YouTube: Two Guitars at The BeanRunner, Peekskill NY
Posted in Uncategorized with tags Black Magic Woman, Brian Conigliaro, Gus Wieland, Marching to Paradise, Norberto Goldberg, Shanty Mamma, She Caught the Katy, Two Guitars on April 29, 2012 by theguitarprofessor1Virtual vs. Actual
Posted in Uncategorized with tags guitar professor, guitar teacher, practice reality on January 15, 2012 by theguitarprofessor1This is an age of virtual reality and instant answers are a click away. New guitar students are often surprised that their teacher can’t give them ten years worth of knowledge in one year. A half-hour lesson each week computes to 26 hours annually. That’s only about 5 full days of schooling! As a teacher, my hope is that students will practice at least 15 minutes a day. The reality is that a student is often over booked with many other activities and they often end up exhausted. These are the days of “try a little bit of everything,” but less really can be more.
If students are practicing on their instrument for 1 ½ hours a week in addition to their half-hour lesson, that’s a total of two hours per week. To play on a sports team, a coach will insist on at least two hours of practice a day. Adding in games, that’s about 14 hours per week. I heard the phrase recently that a musician is a “small muscle athlete”. Music is an art form that involves and improves cognitive skills, math skills, muscle development and memory. Often the element of individual discovery is joyous. Each person acquires skills and knowledge that will bring them both fulfillment and fun. It can be a place to go for the rest of life’s journey.
Being in the moment and creating your own music can be a self evolving, growing, wonderful process. Put in the time to earn the pride…..onward!
Don’t Play Out Of Desperation
Posted in Uncategorized on November 28, 2011 by theguitarprofessor1Hope you all had a good Thanks Giving. I just had a great gig last night with Ron Vincent on Drums & Percussion and Jim Cammack on Upright & Guitar Bass. I played Guitar & Harmonica & Sung……. We did this at a cordial & supportive performance space: The Bean Runner Café in Peekskill NY .Present was a full house of music lovers .The owners Ted &Drew have a sense about them that’s reasonable. They supply a nice stage & good sound system in an artistic setting & FEATURE the music (what a concept). It’s accompanied by some good down home culinary delights .Some of the most talented players in the New York area appear there. I think the owners are fair, consistent, have a vision and respect the Artist. The performers in turn seem to appreciate this & do their best to make it a successful evening all around. The player’s albums also can be purchased. There is a music charge which totally goes to the performers; as it should be, they are filling the seats. The Bean Runner does it’s homework with publicity & the featured artists have to do the same and bring in their fans .The days of walk ins are dwindling due to the economy & way too many distractions; information overload etc .Above all a good relationship is necessary in all shared arrangements. You provide a service…..
Vendors would not provide goods without getting paid & neither should you. The waitress (in some cases) probably makes more than the entertainers even though what the Performers bring requires talent & 1000’s of hours of highly skilled preparation.
So for a good gig we need a common fairness doctrine of sorts: Have and give respect.
If an owner of a music venue does not apply a fair and reasonable attitude & appears to be a user………Don’t kneel……..WALK
Cheers, Brian Conigliaro
Plectrum Pleasure
Posted in Uncategorized on September 1, 2011 by theguitarprofessor1Guitar is the most popular instrument I know. I’ve been teaching & performing for some years & I’m struck with how influenced students are by pop culture. Of course it’s a popular community of sorts & we’ve all experienced that comfort zone….at one time or another. That’s okay, but could also serve as a very constricting wall. There’s a door to walk on through to the other side. We should be gathering the language on our instrument to state something individual (that’s where the true pleasure is hidden). Much like the unique print of our own vocal chords we each have our own voice on guitar. To emulate is a learning tool, but limited. With the advent of tabs telling you where to put your fingers (similar to paint by numbers) how will you ever be an artist? You will be able to replicate a song written by somebody else but never understand how to transfer that knowledge into 12 keys or the mode of expression that prompted the original thought etc……… Put in the incremental, Zen like, wonderful time to learn the language of the masters. The process can be satisfying. Scales, listening & respecting different styles, Theory, Chords, Technique, Harmonic variations will give you the tools. You can build your own musical house with the right foundation & experience…….Plectrum Pleasure!
Cheers, Brian Conigliaro
