A Matter of Trust............

A common question I get asked is: "How can I play like you?" Of course, answering this question can be a long one, but sometimes telling someone what NOT to do is as good as telling what TO do.
For everyone reading, including all of my students, past, present and future, I can define my biggest strength as a student that helped me on the guitar when I was taking my first real lessons two decades ago: I trusted my teacher.

The concept was simple: I was hungry to succeed on the instrument, and although sometimes the methods my teacher gave me were not always the most fun and exciting, I trusted the fact that because he was definitely an outstanding player, he must have known something I did not. I put my trust in him and did what he told me to, and am I thankful I did, for I would not now have a thriving teaching business, and play professionally (meaning, being paid to perform.) And most of all, I would not have become a much better player.

I believe almost all students start lessons with the best of intentions, and many succeed, but some falter. By faltering, some do improve, but do not come anywhere close to their potential, simply because they do not follow the important methods I have laid out for them over the course of their lessons.

Sometimes I will bump into a former student like this, and ask them how their playing is, and generally by their own admission, they tell me that they have not improved to their potential by not following the methods I have outlined for them. They have chosen to become their own worst enemy. This will always be puzzling to me.

If for some reason you find yourself in the situation of denying your instructor's methods, do the following:

a) Give your instructor some credit in your mind for the level of proficiency they have achieved. More than likely they can play at a much higher level than most musicians in your community (especially if you live in a small town)
b) Ask yourself why is it that you are taking lessons in the first place. They cost money, and you probably do want to become a better player right?

Until next time, play hard, practise hard, and for the love of God, follow your instructor's methods!


Bryan Briggs

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