Julian Lage - How to HAVE MORE FUN playing guitar - Lessons with Lage

[@JonNewquist]

Pretty valuable lesson right there. I look forward to hearing more. I guess sometimes I forget that not everyone is aware of Julian. He was born right here in Santa Rosa, so the local Jazz & Luthier communities know him well. I'm so glad you got to learn from and hang out with him 😁

[@RobertCassard]

Thank you, Jon. This is one of those "simple" lessons that most guitarists' egos (at least mine) seem to forget over and over! I didn't realize that Julian was a NorCal "local," until I told him I live in the East Bay and he mentioned his ties to Santa Rosa. While we were hanging out, I asked if he'd do a "Geeky Guitar Questions" interview with me and he eagerly agreed. Based on his touring and travel schedule, it looks like it'll happen in December. Stay tuned, and if you have any suggested questions, hit me!

[@StephiSensei26]

Before a recital, my mentor said to me, "Just get "selfish", it's just you and your instrument. The audience doesn't exist". That helped so much. And then, when I sat down to play, two guys rushed up and put a microphone right in front of my guitar! Surprise! So, I remembered her words,...it was great! For one moment, I was the Zen Master, "There is no audience, there is no microphone. There is no guitar. There is only music and your love of it."

[@RobertCassard]

I love that advice, Stephi. I think Julian Lage lives it, and I'll give it a try next time I'm playing live. I don't tend to get nervous at all, but sometimes I scale back the risk-taking when in front of an audience. But the best gigs are the ones where I take the most risks and they work!

[@StephiSensei26]

Sounds (pun alert) like a plan!@@RobertCassard

[@sunnystring64]

KZbin just flushed your great channel to me. Immediately, I discovered your deep understanding of Julian Lage's music. After a deep artistic authenticity-crisis (sounding like other guitar players) I only listened to pianists for about 30 years. About 5 years ago Julian Lage made me listen to jazz guitar again . His contagious joy, his abundant creativity on the fretboard, his smiling, kind and humble personality was life-changing for me. Julian's minimalism is so inspiring: he just needs an acoustic guitar to be a happy child - I try to be aware of this wisdom every day!

[@RobertCassard]

Thanks, Mathias! It sounds like you've had a similarly inspiring experience with Julian and his music. The joy really is contagious. His wisdom sometimes seems simple on the surface, but simplicity is often real depth!

[@MichaelGrecoGuitar]

I really enjoyed this video. It such a Joy to watch Julian play so freely. Truly playing for the love of the instrument is so important. This for this awesome video!

[@RobertCassard]

Couldn't agree more, Michael. Here’s the second video in the series, in case you haven’t seen it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3jLnoyIqpqqhJIsi=Ta01Ttn7QvV7ltk1

[@CalvinLimSH-ld5le]

What a privilege for you to have studied with julian Lage as we can only watch from the videos. Thanks for sharing what you have learnt under his playing and teaching learning experiences

[@RobertCassard]

My pleasure, Calvin. The whole experience was a privilege from start to finish. I’m glad I can pass along some golden nuggets

[@StuartwasDrinkell]

Excellent vid will be watching 🛎 👍 right here! Thanks for making them! It's like he surprises himself by how the improvs come off! I must admit I am an improvise and discard player quite often and I use many alt tunings and sometimes kick myself for not recording or jotting down tunings...but I do plag for me and i think to myself as long as any jam im doing brings me joy, however brief, it's never really lost or wasted! I lear from all of them and it's just journey!

[@RobertCassard]

Absolutely, Stuart! "Just a journey," but such a rewarding one, eh? 😍 Guitar as a Metaphor for Life: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKWpqpqgfN2Aj6M

[@StuartwasDrinkell]

@@RobertCassard great film... so very true for me too! Slaying them dragons is a frame of mind, no fear take a chance and swing that axe! "Without music, life would be a mistake." - Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzshe.

[@RobertCassard]

@@StuartwasDrinkell same wavelength!

[@quincytennyson6020]

I'm so glad that you were able to be in that space with Julian and learning. I can't believe I didn't know about this workshop - Julian Lage and Madison Cunningham in the same place at once! A dream. I've just discovered your channel, and I thought I'd share how much I appreciate your straightforward approach and simple messaging. Reminds me of other highly productive folks like JustinGuitar or Jens Larsen who are not after the algorithm.

[@RobertCassard]

Thanks so much, Quincy. I'm really happy you found my channel, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate your positive feedback. I may need to do a Madison Master Class next!

[@jz4901]

Great, great video! Thank you for taking the time to recap your experience and share. This doesn’t get talked about enough, but it’s so important and can really help shift perspective so we can be a bit more like JL in spirit. Cheers!

[@RobertCassard]

My pleasure! There are 5 videos in my Lessons from Julian Lage series. Here’s #2: Julian Lage - How to UNBLOCK your guitar playing kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3jLnoyIqpqqhJI Have fun!

[@patrickwal55]

Such great advice, and from such a master. Loved this video - thanks for sharing Robert, and from your great observations.

[@RobertCassard]

My pleasure, Patrick. As you could probably tell when I blurted that comment out to Julian, I was having spontaneous revelations in his classes. I couldn’t resist sharing some of them!

[@matt_greene]

If I could play as well as Julian i'd be smiling all of the time too! Great vid, very jealous you go to go to that.

[@RobertCassard]

Thanks, Matt. Yes on having Julian's ridiculous skill level, but we "mere mortal" guitarists need to find joy, too! 🌟😎

[@SuperShawn2020]

You and I are around the same age. I have nowhere near your talent - but we enjoy the same kind of music. Your tone is fantastic and having a great voice helps as well. Loved your George Harrison video - he’s my favorite.

[@RobertCassard]

Thank you, SuperShawn! If you love George, dig this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHWwpZSffZuHiqssi=4SwHqNSJ-xTxBtz0

[@phish1]

In my experience taking lessons w Julian, he tends to teach more about the intangibles like this lesson here. I guess he figures that there’s enough info out there on music theory, scales, reharmonization etc… that he focuses more on life lessons like these. Which are just as important, if not more important. I saw him give a whole lesson on just breathing while you play.

[@brandonlandon-rs3rr]

thx 4 sharing

[@RobertCassard]

Thank you too, Brandon!

[@toreilly100]

Thank you!!

[@RobertCassard]

You're welcome. Guitar should be fun, right? Challenging but still fun!

[@toreilly100]

Exactly Brother!@@RobertCassard

[@RobertCassard]

@@toreilly100 Thanks for watching, Timothy!

[@jespero93]

The unfortunate thing is that not a lot of people will watch this video and get the message but the people who "get" Julians playing really benefits from the lessons you teach here. Should really be a staple in guitar playing in general if you ask me =) Or any hobby

[@RobertCassard]

I’m glad that you “get” Julian’s playing. The cool thing about many of the things I learned from him is that they apply to (and help) any guitarist at any level. Thanks for watching!

[@farshidshateri2833]

Sir are you James Hetfield's brother?

[@RobertCassard]

LOL. No relation - but. I always take the comparison as a compliment! 😎

[@keneisner3445]

Too bad about that dude's giant head directly in front of the guitar.

[@RobertCassard]

LOL, I know, Ken. I shot that with my iPhone at the first class. I only put up the camera to “take notes” and then sat on the other side of the room for a better view myself. I had no idea that: a) the guy moved into the shot, and b) that Julian was going to play so much. I learned my lesson for the remaining classes. You can see his whole guitar in the other videos!

[@keneisner3445]

@@RobertCassard All part of the lesson, eh? ;)

[@RobertCassard]

@@keneisner3445 EXACTLY, Ken. You get it!

[@dmcrisp]

The title of this is kinda stupid though. That’s like trying to learn how to be a genius lmao. Julian can have fun because he’s getting paid to do his passion and he’s a literal genius. The stuff he plays can’t be played by 98% of guitar players. Unrealistic goal to ever try to play like him

[@RobertCassard]

Hmm… I chose the title carefully. And there’s nothing in the title or video implying that you’ll be a genius and play like Julian. The point of the lesson is that anyone, at any level, can choose to have more fun playing guitar. When you stop worrying about the audience and do things YOU think are cool and that you enjoy, it makes you a better player. Case in point, I was playing a gig last night and I just decided to have more fun and take more liberties than usual. I did it for me, but the audience reaction was super positive. Does that make sense?

[@dmcrisp]

@@RobertCassard I was just joking in jest , I understand the lesson. Good for you that you have attentive audience. I live in a resort town with a bunch of dull, unimaginative rich people who show no emotion during performances so I’m pretty jaded with having any kind of “fun” playing guitar. I’ve been playing since I was 2 years old and it all just seems like a bunch of useless bullshit to me now.

[@RobertCassard]

@@dmcrisp sorry to hear that...I can hear the jaded frustration in your response. I lived in a resort town (Laguna Beach) for over 15 years and encountered many disconnected audiences. All the more reason to work on finding happiness in your own playing, regardless of the audience. Julian himself says he encounters audiences who talk right through his shows - typical in the Jazz world.