Barriers to Entry

[tesla]

Thanks to everyone for your kind words after my burglary. I'm pretty much okay with things; I had already lived through one break-in when this one happened, and (truth be told) was expecting another sooner or later.

As madtruk observed, "Things are things." Even so, there was a short list of things that I hoped wouldn't be disturbed; amazingly, they weren't. In addition the idiots were remarkably gentle on what they left behind; I haven't discovered any damage yet.



After those first lessons, I stopped playing almost entirely for several years. I was frustrated with being so far from making anything that I could recognize as music. I couldn't really see myself improving satisfactorily, which just added to my frustration. In retrospect, I think that I was just on a plateau and didn't have the right kind of incremental challenges to get across it.

Then about a year ago, pretty much out of the blue, I decided to take an "Beginning Guitar (2)" class at MacPhail. The material was good, the class moved along at a good pace, and the teacher was wonderful. Practicing was still mostly so much drudgery (with a few high points where I got up to speed on fun songs) but I kept at it pretty well. I enrolled in the next class in the series, with the same instructor.

And then, suddenly, I was having fun. I started to believe that maybe I could get to the point of playing for more than just my own edification. Practice became something I looked forward to rather than something I forced myself to do. My first big "barrier to entry" fell. When the classes ended in January I signed up for private lessons (again with the same great instructor - Craig Anderson).

And that's about where I sit right now. One of Craig's suggestions which I definitely want to pursue is finding folks to jam with. It's not so very easy, though: so many of my friends are extremely skilled and talented musicians who would be wasting their time with the likes of me. I want to find a few musical novices like myself.

And I did buy myself a Goodall guitar which is almost identical to this one, except, of course, that this one is upside-down. ;-) It is truly exquisite. I also have an inexpensive Baby Taylor for carrying around with me to lessons, vacations, etc..

Thank you so much, markiv1111, for the incredible compliment. I hope that I may prove you right eventually; for now I'm a rank novice with a ton to learn. Thanks also for getting me started down this path. Whatever I do or don't do with it, playing has become tremendously personally rewarding.

Comments

[pied-piper70.livejournal.com]

The rest is probably only of interest to Nate

Hey, I'm interested, too, just so you know...I remember talking with you a bit last year during our lunch break about your guitar lessons...That's so awesome...

I actually do know of one music circle of novices that gets together occasionally...I'll find out if they're still gathering, if you're interested; they're all good folks...

[tesla-aldrich.livejournal.com]

I'm VERY interested, especially if they're looking for more guitarists. :)

So, when do we get to have another lunch break (or some equivalent)? St. Louis Park isn't so very far from here....

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes

[markiv1111.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad it's working to at least this point! I felt incredibly guilty when I hit the brick wall as a teacher -- but it seems to have worked out; you got it back in spades, and are now making music again. Good. And keep me posted.

Nate

Re: Yes, yes, a thousand times yes

[tesla-aldrich.livejournal.com]

I promise to keep you posted if you promise to nudge me when I go too long without doing so. ;)