Vision Music

MRDMV · Joined: 31 Mar 2007 Posts: 25 Location: Sacramento, CA

I enjoyed Marks's article about the many wonderfully talented players that are never recognized or heard of. My guitar teacher told me this story. My old teacher has his own jazz group and he plays guitar. He at one time was a professional studio musician and he opened for Led Zeppelin in his past. Anyway he went to a party one time and he noticed a classical guitar on a stand in the corner and he asked about it. The young lady hosting the party told him he was welcome to play it. He played it and he was in a zone and he played better than he had in years. When he was done he was strutting around like a banty rooster. A quite guy at the party walked over and told him with some kind of foriegn accent "you play well". My old teacher asked him if he played the guitar and the guy said yes I do. The quiet guy sat down in a chair and pointed the neck straight up to the ceiling and when he started playing my teacher realized that this was the best guitar player he'd ever heard. My guitar teacher got depressed and felt that he really sucked after that. So it just goes to show you that Mark's comment about being just another "grain of sand on the beach" is a good one. I think it's good for all of ust to take a humble pill once in a while.

Mark · Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 6:12 pm Post subject: Re: The "Dime-A-Dozen" Theory

Gorecki · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 12:05 am Post subject:

This also touches on personalities of people. So often people that are known players are okay in front of people, where others are not!

I've always believe the best players in the world are woodshedding in a bedroom somewhere and nobody has ever heard or heard of them.
_________________

Forums Admin VisionMusic.com
Do you know where all of your F'n B flats are?

woland99 · Joined: 31 Mar 2007 Posts: 155 Location: Austin, TX

nylenny · Joined: 31 Mar 2007 Posts: 291

In the late 70's, I once stood in line behind a familiar looking guy at Valley Arts Guitars in Los Angeles. The line was moving slowly, so I asked him if he played guitar. He gave me a humble "yes" and changed the subject. Once I got to the counter, the clerk told me that the guy was Howard Roberts.

Gorecki · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 5:16 pm Post subject:

It does seem sort of true (but absolutely not always) that the really really great ones come off like that (humble, not big headed)! While so often the so-so ones or even less act as though they have something to prove, 'gods gift' or the like?

What is this? Ego? People being insecure and trying to project otherwise?

Maybe when it all comes back to the simplest answer, a jerk is a jerk no matter what flag they fly. Laughing

_________________

Forums Admin VisionMusic.com
Do you know where all of your F'n B flats are?

Mark · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 10:36 pm Post subject:

MRDMV · Joined: 31 Mar 2007 Posts: 25 Location: Sacramento, CA

Mark,

Can you make this article available here on the forum? "Humility In Music." It was subtitled "Maintaining A Healthy Ego." Thanks.

Larry_DC · Joined: 31 Mar 2007 Posts: 207

FYI, all of Mark's Coach's Corner articles are posted on the Vision Music site. It's worth becoming a member for the articles alone, not to mention the 900+ pages of jam tracks, lessons, etc. This may sound like a commercial, bit in fact it's my testimonial.

Brad Kinder · Joined: 31 Mar 2007 Posts: 62 Location: Richmond, VA

Great thread and something that really hits home for me. My lack of confidence has held me back for years. I wrote it off for a long time as a lack of ambition to do what it took to build a career in music but it really is a confidence thing. The self-hype that's involved is something I've never had a stomach for. Then you have the self comparison to other players as Mark stated. Not to menton the inability to turn off the self-critic can be a real creativity killer! I've come to realize it's me and only me that's in the way of everything I'm after.

Dean · Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 287 Location: California

The music industry is a very tough gig.I have seen great players ,with the best attitude and chops not get thier due.One in mind is Andy Timmons,this guy has it all and for some reason you hardly hear about him.He is really big in Japan (such a shame) I ran into him one time and talked to him for a while and how much I enjoyed his music...next thing I know he reaches into his bag and hands me a copy of his dvd Andy Timmons Official Live Bootleg.....I was taken by this simple act of kindness.He is on the level of Vai and Sach....these guys are very nice ,too.For the ones with the it's all about me thing ....they just forget we decide how long they last.Your always working for someone,even if your the boss.Hey Brad ,just knowing that about yourself is a huge step forward.You just won a contest it is ok to yell it to the tree tops.Keep going your headed in the right direction.
_________________
What don't kill you makes you stronger

Mark · Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 6:40 pm Post subject:

corky4strings · Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 109 Location: plain, pa.

mark do you think a lot of the problem is players trying to be someone else, instead of themselves? i think just being yourself is hard enough. it great to listen to many players and styles of music, then take a little from each of them. maybe players are affraid to show themselves, share there emotions, we need to step to the side and let our selfs bye. instead of holding up our lives. i think a lot of players get discouraged when they practice, and practice. but still doesn't sound like jaco, or wes, or george. either they quit, or realize they just need to be themselfs.
_________________
corky

let your fingers do the walking i do