Jonesing To Be A Better Player
Pete Kerezman
to improved cycling performance, but I know full well that until you
put your ass on the saddle and the miles under your wheels that's just
not gonna happen. It's not the bike, it's the motor.
I'm a time-challenged jazz guitar wannabe. Man, I'd love to be a
guitar playin' genius; I've got the ears and the will to lay out and
listen to the combo that it takes. However I'm also grateful to know
that it's simply not possible unless or until I can make the time to
put in the fretboard miles and practise with a burning, single-minded
focus.
Much to my shock I'm at a place now where I can afford all the "good
stuff," but there would be no point whatsoever in me purchasing it
because, as a musician, I'm just plain not ready. If I had the time
to make music eight or ten hours a day things might be different, but
if wishes were horses beggars would ride, eh.
Texas Pete
Rick Ross
if you have worked for the $$$$ and appreciate the sound perhaps you'll be
inspired to practice more with a nice box and an amp you like..
( maybe an L-5 and nice little custom tube amp) just get it..self indulgence
is the American way..if you don't buy that L-5 someone else will:)
peace
"Pete Kerezman" <pete...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1boki09u4h56c915d...@4ax.com...
Lyle Robinson
would be amazed how even one hour of regular focused practice a day can
add "years" to your playing in a matter of months...This probably doesn't
help much, but hang in there and eventually you might find that jazz
guitar player you always wanted to be slowly surfacing...:) Take care and
all the best.
Lyle Robinson
http://www.jazzguitarlife.com
Pete Kerezman <pete...@aol.com> wrote in
news:1boki09u4h56c915d...@4ax.com:
Max Leggett
<rickfrossyou...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>you don't need to be a great player to have decent gear..
>if you have worked for the $$$$ and appreciate the sound perhaps you'll be
>inspired to practice more with a nice box and an amp you like..
>( maybe an L-5 and nice little custom tube amp) just get it..self indulgence
>is the American way..if you don't buy that L-5 someone else will:)
>peace
Yeah, and thanks to the beneficial effect that collectors have had on
guitar prices, you can get a professional-level guitar without going
broke. Two grand for a Heritage, two and a half for an Ibanez, three
for a D'Angelico, I think Roger Sadowsky wants 4 grand for one of his.
Bob Benedetto wants in the region of thirty big ones, but we can leave
that to the collectors.
Steven Bornfeld
Pete Kerezman wrote:
> I've seen a whole lot of out of shape folks attempt to buy their way
> to improved cycling performance, but I know full well that until you
> put your ass on the saddle and the miles under your wheels that's just
> not gonna happen. It's not the bike, it's the motor.
Having raced just one season (career ended by severe injury) I can
attest to that. Our club championship series had 5 races--all won by
the same guy. I was 33 at the time--he'd just turned 13.
It was George Hincapie, and I wasn't gonna put enough miles under my
wheels to ride with him.
Don't know that the analogy to guitars holds up, but sometimes you
can't beat a good set of genes.
Steve
thomas
> stuff," but there would be no point whatsoever in me purchasing it
> because, as a musician, I'm just plain not ready. If I had the time
> to make music eight or ten hours a day things might be different, but
> if wishes were horses beggars would ride, eh.
Sometimes a really fine instrument will just scream at you
to be picked up and played, if motivation were the issue.
But if time is the issue, that doesn't help. It just
makes you one of those evil collectors.
Brock Fanning
> Don't know that the analogy to guitars holds up, but sometimes you
> can't beat a good set of genes.
>
> Steve
>
You still have to get the practice though. I think that the "good
genes" really justs helps people get the most out of their practice.
You have to get good practice rather than bad, and those who are said
to have good genes are probably just naturally inclined to only do
good practice. So I guess that means that having a good teacher (that
you listen to) can be just as good as having good genes.
Anyway, interesting thoughts. Here is what J.S. Bach had to say on
the subject (when asked how he got to be so skilled a composer) "I was
obliged to be industrious. All who are equally industrious will
succeed equally well." (quote from "Composers On Music", good book by
the way)
-Brock
Pete Kerezman
<dentaltw...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>
>Pete Kerezman wrote:
>> I've seen a whole lot of out of shape folks attempt to buy their way
>> to improved cycling performance, but I know full well that until you
>> put your ass on the saddle and the miles under your wheels that's just
>> not gonna happen. It's not the bike, it's the motor.
>
> Having raced just one season (career ended by severe injury) I can
>attest to that. Our club championship series had 5 races--all won by
>the same guy. I was 33 at the time--he'd just turned 13.
> It was George Hincapie, and I wasn't gonna put enough miles under my
>wheels to ride with him.
> Don't know that the analogy to guitars holds up, but sometimes you
>can't beat a good set of genes.
Steve - at 33 you were over the (athlete's) hill and Hincapie was
under it. I know what you mean about the genes, though. When I tried
to get serious about competitive cycling I never did get fast even
though I had a good coach, but going long was no problem. I think the
analogy isn't too far off when you substitute "ears" for "genes."
Texas Pete
Pete Kerezman
<jaz...@REMOVEjazzguitarlife.com> wrote:
>Hey Pete...while I understand where you are coming from...I think you
>would be amazed how even one hour of regular focused practice a day can
>add "years" to your playing in a matter of months...This probably doesn't
>help much, but hang in there and eventually you might find that jazz
>guitar player you always wanted to be slowly surfacing...:) Take care and
>all the best.
>
Lyle - thanks for the encouraging words.
Texas Pete
Steve
instrument that has the sound you want doesn't mean you can't enjoy the
pleasure of its company in secret well hidden soundproof rooms deep in the
dark woods protected by gun towers and concertina wire.
Nobody lives up to their instrument's potential all the time.
Even Jim Hall says, "There are days when the guitar just says, 'not today'."
-SteveYetter-
"Pete Kerezman" <pete...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1boki09u4h56c915d...@4ax.com...
Pete Kerezman
<rickfrossyou...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>you don't need to be a great player to have decent gear..
>if you have worked for the $$$$ and appreciate the sound perhaps you'll be
>inspired to practice more with a nice box and an amp you like..
>( maybe an L-5 and nice little custom tube amp) just get it..self indulgence
>is the American way..if you don't buy that L-5 someone else will:)
>peace
>
I'm kind of politically opposed to self-indulgence, it's too close
to greed for my comfort.
My intention is to reward myself with a top shelf instrument *if* I
can get to a point where I think I deserve it. Meantime I have
pro-level solidbodies, a very good entry level archtop, and a really
nice little tube amp that deserves special mention - a Traynor YCV 20.
Part of what's goin' on for me is that don't think I can know what I
really need until I'm at least part of the way "there."
Texas Pete
Don Judy
"Brock Fanning" <brockf...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:5021d833.04082...@posting.google.com...
So the key is having 28 kids?
Max Leggett
wrote:
The only time he had any peace and quiet was locked in his practice
room.
Sw...@nospam.com
wrote:
> I'm a time-challenged jazz guitar wannabe. Man, I'd love to be a
>guitar playin' genius; I've got the ears and the will to lay out and
>listen to the combo that it takes. However I'm also grateful to know
>that it's simply not possible unless or until I can make the time to
>put in the fretboard miles and practise with a burning, single-minded
>focus.
>
> Much to my shock I'm at a place now where I can afford all the "good
>stuff," but there would be no point whatsoever in me purchasing it
>because, as a musician, I'm just plain not ready. If I had the time
>to make music eight or ten hours a day things might be different, but
>if wishes were horses beggars would ride, eh.
>
There may be no point in overspending on a guitar, but you should
still get yourself a one that you will enjoy playing. It takes tons
of practice to be great, but IMO it really doesn't take as much to do
well, or to have fun doing it, once you've reached a certain level of
development.
If you need to play tons of notes while cycling to complex
substitutions over chords, or if you must to know all the scales and
modes and chords in all their numerous positions and fingerings, well
there's no getting around having to practice a lot. Still, I think
some pretty good music can be made with a more minimalist style. Work
on the music, not the complexity. Its easy to set barriers that
cannot be overcome -- I know that real well. Just go ahead and have
some fun.
Swyck
Pete Kerezman
<snip>
>Just go ahead and have
>some fun.
Honestly? That's my problem: too much fun, not enough focus. But I
appreciate the encouragement.
Texas Pete
Brock Fanning
> So the key is having 28 kids?
Exactly!
Mark Kleinhaut
Hey Pete, keep in mind that ALL of us are jonesing ALL THE TIME to be better
players. You may think I play well enough, but for me it's still a relatively
long reach for the player I want to become someday. Having fun along the
way is essential, it's not something that is put off to the end as some kind
of reward but something to revel in each little passing step we take.
I know that sounds like psycho-philosophical babble, but it's true- savor
every note you play.
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Pete Kerezman
<markkl...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Hey Pete, keep in mind that ALL of us are jonesing ALL THE TIME to be better
>players. You may think I play well enough...
Actually I think you play too darn well! What's the big idea
raising the bar like that?
> ...but for me it's still a relatively
>long reach for the player I want to become someday.
For some reason this is terrifying to me, yet so cool.
> Having fun along the
>way is essential, it's not something that is put off to the end as some kind
>of reward but something to revel in each little passing step we take.
>
>I know that sounds like psycho-philosophical babble, but it's true- savor
>every note you play.
As a psycho, a philosopher and a babbler, I appreciate the
sentiment.
Texas Pete
Mark Kleinhaut
funny stuff, btw, one of my favorite tunes lately is "Have You Met Miss Jones"
- coincidence? Are there really any coincidences? Bwaaaahaaaahaaa
Steve
"Pete Kerezman" <pete...@aol.com> wrote:
... a really
> nice little tube amp that deserves special mention - a Traynor YCV 20.
>
Yeah!
Great little amps. Well built.
I bought one used for $250, with a Jensen in it made in Italy (not sure
exactly what numerical model, has a blue Special Design label though). Maybe
the previous owner put that in. Works good though.
-SteveYetter-
Steven Bornfeld
Wow--hard to believe he really believed that--I don't!
Steve
Bob Agnew
playing in a combo, with great instructors like Dave Stryker, Erik
Alexander, Jerry Coker, David Baker, Jamey himself, etc. really did wonders
for my playing, and especially for my confidence.
"Pete Kerezman" <pete...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:mj2ni0t5g4vmrptip...@4ax.com...
Don Judy
stuff out every day and thought it was a function of his almightily thought
out fingering and technique. Having a barnful of kids helped with the
transcribing, as did at least one wife. You guys hearing this? His WIFE
transcribed!
dj
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
>>
>
> Bach basically thought little of his compositional skill. He just cranked
> stuff out every day and thought it was a function of his almightily thought
> out fingering and technique. Having a barnful of kids helped with the
> transcribing, as did at least one wife. You guys hearing this? His WIFE
> transcribed!
>
> dj
>
>
Very cool. My wife doesn't even want to be in the same room when I'm
playing.
Steve
--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
Could be. I think it's easier to see where you are on the raw talent
scale in cycling though--probably because the motor and intellectual
skills aren't so complex.
I knew very early (for instance) that as a rider I was a decent (not
great) climber, couldn't time trial and had absolutely no sprint. My
sprint would have been better had I done more speedwork, but I was never
going to be better than a mediocre sprinter (if that). Wouldn't have
mattered what side of the hill I was on either.
There probably some raw skills that could be measured (such as pick
speed) but I'm sure Jack would say there are ways for anyone to improve
drastically--and he may well be right.
In any case, there may well be natural talents at both music and
athletics, but the guys at the top all have the complete package--talent
and hard work.
John Dahlstedt
and some of it is very nice....I enjoy having it around and the selling/swapping
etc.