[Harp-L] Genius is a verb, too

Richard Sleigh <rharp@xxxxxxxxxx> · Mon, 26 Apr 2010 21:16:59 -0400

The thread about genius has finally made me want to throw in my two  
cents, as I believe that there are some good questions to ask about  
the debate. One is "What is the point of this discussion?" Another is  
"What are the assumptions we are making here?"
People who do research on accelerated learning and human potential  
(Donna Cercone, Brian Tracy, Dennis Waitley Win Wenger among others)  
claim that genius is a way that we use our minds and can be learned.
When we do this "who is a genius" game, It puts us in the position of  
being passive judges of something that we don't have and others do.  
The idea  that we cannot access genius is poisonous and just plain  
wrong. It is an example of "learned helplessness" - I'm not a genius  
so why bother trying to be one?
A baby elephant tries over and over to break free of the rope that has  
it tethered. It gives up eventually after hundreds of futile attempts.  
The same elephant grows up with enough strength to easily break free  
of the rope, but never tries because it "knows" that it can't do it.
We tend to do the same thing with our own potential as musicians (and  
in many other areas where we are "stuck"). We learn early on that we  
are not "geniuses" and we accept "reality" instead of relentlessly  
working at creating genius as our reality.
Instead of debating who is a genius, wouldn't it be more fun to check  
out people who spend a lot of  time in the genius mode and ask "what  
are they doing?" "How can I do that?"
This is what I see going on over and over again at SPAH and other  
events like it. People come here and start relaxing and unwinding and  
after a certain amount of sleep deprivation and hanging out with  
inspiration, start having flashes of their own true genius. Something  
in the air makes them forget their usual self imposed limitations and  
they cut loose and play brilliant, alive music. With some it comes in  
flashes and then they get self conscious and it goes away. With others  
they get on the good foot and stay there for a while..... Some folks  
live there most of the time, and they get the label "Genius". Sometimes.
That is one of the reasons that I love SPAH. I love being around  
people who are experiencing genius. Especially their own, even if they  
don't choose to call it that.
Harpe Diem!
Richard Sleigh

author, "Turbocharge Your Harmonica, Vol. 1, - Straightn Up and Tune  
Right"
P.O. Box 23
Boalsburg PA 16827
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