Thought for the Day - May 5

Subject: Thought for the Day - May 5
From: Peter T.
Date: 05 May 00 - 11:04 AM

The newest metaphor that I have attached to my guitar teacher (Rick Fielding) is paleogeneticist. You will recall that in Jurassic Park, the scientist was able to take tiny strands of DNA that had survived in insects in amber and make whole animals. For the moment that is impossible with real amber insects (some of the insects and other creatures are 10's of millions of years old, but their DNA is too fragmented), but with music, I have the specialist!!! I find that currently I can bring a problem to him -- here is a song on a tape that is in some weird tuning, and he can pick it off and reconstruct it. That I guess is the easy part. The fascinating part follows, where noodling little tiny chord fragments or patterns will set off in his mind and fingers, whole song styles and turnarounds and little doohickeys from seemingly every repertoire ever. I can catch some of these musical genetic fragments, but to watch him work over these tiny bits and rebuild famous songs, buried in my memory, is a joy. It is always fun, and occasionally magical.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 5
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 05 May 00 - 11:19 AM

The true magic in Ricks talent is that he not only loves the music, he also enjoys teaching/transfering his skills to others. In the process he imparts his enthusiasm, as well as his knowledge. I wish he would come to Halifax and give my Emma some lessons. Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 5
From: Allan C.
Date: 05 May 00 - 12:16 PM

Rick has honed those skills by attempting to, and usually succeeding in finding a connection between the posts some folks make and the actual original subject of a thread ;-)

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 5
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 May 00 - 01:14 AM

**BG**< Allan.

Peter, don't know how I missed this one about my favourite picker/friend! I am sure LilNeo will have something to say, too.

Wonderfully put. I've heard so much about what a great teacher Rick is, I think we should put him on videotape and make a bundle!

Thanks, Pater!