(note to Mods: Not sure of where to post this, move it if you like).
I had a lesson with Justin when he was in Los Angeles. And yes, he is very like he is on the Internet. I suspect one reason he's successful is that he is so genuine. And smart. And funny. But he's not all that nice.
It was a tough lesson because he didn't spare the truth. And he told me something that I knew but in a way that I could finally hear it.
First of all, I went in with the singer/songwriter thing my priority. I half thought I should just tear up a six month practice routine with him -- if you play alot in context of songwriter, that is not, I'm afraid, the same as practice -- and I partly regret that I didn't. But an hour is an hour. I made my choice and now I will be
in it. I am sure the other direction would involve the same amount of work.
Second of all, if I had thought it through I would have played a different second song in a different key and tempo and strum, but I didn't . I played one song all through and a verse and chorus of another similar one. I think it was just as well in the end. You have to put learning in front of trying to convince your teacher that you aren't an idiot and might have a teeny tiny bit of talent somewhere inside, in other words, forget showing off. Just forget it. This isn't Los Angeles' Got Talent. Thank God.
I knew that I had to watch him watch me and that was a little difficult at first, because you become so self conscious. And believe me, watching someone watch you looking for what you are doing wrong is not easy. It's not that he didn't say the song was nice. He did. And even if he didn't, I like the song. It's that he wasn't there to say the song was nice. So it began.
The text and the subtext were of course different. What he
said was that I needed to really examine the lack of dynamics in my playing, and figure out how to change them. That I needed to get on with finding other chord shapes, open ones, to make a simple song sound fresh. That I needed to consider whether I might not do better with a different instrument -- cowbell, for instance. (that last one was my inner voice chiming right in, but I shut her up. I have it on good authority that cowbell is harder than guitar
) It doesn't even sound all that awful, what he said, but it means giving up on a lot of habit and finally embedding a new way of interacting with my instrument. My strumming like a monkey days are over. And that's a little sad. I enjoyed it so, and it was so easy to be that way. My default, he said. Everyone has one. And none of them are good for you.
Here's the subtext. And
I believe it's even more important for everyone stuck anywhere or confused or discouraged or even thinking they are the bees knees.
Until you are ready to hear something, you will not. Readiness is all. I knew this was a problem for a long time. I even told myself it was an issue I had to deal with. It's just that I rolled over it in favor of working on a new song, or trying to strum harder (tis' true, I play violently when I am nervous or just not "present". But it was only when Justin said with no hesitation, "I had to force myself to listen to the second verse," that I heard it. That I was shutting out people. That I could not be
heard until I changed. And really, for me, it's about being heard. Not even being loved, just being heard. Childhood stories anyone? No, let's move on.
We did talk about other things. How to approach writing a song. When to realize you are doing something that is making you unhappy trying to force yourself into a different approach, and being kind enough to yourself to allow yourself to work the way you work instinctively, naturally. We talked about theory, and while for him it's just part of how he plays, and he certainly knows what he knows, he also believe that creativity leads and theory follows. I, he said, am thinking too much. Moi? Je suis shocked.
Yeah, I'm just sharing this stuff because it's a rare and lucky thing to have a lesson with Justin, he does very very few in a year and I am sure people are curious.
But I am also sharing it because the subtext of the whole thing, that I had to
be ready to hear what he had to say, is so important. There will be all sorts of struggles that I won't be able to deal with because I won't be ready. I'm not even ready half the time to hear something good, much less a criticism. But one day I will be, and that's when, I suspect, I will see and hear myself grow. So like the song says, it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing. (Huh?)
How about you? Anything you know that you haven't really
heard yet? That you know you need to tackle but have been dodging, maybe for years? That you might hear calling for help even just today? Wanna share it?
As for Justin Sandercoe, thank you dude. You never cease to inspire me with your dedication, focus, good nature and kindness. I'm so glad for your success, because all of us get to share a little bit of it with you. But also because you are such a great example of succeeding on your own terms with your own values. Yeah, you rock.
Pat the Bunny
Topic: A Lesson With Justin: You Have to Be Ready to Hear It, Not Just Ready to Play It (Read 5852 times)
