My lesson

I love, and I mean really love, many different kinds of music.  When I was a young man I was trying to play nearly everything.  But I realized that everything I was playing was pretty mediocre.  If I wanted to get great I was going to need to focus.  Classical music should not have been my first choice.  I really didn't play it well and, quite frankly, I was too old to be shifting gears like that.  But even simple classical guitar pieces moved me in a way that nothing else did, so I abandoned other forms and focused on my classical studies.

When I'm working with children I worry that I'm pushing them into classical when they would really prefer to play popular music.  So after I teach them some fundamentals and how to read music, I encourage them to try playing some of the songs that they normally listen to.  Far fewer of them actually do this however.

I had a conversation with a 9 year old girl recently.  I explained to her that she had options and I told her that we could learn to strum and sing some pop songs if she wanted.  Or she could learn some of her church songs so she could play in the Praise Band.  She nodded silently and got a funny look on her face.  It took me a moment before I realized that it was the same face my kids used to get when I told them they had to do something because it was "good for them".  After a few awkward moments of silence she said, "I like playing this.  I mean, it's not what I listen to, but it's fun to play."

That conversation has haunted me for the last couple of weeks.  It was plain and succinct.  I've since realized that I've had or witnessed similar conversations for 40 years.  I've never "convinced" anyone to play classical music.  They've each had the same type of moment I had all those years ago and they've responded similarly.

I really want to teach them classical guitar.  They really want to learn classical guitar.  And here I am nearly talking them out of it.  It makes one wonder just how air-headed someone can be.  When folks compliment me on my ability to teach my first thought is, "No. Not really!"

I've said for years that when one person is showing something to another there are two people learning.  Nearly fifty years of teaching has only deepened my belief in that.  I am fortunate that this nine year old girl is an excellent teacher.

As I look over my current student roster I see that over half of my students are children who share these same feelings.  As I reminisce I realize that it's always been like that.  This music reaches into your heart.  And if it happens at an early age no one can convince you that it's boring or uncool.

Teaching classical guitar is not a calling or a life mission.  It is a privilege.  I have a sign in my studio that reads, "Our goal is to play beautiful music beautifully."  Thankfully I also have children around to remind me that "...it's fun to play."