My first music teacher in Jr High - Stanley Davis - said that we couldn't pick up out intruments until we could spell the word rhythm. We were expected to spell it correctly on every test after that. We were also expected - reguardless of the instrument we played - to know the names of the rudements of rhythm such as flamadiddels and paradiddels. As a trombone player I couldn't figure that out at the time.

He also made sure that we knew enough about scales that if a visitor came in the room that they could call out a scale and the the entire orchestra could play it correctly the first time.

He may sound like a tough teacher but an important lesson that he gave us was that we should take pride in being part of a team. That there were no unimportant parts in the band. That we were part of something larger. He was loved dearly by everyone who worked with him.

I've been self taught on guitar and mandolin but I remember something I heard from Mr Davis and in some televised lessons by Pete Seegar. That when you are trying to learn something difficult and you just can't get it - make sure that the last thing you play when you put your instrument down is something you already know and can play well. That way your last "memory" of playing music is a sense of accomplishment - not frustration.

Thanks for reminding me of Stanley Davis