Holistic      Musician

Realization is the awakening of a certain level of understanding, in which something that appeared unclear has revealed its secret and the mystery behind it has been exposed. It is the act of knowing what is real and aligning ones vision with each new truth as it is unveiled. So in essence one could say SELF-realization is looking at life through the REAL EYES of the self! By finding that deeper connectivity to the creative essence that makes YOU a unique individual, you will

An ispirational work of art by master metal artist Mr. Sawbladehead @NAMM 2014 It's easy to get yourself amped up and rockin' when you are learning your craft as a guitarist. When you strap on your favorite axe, plug in to your amp, hit that first note and feel the vibration surge through the air, it's electrifying! At that point the adrenaline kicks in and you are on fire! But there often comes a time when you have reached a peak and the creative juices seem to lie stagnate

When an idea strikes, it can be magical sometimes. And as you enter into that blissful moment of being lost in the music, you then step back into reality and try to remember what you just played in your altered state. This is where having the capability to record what you jam is an essential part of growing as a musician. For guitarists there are many ways to get those ideas down. From old fashion boom box recordings to full blown Pro Tools, there are a number of ways to crea

For several decades many scientific studies have been conducted to better understand what physically and neurologically forms a habit in one’s life. The majority of these studies say it takes at least 21 days to break a habit, so it will take at least that long to form a new one. Repeated actions build up a memory within your body’s muscles and neurological pathways and these sensations eventually become what we have come to know as a habit. Whether it's moving the fingers to

Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood The law of the five elements has long been a huge part of martial arts, philosophy, mystical and alchemical practices and many areas of the healing arts and Eastern medicine. By understanding the properties of each element we can unlock the nature of its power. We can then explore the idea of this power and use it as a strategy or we can conceptualize an expression of its energy. There are many different interpretations of the five elements

What is Self-Discovery? The name implies a journey or a quest that will end in the finding of a personal treasure buried deep within oneself. This is esoterically correct indeed as self-discovery becomes a journey and the jewels in which we un-earth do come from within. So often though, our tendency is to get stuck on the concept of the journey, always seeking another map that will lead you to your treasure, ready to cast off for shores beyond the farthest horizons in search

There are many great quotes and mantras dedicated to the topic of practice and for good reason. It is the process of practicing ones craft that creates personal growth and builds in one the strength to overcome all of life’s limitations. Although all of us are born with innate abilities, it is through the disciplined action of practice that these abilities are refined and empowered. There are many ways to approach practice and many different theories as to what practice regim

When it comes to being creative we often think of the need to "get in the creative mindset" which could take on many forms or ritual practices in the efforts to conjure up thy inner mojo. But there are many opportunities where the juices are flowing and a great idea comes a knockin' and yet we choose not to open the door. Some of the BEST music was created in a moments time and started with a simple idea or melody that just seems to spring up from out of nowhere. These are th

Whether you're getting ready for your first gig at the local coffee house jam session or preparing for a huge tour, one thing is for certain, it takes a lot of preparatory work to make sure the gig goes off without a hitch. There are several things that factor in to each and every gig and by taking the time to prepare for the desired outcome you will build insight, or "MILEAGE" as we musicians often call it, that will help you in every aspect of your journey as a player or pe

Guitar Players are often responsible for adding harmony and structure to a piece of music. Harmony, in essence as we perceive it in music, is a balance of one or more notes within the given musical environment. As we think of this balance in terms of musicality, we often overlook the need for balance in the physicality of playing. Without this awareness we open ourselves up for the dissonance to overthrow the balance of harmony and cause physical discomforts. "The best preven