Jazz Guitar Life Hack: Free Lessons From The Top Players! Learning Environment

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[@GianCompuesto]

The ideas I mentioned to you are from the book "The Talent Code" by Daniel Coyle. Here is a good summary of some main points the book: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioi9qZ55Z9p6nsUfeature=shared I think the environmental reinforcement point is pretty close what you are talking about here. You mentioned the Forbach musicians in the video and to me that is essentially the "talent hotbed" idea from the book. Also mentioned in the book is the importance of mentorship which is what you get when you are in the right environment and community. Another idea I mentioned to you comes from the book "Learn Better" by Ulrich Boser. When you are learning something that you value, you are more motivated to learn it and stick to learning it. One of the chapters in the book is Extend and talks about immersion.

[@DenisChangMusic]

Well there we go, I’ll pin this comment!

[@HawaiianSteelGuitar]

Very interesting book/video Gian. I agree with most of it. Not sure about the talents are made not born thesis. You have the phenomenon that kids in certain families do purposely something very different than their parents, for example if the parents are musicians they don't want to do music at all. I am sure with the right amount of pressure this can be avoided but I doubt that is the right thing to do. Way more important than being talented is to have a passion to do something, and this might be something we are born with, of cause reinforced or dampened by our environment. I think the best artists motivation is the love for what they are doing, not so much the fear of been left behind. Greetings from Berlin Sebastian

[@GianCompuesto]

@@HawaiianSteelGuitar Ellen Winner has the phrase "rage to master" which is related to what you said, but her context applies to gifted individuals and prodigies. Another important concept is the "Growth Mindset" made famous and studied by Carol Dweck.

[@HawaiianSteelGuitar]

@@GianCompuesto Great stuff, really like the Growth Mindset concept

[@MrJamesMartino]

Very good ideas about starting jams, hierarchy, and community!

[@bwbillwilliamsbw]

Words of wisdom!

[@markphillips1057]

Great video (as always). Re: "Creating your own environment", the best strategy I've found is to book gigs and hire players that are better than me. Puts a fire under my feet to practice like nothing else! And as a bonus I get paid to play with them instead of the other way around.

[@alisonCNboy]

Love you guys! I found out environment is the biggest role in my musical progress too! Can’t agree more about taking small pieces info from people around is extremely valuable in a long period of time! It just stays in mind when you dont have too much in it yet. 😂❤❤❤❤

[@jakemf1]

Glad you mentioned the word “mentor” in many other fields this is common. Also the hard working folks never believe they are hard working. Keep up the great work.

[@andresantana516]

I really appreciated the jams at Dij. Thanks Denis!

[@fouroutoffour]

The hierarchy concept seems a natural consequence but doesn’t necessarily preclude learning and advancing unless as you say people are jerks. I was lucky enough to grow up going to a bluegrass jam session at a community center that had many different classrooms. Players would kind of naturally separate into groups based on level and newcomers would intuitively know where to go. Rarely would a true beginner step in and try to solo in the advanced group and vice versa. But if you wanted to advance you could learn by doing exactly what you said and start by playing rhythm on the outside of the circle and absorbing what it feels and sounds like to play those faster , more advanced tunes. Over time you might get enough confidence to play more or even take a chorus. But by that point people knew you cause you would have showed up week after week, which itself engendered a certain level of respect from other players. Most people want to help each other and reward diligence.

[@DenisChangMusic]

Thanks for sharing your story! You know , there was a time where I was interested in learning bluegrass, I learned some tunes and some licks but I think I got bored at having no one to play with… There is a community in Montreal but it’s extremely small and the ones who are part of it didn’t seem receptive to hanging out with noobs (my impression anyway). I think with Gypsy Jazz , something like that might have happened to me if I did not meet all the right people that I met fairly early on! I got lucky!

[@martinnieva8484]

Question Denis: you, who is extremely close with the GJ community, do you know by any chance where's or has been Moreno Winterstein? Because I can't find any recent stuff from him. Is he gone?

[@Baxtalo_Beng]

I’ll share my experiences and observations, since you asked. I started a Gypsy Jam in San Antonio TX years ago. We did it at a cool local hangout called The Cove. I just wanted an informal jam but we somehow ended up on stage once a month on an off night. I printed up a bunch of charts, let everyone know the rules and off we went. It shouldn’t have been on a stage, but some of the players really loved that aspect of it. I had dreams of starting an amateur scene in SA that could progress to something more. Sadly, that didn’t happen. But I made some friends and had a lot of fun. The after jams were truly a blast. But the coolest thing that happened was that some folks in Austin discovered the jam and DROVE to SA! And years later, one of those friends started his own jam (and a KZbin channel) in Austin that is ongoing! How cool is that??? The point is that a lot of good came out of a ‘failed’ attempt to start a community. So if anyone is out there wishing they could find other players, maybe try to promote a jam and see what happens. Let go of any expectations, be open and inviting to everyone as long as they follow the jam rules, and enjoy the ride.

[@DenisChangMusic]

I really love reading stuff like this!!! Thank you!!!

[@DenisChangMusic]

if you’re in Austin, look up Will Dickerson, he is crazy good!!!

[@Baxtalo_Beng]

@@DenisChangMusic Thanks Dennis! I really appreciate everything you do.

[@Baxtalo_Beng]

@@IsaacSmelcZhanYou can see them at Brentwood Social House every 3rd Sunday from 3-5pm. It’s an open jam so if you bring your instrument you can also join in!

[@jordojazz]

Hey! I live in San Antonio and I’ve been learning Gypsy Jazz for the past few years from Yaakov Hoter. Still have a long way to go but I take it seriously! I work at Jazz, TX and have been looking to get a small practice/jam going at the club on Sundays or Mondays. Come by and say hello sometime, ask for Jordan!

[@paulgibby6932]

14:04 like what?

[@paulgibby6932]

He's learning the chord progression. Not necessarily the melody.

[@emcarnahan]

Both crucial aspects of the song 👍

[@paulgibby6932]

@@emcarnahan I wonder which song it was/is

[@paulgibby6932]

Ahh when Christiaan comes in 3:27 : it's clear: "I'll Be Seeing You"