| During the next few months, I will be presenting a | | | | appear naturally, right? The process of becoming a |
| series of articles exploring the application of ancient | | | | musician will unfold in the same natural effortless |
| Taoism to the process of becoming a musician. This | | | | manner if you will just ALLOW it! |
| article is concerned with one principle of the Tao: Take | | | | Does this mean that you just sit back, do nothing, and |
| Pleasure in the Mystery. | | | | magically become a music God? Of course not! |
| TAKE PLEASURE IN THE MYSTERY | | | | Becoming accomplished at ANYTHING requires |
| In other words, enjoy the process! Becoming a | | | | dedication and practice. The point IS that if you |
| musician is all about the PROCESS, and not the END | | | | approach each step as it is revealed to you with an |
| RESULT. If it were possible for someone to open the | | | | attitude of pleasure and wonder, you will naturally |
| top of your head and pour in all of the musical | | | | make amazing progress. |
| knowledge and technical ability that has ever existed | | | | Say, for example, that you have realized that |
| since the beginning of time, that would NOT make you | | | | practicing scales is a MUST. First of all, be thankful that |
| a great musician. | | | | you have been given this realization. Then keep your |
| Why? Because you would be missing the PROCESS! | | | | mind and your eyes open for hints about how to |
| The filtering of this knowledge and skill through the | | | | practice scales. Be faithful in carrying out the methods |
| unique perspectives and talents which are YOU is | | | | of practice that have been given to you but do not get |
| INDISPENSABLE to the creation of a musician. Why | | | | attached to the result. Don't keep "checking" to see if |
| else would there be so many UNIQUE manifestations | | | | you are a great player yet. Trying to figure out if you |
| of musicianship from a mere TWELVE notes? | | | | are "where you should be" is not only a waste of |
| Allow your playing to progress and unfold without | | | | valuable time, it is also very harmful to your progress. |
| always trying to "figure it all out"--without constantly | | | | Get out of your own way and take pleasure in every |
| pushing toward that imagined "correct result". If you | | | | accomplishment. Enjoy each step in your development |
| remain open to the process, you will find that you are | | | | --each little step has limitless value of its own. You |
| naturally led to that thing which you need to do next | | | | have in you everything you need to become a |
| and even better, you will be given the means by which | | | | musician. All you have to do is relax, take pleasure in |
| you can do it! | | | | the process, and let the music happen through you! |
| Think back to the beginning of your desire to be a | | | | The next chapter of The Tao of Music will be Learn |
| musician. Did you fret and strain and try ever so hard | | | | Creatively. Best wishes for your journey--you are |
| to figure out just what it was that you wanted to do? | | | | indeed fortunate to have been chosen by Music! |
| No, your passion for music likely just seemed to | | | | |