This morning, as we drank our coffee, he asked me a question I've seen posted on the Forum numerous times in the past ... "So, how much do I have to learn, or how long do I need to play, before I can call myself a steel player?"
I actually choked on my coffee and had to go outside for some air. How does one accurately answer that question? Back in 1976, when I started steel guitar, no such question or thought ever entered my mind. I had one concern and one focus only; to learn and excel at this beautiful instrument that captured my heart so fully. Philosophical questions as to "when" I could call myself a steel player were simply never part of the equation ... for me, the only elements were practice and determination mixed with desire and due diligence in my approach to steel.
Sheldon also shocked me this morning when he asked how fast he should learn, how much he should practice and then he reminded me of his personal observations that he thought of me as being "possessed by a demon of steel guitar" back in my first early years of playing.
I never knew my family considered me that obsessive about it. Possessed by a demon of steel guitar? Good grief!It is true I was pretty eaten up with steel and I did spend a little time practicing daily during those first five years. A typical weekday practice (because of my duty day at work) consisted of no less than five hours in the evening (and those sessions usually became more like six to eight hour sessions causing me to go to bed late and lose sleep). And weekends? If I practiced any less than 14 to 16 hours a day on Saturday and Sunday, there was something wrong. I wouldn't consider that as too much practice; certainly, not at all as being possessed by some steel guitar demon ... I was just having a heck of a good time!
But, I'm getting sidetracked here. I just hope my answer to Sheldon's question this morning was accurate and wise. I told him not to be concerned by trivial things like wondering when he could call himself a steel player; rather, concern himself only with the focus of his practice habits. Don't worry about speed at first. Get the basics and fundamentals down. Clean picking technique without pick noise or chirping, blocking, bar position and control, intonation, etc. As far as how quick to learn, there is no set time table; he's not on a production clock. Everyone has a different learning curve. Whether he's a quick learner or slower to get it is unimportant; the important factor is the quality of his practice time and approach to the instrument.
As far as becoming an accomplished player, I told him that time mixed with his own due diligence will determine that; rather than wondering when he'll be ready to play with a band and trying to rush himself into it, sit back and enjoy the adventure of learning. Work hard at it, yes, but also let the learning of this great instrument be a source of pleasure and enjoyment. If he encounters an execution that's proving difficult, don't get frustrated and start getting impatient ... instead, take the approach that I did; begin to dissect the lick or phrase and experiment with different ways to execute each section of it ... turn it into a game of "how well can I learn and execute this" and have fun with it instead of getting frustrated with it and wanting to throw the bar across the room.
Being patient with it and having fun with the learning adventure is what worked for me. It allowed me to learn quicker and at an exceptionally accelerated rate as opposed to what might have happened if I'd let myself get frustrated each time I was faced with difficulty.
It's one thing to acknowledge that steel can be complex and is a precise and demanding instrument, but quite another to look at it like some enemy or monster that must be conquered at great price. I cannot stress enough how important a positive mental and emotional approach is to steel when learning to play. If one approaches steel with the attitude that it's going to be difficult and hard to play, then one is already defeated before one begins; a person's actions will always follow their beliefs.
I told my nephew, when you're learning something that's proving difficult, do not say or even think, "man, this is hard" or "I can't get this" ... rather, approach it thinking, "ah, this is a fun little challenge and I can get it" ... that was the approach I had and it worked great for me.
I also sit with him as he performs the myriad of repetitive exercises that I've laid out for him. When I see him begin to get bored with an exercise, I verbally point out something fun or interesting about the exercise and he seems to be enthused with it again.
I'm hoping this philosophy of patience mixed with positive thinking will work well for my nephew. He usually excels at what he does, but he's also a "hurry up, I want it now" kind of guy who looks for instant gratification. It's been my observation over the years that the words "instant gratification" and "steel guitar" are not always synonymous of each other.
