Originally Posted by BIG JIM MERRILEES
I teach lawn bowls and am a qualified Scottish coach. I helped write the coaching manual. I have seen all abilities and levels.
The same factors apply. The more natural talent the easier it is to progress. I have seen people progress up through the levels in a few weeks and others stay on level one for years. The teaching methods are the same for all but natural aptitude and ability cannot be taught.
Music theory and songwriting techniques are all very well. However if the pupil has little ear or natural feel then the end results are predictable. THEY WILL GET NOWHERE FAST.


Quite true, but they may get somewhere slow. I'm quite slow. Can't play a proper tremolo on the guitar or mandolin. That's why I play bass. It takes me a long time to grasp a new concept, a long time before the lightbulb comes on in my head. But with the understanding of a concept, I assimilate it and can think quickly when using it. So, I have empathy for people who have little feel or natural ability.

My son is like me. He learns slowly. I watched him in Karate class as a teacher gave up on him, a teacher who thought my son would get nowhere fast. Well, it was right, he'd get nowhere fast, like me he'd get there slowly. So we found a patient teacher. My son is now grown and is a formidable martial artist, he'd kick my butt any day if I weren't unscrupulous and treacherous.

So check out the schedule, get to Mr. Blume's class, get there very early to sign up (it's free, it fills up fast, but the early bird and/or the person who is tenacious WILL get in).

Songwriters. Toughen up. Learn. Disregard the naysayers. Don't listen to the utopians. No one can teach you, you must learn from teachers. Give up on the ones who give up on you.

And Big Jim, can you do me a favor? Well...you know smile

You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash

It's only music.
-niteshift

Mike Dunbar Music