Re: Channeling the Rage (was somethin' else)

["Chris Michalek" <chris@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

You've taken my statement out of context.  I was talking about the
zone but was describing it as energetic and goal oriented NOT a state
of bliss.  Bliss is nothing, everything blah blah blah boring and
exciting. Rage is pure goal oriented energy. Rage has nothing to do
with creativity yet is the driving force behind it.  Be open to
suggestion and let your emotions do the driving. Being happy and
thinking about la la land might be enjoyable but I find it very
distracting when I'm playing music.
>
>
>
>---- Original Message ----
>From: markwilson53@xxxxxxx
>To: chris@xxxxxxxxxxxx, harplicks@xxxxxxxxx, IcemanLE@xxxxxxx,
>harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: Channeling the Rage (was somethin' else)
>Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 19:29:44 -0800
>
>>From: "Chris Michalek" <chris@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>
>>> I've given alot of thought to "the zone"  many think of it as a
>state  of
>>bliss etc... but for me, there is too much energy going >on for it
>to be
>>blissful and happy.
>>
>>Hmm, I can never get there ,( really, really in the zone) without
>feeling
>>bliss.  Anything less than bliss is a deal killer for me.  In my
>world bliss
>>equals perfection without effort. The faintest hint of conscious
>thought
>>brings on critical thinking, which leads to effort, trying too hard,
>etc..
>>
>>I think it boils down to how often you can get out of your own way
>and just
>>let the music flow.  If it were easy we'd all be great.  I've read
>tons of
>>books on the subject and really haven't found the answer yet. 
>Werner's book
>>was good, but, like all the others I read, the effect was temporary.
>You
>>have to find your own way there, and I've found getting there is
>very
>>difficult.
>>
>>There's been some recent research on the subject which looks 
>promising.....
>>
>>"The system, called 'neurofeedback', trains musicians to clear their
>mind in
>>a way that increases levels of certain brain waves. Those that
>mastered the
>>technique were found in research published in the Journal
>Neuroreport, to
>>have dramatically improved their playing ability.
>>
>>The scope of Ludwig Van Beethoven music marks him out as one of the
>most
>>gifted composers' of our time. But does a great musician have a
>certain kind
>>of mind that enables them to tap effortlessly into the soul and
>express
>>their feelings so eloquently?
>>
>>Researchers at Imperial College are analysing one aspect of
>creativity - and
>>believe they've found a way of boosting it. Cassie Yuwaka is one of
>the
>>country's leading pianists who has tried out the technique. The
>procedure
>>involves her trying to empty her mind - and increase levels of a
>type of
>>brainwave called theta waves. These are thought to be associated
>with
>>creativity. She's connected to a computer which monitors her theta
>wave
>>activity. Every time her theta waves increase she's rewarded with
>the sound
>>of waves and gentle gongs, so the system effectively guides her into
>a state
>>of theta wave bliss.
>>
>>The idea is to train her to achieve this state whilst performing.
>And Cassie
>>says it's a real help. She says it's made her more expressive and
>she finds
>>it easier to interpret music. And it's had the same impact on many
>other
>>student musicians at the Royal College of Music who've tried this
>technique.
>>On average their musical playing test scores increased by 17 % and
>some
>>improved by as much as 50 %. The Royal College is so impressed by
>the
>>results, it's now offering the technique as part of the curriculum.
>And its
>>not just musicians who could benefit. Ballet dancers are the next
>group of
>>artists that'll try out the technique.
>>
>>But does Professor Gruzellier of Imperial College, who developed the
>>application of this technique, have any concerns about
>'reprogramming' the
>>brain? Could it be misused like the tranquilizing drug, Soma that
>Aldous
>>Huxley predicted in the novel 'Brave New World'? He says not. He
>claims it
>>trains people to be calm. And after hearing the results of his
>guinea-pigs,
>>he even tried the technique himself - and said afterwards he "felt
>like a
>>million dollars". He even thinks it's improved his lecturing skills.
>It's
>>too soon to tell whether the researchers have found a way of opening
>the
>>door to creativity. But if they have, many more of us could benefit.
>>{end}......
>>
>>Interesting note, heroine, think Coltrane, and marijuana, think
>Little
>>Walter, are both known to increase theta waves.
>>
>>Mark
>>
>>
>>