Dear Tomo,
I hope you are well. I wanted to share my thoughts with you which I hope you won't find too controversial.
Your style of teaching without any supporting visual document has been a challenge for me, in a good way in the sense that when I look back, I am aware of the great progress that I have made when in comes to interval recognition, and knowledge assimilation thanks to your teachings. Having said, I am also aware that not everybody learns the same way; it became obvious to me when my son was in elementary school and whenever I would try to explain something using a pen and a paper to help him visualize, which is the way I best learn, that would not go well. He hated a page of paper full of information, he felt like claustrophobic with a page of paper. Then I started to just talk to him, given the right amount of detail so he could understand what I was trying to explain/teach him. I could not believe how well he understood that way, even when I was doing a piss poor job at explaining something to him. I am the complete opposite, having something on a page of paper makes the learning process a lot easier. That page is not a crutch. It stops being useful once I have truly assimilated/internalized the knowledge. I agree with you that relying on tabs is never gonna make you a musician but I think that maybe putting certain things on paper might be more productive for visual learners without taking any of the benefits of your teachings.
I just wanted to run those thoughts by you, knowing that you may never have the time to read my message, or to think about it. I see how busy your life is and here is this guy who is telling you to reevaluate how you teach. It may come out as obnoxious and I hope it doesn't because I am telling you this with humility and great respect for what you give to us. Sincerely Jerome
Here is Tomo's reply:
"Thank you so much for subscribing to my Guitar Wisdom. People have their own ways of learning to play the guitar. I know that some people prefer to learn from written materials, but I just don't teach that way. I want to help everyone to hear great music and to learn it deeply by listening to intervals, triads and so on . . ."
Thank you so much for sharing!
I am very open to hear anything.
I really appreciate it.
I am really want everyone to enjoy their guitar playing deeply.
This means, eventually everyone gets more freedom after studying & practicing guitar patiently....
Once I have learned 5 minor pentatonic positions in guitar magazine in Japan.
I thought it was so cool so I can play those 5 positions.
But it was a quick satisfaction and when I have learned "Blues Feeling" Blues phrasing that I have heard from old 50s, 60s record.
They played a few minor pentatonic phrase but no great blues artists played " Two octave unnecessary minor pentatonic"
So I decided to relearn my pentatonic or Major scale on one string.
Then I started adding another string... then I can play any positions if I want and I can mix other ideas
BECAUSE the original concept is less and simple! Just like a cooking,, I can add more spices!
I made learning aids in my beginning of teaching.
Even Berklee teaching, I just don't use any diagrams of scales or chords.
I teach all by sound and explanation.
This site is my true passion & my hope and inspiration.
I am so happy to share this joy of guitar playing,.
Hope more people can enjoy guitar playing.
No memorization required.
Just super slow process of repeating the sounds & understand each notes name, intervals, singing... Colors!
I think I always wish sounds like Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder. That's when I decided to teach all my guitar students as if they are blind person.
Thank you so much for sharing your views. I have read a few times.
I will read a few more times so that I don't memorize what you wrote but I will get your thoughts and impressions deeply into my heart.
Thanks so much!
When I am teaching Berklee guitar students, I have a few students who used to see more things visually for learning.
So that type of persons I know really well. So I do this process super slow to these people and I ask them to get a small book and start writing any topics and any details on each day. So when we talk about chords or phrasing. Use any numbers or any words. Try to capture those in words instead visualization of chords etc. It will kicking in 2-3 weeks, then we are all good!
You wrote " Memorize style "
Basically I don't memorize.
Be familiar with.
When I teach my students, they may said " I know Shell chords "
Then I fix that term... Try not to say that word because that word symbolizes Shell Shape!
So we think R 3 7 or R 7 3 and Think Root and a guide tone : 3rd & 7th... so we think like a pianist now!