It’s nice to have support in life. You’re trying to do something and you’re not sure if what you’re doing is any good or if it’ll ever be any good. Or you’re too young to know either way. In any case, support is nice. It encourages. It’s there like a bit of a safety net. It makes the place you’re coming from as you learn the guitar a little stronger and steadier.

Variation I: FAMILY

When I was eleven, I began taking guitar lessons in a back room of our local music store. Every week – for years!,,,,,,. Who paid? Who drove me up and back and waited in between?

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When I was twelve, I went with my dad down to 48^th Street in Manhattan. That’s Music Row; store after store filled with shiny instruments and salesmen who let you try everything out. I went home with my first really good guitar – a Martin! I hugged my dad forever.

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“Hi. Is this the guitar teacher? I’m calling for my husband. He’s had this old guitar sitting around the house for years. Sometimes lately takes it out and fools around. It seems like he’s enjoying it and he’s started mumbling about taking some lessons. So, I want to buy him a gift certificate and then we see what happens! Who knows, right?”

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Every Tuesday at five o’clock Liam comes in with his father Jerry in tow. Never fails Jerry asks me how Liam is doing. The guy is actually interested! He doesn’t want to know about Liam’s progress so he can get his money’s worth or because he wants to see that Liam learns the guitar or any crap like that. By the way he talks and the way he is, you just know the guy is here to support Liam in what he wants to do… and that’s all! Very clean. Real support is very clean. No side agendas wanted here.

Variation II: UGH

Not everyone gets support from partners or parents or whoever. A ten-year old boy is browbeaten by his mom when it seems he isn’t practicing. A fifteen-year old girl is criticized by her dad when her playing isn’t perfect. A woman’s partner is so disinterested he never even asks how the lessons are going; let alone listen to her play once in awhile.

Good times! And you know I’m not making any of this stuff up… really.

Variation III: THE TEACHER

And then there’s me – the teacher, trying to strike a balance between push and pull; work and play. Different balance for different folks. Different balance on a different day for the same folks. Picking a piece or a song that is doable; that can be had for a the price of just enough practise. Too easy and you lose ‘em. Too hard and you can lose ‘em there as well. That’s part of the art of teaching guitar. After many years, I’m beginning to get it.

Variation IV: NOBODY HERE BUT US CHICKENS

It’s yours! There’s no one else here. Just you and your guitar. And whether you know it or not, that’s why you began: to give yourself a present of joy and a challenge you could embrace. The process of learning guitar is all that and more. You might say I have a lifelong friend who’s there for me whenever I call. I can spend hours just playing and singing song after song – and for who? What a gift to give my (your!) sweet self! Nobody else wanted or needed. All the support I’m ever going to need right here (…He touches his heart…).