As a teenager, I cut my gigging teeth playing clubs and pubs in a host of local bands with more experienced musicians. I played just about every style of music several times a week and learned that no matter my own preference - it's all music and it's all a joy to play. In time, I developed a taste for rock and then blues, spending nearly every night going to see local bands. It was at this point my playing plateaued and I felt the need for some help. Luckily, my little trio supported a band fronted by a well known columnist for Total Guitar Magazine (and "Principle Rock Instructor" at the Guitar Institute). Said guru was happy to offer tuition and so I spent the next two years having weekly lessons, being terribly confused and rebuilding my approach to the instrument. However, at the end of that time I felt like a much more rounded & capable player which gave me the confidence to embark on a career as a session / dep guitarist.
Communication - it's that simple for me. Music conveys & invokes emotion in a very direct way; much more so than spoken or written language. I think it's fascinating we can all communicate on that level.
I'm living it! Kidding. I want to get really good at the communication thing. After that, hopefully other people like what I do and we'll see where it goes from there.
Is this a philosophy question? :) The best way to change the world is to start with changing yourself. Music helps me do that.
My gut reaction was "Scuttle Buttin" by Stevie Ray Vaughan. A friend bought "Couldn't Stand The Weather" on one of our Saturday morning vinyl hunts (yes, I am that old). We got it home and put it on & fireworks went off in my head. If you haven't heard that album, Scuttle Buttin is track 1, (side 1 if you do vinyl). For a South London boy who knew a few chords, it was an almost spiritual 1 minute 52 seconds :)
Well, I'm a guitarist so there's a lot of guitar oriented things I listen to. SRV was, for me, one of the finest guitarists to ever pour his heart into a guitar and he had blistering technique to do it with. That said, one of my favourite albums of all time is "Donny Hathaway Live". Cornell Dupree on guitar is a highlight for me, and Willie Weeks on bass, but I really love this album for the way the whole band locks together; they listen all the time! Exactly the same reason I love really early ZZ Top. I saw Guthrie Govan play a while ago; mind bogglingly good. I don't want to question Guthrie's parentage, but I'm pretty sure he's actually part guitar.
Just about anything. Some of what I write is autobiographical; sometimes it's somebody's throw away comment. Sometimes I just want to capture the essence of a moment, so I pick up a guitar & see what comes out.
We're all human beings. We all experience the same feelings so play nicely. It's a work in progress :)
There's nothing like it. The more you give, the more they give & then you're all just having a party.
Massive question! In short, I think we're well resourced but slightly undervalued. Technology has improved things for musicians in term of resources. I started playing during the pre-internet age (I know, right!) so learning was about rewinding cassette tape and trying to figure out what was going on. Now you can find a YouTube lesson in thirty seconds flat. Recording has never been more affordable thanks to the DAW & the internet puts sharing, distribution and even collaboration in nearly everyone's reach. Social media keeps musicians in touch with their audience. Resources like these are great for musicians. They're also a lot to learn and manage. Then there's the whole "Does our society undervalue artistic endeavor and so fail to invest in it properly?" question.
I think it's a great idea & I love being part of the community here.
Getting it wrong - whatever the "it" is I happen to be doing. Still - if you're not failing sometimes, then you're not learning :)
I go to see local bands all the time and have done since I was a teenager.
Above all else? Self belief and persistence. It probably helps if you can balance that with a healthy respect for constructive criticism.
Papa George - the real deal & food for the soul. Steve Simpson, - multi instrumentalist unsung musical hero; he's played with sooo many "people" & is such a good guy. Graham Foster - natural born guitarist.