Occasional Blog (where ideas are left to fend for themselves)
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Guitar Follies
Q: How many guitar players does it take to change a light bulb ?A: Five hundred and one. One to change the bulb and five hundred to tell you how they could have done it better.
True story:
I have this student who's a total beginner. Last night, I was trying to teach him a simple Tom Petty song. We get through it OK, and as is often the case during lessons, many ideas begin to rush though my head. I forget that I'm teaching and begin a series of variations of these simple changes. I also want to show the kid that I can play. Evidently, I failed to impress him.
"Impossible guitar," comes a quip out of the blue.
"What?" My student has gone all non sequitor on me.
"You know YouTube?"
"Yeah." Methinks my student believes I am positively medieval in techno matters.
"Go on there and type in impossible guitar."
"Why?"
"There's this guy who plays this nine string guitar. It's amazing."
Was my student trying to take me down a peg or two? Was he saying not so subtlety, "Your variations in the first position on A minor, G and D are not nearly as impressive as you think." Keep in mind that this guy can barely fret a note, yet here he is directing me to what he perceives as a higher authority of geetar playing. Should I be offended? Nope. Only a fool would get cranky from such a comment, but it does remind me of the folly of being a guitarist (and a teacher of one as well). Perhaps I should have used the zen teaching method and struck him hard with a cane and then left the room without a word.
Guitarists, as a whole, are a gnarly bunch. Precious, ridiculous, divisive, egomanical, prone to OCD-like rituals, a tendency to fetishize, fiercely competitive, equipment crazy, and territorial. There is also a communal feeling among guitarists because we all realize how goddam hard the thing is to play and how humble it can make us at times. I can say these things with equal love and disdain for my brethren and sistren because "For I have known them all already, known them all."
Scan the web or read dreaded music magazines and young players love to expound about their guitar heroes in hierarchical terms until it starts to sound like a weight lifting contest.
"Satriani can shred at 310 bpm!"
"Oh yeah? Malmsteen can rake arpeggios at 435, man!"
When a student puts forth a name from the hallowed halls of greats, I suppose they expect a rebuttal-demonstration of my great prowess and superiority. How silly. That stuff doesn't even bother me anymore. I am honest: "I can't play that." Nonplussed, they move on to another topic. They have failed to point out my shortcoming. As if I have never had the nerve to look upon my own abilities with a penetrative gaze.
When we enter the field of competition, we encounter envy and then the inevitable feeling of somehow being "less than." Best to watch, learn and be as humble as possible. "The only wisdom we can hope to acquire is the wisdom of humility: humility is endless." No one guitarist can do it all. Not going to happen my friends. You playing reflects who you are as a person. We tend to forget that. We also tend to think only in terms of hands and use speed as the sole measure of a great guitarist. Expression? Forget it. That's too subtle a concept. When I see such videos, such as the "impossible" one, there is no longer a seismic paradigmatic shift as would have happened many years ago. I can watch someone and dig what they do and not get depressed. And I don't have to follow someone else's approach.
If you watch the "impossible video" closely, you can easily figure out what he's doing. And in creative terms, it's nothing new. It's well executed and played, but the influences are as transparent as rice paper. I like it, but don't expect me to copy. I am following another tradition right now-one that, in the right time, I will blog about.
Post scriptus: the above mentioned student has been absent for no less than two lessons since.
Perhaps my student shall return. I hope so. He has to learn that the road to being a musician is a rough one and the ego cracks and shatters many times, but in the end, it is love that brings us back to joy. Love of music. Love bears all things.
Even impossible guitar.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
"Straight" From the Headlines
NEW WEDNESDAY NIGHT The alleged victim is now speaking out about the incident. Click on the video link above to watch his story... and the unedited interview.
NEW WEDNESDAY The Kanawha County Sheriff's Department says more possible victims have come forward. No new charges have been filed yet.
If you live in C-Town, you come to know a whole lot of people and musicians are a small community unto themselves. Once this gets rolling, I'll post things that I know, but for now, gotta be cool. And NO, it isn't lurid, but speaks to current events.
From Channel 3:
A private piano and voice teacher from Kanawha County has been arrested and charged with having sexual contact with a student.
Jack Pierce Jr., 61 of Monroe Street in St. Albans, is charged with one count of first degree sexual abuse.
Deputies say the student was a 14-year-old boy -- and the crime allegedly happened three-and-a-half years ago during a sleepover.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
1990: Pierce says he was accused of the same crime, but was never prosecuted. He says he passed a polygraph test.
January 2004: Pierce says he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student who turned 18 in March 2004.
May 2004: Victim says Pierce fondled him during a sleepover at Pierce's house.
January 3, 2008: The victim files sexual abuse complaint against Pierce at the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department.
February 5, 2008: Deputies obtain a search warrant for Pierce's house and perform a polygraph examination. He fails the test.
February 12, 2008 Pierce is arrested and charged with first degree sexual assault.According to the criminal complaint, the victim and his brother were staying at Pierce's house for the night to watch movies. After Pierce put one of the boys to bed in a different room, the complaint says Pierce insisted that the 14-year-old sleep in his bed with him.
The victim told deputies that Pierce then began to finger his belly button, telling him that it was the "most erotic place on the body;" and he even asked the victim to "be his 'boy' and join him in New York City," according to the complaint.
Deputies stated in the complaint that Pierce then started fondling the victim through his pants, causing the teen to feel uncomfortable.
"The next morning, the victim told his mother what had happened and she took both of her sons out of voice and piano lessons," investigators wrote in the complaint.
Deputies say Pierce volunteered to take a polygraph test, but failed it. During the interview, deputies say he denied any wrongdoing with the victim, but admitted to having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student in January 1994, but said the student turned 18 in March the same year and the relationship continued.
According to the criminal complaint, deputies seized items from Pierce's house including several calendars "which were very detailed showing who spent the night at his house and who he took on various trips." The calendars date back to 1990.
Deputies are hoping that if there are more victims out there they come forward and talk to investigators. They say Pierce is currently teaching approximately 200 students in piano and voice lessons.
Call the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department at (304) 357-0169 if you have any information for deputies.
NEW WEDNESDAY The Kanawha County Sheriff's Department says more possible victims have come forward. No new charges have been filed yet.
If you live in C-Town, you come to know a whole lot of people and musicians are a small community unto themselves. Once this gets rolling, I'll post things that I know, but for now, gotta be cool. And NO, it isn't lurid, but speaks to current events.
From Channel 3:
A private piano and voice teacher from Kanawha County has been arrested and charged with having sexual contact with a student.
Jack Pierce Jr., 61 of Monroe Street in St. Albans, is charged with one count of first degree sexual abuse.
Deputies say the student was a 14-year-old boy -- and the crime allegedly happened three-and-a-half years ago during a sleepover.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
1990: Pierce says he was accused of the same crime, but was never prosecuted. He says he passed a polygraph test.
January 2004: Pierce says he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student who turned 18 in March 2004.
May 2004: Victim says Pierce fondled him during a sleepover at Pierce's house.
January 3, 2008: The victim files sexual abuse complaint against Pierce at the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department.
February 5, 2008: Deputies obtain a search warrant for Pierce's house and perform a polygraph examination. He fails the test.
February 12, 2008 Pierce is arrested and charged with first degree sexual assault.According to the criminal complaint, the victim and his brother were staying at Pierce's house for the night to watch movies. After Pierce put one of the boys to bed in a different room, the complaint says Pierce insisted that the 14-year-old sleep in his bed with him.
The victim told deputies that Pierce then began to finger his belly button, telling him that it was the "most erotic place on the body;" and he even asked the victim to "be his 'boy' and join him in New York City," according to the complaint.
Deputies stated in the complaint that Pierce then started fondling the victim through his pants, causing the teen to feel uncomfortable.
"The next morning, the victim told his mother what had happened and she took both of her sons out of voice and piano lessons," investigators wrote in the complaint.
Deputies say Pierce volunteered to take a polygraph test, but failed it. During the interview, deputies say he denied any wrongdoing with the victim, but admitted to having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student in January 1994, but said the student turned 18 in March the same year and the relationship continued.
According to the criminal complaint, deputies seized items from Pierce's house including several calendars "which were very detailed showing who spent the night at his house and who he took on various trips." The calendars date back to 1990.
Deputies are hoping that if there are more victims out there they come forward and talk to investigators. They say Pierce is currently teaching approximately 200 students in piano and voice lessons.Call the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department at (304) 357-0169 if you have any information for deputies.
Insert Thy Foote
From the Fripp pages again:
At tea, a Crafty sitting close to the head table leant over…
Crafty: I met a student who was at your lecture at York in 2000. He said it wasn’t his cup of tea.
RF: That’s what I get most of the time.
Crafty: He said it was vaguely pompous.
It is most amazing what young people say without a thought in their heads. All have opened their mouths only to stick foot directly in it. I would dare say that I have done much more than your average bear to embarrass himself and no doubt called upon the good graces and politeness of the recipient not to retaliate in kind. Even old guys let one go upon occasion.
Case in point:
Walking into the favorite market place yesterday, I ran into a familiar face. After it dawned on your humble blogger who this person was, we exchanged pleasantries in the modo ordinario. She told me that she had divorced and was now considering marriage with her current bo-friend. Knowing the guy a bit, I spoke without thinking: "Him?!?!"
She was very nice about it and wasn't offended.
I hobbled back to work.
It being difficult to walk on one foot. The other
in my mouth.
At tea, a Crafty sitting close to the head table leant over…
Crafty: I met a student who was at your lecture at York in 2000. He said it wasn’t his cup of tea.
RF: That’s what I get most of the time.
Crafty: He said it was vaguely pompous.
It is most amazing what young people say without a thought in their heads. All have opened their mouths only to stick foot directly in it. I would dare say that I have done much more than your average bear to embarrass himself and no doubt called upon the good graces and politeness of the recipient not to retaliate in kind. Even old guys let one go upon occasion.
Case in point:
Walking into the favorite market place yesterday, I ran into a familiar face. After it dawned on your humble blogger who this person was, we exchanged pleasantries in the modo ordinario. She told me that she had divorced and was now considering marriage with her current bo-friend. Knowing the guy a bit, I spoke without thinking: "Him?!?!"
She was very nice about it and wasn't offended.
I hobbled back to work.
It being difficult to walk on one foot. The other
in my mouth.
Monday, February 11, 2008
It's Freakin' Freezy
Home, home againI like to be here when I can
When I come home cold and tired
When I come home cold and tired
It's good to warm my bones beside the fire
The E Wife has been after me to build a fire for a long time. All last winter, she begged, inquiered nicely and not so nicely, but I resisted. It was too much hassle. After all, it would be your humble 
blogger who had to constantly tend it to keep it burning beautifully. felt like a hassle.
blogger who had to constantly tend it to keep it burning beautifully. felt like a hassle.Here as of late, these past two night, I have kept the hearth a blazin'. It's tranquillizing, fun and damn sure warm.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
All My Friends Are A-lee-uns
It didn't get good reviews" said the local twenty-something at Blockbuster.
Usually, I trust those that most Boomers ignore as Gen X.
Supposedly there were problems with the script and some reshooting took place and that's why some scences come out of order. Who cares? I'm a dumbass and I could follow it.
Conclusion: worth a rental. Maybe even a purchase at the right price.
Some post invasion goofiness:
Usually, I trust those that most Boomers ignore as Gen X.I had heard this lastest remake of the Snatchers series was bad. F to reviews.
Here's the shortie: This is a worthy edition to the aliens-are-coming, body snatchin' series. Yes, "the plot is predictable"-duh! I actually read that. Dude, know thy film histoire.
The pacing is good if not a litte rushed, menacing and the pod (not pods this time-viral) peoples are creepy.
Supposedly there were problems with the script and some reshooting took place and that's why some scences come out of order. Who cares? I'm a dumbass and I could follow it.Nicole is not only stunning, but she brings a wealth of emotion to her role, especially as a mother. Did I mention she's stunning? Ah, Nicole, if we could only run off to some 
island for hours of...oh. Sorry. Must get back on point. my bad.
island for hours of...oh. Sorry. Must get back on point. my bad.
Conclusion: worth a rental. Maybe even a purchase at the right price.
Some post invasion goofiness:
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