The Right Pick

Wow!  What a great time it was at the Eyes to the Skies Festival this year.  We met all sorts of great people, and hung out with some of my students who were nice enough to help out!  One of the highlights was playing up on stage with Matthew Melone, who played Hedwig's Theme and nailed it!  Then I got to play some blues with a Jay Venzon and Phillip Henry!  Awesome stuff!  Finally on Sunday, I was asked to do a spur of the moment kids sing-a-long and guitar demo.  I have to confess I was a bit nervous, because I have not sung solo for a crowd for about 15 years.  I am an instrument guy!  What were they thinking!?!?!? Well it turned out great and was a lot of fun!  Get ready for bigger and better things next year!  I am already planning some cool stuff!  And one more thanks to all of those great people who helped out:  Jay, Matthew, Phillip, Zack and of course my Wife who I could not have done this without, The Klocko Family, my family and of course the Eyes To The Skies Festival!

Been checking me out, but still have a few questions?  Want to see the real Jon Bobbe in person?  Are you a Guitar Nut and a Balloon Enthusiast?  Well now you have the opportunity to get those questions answered, meet me, and see hot air balloons all in one spot!  The Lisle Eyes To The Skies Festival! (http://eyestotheskies.org/ Check out the link!)

I will be there: Friday 3:00PM to 7:00PM With a demonstration starting at 6:30PM

Saturday from 11:00AM to 7:00PM

Sunday from   11:00AM to 7:00PM

So if you have any questions on lessons, guitars or anything, please comes say hello!  Also if you are teetering as to when to start, I have a promotion going on that is available only to those who have attended the fest! 

See you soon!

**RANT** If you take anything from this today, please take this into consideration.  I started a new student last night, and they went to a certain "big box" store that has started offering music lessons.  Personally I thought that the idea was a good one; you know more people exposed to music, and benefitting from added learning, and opening thier mind.  The student I started is 9 years old, he and his mother actually thought the lesson was ok.  The reason they went to the big box store is that they received a deal in which you bought a guitar, and you get free lessons.  How could you pass up on something like that?  You are buying an instrument for your kid, and get free lessons to boot?  I think I would probably do the same thing if I were in my students shoes.  So the studant had his lesson, and he told me that they taught him parts of the guitar.  I quizzed him on the parts, and he got them mostly right.  Then I asked him the string names, and he had no idea.  He knew they had letter names, but no idea what they were.  I think any guitar instructor would agree with me that string names were one of the first things you teach a student.  One for reference to tell the student where to put fingers and what string to pluck.  Minimally at least tell them that strings are numbered one through six, one being the highest pitch or thinnest, and six being the lowest pitch and thickest.  So then I asked to see the guitar.  The instructor did not even tune the guitar.  I am no furensic expert, but I would think that the strings would at least be in the ball park of being in tune.  So this is what it all boils down to.  Do not send you child, or for that matter yourself or anyone else to a big box store for lessons.  You will not be treated in a manor in which you deserve to be.  Music while fun, is a serious thing, and if taught incorrectly, will instill a bad taste in anyones mouth.  Make sure that you are treated with the respect that you deserve from your instructor, and that you are indeed learning, and being engaged.