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

Activity account on the 10.10.2011

Today I simply picked up my guitar and playing for half an hour. I played finger picking techniques that are used for practise, I practised strumming techniques, I played the few songs that I knew from beginning to end including 'Hey there delilah' by the Plain White T's and 'Hey, soul sister' by Train.

I sat on my bed, propped up by pillows, my guitar over my lap and I just played, and enjoyed the sun on my back from the windows behind me. Today, while I enjoyed playing, I focussed on noticing the environment around me, and how it made me feel. The nature of guitar playing, to me, is feeling serene, in control, and absolutely at ease with the world in that moment. I defintely felt all that when playing today. I don't do this for anyone else but me, it is something for me to enjoy, and to me, that is the essence of this activity. It creates such a rich sense of enjoyment and satisfaction that could rarely be replicated with another activity.

Music can be an important identifying aspect of who I am, and how people perceive me. I'e never hidden my love for music and therefore could relate to how I interact with others and they respond to me. I connect to others on a different level who always share a joy and passion for music, and I think this is a place for me in human society. I engage well with these people, and says a lot about who I am. I find songs deep and meaningful if written will and have great music to go with it. Songs aren't just songs, music isn't just music. It's so much more than that for me. It creates great feelings and memories and so much more.

Reference #4

"Songs remain. They last. The right song can turn an emperor into a laughing stock, can bring down dynasties. A song can last long after the events and the people in it are dust and dreams and gone. That's the power of songs" (Anansai boys, 2005).

I chose this quote, because it pulls out what I was saying earlier, about how music isn't just music. The Anansai boys created these lines to show that songs have a power behind them, and I believe that power can show through certain people and their beliefs and values, whether it's guitar playing, song writing, painting or any other activity that one might engage in. I very much value songs and music, and can always pull out underlying meanings from lyrics, and use my own lyrics to express my feelings and emotions. That is the power of songs to me.

References:

Gaimen, N. (2005). Anansai Boys: Harper Torch.