Tour Diary

Yesterday I had a terrific chat on Facebook back and forth with 2 of my favorite guitarists – Andy McKee and Bryan Rason and a few other good guitar friends as well.

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[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCjHwNq0dho]

I posed a hypothetical question – “with the possibility of easy youtube success, why even bother developing a craft?”

I had seen one too many overnight sensations of meaningless musical fribble and inside – wondered whether the world, or I had gone mad 🙂

Of course the question was a conversation starter, and my circle of friends all agreed hands down that there will always be flashes of attention and front page news, but offering a deeper satisfaction, honing of one’s craft and meaningful communication will stand the test of time. It is what we all yearn for, be in musically, professionally, or personally.

This warmed my heart to know that I was not alone. And, as I woke up this morning (sounds like a blues tune) I reflected on what success guru Brian Tracy has to say, which was along parallel lines.

Of course Brian is not a musician, but here goes. (paraphrased)

“The difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is that successful people plan in the long term…5, 10, 20 years ahead.”

“Successful people’s actions are necessary and disciplined fro what they want in the future rather than immediate gratification.”

“Unsuccessful people do what feels good, and is fun right now with little or no thought for future consequences.”

I think this is a really good summing up of what a musicians evolution ought to be like as well – in terms of development.

When you do the work…the scales, the technique, the practice, the creativity – and let’s not forget – the listening – you are adding to the “long term” picture of what you will offer. You are getting the skills that no one can take away from you.

Look at the towering greats of music – whomever your favorite may be. In order to be like them and not just “imitate them” – you’d have to put in the hours and do the work they did, make the mistakes they made, and listen as long as they have listened.

I raise my coffee mug on a chilly German morning and salute YOU for thinking long term, developing your craft – whatever it may be – and offering all that is YOU, through your hard work.

Time to practice.

Do you want the red pill or the blue pill?

Red pill – you will know the truth, you will work hard, practice for years and slowly, in time become a master.

Blue pill – you will be an overnight sensation with barely passable skills.

(Is there a purple pill?)

I just read an insightful rant from guitar luthier William Cumpiano. This brings up many thoughts in me about the future of developing excellence for musicians and other artists, and how the immediacy of today’s 2011 internet “sidesteps” the old version of “paying dues.”

It’s a knife that cuts both ways. That which I find hurtful, when used by others – is also the secret success weapon I carry and use myself.

https://www.cumpiano.com/Home/Articles/Articles/pedagog.htm

He talks about how after a course of guitar building, students of his are eager to open a shop, take orders and build away.

“A master is someone who has made more mistakes than you, has made mistakes you haven’t made yet, and has learned how to embrace them–thus learning to see them coming before they happen. So you go towards mastery one mistake at a time. How many mistakes can you stand? As many as it takes to be a master. The master has persevered past the errors until he’s made all of them.”

This brings me to an interesting point. Sure, it’s easy for me to bemoan the fact that many apparently “undeserving” people skyrocket to the top – due to Youtube and Twitter’s viral possibilities.

Extreme examples are Justin Bieber, Rebecca Black – but even in my field of fingerstyle guitar, very so-so players because of their look, age, cosutme or tricks, simply “speed ahead” of the pack with their gimmick, rack up youtube hits and build a cyber following.

But – did I mention my secret weapon is that same tool that they use? I have blood on my hands too.

I’ve gotten a worldwide following, sold CDs, Books, DVDs, and gotten bookings on worldwide festivals much faster and more easily than I would have “the old way”. I wouldn’t want it any other way. I like easy.

I find too, now that with these tools – I suffer the same impatience. I love the thrill of “learn it, and get it out there quick!” just like they do.

“What? Practice a piece for a year? There’s no time for that!”

I am thankful for having had some teachers who made me go slow, put the hours in and sharpen my tools – before the web even existed. I remember the days of buying a telephone answering machine which used tape! Talk about slow….

If I was a kid today, I’d have no patience for becoming a craftsman – knowing I could be a star if I had a “gimmick”. Thank God I put the hours in, and got a habit to do so.

Sooner or later, all of us – artists and listeners WILL want excellence, melody, groove and art. What a pity it would be to spend a lifetime chasing something that Rebecca Black could do in a few months.

It’s perplexing because “excellence” may no longer be the measuring stick that young artists use for themselves. For them, excellence would slow down their career too much.