The Guitarist and The Critical Inner Voice

Do you think there comes a time when one needs a break from playing the guitar?  A time to refresh, replenish and detox all the critical thoughts that have accumulated over time.

When change is in the air or a time of ending a long period of creative output, I start to feel flat.  Specifically I find the negative innner voice to be magnified.  Suddenly my playing takes a turn for the worse and I start to think too much about everything I am creating.

Here is an example: after a lenghty output of creating classical and jazz works I found myself feeling somewhat dry and overwhelmed. Perhaps this made me vulnerable, but a musician decided to unload scathing words about my playing and I had to look deeply into the meaning of those comments and criticisms.

I decided there were two types of criticism; one that helps and one that hinders and it’s really important to be able to define both and what to do with each one.

A criticism that hinders is one that will not help in any way towards positive growth. The words are usually vicious, void of meaning and can carry a backlog of hidden jealously.  Their words carry a lot of drama and when you become aware of that, these guitarists are easy to ignore or easier to spend little time with.

But what if that critique has some merit?  This is the one I find most difficult to deal with because my first reaction is to shoot the messenger rather than hear the message.   What if……. I really play that way, can have an unsettling affect.

As difficult as it may be, there is much to be learned at this point. I call it the learn or flight response. It becomes a time to either buckle down and practice with a new focus or a time to run away. The latter never being a good idea if one truly wants to become better.

Sometimes, a criticism can lead to quick correction and then all is well. But the biggest changes in our guitar playing don’t happen overnight. After so many years of playing I find myself in a season of extraordinary change. So much so, I find it overwhelming.  So much so, I think I need a break to restore, replenish and time to get rid of what does not work any more.  It really becomes a time of hope and faith.

Time – because the true nature of learning works on its own schedule.

Faith – because, just like the seasons, we will always return to the uplifting season of light, where our guitar playing feels easy and effortless once again.

Stephen Zurakowsky

Artistic Director