Reflections on the Shawn Kellerman master class

From the word go, he was off and running: spiraling melodies, digging into funky rhythms and when there was no more left to dig in to, he dug deeper and threw out an electrifying riff that cascaded around the room.  You had to be there because there are no words to describe how this guy plays!

I asked Shawn right out, “Where do you find all these melodies and rhythms”?  He said it was life…….

Okay, so I need to think about that for awhile……

…….still thinking!!!!

I can’t write this out, I can only play it out on my guitar.

So this weekend I put on some backing tracks and played and played and played.  Man, was I boring.   So I thought, if my improv is like life, then I sound like I am in a dead end job.  Forever pasting, glueing or whatever, just plain vanilla like.

I mustered up some courage and decided I didn’t want to sound plain……I wanted to sound alive!!!

And then it all fell together quite easily, actually.  Playing the guitar is like life.  Do you want to sound vibrant, brilliant, colorful, exciting, passionate, sexy, mysterious etc.  Do you want to sound like you are walking the cobblestones in Southern France, or do you want to sound like your at Walmart:)

Our guitar playing lives should never have a dull note, or a careful chord.

Much thanks to Shawn for giving us an intimate glimpse of a working artist.  I am very proud of all the students who played for him and thanks to St. John’s Music Store for hosting the event.  A big Thank You to Chris Tank of Swan Industries for sponsoring the event.   And we had quite a big crowd, thanks to all who came.  See you next year, as this will become an annual event.