I think you have to decide what your personal goals are in playing music. If your goal is to play like any particular great player, then you have to put in gobs of work to do it. The vast majority of the people we admire have put in those hours.
My goals are different. I don't want to play like Compton or Monroe or Zenkl or Grisman. I doubt I could, even if I put in all those hours, though I'd get closer than I am now, for sure. Instead, for me, it is most important to do all the things I love to do in addition to playing mandolin-family instruments. I love to make instruments, cook, drink beer, play guitar, play bass, write funny songs, go camping with friends, spend time with my family, and dream about traveling to cool places. In addition, there's plenty of stuff I have to do that I'd rather not. So - I'm completely OK with never playing like my heroes. As long as I can play a few cool tunes and learn a new one now and then - and jam a lot - I am happy with my music. My goal is to have fun with music, socially. Make a little money at it (not much!), and show some other folks a few things I've figured out. And I'm pleased to have had some success with these things. For me, my goal is reasonable. It's good to have reasonable goals. It's not too stressful, and leaves you a little time for a beer. Come share one with me some time! Happy Holidays, folks! Topher On Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 7:05 PM, Linda <lj...@intas.net.au> wrote: > Lets just say I was a bit over 50 when I got serious about the > mandolin and am working at it, giviing up a lot of other things I > could do with my time but have to quit and get practical living > underway. I know I am never going to get what one would call good but > I am going to get a damn site better every dang day, every minute I > put in pays me back. That is what I must and will settle for. > Too soon old too late smart... > ljt > > On Dec 23, 1:15 pm, Bill Burnette <bburne...@gmail.com> wrote: >> I agree with Mike, it's not likely that starting out as an adult with adult >> obligations, most folks are going to be playing like Chris Thile, or Sam >> Bush or Mike Compton. However, it's all relative- lots of folks don't think >> much of Thile's (insert other names here) playing. I hear people diss people >> who I think are great players fairly often, and some people think people I >> don't particularly care for are great. What is great? Is it being able to >> play blindingly fast? I'll likely never be able to do that- I simply don't >> have the dexterity at 52 that I did at 15. I think alot of pickers play fast >> just because they can- which to me is not a good enough reason. For me it's >> about soul- can you make what you feel come out of your instrument? You >> don't necessarily have to master the instrument to be able to do that. >> Becoming a decent picker is a moving target though, it seems the definition >> keeps changing the longer you play. >> >> Bill in Nashville >> >> On Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 7:33 PM, Dennis Fehling <denpamc...@msn.com> wrote: >> > Bethoven was writing syphonies at 5 years old. Either you have it or you >> > don't. i know i don't so I don't really worry about how long it takes as >> > it >> > really doesn't matter. >> >> > Dennis >> >> >www.friendsforlifedogtraining.com >> >> > When will the madness stop. Spay and Neuter your pets >> >> > [image: i'm] EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD >> > Join me<http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Home/?source=EML_WLHM_GreaterGood> >> >> > > Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:43:46 -0800 >> > > Subject: Re: How long to be a "decent picker" >> > > From: mar...@edmedia.com.au >> > > To: taterbugmando@googlegroups.com >> >> > > Somewhere along the line I was told of this learning pathway: >> > > 1. Unconsciously incompetent >> > > 2. Consciously incompetent >> > > 3. Consciously competent >> > > 4. Unconsciously competent >> > > Me I think I’m somewhere in step 2 and 3, for the most part (2) I know >> > > I haven’t nailed it but sometimes (3) I think yep that’s it and then >> > > instantly find myself back at step 2. I have no idea when you get the >> > > step 4, I suppose you don’t know because it just is.... >> >> > > Bo'Weavil >> >> > > On Dec 23, 10:41 am, mistertaterbug <taterbugmu...@gmail.com> wrote: >> > > > Chris, >> > > > The way I heard it, it takes 7 years to make a fiddler. Owen Saunders >> > > > says it takes at least 4 years to be a "bad" fiddler. <G> >> >> > > > I really don't think that there is a time limit/expectancy on it. I've >> > > > heard that Woody Herman was once told by a fan that it looked like >> > > > playing music was easy for him, to which Herman replied something >> > > > like, "You go practice 8 hours a day for the next 10 years and then >> > > > come talk to me about easy". It has a lot to do with what Raymond was >> > > > talking about...obsession, an all-consuming drive to learn how to make >> > > > that sound you've become acquainted with. There was a time that I >> > > > NEVER saw David Grier without a guitar in his lap. There really is no >> > > > end to the journey as long as you're drawing breath. Monroe kept the >> > > > magic for the music until the day he died. And, as Robin mentioned, >> > > > your ears hear things as you go along that you didn't hear before. You >> > > > have to educate yourself as you go, learn little bits and use them, >> > > > learn how they fit together. You have to learn how to listen. I'm >> > > > still hearing new things in the music I've listened to for 30 years. >> > > > I've heard the same thing from many other devotees of the old styles. >> >> > > > I really think that it would be nearly impossible for working adults >> > > > with family obligations to reach the heights some have simply because >> > > > of the amount of time required by the music. It is my opinion that >> > > > starting early before there are so many obligations is the key. >> > > > Whether we become Monroes or Thiles or Hermans or Bakers or Reinhardts >> > > > or whatever is not the point though. The point is to bath in the sound >> > > > and enjoy it. Just for your own information, you are a lot better >> > > > player now than you were two years ago when we met, so you must be >> > > > doing it right. Keep after it. >> >> > > > Taterbug >> >> > > > On Dec 21, 8:41 pm, Raymond Huffmaster <raymondhuffmas...@gmail.com> >> > > > wrote: >> >> > > > > Evenin;.. >> > > > > Robin,if you're talking about Bluegrass Music being difficult to play >> > > > > right...I fully agree with you . And,you know,I think it's because of >> > > > > the >> > > > > central structure of the music as Monroe heard it...rhythm and >> > > > > timing . >> > > > > Without these two components it all goes right to he!!... >> > > > > If the rhythm and timing is there supporting the melody and you play >> > > > > the >> > > > > melody as simple as you can..wonderful...like gravy on a bisquit , no >> > > > > need >> > > > > for improvement.. >> > > > > Bluegrass Music is very hard to play..but once you know you're doing >> > > > > it right >> > > > > It becomes easy as can be...and so satisfying,quite addictive...or it >> > > > > was/is to >> > > > > me... >> >> > > > > Loafer >> >> > > > > On Dec 21, 2:53 pm, Robin Gravina <robin.grav...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> > > > > > Smart words. The longer I do this, and the more I hear, I get crazy >> > > > > > that I can't play two notes together that make real sense. Luckily >> > > > > > though, my ear only gets trained a bit better than I can play, >> > > > > > otherwise I'd get really irritated. I can't get over how difficult >> > it >> > > > > > is to get right. >> > > > > > Fun though >> >> > > > > > 2009/12/20, Raymond Huffmaster <raymondhuffmas...@gmail.com>: >> >> > > > > > > Evenin' Chris... >> > > > > > > I don't know where or who "Out There" is..but I will say >> > > > > > > that , in my opinion ,if you are burning up inside to play good.. >> > > > > > > if it's really important to you...you never reach a point of >> > total >> > > > > > > satisfaction . There is always another thing to learn,another >> > > > > > > phrase to use,another great player that you want to play with . >> >> > > > > > > I always wanted to play good enough to play with my heros... >> > > > > > > reached that point with some of 'em . Yet there are still things >> > > > > > > I hear, a lot from T-Bug , that I want to learn,I want to play >> > with... >> >> > > > > > > Holding your own....means that you need to play better..to >> > > > > > > satisfy your own self...or it does to me...practice,my friend.. >> >> > > > > > > Loafer >> >> > > > > > > On Dec 20, 1:16 pm, Chris Thomas <christopher.s.tho...@cox.net> >> > wrote: >> > > > > > >> I had the chance to attend the "Blue Ridge Music Makers Guild" >> > > > > > >> Christmas Party (http://www.blueridgemusicmakersguild.com >> > )theother >> > > > > > >> night and enjoy some 'ol time music (in the Galax, Floyd, >> > Woodlawn, >> > > > > > >> Hillsville, Fries, Independence section of VA). >> >> > > > > > >> One guy was 91 years old & sharp as a tack. He could play >> > ANYTHING on >> > > > > > >> the harmonica and also played his tie on fiddle tunes (it is >> > > > > > >> corrugated metal and he has picks for his fingers). He also is >> > in >> > > > > > >> their book: >> >http://www.blueridgemusicmakersguild.com/Arcadia.htm >> >> > > > > > >> As the party was winding down I was picking with a nice lady >> > who has >> > > > > > >> been playing fiddle (made by a local) for 7 years. To my >> > enjoyment we >> > > > > > >> were messing with some tunes that I learned thru the TaterCam >> > > > > > >> lessons. She told me that the general consensus "out there" is >> > that >> > > > > > >> it takes 12 years to make a fiddler that can hold his/her own. >> >> > > > > > >> What are your thoughts on the making of a mandolin player? I >> > have >> > > > > > >> been playing 'bout 6 years with no prior experience----am I >> > really >> > > > > > >> only half way there? >> >> > > > > > >> For me a big part was “trying” to move away from tab and >> > learning to >> > > > > > >> listen as well as focus on a particular style. >> >> > > > > > >> Merry Christmas, >> >> > > > > > >> Chris >> >> > > > > > > -- >> >> > > > > > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the >> > Google Groups >> > > > > > > "Taterbugmando" group. >> > > > > > > To post to this group, send email to >> > taterbugma...@googlegroups.com. >> > > > > > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> > > > > > > taterbugmando+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com<taterbugmando%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com> >> > . >> > > > > > > For more options, visit this group at >> > > > > > >http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en. >> >> > > > > > -- >> > > > > > Enviado desde mi dispositivo móvil- Hide quoted text - >> >> > > > - Show quoted text - >> >> > > -- >> >> > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> > "Taterbugmando" group. >> > > To post to this group, send email to taterbugma...@googlegroups.com. >> > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> > taterbugmando+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com<taterbugmando%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com> >> > . >> > > For more options, visit this group at >> >http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en. >> >> > -- >> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> > "Taterbugmando" group. >> > To post to this group, send email to taterbugma...@googlegroups.com. >> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> > taterbugmando+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com<taterbugmando%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com> >> > . >> > For more options, visit this group at >> >http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en. > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Taterbugmando" group. > To post to this group, send email to taterbugma...@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > taterbugmando+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en. > > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Taterbugmando" group. 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