G11 Bullet 1 – On and off beats; hand assignments. The world might just judge you a serious percussionist after all!
2. Only if you regularly train your less than dominant hand that is. Think about it.
3. Who else would go about such an unnatural effort on a regular basis?
4. There's a certain freedom in playing rhythm patterns with both hands so let's train your less than dominant hand to a higher level of proficiency.
2. Only if you regularly train your less than dominant hand that is. Think about it.
3. Who else would go about such an unnatural effort on a regular basis?
4. There's a certain freedom in playing rhythm patterns with both hands so let's train your less than dominant hand to a higher level of proficiency.
Ah man! Discipline first and then freedom.
5. Reviewing what we learned in Puerto Rican Bomba: When you see the term "on beat" in four, the numbered beats 1, 2, 3, and 4 are being referenced. When you see the term "off beat" in four, the AND's of each of the numbered beats (+) are being referenced. You'll see these numerals and symbols in the teaching boxes contained in the YOU practice sheets.
6. If your dominant hand is the right one, by nature, you will start patterns with the right hand, striking the "even" numbered beats 1, 2, 3, and 4 with the right hand and leaving the left hand to play the "off" notes.
7. Freely, by discipline (practice), we will strive to unmake ourselves, going against our natural inclination, our dominant hand, and expand our horizon by actively training our weaker hand.
7. Freely, by discipline (practice), we will strive to unmake ourselves, going against our natural inclination, our dominant hand, and expand our horizon by actively training our weaker hand.
8. I call it "Opposite Hands" in the YouTube movies, giving each hand the opportunity to play both "on" and "off" beat hand assignments.
9. In the "Bomba All Grown Up" we have combined Part 1 and Part 2 of what we played separately in Puerto Rican Bomba adding touch strokes to fill it out and to help us hit the "off" beats more precisely, regardless the hand assigned to lead the pattern.
10. The dominant hand of pleasure seeking.
The following scenarios are illustrative:
I practice the congas every day. It gets to a point where it feels like I'm making absolutely no more progress anymore. I've reached my capacity. I've got a weak left hand. I have no more talent. I can't get any better. I can grow no more. This doesn't feel fun anymore. It's work. I'm so bored. The pleasure is gone. What's the point of this anyway? Compared to everyone else, I stink! I should just give it up. Better yet, I'll buy new congas, a new microphone, new training videos; yes, now I'm feeling better. -Or-
11. Why must I go to this church? It feels like everyone is looking at me. I've heard these same words so many times I don't even hear them anymore. His homily is so preachy! Why are the women in that family over there wearing veils over their heads? Who do they think they are? The singing is bad. This isn't fun. Why is that guy bowing and kneeling that way - he thinks he's SO holy. I'm feeling bored. What's this basket for...oh you're kidding me; now they want my money too. I doubt anyone is going to stick with this for long. I'll find another church that's more entertaining with better music, a pastor who knows the times; one that's filled with successful people driving nice cars so no one will ask me for my money; yes, now I'm feeling better.
12. Expect moments of failure and doubt.
It's precisely at this point when everything seems to be tanking where belief can be finally defined.
13. Belief is recognizing that "I am" the recipient of a unique gift from "I AM," a gift received without merit; one I didn't work for, one I didn't deserve but got anyway.
14. Christ died for me because he loves me just as I am, faults and all. The Holy Spirit seeks me out - waiting for me to respond.
15. This time I respond.
13. Belief is recognizing that "I am" the recipient of a unique gift from "I AM," a gift received without merit; one I didn't work for, one I didn't deserve but got anyway.
14. Christ died for me because he loves me just as I am, faults and all. The Holy Spirit seeks me out - waiting for me to respond.
15. This time I respond.
16. You too can freely respond.
17. The fact you're reading this very sentence, this far into a Christian blog like mine, no one's forcing you here, leads me to the prophetic conclusion that you too, my friend in Christ, have been called by our Lord for an awesome adventure.
18. Rather than following others, this time, believe and follow the Spirit of God. The world might just judge you a serious saint after all!
19. Only if you regularly train your less than dominant hand: belief in God. Think about it. Who else would go about such an 'unworldly' effort on a regular basis?
17. The fact you're reading this very sentence, this far into a Christian blog like mine, no one's forcing you here, leads me to the prophetic conclusion that you too, my friend in Christ, have been called by our Lord for an awesome adventure.
18. Rather than following others, this time, believe and follow the Spirit of God. The world might just judge you a serious saint after all!
19. Only if you regularly train your less than dominant hand: belief in God. Think about it. Who else would go about such an 'unworldly' effort on a regular basis?
20. Belief is beyond soft and fickle feelings, often themselves the cause of many rash and erroneous conclusions in one's life.
21. Because we are constantly feeling the squeeze of the world, the flesh, and the devil we need an appropriate countermeasure.
21. Because we are constantly feeling the squeeze of the world, the flesh, and the devil we need an appropriate countermeasure.
22. Belief is nourished and grown through prayer, practiced daily, with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, his Father, (Our Father), and the Holy Spirit.
Movers and shakers PRACTICE daily; men and women of faith included.
23. By speaking the rhythm during practice we kick start the imagination that later drives our hand motions.
24. A vocal prayer is much like speaking the rhythm except it's conclusion is far more divine: reverent prayer directed to our Lord strives for "-being in silent inward communion with God" as it's end and is thus, far more pleasing.
25. A vocal prayer (no, it doesn't need to spoken out loud) can be an "Our Father" prayed over and over until, with practice, one develops this inward communion with God and thus an "interior talk" with our Lord begins.
25. A vocal prayer (no, it doesn't need to spoken out loud) can be an "Our Father" prayed over and over until, with practice, one develops this inward communion with God and thus an "interior talk" with our Lord begins.
26. No other creature in creation can do this. Only the creature with the "I am" made in the image of "I AM" can freely choose to have this "interior conversation."
27. Freely, step by step, when we improve our prayer life we improve our faith, and our belief becomes more certain.
27. Freely, step by step, when we improve our prayer life we improve our faith, and our belief becomes more certain.
28. "It is not our faith but it's object, God, that justifies our certainty" writes Dr. Kreeft (Handbook of Christian Apologetics, page 38).
29. Again, the world tries to tell us otherwise - CONSTANTLY.
30. Telling us, in 30 second sound bites, day and night, how to go about believing; the latest material idols in the world to set our sights on, a hyper-focus on the flesh, it's fitness and wellness, and the devil's urging to even greater heights of pride and selfish pursuits.
31. The Christian response to such a non stop barrage and assault has been and always will be to pray constantly and not just in Church.
30. Telling us, in 30 second sound bites, day and night, how to go about believing; the latest material idols in the world to set our sights on, a hyper-focus on the flesh, it's fitness and wellness, and the devil's urging to even greater heights of pride and selfish pursuits.
31. The Christian response to such a non stop barrage and assault has been and always will be to pray constantly and not just in Church.
32. How else are saints made?
By both belief and works.
33. A newly married couple gets a piece of "paper," a marriage certificate. An adult, having just completed an RCIA course is baptized and gets a piece of "paper," a baptismal certificate. A student completing a four year college degree program in engineering gets a piece of "paper," a college diploma. A conga player and a trap drum set player get a piece of "paper," a contract to play a gig or two in a famous club on 6th Street in Austin, Texas. An artist gets a piece of "paper" commissioning a new work of art to be displayed in some park along the Colorado river. A priest gets a piece of "paper" from the Bishop, a formal letter directing him to study in Rome.
34. Over two thousand years ago, a carpenter and his son in Nazareth, get their first order to fashion a beam that will be used to support a roof over someone's dwelling.
34. Over two thousand years ago, a carpenter and his son in Nazareth, get their first order to fashion a beam that will be used to support a roof over someone's dwelling.
35. In every case, whether a sacramental or secular act, either now in the present or then in the past, what must follow are deeds.
36. Saints are made by repeated deeds and works done in love and sacrifice.
37. The piece of paper "paper" itself is only a formality peculiar to space and time.
38. The honest deed, the work done well can become the object of a prayer freely offered to God in praise and thanksgiving for being able to co-create through him, with him, and in him.
39. Work itself becomes a prayer.
40. Done often and in a spirit of sacrifice, work can be sanctified, sanctifying both the worker and those around him.
36. Saints are made by repeated deeds and works done in love and sacrifice.
37. The piece of paper "paper" itself is only a formality peculiar to space and time.
38. The honest deed, the work done well can become the object of a prayer freely offered to God in praise and thanksgiving for being able to co-create through him, with him, and in him.
39. Work itself becomes a prayer.
40. Done often and in a spirit of sacrifice, work can be sanctified, sanctifying both the worker and those around him.
41. How else does one go about believing in one's own state or occupation in life?
42. Through works and deeds; active love.
43. We offer our daily works and deeds, in love, as one continuous and lifelong prayer, paired of course with the daily prayers the Church gives us to recite.
42. Through works and deeds; active love.
43. We offer our daily works and deeds, in love, as one continuous and lifelong prayer, paired of course with the daily prayers the Church gives us to recite.
44. "Our praying can and should arise above all from our hearts, from our needs, our hopes, our joys, our sufferings, from our shame over sin, and from our gratitude for the good. It can and should be a wholly personal prayer. But we also constantly need to make use of those prayers that express in words the encounter with God experienced both by the Church as a whole and by individual members of the Church. For without these aids to prayer, our own praying and our image of God become subjective and end up reflecting ourselves more than the living God." -Pope Benedict XVI, Handbook of Prayers, Rev. James Socias, Midwest Theological Forum
45. Even skeptics should pray.
Skeptical?
Try this prayer I found in the Handbook of Christian Apologetics by Dr. Peter Kreeft and Father Ronald K. Tacelli:
46. "God, I don't know whether you even exist. I'm a skeptic. I doubt. I think you may be only a myth. But I'm not certain (at least not when I am completely honest with myself). So if you do exist, and if you really did promise to reward all seekers, you must be hearing me now. So I hereby declare myself a seeker, a seeker of the truth, whatever it is in wherever it is. I want to know the truth and live the truth. If you are the truth, please help me. (The Skeptics Prayer, page 387)."
G11 Bullet 2 – 4, Learn the Rhythm. Bomba All Grown Up
SPEAK THE RHYTHM: Pat te re Du n Du Du te Pat te re Du Du Du Du te...
48. Work both hands: Remember; when working on technique, whatever is true for the right hand is true for the left hand. You will find that if you are right handed, the patterns starting with the right hand will be easier to play than when starting the same pattern with the left hand (and vice versa). Switch hands: If you are right handed, use your left hand now to start playing the pattern. It helps me to go to the practice sheet (see YOU Practice below) and write out L,R,L,R,L,R,L,R below the R,L,R,L,R,L,R,L line so that I can clearly see the strokes my left hand is supposed to be playing at a particular moment (beat) in time. Start slowly and work up your speed as your accuracy improves; this exercise develops dexterity.
G11 Bullet 5 – Topic A4, Tradition and Word. Man Responds to God: Believing.
48. Work both hands: Remember; when working on technique, whatever is true for the right hand is true for the left hand. You will find that if you are right handed, the patterns starting with the right hand will be easier to play than when starting the same pattern with the left hand (and vice versa). Switch hands: If you are right handed, use your left hand now to start playing the pattern. It helps me to go to the practice sheet (see YOU Practice below) and write out L,R,L,R,L,R,L,R below the R,L,R,L,R,L,R,L line so that I can clearly see the strokes my left hand is supposed to be playing at a particular moment (beat) in time. Start slowly and work up your speed as your accuracy improves; this exercise develops dexterity.
G11 Bullet 5 – Topic A4, Tradition and Word. Man Responds to God: Believing.
1.) Just right after the consecration of the bread during Mass I can more fully believe the reality of what just happened by silently exclaiming to myself in prayer regarding Jesus Christ now before me. I like to think of a super famous person "X", let's just say for this example it's President Ronald Reagan, and then immediately acknowledge the unquestionable superiority of our Lord now before me: "One more famous than President Ronald Reagan is now before me." Or "The Creator of President Ronald Reagan now appears before me." Reading John 6:52 complete the following verse. "How can this man give us _______________ to eat."
2.) In John 3:16, believing and Jesus are linked together. Explain the link.
3.) How can what St. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:7 be used to bolster what I experience in prayer (see #1 above) right after the consecration of the bread during Mass?
4.) How is faith defined in Hebrews 11:1?
5.) YOUCAT #21 lists seven characteristics of faith. Select the one you find most reassuring.
6.) Speaking of reassuring, summarize the "parachute" example given in the narrative portion of YOUCAT #21.
G11 Bullet 6 - YOU Practice Lesson G11. If you want measurable results try to practice both your faith and drumming at least 30 minutes a day.
a.) Playing simple rhythms on a daily basis can be similar in repetition to (but never used in place of) daily reading of something from our early Church Fathers regarding, for example, Scripture and Tradition. The Apostle Paul required the aid of Church Tradition (see 2 Thess. 2:15). Both the Bible and tradition are necessary (Luke 10:16).
b.) Learn how other Christians before our time practiced works and deeds (in a tradition of love for the Church) to experience, the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist or God's presence during prayers. An excellent source for this is Facebook.com/saint sermons.
c.) Practice perfects the one undergoing the repetitious movement; either naturally or supernaturally. Strive every day to pray always. Start today in offering your daily work to God, sanctifying your work, you and those around you in the process.
d.) Answered prayers are reminders of God's supernatural order present in our very own lives. The Church teaches the fruitful value of a sound prayer life; my family and I can give personal testimony to the effectiveness of daily prayer. Practice makes perfect!
a.) Playing simple rhythms on a daily basis can be similar in repetition to (but never used in place of) daily reading of something from our early Church Fathers regarding, for example, Scripture and Tradition. The Apostle Paul required the aid of Church Tradition (see 2 Thess. 2:15). Both the Bible and tradition are necessary (Luke 10:16).
b.) Learn how other Christians before our time practiced works and deeds (in a tradition of love for the Church) to experience, the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist or God's presence during prayers. An excellent source for this is Facebook.com/saint sermons.
c.) Practice perfects the one undergoing the repetitious movement; either naturally or supernaturally. Strive every day to pray always. Start today in offering your daily work to God, sanctifying your work, you and those around you in the process.
d.) Answered prayers are reminders of God's supernatural order present in our very own lives. The Church teaches the fruitful value of a sound prayer life; my family and I can give personal testimony to the effectiveness of daily prayer. Practice makes perfect!
G11 Bullet 7 - Table Task: Believe. Freely practicing one's faith beyond Sunday Mass is the key to strong belief.
a.) Look to join or participate in a lay devotional group that can assist you in your Catholic formation. I've had great personal success in my own spiritual formation by attending regular events hosted by Opus Dei. The daily "Plan of Life" suggested by Opus Dei is rigorous yet it's aim sincere: a rock solid belief in our Lord's saving action through his Church, his Mother, and the host of angels and saints in heaven.
b.) Pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance in discerning which group would be best for you.
c.) Continue your reading even during periods of dryness or lack of pleasurable consolations and feelings. In my own personal experience, there's always two sides to such periods; the second - a return to inspirations, consolations, peace, and happiness in a renewed sense of God's presence.
d.) Consider writing your own blog posts for your own children, nephew, or nieces to read.
e.) When you are in Church, consider your posture, your dress, the acts of love you make before the altar and the tabernacle - all indications (not a show) of "how" you believe. Don't worry about what others may or may not think. For God's glory, not our own or for those in the pews, do we make such acts of reverence; acts done out of love for He whom loved us first even when we were steeped within our own sins.
a.) Look to join or participate in a lay devotional group that can assist you in your Catholic formation. I've had great personal success in my own spiritual formation by attending regular events hosted by Opus Dei. The daily "Plan of Life" suggested by Opus Dei is rigorous yet it's aim sincere: a rock solid belief in our Lord's saving action through his Church, his Mother, and the host of angels and saints in heaven.
b.) Pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance in discerning which group would be best for you.
c.) Continue your reading even during periods of dryness or lack of pleasurable consolations and feelings. In my own personal experience, there's always two sides to such periods; the second - a return to inspirations, consolations, peace, and happiness in a renewed sense of God's presence.
d.) Consider writing your own blog posts for your own children, nephew, or nieces to read.
e.) When you are in Church, consider your posture, your dress, the acts of love you make before the altar and the tabernacle - all indications (not a show) of "how" you believe. Don't worry about what others may or may not think. For God's glory, not our own or for those in the pews, do we make such acts of reverence; acts done out of love for He whom loved us first even when we were steeped within our own sins.
G11 Bullet 9 – Counting (1) handout: study it.
Gray Level Syllabus
"Time For The Table" The Way and Means"
