It is often said that practice makes perfect. I do not believe this to be true. However, I do believe that practice allows for a personal connection between the practice and the one practicing. To be able to do something consistently every day for the sole purpose of improving one’s skill in that thing can be a liberating experience, especially when that practice pays off. In order to reach this point of freedom through practice, consistency is key. Every day, when I arrive home from the day’s activities, the first thing that I see upon entering my room is my guitar–a Fender Bullet Stratocaster with a HSS pickup configuration. When my father first bought it for me about four years ago, it cost us about $150 (which is very cheap for an electric guitar). Since buying it, I have replaced the strings with those of a higher gauge and quality, improving the sound output of the instrument. Despite the relative quality of this guitar, it feels more like home than any other instrument that I have ever played. Through years of practice and dedicated passion, I have honed my skills and playing style to fit the music that I want to create. The guitar (which I often call “The Squier”) is placed right beside the desk that I typically work at. It is out in the open on a stand so that it can be easily accessible, leading me to pick it up every day. I stand up to allow the Squier to hang below my waist from a long strap that goes over my shoulder. The practice begins with a tuning session–starting with my trained ears before moving to a tuning machine for extra precision. On the occasion that I practice with an amplifier, you would be able to hear me if you were present. I would warm up with a few power chords–likely the beginning chords of a Green Day song or “Spiderwebs” by No Doubt. After I finish that, I would let the guitar take me where it wants to go in terms of music that I already know. The guitar listens to me. It feels me. It knows me better than any person could. I do not choose to play a song that I like. The guitar knows what I like and, in combination with how I feel, simply makes sounds that please me. If I am sorrowful, the guitar arpeggiates and slowly strums, while anger prompts the powerful punk riffs that resonate through my body, being expressed through a dance. Occasionally, I’ll sing. You may hear the sounds that I make and wince, should you dislike the kind of music that my guitar enjoys. The Edge always used to say that every instrument has songs locked within it, and it is up to the artist to find these songs. While I have yet to find all of the songs locked away in the Squier,the practice allows me to explore it. I may not know how to find the songs yet, but practice will act as the map. The more that I practice, the clearer the map is and the closer I get to finding self-expression. word count: 531
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James WilkinsI enjoy writing creative stories, but I find it refreshing to express my thoughts through blogs or journals. Archives
April 2024
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