davewrites
Well-known member
I am reading Gary Marcus' Guitar Zero. In fact, I finished it tonight.
It's an excellent read for a middle-aged analyst and guitar enthusiast like myself. The book offers enormous insight into how we learn, how our brains re-wire themselves, how music affects us, music history, theories, studies, observations, anecdotes, opinions...
I read a digital copy on my iPhone. This was also a new experience for me and, surprisingly, not unpleasant. I was a hardcover guy, now I'm sold on iBooks. I don't have to worry about clutter or waste and I can maintain an entire library on my phone—astonishing schtuff technology is.
Anyways, I recommend the book to any adult struggling to take their guitar game to the next level. Why? It provided this 40-year-old Music Virgin with a tremendous amount of hope. I'm inspired to work hard, if not harder, on my lesson plan.
To sum up Gary Marcus' thesis: learning an instrument at a young age does offer tremendous advantages, but they're mostly due to a child's lifestyle (e.g., ample free time, pre-existing academic focus, comfort level with repetition). There is no proof that, as an adult, I'm handicapped... unless I don't have the time to commit, the will to push myself and the focus to stay on course.
It's time to prove Gary right. It's time to kick some axe!
It's an excellent read for a middle-aged analyst and guitar enthusiast like myself. The book offers enormous insight into how we learn, how our brains re-wire themselves, how music affects us, music history, theories, studies, observations, anecdotes, opinions...
I read a digital copy on my iPhone. This was also a new experience for me and, surprisingly, not unpleasant. I was a hardcover guy, now I'm sold on iBooks. I don't have to worry about clutter or waste and I can maintain an entire library on my phone—astonishing schtuff technology is.
Anyways, I recommend the book to any adult struggling to take their guitar game to the next level. Why? It provided this 40-year-old Music Virgin with a tremendous amount of hope. I'm inspired to work hard, if not harder, on my lesson plan.
:lecture[spoiler alert]
To sum up Gary Marcus' thesis: learning an instrument at a young age does offer tremendous advantages, but they're mostly due to a child's lifestyle (e.g., ample free time, pre-existing academic focus, comfort level with repetition). There is no proof that, as an adult, I'm handicapped... unless I don't have the time to commit, the will to push myself and the focus to stay on course.
It's time to prove Gary right. It's time to kick some axe!
