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Viewpoint
The "I Don't Know Where I'm Going, But I'm Going Nowhere In A Hurry" Blues
(or The Curse of the Independent Musician)
by Roger Barton
When the great but now long deceased Chicago folk musician, Steve Goodman (City of New Orleans, The Dying Cub Fan's Last Request), wrote that song, he was taking the subject literally from his life. Because to be an independent musician, one has to have no fixed schedule. It's kind of like being homeless but with a negotiable income. There's a constant need to assemble or disassemble the gig book at any given moment. So, just when one has his or her schedule worked out for the month, something happens or someone calls and totally discombobulates (OK! You need a dictionary to read this. So shoot me!!) that pristinely organized book now madly disorganized with the consequence of a flurry of e-mails and phone calls to students, employers, booking agents and the like. Does one turn the job down to preserve the order of his/her universe? Are you crazy?! Remember the negotiable homelessly income? No way!
As I was saying, the schedule fluctuates madly some weeks and then returns to the sadly predictable routine other weeks. Mr. Goodman very appropriately references George Custer and the Sioux as proof of the craziness of unpredictable schedules. Not only was General George outnumbered, he was out-flanked, out-gunned and out-experienced by the Sioux. They had a better schedule, multiple-shot rifles and smarter "Generals." He only had single shot rifles, green troopers and an ego the size of West Point. But I digress. (Or is it egress?) Anyway, those who have predictable jobs, can't relate to the problem. So, students, when your teacher sends in a substitute do take his/her lessons, don't get upset. Enjoy the lesson then go listen to some Steve Goodman.
...And from Roger's studio this on a common musical misquote:
We here the phrase "Music hath charm to soothe the savage beast." Wrong.
William Congreve, the Elizabethan playwright and poet wrote:
"Music hath charm to soothe the savage breast,
To soften rock and bend the knotted Oak."
The Morning Bride, Act I..AC. 1.
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You show up to your lesson to find a strange person sitting in your teacher's chair. This is a very common occurrence in any academic setting, so it should not come as a surprise in a private music lesson. Some students are disturbed when this happens, but think of the advantages of having a lesson from someone new once in a while. Many students find that a fresh perspective on their studies comes in very useful. More often than not. And, in a few cases the student finds that the substitute teacher offers them a little more of what they are looking for in the pursuit of their musical studies. Some have even switched to the substitute permanently. At our studios we think this is a very healthy occurrence. It means that the student is very serious about getting the most out of their lessons. Is it a reflection on his regular teacher? Not at all. It is very important for all our students to understand that we want them to be comfortable with their teacher.
In many fields of endeavor professionals look for the best coach. Frank Thomas, the great slugger for the White Sox, brings in a batting coach who he is comfortable with. This does not upset the regular hitting coach for the Sox. All good teachers were students once, and many still are. They, more than anyone, know that you have to be comfortable with your teacher.
It is no secret that we respond differently to different
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stimuli. So once students begin to get a feel for the music and the direction they want to go with it they should begin talking to their teacher and other students. A substitute teacher offers a great opportunity to do this. Some of our students have studied with two or more of our teachers until they found the right one for them. We encourage that kind of proactive approach.
Many of our teachers are working musicians who rely on gigs for their income. Some of our teachers travel and are gone for days or even weeks at a time. This disrupts studies and our profits. But, we have to accommodate our teachers performance schedules. This is what they have worked for all their lives. And, this is what some of our students are working towards.
As a business World Folk Music Company relies on the steady income of lessons to pay the bills. When one of our teachers has to take a day off our income shrinks a little. Our students can help us out by not using their teachers absence as an opportunity to take a week off. Sometimes we cannot fill the spot with a substitute, also some very young children cannot concentrate with a different teacher. This is understandable, but for the majority of our students the substitute helps everyone.
John Devens
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