A Life in Music Ep. 77 - It's Only Entertainment, Right? 

10,000 hours is 40 hours a week, 50 weeks a year for 5 years. Some people have the gift of music, but it requires dedication to the craft and diligent practice and study in order to be successful. Keep sharing your thoughts and experiences with music.

J.P. your infusion of some common sense into the conversations of life is a very welcome breath of fresh air! Good on ya!

Keep in mind... I am writing this comment after only listening to your intro. I, just recently, told the guitar ensemble that I and my partner leads, that I am not too interested in entertainment, per se. I insisted that we perform musically and not necessarily difficult pieces. My interest in playing musically has to do with transcending the common moment. That is, convey to the listener something or some feeling that they do not normally experience - to make life meaningful for the moment and to experience beauty. That's number one. Another thing I want to say is that "talent" as we have come to define it, is changing. That, I understand, just as my father laughed when rock and roll came out. He called it noise. My interest in music is not the same as my children's, even though I took them to every concert they performed in (my 2 youngest were in the school's orchestra and my daughter got her music degree and now teaches choir in a middle school). Nevertheless, in some cases, we like the same music, but in other cases, not so much. I am glad to say, though, that both my youngest agree with me. We don't like auto tuning, the way it is used.

I think I'm approaching 10,000 hours just on St Ann's Reel alone, trying to get it right.

J.P., you reminded me of something Andrés Segovia wrote expressing the very same sentiment regarding the sacrifice a musician makes: “Few people suspect what the study of an instrument demands. The public watch the music-miracle in comfort, never dreaming of the asceticism and sacrifices which the musician must perform in order to make himself capable of accomplishing it… "

You are the kink of fellow who I could see myself sitting down with and talking about life. Your take on life and music is so refreshing.

Well said J.P. Prodigies exist through desire, hard work and a singular desire to be the best. Whether its music, sports, business or science...desire+hard work=talent. Awesome video!! 👍

July 2017. My wife, young children and I sat on the grass 20' from where you were playing. As always, your presence and performance made the 7 hour drive seem like pennies. Best weekend ever was being at the Hullabaloo to see you and Matt Anderson on the same weekend. I was born in Perth-Andover so getting back up to the tobique is always relieving. After the last one of you has finished playing we'd go back to our tent. See them off to bed and then I'd sit by the fire with a beer or three. I'd replay everything I saw over and over and it is still with me strong today. Thank you and your wife for being a big part of our family vacations. Here's you at Kempt Shore: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-q70aQBgYGwg.html

You nailed it once again JP in your opening remarks. Love your spirit brother. Music forever.xxx

Thanks for opening a door into one area of the entertainment industry and allowing us to sit back and observe what it's like. The music industry is one spoke of the hub of the entertainment industry and it is very unique, very different from other industries. For those that care to consider that are not in the industry. If we understand one thing about the musical entertainers that are in the music industry, it's that it's extremely hard for most to make a living while being driven by their talent to succeed. The pitfalls, the shysters in music companies and in personal management make it so difficult that it's mostly the very talented and the "driven" can hope to live their life unscathed by the monsters not found in other industries. Far too much to analyze here and change being a constant, it looks like the good old days will be talked about for a long while!

The 10,000 hour rule comes from a book by Malcolm Gladwell titled "Outliers". It's a great book. You and Ginger are doing a fantastic job JP. All the very best to you both!

J.P. you are too kind. In my analyis any adult saying about anything that takes hard work to achieve a level of quality that it is just(insert descriptor here) is not doing so innocently. They seek to belittle often out of jealousy. Yes you are more than the painting on the wall. All in the pantheon of artists known or unknown.

It is refreshing to hear a great musician pour out his heart. I grew up in a musical family guitarists' like yourself and i appreciate what goes into making that great musician, watching the practice that went into being a good guitar player of my Dad and brother.Your in there with all the other CGP's.

Love ya JP ... Keep on keeping on and doing your work!

I’d have to agree with your position on auto-tune and comments like the one saying that it’s “just” entertainment. I think auto-tune or any other artificially generated “music” only serves to cheapen the experience. Comments that it’s “only entertainment” surely must come from those who probably are incapable of appreciating and deserve nothing better than the artificial entertainment that’s become the mainstream commercial slag that we hear and see so much of today. I’d rather hear something honest even if it’s not great, than to hear the lie that’s being presented to us that’s dressed up as music. Keep up the good work that you and Ginger and your friends are doing. There are more of us like-minded folks than you know.

Loved it. You get what you put in. It's as simple as that...

I hear you JP. My family was on welfare from my age of 8 until I was 21. Thousands of hours of intense study to become a successful electrical engineer. It wasn't easy, and it never will be. Thanks for your insight, JP.

Brilliant.....!

Yessir, another gooder, thanks for another awesome episode!

Wings of Pegasus has addressed this auto tune pitch correction subject. I thought he did a great job. Thanks for another great episode.

You hit the nail on the head last week and this week J.P.!! Keep on telling it like it is! We wait all week for your show! Thanks!

I really truly love watching this series. It's great to hear the point of view from someone like yourself. There so much more to music than just the top 40 and mega superstars that don't even make a living from music they are just famous for being famous. I wanted to ask are you going to do another Stompin Tom episode of when or around when he passed away?

Bravo!!!

Great Speech J.P. Music is life and love, It can touch the soul.

Hey JP! Well said, and I share much of your viewpoint and sentiment regarding music, learning to be a musician, learning to be a performer, learning to write a piece of music, and also learning how to successfully support your life from playing, teaching, performing, and producing music. I'm 65 years old, and been involved in music since I was 4, and my personal favourite test of "real" musicianship has always been without any microphones or PA equipment, without any amplifiers, without any stage, or lights... can the musician convey the story, the emotion, the gist of the music, with only their voice, their chosen acoustic instrument(s), their body language, and expressions? And additionally, in the same bare bones, acoustic environment, is the musician able to lead, compliment, and successfully play a support role in playing together with other musicians? And help make some real magic happen.

Nailed it!

I love and appreciate your genuine honesty.

I have to agree on everything you said. Miss the guitar playing at the end though Peace Paul C

Same thing with photography. People say, oh, you have a great eye. No, anyone can learn to see and develop a so-called good eye. Like everything, it takes years of practice.

If I had $5 for every butthole that was being disrespectful at a gig… If I had a way to extract revenge for every time I’ve been screwed over in this business… Yet I still get excited every week for the shows coming up, and I still sit up until late at night writing and practicing my craft. I’ve had people who “love me” tell me I should probably find something financially more stable and… Some of those people I just don’t talk to anymore. I’ve played the $100 a night 6 nights a week circuit and I’ve played the better gigs in recent years after a lot of hard work and a lot of hard balling talent buyers and critics of what I do… I think something to point out is to diversify your skills. JP makes money from more than just being a guitar player. He also produces and records, does videos, teaches, creates and edits videos, reviews product and provides insight and data to brands wanting to make better instruments. Think about that if you haven’t as a working musician. Want to make more money? Find more ways to make it from what you already do.

You are so right...Those who say such things only see the end result of a life time of perfecting the trade you are in (music)...You have every right to feel the way you do...

I hear you…very.

Lotta truth here

Hello again from the South of England JP, Steve here again. I realised some years back that art in general is without use.. And THAT is the whole point. By that I mean every other thing that we do in life has a practical reason for being done... Food, money, shelter etc... Art (music) is the only useless occupation we have, it is a release, an escape. So it heals us and feeds us. It ain't just entertainment. By the way, what's your take on Mossman guitars? (1974 Tennessee twelve string).

I feel the same way JP and I just play as a hobby now. Plus I have a family so I have to skip days without playing. Does those days ever itch in my fingers. lol....

Same same a lot in corporate, government life….hard workers don’t get promoted, the popular do…Tis why most things are a mess now.

Keep on rollin

NAILED IT! I simply want wanted to play Pedal Steel Guitar with my band back in 2007. I bought a nice one and treated it like a job. I practiced 8 hours a day 5 days a week for a solid year. I was no Paul Franklin, but I was able to play steel guitar good enough to make a little money at it. In 2009 I went to a cattle call audition in Nashville for an artist tour gig. I'm not that great of a player mind you, but the young good lookin' kid that ended up with the gig sucked as far as I'm concerned and needed auto-tune on his tone bar. 😶 "It's only Entertainment?" Yeah what is really is, is only MONEY. FUCK NASHVILLE!

Love this stuff. I can see how you could be skeptical about Billy Strings, but trust me, he is a beautiful soul who is doing his own thing. He knows the roots of the bluegrass music and he also knows that all the heroes had their own sound. I predict he will be like John Hartford and Sam Bush with his influence. Before he hit a lick on his Austin City Limits appearance he mentioned Larry Sparks and Ralph Stanley.

I agree with everything you are saying J.P. You are a purist. You can do it all! I believe that the industry has always been a fraud, i.e. The Wrecking Crew, Muscle Shoals Swampers, Skylar, Kunkle, Koochmar (The Section), etc. These musicians made the Mama's and Papas, The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Sonny and Cher, and countless other famous groups profitable. It's amazing how many producers used the same studio musicians. Gordon, Keltner, Pocaro, and Gadd. The public has been bamboozled with lip syncing as well as Antares Autotune. There are accomplished gifted musicians like you, Billy Strings and many more who can make a living on their own playing and accomplishments. It all boils down to what sells. The most successful have the "whole package"! It is primarily looks, talent will remain secondary unless you are Momma Cass.

Did you see,billy strings just showed up at his grade school and handed out 200 guitars to the kids

Hey JP. I have really enjoyed your programs. I dont know much about the recording process. Can you explain the "mastering" process?

My dad and I used to listen to Lake Wobogan...on radio and play music..he's gone now..and I think that radio show is also..any experience you can share a bout that radio show from Nova scotia?

If people never took a music lessons in there life they don’t understand, have no clue what it takes or when they are around it get envious and critical of those that do because they never got it. Most people performing music had some parent or family influence w positive reinforcement. There are a lot of egos out there some too big some too small. Billy’s got a great name and talent and all performer can grow their talent w practice and positive reinforcement. For me it’s a retirement hobby.

16:55 The 10,000 hour rule was popularized by Malcolm Gladwell's book, "Outliers". And he makes the point, as J.P. does, that it must be _thoughtful_ practice. e.g. Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan didn't just goof around for 10,000 hours. (Embarrassingly, I've put in 10,000 hours on guitar but it _was_ goofing around, as an escape re: career in software programming). Somewhat related: Gladwell doesn't believe in "talent". He thinks some people have an "inner drive" for hard practice (and proficiency is a side-effect of that drive).

10.000 hours is a low number, I'd say 40.000 hours is more on point. I have tried to calculate the hours leading to my black belt, 40.000 hours easy. Never did the math on my guitar playing but it's about the same, getting proficient. A couple of good teachers and a healthy knowledge of theory will speed up the process, but the time spent with your instrument is crucial.

JP, I think the phrase you’re ultimately looking for is “video killed the radio star”.

“An unexamined life is not worth living.” Socrates

In the beginning I said to myself do I want to listen to this, but you quickly became interesting. I have to agree with what you are saying, Mark Knopfler and John Five talk about carrying their guitar with them all the time when they were young, to name just two. I have to laugh when I see folks seek out the best teacher, as if they'd had the secret . . . the secret is practice, as you said yourself. One thing I do disagree with, life is the numbers of hours you live, If you spend all your time perfecting your craft, you miss out on so much life others take for granted. There are no big prizes, money or fame in life, except health and happiness.

Billy strings renewed a love of bluegrass in me which lead me to your shows for the knowledge available on all your videos about the guitar. Keeps the shows coming JP from right here in Nova Scotia 😁👍👍

Check out when this technician Autotuned Freddie Mercury: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-uyUrbPuRrKc.html

Another unfortunate byproduct of auto tune is the fact that people don’t sing anymore. People spend hours listening to highly processed and mastered recordings and so-called perfect voices, and basically, compared to what they’re hearing, they are convinced that they can’t sing. We don’t sing as a culture anymore, we are content to be sung to.

I gotta say it...like the good lookin big breasted provocative girl that plays fair sounding blues and has a million views on her RU-vid channel. God bless em..life isn't fair and never will it be.

I have not finished listening but we complain about auto-tune because it sounds like shit.

Obviously you are not born knowing how to play a guitar. The prodigy part comes in as a sort of focus, as self discipline. THAT was Gods gift. Having something that you found at an early age that interested you to such an extent that you did the work and spent the time...the 10,000 hours if you will. Maybe the focus and self discipline keeps good/great musicians from knowing how to deal with scumbag grifter managers and record label executives. You can't be a prodigy about everything. P.S. I never use Spell Correct. It is a weakness. P.S.S. Auto Tune sounds like complete shit and I do not listen to "Artists" who use it.

What like Masonic view point? Is that the enlightenment you have come to know as truth? Serious question! Because it seems like this video was a duality.

Spell checkers just check spelling. The writing can still be total crap!