Comments on: The Long Way Around http://playingthroughtheblues.com/blog/the-long-way-around The PTTB Blog for updates, news, lessons, and more. Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:44:22 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: denekawa http://playingthroughtheblues.com/blog/the-long-way-around/comment-page-1#comment-38 denekawa Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:59:45 +0000 http://playingthroughtheblues.com/blog/the-long-way-around#comment-38 You are so right Griff, which is probably why you have such long term and loyal students. It seems in this age, that everyone wants instant gratification. If they don't get it, it's on to the next thing, with the hope that it will satisfy whatever it is the individual is seeking on some level. The sense of commitment that is absolutely necessary in order to progress as not just a guitarist, but a musician, is all but lost in this present age. I have heard countless jazz musicians say that the art of playing an instrument is a dying one. The time that kids invest into playing Guitar Hero and mastering it, could have been well spent learning to play an instrument of their choice. So what is the magic that this game technology has that the real thing no longer holds? Have we been inundated with far too many styles and types of music, both good and bad? Have we simply lost that sense of commitment that is essential in accomplishing a level of ability as a player? When I was learning to play, there were no videos or on - line teachers or tab or Griff Hamlin's for that matter, who would answer any or all of my curiosities immediately. If I wanted it, I would sit with the radio and figure out Motown tunes or the latest Beatle tune for the love of wanting to be able to play that music. It wasn't the tune as much as that feeling of accomplishment one gets from working on and completing something on their own and the underlying feeling of real love of the music as an art form and it's emotional appeal on a level that even to this day I do not understand. I'm betting there are a lot more Steve's, than Dave's in your arsenal of students, but I'll also bet that the Dave's are the ones who will be around for a lot longer as players and get infinitely more satisfaction from their instruments than the Steve's. In the end, it's not a contest anyway. There I "out enjoyed" you when it comes to guitar playing. With so many styles and sub categories of musicianship all that matters in the end is that one is happy enough with their music to want to seek more and realize hopefully that no matter how much we progress, we can never know it all. What an amazing art form and gift! Hopefully, somewhere along the way, we create musical moments that do not fade in our memories as we get on in years and they are pleasant ones that we can go to as times become challenging in life. As an old teacher of mine told me, it's not the destination, it's the journey and no one has ever spoken more true words to me than those. Thanks Griff, for your great musical insights and the gifts you so freely give to all of us who have discovered your page! I think I'm far more happy being a Dave, even though I may have began as a Steve, and still most of my favorite guitarists are actually named Steve! ; > ) You are so right Griff, which is probably why you have such long term and loyal students. It seems in this age, that everyone wants instant gratification. If they don’t get it, it’s on to the next thing, with the hope that it will satisfy whatever it is the individual is seeking on some level. The sense of commitment that is absolutely necessary in order to progress as not just a guitarist, but a musician, is all but lost in this present age. I have heard countless jazz musicians say that the art of playing an instrument is a dying one. The time that kids invest into playing Guitar Hero and mastering it, could have been well spent learning to play an instrument of their choice. So what is the magic that this game technology has that the real thing no longer holds? Have we been inundated with far too many styles and types of music, both good and bad? Have we simply lost that sense of commitment that is essential in accomplishing a level of ability as a player?

When I was learning to play, there were no videos or on – line teachers or tab or Griff Hamlin’s for that matter, who would answer any or all of my curiosities immediately. If I wanted it, I would sit with the radio and figure out Motown tunes or the latest Beatle tune for the love of wanting to be able to play that music. It wasn’t the tune as much as that feeling of accomplishment one gets from working on and completing something on their own and the underlying feeling of real love of the music as an art form and it’s emotional appeal on a level that even to this day I do not understand.

I’m betting there are a lot more Steve’s, than Dave’s in your arsenal of students, but I’ll also bet that the Dave’s are the ones who will be around for a lot longer as players and get infinitely more satisfaction from their instruments than the Steve’s. In the end, it’s not a contest anyway. There I “out enjoyed” you when it comes to guitar playing. With so many styles and sub categories of musicianship all that matters in the end is that one is happy enough with their music to want to seek more and realize hopefully that no matter how much we progress, we can never know it all. What an amazing art form and gift!

Hopefully, somewhere along the way, we create musical moments that do not fade in our memories as we get on in years and they are pleasant ones that we can go to as times become challenging in life. As an old teacher of mine told me, it’s not the destination, it’s the journey and no one has ever spoken more true words to me than those. Thanks Griff, for your great musical insights and the gifts you so freely give to all of us who have discovered your page!

I think I’m far more happy being a Dave, even though I may have began as a Steve, and still most of my favorite guitarists are actually named Steve!

; > )

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