- As your skills develop, it becomes even more
important to evaluate
- your weaknesses as well as the strengths in
your technique, musicianship, and style.
-
- A balanced instruction program and the guidance of a
good instructor can maintain your developmental balance
- and assist the process of forming the complete
skill set necessary to play guitar well.
-
- Practicing at home is always time well spent, but do not
neglect playing outside of the home or rehearsal studio either.
- Music is a performance art involving a combination of
technical, performance, and people skills. Go out and get involved with
the scene.
- Get to know other musicians. Join jams, and open mike
sessions.
-
- Note what you did, how well you did it, how it
sounded, how you enjoyed it, plus feedback from any other performers
and of the audience.
-
- As a musician, you must be willing to continually
challenge and judge your skill set.
- Know your weaknesses, and work hard to improve them
in the context of your musical style.
- Be willing to accept criticism with grace and
perspective.
-
- Along the way you will begin to find the things that
you do best as a musician. Once you do, play to these
strengths!
- Do not neglect your weaknesses by any means, but put
yourself in those positions where you are musically strongest
- the majority of the time. Almost every musician, even
great ones will say, "I can do (so an so) but (such and
such) just kills me.
- Find a comfort level in your playing and then
develop it to the point where it becomes "your style".
-
- More often than not, musicians choose to play with
others because of their "style".
- Elements of individual style add interest to musical
performance and dialogue. Eddie
"Van" has the "two-hand tap",
- Wes Montgomery has the "double stops",
Santana has the "endless sustain", Joe Pass has the
"walking bassline",
-
- These are not gimmicks, and what I'm speaking of has
nothing to do with developing a "gimmick".
- A gimmick in my opinion is an insincere application of
any technique. I encourage anything that you might do to develop
those
- elements that sincerely and tastefully reflect your
personal style within a given musical context.
-
-
- There are so many! So, the question is: what are you
known for? What are your strengths?
- Eliminate your weaknesses for sure, but find
those strengths and play to them to be successful.
-
- It is a matter of doing what you do best...great
careers in every profession are built this way.
