Guitar Lesson -- Becoming A Well-rounded Musician
Any musician who desires to become successful is eventually confronted with the question of how well-rounded he or she wishes to become
. In fact, this question may need to be answered several times during a career - yielding different answers each time.
Because I am a guitarist, I will approach the subject from that perspective.
Although I have met people who knew what they wanted right from the get-go, most young beginning guitarists don't really have much of a clue as to all of the possibilities that can eventually open up for them. Some of these possibilities demand specific skill sets.
This is the reason why many instructors preach "well-roundedness" from the very beginning. This approach gives the student a running chance to get to a point where an intelligent decision can be made easier when the time comes.
For example, if a guitarist decides after 5 years of study (by whichever means) that he or she wishes to become a session player or a pit musician, and this person never bothered up to this point to learn how to read music, he or she will have lost that 5 years. These two disciplines require a musician to be a monster of a reader (among other things.)
It is true that for many of us, goals can change as time goes by. This is why this "well-roundedness" can be extremely helpful.
But let's make it personal. It is also true that even though all you may want to do is to make money playing in a club band, the fact is that the more well-rounded you are as a guitarist:
1. The more valuable you are as a teammate in a band.
2. Your abilities will be greater than those of your teammates who are not as well-rounded as you.
3. It allows you to pursue other avenues if, later on you decide to go in a different direction. In short, it gives you options
So if you agree with this logic, "well-roundedness" seems to be the ticket.
But just what does it mean to be well-rounded?
Well I think we've established that learning how to read music may just be a factor. Having that ability certainly will not hurt you and may even help you a lot.
You are also going to have to eventually:
1. Know all of your chords -including jazz chords.
2. Be able to read all manner of variations of chord charts.
3. Have performance skills
4. Know how to play in all styles of music.
And you should also give consideration toward:
1. Eventually be able to play at least credibly:
2. Acoustic guitar
3. Electric guitar
4. Classical guitar
5. 12-string guitar
6. Mandolin
7. Ukulele
8. 4 and 5 string banjo
9. Some type of ethnic instrument such as the Balalaika
This means that you should theoretically gear your practicing towards these ends.
Yeah, sure.
Look, none of this means very much to you if you are just starting out, but if you've been at this for awhile, you need to start considering these things if you want to be a pro - and make money like a pro.
In the meantime, develop good study and practicing habits. This is one of the hardest things to do. Many of us view practicing in the same manner as if we are on the way to our execution. We don't always feel like it.
But it is how we get better. And the better we get, the better we can feel about practicing - so that we can get even better.
There is another thing that you should do as soon as you learn enough chords and that is to play with other musicians as often as possible. This is how you develop performance skills.
Playing with other musicians is nothing at all the same as playing alone in the family room. This is a skill and a lesson in interaction that you need to begin learning as soon as possible.
And don't be stubborn about learning different styles of music. Your creativity will suffer - not to mention your commercial value due to this stubbornness.
This is what it means to be well-rounded. Develop this attitude of well-roundedness as soon as possible in your playing career.
It gives you options.
by: James Emery Vigh
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