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Why There Are No Shortcuts to Guitar Mastery (And Why That's a Good Thing) beginnerguitar embracethejourney focusedpractice guitar guitarblog guitarcoach guitarcommunity guitargoals guitarist guitarlearning guitarlove guitarmasterey guitartechnique guitartips learnguitar musiceducation musicjourney musiclife patienceiskey playguitar practicehabits practicemakesprogress practicetips Dec 18, 2024

Learning to play guitar is a journey that countless people start, but far fewer complete. As someone who's spent over three decades teaching guitar and performing professionally, I've noticed a pattern among successful students that might surprise you: they embrace the challenge rather than...

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The -2 Point Play: A Lesson in Resilience baseball camp basketball fail dodgers donsutton ken mcmullen lifelessons mentaltoughness overcomefailure resilience sportsmanship westmont Aug 01, 2024

They say sports build character, and in my case, basketball was the crucible. Convinced by friends to join a team, I naively stepped onto the court, oblivious to the potential pitfalls. My active nature, fueled by my mom’s encouragement, had me diving into sports year-round.

Then came the...

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Music Runs in the Family: A Legacy of Music familylegacy git grand ole' opry guitar guitarlessons inspiration journey music musicianlife passion Jul 22, 2024

Music has always been a part of my life. While I never had the chance to know my birth mother, a gifted pianist and choir singer who tragically passed away when I was young, her musical influence was profound. It wasn't until I met my birth grandmother, a talented pianist and violinist, at 19...

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Welcome to "A Life shaped by Music"! advanced guitar band beginner guitar belmont birthfamily ca country gold country music covid digital lessons grand ole' opry guitar lessons hollywood japan music genes nashville online lessons teaching ventura Mar 14, 2024

Music has always been a powerful force in my life, weaving its way into my journey from a young age.

Early Strumming and Unexpected Discoveries:

At just 4 and a half years old, my musical exploration began with guitar lessons, thanks to my mom's encouragement.  Playing guitar with the church...

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From Charts to Chords: My Nashville Wake-Up Call eddie raven memorizing music nashville number system touring musician Jan 11, 2024

 

Back in my early days, fresh off the bus and eager to prove myself, I landed a gig playing guitar with country legend Eddie Raven. Excitement crackled in the air, my fingers buzzed with anticipation – and I clutched my secret weapon: a hefty binder bursting with charts, each...

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A Musical Journey with John Bohlinger: A Tale of Gigs, Switched Instruments, and Valuable Lessons countrymusic johnbohlinger laylas nashville premierguitar Aug 31, 2023

Introduction:

In the world of music, chance encounters often lead to lasting friendships and valuable lessons. One such encounter that left an indelible mark on my musical journey was the night I met John Bohlinger on a gig. Little did I know, this meeting would introduce me to a talented...

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Mastering Songs: A Practical Approach learning songs listening repitition training to listen Jul 19, 2023

When teaching guitar, a common question is, "How do you learn songs?" This blog post explores an effective method involving extensive listening. By immersing yourself in the music and training your mind like a mental tape player, you can learn songs more efficiently. Let's dive in!

 

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Mastering TABs: A Comprehensive Guide to Reading Guitar Tablature advanced guitar beginner guitar guitar learning guitar notation guitar playing guitar practice guitar skills guitar tablature guitar tabs guitar techniques music education music theory tablature tabs Jul 07, 2023

Playing the guitar is a beautiful form of self-expression, but sometimes, deciphering the music notation can be quite challenging. That's where TABs (Tablature) come in handy. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced guitarist, understanding TABs opens up a world of possibilities. In this...

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Adventure eating in Kumamoto adventure eating country gold country music eddie raven japan kumamoto live fish raw horse Nov 29, 2022

 

In Kumamoto, Japan we ate different things.

 

Eating live fish would only happen outside of the United States.

 

Our adventure eating began when all us musicians were bussed and dropped off at the Ginza (shopping center).

 

It looked like an open...

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Volcanic Disruption! country gold country music eddy raven japan kumamoto mount aso volcano Nov 22, 2022
 

 

20 years ago this month (October, 2002) I flew to Japan for a gig!

 

In Kumamoto we visited an active volcano called Mount Aso. According to Google, it is the largest active volcano in Japan.

 

There were fallout shelters in case an eruption...

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No Sleep Tilā€™ Nashville country gold country music eddy raven japan kumamoto Nov 08, 2022

 

It’s hard for me to believe that 20 years ago this month (October) I flew to Japan for a gig!

 

That experience brings fond memories of performing in front of 30,000 people in Kumamoto, Japan.

 

The flight over was long (I don’t sleep well on planes) and I never got...

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HEAR THIS band ear plugs hearing hearing protection loud music concerts Oct 01, 2022

About hearing, we only get the ears we are born with and we need to take good care of them.

 

In the early 90’s, I was rehearsing with my band that had an enthusiastic drummer (currently Trace Adkins drummer) that it hit the skins really hard.

In rehearsals my left ear always faced him...

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