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June 2004
Posts: 365
Location: NC | Anyone here taking lessons and if so:
1- Does your teacher teach a style you want to learn, ie. blues, jazz, rock, classical, etc.
2- How long have you took lessons and do you consider yourself accomplished or still in the learn stage of absorption as I call it?
3- How much do you pay and length of time per lesson and times per week?
I never picked up a guitar until 8 months ago and have been taking lessons ever since. Changed teachers once already because I want to learn blues/jazz style of play. And fact first teacher was not hardly letting me play during my 30 min. session. New teacher makesd me play until my hands cramp. I like it!
I know everyone learns at different stages but when does one begin to be somewhat accomplished.....2-3 years or longer after lessons?
Thanks guys and gals......... |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | You can always take lessons, you can always learn more and you should keep changing till you get a teacher you like, or two or three. Try the National Guitar Workshop seminars, they're great too. |
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Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Q: 1- Does your teacher teach a style you want to learn, ie. blues, jazz, rock, classical, etc.
A: Yes, yes he does. Danged if I can play it the way he teaches it to me, though.
Q: 2- How long have you took lessons and do you consider yourself accomplished or still in the learn stage of absorption as I call it?
A: Six months and I consider myself unworthy of any quality instrument. I suck and I know it. I try. I fail. I try some more. I enjoy the process.
Q: 3- How much do you pay and length of time per lesson and times per week?
A: Nowhere near what his experience and ability are worth. That translates to $16 per half hour per week, although every third or fourth week I pay him double. (I'm the product of Judeo-Catholic guilt. I charge more than that for my services and I consider what he does to be more 'worthwhile' than what I do. It's a shame that society doesn't recognize the value of art, or more importantly, the value of artists.)
I've owned a guitar of some sort for around fifteen years. I taught myself three songs and maybe parts (hehe) of a dozen others. Enough to say I played (in my own mind). When I throttled back on the work thing, I found I had extra time. And that I was a lot older than when I started on the tread mill. So, lessons it was...er, is. I was prepared to go through as many instructors as it took to find a good one. Luckily, I got good referrals and our personalities mesh nicely. During a lesson, we'll talk for a bit, jam for a bit, learn for a bit, jam some more, talk some more. It's good therapy.
I have no idea how long it takes become accomplished, I think you're right, it depends on the individual. And how you define accomplished. :) Sounds like you're well on your way, though. Remember, it's not just about the destination...enjoy the trip.
:) |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 873
Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | i would highly reccommend the boxed set of 3vols and 3 videotapes or dvds called fretboard logic to supplement any class you are taking. if you have been playing for 8 months this is probably the best investment you will ever make in becoming a better player. |
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Joined:
June 2004
Posts: 365
Location: NC | Thanks for all the feedback......I take lessons one time per week at the cost of $17/lesson. My teacher is same age as me with degree in music and has played in several jazz bands. I like him and he seems to care what I want to do rather than just what he wants to teach. Will keep you updated as to progress. |
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June 2004
Posts: 365
Location: NC | I am using or drilling alot on the Pentatonic scales and doing riff exercises. Does anyone incorporate alot of this into their music or jamming sessions for either filler or just plain finger moving playing. I find it to be when used in the right combination to be rather bluesy and jazzed up. :D |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Scales are good, keep the fingers limber. Just remember to play the scales and not let them play you.
On a separate somewhat related issue, I recently was told to start taking Lipitor to lower cholesteral. I is working but I found that it made my finger joints sore. I quit it and it got better, but not completely. Anyone else have any experience with this?
Thanks. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | In college I took lessons from a guy that was not interested in anything I wanted to play. I actually learned a lot from that man because I was determined to show him that I was not a cretin.
I still hold the guitar in the correct position, correctly position my right and left hands and am still trying to learn that damn chord melody stuff that just never makes sense to me. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Bill;
A few years ago, I was prescribed Lipitor.
My &^%#^%*&*$#@ insurance company didn't cover it, so the doctor changed it to Zocor. Never really experienced any of the sore muscles/joints that they say are common w/it (but maybe it's just me).
Recently changed doctors who put me on something else (Caduet).
Are you staying away from grapefruit (& grapefruit juice)?? |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Yes Cliff, no grapefruit. A glass of orange juice in the am and that's it. With a sore left hand, is this a sign that it's time to really learn how to use the slide?
I quit the Lipitor after 8 weeks and moved to Lovastatin but it seems to have some of the same problems, not quite as bad yet but I don't want to get allll the way back to where it was. It was impossible to grab an Am. D and G were fine and E was iffy. |
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November 2002
Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | Bill...I did the Atkins diet for 6 months and lowered my cholesteral enough that I never had to take the drugs. It's still working but I don't have to be as strict as I was the first 6 months. Being as how hour in Florida for the winter, maybe you should try South Beach. It's ot as restrictive as Atkins but gets the same results. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | My cardiologist is steering me towards the SouthBeach Diet, as well . . . |
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June 2003
Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | CWK2,
The reason why your fingers may have been sore is that Lipitor and other drugs in the same class(Mevacor,Zocor) cause a condition called Rhabdomyolysis. This is a breakdown of muscle tissue. Also I just wanted Al to know that I may know information on other drugs besides OxyContin.
Dr. Phil |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Funny . . . .
I just did a Yahoo!Search using:
"Lipitor Rhabdomyolysis"
. . . most of the links were for law firms advertising for class-action-suits . . . |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | Southbeach is a little more healthy. It allows fruits and more vegitables and doesn't push high fat as much as Atkins. Recent repots seem to show that Atkins is probably OK for short periods but not a long term solution. I think Southbeach IS more of a long term solution. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Originally posted by Phil Wong:
Also I just wanted Al to know that I may know information on other drugs besides OxyContin.
Dr. Phil
phil
I've moved on to morphine |
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Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | Al,
COOOOOOOL MAN!!!! :cool: :cool: :) :D
Phil |
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April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Al,
Did anyone ever tell you what a nice guy you are?
Wanna Share?? :D |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | I can trade oxycodine for morphine |
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Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | Any Chapman is truly better when sedated :rolleyes: |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Ya'll are real funny! That's why I love it here.
Dr Phil, now that the muscle has degenerated as far as the rest of me, how do I get it back? PantingTonic scales? Or whole note full finger stretches?
My doc returned the call today and said quit the lovastatin too. The colesteral levels weren't overly high so I'll just behave and be careful and we'll deal with this next summer if it has gotten worse. He also recommended getting a good glass slide. Funny guy!
Now it's off to the beach to see the eclipse.
Thanks for the input. |
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Joined:
June 2004
Posts: 365
Location: NC | Oxycontin....morphine....hydrocodone.....that's child's play! Try Fentenil........100x's more powerful than Morphine and administered for severe pain in the hospital setting. We have people trying to eat this crap where I am from. :eek: |
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March 2002
Posts: 1380
Location: Central Oregon | I've been taking Lipitor 10's for three or four years. Annual checkups. I changed my eating habits & lost 40 pounds but I still need the Lipitor. They do the trick, no side effects that I've noticed to date.
What's the deal with grapefruit juice?
The only time I ever drank that stuff was with vodka in Salty Dogs. I quit drinking before I started eating Lipitor so I've never mixed 'em. Will I explode or something?
/\/\/ |
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Joined:
June 2003
Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | cwk2,
Scales are good excercising the fingers.
Nils,
I found an article on grapefruit and medications at
www.mayo.edu/proceedings/2000/sep/7509r1.pdf |
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Guitar Lessons......
