One Apple A Day #616 - repeat and create
I'm not a proper musician, but I play a bit. Not much lately to be honest. When I was younger, I used to play my guitar a lot more. But I've never been a good musician, my technique was enough to give me pleasure and entertain some friends. That's it. Even with my limited skills, I really enjoyed improvising, alone or with hours. Once I got into some loop, I could go on for hours.
When there were a few of us playing, the starting point was to find a base loop. We began by setting a rhythm and then a chord progression. We kept playing that same pattern together until everyone was in synch. Only then, we were able to start improvising, adding variations and melodies here and there. One of us, though, had to keep always the base loop. This way, the others were free to create different patterns without breaking the harmony of the composition.
I believe that the key to making those jam sessions a rewarding practice for everyone was that first boring part, where we repeat the base loop over and over until it became familiar to everyone.
That's what repetition does. It creates familiarity, a common thread on which everyone feels safe to paint its own music.
That is the power of discipline.
It creates a familiar and safe base rhythm in our life so we can feel safe and unleash our creativity.
Photo by Lee Pigott on Unsplash