It takes work to master an instrument...
But if you're enjoying it fully, it's not really work, it's something that you love to do. Of course you need to know the basics and know them so well that they become unconscious routines. But while you develop your basic technique, you can begin to notice the things you are naturally good at, The things that just want to pop out. The little things that are so easy for you. The things that come up when you just relax and play with the instrument. I want you to take the time to master those as well as your scales, technical exercises, and the pieces you are currently practicing. In this way, you begin to create your own voice. And because your curiosity is sparked, you will hunger for more technique and knowledge and thus will practice more, listen more carefully and be open to new concepts wherever they may be found. And as you develop a practice routine, you find that you're doing it only because you want to. And then you turn around and find out you are practicing a lot. And making fantastic progress on your instrument. But by that point it's not really the technical prowess that matters anymore, even though it's growing by leaps and bounds. What really drives you is your own curiosity about what you can do with this newly acquired power. And that's when things start to get really interesting....
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Hi Everyone,
Hip Bones will be performing in the Bay Area this week. Come on out! " angular melodies, time-twisting rhythmic figures and fluent solos, often over hard grooving loops." Shannon Hoover: bass/loops Gary Schwantes: saxophones and bamboo flutes Robin Tolleson: drums http://www.hipbones.net Hip Bones Tuesday, September 18 at 7:30pm…Aubergine, 755 Petaluma Ave. S., Sebastopol, CA 707-861-9190 auberginebarandcafe.com Wednesday, September 19 at 8pm…Jupiter Brewery, 2181 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 510-843-8277 www.jupiterbeer.com Thursday, September 20 at 6pm…Downtown Farmer’s Market, San Rafael, CA www.sanrafaelmarket.org Friday, September 21 at 4pm…The Bistro 18th Anniversary Celebration 1001 B. St., Hayward, CA 510-886-8525 the-bistro.com Saturday, September 22 at 8pm…Uva Trattoria 1040 Clinton St., Napa, CA 707-255-6646 www.uvatrattoria.com Sunday, September 23 at 9:30pm…The Boom Boom Room 1601 Fillmore St., San Francisco, CA 415-673-8000 boomboomblues.com |
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March 2016
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Gary Schwantes
saxophones, bamboo flutes composition |