Music and Tai Chi

I’ve had a great interest in Tai Chi for many years. I was always fascinated by the slow movements of the people doing it in the park. Little did I know I would actually be a Tai Chi student later on though. For the past four years I’ve been studying Tai Chi and other martial arts at Wujitang Martial Arts in Richmond. I’m very grateful for the guidance and assistance from my Master. I feel that Tai Chi and music are similar in ways. In Chinese Kung Fu you practice and train hard on a form. You can practice the same form for many years and still have much to learn about that form. I feel in a way this connects a lot to music because in music we learn songs inside and out and after many years we can still learn new things about how to play and improve our musicality.

In Tai Chi, our instrument is our body. We focus on connecting our feet to the floor and connecting the power from the ground to the rest of the body. I feel a same sort of feeling when playing string bass. Due to the size of the bass you need to be grounded and relaxed at the same time. When you have this correct feeling the sound of the instrument can come out a lot stronger and more full.

Another aspect is you must have a clear mind in Tai Chi. When your mind is clear, you are focused and alert but also relaxed in your body. This is quite similar to music, because if you are thinking about something else there is no way you can play at your best.

Lastly I feel that both Tai Chi and Music share an aspect of training. To become most successful in both arts you must practice consistently and make practice enjoyable for yourself.

My recent speech on Music “We Need Music”

Hello, my name is James if you don’t know. I’m very excited today to speak about

my passion for music and how I believe it has the power to change the world.

When I was in the fifth grade I was introduced to the guitar in school. Although I

didn’t end up sticking with it, it was an enjoyable experience. It wasn’t until the eighth

grade when I found the electric bass that everything changed for me. Over the next few

years I joined the high school jazz band as well as joined a small rock band with three of

my friends. High school band was the birthplace for my love of music. No matter what

time of day, I always felt a sense of peace in the bandroom. A place where all the

troubles and anxieties of life floated away. And when I was at home practicing my

electric bass, I felt that by practicing for an hour I could take away my headache and put

myself in a cheerful mood.

Upon graduating from high school I took some time off from music, and this was

a difficult time for me. One year later, I joined the Douglas College Basic musicianship

program and here I re-found my sense of belonging. Going through the program I met

many kind friends and learned a lot about music and myself. After Douglas College I

transferred to Kwantlen University to finish my degree. My initial goal was to become a

high school music teacher although I ended up going in the direction of private music

teaching.

I enjoy working with students of all ages. I enjoy showing them they can all play

music too. Even if they think they can’t. I believe everyone can play and enjoy music

too. Consider the last time you had a conversation with one of your loved ones. Often,

you didn’t know what you were going to talk about going into the conversation or how

you were going to say it. The conversation just begins to naturally flow. Even without

speaking you can convey a message to the other person. You are a natural improviser!

Whether you think so or not. Music is very much the same way.

I get a lot of my ideas off a musician named Victor Wooten, who is a bass player

like myself. He says ‘learning music is like learning a language. Babies aren’t taught to

speak, they naturally listen and ‘jam’ until they are able to communicate with others. It’s

a natural process. Music learning, according to Victor, should be the same process.

People should first learn to jam and play right from the beginning, like a baby.

Consider the last time you listened to your favorite song and how it made you

feel? Consider what the world would be like without sound or music? Everyday life is

musical whether we think so or not. Music is artistic and expressive. Powerful artists like

Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, and Bob Dylan for example have changed the world with their

music. Even without spoken words, once you hear the moonlight sonata by Beethoven

you can feel the dark melancholy feeling he felt hundreds of years ago. This is the

power of music. Consider your favorite movies. Now imagine these movies without any

music whatsoever. Sure they might be able to stun you with their visual images,

although without the music to go along with it, it wouldn’t deliver half of the emotional

impact.

I believe that everyone has a genre or type of music they enjoy. I think that if

people can keep an open mind and heart they can accept other people more by

listening to the type of music that that person enjoys. In my own experience, I have

some students who have a particular taste for heavy metal. For me, it’s not my go to

genre of choice, although when I help them learn a song in this genre, I see them light

up with excitement and in turn I also begin to further appreciate this genre of music, as

well as develop a closer bond with the student. Music has a way of bringing people

together in this way.

Consider live concerts, often when people gather for a large concert rarely are

there fights, riots or hatred. People are there to listen to their favorite artists and gather

together with a common goal. The artists transmit music to the audience creating a

sense of unity among the audience. People leave the concert feeling a deeper sense of

appreciation, joy, or whatever they experienced at the concert. But whatever it is, it's

usually an uplifting feeling.

Whether or not you play music or are just an avid lover of listening to music. I

believe you have the power to move the world in a good direction. Music is like nature

and must be preserved. So go see a live concert in the city and perhaps it can just be a

local artist or band, keep an open mind about different genres of all cultures, and if you

don’t think you like a certain genre of music perhaps give it a second listen with an open

mind and heart. Perhaps this time around you may gain a deeper appreciation and new

friendship as well. Thank you.

Practicing

In my opinion, practicing should be an enjoyable experience. When I practice, I like to make it as fun as possible. I compare it to playing. Often I will use a chord player or drum machine and play along in this way. Exercises can be good for developing certain techniques but one must learn to apply these in a performance like setting otherwise they will always be just exercises. I use a website named musicaa.com and here you can find a chord player for free. You can program it to use any chord you like, any tempo, and change the style as well. Happy music practicing!

If you’re interested in learning more about my music lessons, contact me today!

Performing Your Music

I believe that performance gives students an opportunity to improve their playing in many ways. To perform in front of a crowd is a scary thing if you’ve never done it, although the thrill of doing so is unlike any other. To only practice to yourself is good, but to be able to share what you have practiced with others is an amazing experience.

In my music lessons, I encourage my students to play to others as much as possible. Even if it’s just their friend or parents! As well, I set up two recitals per year in New Westminster or Burnaby where students can perform not only to their family but to other students and friends as well.

If you’re interested in playing guitar, piano, or bass I will happily work to find songs you enjoy and eventually be able to perform as well.

My Major Musical Influence

One of my major influences in music is Victor Wooten. Not only is he an outstanding bass player but also a great teacher. I first discovered one of his books around 10 years ago named “The Music Lesson”. It’s a story mixed in with many lessons and an explanation of the different elements of music. I found the first chapter to be the most interesting because he feels music should be taught in a way that is similar to a baby learning how to speak. A baby doesn’t need to learn how to read before being able to speak in their native language. Beginning musicians should first learn to jam in the beginning and enjoy themselves. I highly recommend this book, not only to bass players but anyone that plays music.

Playing the Bass

I think playing the bass is one of the coolest instruments. The bass provides rhythm and harmony to a band you play with, so it’s a big responsibility. Being able to play in time and with a good feel are essential. Without the bass people wont feel as compelled to get on the dance floor.

One thing I like to use in my lessons is a drum machine. A drum machine provides you with a practice partner and unlimited possibilities. You can adjust the tempo, time signature, feel, you can remove bars, add in fills, or whatever you’d like. I think being able to develop an internal rhythm like a drummer is one of the keys to being a great bass player.

If you’re looking for lessons in New Westminster, Burnaby, Vancouver, or Surrey, contact me today! I offer a free trial lesson and I can travel to your location or teach online.

Playing Music

I believe music playing should always be an enjoyable experience. As someone who loves to play live music, I feel I want to share that experience with my students. Even if they don't have the desire to eventually perform, playing and practicing in a way that is fun is still essential.

When a new student comes to me that has no experience in music, I strive to get them to learn songs first thing. Later on we can learn scales and important techniques but the ability to jam and play music should be the first step I believe.

If you're looking for music lessons in New Westminster, contact me today! I offer a trial lesson to new students to see if it is a good fit.

My band Hydro Taxi