[ChrisPcritter]

Great player and teacher.. Also a great guy and very positive not at all egotistical it seems. Very technique and theory oriented. The album is great. After I played it my daughter asked me to get her one. He is a very good teacher with good answers to the many many questions I throw at him. He is very challenging in a positive way that helps you progress. I'd like to see one of his shows now...

[stuz719]

Originally Posted by David

oh shit, he studied with satch for 3 1/2 years... so that's where he gets his sound... I swear, satch is just busting out variations of himself. All his students resemble his own playing quite a bit, that's why I'm generally against taking lessons.

Ouch!

This is a bit like the "I don't know any theory, it's better to play by feel and be original" line.

I seem to remember Doug Marks (of "Metal Method" fame) saying that if you were really convinced that being self-taught was best you'd insist on using self-taught lawyers and brain surgeons.



I think it was Messaien who said something along the lines of technique and learning from the masters was the only way to unleash your own musicality.

Basically I think what he was trying to say was that if you're going to be original then being taught/influenced by someone else can only help you develop your own character. If you're going to be a clone, you're going to be a clone.

I think I've said before that music theory is a language that helps you communicate clearly and unambiguously with other musicians, and equally gives you the understanding and vocabulary to know how to achieve the desired effect (e.g. use a minor chord for a sad sound) without having to spend hours trawling around trying to find something that "works".

Just my opinion.