Meditation is the fundamental pillar of compassion. It teaches that presence is the most precious thing we have to offer others.
This pillar is that of self-presence, without which there can be no presence to others.
Without the flourishing of this presence to ourselves, there can be no presence to others.
Presence to ourselves is the practice of scales and the development of finger wisdom, speed, instinctive fingering, and melodic sense.
Without this practice, all improvisation will be artificial.
To hear the instruments of other musicians, it is necessary that we learn to listen to the resonances of our own.
This is, moreover, the only instrument we possess, the only one we can truly learn to play.
Notes & Silence 