P@RT1C!P@T!0N 1N OCCUP@T!0N TWO - ERGONOMICS

Account of my participation in this activity on 22.09.2011

Today I picked a song to learn to play, and after scouring the internet for a good guitar tab for "Hey there Delilah" by the Plain white T's, I found one that was more appropriate to my style of playing. Ergonomics comes into this because I adapted my search for guitar tabs to my own abilities so that I can still participate in my activity. For example, had I chosen a guitar tab that was far beyond my abilities (Bar chords and palm muting for example), then my participation would be slack, whereas I made adjustments to the activity, by finding a finger picking guitar tab to play the chosen song in order to ensure that I can play it. In choosing my guitar tab, I went through the chords in all the verses first, and once I had those nailed, I worked on the chorus. It took me just over two hours to learn to play song, as it is quite a basic song for those who aren't mega pros just yet...

Again from playing the guitar today, I can see the relevance of ergonomics in this activity, as while I went through all of the notes and where my fingers had to be in the frets etc, I found myself making adjustments all the time to make it easier for me to play. For example, in verse two, the guitar tab told me to have my pinky in fret 4 in prep for the next chord, but since my hands are relatively small, this is difficult, so instead I moved my hand over a fret to play the same chords, but allowed me to use my ring finger instead of my pinky finger.

Reference #2

"Whether we play an instrument on a regular basis, or just occasionally, or even when performing on it for the first time, we form a relationship with it. People talk to machines such as computers, washing machines, bikes toys (especially when they don't seem to be cooperating), this includes instruments. It can be helpful to allow an instrument to to take on a kind of separate 'identity', or even 'personality'", (Gibson, 2001).

I thought this quote was a good reference to have in terms of ergonomics, simply because it is taking an instrument and literally giving it a life of its own in order for it to work better for you. Gibson is speaking of forming that relationship with an object in order to feel more connected with it, creating a better relationship which not only creates a better participative style but for me, creates btter music, because it's not just a guitar to me, and because of that, My guitar playing is better for me, and suits me better.

Here is an example of the "Hey there Delilah" Guitar Tab from 'Ultimate Guitar', Verse Two

Verse 2:
  D               F#m             D               F#m
e---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B---3---3---3---3---2---2---2---2---3---3---3---3---2---2---2-------|
G---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2-------|
D-0---0---0---0---4---4---4---4---0---0---0---0---4---4---4---4----|
A--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E---------------------------------------------------------------------------|


  Bm             G        A       Bm              A
e---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B---3---3---3-------3---3---2---2---3---3---3---3---2---2---5---5---|
G---4---4---4-------4---4---2---2---4---4---4---4---2---2---2---2---|
D--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A-2---2---2---0-----------0---0---2---2---2---2---0---0---0---0-----|
E-----------------3---3----------------------------------------------------|


  D               F#m             D               F#m
e---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B---3---3---3---3---2---2---2---2---3---3---3---3---2---2---2-------|
G---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2-------|
D-0---0---0---0---4---4---4---4---0---0---0---0---4---4---4---4----|
A--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E---------------------------------------------------------------------------|


  Bm              G       A       Bm              A
e---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B---3---3---3-------3---3---2---2---3---3---3---3---2---2---5---5---|
G---4---4---4-------4---4---2---2---4---4---4---4---2---2---2---2---|
D--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A-2---2---2---0-----------0---0---2---2---2---2---0---0---0---0-----|
E-----------------3---3----------------------------------------------------|

The whole guitar tab can be found at: http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/p/plain_white_ts/hey_there_delilah_ver2_tab.htm

References:

Gibson, B. (2001). Performing matters. Great Britain: England. Athenaeum Press.

Ultimate Guitar. (2011). Recieved 22.09.2011 from http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/p/plain_white_ts/hey_there_delilah_ver2_tab.htm

P@RT1C!P@T!0N 1N OCCUP@T!0N TWO

So it continues...

This blog is a continuation of the Participation in Occupation One blog from last semester. Though this time around, I will talking about an occupation that I have great interest in.
My chosen occupation is: PLAYING THE GUITAR! :)

 What does playing the guitar really mean to me?

I have always had a great passion for music from all kinds of genres. It was something that allowed me to mellow out in my own comfortable space with some great tunes that will relax me. It was the perfect time for me to reflect on things. In learning the guitar, which I have been doing for the past 2 and a half years, I was able to feel like I really connect to this passion of mine, and it has become a great way for me to have time to myself, time to think, and is also a great social stimulant also, allowing the extreme opposites of solo time and social time within one hobby.

Personal experiences with my guitar (Mindfulness).

Playing the guitar requires me to have great concentration and the ability to repeat notes and chords over and over until I manage to get it right. This can take hours and hours of time to myself, taking me out of my current reality, where it's just me and my guitar.

Keys word that spring to mind when thinkging about playing the guitar:

-Relaxing
-Concentration
-Entertainment
-Leisure
-Musical
-Socialising
-Satisfaction
-Meaningful

Being an OT student, what does playing the guitar mean to me in terms of Occupation?

The guitar requires great dexterity in the hands and fingers, where the basis of playing the strings come from fine motor movement. The constant playing will help me exercise my fingers and keep my fine motor movements up to par

As a student, the ability to concentrate can be key, so I find that being able to concentrate for long periods of time to master a song is a good ability to have.

Meaningful occupations should be something a person enjoys to do, so I think I nailed it with choosing to learn the acoustic guitar because it makes me so happy to play and gives me a sense of great satisfaction. Its such a great tool for me to have time to myself, but it can also provide great entertainment for social gatherings, even if the singing along with the guitar playing isn't exactly on tone...

Reference #1
"Those who are occupied, people who are 'playing' are likely to be active, aroused, and full of life, commited, organised, structured, responsible, and have a vested interest in their surroundings. They are orientated, interested, motivated, concerned, attentive, involved, careful, heedful, attached, connected and enthusiastic", (Caulton, 1994)

I chose this reference, because it is perfect to outline how important occupying ourselves are, and what it can mean and create for an individual person. All of these identifying characters in the quote above outline how an occupation can make something evolve in a person, can shape who they are and how they are perceived, and perhaps how they want to be perceived. I feel like a part of me chose to play the guitar to show the world that I can learn something that's difficult, that I have talent, that I'm hard-working, passionate for music, motivated, attentive, commited to something I am passionate about. This reference from Caulton, I think, snapshots how an identity is formed through doing. Through occupation, we become who we are. I am a guitar player, and I love being that person and doing that occupation.

Reference List

Caulton, R. (1994). Occupation and healing: at home, at work, at play. Occupation Journal, Vol. 1, No.1.