Proficiency Levels Determined By Moodiness

[Bill Hankey]

Jutting out over the uppermost part of the steel guitars, are faces galore. Some appear to be overconfident, while others appear to be cautiously aware of proficiency levels that change from day to day. Birthdays can determine the peak proficiency levels of a well organized player. Has anyone here on the Forum made a like determination?

[Tony Prior]

No, I see it differently, I have always determined that the proficiency level of any musical instrument , or any skill for that matter, is totally based on how much the person is willing to invest in the process. If 5 min/day is all they are willing to invest then on the Friday gig they will have 35 minutes invested in their performance . If they are willing to set aside 1 hour /day, for good study, quality practice, not noodling, they will have 7 hours of preparation.

How much are we willing to invest is the way I see it. Proficiency I feel comes from our own dedication to the cause.

It's not doing 4000 things once each that gets us to the good place but rather doing one thing 4000 times.

t

[Bill Hankey]

Tony,

I've seen grown men with new pickup trucks making truck payments in part by "dumpster diving." Scrap metals and precious metals have shot up in price from 10% to 1000% increases. I've never seen so many scrap dealers that number in the thousands here in Western Massachusetts. Jewelers from across the state are advertising for scrap gold. They expect those who have those items, to send them through the mails. How does all of this relate to steel guitars. Would you believe it has more to do with the players, bag and baggage? I didn't think that steel players could become so very selective in their postings. It could come to the same what's in it for me, among selective posters.

[Don Brown, Sr.]

Wow! Bill,

I hope Tony was able to get your reply, better than what I was capable of.

Nothing you said, related to your original post, nor to Tony's reply. Or did it? Maybe I'm too blind, dumb, and ignorant, to have comprehended any of it?

[Bill Hankey]

Don Brown Sr.,

Did you ever try to make heads or tails of barroom chatter? They talk in circles in between corny jokes. The bar crowds are part of the riddle that includes watching clients defying the no smoking in public places rules by dashing in and out the exit doors. If you find my suggestions more confusing than those situations, I'm ready to make some changes.

[Charles Davidson]

WHAT CHA SAY ? YOU BETCHA, DYK?BC.

[Dick Wood]

Bill, do you by any chance do the voice of Boomhauer on King of the Hill?

[Georg Sørtun]

Some appear to be overconfident, while others appear to be cautiously aware of proficiency levels that change from day to day.

My observations are that those who tend to play well within range of their abilities also tend to be overconfident - and probably rightly so since they're playing "safe", while those who intentionally want to push each performance to the very edge of their abilities are probably also aware that that "edge" is a moving target that changes with circumstances and mood.

The latter type of player probably won't stay away from the edge even if they're acutely aware of the risks for failures, and, IMO, some of the best performances ever made are so close to turning into failures that one may wonder why anyone wants to go there. I'm glad someone does from time to time though, as otherwise it would all tend to sound a bit too "musak" to me.

[Bo Legg]

Bill, we haven't heard from you in 8 days so I checked Gone Home and didn't see your name there and I see no mention of you being ill or in the hospital. I hope nothing bad has happened.
Did Georg's post send you over the edge or maybe you're just out looking for that scrap metal you were referring to in an earlier post?
Are you just going to leave us hanging here on the edge of moodiness?

[Wayne Franco]

A listner does not know what you know and what you don't know. If you play within your playing ability you will almost always play better. If you are constantly trying to push your own limits, which nobody else knows are but you, you're constantly out on a limb which is very likely to give way. For me how I feel certainly makes a difference how I play but the best I can do is get my head into in as far as it will go keep it under control.

[Roual Ranes]

Your "MOOD" is the #1 factor in your ability at the moment.
The right mood causes you to be focused on what you are doing.

[Barry Blackwood]

The latter type of player probably won't stay away from the edge even if they're acutely aware of the risks for failures, and, IMO, some of the best performances ever made are so close to turning into failures that one may wonder why anyone wants to go there.

Georg, it's been said that there's a fine line between genius and insanity ....

[Bill Hankey]

Bo Legg,

Please get the word out for me that I'm in the final stages of a severe gout attack! It's a desease that can bring the strongest man to his knees begging for mercy.

It can't be cured, that is to say , it's an incurable affliction. I know about the meds that come with undesirable side affects. My fight will represent studies in foods to avoid, and I know that beer is a drink to avoid.

I feel much better today, after an agonizing 8 days. Thanks to all who are concerned.

[Wayne Franco]

How in the world are you gonna put yourself in a good mood to play?

[Bill Hankey]

W. Franco,

Most steel players are not predisposed to the effects of drinking beer. My good buddies enjoy their beer - that's the way that cookie crumbles. I'm also aware of the various moods that can be brought on by alcoholic consumption.

[Dave Grafe]

Professional athletes and coaches daily face the same performance riddle as musicians: every day we train the same way, eat the same meals, practice the same moves, sleep the same hours, but still can't play the same from hour to hour or day to day. It's the human condition and thousands of years of research has brought forth all manner of approaches to this conundrum.

For myself, I practice and play whenever I can fit it in and I find that most of the time I'm in Georg's second camp, I KNOW what I can do for sure, but I WANT to follow the inspiration of the moment, sometime's the results are stellar, other times I crash and burn; generally the spectacular nature of the wreckage is in direct proportion to the number, ability and personal affinity for other PSG players present at the time.

I did not make this stuff up but it sure makes for an interesting life!

[Georg Sørtun]

Georg, it's been said that there's a fine line between genius and insanity ....

So I've heard - a very fine line indeed...
Not much chance I'll end up on the right side of that line, whichever side that is

[Bo Legg]

Bill, sorry about your affliction. I've heard it can be very painful and I'm sure it manifests its self in a hellish variety of moods.

[Bill Hankey]

Bo Legg,

Your statement is an on the mark description of one of man's most evil afflictions. No truer words were ever spoken. Even if the body has been kept clean, exercising care in selecting foods, no smoking, drinking, or obviously harmful habits, sinister GOUT has been known to come knocking. It will wreck the best of plans to continue with musical activities.

The sad part implied by medical sources, is that cures are more like pipe dreams, rather than useful recoveries through medical investigation. I believe some of the reasons for a lagging assist in relieving GOUT, may be explained away by its unpredictabilities. M.D.'s show an aversion for most things that are not laid out on paper. Most are clueless in the initial assault. The best that can be hoped for by yours truly, in office calls, is to brush up on the latest treatments. There are NO CURES. FWIW - B.H.

[Bo Legg]

Boy oh boy! Just start talking about health problems and that'll lock up a topic quicker than constipation.