At 08:05 PM 1/16/03 -0800, you wrote:
>
Take it however you want. I am not an elitist. And I stand by
> it;
> it's good advice. I think a lot of people don't know what to do
to
> improve, and don't realize whats wrong when it doesn't sound
right, and
> they don't feel comfortable asking their peers, and don't have
anyone
> to go to for lessons. I am talking about the boondocks here,
not San
> Francisco or D.C. or Seattle or Boston.
Okay, thanks for explaining your positions on this stuff. It's good
that
we've come to some understanding about this topic. We do actually
agree
on alot of this stuff. I"m not as anti-competition as I was before
this
discussion started, and hopefully you understand where I am coming
from
when I say that competitions are something that I have to
personally
avoid.
Thanks,
Toby, that means a lot.
Believe it or
not, all of this stuff used to bother me alot more a couple
years ago. Now I'm mostly just tired of being frustrated by it. The
fiddle isn't the only instrument I play, Scottish music isn't the
only
type of music I play. My paycheck doesn't depend on my next gig. So
what
the heck, I'm just going to make music and enjoy it and forget what
anyone says about it except that small minority of people who know
anything about what I'm trying to do. I think that's an attitude you
can
appreciate.
Hear,
hear. (A good instructor could coach you through the comp and help adjust
your attitude towards it, to something a little healthier. But, as I
said, comps are not for everyone. We just shouldn't assume that what is
bad for you is bad for me.)
Scottish
and Irish music are 99% of what I play, and my paycheck does depend on
it. Nevertheless, I too am going to make music and enjoy it and forget
what anyone says about it except those I care about. ....This has
caused me to reflect on the musical experiences I have had this year, and
I can hardly believe that I have been this lucky. I have shared tunes in
many homes, been at intimate gatherings at fests, and been on big stages,
taught in many places. Life is good.
Cheers,
Toby!
Sue
