That first moment we knew we had to play the guitar?

Some of us guitarists are lucky enough to remember that very first moment when we knew we had to play guitar.  I am going to show my age here, but watch the video above because that was my moment….

Coming home from school I sat myself down to watch reruns of The Odd Couple and lo and behold Roy Clark pays a visit.  Now I was familiar with Roy Clark from Hee Haw, but the grinning part wasn’t really my thing.

But that all changed when I watched this particular episode and Roy went beserk on the guitar.  It was instant love for me!

Gone was the grinning, and in its place was virtuosity, and a type of music that captured my senses.  Not only did I want to play guitar, I wanted to do what he was doing.  Not neccessarily all the notes, but the full and authentic expression.  Here was Roy Clark being Roy Clark.  Not an image for Hee Haw on TV, but the guy you would meet when he was playing for himself in the living room.

Now with the magic of Youtube, I can capture that moment over and over again….. and yet it isn’t the amount of notes he is playing.

It is capturing the belief that I can express myself fully wherever I am in my learning.  That nothing holds me back,  not limiting beliefs or what others say.   That I can hold this piece of wood in my hands and send the message to the world that whatever I play, it is all good and I can have the confidence to question, practice and improve.

This year we are here to help you with exactly that, with tips, masterclasses and inspiring concerts.

So what was your moment, when you knew, you had to learn to play the guitar…….?

Artistic Director,

Stephen Zurakowsky

By the way, I feel blessed because I can have my Mountain Dew and Bach now – LOL