Last time, I wrote about how we as educators are consistently seeking new ways to close the "Knowing/Doing" gap for our students. Are they performing at or above "grade level"? For those who are not, we seek to think out of the box to reveal new strategies to help close that gap. My belief as a guitar instructor is that many guitar learners sell themselves short and fail to realize their true potential as a player. For most players (myself included) our capabilities far exceed our performance. We often settle for "good enough". We tell ourselves, our mistakes are acceptable because most people other than ourselves will not even realize a mistake has been made. My question to you oh "learners of the strings", can you look yourself in  the mirror everyday and feel good that you may be only half as good as you could be? If not, then read on, for I have a plan. What can we do to close that gap and realize our true potential?

1. Be selfish with your practice time: ​Allot a set practice time daily. It doesn't have to be the same time everyday but at least have a dedicated time in each day set aside for serious guitar practice. Be selfish with that time and try not to let anything interfere. This time is set aside for you to practice new skills your instructor has presented you that will expand your playing to a whole new level.
2. Seek others who play better than you: Play with as many people as you can find as often as possible. When you see them do something you don't yet know. Make them show you, then practice it over and over until you can comfortably "noodle" while sitting around.
3. Become obsessed:  Notice I said "obsessed" and not "possessed" There is a difference. My wife often tells me I have an obsessive personality. She says I am constantly competing with myself whether it is counting calories, academics when I was in grad school, construction projects on our home or playing guitar. I tell her that I am so afraid of failure that I feel as though I have to be obsessed to be successed. That's an exaggerated analogy I know; however, in reality, that's kind of true. If you want something in life, whether it is to be the best guitar player you can be or the best construction worker you can be, the best and most sure way of accomplishing it, is to become competitive with yourself. Can you go to bed each night and truthfully say, I'm better tonight than I was this morning. Can you look yourself in the mirror the next morning and truthfully say. " I will be better today than I was last night? Am I playing up to my capability? 

Honestly, I don't think any of us, not even the great blues guitarist Eric Clapton, plays up to his ability; however, we do get as good as we are willing to work to become until one day you say to yourself, "my level of playing is acceptable to me. I don't want to get any better than I am currently". Really? You don't want to get better? Hogwash! Of course you do 

Let me show you how. Register for your free consultation here and let's get started.
Make it happen
Mike

In Education, you often hear the phrase "Closing the Knowing/Doing Gap". That refers to the distance between what a student should know in a particular grade and what they actually know based on testing and performance. The wider the gap, the further away a student is from what he/she needs to know. As educators we are always searching for methods to improve teaching that will effectively close this gap to bring the student's "doing" closer to the "knowing". Whether or not the gap is measured in academics or fine arts, the same method applies. As owner and founder of "Strings Attached", and an educator for 37 years, I apply the same concept in my guitar instruction. I'm constantly seeking new approaches, self-evaluating and adjusting my approach individually to every client. Each client has different needs and are at different levels of playing and I go into each lesson prepared to accomplish a particular goal on that particular day with that particular client. With this said, this is indeed a two way street. Taking that same thought process, my clients are encouraged to evaluate their "Capability/Doing Gap". What are their capabilities and are they meeting them each day? Most clients have a "ceiling" higher than they're personal goal. How good of a guitarist can you actually become? Well, it is my belief you can pretty much become as good as your dream. Many however, think they're dream is unreachable and sell their capabilities short. I argue that point for it is my belief  you can become as good as your ability will allow you and your ability is greater than your goal.
Stay tuned; my next update will show you HOW  clients can close their "Capability/Doing Gap" and even exceed their believed capabilities.

I am now accepting enrollment for the Spring 2022 semester. Click "here" for a Free Consultation and let's get you started to become the guitarist of your dream.