Peace and Guitarmony - The Spirit of Practicing
By Steve Coyne In Japanese the word for rhythm is hyoshi which translates to "child's clap". Meaning a rhythm as natural as a child clap. Hyoshi also refers to the synchronization of natural rhythms in nature. The phases of the moon and the tides of the ocean are in rhythm with each other. During the relaxed concentration of playing music or anything that puts one "in the zone" a rhythm or a pace develops. Musicians find hyoshi when playing with other musicians. Martial artists find hyoshi with their opponents while sparring. Scales, overtones, time signatures and the subdivisions of the beat are all mathematically synchronous. Every situation and activity has hyoshi. Playing an instrument requires muscle memory to develop in a relaxed way. Like learning any physical activity the body develops the type of endurance it needs to sustain the activity by repeatedly doing the activity. At times, your fingers will not do what your mind tells them to do o