[Here's a question that recently came in through email.]

Subject: Effortless Mastery question

Mr. Werner,

I recently read “Effortless Mastery” and have sincerely benefited a great deal
from it. I have been playing guitar and jazz for some time, and for some time I
have been haphazardly drifting in and out of the “space”. I would attribute
these infrequent successes to really swinging hard, or playing the right notes,
or any number of irrelevant ways of describing the feeling of being truly
connected.

Your book put it all into perspective. The feeling that I would taste briefly
from time to time can be achieved whenever I touch my instrument! Using the
inspiration and methodology of your book, I have been able to reach that
supremely blissful state of being completely detached, yet completely in
control. I am able to play from that space every day.

The problem is that playing from anywhere outside of the space has become so
distasteful that I have developed a fear of not connecting. This often
paradoxically affects my ability to connect which leads to great frustration.
I was hoping you could provide some insight into this persistent issue.
Anything at all would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Russell Favret

~ [Kenny's response] ~

Somewhere in the book I talk about not tricking yourself into beating yourself up
for not being in the space.  Replacing the old hammer of “It’s not swinging enough”
or “It’s not burning enough” etc. with the pastel hammer of “I’m not in the space enough.”
The ego will adjust to your adjustments and manage to instill some version
of its old message of inadequacies.

The thing you should practice in real time is acceptance.

Practice loving your playing and self forgiveness.

Try to practice viewing any thought about lack as merely a thought to be ignored.

Make loving what you play unconditionally a practice.
You can do this at home by playing, stopping and absorbing
without discrimination or thought.

Aim your mental practice at blanket acceptance of whatever comes out.

[This pattern tends to go] round and round because you learn and the ego adjusts.

But your commitment to breathing in any notes you play and breathing in your sound
should over time render the ego more transparent.

You recognize the old feelings of low esteem and say, “oh, that old thing again.”

Changing and evolving is a life long process and the one that doesn’t watch the clock over successes and failures
but is simply involved in the journey of change attains all manner of rewards. Easier said than done, but possible nonetheless.

Good Luck,
Kenny

~

What are your experiences with “The Space”?

Please leave a comment!

~

Thank you for being a part of our
Effortless Mastery Community.

Kenny Werner
and
Dr. Andrew Colyer

KennyWernerLive.com
and
ConsciousWorldMedia.com

Jamey Aebersold - Volume 104 - Kenny Werner's "Free Play"

[Here's a question that recently came in through email.]

“Dear Kenny,

As an aging art teacher, a few years older than yourself, I returned to the saxophone,
which I had studied in high school and played until my 20s before succumbing
to the demons of that age.

At 60 I was losing lung capacity and my doctor was reluctant to recommend swimming
to anyone who drank as much as I did. I bought a vintage soprano sax and started lessons
with a local teacher.

Some time ago I gave my teacher a copy of the Stan Tracy/Evan Parker CD “Suspensions and Anticipations”.

It met with a tactful response. I’ve actually listened to Evan since the 1960s,
when I saw him in a supporting group backing up Gary Burton’s quartet.

In spite of this my teacher has correctly persisted in setting formal studies and jazz standards for my development.

A few weeks ago I came across [Jamey Aebersold's Book & CD Volume 104] “Free Play”.
I am still working through it with enthusiasm as it systematises free improvisation
in terms of sound, pitch, line, harmony etc.

It’s also great fun to play through, even after the nightly bottle of red.

I even got my teacher to go along with a couple of tracks!

I still maintain my Visual Arts practice in Photography, including music photography, which can be seen at
http://www.redbubble.com/people/joeglaysher

Thanks for the music!”

Regards
Joe Glaysher

~

Dear Joe:

That’s great!  That’s what Free Play is for, to feel the connection between you and your horn
and to immerse yourself in the rub of random rhythms and harmonies.

That can be a style of music or it can be a remembrance of the natural state of playing
without the tension of trying to fit into the right harmonic and rhythmic boxes.

Whether you play “in” or “out” you wants to experience that onenes with every other not, not recoiling from anything.

Enjoy the Sound,
Kenny

P.S.  Thanks for reading!  You can get your own copy of Free Play in our Effortless Mastery Store by clicking this link.

[Here's a question that recently came in through email.]

“Hey Kenny,

I know from the telewebinars that applying Effortless Mastery to ear training
is not something you have had to deal with, but in trying to incorporate
Effortless Mastery into this kind of practice I have encountered bit of a road block.

An example of what I am practicing is hearing a cadence followed by a single note
and identifying that tension in relation to the chord set up by the cadence.

The thing I am unsure of is how much concentration I should putting in,
as I obviously want to be able to identify any note automatically without thought
but at the same time keeping in mind that practice is a left brain activity that requires concentration.

What I have started doing is listening to a few examples staring into space (or breathing etc)
and trying to identify them instinctively (not focusing on the task i suppose), stopping
and getting up “dropping the hands” as soon as I start to try and figure out the tension
rather than to just let my ears identify it.

The problem I (or perhaps more accurately my ego) is having with this is
the thought that by not concentrating on the task whether I will make any progress.

So if you are able to shed any light on this subject for me it would be much appreciated.”

Thanks
Sam C.

In this ongoing series of blog posts,
Kenny Werner answers questions
from Effortless Mastery students.

Get your questions answered
by sending an email
to the address at the end of this blog post.

This question is from Rick,
a member of our Effortless Mastery community.

—

Name:Rick Trankle
I am: an artist
Website: highwayrickey.com youtube/highwayrickey

” I totally get the book and love it. It has changed my life.
What I want to know is how do you deal with the situation of playing with other musicians
who are playing wrong changes or form when you are trying to create a solo or play a head?

So many times I can get derailed by what is going on around me.
It makes what I am playing at the moment sound messy.
Even though yes, everything I play is great , how do you recover?

If that is explained in the book, I missed it. Thank you.”

Kenny’s Response to Rick’s Question:

Hi, Rick:

“Everything I play is great” is a state of mind one wants to absorb totally
so that they don’t react to wrong notes thereby getting in deeper trouble.

Of course there are forms and situations where there is a definite right and wrong,
but ironically, one plays more sure-handed and therefore makes less mistakes.

You did misunderstand that [affirmation].
It is an affirmation that becomes truer in ways that can’t be explained
the longer one practices that mindset.

I hope that helps.

Thanks.
Kenny

What do you think?

Were you having any thoughts similiar to Bruce’s?

Feel free to leave your comments here!

To get your Effortless Mastery questions answered,
send an email to: kennywernerlive [AT] gmail [DOT] com,

OR

Ask Your Effortless Mastery Questions on our
Effortless Mastery Telewebinars
by
signing up for our list in the upper right hand corner
of this web page!

Get Your Own Copy of Kenny Werner’s Effortless Mastery book & CD
or
Kenny Werner’s Effortless Mastery DVD
by using the Nimbit application below:

Thank you for being here as part of our Effortless Mastery Community.

To Your Effortless Mastery,

Kenny Werner
and
Dr. Andrew Colyer

KennyWernerLive.com
and
ConsciousWorldMedia.com

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In this ongoing series of blog posts,
Kenny Werner answers questions
from Effortless Mastery students.

Get your questions answered
by sending an email
to the address at the end of this blog post.

This first question is from Bruce,
a member of our Effortless Mastery community.

—

“I have had your book Effortless Mastery for
about 2 years. I think its an excellent book.
I have gained some real insights and awareness from it.
However, there has been one problem.
When I get to the meditation part, the part about
the “I am Great” meditation, I get stuck there.
Why?
1.) I don’t think I’m great. I know I’m not great and the more I listen to
pro jazz guitarists the more I feel like I’m a non-pro.
2.) If I say “I am great”, I start feeling like I’m getting back on this
ego trip that I used to be on.
So please tell me this:
Why the “I am Great” meditation ?

Thanks
Bruce

Kenny’s Response to Bruce’s Question:

Hi Bruce:

The reason to assume you are great is that you want to conceive of music
as not being intimidating or difficult and assume that you are more than up to the task.
Saying you are great is a starting point. You proceed with the assumption
that this is yours to own. So many people, perhaps even you, start with
the sub-conscious assumption that they are worthless or unworthy.
That is equally unprovable, but it seems we are generally more comfortable
with negative assumptions then positive ones.
It is also not egotistic because the new view of the world that you are attempting
to elevate your vision to says you are great, but also learns to recognize everyone
around you as great. In my view this is closer to the truth than anything.
I hope that helps.

Kenny

What do you think?

Were you having any thoughts similiar to Bruce’s?

Feel free to leave your comments here!

To get your Effortless Mastery questions answered,
send an email to: kennywernerlive [AT] gmail [DOT] com.

Thank you for being here as part of our Effortless Mastery Community.

To Your Effortless Mastery,

Kenny Werner
and
Dr. Andrew Colyer

KennyWernerLive.com
and
ConsciousWorldMedia.com

P.S. Click on this Amazon link to purchase your own copy of Kenny Werner’s Effortless Mastery:

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