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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ Open Letter To Gmc

Posted by: Spiderusalem May 10 2008, 06:22 AM

Dear GMC

It’s been nearly 9 months since I joined this wonderful site for the first time, and its been 4 months since my dramatic decline of activity here (which some of you may have noticed). I’ve been trying to come back ever since but my journey has taken me well out of the realm of online lessons and into the real world.

9 months ago also marks the moment I decided to devote my life to the professional, intellectual, and spiritual pursuit of music. Its been rough, and they have been some of the most difficult, most embarrassing, and ultimately most rewarding 9 months of my life. I’ve hit dead end after dead end in my learning process, I’ve struggled to learn musical notation, I’ve spent many late nights at home or at coffee shops tirelessly mapping out fretboard patterns that I would only throw away the next morning, I’ve had my guitar stolen, I’ve straight up hated playing guitar sometimes. But I kept at it. A year ago I didn’t know what an octave was, or what “diatonic” meant. Today I’m sight reading bebop, improvising flamenco, and modulating in my head. I sought a life which meant perpetual rigorous practice and study, but rewarded me with love (in many senses of the word), and though my journey has taken me away from this place, its clear to me that I would not have made it where I am today if I didn’t have GMC to guide me through the darkness in my first crucial months of learning.

Without GMC to help me, I wouldn’t have ventured into the realm of classical guitar and jazz.

Hell, I wouldn’t have even been able to understand jazz.

I wouldn’t have been able to play late night blues with the unappreciated virtuoso guitarists that live hard lives on the mean streets of San Francisco.

I wouldn’t have been able to play in shelters for the sick folks, homeless folks, and battered women and children.

I wouldn’t have been able to play actual gigs, and work with other musicians.

I wouldn’t have been able to contribute to a new and developing style of guitar (hip hop classical).

I wouldn’t have been able to take on guitar students of my own.

I wouldn’t have been able to stand out of the crowd, and win over the woman I love.

I wouldn’t have been able to feel closer to a higher spiritual power through the pursuit of music.

But most importantly, I wouldn’t have been able to feel like the man, or the musician I always wanted to be without that crucial first push by the GMC community 9 months ago. For that I thank you, all of my friends and teachers who help foster the next generation of guitarists (myself included). Hopefully one day, I can come back and be an active member again (but that would mean I’m not out working. Blah) I'm sorry if you felt this letter was poorly constructed. I usually spend a lot of time on my posts but not on this one, because right now I'm leaving to go play/study. I just wanted those of you who care to know how I was.

Yours Truly, Spiderusalem

P.S. How are all of you?

Posted by: Vinod Saranga May 10 2008, 06:31 AM

Hi Spiderusalem,
Your story is very interesting

Posted by: ActiveX May 10 2008, 06:49 AM

It's good to hear from you again man, it sounds like you've been (and are still on) quite a musical journey.
Sincerely, all the best bro

Posted by: Juan M. Valero May 10 2008, 06:58 AM

GMC are changing our life !!! that's the true, and it's fantastic !!!!! I love this site guys, it's a dream became in a reality

Posted by: PlayAllDay May 10 2008, 08:21 AM

Oh Spidey - I'm so happy for you and you totally rock for taking such a courageous journey.
Thankyou for playing to sick folks, homeless folks, and battered women and children.
Thankyou for sharing your new kind of music with the streets of San Francisco and the world.
Have fun with your loves - both of them!

Posted by: AudunESP May 10 2008, 08:50 AM

Spidey, what a great story.I Think you nearly forced a tear out of me
Its really great how you managed to have THAT progress in such a few months, you must really be a musical prodigy!
And...the woman you loved, did you really win her?

Posted by: Hisham Al-Sanea May 10 2008, 09:17 AM

nice story spiderusalem and interesting .i think now you put your legs on the right step.
thats very important .i am sure you will be a good musician & player in a short time

Posted by: superize May 10 2008, 09:42 AM

Good luck Spider

Posted by: DeepRoots May 10 2008, 09:48 AM

Great to hear from you again Spider- you have come a long way it seems! Congrats!

Posted by: Danilo Capezzuto May 10 2008, 10:46 AM

Glad to hear GMC have done so much for you!

Posted by: Iluha May 10 2008, 10:49 AM

Ahh.. I missed you'r posts man, no matter how long they are I'm always glued to the end! I think you went through a great sounding journey.. and the good news is, you'r journey only begun

Posted by: OrganisedConfusion May 10 2008, 10:50 AM

Congratulations man and a really moving story. I hope you feel your life is going in the right direction and you are motivating others I think in going to any lengths to get to where you want to be in life. You can force your own destiny but it takes a lot of work.

I wish you the best and whenever you do post on here we'll still remember who you are

Good luck in the future man

Posted by: Marcus Siepen May 10 2008, 11:25 AM

All the best for your journey

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn May 10 2008, 12:21 PM

Spidey!

Well for sure, things have been quieter around here and you have been missed, but man, your story is inspiring - you were away from GMC for the ONLY good reason that there is to be away from GMC - to practice and play hard and become a better player!

It sounds like you have made some amazing progress (damn, sightreading bebop is hard!) I am truly happy that you are on this path - drop by occasionally and update us, please!

Posted by: Nemanja Filipovic May 10 2008, 12:35 PM

Great for you man,even I start to practice guitar with GMC

Posted by: Canis May 10 2008, 12:41 PM

Great story, Spider Glad to see that GMC helped you in the right direction ^^
GMC really is a place of miracles and dreams

Posted by: Joe Kataldo May 10 2008, 01:00 PM

Good luck Spider

Posted by: skennington May 10 2008, 03:04 PM

Moving story man! I wish you the best of luck in all of your endeavors. I joined GMC a month or so befor you left and really enjoyed reading your posts. Hope to see back soon!

Posted by: stratman33 May 10 2008, 03:56 PM

Spider your back!thats a great story, and i was one of the people who missed your hilarious polls.Welcome back man.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic May 10 2008, 07:34 PM

Hey man, your story is great, and I'm glad you found your goals and love fro music. Keep rockin man, don't ever stop!

Posted by: Muris Varajic May 10 2008, 07:38 PM

Those are great news AND story Spider!!

Posted by: kaznie_NL May 10 2008, 07:58 PM

It's good to hear that story (sell it to hollywood, sounds like an intresting story ) and I just hope you'll succeed even more!

Posted by: botoxfox May 10 2008, 08:07 PM

Nice to know you're still alive.

Posted by: rokchik May 10 2008, 09:06 PM

Hey Spidey,

Great to see ya back man and what an amazing story. I wish you nothing but the best of luck

rok

Posted by: Trond Vold May 10 2008, 09:10 PM

What a great story! It was a treat to read

Posted by: The Uncreator May 10 2008, 09:13 PM

Hey Spidey, glad to see your still kickin!!

Im glad GMC has helped you this much. And im glad you see the rewards even through the bad times, we've all had them, I remember I used to be nervous about putting my music out there, And I have to do it now.

Let us know when you get that big record deal eh?

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic May 10 2008, 11:34 PM

Great to hear back from you Spider!

Posted by: Nick325 May 10 2008, 11:39 PM

Great news. glad to hear from you

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl May 11 2008, 08:00 AM

Thanks for a very cool topic (as usal! ) Spider. Also - it's fantastic to hear what GMC has given you!