IS ARTISTIC MENTORING THE SAME AS GUITAR LESSONS?
In the experience of many mentors, comprehensive support is an essential prerequisite for successfully implementing a given project within a reasonable time frame.
The incomprehensible mosaic
Recently, a highly professional orchestral musician told me that the guitar has been his dream instrument since his youth. For career reasons, he had opted for a promising position in a leading German orchestra. Though relegated to a hobby, the guitar remained an abiding passion.
For decades, he took private lessons with renowned guitarists and prepared for chamber music performances. Then he confided to me that for a long time, he had been quite frustrated because he wasn't making any progress. Despite the sound teaching of skills, a vast mosaic of mostly unconnected pieces had formed.
I can identify with this from my own studies. My teachers were good at what they did themselves and also at communicating ideas. But it wasn’t what you call guidance. I was often at a loss and had no sense of direction. That's why today I jokingly refer to myself as self-taught.
Making music is one of the most complex human activities
Hardly any activity is as comprehensive as playing an instrument, especially the classical guitar. It is an engagement on many levels:
Cognitive - you read notes and reproduce them on the guitar
You not only wish to play the music, but also to give it your personal signature To do this, you need to understand a lot about music: capturing form, structure, expression, composition technique, style, and developing your own interpretation
Playing the guitar requires dexterity and a good playing technique
Your hearing needs to be trained. This is the only way to listen to music while following and enjoying your playing
What your mentor offers you
To cover all these bases, you need a good method to tackle this feat. Such a method doesn’t simply fall into your lap, but is the product of many years of experience and development. Very few manage on their own. It is much more efficient when you have someone to guide and support you. It lets you avoid the many hidden pitfalls with which your path is strewn. You need a mentor who will focus on your development and who will guide you step-by-step to the diverse tasks along the way.
He will show you the many options available to you, without confusing you. He will optimise all aspects of your guitar playing according to a master plan tailored to your needs and stake out the path to your goal with achievable milestones.
Whenever you’re at a loss, he’ll come to the rescue
This is something normal teaching cannot cover. It focuses too much on the individual lessons and your needs at the time. Unfortunately, the goal you have set is often lost from view. Adrift, your frustration grows and your motivation dwindles.
Artistic mentoring gives you the benefit of a clear path mapped out before you, with set tasks for you to accomplish. And very important: you and your mentor will define a specific project, a programme for instance, which you want to be able to perform within six months. It is essential that this goal is doable for you within this time frame. Your mentor will make sure of this. In addition, many aspects are dealt with that are essential to your playing generally, such as a compact practice programme, sound production, nail shaping, intonation, shifts, vibrato etc., etc.
A record will be kept of your progress, your tasks and how far you have got with them, so that you and your mentor always know exactly where you stand.
Ultimately, this will help you to keep your untiring efforts and enjoyment of the guitar on an even keel. And this way, you will become a good musician, whether as an amateur or as a professional.
Please call me if you have any questions or book your first appointment here
I will guide you to your personal musical goals with the WULFIN LIESKE ARTISTIC MENTORING programme. To do so, I will look at you as a whole individual and guide you to new artistic heights.
