Sound Zen

I usually hang out blogwise on the Aikido side of the Zen Center webpage but I just felt compelled to share my thoughts and feelings on the workshop we had at the Zen Center/dojo this past weekend. It was a wonderful day at the dojo as part of a series workshops being presented centering around different aspects of Zen. This special workshop today was of particular interest to me as music and sound is the way that I make my livelihood. The workshop was led by Jay Sensei and John Kyomon Wieczorek who is a freelance percussionist visiting from New York. He and Jay Sensei have gigged together and have shared Zen retreats together along their path. So much of what I do in music in my life as a conductor is structured and follows a very narrow musical highway. The musicians must play the right notes and rhythms as an example of this. It really got me thinking about what is the “rightness” in sound, music and art. When does sound become music? Are all sounds music?

Labels and judgment are such major factors in music regardless of what genre you listen. For example, “that is out of tune”, “the trombones are behind” or “man, he is a really good player” having the need to put a label on what was just heard. For me the workshop was a pathway to try to work away from that judgment and the placement of labels on elements of music and in life. When we place a label or a judgment on someone or something we actually limit our ability to see it evolve because we have it “figured out”. So if they change, we don’t always perceive it immediately if ever. I learned early on in my teaching career to be careful about telling young people they aren’t capable of doing something because so often they will prove you wrong. People’s capacity to change, grow, evolve is only limited by their mind. And often the desire to do it “right” is what gets in our way of reaching our full potential. We hold ourselves back for whatever reason.

I find this to be true in Aikido as well. Not to be governed by fear or doing the technic correct. (Although I have found on occasion it is good when falling to land “correctly” otherwise the mat will happily offer a not so gentle correction. LOL) Move in life down a path of mindfulness. Being really present on the mat or the stage or with my parents etc leads to living life truly honestly. To be in the moment and not in fear of messing up, or playing a wrong note leads to real intimacy with whatever you are doing. When there is the space and openness of non judgment it allows people to share and open up with what they are about AND most importantly to share what is inside of them which in turn creates an intimacy circuit of giving and receiving. Both Sensei and John created an open space for all of us express ourselves and dig into what we are about by using the vehicle of sound. Many thanks to John Kyomon Wieczorek for sharing his thoughts and talents with us. There are many other workshops and you should definitely come and check them out. It will be time well spent.

Peace

The Maestro (There I go labeling myself, LOL)