Guitar Practice: A Process, A Path, A Meditation
Part I: The Process
Advanced guitar players know the meditative aspects of focused guitar practice. Most of us have a little personal ritual, developed over the years, that we engage in each time we pick up our instruments. It opens the mental door to musical play and creativity.
However, time always seems too short these days and everyone is in a hurry. Students often arrive at lessons in a tense and distracted state of mind and need a simple way to settle into the process of using guitar as a focal point for meditation. Here’s my way to make a quick transition from the activity and concerns of the day and turn a guitar practice session into a meditation. In another view, rock guitarist Steve Vai describes his guitar meditation experiences here.
Preparing the Body
Because we’re all in such a rush, many of us carry excess tension in the jaw, neck, and shoulder area. For example, studies that utilize measures of muscle tension in various muscle groups have shown that many people will clench their teeth when they stand up. (Your teeth don’t help you stand up. Wasted effort. ) Therefore, it’s a good idea to develop an awareness of muscle tension and learn how to drop it quickly throughout the day. Unfortunately, since guitar players tend to hunch over and become engrossed in their music, they often “wake up” to an aching neck or back. Body awareness is an essential element of playing and practice. The guitarist who practices mindfulness meditation will have a relaxing, effective guitar practice session and emerge refreshed.
Before You Start
The following relaxation exercise was developed from personal observation and psychological research. Also, I used my training in mindfulness meditation, a casual chat with a young student of Ninjitsu, and one Dear Abby column.
1. Pick up your guitar.
2. Relax your tongue.
3. Simultaneously utter a sigh of relief and close your eyes.
4. Notice the tension draining from your jaw (unlock your jaw).
5. Notice the tension draining from your neck.
6. Let your shoulders drop if they haven’t already.
It now takes me less than 10 seconds to pick up my guitar and relax. Consequently, my guitar has become a cue to mind and body to ease into my peaceful and relaxed guitar practice session. I slip into my guitar meditation.
To be continued…
