Weekly Reflection #1
Audio Attachment
Youtube: https://youtu.be/dCDby_K_C34
Youtube: https://youtu.be/dCDby_K_C34
Weekly Reflection #2
http://bodymap.org/main/?p=276
http://bodymap.org/main/?p=276
My Kinaesthetic Sense
I believe it is crucial to understand proper body mapping and it is in every way useful when it comes to playing an instrument or singing properly. In my situation I have a bad back that requires constant maintenance daily. As a young lad I got into a water sporting accident that caused my lower lumber to spasm. It took me a couple years to get my lumbar back in shape to continue lifting weights and to perform labour. This really taught me a lot about body mapping and properly understanding all of my body. This past spring my injury finally caught up to me 5 years later and I “threw my back out” entirely. I could not work and barely could get out of bed for almost a month. With proper rest and calisthenic training, I am now back under a barbell.
As a piano player, my practising requires me to have straight posture with my shoulders pulled back and my head up. Before I begin to play, I find taking deep breaths is a great way to oxygenate my blood and focus on the music in front of me. Sitting still for long periods of time negatively affects my sense of perception. Therefor, I find getting up and walking or stretching keeps my body flowing at a strong current. I look at my body almost as mechanically as a machine. Therefor I train on a daily basis and work on whatever new problems arise. For example I find that I have tight hips. This plays a huge roll in how I walk stand and move. If I do not stretch and activate all of my muscles I will be in constant pain and discomfort. To conclude, being a good musician comes with lots of training to the mind but also to the body.
I believe it is crucial to understand proper body mapping and it is in every way useful when it comes to playing an instrument or singing properly. In my situation I have a bad back that requires constant maintenance daily. As a young lad I got into a water sporting accident that caused my lower lumber to spasm. It took me a couple years to get my lumbar back in shape to continue lifting weights and to perform labour. This really taught me a lot about body mapping and properly understanding all of my body. This past spring my injury finally caught up to me 5 years later and I “threw my back out” entirely. I could not work and barely could get out of bed for almost a month. With proper rest and calisthenic training, I am now back under a barbell.
As a piano player, my practising requires me to have straight posture with my shoulders pulled back and my head up. Before I begin to play, I find taking deep breaths is a great way to oxygenate my blood and focus on the music in front of me. Sitting still for long periods of time negatively affects my sense of perception. Therefor, I find getting up and walking or stretching keeps my body flowing at a strong current. I look at my body almost as mechanically as a machine. Therefor I train on a daily basis and work on whatever new problems arise. For example I find that I have tight hips. This plays a huge roll in how I walk stand and move. If I do not stretch and activate all of my muscles I will be in constant pain and discomfort. To conclude, being a good musician comes with lots of training to the mind but also to the body.
Weekly Reflection #3
Exercise Proposal
The goal for my exercise is to show others how to visualize the mysterious force of sound.
Doing this has helped me realize that sound is not just something we can hear through our ears. If you have learned about sound waves in science then this concept should not be new to you. However, actually feeling those waves through your body without your ears can help you visualize further the magic of this force.
-You may only use acoustic instruments or your voice. (I find it works best to visualize with an instrument over singing because with an instrument you can watch and touch the device.)
Step 1. Plug your ears or insert earplugs.
Step 2. Begin to play different tones with any instrument of your choice. (Or sing)
Step 3. Focus your remaining senses on either the column of air inside a wind instrument, the strings of a stringed instrument, the stretched skin of a drum or the muscles of your vocal chords.
-If you are singing, place a hand gently around your throat or on your cheeks to feel the vibrations of your vocal chords.
-If you are playing a piano, try opening the lid to see more than just the keys you are playing, or rest the side of your head on the frame.
Exercise Proposal
The goal for my exercise is to show others how to visualize the mysterious force of sound.
Doing this has helped me realize that sound is not just something we can hear through our ears. If you have learned about sound waves in science then this concept should not be new to you. However, actually feeling those waves through your body without your ears can help you visualize further the magic of this force.
-You may only use acoustic instruments or your voice. (I find it works best to visualize with an instrument over singing because with an instrument you can watch and touch the device.)
Step 1. Plug your ears or insert earplugs.
Step 2. Begin to play different tones with any instrument of your choice. (Or sing)
Step 3. Focus your remaining senses on either the column of air inside a wind instrument, the strings of a stringed instrument, the stretched skin of a drum or the muscles of your vocal chords.
-If you are singing, place a hand gently around your throat or on your cheeks to feel the vibrations of your vocal chords.
-If you are playing a piano, try opening the lid to see more than just the keys you are playing, or rest the side of your head on the frame.
Reflection #4
Body Percussion
Body Percussion
video-1570206236.mp4 | |
File Size: | 8087 kb |
File Type: | mp4 |
Reflection #5 and #6
Bear Creek is an Ojibwe drum group originally from Sault St. Marie Ontario. They travel around performing at different indigenous social gatherings called powwows. Powwows are held privately or publicly and consist of different dancing competitions based on traditional dances. These songs are written to heal and to celebrate an indigenous community. The meaning of "powwow" is derived from the Proto-Algonquain noun meaning “he who dreams”.
While listening to this song I have discovered the power of multiple people drumming on one drum. Also, I learned that regardless of song structure there is still a form of musicality to this music.
Weekly Reflection #8
The skill I chose to practice to assess my target practice approach, was tossing a ball of paper into a garbage bin. My intention with the ball of paper was to smoothly sink the ball into a grey and black round garbage bin. While throwing the ball I intended to easily complete this action. However, I did end up missing several tosses due to air resistance and lack of skill with the mass of the ball. Regardless of my relationship with the center of the garbage bin, there was an obvious difficulty gaining enough acceleration with such a light ball of paper. To adjust my intention, I unrolled the ball and rolled it back up into a tighter ball of paper. This allowed me to throw with less air resistance and did, in fact increase my amount of scores into the garbage. This gave me more confidence with my throw and taught me better tossing skills with the ball of paper. For this sake of learning it allowed me to realize that there is a lot of luck involved with throwing a paper ball into a garbage bin.
The skill I chose to practice to assess my target practice approach, was tossing a ball of paper into a garbage bin. My intention with the ball of paper was to smoothly sink the ball into a grey and black round garbage bin. While throwing the ball I intended to easily complete this action. However, I did end up missing several tosses due to air resistance and lack of skill with the mass of the ball. Regardless of my relationship with the center of the garbage bin, there was an obvious difficulty gaining enough acceleration with such a light ball of paper. To adjust my intention, I unrolled the ball and rolled it back up into a tighter ball of paper. This allowed me to throw with less air resistance and did, in fact increase my amount of scores into the garbage. This gave me more confidence with my throw and taught me better tossing skills with the ball of paper. For this sake of learning it allowed me to realize that there is a lot of luck involved with throwing a paper ball into a garbage bin.
Weekly Reflection #10
From reading these articles, I can reflect that our posture and how we conduct ourselves spiritually are entirely connected. Sitting is not good for your structure. However countering the effects of gravity on your body by doing stretches and exercises to strengthen the muscles used, can balance out the effects. I, when recording my music do find that singing as if you are in an open surrounding over a booth or small room focuses your mind on your vocal control. Our bodies move like machines and our brains function like computers. Maintenance to the structure and updates to firmware are necessary for improvement. Subconsciously making your body aware of adjustments in posture and mindset can only be implemented if you consciously change these permanences. It could be as simple as always stretching before sitting or stretching before a meal etc. Everyone has different commitments in life and partakes in different activities. That being said, we are all on the same planet and are all being affected by the same gravity. Disregards for the perceptions made by your surroundings, would allow one to adaptively focus the maintenance required for their machine.
Bibliography:
Drengenberg, Nick. “Posture: The Great Big Rump.” LearningMethods Library -- Dr Nick Drengenberg -- Posture: The Great Big Rump, www.learningmethods.com/posture--the-great-big-rump.htm.
Gorman, David. “By Intention Alone.” LearningMethods Library -- David Gorman -- By Intention Alone, www.learningmethods.com/by-intention-alone.htm.
From reading these articles, I can reflect that our posture and how we conduct ourselves spiritually are entirely connected. Sitting is not good for your structure. However countering the effects of gravity on your body by doing stretches and exercises to strengthen the muscles used, can balance out the effects. I, when recording my music do find that singing as if you are in an open surrounding over a booth or small room focuses your mind on your vocal control. Our bodies move like machines and our brains function like computers. Maintenance to the structure and updates to firmware are necessary for improvement. Subconsciously making your body aware of adjustments in posture and mindset can only be implemented if you consciously change these permanences. It could be as simple as always stretching before sitting or stretching before a meal etc. Everyone has different commitments in life and partakes in different activities. That being said, we are all on the same planet and are all being affected by the same gravity. Disregards for the perceptions made by your surroundings, would allow one to adaptively focus the maintenance required for their machine.
Bibliography:
Drengenberg, Nick. “Posture: The Great Big Rump.” LearningMethods Library -- Dr Nick Drengenberg -- Posture: The Great Big Rump, www.learningmethods.com/posture--the-great-big-rump.htm.
Gorman, David. “By Intention Alone.” LearningMethods Library -- David Gorman -- By Intention Alone, www.learningmethods.com/by-intention-alone.htm.
Weekly Reflection #11
I have grown towards my goals as an artist however my goals have changed with what I want to do with music. I do still want to proceed with everything as planned. However, I feel as though my major will change over these years and my musical endeavors will only progress.
A challenge I faced this semester was keeping focused on what I initially came here for. I was put through injury and a continuing battle for strong mental health. This has not stopped me from completing my goals. However, it has put me behind and has made my stress levels worse. Next time I will not let the “monkeys” in my head control how I feel and I will continue to strive for greatness.
An Idea for me would be to remind myself that,
"Living with impermanence is crucial to understanding change."
I have grown towards my goals as an artist however my goals have changed with what I want to do with music. I do still want to proceed with everything as planned. However, I feel as though my major will change over these years and my musical endeavors will only progress.
A challenge I faced this semester was keeping focused on what I initially came here for. I was put through injury and a continuing battle for strong mental health. This has not stopped me from completing my goals. However, it has put me behind and has made my stress levels worse. Next time I will not let the “monkeys” in my head control how I feel and I will continue to strive for greatness.
An Idea for me would be to remind myself that,
"Living with impermanence is crucial to understanding change."
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Weekly Reflection #12
After watching Brené Brown speak on Ted Talks, I felt an immediate gust of inspiration. I for one, never thought that vulnerability could lead to bravery. I have always been under an impression of armouring up and holding back my emotions. I do believe that sickness is weakness and suffering is optional. However after watching Brené, I do not believe that vulnerability is a weakness. It does spread light on the matter that feeling shameful leads to indifference. I believe that hatred is a source of jealousy, envy, and ignorance. I also believe that it is difficult to not feel these emotions in the western world. By studying the works of eastern philosophers, I have gained a lot of wisdom in regards to mindfulness and expanding your consciousness. Although I have read these books and practiced these methods. I still have a lot of trouble retaining these benefits due to the environment created by our capitalistic society. With such heavy media consumption focusing on consumer goods and Idolization. Newer generations will continue to be handed down more methods of subjectively understanding their existence. I found it quite remarkable how much I relate to her discussion. I worry about not feeling empathy or connection, especially when I find it hard to relate to others. I have always believed any single soul can make the world a better place. Now, I also believe that a brave soul is what it takes. |