Boy, was that exciting and boring all at once.
I went to this older man for lessons, who had me start on slide guitar because he thought that my fingers were too small to chord. I thought that he was an idiot but he knew what he was doing, so I thought. This was one of those “Royal Conservatory” school of guitar that I was enrolled in. It was a class none the less.
I honestly thought that Mrs. Lord showed me more then this guy ever could! He keep teaching us the dreaded “THEORY” stuff that drove me nutz! I could play everything that he wanted us to play BUT I memorized it all in my head, then went at it. I used the lesson that the Christian Rock Band guitar player told ” start out SLOWLY and the speed will come later”.
This drove buddy over the edge every time. He said ” Chris, why aren’t you looking at your sheet music that I gave you when I played it?” It was at that point that I told him what advice that someone gave me and he said ” I could do that later”. I kept trying to do it his way but I just found it way to hard!
A couple of years ago when I was going to College, they had found out that I had a learning disability, I was dyslexic! I also had a grade 9 mathematics trying to do college physics! They just thought, what the hell is he doing?
Anyways, I wish I knew that then so I could have done something about it at an earlier age.
Music and math is one of the same, so we are told, but every good musician that I ever met was pathetic at math.
I honestly think that it is half math (or just being able to remember patterns better then most, that is where I think I fit in on this) and natural ability.
So after getting totally frustrated, I quit!
Hey, does something like this sound familiar?
Nothing beats a teacher but, paper isn’t necessarily required. TAB has always worked for me but, having someone spoon feed you a line cannot be beat.
Last I heard musicians played with the hands and EARS not eyes…
Well put Mr T, I can’t agree with you more on that part!
I think that there is a lot to say about the personal touch though. Someone may be the best sight reader on the planet, but if you can’t hear through someone else’s ear, you may be missing some crucial mistakes you missed. It’s better to make and learn from your mistakes in private then on stage.
My best teacher, Chris P., would listen intently at how I progressed in a song he was showing me. Picking apart every aspect of my failings was the best thing that ever happened to me! Taping me when I played it in front of him and then playing it back to me later, really opened my eyes to how the simplest of mistakes could turn listeners off.
For that I am forever thankfully for having that extra set of ears!
Keep on Jammin’ Mr. T!