Sorry some of you got an e-mail with my last post, and it had the wrong link for my youtube channel.

The correct link is http://www.youtube.com/user/olarte99 Please be sure to add the 99 to olarte.
Thanks

Ivan

So I’ve been a bit busy and not writing much. Still the Ipad2 along with a set of video and music tools that I compiled has been incredible useful in my progress with Classical Guitar.

The ability to video myself quickly and get immediate feedback has been invaluable. At first very disappointing because the quality of the playing was horrible. But with the help of my teacher Eric Christensen, and some critical but constructive analysis, I have finally moved on to where my playing is now sounding like Music!

One of the key factors for me has been realizing that I rush everything I do.

So I have  learned and applied from my mindfulness and mediation practice to focus on the music, I now listen as I play instead of  worrying about the notes, technique etc.

The way I see it, is that like a bank account, I have accumulated a good amount of technique, and luckily I memorize pieces very well, so it’s time to cash all that in, and let all those thoughts disappear when I play, as I now focus on what I hear, and how I’m feeling and breathing as I play.

And like mediation, where if one strays in thought one simply lets the thoughts happen and gently go back to the breath. So if I start thinking and getting distracted I simply and gently return to the music, what I hear as it flows from me and through the guitar.

Anyway, even though these pieces are far from perfect, they were recorded earlier today, with one or two takes at most. The magic is not in playing perfect but in playing with heart and sincerity. Because this is a new Practice for me, the quality is still very raw, but I plan to build up from here on the solid foundation of mindfulness that I have brought to my playing.

You can find the videos at my youtube channel over at http://www.youtube.com/user/olarte99

I hope you enjoy these videos as much as I enjoyed making them. If you like them, please consider subscribing to my youtube channel, as I plan to post more videos as I progress in my musical journey.

By the way these videos were all done, edited, titled and posted all from my Ipad2. The Ipad is a sweet piece of technology, and most apps are very reasonably priced. I used a few apps such as Imovie, Film Director, Photowall, and of course the built in video camera.

I plan to write an essay (in the near future) about my Music Toolbox and how I used the Ipad

With warm regards,

Ivan Olarte

May 12, 2011