Mortimer Adler on How to Gain True Freedom on Guitar

Tuesday Quotes are short explorations of music, life, and the daily endeavor of practicing classical guitar. Find more here. Enjoy!

“True freedom is impossible without a mind made free by discipline.”

Mortimer J. Adler

It’s easy to think of freedom and discipline as incongruent. After all, isn’t freedom the ability to do anything anytime? And wouldn’t discipline cancel that out?

Freedom is a double-edged sword. Yes, it opens up possibilities and allows us to have new experiences. But there’s a dark side as well….

Freedom demands that we make decisions. With all the options, we’re forced to choose something. And the more freedom, the more options we have to choose from.

And here’s the banana peel that freedom throws underfoot: Decisions suck our mental and creative energy. The more decisions we make, the less creative energy we have to actually do something worthwhile.

This is where discipline comes to the rescue.

Discipline is a decision already made. With discipline, we narrow our options and remove choices. This frees up brainpower we can then spend on the parts that matter.

In guitar practice, this means knowing what we’ll practice before we sit down. We can then focus our attention on the quality of each note (instead of pondering what to do next).

Discipline allows us to go deeper in fewer areas at any given time. Lack of discipline (aka “chaos”) usually leads to shallower and more disjointed practice. Over time, we master the skills we go deepest on, and live with the longest.

So the fewer decisions we make in practice, the better the practice tends to be.

True freedom on guitar comes through focused attention and consistent repetition. And to guarantee these, we need only eliminate choices by planning ahead, then show up.

Of course discipline itself is a practice, and gets easier and more effective over time.

So the game is to: 1. limit our options and have a plan, then 2. allow ourselves the freedom to change it if we really want to (but default to staying with the plan).

This way we can benefit from discipline, but still feel free to go wild when the urge strikes.

Hi, I’m Allen Mathews.

I started as a folk guitarist, then fell in love with classical guitar in my 20’s. Despite a lot of practice and schooling, I still couldn’t get my music to flow well. I struggled with excess tension. My music sounded forced. And my hands and body were often sore. I got frustrated, and couldn’t see the way forward. Then, over the next decade, I studied with two other stellar teachers – one focused on the technical movements, and one on the musical (he was a concert pianist). In time, I came to discover a new set of formulas and movements. These brought new life and vitality to my practice. Now I help guitarists find more comfort and flow in their music, so they play more beautifully.
Click here for a sample formula.

Hi Allen, I am a Dutch guy who plays classical guitar (solo and together with a flute player). Unfortunately I have been suffering from focal dystonia since begin 2016. Of course I tried physical therapy which didn't help… But I tried some of your [technique] lessons (I had teachers before but I was never taught your techniques) and to my big surprise the nasty feeling in the back of my right hand which pulls my index finger upward was gone! So now I practice your lessons. Anyway, I am very happy to have found you on the internet. Thanks very much!

~ Arnoud Reinders

-Arnoud Reinders

Hi Allen, I am thoroughly enjoying your website and I find it is just what I need in my renewed passion for classical guitar. I have rediscovered a great love for this instrument and the music I can learn and play and it has changed my life for the better dramatically! Thank you for facilitating this process.~

~ George Rogers

-George Rogers