Mindless Sax

During the recent recording of my seventh album, titled Reflection, I mentioned the term “unconscious competence” to my band.

It refers to a mental state where you can perform without thinking; your body and mind automatically know what to do without concentration.

Since the term was new to the folks I was sharing it with, I thought it might be new to you, as well.

New album coming April

According to Wikipedia, the four stages of competence is a model of learning. It was created by Noel Burch in the 1970s for Gordon Training International. The four stages are —

• Unconscious incompetence – You can’t do something and aren’t aware that you can’t.
• Conscious incompetence – You can’t do something and are aware that you can’t.
• Conscious competence – You can do something but only with concentration.
• Unconscious Competence – You can do something without thought.

It’s useful to remember these steps when trying to do anything new.

For example, when you first learned how to drive a car, you were in the second stage: you can’t drive and you know you can’t. As you took lessons, you moved into the third stage.

Today, you probably drive your car without thinking about it. You are now an unconscious competent driver. That’s why you can drive and talk, listen to music, and even make a phone call. It’s second nature to you.

Driving is now automatic.

The problem in doing something new is wanting to be a master – unconsciously competent – when you don’t yet have the skills.

An example might be tossing you the keys to a huge tractor-trailer truck with 18 gears and telling you to drive it.

Good luck.

I’ve driven such rigs, and the eighteen gears are confusing.

I could urge you on, inspire you and motivate you, but if you have no practice with shifting eighteen gears, you won’t be able to do it.

No amount of pep talks will get you moving that rig.

No amount of saying “Trust your body” or “Your mind knows” or “You can do it!” will get you moving that tracker-trailer in a safe, reliable way.

Why?

You don’t yet have the skills to do so.

When I’m in the studio recording new music, I can’t jump to “unconsciously competent” in some areas yet because I haven’t learned the skills or put in the hours to make it as easy as breathing.

I have to slow down, focus, stay aware, and consciously become competent.

In time, I will move into unconscious competence as a performer.

My a-maz-ing band

Here’s another example:

Drummer Joe Vitale – the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend who plays with Joe Walsh, Neil Young and other icons – told me he can play the drums in his sleep. He is unconsciously competent in that area.

But he is not quite so certain on the keyboards.

There, he is a consciously competent performer.

He can do it but, as he told me, it takes concentration.

Baritone Saxophone

When we were recording, someone mentioned a baritone saxophone.

A what?

We called up the band Morphine, which leans on a bari sax to create its haunting sound, and listened.

I was instantly in love with the gutsy, sexy music.

I then looked at baritone saxes online.

Talk about intimidating.

Put one in my hands and I wouldn’t know how to hold it, let alone play it.

Of course, given enough time, lessons, and focused practice, I’d learn my way around that instrument.

So here’s how the four stages of learning look in this case:

• Unconscious incompetence – I never even heard of a baritone sax.
• Conscious incompetence – I know what it is but know I can’t play it.
• Conscious competence – If I took lessons and practiced, I could play it with focused awareness.
• Unconscious Competence – Given enough practice, I could pick it up and play it without thinking.

What did I do next?

I knew I loved the sound of the bari sax, so I found an Austin player and hired him. He came to the studio and added sultry spice to one of my songs. While I had his ear, I asked all kinds of questions about the sax and how to buy one, play one, etc.

I then contacted the sax instructor he told me was the best one.

I then ordered the book he told me to get: The Devil’s Horn.

And I then went online and researched vintage baritone saxophones, as I knew I wanted an investment grade instrument.

Do you see how this works?

I went from being oblivious about the bari sax (unconscious incompetence) to the second stage (conscious incompetence) and now moving into stage three (conscious competence). As long as I maintain lessons and practice, I can — given enough time — move into the fourth stage: Unconscious Competence, or “Mindless Sax.” (Couldn’t help myself). 🙂

But I couldn’t just pick up the sax and play!

All of this is a reminder to be easy with yourself.

As you learn any new skill, you need to relax, focus, absorb and keep practicing.

You can master virtually any skill, but it takes time, awareness, intent and discipline.

Just under three years ago, I couldn’t sing, play guitar, write songs or music, or record anything.

Today I have seven albums.

Seven!

The payoff of patience and practice is great success.

And you’re worth it.

Ao Akua,

joe

PS – My albums are described at these sites:

http://www.GetUpandStrut.com
http://www.HealingMojoMusic.com
http://www.AligningtoZero.info (a bestseller)
http://www.TheHealingSong.com
http://www.HealingRockMusic.com
http://www.AtZeroMusic.com (NEW)

Note: Album number seven is called Reflection. I’ll let you know when it’s available. 🙂

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