Musical prodigy vs.Hard workers

Subject: RE: Musical prodigy vs.Hard workers
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 12:00 PM

The all-time, numero uno, single most important teaching prop I have ever purchased has been the Yamaha "220" keyboard, with "REPEAT" function. I can't tell you how helpful that silly little machine has been. Probably cut the learning time in half, for the majority of my students. Sadly, the dorks at Yamaha don't make it anymore.
Rick

Subject: RE: Musical prodigy vs.Hard workers
From: MK
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 12:42 PM

Well I must be one of the lucky ones.

I have wanted to play music ever since I was about 2 1/2 years old. When I visit my parents and look at pictures of myself back then, (between 2 and 4 years old) I always have some sort of plastic instrument in my hands be it a clarinet, ukelele, guitar or a little piano....so the writing was on the wall almost from the get go.

When I was 5 (I'm 46 now) my ''calling'' happened as a result of watching the Ed Sullivan show with my parents one Sunday night, and Liberace came on, and played a couple of tunes, and I was totally blown away. My mother tells me that I said to her, ''I want to play piano just like him --but I don't want to be like him.''

A few weeks later my parents bought an old Heinzman upright and I started taking lessons. It was immediately apparent to my teacher that I ''had it''....course I never understood what all the fuss was about....it just seemed as natural as breathing to me.

By the time I was 11, I had completed all classical studies and had gone as far as I could go with Royal Conservatory of Music. .....so I began with a new teacher who taught me the styles of ragtime, and blues...and of course whatever I could lift with my ears from all the records I'd be listening to..

(I'm starting to ramble so I'll cut this short...) These days my main passion / hobby is finger style guitar....but regardless of whatever instruments I've learned to play, I have never ever considered practising to be WORK.

I lose all track of time when I practise as opposed to ''watching the clock'' to see how long I've been at it. I have and still continue to be amazed that the sounds that come out of the instruments I play are being created by me. That's just freaks me out, and gives me such a buzz, that it feeds me and drives me forward to improve and make even more interesting and complex sounds.

A lot of the time, it's as if I'm sitting beside myself ''witnessing'' myself playing. A feeling I cannot describe but I am sure there are others here who know exactly what I'm talking about.

Some people have an affinity for picking up languages and linguistic nuances....others have a talent for art, etc.. For me it's instruments and music. I don't know where I get it from as no one else in my family is musical at all --so they all kind of revere me....and ''force'' me to play at any family gathering.

I have a niece and nephew (10 and 14) who are taking piano and guitar lessons, and I occassionaly show them tricks and licks and things. They think their old 46 year old uncle is such a ''cool dude''. Cracks me up.

Subject: RE: Musical prodigy vs.Hard workers
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 25 Jun 01 - 01:16 PM

I was just writing a little note to someone I know who shows real promise at the songwriting trade...she writes with originality, quirkyness, AND knows a lot of the rules (which is important), when I thought about starting something on "natural" talent, as opposed to just plain ol' hard work. Discovered this.

Wonder how Escamillo is.

Rick

Subject: RE: Musical prodigy vs.Hard workers
From: Marion
Date: 25 Jun 01 - 04:47 PM

I appreciate what M.Ted and Rick said way above about making sure your teacher is familiar with the kind of music you want to do.

A few weeks ago I interviewed a guitar teacher who is very accomplished in classical, jazz, and pop material (teaching, performing, and composing)... but when I mentioned Ste. Anne's Reel, he didn't recognize the title, nor recognize the tune when I hummed it. So I decided not to go to him, pretty much based on this reason.

I've been wondering if I was being unfair making a decision because of one tune... but geez, Ste. Anne's isn't just any tune.

Marion

Subject: RE: Musical prodigy vs.Hard workers
From: M.Ted
Date: 25 Jun 01 - 06:45 PM

Marion--you did the right thing--I just hope you keep looking til you find someone who can teach you what you want (as opposed to what they want)--

Subject: RE: Musical prodigy vs.Hard workers
From: Marion
Date: 27 Jun 01 - 10:48 PM

Happily, M.Ted, I already have.

Marion