Chuck Anderson Jazz Guitar

To many, the terms composer and songwriter are interchangeable, In reality, they are not! They certainly share many common skills but there is a significant difference between the two.
A songwriter writes a single melody line and lays it over a chord progression. Lyrics are added if the song is to be a vocal tune. The [...]

What is neo classical guitar? According to some, it’s a style of lead guitar featuring speed as well as “classical scales and arpeggios” such as the Harmonic minor scale and the diminished 7th arpeggio.
To claim that this has anything to do with classical or neo classical guitar borders on the ridiculous!
We certainly recognize the [...]

The musician too often convinces himself that at the age of eighteen or twenty-two or. . . his decision is irreversible and has lifelong implications. This is not true. If he follows his own inclinations and tries, he will be moving toward the realization of a goal. This movement is important because it is a [...]

We hear much about “selling out”. What does it mean! To many it means playing anything that becomes financially successful. This is an extremely narrow and destructive point of view. An individual can “sell out” in only one way. That is to violate and give up the pursuit of goals and ambitions for himself thus [...]

Every individual is unique. Talent must reflect individuality. This unveiling of the unique individual reflects varying degrees of depth, perception and maturity. The uniqueness of an individual does not primarily center on physical ability. The physical ability to play is a mechanic and can be acquired by most with sufficient work and determination. Physical aptitude [...]

Students seem to think that they should be above low points of practice enthusiasm. They are perhaps unknowingly denying their own humanness. No one is perfectly consistent. Musicians are not machines. There will be peak periods and the opposite. The true measure of one’s potential is not the consistency of highs but rather the ability [...]

Music is basically a type of self reflection, a communication form intended to convey the uniqueness of the individual player. The uniqueness of an individual is the sum total of his experiences. These experiences shape the personality of the individual to a great extent and it is this personality which is reflected through music. The [...]

Here is a common problem in bands. You start a band with your good friend. You’re not concerned with the fact that your friend doesn’t play well. You’re just glad to be making music. Over time, it becomes apparent that your friend is not as committed as you are. Perhaps you study and he or [...]

It’s commonly believed that teaching and performing are mutually exclusive. Not so!
Each of these pursuits is an outlet for creativity. They are separate but interrelated.
The effort and energy required to pursue two fields is certainly greater than the effort required to pursue one field. But it can be done. Typically, anyone involved [...]

There is something about musicians that resists marketing, especially self promotion. I think there is a perverse pride that musicians have about not being in business. This alienation to business creates a great disservice to everyone involved.
If you don’t approach your music as a serious endeavor, it will not be taken seriously. Is music your [...]