The Guitar: A Student Perspective

Transcription

1 The Guitar: A Student Perspective Randy Haley Published 2010, Canadian Music Educator Journal This past spring I sent out a short questionnaire to a number of colleagues, requesting student reaction to the following questions: Why do you like to play the guitar? What benefits have you gained from learning to play the guitar? Will the guitar play a role in your life after graduation? Two middle school and four high school guitar educators responded to my request and I soon received replies from 236 students. Some of the responses were short, some humorous, and many were moving, as you will soon read. To paraphrase a common sentiment, the guitar is a really FUN and/or COOL instrument to play! Numerous students, however, spoke of a powerful connection to the guitar. For some, the guitar is an enjoyable and expressive way to experience music; for many others, the guitar serves as the primary coping mechanism through the often-turbulent adolescent years. Upon examining all of the student feedback, it became evident there were a number of prevailing themes: The guitar attracts students because of its sound and diverse repertoire Playing guitar is a coveted leisure activity The guitar is a versatile and practical instrument Learning to play an instrument builds self-confidence The guitar is helpful for learning and understanding music Playing the guitar relieves stress and provides relaxation The guitar is an excellent vehicle for creating music Many guitarists engage in extra-curricular music making/creating by starting up their own band Music and the guitar are valued outlets for self-expression Students use the guitar to connect with family and friends Guitar students continue to play their instrument after graduation While many of the emerging themes were familiar, if not expected, I had not anticipated the number of comments referencing a desire to share music with family. Students cherish the opportunity to showcase their accomplishments at home and the in house performance is valued as a means to connect with family in a very special way. Reaction was equally strong when queried on the likelihood of continuing to play guitar after graduation. It would appear guitar students develop a relationship with music and their instrument that transcends the loss of classroom instruction and ensemble opportunities, typical of the post high school years. What follows is a sampling of student feedback, organized thematically. To avoid repetition, I excluded a number of responses reiterating the guitar s fun or cool quotient. While student names and home school have been omitted, it seemed pertinent to provide the grade level after each comment. Special thanks to my valued colleagues and to all of the students for providing such insightful comments.

2 The guitar attracts students because of its sound and diverse repertoire. -I love how you can play any note on any string and it makes a beautiful sound. Grade 9 -You can make so many different sounds with the guitar all from one note and you can play almost any style of music. Grade 9 -I like the guitar s rich tones and how it sounds. -The variety of sound that comes from a guitar, the tones, the richness, these are all the things I like about it. Grade 9 -Honestly, I ve always liked to play the guitar because I m fascinated with how the guitar sounds and how many styles you can play with it. Grade 9 -I like to play guitar because it s an instrument that can play many different styles of music and there are so many different techniques to learn. Grade 9 -I like playing guitar because I enjoy playing and making music. It is easy to play many different styles on it. Grade 9 -I can play songs that I love and they actually sound good. Grade 9 -By learning to play guitar now I listen to more different kinds of music than I did before. Grade 9 -Learning to play the instrument has made me more open to many types of music I might not otherwise have enjoyed or appreciated such as many types of jazz. Grade 12 Playing guitar is a coveted leisure activity. -I like how if I ever get bored I can just pick it up and play for hours. Grade 9 -My dad bought me one and I ve never stopped playing it. Grade 9 -If I m ever bored I can just grab a guitar and get entertained. Grade 8 -I also find it fun to just improvise for hours and just have fun. -The guitar helps me kill time without technology. -I would rather play guitar and better myself as a musician than play video games. Grade 11 -I like to play guitar because it s a really relaxing hobby that I can do whenever I want. Grade 9 -Now that I ve learned how to play the guitar I ll always have something to do. Grade 9 -After graduation I see myself playing the guitar at events and having it as one of my favourite pastimes. -Learning to play the guitar has been super fun to do, being in a fun class. I love it and whenever I don t play for a while I am itching to play. -My sister calls me a hermit because I m constantly alone in my kitchen (I like the echoes), singing to my hearts content, strumming my guitar. I could spend hours doing that. The guitar is a versatile and practical instrument. -It s an instrument that can be played anywhere, and can stay with you forever. Grade 9 -I like to play the guitar because it s a unique instrument. You can play it in a big group like our class or you can play it by yourself. Grade 9 -I have benefited from playing the guitar because it has kept me off the streets and out of gang involvement.

3 -I like guitar because it s very spontaneous and you can pretty much play it anytime, anywhere. Grade 11 -The guitar has opened new doors to be able to hone other talents like singing. Grade 12 -It is simply the greatest thing ever period. Grade 12 -It s an interesting instrument and there is a lot of things to learn about it and that s what got me hooked. Grade 9 -There are so many things you can learn about it. I don t think it s anything that you can finish learning about, there s always more. Grade 9 -I like to play guitar cuz it gives me something to do and it sounds so pretty. I also love to sing so it helps. -I m also teaching lessons soon which is a great way to impact someone s life with an amazing hobby. Grade 9 -Guitar is one of the greatest inventions! Learning to play an instrument builds self-confidence. -The guitar has made me realize that I have been gifted with musical talent. -It s the one thing I don t completely suck at! -I ve gained more confidence in myself. -Learning to play the guitar has taught me that I can learn to do anything with practice. At first it was really difficult, but it became easier over time. -I have benefited from learning to play guitar by learning how to write music myself. It has increased my confidence and I am extremely proud that I am able to play the guitar. -How I ve benefited from guitar is that I didn t give up and I usually give up on most things. Grade 9 -Music has always been something I was good at. I m passionate about my playing. I just love it. Grade 9 -I enjoy guitar because it s my only talent. I like the attention I get when I play guitar and sing. -Playing music helps me feel like I m worth something. As long as I keep playing music, I have a purpose. Playing the guitar has given me a sense of pride I didn t have before I started playing. Grade 12 The guitar is helpful for learning and understanding music. -The guitar has given me a greater understanding of music and its structure. Grade 12 -I like being able to play and understand music. Grade 9 -I play guitar because I like being able to understand and play music myself and not just listen to other people play. Grade 9 -Playing the guitar has benefited me musically overall. If I have some random tune in my head I have something to go and play it out on. Sometimes I get lucky and I ve come up with something of my own. Grade 9 -Guitar is relaxing, it calms me down or pumps me up and it gives me a better understanding of music. Grade 11 -I like the guitar because it s fun and I like to understand music. A lot of people in my family play instruments and I like to play along with them. Grade 9

4 -My overall musical skills have improved, I ve learned pitches, and my singing has actually improved. Grade 9 -My ear for music has improved and I can relate and improvise much better. Grade 9 Playing the guitar relieves stress and provides relaxation. -When I m stressed I play the guitar. -The guitar gives you peace and relaxation in your body and mind and it opens your mind to get different thoughts in your head. Grade 9 -I like the guitar because I m really good at it, and it s calming. Socially, you are more accepted if you play an instrument. -The guitar is a stress reliever for me, and also it makes me relaxed. If I am in trouble or just sad or angry, I play the guitar because it can express my feelings better than anything else. -Even when I move out, I will bring or buy a guitar to keep with me all the time to express myself and relieve stress when I can. -I would say the benefit has been more spiritual and emotional. It s a good way to relax. Grade 11 -The guitar is kind of like yoga, it s peaceful, relaxing, and it s simple and enjoyable. Grade 11 -It helps me deal with life. -Playing guitar makes me happy. Grade 11 -When I m super stressed out, the guitar is a form of meditation. Grade 12 -I like to play guitar because it is fun and it calms my parents down when they are mad. Grade 8 The guitar is an excellent vehicle for creating music. -It s an outlet, I feel like I m the type of person who needs to be creative. When I don t create things, I actually feel like a waste of space. Grade 12 -I love playing guitar because it displays my creativity. Grade 12 -I like playing the guitar because I like to make music and the guitar is a really cool instrument. Grade 9 -I enjoy playing the guitar on a constant basis. It provides me a challenge for when I listen to the radio and hear a song I like and try to attempt to play it. Sometimes it doesn t work out the way I hoped but I can also arrange the piece and that s one of the benefits of the guitar. Grade 9 -I like to play guitar because I LOVE music and I love to make music too. I also think the guitar is the greatest instrument to play. -I like to play the guitar because it allows me to create musical ideas I have better than anything else. Grade 12 -My creative abilities have increased from playing the guitar. It allows me to express my creativity. Grade 12 -I enjoy playing the guitar because you can play anything you want, you can write your own music, you can sing along. I like to play because it acts as an outlet for my creative side. Grade 9 -The guitar has made me want to be a lot more creative and make we want to push myself to become better. Grade 9

5 -Not only do I play the guitar but I also play piano and sing. Guitar has helped me become more creative and I wrote my first song on the guitar. Many guitarists engage in extra-curricular music making/creating by starting up their own band. -From learning guitar, I am now playing guitar in our church band. -I can see myself playing with buddies and playing gigs. Grade 9 -Several bands have asked me to play with them and of course all my friends thought I was awesome after I played a song for the talent show. Grade 9 -I want to start a band and guitar made me want to start playing other instruments. Now it is what I do when I m upset, I just let it all out and it has become my favourite pastime. Grade 8 -I can play my favourite songs and I m looking to put a band together with some of my friends. Grade 9 -The guitar has helped me socially and allowed me to experience working with other musicians in a band. It has also made me connect with people on a deeper level. Grade 10 -I ve benefited from playing guitar because I have a gig with my band at a restaurant after spring break. We have practiced a long time for this gig. In the future, I can see myself still in a band, possibly selling records and doing the thing I love the most Guitar. Grade 9 Music and the guitar are valued outlets for self-expression. -Playing guitar helps me to express emotions that I can t explain with words. -I enjoy playing guitar because you can really express yourself with it. There is music for when you are mad, happy or sad and the guitar can play it all. -I like to play the guitar because music is an awesome form of self-expression. It s great self-discipline and it s a hobby that you can use to make friends. -I can use it to express emotions, and try to make people feel the way I do when I hear certain notes or chords. -I like to play the guitar cause it allows your brain to deeply focus in on something beyond reality. It s a stress reliever and also a way to express yourself without words. -I can let out my feelings in a good way. Grade 9 -I like to play guitar because I can express my feelings when I don t feel like speaking them. Grade 12 -I like to play guitar because it allows me to express myself. When I write songs on guitar, I can express the way I m feeling just by strumming a few chords. Grade 9 -I like playing guitar because it s a time where I can be myself and just leave my problems out of the way and I can show how I feel by how I make the guitar sound. -I like playing guitar because it is a great way to express inner emotions and it is highly addictive to me. Grade 9 Students use the guitar to connect with family and friends.

6 -I play the guitar because I love music and I enjoy playing my favourite songs for family and friends. Grade 9 -Because of the guitar I can rearrange pieces of music and play for my family every now and then. Grade 9 -I want to continue to play the guitar and get better so I can play in my free time and also play for my friends and family. Grade 9 -I ve benefited by learning to play while I sing and I get to play guitar with the rest of my family. -My sister is starting to play guitar so I can help her out or play along with her. Grade 8 -I like playing the guitar because it s a great way to interact with people. Grade 9 -In the summer I love to sit around the campfire and play some tunes or play guitar and sing with my sister. I love guitar. Grade 9 -I think that it is very fun to play and it is nice to be able to play something on the guitar for your family. -Because it s fun and my dad and I jam at home and it sounds nice. It has helped me become better, I have something else to do in my spare time and I can spend time with my Dad. Grade 8 -Being able to play music with my friends and teach my brother to play guitar are some of the benefits. -Having a common interest like the guitar, I ve met people w/ similar interests and thus have become more social. Grade 11 -Guitar and music in general is a huge part of my family s life. We listen and play music at every family gathering. Grade 11 -The guitar has given me something in common with my brother and dad. Grade 8 -I grew up with the guitar because of my father, so it just seems odd without some sort of guitar music in the house. The instrument has a wide range of uses for me from providing a challenge (in the case of many classical pieces) to just enjoying myself with friends during a jam session or playing Celtic tunes. Grade 12 Guitar students continue to play their instrument after graduation. -I see myself playing guitar for the rest of my life. It s very important to me. -I will probably always continue to play and bring it lots of places. Grade 9 -I will continue to play guitar for my entire life. Grade 8 -I m not sure where guitar will take me after graduation but it will definitely be a huge part of my life. -After graduation I really want to have a career revolving around music, however if nothing else I want to continue guitar as a hobby. Grade 9 -In my future I actually want to maybe teach guitar or something along those lines so hopefully the guitar will be with me for a while. -I will definitely continue playing and learning long after high school I might even take lessons after grade 12. Grade 11 -After graduation I ll probably continue my guitar studies alongside school it s something to take my mind off of school and other things. I also want to pass on music and guitar knowledge to my own kids one day. Grade 9 -Guitar will always be a part of my life. I don t know whether I will pursue a career in it, but I know that I will always play guitar. I see myself improving in it and I m excited to

7 see where it leads me in my future. All I know is that it is my favourite hobby/pastime. - I don t know what I plan to do, but wherever I go, I ll have a guitar with me. -I d like to study music and become a music teacher. Grade 11 -After graduation I m using guitar for my playing audition into university. I want to study music therapy. Grade 11 -I hope to play guitar for personal enjoyment after high school. Grade 11 -As of now I am not sure I am going to pursue a career in music but my dream is to be an international performer and competition winner. Grade 11 -It will probably be my favourite form of recreation. Grade 11 -I plan to make music my career and guitar is one of my primary instruments so I wouldn t want to throw that away. Grade 12 -I m planning on going to University for guitar after graduation. I love guitar with a passion and hope to continue playing for the rest of my life. Grade 12 -In the future, after grad, I would like to be a music teacher, or famous, whatever comes first. - I will still pick it up everyday and continue to practice and improve in anyway I can. Grade 12 -I m going to keep pursuing the guitar and music as far as I can as part of my career. Grade 12 -Guitar will be a big part of my future. I plan to go into music for university one day. I know for sure I will continue to write music with the guitar. Grade 9 -I can see myself having a career in music, playing lots of shows, recording acoustic albums, and going to the U of M. to become a certified pro. Grade 9 -I want to make music my career and surround myself with music for the rest of my life. Grade 12 -I always want to play guitar, and I hope that I ll never forget how to play. Grade 9