An Inconvenient Surprise

Hey folks

I’ve been missing for a couple of weeks, sorry about that. The fact is, I got really really sick and without the fine people at Southlake Health Centre, you would not be reading this. However, you are, so let’s make it march.

I was on a ventilator for the better part of five days. Prior to that if you had told me that basic muscular pathways could deteriorate in such little time, I would have been massively skeptical. And I would have been wrong.

Something as simple as holding a utensil, or standing or walking, are all skills that degrade fast. When I was awakened, I have had to learn to do those things all over again. I know the how, but the link between how and do broke down. That is in itself terrifying. Now consider a thing that we do that is highly dependent on fine neuro muscular control, that needs precision and coordination, and you can imagine another fear. If I could not spoon pudding into my own mouth, what would that mean for my ability to play?

Lots of us have taken a break from playing at one time or another. With some proper practice it comes back. The guitar, amp, pedals etc are all wonderful, but they don’t really matter. The most important thing is the attitude to do the playing. Not sit and worry about it, not to plan an exercise set for hours, just pick up the guitar and play. It may not be as good as it was before, but in the doing, you change the game and may end up better in the long run.

I do find that having a series of standard stretches and exercises is helping. Proper repetition is the mother of skill. By having these musical kata already forged in my brain, the return is moving along, albeit never as quickly as I might like. I am making errors, but each run through, I get a bit better.

We all enjoy differently. Playing a song all the way through is fine, but I don’t get the joy that I get from pick control, volume control and tone control in the hands just by playing a song. Find what you like and build on that. But do it. Don’t let it sit, and don’t let those neuro-muscular pathways become fuzzy.

Part of my learning has been to play anything. I’ve had days where I see a guitar and say to myself that I don’t feel motivated. I play solely for my own pleasure so whether I do is entirely on me. However, what I lost in that short period was so precious is what I never care to lose again, or have to rebuild again.

Surely some instruments feel easier to play than others. That may be an acoustic, an electric, or something else. About 20 years ago while in Vancouver, I played and bought on the spot a Brian Moore C90 custom guitar. I had never played anything that was so natural right from the word go, even with the weird jack placement. When I got home, it was the first instrument that I picked up. By removing any play barriers, I was able to put the focus where it needs to be, cleaning out the chaff. Whatever your easy play is, that’s where to work it.

But work it. I learned from my hospital roommate how critical the right attitude is. Yes, I could have passed away, and could be spending my time worrying about what might have been but I take inspiration from that fellow. He’s been a paraplegic for over 40 years and has the finest outlook. I choose to learn from him, so that I might be better. Take a tip from me if you would and play every day, even if it’s only a few minutes.

Thanks for reading. Please consider subscribing to the articles and the podcast to be notified when new content is posted. Until next time, peace