Joy is a natural response to being alive, and music one way of giving it voice. Yet much of life in the music industry is a pretty joyless affair: exploitation, greed, lying, and theft are pillars of the industrial life. Which shows how much we manage to screw up what is both natural and available.…

There is truly no shame in being a dope. Until we know that we are a dope. Before, we were dopey. Then, we had an excuse. Now we know that we’re dopey, the situation is radically different. Before, the basement was dark. Then, a light went on. Our perception of the known universe changed at…

There is a difference between knowing, that Music is always present and available, and realising it. Realising that this is a certainty, upon which we may rely, changes how we approach the practicalities of our musical lives. Since Music is always present, our focus moves to ourselves being present. Our question changes from – How…

Our fixed and habitual attitudes shape our lives, how we live them, and how we engage with others. Within these directing-attitudes is usually one primary operating strategy, to which we are blind. In the Guitar Circle this is referred to as Blind Spot, also sometimes as Chief Feature. This blind directing-strategy is present in all…

I When people come together, disagreement is inevitable, and may even be necessary. Politics is the management of disagreement. In conventional political discourse, disagreement is addressed from the outside. In the external political model, to achieve “better” outcomes, one view (held by often good people with laudable aims) is imposed upon others by […]

Functional strategies for resolving conflict are useful, even necessary. They are, however, not quite solutions. What gives rise to conflict? Primarily, the attitude we hold in front of others. So, how to resolve conflict? Drop the attitude/s! Attitudes like: I have the right; I am entitled; I know what’s best; I should be the leader…