Suffer through violin lessons as a kid? Forced to sit at the piano until you practiced the damn thing? Let Jesse Ogle, co-founder & program director of iAM Music and co-band leader for Hello, Dollface tell you about why music lessons are cooler than you think.
How long as iAM been around?
It started in 2012 and came out of a changing outlook on how to do music education. I wanted something more collaborative, more progressive, a holistic approach based around songwriting and creativity, as well as serving at-risk youth. We have outreach programs in the community, as well as adult programs that we host at our facilities.
How many adults and first-time players do you teach?
I’m teaching the adults, and at any given time we have about 30 people in the program. A class is usually about 10.
What’s it like to begin lessons as an adult?
Usually, when an adult wants to start an instrument, it’s because they had lessons as a kid and they didn’t take. The old-school method of teaching just didn’t work that well – most people fell off the wagon. Or, your parents had you taking, you know, viola, and it was just a bad fit. The guitar is a good place to start because it’s so ubiquitous. Everyone’s got a guitar in their house somewhere, and most people know something about it – a Bob Dylan tune or an E minor chord or a strum pattern. Because it’s so easy to get information on guitar, you get a feel for music, which you can then take to mandolin or whatever other instrument you want to play. And it’s not even about wanting to gig or perform. It’s just about having a creative outlet, something to express yourself with that you can share with other people.
What does playing music add to a person’s life?
Dude, it’s just fun! It added joy to my life – almost like a game. The feeling of locking in with other musicians is the biggest thing for me – sharing, having that interaction. It’s like a full-body high. Music is in everyone’s life because we’re hearing it all the time, you know? You’re already relating to someone’s expression when you listen to it, but then to play it gives you another sense of it, the ability to interact with it and share it with others.
What’s a lesson like?
The old way was that you might learn note reading or scales or some bullshit before you even got to play. The idea [here] is get ’em playing and interacting to create some enjoyment with it.
Does playing lead to greater appreciation of recorded music?
Totally. Once you start to get inside music, and you realize, “Oh, this is a minor chord,” or you count the meter, or trying to figure out a rhythm, it opens us up to receive more through music.
What’s the biggest roadblock for an adult student?
Getting, or investing in an instrument. You know, having to shell out $300 before you even know if you like it or not. We have a free instrument rental for that reason. Try it out. Don’t like it? OK, bring it back. Time commitment is another one. With kids, you’ve got someone bringing you to your lesson every week, but as an adult, it’s harder to commit to getting yourself to lessons somehow. Adults somehow stop committing time to good self-care – getting some exercise, having some expression, taking some time to rest. We just sit down and work all the time. Making yourself do something, finding the time is really difficult for people.
What kind of time commitment is there?
Ten minutes a day, five days a week.
WHAT?!
Yeah, man. While you’re making oatmeal in the morning or cooking your breakfast, take that 10 minutes and practice guitar. Try to find an excuse to not practice 10 minutes a day. You can’t. That’s an hour a week. And by playing every day instead of once a week, you build up calluses, you build up hand strength and you build some muscle memory. When you start to get really capable, sure, practice a bit longer, but really, 10 minutes a day, five days a week. Super attainable.
What do you say to someone on the fence?
Here’s the crazy thing that people don’t realize. Music is WAY easier than you think. You don’t have to know that much to be able to play music. That realization of “I can do this; I can be a part of something” is amazing to watch. And maybe right now, you’re in a spot where the timing just isn’t right. I can’t tell you if you should or shouldn’t but, man, it’s so important to immerse yourself in music and art. Talk to people about it, go to shows, go to galleries. Interpreting expression and expressing yourself is hugely important.
Cyle Talley recommends you play an instrument if only because, well, playing songs drunk is pretty great. If you have anything you’d like to Get Smart about, email him at: [email protected]
