Recently finished reading “Effortless Mastery: Liberating the Master Musician Within” by Kenny Werner, and wanted to ask if anyone else has read it and whether or not the learned from it and was able to apply it to their drumming? Can anyone share about it?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/156224003X/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

I really got a lot out of it in terms of not letting how well or bad I play determine how I feel about myself off the stage. I’m trying not to get down about my playing and enjoy the moment of playing more, not wondering what the keyboardist this of me because of the weird look that I just got from him. Do I sound good? How do I sound? Am I playing good right now? Am I in the pocket? So many thoughts can go through my head while playing rather than clearing my head and playing from a ‘space’ where the music and expression can just flow through me.

I also am applying his suggestions for practicing as well. I definitely don’t have the blocks of time to practice that I once had, pre-marriage, pre one kid, pre two kids. I used to get very bummed by my lack of practice and when I didn’t practice, my expectation was that I need hours to practice, which wouldn’t happen and I would feel failure and unproductive. I used to practice out of books so much, that I felt I need lots of time in them. Books are great, and I will get back to more exercises, but not at this time. Now, I’ve learn to appreciate even a small amount of practice time working on one thing, or just playing freely as an drummer/artist. I’m learning to focus on small things and try to gain a mastery over it, not rush to the next exercise or latest groove, without truly grasping it, which seems to be an issue for many drummers/teachers/students on the forum young and old.

Werner’s says a lot in his book and gives lots of suggestion on how to approach the dysfunctional aspects of our practicing, playing and view of ourselves as well as how to meditatively getting to your ‘space’ to play from. Not everyone will like this book, relate to it or know how to apply it, maybe think its too New age, but I found some very practical ideas for me personally.

Anyone else?

Thanks for the link! It looks like there is a lot of great information and advice on there, though I'm not a 'fossil' yet.

There is passive meditation and active meditation. Trying to be acutely aware of your situation and being here NOW, is meditation.

You just didn't know you were doing it... 

i started reading this book a while back on the recommendation of some cafe members. i got frustrated with it about halfway through, in part because it was a little too touchy feely and unrealistic for my taste/mindset at the time [and mind you, i can be very touchy feely, new-agey, 'out there,' philosophical and spiritual].

i'm pretty much with felix. i think that we shouldn't delude ourselves as players--that there are established standards that denote a knowledeable/capable musician. we should work toward those standards. at the end of the day, we play for ourselves, but also for an audience, and we want to be at our best.

however, i do think there is a lot of value in not beating oneself up/becoming too judgmental about ones playing, and this i think the book points out well. we can waste a lot of time and energy telling ourselves we suck, when we could be putting that energy toward working to get better. like they say...turn your weakness into your strength.

this is where a good teacher is so helpful. i love my new teach, because he says, in very clear but constructive/nonjudgmental ways, where my weak points lie and what i need to do to fix them. we're not wrapped up with 'time'--ie; this has to be achieved in this time period. we set goals and work for them, and if they're not achieved, you work toward them some more. eventually you will get them. we do focus on being 'present' and in the zone, but not to the exclusion of what's happening around you. you have to be subjectively and objectively aware.

i agree with those who say this book is more for the advanced player, because by that point they will have likely reached other types of hurdles/issues in their playing--i believe werner even mentions when he hooked up with this effortless guru of his, he was already at a level where he could burn. i don't burn yet. i'm just starting to smolder. so i can't identify with getting to that next level of psychospiritual playing ephiphany.

net-net: practice hard, practice joyfully, practice with purpose and knowledge and work on your weaknesses. eventually, you will achieve a level of understanding and ability...and THEN you can worry about obsessing over mastering stuff 'effortlessly.'



chakras 'n past lives2ya-
smoggy d