Effortless Mastery - Liberating The Master Musician Within

194 Pages·1996·0.64 MB·English

by  Kenny Werner

EFFORTLESS
MASTERY
LIBERATING THE MASTER
MUSICIAN WITHIN
BOOK AND CD
BY KENNY WERNER
COVER DESIGN BY
ROBBIE ALTERIO
Published by JAMEY AEBERSOLD JAZZ, INC.
P.O. Box 1244 New Albany, IN 47151 -1244
http://www.jajazz.com
Copyright © 1996 Kenny Werner
All Rights Reserved/International Copyright Secured.
No portion of this book may be reproduced in any way without express
permission from the publisher.
ISBN 1-56224-003-X
Effortless Mastery
Dedication
For my father, who said that he loved to give advice and always
wanted to write a book entitled If I Were You!
For my mother, who exemplifies selfless service and never offered
me anything but encouragement.
For my beautiful daughter Katheryn may her brashness never be
thwarted.
For my wife Lorraine, who has taught me the meaning of Dharma, or
righteous action one of the most soulful and selfless people I’ve ever
met. We’re all lucky to have her!
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the following people and institutions for
helping make this book a reality:
Robin Brisker, for helping me figure out the early
version of the cover design; Scott Reeves, for an early
editing of the text; and Tony Moreno, forgiving me much
source material which I used extensively - all done as a
labor of love.
The Danish Musician’s Union and Jens Sondergaard,
for inviting me to give a very special clinic on a
”sunny day” in Copenhagen. The original text was an
unedited transcription of my two days there.
Winnie and Eigil Mollsgaard, for allowing us to use their beautiful
home for the clinic.
All the music societies and universities that invited me to give
lectures and perfect my ”schtick.”
Jamey Aebersold, for immediately sharing
my enthusiasm for this project, and for his own
dedication to spirit.
Effortless Mastery
For my beloved teacher,
Gurumayi Chidvilasananda,
for continually leading me along the
path towards the heart and reminding me
about ”the inner music.”
Effortless Mastery
Selected Discography
As LEADER:
Ken Werner Plays the Music of Bix Beiderbecke. Duke Ellington. James P. Johnson and
George Gershwin: (Finnadar Records)
Beyond the Forest of Mirkwood: Ken Werner (Enja Records)
298 Bridge St.: Ken Werner Sextet - Joe Lovano, Bill Drewes, Bill DeArango, Ratzo
Harris, torn Rainey (AMF Records)
Kenny Werner: Introducing the Trio: Ken Werner Trio - Ratzo Harris, torn Rainey
(Sunnyside Records)
Uncovered Heart: Ken Werner Sextet - Joe Lovano, Randy Brecker, Eddie Gomez,
John Riley, Edson Cafe Adasilva (Sunnyside Records)
Press Enter: Ken Werner Trio - Ratzo Harris, torn Rainey (Sunnyside Records)
Meditations: Ken Werner (Steeplechase Records)* Copenhagen Calypso: solo
(SteepleChase Records) Gu-Ru: Ken Werner Trio - Ratzo Harris, torn Rainey (TCB
Records)
Paintings: Ken Werner, torn Rainey, Ratzo Harris, Billy Drewes, Tim Hagans, Mark
Feldman, Eric Friedlander, Cafe Edson Adasilva, Jamie Haddad, Judith Silvano, Richard
Martinez (Pioneer LDC, Inc., Japan)
Kenny Werner Live at Maybeck Hall: Chris Potter and Ken Werner (Concorde Records)
Kenny Werner Trio Live At Visiones: torn Rainey, Ratzo Harris (Concorde Records)
A Delicate Balance: Ken Werner Trio featuring Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette
(RCA/BMG)
As SIDEMAN:
Something Like A Bird: Charles Mingus (Atlantic Records)
I Know About the Life: Archie Shepp (SteepleChase Records)
Comin’ and Goin’: Jim Pepper (Europa Records)
Soul Song: Archie Shepp (Enja Records)
Tangents: Chico Freeman (Elektra-Asylum Records)
Twenty Years at the Village Vanguard: Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra (Atlantic Records)
Tones, Shapes, and Colors: Joe Lovano (Soul Note Records)
Transition: Peter Erskine (Denon Records)
The Good Life: Archie Shepp (Varrick Records)
Effortless Mastery
Soft Lights and Hot Music: Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra (Music Masters Records)
To You: Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra (Music Masters Records)
Definitive Thad Jones: Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra (Music Masters Records)
Definitive Thad Jones. Volume 2: Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra (Music Masters Records)
Lost Art: Mel Lewis Sextet (Music Masters Records)
Confidential: Special EFX (GRP Records)
Street Talk: Eddie Gomez (Columbia Records)
Music Inside: Joyce (Verve Forecast Records)
Landmarks: Joe Lovano (Blue Note Records)
Sweet Soul: Peter Erskine (BMG)
Language & Love: Joyce (Verve Forecast Records)
Reaching For the Moon: Roseanne Vitro (CMG)
Global Village: Special EFX (GRP Records)
Sail Away: torn Harrell (Musidisc Records)
Zounds: Lee Konitz (Soul Note Records)
Universal Language: Joe Lovano (Blue Note Records)
Labyrinth: torn Harrell (RCA/BMG)
Celebrating Sinatra: Joe Lovano (Blue Note Records)
Between Heaven and Earth: Andy Stattman (Shanachie Records)
Betty Buckley: Children Will Listen (Sterling Records)
- With One Look (Sterling Records)
- The London Concert (Sterling Records)
- Live At Carnegie Hall (Sterling Records)
- Much More (Sterling Records)
”Channeling Music.” Organica, Spring 1988
”Play for the Right Reasons.” Organica. Winter 1990
”Hostile Triads.” The Piano Stylist & Jazz Workshop. April-May 1991
Effortless Mastery
How To Use The CD
The exercises on the CD are basically meditations/ visualizations. Their
purpose is to help you experience your ”inner space.” This is a state
discussed in great detail throughout the book. The meditations are also
featured as chapters in this book. When you reach those chapters, you will
be instructed to listen to the corresponding exercise on the CD. Part of their
effect is to relax and focus you after you have absorbed a great deal of
information, and to give you a sense of the consciousness being described.
If you listen to the meditations consecutively, they may sound repetitious as
they contain much overlapping information. If used when indicated,
however, they can enhance the experience of this book greatly.
I recommend that you carefully read the meditations presented in the
chapters, as well as listening to them on the CD. In some cases, there are
a few ideas in the chapters that are not mentioned on the CD.
After you have experienced the exercises the first time in their intended
places, feel free to use any or all of them as an ongoing practice for
contacting, working with and creating from that ”inner space.”
Some of the material in this book is specifically directed towards
musicians and may seem highly technical, especially some of the
examples in the chapter, ”Step Four.” Please feel free to pass over those
passages. The bulk of the text should relate to anyone who aims to attain
mastery in any area of their lives.
Effortless Mastery
Table of Contents
Preface 9
1 Introduction 13
2 My Story 15
3 Why Do We Play? 27
4 Beyond Limited Goals 37
5 Fear, The Mind And The Ego 51
6 Fear-Based Practicing 59
7 Teaching Dysfunctions:
Fear-Based Teaching 65
8 Hearing Dysfunctions:
Fear-Based Listening 69
9 Fear-Based Composing 73
10 ”The Space” 77
11 ”There Are No Wrong Notes” 87
12 Meditation #1 93
13 Effortless Mastery 99
14 Meditation #2 119
15 Affirmations 125
16 The Steps To Change 131
17 Step One 135
18 Step Two 145
19 Step Three 151
20 Step Four 159
21 An Afterthought 173
22 I Am Great, I Am A Master 179
23 Stretching The Form 183
24 The Spiritual (Reprise) 187
One Final Meditation 191