Haiku/Senryu, Nr.06 — Practice ...

Dear J,

Bravo! “Perfectly” stated.
If I ever want a robot or drone I’ll buy one. (I won’t. I’m exaggerating.) but not about your poem. It’s touched a heartstring for me. H🌷

Hello H, thank you again for your supporting comments.
The idea for the poem came from learning a musical instrument (new year 2022 resolution) in order to 'stay young' by activating different neural networks.
I'm informed muscle memory comes from repetitive practice and it's just as easy to teach your fingers 'bad habits' as it is to teach them good habits. Worst of all is to teach them no habits. The key I'm told whilst learning is to play as slow as is needed to always get the fingers consistently to the right place in the right order with the right timing - and then the correct muscle memory stays with you as you slowly speed up. The jury's still out.
Meanwhile here's the great Jeff Beck (& Jools Holland too)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLyKqcopnrQ

Bravo! Truth on target. Thanks for the reminder. Hugs and peace, Oral

Thank you for the comment, all the best, Josh.

Hi skyblue2, thank you for supportive comment. Having 'failed' to learn the piano beyond grade-3, I had a long break from musical instruments believing I had no natural musical skill/talent. This year my wife and I decided each to learn a new instrument in order to play together, egged on by success stories of 'late-starters'. A new chance to learn to learn the right way :))

It's NEVER too late... I had a 94 year old beginner once! Also, talent is largely irrelevant for most musicians. I don't think I'm talented, but have been working at it since the age of 6 and have been able to take it as far as I wanted.

Very true, it's what in marching band we came to call, auto pilot (just trying to improve the little things in between).

Thank you Wally. I suppose in a way the old saying "practice makes perfect" begs the question 'perfect at what?' -- well, perfect at the mechanics of whatever you are practicing, regardless of its ethical merits or otherwise.

After a certain point it become second nature, and once something becomes second nature it tends to lose its magic. That's the difference in creation - when something loses its magic it becomes mundane - and mundane is, indeed, programming. A very interesting perspective that caused me pause to reflect.

While I realize this isn't a NaPo entry, I did want to take the time to comment how strongly you are out of the gate this year. Also, to thank you for your support, encouragement, and dedication to Team NaPo. It's deeply appreciated. I look forward to crossing another finish line with you this year!

Thank you for the comment Ahavati.
As in my reply to Honoria above, Veronika & I, as a new year resolution, decided to keep ourselves young { :)) } by each learning a musical instrument from scratch (we bought them in Jan 2022) -- which has involved delving into all sorts of internet reseach on "the best way to learn is ..." -- and a music teacher's comment on 'efficient practice' is what started the thought process  for the poem -- kind of repetition for good or ill -- training finger muscle-memory (useful body programming) to go to the right place in the right way at the right time.

Funny you should mention magic -- I'm right in the middle of trying to write a NaPo entry on said topic.
For me, always having  some creative projects up my sleeve is what keeps 'magic' alive through the 'surprises' that happen in the creative process, which by definition involves connection with the heart of creativity, divine essence -- {and in the words Van Morrison "you've got to fight every day to keep mediocrity at bay"}
I can see from your day-1 NaPo entry that mediocrity is not, (and never has been), your style. I'm intrigued as ever to what comes in the next 29 episodes. Creative blessings to you, best regards, Josh.

I must've sensed the "essence" of your post in regard to magic, Josh.  :-) I am sure you ( or Veronika ) will ever allow the magic to become mundane.

And thank you for the kind words about my entry. It's going to be a challenge, for sure.

I loved this.  I'm a music teacher, and in my experience, practice makes permanent!  If you don't practise correctly, you're going to keep playing it wrong!

Thank you Wafflenose. I got the idea from starting to learn a musical instrument this year (base ukelele) as a retirement venture, and picked up the advice to play slowly but correctly, since one is training one's fingers in muscle-memory. You can also train them incorrectly by trying to play too fast too soon (as I have found out).
I like your strap-line by the way about practice being proportional to progress. Best regards, Josh.
(PS: have you ever thought that chlorine in the swimming-pool adversely affects hay-fever/itchy-skin etc. It did for me so I stopped swimming and I took up rowing again)

Ooh, I hadn't thought of that. I've just finished another week of heavy steroids, so am not reacting at the moment, but I'll report back once I've been in the pool. We're going on holiday for a week soon, and all swimming will be done in the sea. I can't wait!!