himself. They had usurped the post without prior reference to myself. So, a pivotal role in the life of the house was switched from an agent I felt to be responsible, to an agent acting without my permission and prior knowledge. The person who usurped this role is one of the Level One’s  more interesting characters, one who is bouncing well.

08.32  I am about to ask Hernan to accept responsibility for directing Guitar Craft activities in Europe and South America.

08.55  I passed the following document to Hernan & asked him to read it before accepting it. Hernan read and accepted its contents…

 To Whom It May Concern:

This is to confirm that Hernan Nunez is the director of Guitar Craft activities in Europe and South America.

Robert Fripp
Founder, Guitar Craft.
Friday 1st. February, 2002;
Convento di S. Maria della Pace, Sassoferrato, Italy.

One of Hernan’s responsibilities is to improve the quality of Guitar Craft students attending Level One courses. Perhaps one way to approach this would be for Hernan himself to direct an Introduction To Guitar Craft course, with the effect of helping us to better know our cluelessness.

First, we are clueless.
Secondly, we recognize that we are clueless.
Thirdly, we acknowledge that we are clueless.
Fourthly, we move to addressing our cluelessness.

I am available to help address cluelessness in those who feel that cluelessness is an unworthy condition for the aspiring guitarist. We are all clueless, but we need to know this to address the consequences. Hernan is personally responsible that students on future Level One courses are sufficiently prepared & ready for me to work with them.

09.14 Meeting in the ballroom, without guitars, for the Level One & Level Two. As is now a well-established convention, there were several late arrivals from the Level One. The day’s work:

Large & small group pieces for those who wish. This continues what has already been undertaken.

Then, an exercise for today:

Choose one small piece of work that may be simply, easily & clearly defined. Perhaps sitting on a chair in an effortless fashion; perhaps playing one bar of music; perhaps holding the pick; perhaps bringing the left hand to the strings; and discharge this small action superbly. This task must be available for verification - simply, easily & clearly.

Frank called a final Alexander group meeting at 11.30, for those who wish, to have a kind of closure with their meetings this week.

And now, the boat has left.

10.12  First batch of personal meetings with the Kitchen Team & Staff. Good people & questions. Now come the guitars.

10.51 Hands, relatively clueless, but knowing that they are clueless.

13.38  Prior to lunch I pinned a handwritten notice to the board:

No photography of this board without an official Guitar Craft Photo Pass signed by Senor Nunez.

There is no mistake save one: the failure to learn from a mistake.

Firstly, there is a mistake.
Secondly, we recognize there is a mistake.
Thirdly, we acknowledge there is a mistake.
Fourthly, we move to address the consequences of the mistake.

The boat has left.

Martin & The MBs arrived at 12.35 for a right hand session. These Mentoring Buddies present themselves to other students not as authorities, not as instructors, but as older brothers with a little more experience and a clear knowledge of the difficulties that other, less experienced, students are facing.

However, a downside to this is that errors are also transmitted. Often this is in the right hand. But, we do what we can with what we’ve got, and give it our best shot.

The need to address the needs of Mentoring Buddies is a considerable part of Guitar Craft moving to its next stage: I must be freed to address the needs & bona fide concerns of those who have invested a considerable part of their time & energies in Guitar Craft: in a word, Crafties.

An interesting lunch followed the Mentoring Buddies’ meeting. A tasty soup, and I allowed myself a second helping. As I was standing to leave, a question arose from a Level One student who had photographed the notice board (one of at least three students who had). Did people think this was a mistake? I asked him, what was your intent in taking this photograph? He wanted to remember (the course, etc.).

Then another Level One joined in. I also asked him his intent in taking a photograph of the notice board. This moved along a process of why? until we reached an answer with the word: take. And this was the intent: to take something from the course.

In my professional life this violation is constant. What I register from the photography is the intent. This intent undermines the performance, and violates what I see as a sacred act – bringing music into our fallen world. And anything which undermines that sacred act makes me angry; with a righteous anger. Guitar Craft presents a space where another way is possible. So, Uncle Robert was very, very pissed.

Then, how to address the consequences of a mistake?

14.19  Called Mary P to tell her Hernan’s sense of Elizabeth Bennett at the courses, here last summer & the Berlin Circling weekend in November 1992.

18.22  More personal meetings this afternoon, carrying into tea-time.

After tea, a presentation to the House by Level One & Two of their work today. This was mostly well-intentioned but generally badly prepared or mistakenly undertaken. The garrulous Level One student (who manages to constantly insert himself in situations and make them last as long as possible) was wittering endlessly about his supposedly simply, definitely & clearly stated piece of work, and found himself confronted by a ridiculous pair of spectacles (belonging to Martin Schwutke) on the nose of Senor Nunez, Director of Guitar Craft Activities in Europe & South America; and Robert hanging himself with a woolen scarf held in his right hand.

Then honourable performances by the full Level One followed by Level Two. Small group performances followed, including an exceptionally earnest quartet from the Level Two that warmed up the audience – hooters were pulled out of pockets and blown loudly in support.

Two characters from the Level One were missing from all of this, and a car is gone. One these is persistently late for meetings, and last night was in a car outside smoking & listening to music – music from outside the context of this course & therefore not part of it. The other is the man whose behaviour from the beginning has been interesting – the lick-slinger who notes that “nothing is compulsory”. He is right – you don’t have to be a jerk. He is often to be seen talking into his mobile ‘phone. He has never quite arrived on the course.

So, they have now both left the course; better then they also now leave the house. After the course has ended, the protection available to the course is reduced. The house, and those within it, then become vulnerable to out-of-tune characters who can do damage. The House Manager & Director of GC Activities in Europe are arranging the practicalities of this: room-mates are packing up their things which will be put by the front door. 

Honourable conduct: two rolls of film have been given to me by photographers.

18.52  Shinkuro has just left left the room: he came to volunteer for the post of Japanese GC Registrar. This is a function that has been honourably filled by Hideyo Moriya of The CGT for several years.

20.04  Silence visited dinner very early this evening, and persisted although not being widely acknowledged. There were several small group performances, and tasty dinner. At 19.40 the silence was accepted and held very strongly. We could have sat with it for much longer but I felt it appropriate that we move to clear the dining room & kitchen in preparation for the final meeting. But with gratitude, and without driving the silence from the room. It is interesting to note that one does not have to be “silent” for silence to be present. But it helps to be present for silence to be present.  

The silence available to this course has been remarkable and generous, from very early on. I have no doubt that silence, of the quality we have experienced this week, is indicative of the presence of a conscious intelligence (however we might understand that).

Hernan, Marty & The MBs, came at 15.15 for a Right Hand meeting. This is exactly what my energies & attention should be currently directed towards at GC courses: meeting the needs of the more experienced players who did the best they could in the early days, and spending all their time on calisthenics was not then an option. So, now with experience directly in their hands, it is time to address that experience and refine the template to more closely approximate an ideal.

22.25  The final meeting began at 21.00 and ended at 22.18.

The team is meeting back in the ballroom at 22.30 to discuss cleaning. Rather than allow all the accumulated energy to blow out with noise & late night partying with new pals, we are grounding it in necessary work. This will have the function of making tomorrow’s clean-up much easier for the remaining team who leave on Sunday. 

Q:        What is the difference between Level Two & Level One?
A:        Level Two has lost its innocence but without acquiring competence.

Level One has historically had innocence, but been clueless. Frank & Cathy’s work has helped the penny to drop: if we have no connection to our body, perhaps we have no connection to our mind and feelings. Alexander work helps the penny to drop in 2-3 days instead of 5-6 days without it. But something has changed for me: I am no longer able to work with someone who is clueless & doesn’t know that they are clueless.

Historically, we have been very accepting of anyone who is interested in coming into GC & attending a course. We once had entry requirements - a 21 year-old age limit & fluency in the English language - but dropped both. Whoever wanted to come, even without any guitar experience, was welcome. But this has changed this week. I am no long able to work with students who are clueless & not aware of their cluelessness. We are all clueless, but we need to know this. So, Hernan’s role as Director in Europe contains the brief of preparing students so that I am able to work with them.

Various observations from the students, some of them direct and insightful & two rambling and clueless. Heartfelt thanks expressed to Frank & Cathy, Martin & The Mentoring Buddies – Shinkuro-san, Fumihito-san & Luciano, and to Hernan. This past nine days would not have been possible without them. The next stage in Guitar Craft’s long process is underway.

Curt Golden & Fernando Kabusacki came to mind.

And, at 22.18, an acknowledgement from the Founder of Guitar Craft that The League of Crafty Guitarists has begun again, the Kitchen Team is ongoing, the Level Two is completed and the Level One is finished.

23.00  Called Curt Golden to report the end of the course & say that I felt him present at the final meeting. Curt mentioned the suggestion of Jonathan Brainin for a GC introductory course – Level Zero. Curt has been buzzing with the energy from Europe and moving outwards from the Convento.

A core team of Staff are gathering for a small post-course congreting in this room.

 



Popular Posts

A Tale of Two Concerts
David Singleton
19 May 2025
Apologia Pro Vita Sua
Robert Fripp
8 Nov 2024
Exposure to Public Ridicule
David Singleton
1 May 2025
What Is A Question?
Robert Fripp
23 Mar 2025
Motel Modesto, San Luis Obispo.
Robert Fripp
28 Feb 2024

Related Posts
Sunday So What to say?
Robert Fripp
7 Mar 2016
Waterstone's Coffee Shop, Canterbury.
Robert Fripp
12 Dec 2004
Bredonborough.
Robert Fripp
12 May 2020
Mount Juliet.
Robert Fripp
12 Dec 2004
Bredonborough.
Robert Fripp
7 Sep 2017
Just For You
ARTICLES

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

MORE

Giles, Giles & Fripp New Editions.

The Cheerful Insanity of Giles, Giles and Fripp (The Songs),...

MORE

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

MORE

Happy Birthday Robert!

King Crimson's guitarist turns 79 today. To mark the occasio...

MORE

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

MORE

Toyah and Robert's Weekend.

Catch up with Toyah and Robert's latest weekend on YouTube.

MORE

Toyah & Robert's Easter Weekend

Toyah & Robert's Easter Weekend

MORE

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

MORE

Creating the Larks print.

Here’s a look behind the scenes at the making of the Larks’...

MORE

Queen Elizabeth Hall Soundscapes

It’s been a 29 year wait but finally we can now hear the res...

MORE

Cruise lineup

The 2025 Cruise To The Edge has concluded. Here's a great ph...

MORE

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

Toyah & Robert's Upbeat Moments & Sunday Lunch

MORE

Hanging Around With The Stranglers in 1980

On this day 45 years ago on April 4, 1980 Robert Fripp appea...

MORE

Larks’ Tongues silkscreen print.

The famous artwork from the sleeve of Larks’ Tongues in Aspi...

MORE

Fripp's New York: Then and Now

So what did happen to all the music places from Robert’s tim...

MORE

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

Toyah & Robert's Upbeat Moments (feat. Eno) - Saturday at 19...

MORE

Guitar Craft News

Guitar Craft 40th anniversary and news.

MORE

On 51st Street

Hugh's Archive Deep Dive: 2. Robert Fripp outside 443 West...

MORE

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

MORE

How Does Music Enter Our World?

Q: You often say that Music creates the musician, that Music...

MORE
DIARIES

Satch Bus.

09.23

Satch Bus.

We arrived at Hotel Adeq...

MORE

Satch Bus.

10.53

Route 66 gives a route of 1535 mil...

MORE

Cabin 6020, Silja Ferry >Stockholm.

16.21

Cabin 6020, Silja Ferry >Stockholm.

...

MORE

Satch Bus.

10.29

Bags at 09.30, lobby 10.00, set off for Got...

MORE

Satch Bus, outside venue, Copenhagen.

24.47

An experientially long overnight drive, inc...

MORE

Hotel Pricey And The Staff Are Superb, Amsterdam.

10.47

Breakfast this morning with Joe alone. He w...

MORE

Hotel It-Is-Almost Posh, Amsterdam.

09.10

Into the breakfast room at 06.30 for a quie...

MORE

The Basement, Chateau Belew.

10.28

The Basement, Chateau Belew.

The su...

MORE

The Basement, Chateau Belew.

05.30

One proper response to being alive is joy....

MORE

The Basement, Chateau Belewbeloid.

16.41

The event of the day: Martha Belew is 31 to...

MORE

Los Molinos.

07.23

Rising at 05.52, or 04.52 UK & body tim...

MORE

Crimson Tourbus, Outside Hotel Acceptable, Phoenix.

01.00

Crimson Tourbus, Outside Hotel Acceptable,...

MORE

#504, Hotel Quite Acceptable, Vancouver.

00.15

A supportive & generous audience and wh...

MORE

Hotel Quite Acceptable, Vancouver.

11.03

The weather is changeable, a blue sky rapid...

MORE

Hotel Quite Acceptable, Vancouver.

23.57

We arrived at Denver International Airport,...

MORE

Hotel Quite Acceptable, Denver.

10.42

The sun is shining, the sky is mostly blue,...

MORE

Hotel Quite Acceptable, Denver.

20.04

Snowbound in Denver. Rising at 08.30, a not...

MORE

Room Most Acceptable, Hotel Quite Acceptable.

11.00

Driving snow is blowing past on the other s...

MORE

Hotel Quite Acceptable, Denver.

23.15

And with free Ethernet access, too. A call...

MORE

Mobile HQ, Crimbus.

12.47

We left our hotel punctually at noon and ar...

MORE
DOWNLOADS

Teatro Central

Robert Fripp
Teatro Central
18 Apr 2007

MORE

Houston Hall Evening Philadelphia United States

Robert Fripp
Houston Hall Evening
21 Feb 1981

MORE

Teatro Independencia

Robert Fripp
Teatro Independencia
1 Jun 2007

MORE

Robert And Trey

King Crimson
DGM Sound World I
26 Sep 2022

MORE

Park West 2nd Performance

The League Of Gentlemen
Park West 2nd Performance
11 Jul 1980

MORE

Auditorio Murcia

Robert Fripp
Auditorio Murcia
25 Apr 2007

MORE

Nautica Stage

Robert Fripp
Nautica Stage
24 Jun 1997

MORE

My Father's Place

The League Of Gentlemen
My Father's Place 1st performance
19 Jul 1980

MORE

Slide Inn

The League Of Gentlemen
Slide Inn
20 Jun 1980

MORE

The Painted Bride

Robert Fripp
The Painted Bride
22 Nov 1998

MORE

Cafe Campus

Robert Fripp
Cafe Campus
16 Aug 1979

MORE

Music For Quiet Moments 19

Robert Fripp
DGMHQ Soundworld 1
4 Sep 2020

MORE

National Art Center Ottawa

Robert Fripp
National Art Center Studio
13 Aug 1979

MORE

Teatro-Cine de Gouveia

Robert Fripp
Teatro-Cine de Gouveia
22 Apr 2007

MORE

Bathurst Street Theatre

Robert Fripp
Bathurst Street Theatre
11 Aug 1979

MORE

Queen Elizabeth Foyer Day 1

Robert Fripp
Queen Elizabeth Hall foyer
7 Mar 1996

MORE

Winnepeg Art Gallery

Robert Fripp
Winnipeg Art Gallery
9 Aug 1979

MORE

Music For Quiet Moments 44 - Shimmer (La Spezia 28 Jun 2006)

Robert Fripp
DGMHQ Soundworld 1
26 Feb 2021

MORE

Music For Quiet Moments 10

Robert Fripp
DGMHQ Soundworld 1
3 Jul 2020

MORE

Music For Quiet Moments 9

Robert Fripp
DGMHQ Soundworld 1
26 Jun 2020

MORE
ARTISTS

Robert Fripp

MORE
PHOTO GALLERY