An encouraging message to all beginners

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

This topic is meant to all beginning pedal steel players who feel discouraged. I have been playing pedal steel for fifteen years. I played six instruments before I started pedal steel. Pedal steel was the by far THE most challening instrument to learn. For the first three years I practiced literally six days a week, at least two hours a day. I had an inept teacher when I first started. He never taught me how to tune my steel properly, never taught me how to intonate properly. No music theory. Strictly licks out of context. His right hand technique was strictly palm blocking. I knew that there was something wrong and quit lessons with him after three months. I wasn't progressing. Local advanced steel players in my town shunned me. They spread rumors that I couldn't play, which just made it more difficult for me to learn(shame on them). They were (are)involved in a small click of traditional players who kept to them selves and played the same songs that they played in 1967. They play the same songs to this day. Finally THE most advanced player in the state took pity on me after I said that I was giving up. This was a player famous both in Texas and in Nashville. He was miles above the rest of the locals and took me under his wing for a year. He treated me kindly and answered all of my questions. He explained theory, tunings, and equipment to me. He taught me the styles of the masters. Through time I was priveleged to meet some of the Master players and talk to them. I became involved in the steel community and was given priveleged information that catapulted me forward by some of the Masters. They treated me kindly, not looking down on me. I think they knew that they were passing on some of their spirit to me. Now fifteen years later I have won four regional music awards. I am much sought after and am never without a quality situation. I have opened for 27 Nashville acts (I will be on stage this Saturday with one). This happened because one Master player showed kindeness to me and opened my eyes up to the world of pedal steel. I have sworn to help ANY beginners now as much as I can. Because of one person's kindness I will be on stage this weekend in front of 1000 people playing my classic pedal steel. If you are new at pedal steel don't give up. It takes many years to advance on this instrument, but it is worth the work. I want to publicly thank the Master players here who helped me (you know who you are). Your kind words, advice, and encouragement changed my life for the better. I take your legacies and your lessons with me on stage EVERY weekend. Every compliment that I receive is do to you, and I carry your music in my heart. I would have been nothing if you had not helped me. This Forum is a tremendous source of information. There are some who put it down for its conflicting opinions, but it is none the less extremely valuable. Thank you also Bobby Lee for this Forum. Talent is vastly over rated. Its like the old joke. How do you get to Carnegie Hall Sir? Practice, practice, practice!

James Martin (U.K.) · From: Watford, Herts, United Kingdom * R.I.P.

Well done Kevin for sticking at it. Tenacity, that's the word. Great posting I'm sure your words and thoughts will help many members to hold on, encouragement, you can't beat it.

Nic du Toit · From: Milnerton, Cape, South Africa

Great post, Kevin! Very Happy

Regards,
Nic

Tamara James · Posted 1 Nov 2007 4:00 am **Thank You**

Kevin,
Thank you so much for posting this encouraging message. I am approaching my 6 month mark. I told myself when I started that at 6 months I need to evaluate if I am progressing or just wasting my time and money. I have been very blessed to find a great teacher. With your words, I realize just how special it is to find that one great teacher who is willing to teach you all of it. Thanks.

Al Terhune · From: Newcastle, WA

Very nice, Kevin.
_________________
Al

My equipment:

One heck of a Wife
The ghost of a red Doberman
Several pairs of reading glasses strewn about

Chris Buchanan · From: Macomb, IL

Thanks for that great post, Kevin. I've always noticed that the best musicians are the most generous and open minded. Another fine example.
_________________
GFI Ultra S-10, Nashville 112, stuff.

Calvin Walley · From: colorado city colorado, USA

Kevin,
you spoke for a lot of us . its very hard to get a seasoned player to think on a beginers level.
for years the teacher that i had was telling me the same thing over and over but he could not explain it on my level.
it took a very long time before what he was telling me clicked in my brain. it wasn't that he wasn't willing to help
..he just had trouble thinking on a beginers level. he had been playing so long on a pro level that,
he could not understand the problems that i was having.
endless pratice was not the answer .it was getting a basic understanding of how music works.
_________________
proud parent of a sailor

Mullen SD-10 /nashville 400
gotta love a Mullen!!!

Guitars that i have owned in order are :
Mullen SD-10,Simmons SD-10,Mullen SD-10,Zum stage one,Carter starter,
Sho-Bud Mavrick

Ron Page · From: Penn Yan, NY USA

Well said and much appreciated!

Each one teach one. That's the only way this instrument will expand and grow.

There will always be selfish players who view every gig as a contest, and perhaps feel that knocking someone else down somehoe makes them better. We know it's not true, but there's no convincing them.

Most of the true masters seem the relish sharing their knowledge and experience. Many go to great lengths to prepare formal and informal training materials; some free some for sale, but it all helps.
_________________
HagFan
Emmons Lashley LeGrande II

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

please take a step back , as mentioned above, being a Seasoned Player does not make said person a GOOD teacher.

A Good teacher makes a Good teacher and that may be a seasoned player or..well, maybe an average player...

Any teacher, Math, History, Music ,whatever, must understand the level of the student and where the student is in the journey.

IF you are a Student taking lessons from anyone where you are getting NO value and are perhaps more confused at the end of the lesson than you were at the beginning, why would you take another lesson ?

each student requires a different approach, a teacher MUST understand just how much is being absorbed, if he/she is not then they have missed the big boat by miles.

Mike Shefrin · Posted 1 Nov 2007 11:02 am

edited

Calvin Walley · From: colorado city colorado, USA

Tony , you are exackly right ...
many was the time that i was more confused at the end of the lesson than i was at the begining
i would spend untold hours learning a song perfectly using a tab only to sit down with my teacher and he in turn would play the same song
5 differant ways , and try as he might, he could not explain how in terms that i could understand at the time.
any beginer should NOT be intimidated by the teacher playing way beyond the students level
NOR should they be discouraged by it.
everyone learns differntly, but for me the key to it was to take few steps backwards. learn / relearn the very basics about why & how chords, then notes followed each other and how the timing and phrasing
made it all work.
it was only after i had gotten ( i hope ) these things in my own mind that i really started making real progress.
so my advise to beginers is : DON'T RUSH THRU THE BASICS...no matter what your teacher says
_________________
proud parent of a sailor

Mullen SD-10 /nashville 400
gotta love a Mullen!!!

Guitars that i have owned in order are :
Mullen SD-10,Simmons SD-10,Mullen SD-10,Zum stage one,Carter starter,
Sho-Bud Mavrick

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Calvin I hear ya..

Sometimes I think teachers and students get wrapped up in the 30 min, 60 min or 120 min lesson and think they must just keep chugging along...because there is still 45 min left in the 1 hour lesson.

HUGE mistake while learning.

I Teach, I am NOT a Schooled Teacher, but I had been a Technical Instructor for my job for several years, I was overseas teaching in Germany for 2 or 3 months out of each year for maybe 4 years in a row in the 80's

two things I leaned quick..

Where the good food ,Beer and Wine was
and
How to get the most out of a class, for both me and them.

regarding Music, When a student understands a concept of theory or phrase, maybe thats when the lesson is over for the day, take that knowledge and show where and how to apply it. IF the instructor just goes right past that point with yet more stuff it may be entering the overload zone.

Sometimes a lesson can be 15 minutes, sometimes 2 hours...of course that is extreme but you get the point.

keep the faith

tp

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Good for you, Kevin! Teaching is an art, just like playing. Some can, and some can't. What I tried to keep in mind when I was teaching was that there were two things that always had to be taught: what the student wanted to know, and what the student should know. Often, you have to keep a student's interest by letting him lead the way for a while, and then start showing him how what he wants to learn and what you want to teach can work together.

Teaching (good teaching, that is) always works in both directions. Smile

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

Kevin, What a great thread. I can't add much but agreement. I will have 5 years under my belt come December 15. I am blown away with the depth of this instrument. It is better to not count how many footsteps on this journey. Just keep stepping forward and ENJOY the journey.

One thing I suspected when I started, was that I would always be a student of the steel guitar. Each day I sit down to play confirms that fact, and drives it into my mind deeper.

It is good to turn around and teach someone else---help them get started. Thats giving back.

David Doggett · Posted 1 Nov 2007 8:54 pm

Kevin, good for you for sticking it out and finding and benefiting from a good teacher. I have never really sought out a top teacher, because I keep thinking I'm not good enough yet to benefit from them. Maybe someday.

We should all keep in mind that we are all a little spoiled by how easy it is to pick up regular guitar and get to the point that you can strum a few chords and pick a few licks and sound pretty good to yourself. But we should keep in mind that people who take up piano, violin, and horns may take lessons for many years before they get anywhere close to a pro level. Through most of the first 10 years nobody really cares to hear them but their parents. Learning steel is a very slow process for most of us.

George Kimery · From: Limestone, TN, USA

In a discussion with Jeff Newman, I will always remember something that he said. Jeff really understood how the brain worked in learning to play. He said he could show a student all sorts of stuff, but unless the brain was ready to accept it, it wouldn't sink in. In other words, you have to teach something that is at the same level that the brain is ready to accept. That is the real mark of a good teacher, being able to show you stuff that your brain is ready to accept . That is why the best teachers are not necessarily great players, but have a knack for showing you what you need to know at the level that you are at. Likewise, the very best players are most often, not very good teachers. They just don't have the ability to think and teach on the level that the student's brain is ready to accept..

Steve Norman · From: Seattle Washington, USA

I dont think you can learn something unless you have been confused first. You have to walk into the dark for the light to click on. otherwise its just glare. That was cheesy
Kevin I have been lucky enough to have had the opposite response from advanced players. After a Hacienda Brothers Show, Dave the steel player offered to show me some stuff on his rig before putting it away. I learned the A/F major chord from him as well as tuning tips. Jay Kardong from Sara Cahoone's has been very free with his knowledge. thanks for your motivational words! I needed them right now.
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GFI D10, Fender Steel King, Hilton Vpedal,BoBro, National D dobro, Marrs RGS

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

I was just thinking last night that I oughta post my sentiments about missing Jeff Newman. Here's the place to do it.
Now I'm finally at that point in my life where I could have attended his class... Sad

Steve Norman · From: Seattle Washington, USA

I hear you Ray, when I found out there was a Steel guitar college i was ready to kick myself. I am about to invest in A LOT of his course materials tho.
_________________
GFI D10, Fender Steel King, Hilton Vpedal,BoBro, National D dobro, Marrs RGS

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

David D. said;

Bernie Gonyea · From: Sherman Tx. 75092 ,U.S.A. (deceased)

I agree whole-heartedly with you bob; if you are a beginner and can locate a steel guitar teacher, by all means, go to him or her and take lessons, if you possibly can; If you've chosen the wrong teacher; attempt to find someone else, you'll know when you've located the right individual; and every thing from that point will fall into place. But, remember, practice makes perfect, most of the time. But having a teacher to guide you, hopefully you will learn more quickly.Like Kevin stated; finding that other steel teacher & picker will definitely give you the determination to progress towards becoming a steel guitarist. Thanks for your post, Kevin..Bernie Very Happy

_________________
2007 Zum S-10; 1967 Sho-Bud [ D-10 ]; 85 S-10 Sierra; 1953 Multi-Kord [ 6 String- 4 pedals ] A Sho-Bro six String Resonator Guitar; Nashville 112 Amp; hilton Vol. Pedal

Richard Tasso · From: Arizona, USA

Six months got the steel bug, purchased a universal 12 and was attempting to teach myself. A few days into this and my neighbor after coming home from his afternoon pub visit called the house and wanted to know if I was killing cats .Well 4 months down the road , he told my wife the other day starting to sound like music.

As a member of the Southwest Steel Guitar Association here in Arizona, we have a Steel class , taught by Wayne Paden , who has put smiles on a lot of our faces over the last few months.. We usually meet approximately once a month for a full day of instruction.

Thank You Wayne Paden for your continuing dedication ,time, patience and guidance to all of us,and most important your wonderful wife for always bringing the lunch.

Im sure I speak for the whole class

richard

Bernie Gonyea · From: Sherman Tx. 75092 ,U.S.A. (deceased)

Hello richard; I am pleased to hear you have located a fine teacher to guide you on your journey into the Realm of Steel Guitar Magic. Take your time, son, it'll come around to you; learn all your basics; Practice every chance you get; don't become discouraged because of some bar room character making his nippy remarks. My Mom wanted me to leave home at 14 because of my foot stomping in my up-stairs bedroom; just kidding, tho I did get many remarks thrown at me; let them go in one ear and out the other. But do listen to your leader [ teacher ]; sounds like you're having a good time. Have you had the opportunity to meet Fred Justice as to date; he's one of the best steel pickers I know from the state of Arizons; you'll see him post here on the forum. In fact look on Chas. Tilley web page and take a listen to Fred's melody which he has there for your listening pleasure. You'll love his talent a great deal; And he's quite the gentleman.. Get back to your practice sessions..Regards, Bernie Whoa!

_________________
2007 Zum S-10; 1967 Sho-Bud [ D-10 ]; 85 S-10 Sierra; 1953 Multi-Kord [ 6 String- 4 pedals ] A Sho-Bro six String Resonator Guitar; Nashville 112 Amp; hilton Vol. Pedal

Antolina · From: Dunkirk NY

Antolina · From: Dunkirk NY

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