Author Archives: Monahan

“Richard Sherman; You Just Won The Super Bowl…”

“…what are you going to do next?”(announcer). “I’m going to Disney World!” (Sherman).

Click here to view the embedded video.

Now how many people would actually expect to hear something like that in today’s world from Richard Sherman moments after the Seahawks beat the 49′ers in storybook fashion? We talked a bit in class the other day about why he is getting such bad press. Shortly after the big game Forbs published an article that as of today has 44,496,464 views(!) Here are just a few snippets:

“His degree from Stanford was in communications … which might explain why, while he seemed to be hollering like a crazy person, he didn’t curse and looked into the camera the whole time.”

“If you stick a microphone in a football player’s face seconds after he made a huge play to send his team to the Super Bowl, you shouldn’t be surprised if he’s a little amped up.”

“Ninety-nine percent of on-field interviews are boring and useless. The TV networks do them anyway for the 1 percent of the time they get a moment like Richard Sherman.”

”As a reporter and writer, that raw emotion — whatever form it takes — is exactly what I hope for. That’s why media people fight for access to locker rooms. After players and coaches cool off, most of them turn into Crash Davis, reading from the book of cliches.”

“But we — the media, and fans in general — don’t know what we want. We rip athletes for giving us boring quotes. But if they say what they actually feel, we rip them for spouting off or showing a lack of class.”

“It’s like we want them to be thinking, Well, that was a fine contest, and jolly good that we won. Which NO athlete is EVER thinking.”

So why all the fuss? To use the local vernacular; haters gonna’ hate. That’s all there is to it. Be sure to watch the game Sunday– and when the Seahawks triumph over the Broncos listen for Richard Sherman to give Mickey’s magic-kingdom some love~

Book Impressions/Connections: “Orientals” pt1

Reading through Robert G. Lee’s book on Asian Americans in Popular Culture, I’ve been thinking a lot about connections. Some obvious, some less so– all filtered and framed through my love of music and film. Reviewing my reading log for the chapters three and four, there are several notes labeled “connections.” Here then, is a sample of those notes along with some of the connections I made.

“The ethnic stratification of the labor market and the radicalization of class struggle resulted from the massive wave of immigration to America between 1840-1850, the emancipation of souther slaves in the wake of the Civil War” (pg53).

1989 Fall of the Berlin Wall

This Reminded of a similar situation be it on a smaller scale, of what happened in Germany when the USSR collapsed and the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. I was stationed in the Benelux at the time, and witnessed the celebrations and contentions. Initially nearly everyone in Germany celebrated the fall of the USSR and the wall with a warm acceptance of the East Germans as they flowed into the West. Shortly thereafter unemployment rates grew however, tensions flared and resentment festered for years after. Once the dust settled there was a clear sense of us and them.

Chapter Three talks a lot about “coolie labor” (menial) and “free labor” (craftsmen). The idea that the collie labor was reserved for the Chinese, while the crafts-type work became somewhat nostalgic and the realm of the white-worker. Considering this was in the mid/late 1800s, it is surprising to see these portrayals continue today in some rather unexpected ways. To connect it with my Rock subject, the world of guitars provides a good example of this. For instance, Gibson Guitars has two distinct product lines: US made Gibson guitars, and their imported Epiphone guitars.

electric-guitar-epiphone-les-paul-standard-plus-cherry-sunburst_close

The US line is presented as an “…ambitious quest to recapture the craftsmanship, performance and quality of an area that had passed…” Their vision is firmly fixed in the nostalgic (with rare occasions of exploration in modern technology) and their guitars– the Les Paul model for example– start at $2,000 and skyrocket from there. The Epiphone Les Pauls are imported from several Asian countries; China, Korea and Indonesia to name a few. The price of these new typically run between $200 – $600. The US made versions are hailed as the “holy grail,” of the craft, while their imported cousins are thought of by many as comparatively inferior, low-quality beginner guitars.

One last connection I’ll mention here was hard to miss:

“In the popular press, many a political cartoonist portrayed the stereotyped Irish Mike or Paddy as ape-like, with hideous low brow and jutting lower jaw. Such simian images of the Irish immigrant were as commonplace as similar subhuman images of the Chinese and the African American…” (pg86).

This reads like a page directly from the National Socialist German Workers Party of the 1930s; a title reminiscent of the Workingman’s Party of California the author mentions in this context on page 62; ideologies from 1876 mirroring those of the 1930s.

My notebook is filled with connections similar to those mentioned above; some more direct than others, but all are tied with one common thread; anytime groups of people gather, subgroups emerge, leaders rise, and injustice follows. Carl Marx had an optimistic vision of communism where the Proletariat and Bourgeoisie cease to exist:

“Following the proletariats’ defeat of capitalism, a new classless society would emerge based on the idea: ‘from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs’. In such a society, land, industry, labour and wealth would be shared between all people. All people would have the right to an education, and class structures would disappear. Harmony would reign, and the state would simply ‘wither away’” (British Library)

The fatal flaw of course as I mentioned above, is that of group dynamics. History provides example after example of Marx’s failed manifesto time and time again. Leaders will always rise up and assume power which eventually leads to history’s truth that, “Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it.”

Begin At The Beginning

This part of the project (Rock) is a tangible attempt to draw connections between Asain and American Pop-culture through the medium of music– in this case making music. Along the way I will post other items that cross this path… whether they are more, or less tangible only time will tell.

My plan is to follow the wisdom of Zen Guitar and post thoughts, observations and maybe some videos as I travel this path. Hopefully something I post here will be useful to you, or you’re friends. I would LOVE for this blog to inspire others to take up a musical instrument– especially the guitar. At any rate, I think it will be fun to look back on these posts… two or three years from now.

To put this experiment into context, be sure to check out my blog review of Philip Toshio Sudo’s excellent book, “Zen Guitar.”

The chapter titled, The Beginners Mind summarizes my view about taking on a challenge such as learning a new instrument– which anyone at any age can do– is that it’s like running a marathon;

“Those who want to run, run. Those determined to finish, finish. As the samurai say, ‘The only opponent is within.’ There are no tricks or secrets. It is a matter of will– putting one foot in front of the other every step of the path. In Zen Guitar, honesty, integrity, spiritual strength, and depth of conviction are more important than skill. These are the elements that make vital music, and they have nothing to do with natural talent. Where there’s a will, theres the Way.”

First, I (we?) need tools; a guitar– in this case a bass-guitar, amp and assorted gear. When choosing your gear, keep in mind the wisdom of Zen Guitar;

“…make sure you look for an instrument of suitable quality… Avoid poor craftsmanship; it’s the sign of a poor spirit. That doesn’t mean you have to buy the most expensive equipment… Learn to identify quality and appreciate anything thats well made, wherever you find it. Look deeply into the spirit that goes into making an item of quality– the care, precision, the attention to detail. Incorporate that spirit into your work…make [it] as well as you can. To do otherwise is spiritless.”

The tools/gear I choose: G&L bass guitar, Carvin combo amp, Boss tuner/metronome, notebook (for keeping track of my practice sessions, music notation, etc.) and my textbook of sorts– “Bass Guitar For Dummies.”

Next, rather than finding a good teacher (-no money left over after acquiring the gear) I am following the advice of Victor Wooten, which is to just start playing– this will inspire me to practice more often. I started through the book, and searched out a few foundational lessons on YouTube. There are some good videos to get you started, which I’ll post links to in the Bass Guitar Journal page.

It is important to remember that not everything on Youtube is helpful, or useful. There are however some real gems to be found. One of the gems belongs to Scott Devine, titled, “The Most Important Bass Lesson I Ever Teach.” Scott is responsible for A TON of quality instructional videos– and they are free. This first video establishes a solid foundation and proper perspective to approach learning a new instrument. It contains wisdom (not just information) that will sustain the beginner through the long journey ahead. GREAT stuff here!

Click here to view the embedded video.

With a proper foundation established, it’s time to pick up the instrument. Building on the Zen Guitar wisdom that says,

“Don’t pick up your guitar aimlessly. Act with a sense of purpose. Be of the mind that you’re going to do something– even if you don’t know what that is yet. Prepare yourself to play.”

As a long-time guitarist, I intentionally remind myself that playing the bass is quite different in approach and technique. For example, on guitar I strike the strings with a pick; good bass tone however, is all in the fingers. I found videos very helpful in getting started, but effective practice is much more than following a video or two. You have to have a plan. Time is a premium in our house, and when one considers all the responsibilities that come with married life, finding time to practice can be tough. Thankfully I came across this article on No Treble, an excellent website for bass players:

”Efficient 20 Minute Practice”

The advice in that article has really helped me stay focused (rather than noodling around), and to concentrate practice time to improving areas that I’m weak in, opposed to playing only the that which I already know. I started keeping track of these practice sessions with a basic 80-sheet bound notebook. I choose a quad-rule (graph paper) version because I like to map out fretboard shapes, and locations. Having the little boxes pre-printed is also a time saver, and keeps things neat and orderly.

Lastly, I created this little cheat sheet, or as I like to call it “quick reference guide” to the fretboard. I have found it very useful in conjunction with my practice logbook.

Theres nothing like playing with other musicians to inspire me to improve, and keep learning new things. It’s my hope someone will read this blog– perhaps this entry– and find the encouragement needed to learn an instrument. The great blues musician, Elwood Blues once said,

“…no pharmaceutical product could ever equal the rush you get when the band hits that groove; the people are dancing’, and shouting’, and swain’, and the house is rocking’!”

Stay tuned & in-tune!~

The Language of Music

Since I’ve embarked on this new adventure– learning the bass guitar– I’ve found inspiration in many different, unexpected places. One of the best parts of being in an Evergreen program is exploring other cultures and learning to see things from a different/new perspective.

I am experiencing the same thing when trying to learn songs on the bass. Simply listening to a favorite tune is one thing… listening to what each musician is doing is something else. Now that I am specifically paying attention to what the bassist is doing, a whole new world has been revealed to me. The songs are the same, but I am listening to them from a completely different/new perspective. It’s much like hearing the song for the first time.

Along the way I came across a musician named Victor Wooten. Many bass players already know him– as one friend explained to me, “he is to the bass, what Carlos Santana is to the guitar.” I first became aware of Wooten through his book, “The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search For Growth Through Music.” Then, as if a guardian angel was paying attention to my musical journey, I received this TedTalk video through Facebook of Victor Wooten describing music as a language.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here are a few excerpts from the video. Consider these ideas yourself and how you might integrate them into your life– musical, or otherwise:

“Although many musicians agree that music is a language, it is rarely treated as such. Many of us treat it as something that can only be learned by following a strict regimen, under the tutelage of a skilled teacher…”

“Think about the first language you learned as a child. More importantly, think about how you learned it. You were a baby when you first started speaking, and even through you spoke the language incorrectly, you were allowed to make mistakes. And the more mistakes you made the more your parents smiled.

Learning to speak was not something you were went somewhere to do only a few times a week. And the majority of the people you spoke to were not beginners. They were already proficient speakers. Imagine your parents forcing you to only speak to other babies until you were good enough to speak to them. You would probably be an adult before you could carry on a conversation with them.

To use a musical term, as a baby you were allowed to jam with professionals. If we approach music in the same natural way we approacehed our first language we will learn to speak it in the same short time it took to speak our first language.”

So not only am I leaning to listen and hear music differently, my perspective on music– and learning– has changed.

Just get out there and play. The more you play, the more you will want to practice. Before long you will be able to express yourself through your instrument. As Victor puts it,

“Music comes from the musician, not the instrument.”

Movie Thoughts: Gran Torino

Why Gran Torino? Why use that car for the title, to craft the movie around?

We know it wouldn’t be Prius, Accord, a mini van.

So Why Gran Torino?

Clint Eastwood’s character was a Korean War veteran, living in Detroit among a large Homng American community. He worked at the ford company for many years after the war. Then in 2008 here is Eastwood, presuemably retired, the film follows Eastwood as an old crumudgun. He mentions he installed the cars transmission right on the assembly line in 1972.

The car could be symbolical of Eastwood’s character– it’s a classic/old-school American built car that is considered antiquated in contrast to vehicles in 2008. In this movie, the car is in mint condition. Eastwood is in great shape, but has an ailment causing him to cough up blood.

The 1970s Asian cars became more common; partly due to their quality compared to the US vehicles, as well as the fuel shortage of the time. The motor companies created the “Buy American” / anti-Japanese campaign that caught on. The Torino represents Eastwood.

Eastwood, like his car is a product of a by-gone age. Having served in and survived the Korean war, he adopted an anti-Asian exterior. The movies over-the-top use of profanity and racist stereotypes has been viewed by some as “…a critical examination of an iconic brand of white macho maleness that he [Eastwood] played a significant part in creating” (Wikipedia.org).

Walt’s (Eastwood) self-centered grand daughter wanted the car… and his Hmong American neighbor, Thaou attempts to steal the Torino as part of a gang initiation. The car serves to bring the two together. Walt begins to see beyond his biases seeing Thaou for the person he really is– not just an embodiment of a racist stereotype. In doing so Walt begins to develop an appreciation for the Hmong’s; so much so that he ends up giving his life to save Thaou. Walt leaves the Torino to Thaou in his will– symbolically weaving the past with the future in the present. The story would have been quite different had the car been a Prius.

Movie impressions: The Debut

Its tough being an artist.

Some people are lucky enough to make a living expressing themselves through art. Most of us however, are less fortunate; maybe life gets in the way of your art, and like Ben’s father you submit to the expectations of your parents and become a doctor. But that fire still burns inside the artist and every once in a while it boils over and comes out no matter how much you try to suppress it. Ben’s father steps on stage with his old bandmates to sing at his teenage daughters birthday party.

In his book Zen Guitar, Philip Sudo writes; “At bottom, it is the sound of the divine spark within us all… if the sound within you is strong, it will find a way to come out.” Ben is an artist. His is expressed through drawings. But his father, as his father before, wants Ben to become a doctor. Everything is set for Ben; theres a UCLA scholarship (thank God it wasn’t USC–) and a family member’s practice has an internship spot waiting for him. Unlike his father however, Ben sticks with his passion to draw and sells everything to pay for his first quarter at CalArts.

Still though, being an artist is tough.

This friction between Ben and his father is going on for years– after all, the man just wants whats best for his son– right?! This idea is confronted by father and son after the birthday party. Long story short, Ben’s grandfather confronts his son– Ben’s dad– about his hobby with the band. Knowing the pain of suppressing that artistic fire within, Ben’s father accepts the fact Ben is dedicated to following his hobby– his dream– his talent.

The movie ends before Ben enters CalArts. It doesn’t tell us what his father does with his divine spark… does he return to singing with a band? My hope is that he is so inspired by his son’s determination to follow his art, that dad gets the band back together. After all, it is NEVER too late to let it out.

What about the grandfather? What form of expression has he suppressed in his many years? We will never know. We can however, learn from the lesson of “The Debut.” What is the sound within you? Is there a talent you have suppressed? In case you didn’t know, the “critical periods” theory that says if you didn’t learn a language as a child you never can as an adult has been disproved by neuroscientists time and time again. Don’t let anyone tell you its too late. Follow Ben’s example and chase your dreams.

Being an artist is tough.

But few things are equally rewarding~

Book Review: Strangers From A Different Shore (pt1)

Ronald Takaki’s anthology of Asian Americans covers A LOT of ground, including full chapters dedicated to each group. As you know, I don’t care for traditional reviews. In every book I’ve read, there is always something that sticks with me, and it is those somethings that I like to write about.

“Watershed of WWII” was the standout chapter for me. Many have said World War II was the turning point of the worlds modern age. Prior to the war the US was not the world power it is today, and a country’s strength was expressed through its Navy. Everything changed after the war. Airpower reigned supreme after the war. The US and USSR became the dominant forces. The nuclear age was born. Change was not lost on Takaki as he quotes Carlos Bulosan a Filipino American, “If I met him again,” says Carlos as he watches his brother leave for the Army after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, “I would not be the same. He would not be the same either. Our world was this one, but a new one was being born.” The weight of those words was heavier than anyone could have imagined.

The way “white America” would see these Strangers From A Different Shore was being forced to change. Thats not to say everything changed for the better–the myth of “military necessity” for Japanese internment camps is just one example. but people were forced to see, view… perceive Asian Americans differently. Quoting Filipino American Manuel Buaken, “No longer on the streetcar do I feel myself in the presence of my enemies. We Filipinos are the same– it is Americans that have changed in their recognition of us.” The battle for Batan earned the respect of America with Eleanor Roosevelt’s tribute to those who fought, “Fighting in Batan has been an excellent example of what happens when two different races respect each other. Men of different races and backgrounds have fought side by side and praised each other’s heroism and courage.”

So why, several days after reading so many different stories of troubles and triumphs Takaki presents did this particular section stick with me? Perhaps its because of my military background, seeing first hand the effects of war on peoples lives on both sides of a conflict. Experiencing the effects repeated deployments has on people and the way they are disregarded by the government of the country they were fighting for begins to change ones perspective; you see things differently. Either way time marches on and you do what you have to do to get by and help others do the same.

Lives of Asian Americans changed after the war. Lives of Americans changed after the war.

Connections: Challenger/Shin/WWII Stragglers/HIMYM

Find the Asian/American connection between :

1986 Challenger explosion -video-
Paull Shin -video-
WWII Stragglers -video-
How I Met Your Mother -video-

VAFB reconfigured for shuttle missions

The space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after takeoff on 28 Jan 1986. One of the seven casualties was US Air Force Mission Specialist Ellison Onizuka who was born 24 Jun 1946 in Kealakekua, Hawaii. Onizuka entered the US Air Force in Jan 1970, and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and was promoted to Colonel posthumously. As a result of the disaster, the Air Force decided to cancel its plans to use the Shuttle for military satellite launches from Vandenberg AFB, CA… a base I would be stationed at the following year (I know, I’m supposed to be looking for Asian/American connections, but I can’t help noticing connections with my life as I read these– and considering this is my blog…) Even though Vandenberg AFB was completely reconfigured to support shuttle missions it never launched one. (Wiki)

Osan AFB Korea

Paull Shin; 7 Jan 2014 resigned from the senate after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Born 27 Sept 1935 was the first Korean American elected to the Washington State Legislature. As an orphan he lived on the streets of Seoul until the Korean War in 1950 when he became a house boy for a group of US Army officers. He is adopted by one of them, brought to the States where he later earns his BA from Brigham Young, MPIA from the University of Pittsburg , and his MA & PhD from the University of Washington. So far both Onizuka and Shin are Strangers From A Different Shore, and have US military connections. Personal connection with this one…? Also military, I was stationed in South Korea and visited Soul many, many times… (Wiki)

Last WWII soldier to surrender

WWII Stragglers: 17 Jan ’14 the last Japanese soldier to surrender dies at age 91.The best report on this I could find is from ABC news which I’m briefly summarizing here. Intelligence officer Hiroo Onoda, 29 years after the war ended was last of the imperial soldiers to surrender. He was hiding in the Philippines jungle gathering intel until he met a young man named Norio Suzuki in 1974 who was searching for Onoda. Suzuki returned to Japan and reported Onoda’s whereabouts. Onoda’s superior, Major Yoshimi Taniguchi personally gave the order to surrender. Connections? The military obviously. He was born in Japan living (in hiding) in the Philippines so he can still be considered a Stranger From A Different Shore… Personal connections? Only the fact we were both military and both went to war. I never made it to the Philippines. ABC News

Finally, How I Met Your Mother. There was a lot of controversy over last weeks Kun Fu episode. Reported on 17 Jan ’14 on USA Today the headline is “‘How I Met Your Mother’ goes into the sunset with a Twitter-fueled controversy.” The show is closing out its last season and an episode spoofing Kung Fu movies upset a lot of

How I Met Your Mother

folks over its immature use of Stereo types. I’ve never watched the show, or the episode in question but from what I’ve read Twitter is all-a-buzz. The Connections here are of a more pop-culture bent; first HIMYM with the genre of martial arts films, retold on a TV sitcom, that generates a lot of activity on a pop-culture activity–Twitter. WWII has provided much pop-culture references since the beginning of the war, much of which has been transmitted through TV. Connecting with the space shuttle & Paull Shin maybe less so. The shuttle and the Discovery disaster are both iconic images. USA Today

Of course another connection that binds each of these events together, is time– each occurred in the month of January– moments in the space/time continuum, which coldly afflicts both Asians and Americans equally.

Movie Review: Better Luck Tomorrow

Literally just finished watching this movie… you know how a film takes a twist half way through? That’s what happens here. It starts off narrated by Ben, a high school student preparing for college. About 2/3 of the way through it takes a turn “it’s time to break the cycle.” Yep, Ben and his fellow high school buddies begin by working on their college applications then slowly switch to lives of crime… One of their ventures goes bad, ending up with Ben & company murdering one of their fellow students.

A few of the repeated sayings:

“At least it will look good on my college application”

“I can’t wait till I get out”

“When you got everything, what’s left?”

“Wake up call”

“Need to break the cycle”

A few days after the failed crime venture that has yet to be discovered, Ben is talking with the girlfriend of his buddy– the guy they just murdered… she asks Ben, “…have you ever made decisions that lead to other decisions, then you forget why you made those first decisions?” You can take your pick– any of those quotes could lead this review into far greater meanings… “For the first time in my life I don’t know what I’m going to do, or what the other guys are going to do…” narrates ben as the credits begin to roll. Like the film, I’m going to leave this post unresolved

Book Review: Zen Guitar

“There is a zen saying, ‘Paths cannot be taught, they can only be taken.

So it is with Zen Guitar” ~P.T. Sudo

I chose Philip Toshio Sudo’s book as part of the project because I wanted to include a guitar centric reading on music that would apply to as many people as possible—from beginner, to expert. The author describes the book as an alternative to the conventional how-to program of instruction; perfect! I love being different. “There are no chords or tunings or music theory in this dojo; you won’t find lessons on how to read music, play the blues, fingerpick or copy “Stairway to Heaven” pg16. That is only information, and can be found by a student online, in videos, or in other books.

Rather than information, Zen Guitar aims to provide wisdom. Sudo explains it like this, “The idea here is to train and to experience; it is only though the experience of our senses that we truly gain wisdom.” Describing the difference, he compares learning to make music, with learning to ride a bicycle. Having myself learned, failed, and succeeded at both endeavors, I find the comparison quite appropriate. A person cannot be told how to ride, they have to mount up, wobble, crash, and try again– “…direct experience of our bodies.” And so it is with learning to express that sound, song, music that exists in each of us.

The reader is taken through five stages of Zen Guitar– a circle from white belt to black, black to white. Sudo encourages readers to think of the stages as broadly as possible. The book is divided into five corresponding sections: Beginner’s Mind, Practice, Responsibility, Barrier, The Way of Zen Guitar.

My favorite section of the book was that called The Beginners Mind. It is a mindset required through every stage of the circle. It is about being open to new ways of thinking, and accepting that you don’t know it all, you can never know it all. The Beginners Mind opens with one from Jimi Hendrix; “My own thing is in my head. I hear sounds and if I don’t get them together nobody else will.” I caught two pieces of wisdom here (of the many possibilities):

1- we each have a sound, or music within us

2- we have to get them together our own way

The thought that we have music in us is not a breakthrough discovery. I heard Boogie Chillen on the radio when I was a kid, and learned this truth from John Lee Hooker:

Click here to view the embedded video.

“One night I was layin’ down,
I heard mama ‘n papa talkin’
I heard papa tell mama,
let that boy boogie-woogie,
It’s in him, and its got to come out”

So, we have this sound within us, how do we get it out? “… if I don’t get them together nobody else will.” It is up to each person to learn what works for them. What works for one person, doesn’t necessary will work for the next. Some pick up a guitar, others express it through drums, a piano or even just singing; we have a sound within us that we are determined express. The path of expression for me is through an electric guitar and amplifier. Once you find your path, its time to really dig in with everything you have to find your sound. There is a quote on page 79 from Carlos Santa that says it best, “If [you’re] going to sweep the floor, sweep it better than anybody in town. And if your going to play the guitar, really, really, really get in it, and don’t be jivin’.”

As with anything of value, much work is required. When you are reaching for something only you understand, discouragement, and self-doubt will surely become obstacles. Zen Guitar does a wonderful job of addressing how to handle both. Sudo writes, “Patience and concentration will be vital attributes as you move along the path. Combat discouragement with your desire to learn” pg30.

Self-doubt is such a common barrier, it earned its own chapter which opens with a quote from Neil Young; “I like to play with people who can play simple and are not threatened by other musicians thinking they can’t play. And that eliminates 99 percent of the musicians.” This quote has been a huge encouragement to me. I often play with musicians whose talent far exceeds mine. After reading Zen Guitar, I’ve

EVHR learned to accept and be at peace with my own path, rather than envying that of others; “The Way of Zen Guitar is to play what you are meant to play, not necessarily what you want to play” pg73. You have to be true to yourself, by playing to the sound that is in you. I enjoy Eddie Van Halen, but I don’t want to copy him; doing so would be denying who I am. What if Carlos Santana dedicated himself to sounding like Eric Clapton? We would miss out on the incredible music within Santana, and instead have Clapton, and that other guy who wants to be Clapton.

Sudo’s remedy for self-doubt is to remember this; “One can play the greatest stages in the world and still be spiritually adrift; talent alone does not bring inner peace. If you work to find peace within yourself, you will have no self-doubt about your music, your talent, or anything else” pg73.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I keep a reading log for each book I read. This is where I write down any ideas that come to mind, or passages I find intriguing. My reading log for Zen Guitar is filled with quotes, and wisdom that I will be referencing for years to come. To summarize the book would be truly unfair, as it contains wisdom that each reader will relate to differently, and on a personal level. What I will say in summary is Zen Guitar has helped me better recognize the path to finding my sound, and my approach to making music.

“Once you learn the principles of Zen Guitar, you can apply them to any endeavor outside music. Follow the samurai maxim that says, ‘From one thing, know ten thousand things.’ Music can teach you everything you need to know” pg20.

This part of the project (Rock) is a tangible attempt to draw connections between Asain and American Pop-culture through the medium of music– in this case making music. Along the way I will post other items that cross this path… whether they are more, or less tangible only time will tell.

To put this experiment into context, be sure to check out my blog review of Philip Toshio Sudo’s excellent book, “Zen Guitar.”

The chapter titled, The Beginners Mind summarizes my view about taking on a challenge such as learning a new instrument– which anyone at any age can do– is that it’s like running a marathon;

First, I (we?) need tools; a guitar– in this case a bass-guitar, amp and assorted gear. When choosing your gear, keep in mind the wisdom of Zen Guitar;

The tools/gear I choose: G&L bass guitar, Carvin combo amp, Boss tuner/metronome, notebook (for keeping track of my practice sessions, music notation, etc.) and my textbook of sorts– “Bass Guitar For Dummies.”

With a proper foundation established, it’s time to pick up the instrument. Building on the Zen Guitar wisdom that says,

“Don’t pick up your guitar aimlessly. Act with a sense of purpose. Be of the mind that you’re going to do something– even if you don’t know what that is yet. Prepare yourself to play.”

Lastly, I created this little cheat sheet, or as I like to call it “quick reference guide” to the fretboard. I have found it very useful in conjunction with my practice logbook.

Theres nothing like playing with other musicians to inspire me to improve, and keep learning new things. It’s my hope someone will read this blog– perhaps this entry– and find the encouragement needed to learn an instrument. The great blues musician, Elwood Blues once said,

“…no pharmaceutical product could ever equal the rush you get when the band hits that groove; the people are dancing’, and shouting’, and swain’, and the house is rocking’!”

Stay tuned & in-tune!~

Since I’ve embarked on this new adventure– learning the bass guitar– I’ve found inspiration in many different, unexpected places. One of the best parts of being in an Evergreen program is exploring other cultures and learning to see things from a different/new perspective.

Here are a few excerpts from the video. Consider these ideas yourself and how you might integrate them into your life– musical, or otherwise:

“Although many musicians agree that music is a language, it is rarely treated as such. Many of us treat it as something that can only be learned by following a strict regimen, under the tutelage of a skilled teacher…”

To use a musical term, as a baby you were allowed to jam with professionals. If we approach music in the same natural way we approacehed our first language we will learn to speak it in the same short time it took to speak our first language.”

So not only am I leaning to listen and hear music differently, my perspective on music– and learning– has changed.

Just get out there and play. The more you play, the more you will want to practice. Before long you will be able to express yourself through your instrument. As Victor puts it,

“Music comes from the musician, not the instrument.”

Why Gran Torino? Why use that car for the title, to craft the movie around?

We know it wouldn’t be Prius, Accord, a mini van.

So Why Gran Torino?

The car could be symbolical of Eastwood’s character– it’s a classic/old-school American built car that is considered antiquated in contrast to vehicles in 2008. In this movie, the car is in mint condition. Eastwood is in great shape, but has an ailment causing him to cough up blood.

The 1970s Asian cars became more common; partly due to their quality compared to the US vehicles, as well as the fuel shortage of the time. The motor companies created the “Buy American” / anti-Japanese campaign that caught on. The Torino represents Eastwood.

Its tough being an artist.

Still though, being an artist is tough.

Being an artist is tough.

But few things are equally rewarding~

Find the Asian/American connection between :