Lower Sydenham, London.
Meeting VII
Today's meeting is the least attended so far. Some of the Team are either still traveling back from the Course in Spain, or recovering.
In the Circle today: Pawel & Jacek.
9:28 - The Practice of Doing Nothing.
Session I [10:05-11:15]
We begin with sending best wishes to Chris, Tywi & Mark. Then pay attention to the sounds outside the house, inside the house, inside the room, we listen to ourselves.
Metronome at 60bpm.
2nd Primary on the A string:
Begin with half notes, then J plays his half note on the upbeat, which adds up to quarter notes. We play the count of 4 like this, then swap the parts. A good challenge.
Do the same with the quarter notes, with second guitar playing on the offbeat = eighth notes.
Both of us have to make an effort to make it happen. It's good - every timing inaccuracy is very clearly exposed.
4th Primary that builds up to the 28 bars picking pattern. We begin very slowly, then move to the possible and comfortable speed. Add the chords and gradually extend the number of bars. We complete the session with going through the piece (for the first time). It sounds good.
Very diligent and hard work so far.
We complete with listening to ourselves, sounds inside the room, inside the house, and outside the house.
* * * Coffee break * * *
Session II [12:45 - 15:00]
Rhythm Exercises / Division of Attention (without the guitar)
The importance of relaxation is acknowledged. Time to let go of tensions.
Metronome at 66 BPM.
Quarter notes pattern in the feet: Left Right
Stop the feet.
Quarter notes pattern in the hands: Left Right Right
We count 3 bars of 4 and 4 bars of 3 on top of it.
Put the hands and the feet together - this is impossible. So we establish what is possible, and gradually move towards this. While the feet are going we just tap on first out of three beats: Left. Then add the second one, and finally third one. There's a short moment when we 'have it', and there's a modest sense of accomplishment.
ca 85 BPM
Feet tap with the metronome.
We count in 5.
Then tap on 'one'. Then move to internal count - possible.
Tap on 'four'. Then move internal count - possible again.
Tap on 'one' & 'four' is impossible, so we just go back to 'one' and work towards integrating in the body the compound rhythm produced by the feet and the hands tapping together - this is possible.
Review some parts of Music For a Found Harmonium. Pawel asks a very good question about the left hand, which leads us to reviewing the 1st Primary and looking at how this can be practiced. This is very clearly needed at this point.
May we have more of such quality questions - this is useful not only to the person asking it, but contributes to the process and is useful and available for all.
We look at 3421, 1234 & 4321 permutations.
We complete with listening and then acknowledging the other members of the London Guitar Circle and also other active Guitar Circles in the world.
* * * * * * * *
We have lunch together, then Pawel has to quickly leave to work, but there's time for a quick photo.
At least the faces are not all that count:
At the moment there are three people from the Paris Circle that are planning to join us for the Circulation Day this Saturday. This is good news!
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