Newsgroups: alt.guitar,rec.music.makers,rec.music.bluenote
From: eoates@us.oracle.com
Subject: Re: Berkeley
Organization: Oracle Corporation, USA
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 21:49:36 GMT
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by an unauthenticated user
              at Oracle Corporation.  The opinions expressed are those
              of the user and not necessarily those of Oracle.

In article <10083@baird.cs.strath.ac.uk>, cc@cs.strath.ac.uk (Chris Conway) writes:
> First of all, I'd like to thank everyone who replied to my original post.
> The replies were most helpful.
> 
> Secondly, as many of you pointed out , I really meant "Berklee". Working in
> a computer science department, I am familiar with "Berkeley", and so
> subconsciously typed this instead. I'm not the worlds greatest speller anyway!
> 
> The reason for my interest in Berklee and other such institutions is 
> two-fold; first of all, I am currently learning from "A Modern Method For 
> Guitar" which is a Berklee press book. (Is this taught at Berklee?) and other
> texts used at Grove etc. Secondly, since buying a guitar, I repeadedy 
> encounter people who boast that they are self taught and that lessons are
> useless, only to find that they
> have studied piano, violin etc. since aged four, and are surrounded by three
> guitar playing brothers (this is in fact the case with one guy I know).
> In general, there seems to be an 'attitude' towards lesson amongst guitarists.
> 
> I started lessons out of frustration with my progress, (I didn't know any
> decent players from whom I could learn) and have found them to be very 
> benificial, especially since my teacher is young, and very willing to teach
> me anything I'm interested in. I don't believe you can learn in a vacuum, and 
> most "self-taught" players, actually do learn from others, if not from formal
> lessons. This is why I am interested in well-known players who have had a 
> formal musical education. 
> 
> Although I would encourage lessons, if you have the attitude that the teacher
> will do it all for you, and you don't think for yourself, then lessons would
> be a waste of time. I think to get the most out of lessons you have to
> drive them yourself, and investigate things that interest you on your own.
> 
> I'd be interested in opinions/experiences by others concerning guitar lessons.
> 
> Chris.

I found you analysis of "lessons vs. self-taught" right on the money.  I bought
my first guitar 25 years ago at age 18 while at Berkeley (the UC, not the music
place!).  I'd had only limited prior exposure to music (6 months of piano at
age 12).  I knew enough to know what chords were and that that it was C before
F, resolve it on G7, but that's about it.  I self-taught for about a year with
the help of a guitar playing housemate.  At that point, progress essentially
stopped, and I felt the need for more than casual instruction.

Locating a guitar instructor with a good foundation in theory, but with an
interest in the style of music in which I was interested was not easy, since I
was a novice at the task.  Eventually I found the pop music oriented music
places (Guitar Showcase in San Jose in my case - when Bud Eastman still owned
and operated it; the current owner was the Bass instructor and played in the
Jaguars!).  Since I was interested in rock and roll and this was 1965, locating
GS was perfect: there were lots of instructors perfectly will to teach
fundamentals using Beatles, Stones, etc. as the vehicles.  I learned lots of
stuff about chord structures, harmonization, position playing, and blues
improv.  Great stuff!

Then proress slowed again (about a year): what to do?  The most I ever played
was duets with the instructor.  I noticed in jams with other folks at showcase
(lots of those then!), that I just wasn't up to par.  The suggestion: join or
form a band with members about at the same levelas yourself.  Best advice a
rock and roller ever had: posted on the GS 3x5 add board and in about a month
was in a new band.  We sucked big time at the beginning, but being in a band
forces you to keep with the tempo, recover from errors, and most importantly,
learn new stuff quickly.  I've been playing ever since - the band got good
enough to make a few bucks during college to pay for various vices, including
the equipment :).  We still get together about once a week now that we are old
codgers, but can afford better equipment!  Keeps the blood moving.

So my advice: get in a real band, or at least together with a bunch of folks on
a regular basis and PLAY enseble.  It's fun, and a great way to learn.

Ed Oates (my opinions, not Oracle's)