Experienced Players – How I can help…
I do not offer “magic” solutions just honest advice based on over 40 years experience as a working professional musician and teacher.
The formula is very straightforward:
- Be prepared – practice and be well rehearsed (and make sure your kit is in good working order).
- “KISS” – Keep It Sweet & Simple (the polite version!)
- Strive for a great tone!
- Play from the heart and be yourself.
How can I help?
Let’s “start with the end in mind”. What do YOU want to achieve? Be realistic is the first comment – we can’t all be the next Steve Vai (but you never know!). Clearly my role is not to teach you how to play as you are already an experienced musician. What I can do is run a “skills audit” for you to establish those areas you may want to review and focus on. For example, you may be a great soloist but are weaker at rhythm playing or you may not be a great music reader. In the final analysis it is for you to select the areas you want to focus on – I just help you build a plan and show you the path to success.
Recording and videoing your efforts are great coaching and mentoring techniques since they let you have an “out of instrument” experience and provide a bench marking record of your progress.
My primary role is to offer suggestions on how you can extend your skill sets – study other genres, styles, musicians, try new techniques, equipment or instruments basically to stimulate your interest in learning something new. I also like to share the music of musicians who have influenced me.
I would also point out that I am not averse to learning something from you! Good mentoring relationships are about two-way dialogue – I do not have all the answers but together we may get to unravel more than on our own and enjoy the process.
A lot of musicians find studying for formal Grades helps them “concentrate” their minds by focussing on: knowledge of scale and chord structure, rhythm playing, soloing using improvisational methods such as scales over chords, arpeggios and melodic variations, aural training and a practical understanding of music theory.
Formal examinations are not for everyone but the Registry of Guitar Tutors offer formal grades ranging from basic, intermediate and advance grades , including post grade 8 diploma qualifications based on a blend of “need to know” musician’s skills combined with your own personal specialities. It all about bringing the best out of you.
