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The undisputable success of this site.

by David Friedman | Mon, 03/28/2011 - 19:08

I was just thinking about Dim's ability to process criticism without ego and turn it into immediate positive results. Of course it's a credit to him as a passionate musician/student(But isn't that what we are? Musicians and life long students?) It's also a credit to Tony for creating this wonderful platform where we all can present our work, exchange ideas and enjoy the fruits of constructive criticism. This should serve as a motivation for all Vibesworkshoppers to post as often as possible. It's not really about instant results but rather the love and respect for the process and the willingness to take one's time and go step by step.

As a teacher and "Pro", as Tony likes to call some of us, it's a joy for me to see so much development take place in this little cyber oasis. To me this site is a successfully functioning model of people sharing a single passion with a desire to enrich their community, leaving their ego at the door.(am I getting corny?)

Any thoughts?

David

Comments

by JIM THE VIBES | Tue, 04/05/2011 - 08:23

I have a question

I think the whole idea to this sight is to interact with each other in order to become better players. To get criticised and from that to get inspired! In the terms of this interaction i have a question!
what do you think of this: embracing erros as musical learning and taking the risk while improvising. How important is to take risks in order to create new ideas?

thank you

by tonymiceli | Tue, 04/05/2011 - 09:26

it's a balance

you don't want to be too cautious and you don't want to go nuts with taking risks.

both extremes are not cool, but there's a balance.

i'm not sure if great musicians take risks or rather just play. i think rather they might be adventurous, but someone with great ears and great time has confidence in the beat and the form of what they're playing.

as for students i think there can be too many risks or being too cautious. so then you have to find the balance. that's the goal of someone trying to get experience and learn and develop their ears.

yep, everyone is a student of music and everyone is constantly developing their ears, but you guys get my meaning here!

by John Keene | Wed, 04/06/2011 - 09:42

Risks worth taking

My opinion is that taking a risk is great if there is a risk worth taking.

I was listening to Don Cherry's Brown Rice album yesterday, and we would probably all agree that Don was a risk taker whether you like his music or not. And what I hear in that music is that he doesn't even think in terms of risk-taking at all, and perhaps that is the result of the era where he first came to prominence. So I would tend to think this: if you are actually "thinking" in terms of taking a risk - don't, and if it just comes naturally to the degree that you're "in the moment" and your hands and analytic mind are out of the way - do.

by David Friedman | Wed, 04/06/2011 - 14:21

I agree basically.....

I basically agree, John. I feel it's really about trusting your instincts and listening to your "inner voice" Often this little voice tells us a certain action is appropriate. We resist, however, because of the fear of doing something wrong, making a mistake, which could lead to a lack of acceptance on an interpersonal or even larger scale; i.e.fear of a bad review, negative critique from the other musicians, a negative reaction from the audience, etc. This is perhaps where risk comes in. It's about having the courage to trust your inner voice and jump in with what seems right at the moment; a line, a rhythmic idea, a movement to another tonality, whatever. With time and maturity this becomes automatic, and, as you said, one doesn't think of risk taking at all. One simply acts.

by tonymiceli | Wed, 04/06/2011 - 22:00

right soooo

i'm saying great players don't really take risks right? they here something and they play it. they go for things that are already present inside.

so if anyone takes 'risks' then it might be students, because they are trying to learn stuff and try stuff out.

i'm working this out in my head as we go along, so i could be totally wrong here, but when i saw the word risk, i thought if you hear it and know what it is then it's certainly not a risk. great players might be adventurous.

hmmmmmmm on the other hand.... maybe taking a risk IS happening. maybe it's playing a different groove or doing something that you hope the musicians pick up on and go with and understand. is that the risk?

ok so now i'm understanding a little more about risks, but could use some help. do great musicians take risks? if so then how?

by toddc | Thu, 04/07/2011 - 10:00

My take agrees more with Tony's first thougths

I think good players don't risk anything. They just play.

In essence that is the goal: To play with a high level of confidence and without fear.
It is that freedom that sets great players apart from players who take risks.

Risk implies that damage or loss is possible.
What damage does a great player incur when playing?
What does a great player lose when playing?

Most great players have the knowledge and freedom to turn any potential mistake into a creative moment. Or they play it with such confidence one dares not challenge the choice:)

I think risk lays within the domain of those who are not yet able to play freely and with confidence. They perceive risk which keeps them from getting to the other side of freedom and confidence.

Also: In general I don't think criticism is of any great value. I think the real value comes from bringing clarity and understanding to players so they can play freely and with confidence.

So when someone says "try this" or "did you think of that" or "I prefer this" or asks you "why do you do it that way"....its about gaining clarity. Maybe one could think of it not as criticism but as providing clarity.

With Commitment we gain Clarity which grows Certainty.... "3C theory"....

For me vibesworkshop.com facilitates a great path to the three C's.
We gain Commitment because of the communities support and encouragement.
We gain Clarity because of the shared goals, challenges, and information.
We gain Certainty because our knowledge and skills continually grow.

Vibesworkshop.com is a treasure chest full of priceless benefits.

my 2 cents

-Todd

by John Keene | Thu, 04/07/2011 - 06:59

liability insurance

Of course great players take risks all the time. What I believe is that they don't take risks for the sake of just taking a risk.

I think it's also fair to say that there is a difference between taking a no-liability risk when you're alone in a practice session, and taking a risk in front of an audience. But David is right on with his observation that it's all about courage and the ability to manage fear, and I'm just adding that it's all relative to the situation.

by Philippe Mace | Sun, 04/03/2011 - 16:31

success deserved

Great comment David.
For sure this is a wonderful exchange platform like you called it, wich got a very deserved success. It makes growing the life long students that we definitely are. I agree so much !

Philippe

by bob leatherbarrow | Wed, 03/30/2011 - 18:13

corny is good

Great comments David. I wish there was something like this when I was just learning and had to teach myself half of this stuff, or dig for it wherever I could. This site is great, whatever your playing level. Kudos Tony---

by Marie-Noëlle | Tue, 03/29/2011 - 16:10

Tony gave it shape. Today it's alive through all of us!

Any time of the day the 'door' is open and someone is there to add a little something, welcome, ask or help, comment, bring his work, share, and leave with something new. Should it be Gary Burton, David Friedman or any other master visiting, pros, advanced players, students, beginners or simple vibes lovers, everyone with his/her own capacities, no matter how little or how big. We are one, all there for the cause of the vibraphone!

Corny? Utopian? Irealistic? It's there, like Babu said: for every man/woman of good will! :o)

One recent comment is telling a lot about this place: Tarik had posted his last work on our current 'Tune of the Month' and asked a question. Tony read. He had no time but found some, recorded a quick audio answer. And then in the middle of it, there was that familiar noise on the background "Sorry, that's my washing machine, I thought I'd post this all the same!"

There's no more to say: feel at home! :o)

- M

by jen | Sun, 04/03/2011 - 16:57

Corny is Wonderful and also Needed!

Thank you David,
Your comments and observations are so true of this wonderful community!

~And also, to borrow from Marie-Noelle, When I log on and come here to learn and listen,..or need encouragement or just to say hello,..there is always someone here...the door is open...and I feel at home! :)

Thank you All for making that feeling warm and inviting!

Carla Jenkins

by tjaco | Tue, 03/29/2011 - 15:41

Corny or not, I totally agree

Corny or not, I totally agree and think this is an amazing place!! I just can't believe how much it is still growing! So much going on and also so much already on here... man!

And I also love the fact that at least some of us come together once a year. That really rounds it all up!

TJ

by toddc | Tue, 03/29/2011 - 10:27

This site facilitates bonding

This site facilitates bonding those with like aspirations and desires into a community with power far greater than the sum of its parts.

People make the world go round.
And vibesworkshop.com is people growing people.
Its not just facts and figures.
Its encouragement, support, friendship, participation, removal of barriers, and the development of life long relationships. It's truly more than just life behind bars.

As David says the love of this process is what makes vibeswokshop.com work!

Great post David!

-Todd

by johndaly | Tue, 03/29/2011 - 06:53

The site

I totally second that, a great platform for all to learn and develop, onwards and upwards

John

by tonymiceli | Tue, 03/29/2011 - 00:06

respect for the process

great post david!

i love the part about 'respect for the process'. i think that's what up and coming vibe players can learn from pros.it's the process that's intriguing.

I love seeing the development of the players on the site. it's a dream come true. i really believe that by us all coming together we can make a huge difference in the vibe world. part of doing that is all of us becoming better and better. and that's happening.

i do think it's important to leave the ego at the door, and also for the people critiquing to critique without their egos. and that seems to be happening here.

this is a cool place to hang out!

by Babu | Tue, 03/29/2011 - 08:54

Good will

What I like with this site (apart of wibe's things, lessons,etc...) is knowing there is a general "good will" (i don't know if it is the right english expression - i translated from french, let's say a kind of "positive prejudgment")because there is no agressive thoughts. And it is specially important for me since english not being my native linguage, when i want to tell something, 90% of the cases i just know one way of saying it in that idiom. That means possibles misunderstandings, or a too "iced" way of speaking, or.... and generally it's a break for taking part of forums, discussions, but not here. And that free spirit generate the growing variety of the topics treated, wich is, from my experience, very rare. Not being afraid of the others open our brains and let us see we all have tresaurus to share. (Am I corny too ? :o)) )

by tonymiceli | Tue, 03/29/2011 - 09:34

Right on babu!

Everyone here is cool. Really cool.