The Zen Guitar
Method is an alternative means
of teaching the guitar, founded on the composition "One Sound One Song." The method works for
beginners and advanced players alike. It consists of 12
basic themes that can be woven together organically, depending
on mood of the player and the moment, and played for any
length of time. In learning these 12 themes, beginning
students learn the basic fundamentals of the guitar. (See "Zen
Guitar Tips on Tuning" on the Lessons page
for a preview of the "ZG No Fingers Method" and "ZG
One Finger Method" for absolute beginners.) In weaving
them together, intermediate and advanced players learn
the fundamentals of composition, as well as experience
the feeling of spiritual transcendence through music.
The method is modeled on martial arts training,
with the basic themes of "One Sound One Song" serving
the same function as martial arts kata. In the martial
arts, kata (meaning "style" or "model")
are basic punches and blocks practiced over and over again
until they become part of muscle memory. Students continue
practicing the same kata for years, constantly refining their
movements, energy, and focus, even as they advance from white
belt to black belt.
The idea of kata is the same in Zen Guitar.
Students trained in the ZG method thus learn how to perform
the "One Sound One Song" composition for themselves,
as well as in collaboration with others. Each time through
becomes a new opportunity for perfection, and a chance to
feel the "lift off" of musical transcendence. (In
live performance, the author himself has been playing "OSOS"--to
the exclusion of any other songs--for more than seven years.)
A Zen Guitar method book is currently in production,
with plans for an instructional video and workshops as well.
To hear an audio sample of "One Sound One
Song," follow the links to Guitar Nine Records on the CD
purchase page. (Audio files of OSOS will be uploaded
to this site once the Dojo secures adequate server space.
If you have server space to contribute for this purpose,
see Job Postings/Help Wanted.)
Once you learn the song, join
the Zen Guitar Jam Band.
Together we go, higher and higher. >back
to the Zen Guitar Project |
