We Create Musicians

No one said it was easy. I'm telling you now that it's fun. No pain no gain? That doesn't apply here. What does apply is rock, jazz, blues, classical, pop, punk, metal, country, hip-hop, experimental, alternative, and all the categories and sub-categories of MUSIC.

When learning music there are a few popular acronyms such as "Every Good Boy Does Fine", or "Empty Garbage Before Dad Freaks" = E.G.B.D.F.- notes for the lines of the treble clef. (music staff) Another is "Even A Dummy Gets Better Eventually" or "Elephants And Donkeys Grow Big Ears" - for the six strings of the guitar (when it is in tune). Here is an acronym for M.U.S.I.C. : Musicians Understand Smarter Instrumental Complexities. That's lame! But it is true.

Why aren't the best musicians the most popular? That opens up a whole area of discussion about personal tastes and opinion versus technical skill. Since I'm the only one talking here, we can't have a discussion. I'm the expert, so just pay attention. Some people love stuff that, as it turns out, is not that hard to play. We like that stuff because it's usually popular, there's tons of it, and learning how to play it makes you hungry for a bigger challenge. Other people only appreciate music that is difficult to perform, usually very fast, "scaley" stuff. We can appreciate that there is a certain amount of dedication to making your hands do the same things over and over again so many times that you can fly through notes at blazing speeds. But where there is speed there may not be thought.... and so there is jazz. If pop is the Monopoly (get it?) then jazz is the chess of music. I'm not trying to get you interested in jazz - unless you are already, so I'll move on.

At American Rock School (formerly Tampa Guitar School), we appreciate all kinds of music and believe that all styles have merit and something that one can learn from. So keep an open mind. Once a musician reaches a certain level, there is a feeling of membership into a collective group who are "in the know". They listen to music differently because they now appreciate how it's created and have respect for the dedication a player must have to be able to perform certain things. They understand the notes an artist chose and why, as well as the the scales and modes. This is music THEORY. Understanding it makes a musician's perspective completely different than the average listener. It's like a new world of language and culture. Help me come up with an acronym for theory...

Whether you are a beginner who thinks guitar is "cool" (you're right, it is), or a hobbyist who likes to sit at the piano and sing, or a blues nut who likes to watch jam sessions, or a seven year old who likes to hit things (future drummer), or a teenager with a dream of someday opening for Green Day, forget that — having Green Day open for you — we will help you get to where you want to be — as a player and as a MUSICIAN.