Coordination

When was the last time you experienced a remarkable Ah-Ha moment? A split second realization, “Finally I did it.”

Complete satisfaction when at long last you burst into song,

“Incredible! That’s how it’s supposed to feel.”

It’s when everything finally synchronizes. Left hand, right hand, fingers, muscle control, touch, motion, emotion, harmony, and ecstasy.

Caught ya . . . I know what you're thinking. You’re not even close!

However, this morning, during my daily guitar practice I finally achieved the proper touch and combination of physical movement and emotional equanimity that allows a musician to “tickle the frets and achieve nirvana.”

“What?”

Well, it’s a long story. I’ve tried to explain it many times since I’ve started playing guitar. Like most amateurs, I concentrate so hard to achieve a clear, clean sound by squeezing the frets that my fingers hurt. As a result, it's tough to consistently coordinate my alternate picking synchronized with fretting.

But this morning everything just seemed to flow . . . equipoise. My digits gently danced across the frets. Crisp chord changes, effortless running of the scales, and toe-tapping bluegrass licks over the G and C Chords. What an exhilarating feeling of triumph.

During a live performance, have you ever studied an accomplished guitar player? They make it look so effortless. Ask them some time,

“What’s your secret?”

“Practice,” they say.

“Practice what?”

“You know . . . work on your scales.”

Frustrated I’m thinking, “Can you be just a little more specific.”

And finally, you get it, that moment of delight arrives. You smile so big you could eat a banana sideways. It’s the one thing a seasoned guitar player or the finest instructor cannot quantify - coordination.

So, what is it really that brings all this together? I hate to say it. It sounds so patronizing - “Practice!” Persistent, consistent, imperturbable effort.”

Simply put it’s a combination of habit, relaxation, and the absolute joy of being "in the field" at that moment.

I’ve always loved that metaphor from the movie, The Legend of Bagger Vance,

“Fix your eyes on Bobby Jones - feel that focus, he’s in the field.”

“Don’t think about it, seek it with your hands. Feel it.”

Equipoise, balance, coordination. That’s how it’s supposed to feel.

This is Patrick Ball, thanks for listening, see you in the next episode.

Comments

The Who Was - Series

In this episode, the Who Was? - Series . . . With over 250 titles, Penguin Random House Books Who Was? - Series tells the incredible stories of trailblazers, legends, innovators, and creators. Are you a bibliophile, an individual who loves and frequently reads books (a bookworm)? What is it that compels you to pick up a book? Is it the cover, is it the title, how about an interest in a specialized subject, or just - perhaps it's a whim? One of my ultimate goals with these podcasts is to reach a young audience. I've found that reading children's books is a gratifying and educational experience. Yes, even grown-ups can understand difficult concepts. To my surprise, both children and adults seem to appreciate the experience. With education such a hot topic in the news right now, we need to be reminded that whether it's going to school, visiting a museum, or online learning, the goal of education (both young and old) is to nurture an interest in learning. William Butler Ye

Big Apple, Big Charge

In this episode – Big Apple, Big Charge . . . Welcome back to On the Fly, your weekly dose of quirky observations and unexpected trends. Today, we're fresh off a trip to the Scaffolding/Plywood jungle, where we witnessed a phenomenon that will make you rethink your relationship with the humble wall socket. That's right, we're talking about New York City, and it's . . . wait for it — Free, ubiquitous electric outlets! New York constantly buzzes with traffic, jackhammers, honking horns, and helicopters. But what struck me most was the sheer volume of people glued to their devices while commuting and navigating the streets with hundreds of construction obstacles. It's like everyone's “plugged into” some invisible grid—phones, tablets, watches, headphones, earbuds, e-bikes—you name it. And that's where things get interesting. But, unlike our quiet suburban life, free outlets in NYC aren't exactly abundant. So, how do these New Yorkers keep their gadgets

What Time Is It

In this episode – What Time Is It . . . In the era before smartphones, let’s say we’re on a telephone call, and you ask me, “What time is it?” As a five-year-old, my reply is, "The big hand is on the two (2) and the little hand on the eight (8).” You would then say, "Alright, it's ten minutes after eight o’clock or eight-ten, right?" This is how we learned to tell time as children–remember? Well, what happened . . . During dinner last week in Westfield, NJ, a retired high school teacher told our group, “Did you know that children today cannot read the time on a traditional watch with an analog face?” “Why not?” we asked. “Because of smartphones and the proliferation of digital clocks.” “Wow! That’s hard to believe.” Welcome to this week's episode of "On the Fly." Today, we'll compare classic mechanical watches to modern quartz watches and explore an unexpected social shift. To begin with, let me take you back a few days. I’m a traditionalist and pre

It Runs on Steam

In this episode – It Runs on Steam . . . If you’ve seen Back to The Future III, you may remember Doc Brown's line, “It Runs on Steam !” Recently, I visited my good friend Billy in Westfield, New Jersey. Among his many other hobbies, Billy is a steam engine enthusiast. He proudly fired up his miniature steam engine and confidently explained its workings, which got me thinking . . . (Sound effect of Billy's steam engine whistle) Have you ever considered how environmentally friendly a steam engine powered by renewable energy could be? There would be no need for gasoline, batteries, diesel fuel, or Uranium-234. Imagine an engine powered by water—yes, water. I can hear the naysayers: "But . . .” Welcome back to On the Fly, where we dive into one of history's most fascinating inventions. Today, we're firing up a revolution – the Industrial Revolution, that is – with the mighty steam engine! For centuries, people relied on muscle, wind, and waterpower to get things do

On The Fly

Search This Blog