Effortless Mastery - Liberating The Master Musician Within

From Preface: Preface (The realm of the gifted has always seemed to be an exclusive club. The common belief is that, ”Some of us have it, some of us don’t.” Implicit in that statement is the assumption that ”most of us don’t.” The way music (and, I suspect other subjects as well) is traditionally taught works for those who ”have it.” Only very gifted or advanced students absorb the language of music in the way it is usually taught. Perhaps two percent of all music students ever attain anything. Many others struggle with the various elements of playing or improvising and as a result do not become performers. Most people fall by the wayside. We don’t seem to have given much thought to this discrepancy, simply accepting the old adage, ”some of us have it and some of us don’t.” In cultures less intruded upon by ”civilization,” everyone is a musician. It has much to do with how music is introduced into our lives. This book will look at that subject and offer hope as well as practices to those who think they ”don’t have it.” These practices will also increase the effectiveness of those who believe they do. My belief is that, if you can talk, you can play. There are many reasons why the so-called less gifted don’t get it. There are also methods of obtaining ”it,” which this book will discuss. Many people have what I call musiphobia: fear of playing music. To a person afflicted with musiphobia, touching an instrument is like touching a hot stove. This is irrational, since one cannot get burned touching an instrument-yet it is a common problem. Though there are absolutely no negative consequences, most of us are afraid. It is not our fault. We have been programmed to fear playing. All too often, our relationship to music is doomed to failure.