Comments | sallytuppence: Kung Fu Test

sallytuppence

Kung Fu Test

Aug 22, 2006 15:57

A couple of years ago, when I was starting to get serious about writing, I realized that a lot of writers have other creative outlets in their lives. They do felting, or archery, or embroidery, or cartooning, or folk dancing, or making movies, or beading, or playing the recorder. Several very good writer friends are very serious about martial ( Read more... )

Comments 41

ciunas_alainn August 23 2006, 06:16:07 UTC

I posted some entries that touch on what you are saying. The first is how I came to rediscover the cello: http://amyjalapeno.livejournal.com/59600.html

And the second, observations I jotted down when my kids and I watched The Pianist: http://amyjalapeno.livejournal.com/28149.html

I think everything you mentioned above is good, but not necessarily vital to "remember" in the creation process. I think the majority of it is more of a bi-product. I believe the process of creation is much simpler than we often think. I give good explanations why in the entry links I've included above. I'd be interested to hear (read) your thoughts.

ciunas_alainn August 23 2006, 06:29:15 UTC

In addition...

If one is passionate about what it is they are learning/creating and they are conscious of that passion, technicalities can't help but fall into order. At least, that's what I think and has been my experience. :)

sallytuppence August 23 2006, 14:37:20 UTC

I think you're right. As you say in your entry, trying to remember means getting all tense and not playing the instrument in the moment.

Yet at the same time, the ability to create in the moment relies on lots of preparation, too--scales, and learning the notes, and awkward half-hour lessons when your hands are nervously sweaty and slipping off the keys...

ciunas_alainn August 23 2006, 18:24:01 UTC

Yep. The technical is very important to have down pat, so that you CAN let go.

Something that assists me with learning the technical is listening to a recording of the piece, over and over, emersing myself in and paying attention to the notes and the feeling of what the artist is expressing. Maybe it's my Suzuki upbringing, but it helps nontheless.

anonymous August 23 2006, 10:26:09 UTC

When I play music regularly, I feel more relaxed and also more in tune with myself (or maybe "at peace with myself" is a better way to put it - overall, I just feel more comfortable). What I think I get most out of by playing music non-professionally (as opposed to professionally, as I used to do it) is the chance, every single time, to devote my whole self, body, heart, mind, into the effortful creation of beauty (no matter how imperfect), for no other goal but beauty itself. I think that's a wonderful thing to have in life, and I always feel better for it. For me, music is that effort; for other people, martial arts or gardening or painting or sculpting... and maybe one common factor is that all those practices involve body as well as mind ( ... )

sallytuppence August 23 2006, 14:40:05 UTC

This is such an important distinction! You're so right--making the music is just making beauty, without seeking external markers of success.

The writing? Is a lot more complicated and, as you say, muddled. My goal as a writer...well, it's not to create beauty, that's for sure.

affinity8 August 23 2006, 11:24:03 UTC

Great points about music! I fiddle with my electronic keyboard now and then, and have said I wanted to learn piano for the last, um, several years, but I've never made the commitment like you have.

Good luck with performing the piece for your teacher!

sallytuppence August 23 2006, 14:41:09 UTC

Thanks! I'm going to try to head over to the music school this week to practice on the eight-foot grand, just so it doesn't scare me on Saturday when I hit the low notes and they actually sound like low notes.

michaeljasper August 26 2006, 19:14:26 UTC

This is a wonderful entry (that I've been meaning to read for a couple days, and just now got to it, after a wonderful hour and a half of novel-revising).

This makes me really want to pick up the piano again. We need more music in the house, other than the music we play on the radio or iPod. People don't make music today like they used to, and we're all poorer for it.

I'm gonna bug Lizzie about getting a used piano again...!

(I like the "no backspace key" comment best!)

Amazing how much of this relates to writing, and to life in general. Live in the moment, make each key count.

Thanks!