Walsch on Looking Ahead and Staying Encouraged in Guitar Practice
“Do not discourage yourself with what you haven’t done, encourage yourself with what you will do.”
Neale Donald Walsch
All these lovely places, ripe with adventure and new experiences!
Like in Dr. Seuss’ “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”, we get worlds upon worlds – whatever we want. It’s all there for the taking.
But life often intervenes. While the Lake Regions of Argentina or the fjords of Norway await, other things may demand our time.
And when we focus on what we haven’t done, as N. D. Walsch says, we run the risk of becoming jaded or discouraged.
And the same holds true in our guitar practice. All these wonderful tunes to play, but at just X minutes per day, it can seem impossible.
Instead of dwelling on what’s not happened yet, it’s much more fun to look ahead with anticipation.
There’s plenty of time. It’s no race. The sheet music will still be there when we’re ready (as will Mt. Fuji and the Galapagos).
In the moments of our daily practice (however many there may be), we can enjoy our current “location”.
What a luxury! What a boon to take the time and put all our attention on one moment of music, or one movement of the hand! What a gift!
They say that “satisfaction is the death of desire”. And desire is fun. Anticipation before a journey is often just as rewarding as the journey itself.
All that music down the road – “Oh, the places we’ll go!”
When we look to the future with excitement and relish today, we’re much more likely to get there.
“Do not discourage yourself with what you haven’t done, encourage yourself with what you will do.”
Neale Donald Walsch
Hi, I’m Allen Mathews.
I started as a folk guitarist, then fell in love with classical guitar in my 20’s. Despite a lot of practice and schooling, I still couldn’t get my music to flow well. I struggled with excess tension. My music sounded forced. And my hands and body were often sore. I got frustrated, and couldn’t see the way forward. Then, over the next decade, I studied with two other stellar teachers – one focused on the technical movements, and one on the musical (he was a concert pianist). In time, I came to discover a new set of formulas and movements. These brought new life and vitality to my practice. Now I help guitarists find more comfort and flow in their music, so they play more beautifully.
Click here for a sample formula.
Allen Mathews was recommended to me as somebody who could help me expand my guitar vocabulary. Allen started me on a really fun cycle of lessons and practice. He is a very good,and very enthusiastic teacher, and I feel that I'm on the road to learning. I couldn't be more pleased with my experience.
~ Peter Buck (r.e.m.)
-Peter Buck (r.e.m.)
Thanks to you (you are my only teacher) in only a few months I've gone from very basic beginner pieces to having just completed learning Bach's Gavottes 1&2 in good form and execution. As a non-classical electric guitarist who has always used a pick and never his fingers, this has been no small feat!
~ Gregg Olson
-Gregg Olson
“Success lies in relentless execution of the basics.”
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