"I’ve been obsessed with the guitar
since I was twelve. In many ways, my life has been one long conversation about
the guitar, interrupted only buy the countless hours of deep pleasure I have
playing the darn things, as well as some less pleasant time spent doing what
needs to be done so that I can get back to playing & chatting about
them"
~Perry
Beekman; jazz guitarist
The guitar
has been such an integral part of my life, that I completely understand Perry
Beekman’s statement. It is exactly how I would describe the activity if I were
as eloquent as he. Most guitarists I know feel the same way.
I chose to
include this book in my project because I think it will be an encouragement to
those “older” folks who really want to learn to make music; more specifically,
to play guitar. Like Zen Guitar, which I believe is useful to
both musicians & non-musicians, Guitar
Zero applies to everyone— young and old alike.
Author Gary Marcus is a developmental
psychologist, professor at NYU, and regarded by his peers as “one
of the deepest thinkers in cognitive science.” In Guitar Zero he debunks the popular belief that talent for music is
innate, or that its something an adult is unable to learn. The idea that an adult can't learn something complicated like a
musical instrument was the basic idea behind the "critical periods"
of learning. Since this theory is based on weak evidence, scientists have been
reconsidering these theories. The “critical periods” suggests that if a
person fails to learn a language, music, etc. in their formative years that
they will never be able to learn as adults. I can’t help but wonder how many
people accepted that as truth, and decided to forgo making the attempt.
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| Unwinding after a hard days work. Camp New Amsterdam NL 1988 |
Early in the
book, the author examines the health benefits of music;"...the journey... exercising our brains helps maintain them by
preserving plasticity, wards off degeneration, and literally keeps the blood
flowing" pg3. This idea isn't new; the Sudoku craze for instance, or
the brainteasers once found in every newspaper. Perhaps the latest addition in
brain exercising is a website called Lumosity. Its home page currently displays
in large letters, "Harness your brain's neuroplasticity and train your way
to a brighter life. Lumosity turns neuroscience breakthroughs into fun,
effective games. Stimulate your brain today." Of course, they aren't giving
it away- there are monthly fees to improve the plasticity of your brain.
He asserts
that learning to play the guitar, not only benefits the brain, but also
benefits our emotional wellbeing. It is an activity that provides a lasting happiness, as opposed to a fleeting pleasure. Instead of spending
not only my money, more importantly-- precious
time-- playing games (Lumosity), why not focus that energy learning something
that will enrich your life; learn to play a musical instrument. This is the
path our author followed.
One of the
more interesting topics in the book that stood out to me was that of practice.
Again, the wisdom from Zen Guitar came to mind when reading about the worlds
leading expert on expertise, cognitive Psychologist Anders Ericsson, and his
theory about practice. Ericsson says there are two vital keys to becoming an
expert:
1) A ton of
practice
2) Deliberate
practice
 |
| Practicing at home; garage band, chord maker, Tele & coffee |
By “a ton of
practice” Dr. Ericsson is talking about the often-repeated phrase "10
years, or 10,000 hours." He is actually the one who coined the phrase.
Relating this to Zen Guitar, author Philip Toshio Sudo writes, “Beginning students often ask, ‘how long
will it take me to learn the Way of Zen Guitar?’ My answer is, as long as you
live—that short. Your playing may progress enough to impress your friends in a
years time, perform onstage in two years, or turn professional in three. But if
those are the ends you seek, your concern is not Zen Guitar… is learned day by
day, minute by minute, second by second, now to eternity. There is no faster
way.” We see this is true of Perry Beekman, and all of us who have a guitar
as part of our lives.
But practice
alone, is not enough; it needs to be meaningful. That’s where the second part comes
in; deliberate practice. This is a process of constant self-evaluation,
focusing on your weakness—not your strength. There is a significant difference
between playing what you already know, and stretching yourself to reaching new
levels. The world can be changed by three chords, but why stop there? Without
being overly scientific, Marcus explains the theory of the “zone of proximal development” pg12. The theory is that learning is
most effective when it’s not to hard, and not to easy; the goal must be set
just beyond reach. To illustrate this idea, Marcus uses the goal of 80%
success. If the rate of success is greater people get bored. If less than 80%
people get frustrated and give up— believing the task is just too difficult for
them to learn.
 |
| Trees of inspiration; Life moves fast-- follow your dreams |
The idea of deliberate
practice is again consistent with Zen Guitar; Sudo writes, “…concerns the way you physically take it in your hands. Don’t pick up
your guitar aimlessly. Act with a sense of purpose. Be of the mind that you’re
going to do something… maybe you just
want to noodle on it while watching TV. Then pick up your guitar with the
mind of noodling while watching TV.
Remember, the guitar is an instrument—a thing by means of which something is
done. Keep this in mind every time you reach for it” pg29.
In a
nutshell, the book is about his journey as a 39-year old adult, without the
slightest hint of rhythm, learning to play the guitar. Along the way he
explains the psychology behind the process, and delves into the brain science
of how anybody of any age can learn to play a musical instrument. If you are an
adult with the desire to learn to play, then do it! Find a guitar of good
quality-- one that speaks to you, and begin your journey. Gary Marcus’s book is
proof that it can be done by anyone, of any age.
~Dewey Finn; School of Rock
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