Guitar Marty

“In the Growth Process, we all go through periods in which we are
activating new nerve junctures, both in the brain and throughout other
parts of the body. This type of growth work draws a tremendous amount of
systemic energies. The overall physical feeling is like pulling a train
uphill , and the psychological spin-off is the feeling that we are
getting nowhere . This will persist for some period of time. We then
tend to go into a natural state of rest, “a plateau.” During this rest
period , we tend to feel that we have the world by the tail and great
progress is taking place. Actually the reverse is true. The progress was
made during the uphill climb, not during the rest period. The rest
period will continue for some period of time. Don’t worry about it. Then
the road will become very rough again, and we will begin to become aware
of our weaknesses. This will last until we select the specific area to
attach first. We will then begin the uphill climb again and plateau
again only to meet our deficiencies face to face again. So, on and on it
goes , but your practice regimen must remain constant.”

Howard Roberts

“Be regular and orderly in your life, like a bourgeois, so that you may be violent and original in your work. ” – Flaubert

“Every day you don’t practice is one more day it takes to get good” – Ben Hogan

“We must take the shades off our ears and listen to the sound of our lives without judgment.” – Pat Martino

What makes a great jazz recording or soloist? Canadian jazz guitar
player, Lorne Lofsky answers: “I can only speak for myself on that
score. Why does this particular album ring all the right bells for me?
Well, a combination of elements, dexterity, sound, but number one is
phrasing. To my mind, phrasing is damn near everything. It’s the
manipulation of time and melody, the centrepiece of the improviser’s
continuum. Getting the phrasing right is to my mind by far the hardest
thing. It is the thing that defines us as players.”

The following has been excerpted from the Coalition for Music Education in Canada’s website .

Education in Music can Open Doors for Children.

The Conference Board of Canada lists many of these academic, personal management and teamwork skills as the foundation of a high quality Canadian work force both today and tomorrow.

Music education helps develop:

• Problem solving skills
• Teamwork
• Goal setting
• Self-expression
• Hand-eye co-ordination
• Memory skills
• Self-confidence and esteem
• Concentration
• Poise
• Time management skills
• Understanding across cultures
• Communications
• Technological awareness
• Quality of life
• Standards of excellence
• And much, much more!

Music Does Make the Difference.

• when a child studies music, significant elements of his or her education find focus and expression
• developing the ability to understand and use symbols in new contexts
• finding and directing the power of personal creativity and self-expression
• exercising the diverse skills of problem solving
• participating in the deeply human satisfaction of shared work and meeting new challenges

Education without music shortchanges our children and their futures. Education with music provides students with a competitive edge.

Musical Intelligence: Research on intelligence and cognitive function points to the possibility that music may be a form of intelligence.

Development Gain: Music education, especially at an early age, can help open the door to important benefits. Involvement in music powerfully reinforces such crucial characteristics as self-esteem, self-discipline, creativity, and self-expression. It helps develop problem-solving skills, integrates subject matter across the curriculum, and has a high correlation with overall academic achievement.

Study in Music is Preparation for the Future.

Did you know?

• Students with course work or experience in music scored 50-60 points higher in the SAT verbal portion and 36-50 points higher in the math portion in 1996. -The College Board
• Japan, a world leader both economically and technologically, is extensively revising entire education program, with a major focus on the arts and creative thinking. – Dennis Tupman, Saskatchewan Music Educators Conference
• Major industries are hiring new computer systems employees on the basis of their creative potential. – Time, June 11, 1990
• The arts are Canada’s 11th largest industry, representing fully 4% of the Gross National Product, yet they receive only 0.8% of the total Federal expenditures. – Statistics Canada
• Arts jobs are expected to increase 130% more than non-arts jobs in the 90′s. -Statistics Canada
• An education in the Arts provides people with a competitive advantage when it comes to getting a job. – Ian Scott, Chief Hiring Officer, William M. Mercer Limited

Get Involved…

Here’s how you can help…

• promote public awareness of the importance and value of a well balanced curriculum that includes a sequential developmental high quality music program
• organize or be a part of a local music education coalition and advocacy group.
• urge school administrators and trustees to facilitate and support the delivery of high quality music programs.
• ask the questions as printed in the evaluation brochure, of the Music Department at your school. Then advocate with all levels of administration for changes and additions to the present program where necessary.

You can make a difference!