When I was about twenty years old (a lifetime ago) I really became fascinated with well-played acoustic guitar. As much as I loved the sound of an electric guitar, the acoustic held me within its grasp. Not exclusively the fancy, razzle-dazzle stuff, but just really nice, understated playing too. For me this was the complete package that I saw and heard in the music of Jose Feliciano. As hard as I tried I couldn't come close to playing like him.
A couple of years later I got to meet and chat with him. When I told him how badly I was failing in the attempt, he recommended that I take some classical lessons. And so I did. It was during this time that I also discovered jazz guitarist Charlie Byrd and rediscovered Chet Atkins. Finger-picking at its finest in various styles.
What happened next really surprised me. As I was studying my classical stuff I heard British guitarist Julian Bream play the music of J.S. Bach. My switch to the dark side was complete and I was totally in love with classical guitar and had lost interest in pop music.
This has been my attitude for most of my adult life. However, when I started playing a lot of weddings in the summers, I started getting requests for more and more pop music to be played in place of the more traditional wedding songs. At first I didn't like it. I almost resented it. Why would you hire a classical guitarist and then ask them to play music by The Beatles, or Train, or Bruno Mars? But a friend of mine reminded me that it's ALL music.
This past weekend I played a mix of contemporary Christian and traditional wedding music. Honestly it was easy for me to learn and it really was nice music. The bride, groom, their parents, and the priest (it was a Catholic ceremony) were all very complimentary. Because my original goal all those years ago was to please or entertain people I left the church feeling very good about my efforts.
Last night I picked up my guitar and played some music that is very artistic but not very easy to listen to. Currently I don't play this music very well and I really don't want to spend the time it would take to do so. And while I derive a certain satisfaction in playing it, my professional responsibilities don't allow me to get into it. But that's okay with me. As I get more comfortable playing at weddings in the summer and church during the rest of the year I find that my love of classical music is no longer at odds with the fun I have playing pop music. I believe I've circled back to my original goal from nearly fifty years ago.
My musical journey so far has had several unforeseen twists and turns. I could never have predicted much of it. But I think that's the most interesting part. I'm curious to see what the next twenty years will bring.