Noli Me Tangere

The Maestro

last night i had my first guitar lesson. i learned about as much about classical guitar as can be expected in a first lesson, including how to hold the instrument (very comfortable), how to create the magic triangle between the thumb and index finger. i was surprised to hear that Beethoven composed several pieces for mandolin and harpsichord. i also learned that Christopher Parkening is like the Brad Pitt of classical guitar: talented, but disrespected for being pretty. (this is not the case with someone like Kenny G, who is neither talented nor pretty. nor respected, for that matter.)

my instructor is the adjunct guitar and lute professor at Clayton State College. he's sort of a disheveled but amiable fellow who favors my uncle Ned. i think it will be a productive time; he's talking about getting me started in both jazz and classical technique in a very short time, which will be quite an accomplishment since i'm now just a hack strummer with bad technique.

i thought it strange, however, that both my voice teacher and my guitar teacher declined to shake my hand when we met. both of them knew me by phone only, so i when i walked into the lobby and we met face to face for the first time it felt very natural to extend my hand in greeting. but neither reciprocated. the guitar prof left me stranded. it must be some means of breaking me of any ego i have left so they can mold me into their kind of apprentice virtuoso.

there is a kind of cool mentor / apprentice relationship with musicians that's very fascinating. in the programs for Spivey Hall, a performer's bio always mentions who they "studied under". discipleship is very important in that world. it's like yoda and skywalker, or cus d'amato and tyson, or something. my vocal coach told me he got his masters in voice, but never really learned to sing until he heard THE VOICE one day. he tracked down that singer's coach and found an 87-yr old hermit guru who completely revolutionized his singing technique in 2 weeks. how he did this, i'm not sure, but i imagine it involved using the force.

i don't honestly know how far i'll go with this but it's exciting getting started, and i am hungry to learn, to improve and to be molded.