body flow and jimi hendrix

[john browne]

I write this as a simple illustration of how Coach Sonnons philosophies has effected an area of my life outside of exercise and martial arts.

I picked up the guitar recently after 10 years of not touching one, to encourge my 11 year old in his guitar and music lessons. 25 years ago I tried to be the next Jimi Hendrix only to find that the world didnt need one and even if it did it, it wasnt going to be me.

This time through though I find my whole approach and attitude has changed. "recovery , co-ordination, refinement".

Picking up a cd , note-by-note guitar tab and even a teacher to play "castles made of sand" is like picking up the bodyflow book and dvd and trying to do a neckroll straight away (how may of us tried that).

Theres a natural progression and evolution to be followed including a recovery of timing and rhythm before co-ordinating the right and left hands.

My son has a great guitar teacher (who I keep calling coach jimmy much to my sons amusement) and alot of what he says reminds me of the concepts , ideas I read here but in a different context. though to be honest he looks like a he could do with a few months of bodyflow or clubbells.

Anyway I figure I am about 2 weeks away from a neck roll and 2 months away from "castles made of sand", though of course I am focusing on the process not the end result. lol.


Regards.

[sammybaby]

It's funny you should mention the connection between "flow" and musicianship. I played classical violin for about 10 years growing up, and still occasionally pick up that instrument. (I also wound up playing guitar in a few rock bands, and singing in a couple of a capella groups, but that's another story.)

Whenever I was learning a new complicated piece, I'd do what my instructor told me to do: start with the first complicated passage, and work it over and over, starting slowly and then increasing speed, until I had it down cold, usually over the course of a couple of minutes. Then, take the next passage, work that one. When the second was done, work the first and second consecutively, ends matched together.

If that sounds familiar, well, yeah, it's pretty much exactly Coach Sonnon's description of a daily Body-Flow practice, which is why it resonated with me as soon as I read it. Still looking forward to putting it into practice.

[Scott Sonnon]

Outstanding! I hope you inspire more people to realize Body-Flow isn't merely an exercise philosophy, it's a way of interfacing with any activity in life!

[Charlie]

when i have a normal income & can get around to learning guitar, this is the method i will use:

http://www.guitarprinciples.com

i've been subscribed to this guy's newsletter for awhile. he is _really_ switched on! really clued-in to removing impediments to mastery, into easing unconscious tensions that get in your way, is convinced that _everyone_ is musical & can be fantastic at making music, that too many people are held back by crappy teachers & poor methods, etc

check it out, you won't regret it -- he is the 'scott sonnon' of learning to play the guitar :-)

cheers, charlie

[kagejs]

Charlie,

Being a guitar player of 20 years, I checked out the website you mentioned. If I could make a suggestion - do NOT buy this method. Although it may initially come off like this person knows what he's talking about, in many cases he does not. I'm afraid that learning from him will actually teach you a lot of bad habits that will creep up and haunt you later on. This manual does nothing to teach you the basics - notes, rhythm, tempo, pick control, etc... which are infinitely more important that where the thumb is when you're playing rock as opposed to classical.

If you are truly interested in learning the guitar, find a teacher. The person-to-person experience you gain with a good teacher will be invaluable to your playing. Playing guitar is a personal and internalized to everyone individually. You'll develop your own "style" after a few years, and I'm afraid that you're going to miss out on the most important elements of making music.

My 02 yen.

[Charlie]

fair enough, i appreciate the advice; certainly your opinion is worthy, with that much experience -- cheers!