Nik,
I remain a big fan of your contributions [and often do a double stack because I read them on FB first] - but it is always about the gentle stuff I pick up from your contributions which remind me that it is music first. How we get there has a number of different journeys but when I am talking to people who want to learn I often default to the 'let just strum' and within that you can take a beginner through how to hold chords together, what to bother to play, why bits work and why other bits sound weird [but can sound great sometimes] and just get a weird sense of rhythm going... I find wooly bully fab for this and you can make up whatever words you like...we all picked up the guitar to kind of entertain someone, whoever that may be...we should never forget that
David
New CGPW facebook page document online now:
Taken from Chapter 5 "Hazzards and Illusions. Artificial Limitations and Boundaries" of "Cognition Workshop" (my other pretty big project)
Very much of relevance to many guitarists undertaking serious study of the instrument:
Assumed wisdom
Sometimes, we can find ourselves surrendering to ‘assumed wisdom’ without offering it appropriate critical evaluation. This is very similar to “blindly accepting wisdom from authority” although it’s more often the case that when it comes to assumed wisdom, the ‘authority’ is a quoted figure from history. When ‘assumed wisdom’ is presented in the form of a quote from a historically notable figure, it can be much more potent than any living authority because the very framework within which such a quote may be presented implies that the quoted wisdom has passed the test of time, that it has not been questioned before (which adds a form of social proof to an individuals anticipated acceptance of it) and as such it has a substantial amount of assumed quality, stability, and credence. However, these are no more than assumptions, and as such we do not always offer the kind of critical evaluation to this kind of information that we perhaps should. In fact, the discomfort that some people have experienced when I have mentioned this in certain corporate training to certain groups of people has led to much resistance, and I’ve come under heavy criticism for the following example on more than one occasion, although the facts remain unchanged:
Abraham Lincoln was widely regarded as one of the greatest presidents of the United States ever, and had a fine track record of displaying good judgement and being of admirable character and integrity. He is often quoted eg:
“Concern yourself with your character more than your reputation, for your character is who you really are, and your reputation is merely what others think of you” Abraham Lincoln
Without wishing to appear to suggest that character is not of importance, while this is seemingly a wise and altruistic assertion by Lincoln, this quote would never have survived the test of time had Abraham Lincoln’s reputation not offered significant weight to the things that he said. It was not Abraham Lincoln’s character that earned him the position of the President of the United States. It was Lincoln’s popularity, born of his reputation, and all of this is completely lost if we just blindly accept his quote without offering it appropriate critical evaluation. If we are to empower ourselves with the ability to use our skills, we need other people to believe that we are capable. If other people don’t believe we are capable of anything that we claim to be capable of, then nothing that we are actually capable of can be utilised! What we may be capable of is meaningless if we are not empowered with the ability to actually use our skills. Our reputations are imperative because most of what we consider to be “success” is actually determined by external validation by others. It is other people who appoint us to positions in any workplace. It is other people who allow us to borrow money to set up our own businesses. It is other people who make choices to become our clients and buy the products and services that we may provide. That we may be promoted at work is in the hands of others, and it will be others who ultimately decide whether or not we ‘succeed’ in certain areas of our lives although what real chance does a guy called Nik Harrison have claiming that we should “Significantly concern ourselves with our reputations, because it is our reputations that empower us with the majority of the ‘success’ we will enjoy throughout our lives” when a quote from one of history’s most respected leaders suggests otherwise? This is the effect of ‘assumed wisdom’ born of our neglect of appropriate critical evaluation at it’s most potent.
When you play the guitar, make sure you look after how you are percieved. Not just as a player, but as a person and as a contributor to the music you wish to make in whatever situation you may be in.
All the best,
Nik
Last edited by Nik Harrison; 8th November 2012 at 05:01 PM. Reason: Couple of typing errors.
Nice one Nik,
A great jumping off point. I like Lincoln, and possibly because of this - I interpret his comment in line with something described in the Bodhidarma.
He's saying the way to gain reputation is by aligning your character to what people want you to be - rather than aligning your reputation to what people want you to be.
In one reputation is a skin in the other it's clothes
Thanks Frank,Originally Posted by frankus
Nice one Nik,
A great jumping off point. I like Lincoln, and possibly because of this - I interpret his comment in line with something described in the Bodhidarma.
He's saying the way to gain reputation is by aligning your character to what people want you to be - rather than aligning your reputation to what people want you to be.
In one reputation is a skin in the other it's clothes
This suggestion is often misunderstood to be a critical attack on this quote and it's not meant to be at all. It's simply a perspective on it which is seldom entertained. Lincoln's character was notable and widely respected, although it was the widespread faith that was placed in Lincoln that offered his words the credence that we recognise today.
I've heard all too often that many hear of what I have to say about learning guitar far more than people have actually heard me play it! I guess that's a fair comment, and something that I should probably address a bit more seriously if I'm to expect people to have faith in what I have to say about it! If I'm developing a reputation for being a 'talker' more than a 'doer', then what I have to say will rightfully be dismissed far more easily than if people consider me to be able to back up what I have to say when I've got the instrument in my hands.
Last edited by Nik Harrison; 8th November 2012 at 05:44 PM.
Nik,
anyone who has listened to the musical contributions you have posted over time should have no doubt as to you being a doer, and a damm fine one at that...I reckon that you joining a band playing bass was inspirational to a number of us who too often are content to remain in our comfort zones without getting out and actually playing...it certainly gave me the idea to take singing lessons to develop another instrument so that felt more like a musician, a communicator of music and not just someone who plays guitar a bit
thanks and best wishes
David
I deliberately gave myself a bit fo time to mull this over to integrate it a bit better before replying.
I see your point. I wasn't mentally prepared to explore the comment from a different angle before, the power of reputation is such that I sought the application for the comment that ensured Abe's comment made sense to me - emulation rather than differentiation. What am I going to learn from that? in the first instance I can meditate on the usefulness of the comment - but why not then spend time finding ways where the comment is not valid (should I revere Abe enough to not find the comments boundaries and better define the world?)
I think in exploring interpersonal relationships (using this quote) you're going beyond self-motivation for performance (how I interpreted the quote). For me that's quite a step but a very necessary one for the types of success you're coaching for.
Yes, his acceptance to day has little to do with his popularity while living and a lot to do with historian's reverence of him - which sees him taught in schools - while Mark Twain might be overlooked.
Humans are basically "monkey see monkey do" - when that works it's great, but when it doesn't it because the things monkey is doing are in his head or microscopically small movements or too fast to be observed; then we need someone with the patience and command of English to describe these things.
Personally, I've met you so I've a sense of the authenticity you live; I like it and these posts remind me of that. Where I've found myself doubting contributors such as Clarky in the past, it's often turned out to be me judging them by my low standards and me having to address that.
David and Frank, thank you both very much for your feedback!
When buried in projects like I tend to be, it's always nice to share parts of them and get invaluable critical feedback. As one of my favourite expressions states: "You will never see a problem if it's on the other side of your eyes" so when people share their views on it, it's always welcome. Kind words are always nice, but even the harshest criticism is valuable.
Last edited by Nik Harrison; 16th November 2012 at 06:04 PM.
This is the working diagram which is at the very start of my current draft of the CGPW. I'm probably going to get it drawn a bit better by someone who can do graphic design much better than me throwing together a diagram in Microsoft word (which is pretty much everyone else who owns a computer), but the essence of the message is there. Any thoughts, feelings, suggestions, ideas, most welcome as ever:
What is the CGPW? and What is its purpose?
This purpose of this project is to present a clear, concise explanation and presentation of the nature of the guitar as an instrument so that it may be used as an aid to the exploration of the guitar’s potential, a guide to help the reader teach themselves how to be creative with the guitar, and a reference book which could be consulted to help the development of a particular technique, or to help develop a musical idea on the instrument.
Essentially the main priority of the project is to develop a high level of control over what you are capable of playing on a guitar, both in technical and musical terms that can be expressed using the following diagram:
Last edited by Nik Harrison; 17th November 2012 at 08:10 AM.
So who can draw reasonably well and/or does graphic design?
Today, I'm picking my guitar up for the first time this year. I've spent the last 6 days without playing at all so that I can properly test a practise regime that I've been developing over a number of years to see what happens. It's based on a scientific approach to practise, based on our understanding of the neurological communication between our brain and hands.
Wish me luck folks! Because if this doesn't work I'm going to need to completely re-write a sizeable amount of the CGPW handbook!
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