"Somewhat callous" -- yeah. In spades.
Nobody should have the right to sh!t on another person's dreams. Even if it's the truth. Especially a teacher.
"You can't write a chord ugly enough to say what you want to say sometimes, so you have to rely on a giraffe filled with whipped cream." - Frank Zappa
Lion, again I agree but ny only point is if this person is that thin skinned that one comment is going to keep them from even trying then they weren't meant to be there in the first place.
Well, there was this grade school teacher who managed to cure me of wanting to read for pleasure...
I get your point, but I would think a "good" teacher would start off being a bit encouraging, rather than starting from a position of "Why are you even bothering to try and learn this?"
I wrapped a newspaper ’round my head
So I looked like I was deep
I do agree with him on one comment putting someone off who wants to go for the top, if that's his only ambition. Even if your idol himself comes to your house to tell you you suck, you should be able to laugh it off and continue playing if that's really what you want.
I really wouldn't know if the dedication grows over time from "bit of a chore" to "must play 10 hours", or if it starts off at its maximum, I guess that depends from player to player. I might also be a little bit too optimistic (I am, really), but I'd like to believe a lot of people have the toolset to become a pro, just not the attitude. I do believe you need a certain level of talent, but I also like to think a lot more people have the potential but don't know it as it'll only shine by hard work, which is often scary. "If I'd played 18 hours ..." seems quite possible in my eyes (pink glasses), but the lack of spirit/motivation is something else, and I don't think a lot of people have that.
Also depends a bit of what you're looking for. Success, best player ever, ... I'd consider the Bieber kid as top performer in this sense. Don't really like the music on a deeper level (there are worse songs on the radio), but he's got success and can probably live quite comfortably off his music. It's not always purely about talent, it's about a package. There are workarounds for your weaknesses or lack supertalent. Looking good, being an awesome performer, very good with people, etc. There is of course never a guarantee, but I'd like to believe more people have the opportunities, than they'd like to believe.
Lion now we are branching out into more than just playing but the whole package of performer etc and that's a bit different. Heck you can be a no talent one hit wonder that makes millions on some corny pop hook. Sure you may be successful in terms of money but you'd wouldn't be anywhere near the top of the heap as a player.
This article was about a 90 year old cello master. That right there to me sets the tone. I'd bet money that when the 90 yo cello master made the comment he was speaking strictly in terms of being a master of the instrument and that's all.
He's talking about becoming a master like Segovia or something like that and he told a middle aged guy he'll never get there.
I'd say chances are he's 100% correct and then he told him to go ahead and take lessons (so he can at least maximize his potential - that's my take anyway).
Since no one was there to actually hear how the conversation went it's quite possible taken out of context it sounds much worse than it really was.
Heck I am that middle aged guy and I take guitar lessons and if my teacher ever said that to me in any context I reply to "Duh really? Probably have to question why I'm still with him if it took that long for him to figure it out. Ha
"It's all about stickin it to the man!"
It's a long way to the top if you want to rock n roll!
I started guitar when I was 25. I started on acoustic,then in the age of hair bands,I wanted to play electric. After learning a few tricks like these guitarists done,I studied guys like SRV and Eric Clapton.While in the "rock" world,they're not seen as virtruosio's,but they could definlty play the blues. Now 27 years later,I've gone back to acoustic playing,trying to learn slide.
It doesn't matter if you're "great" and play in front of thousands,or if you're jamming in your living room with friends.If you're content with your playing, that's all that matters.
Reminds me of T Model Ford. He is an old blues man, 76 years old . He started playing guitar at 58 after his wife left him for another man. Now Mr T Model is not a great guitar player but he makes up for it with tons of MOJO 8)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3V2GWlcUg4&feature=related
I felt when i took up guitar that i was too old to get any good - i was 26. im 31 now and still no good :lol:
however, i do get encouraged when i watch youtube video's of 15 yr old kids bouncing all over the fretboard playing great music.
These kids could only have been playing for 10 yrs tops, so why cant an adult, who begins learning with much more maturity, determination, and a much greater ability to understand musical and technical concepts, achieve the same level of ability in the same amount of time??
i will never be a great guitar player, but that is because i can only play an hour a day, not because i didnt start to learn as a child.
however, my amp does go upto eleven :D
"I like to play that guitar. I have to stare at it while I'm playing it because I'm not very good at playing it."
Noel Gallagher (who took the words right out of my mouth)
I started at age 18 (which is, incidentally, how old I am), and I feel as if I'm too old already too! :D
I know I really shouldn't, but it feels as I should've started years ago. I'm glad I didn't, because now I feel as if I'm more ready to do the work and more evolved as a person to try and make something of this. I've developed in both music as personality, which I feel might just make the difference you need. There are enough people breaking through at older ages, so if you put in the work you can still have your shot! Maybe some day I'll remember being on the same guitar forum as the greatest guitar player of all time, although knowing this forum I doubt he'll be under 50. :lol:
Maybe some day I'll remember being on the same guitar forum as the greatest guitar player of all time, although knowing this forum I doubt he'll be under 50. :lol:
Hey! I resemble that remark :evil: :lol:
Maybe he has a learning disability. Or maybe he's listening to too much Bela Fleck. When I first started playing guitar, all I listened to was Tony Rice and Doc Watson, and I wanted to shoot myself every time I picked up the string box.
