[Dixielandjazz] Re. Young trombone player

[Nancy Giffin]

Chris Anderson <Jazzbone101@yahoo.com> (Wiggins' friend) wrote:
>>>I recently read something in a phenomenal book by Ken Wilber called "A Brief
History of Everything" that really hit home with me and is directly related
to music. "Cognitive development is necessary but not sufficient for moral
development." (page 139) I interpreted this to mean the same thing for
musicians as, "Technical development is necessary but not sufficient for
artistic development." I am sending this to all of my musician friends
because it put things into perspective for me.  What'd you guys think?
-Chris- >>>

Wiggins asked us to write to him, so...

Hi Chris,
I read your comments, forwarded by that Wiggins character, and agree with
both statements. In my philosophy, there are four aspects of our being:
physical, mental, emotional, and Spiritual. The first three make up our ego,
and the fourth one is "above all that" ego stuff (so to speak). As I see it:
moral and artistic development (and IMPROVISATION) are born of and inspired
by our SPIRITUAL body, while cognitive and technical development require
strong MENTAL faculties, in cooperation with PHYSICAL capability and
EMOTIONAL discipline. I feel that in order to sufficiently develop morally
and artistically, we must go far beyond the cognitive and technical, and
open our hearts to the invisible. That's my two cents; I never ask anyone to
agree. :)
Best wishes in your musical career,
Nancy Giffin
(artist, musician, and student of life)