So here I am in my little basement waiting for my next guitar lesson to show up...I am going to go re-do a vocal track on a new song Im working on...do a little myspace and web site stuff too...I feel fortunate to be able to work from home, do what I love and get padi...there are other benefits too. Especially in these days where people are getting laid off left and right, I am happy to have some work. I don't make enough to retire from this, so i have my short, medium and long term plans...but I am thankful I did not bail and go get a real estate license about 7 years ago, when I was pondering my future as a musician/songwriter!
So teaching has benefits of being paid to deconstruct and analyze songs...not just teach theory, ear training etc...but tons and tons of people jsut want me to do what I am really good at, which is figure out the songs...I write them out, notation or TAB, teach people the melody note they come in on singing, what the chord progressions and strum patterns are etc...of course I do all the formal stuff too, (theory, reading, ear training, technique, fret borad logic etc etc) which is also a benefit to me...I'm sure all teachers realize sooner or later, that teaching is learning and learning is teaching...so it helps me stay current on my chops, my knowledge and a million songs. A teenage student recently asked me how many songs I have learned. I was not sure so just for fun I did some math...lets see, average 40 students a week, say 50 weeks a year, and I'm at 14 years now full time teaching guitar...if everyone does 2 songs a month (conservative) I think that is around 13,000-15,000 songs. Subtract 500 for Sweet Home Alabama, 500 for Stairway to Heaven, Freebird, and a couple others...LOL
My favorite is when someone says they like Country, and I get to teach them all these radio hits...really has helped my own writing a ton, as all the styles I teach do...but For me, a country hit has several elements that other styles lack...the quality and number of images for one, the detailed descriptions aka "furniture" bring out something in the senses that pop type songwriting just doesn't do for me...I love lots of styles and have appreciation for a huge variety of music...just check out my "influences"...on this site...I am NOT dissing Pop or other styles, but for ME the Country lyric is the highest bar, and has the most appeal.
Check out my influences...I know I am supposed to be more consise and fit in a genre more neatly, and be less wordy so industry pro's who might come by to check me out can see clearly what I do...but you know what...I honestly love all these styles. If you dont want to read it all, don't, just listen.
I recently took a class with Pat Pattison and Steve Seskin...I have taken every one of Seskins classes and some several times over now...He is the MAN and a great teacher and amazing writer...can't say enough good about Steve...but Pat was new for me and I found him amazing also...one thing he said that really stuck with me was something like this: "images in lyrics engage the sensory memory" To me that is amazing to realize...it works, and many times the listener doesn't know why they think the song is good, but if you engage their sensory memory, you have achieved "SUCCESS". To me the success is the journey, the enjoyment of being in the moment, being in the process. When I write its like reading a great book, or seeing a great movie... i lose track of time, I am totally immersed and this song, this idea, it comes to life...and I am in it...for a while...its like living in a movie or a dream...and you can choose how it goes as you go along...like awake dreaming...dreaming awake...and when I enter that zone, I am succesful! Nothing else really matters to me. I sure could use to get out of debt, and sure I wish I had a sweet fishing/golf pad somewhere warm...mostly I Love my family and want to be the best Dad and husband and human being I can be...get out of debt and the rest is gravy! Success is wanting what you have not having what you want, as several songwriters have pointed out for us...most recently Sheryl Crow and Garth Brooks to name a couple.
I sure do want what I have! I have everything a guy could want...a great wife and family, and the amazing peace that comes with faith...all the money in the world can not buy happiness...in fact most people I know that do have tons of money are not very happy...their lives are mostly a mess because everything for them hinges on their money and their illusion that it matters...I have no money, but again, I feel blessed to have what God has given me...and I know more good things are in store! When He knows it is my time, when He is done preparing me, He will use me for His true purpose. Now that is real success!