David Feder: Center for Peace

This video was taken by my buddy Chris Dunnett, at the International acoustic guitar Fest this past year in Mexico.
Hope you enjoy it. Just click on the link above.
This friday, 8:00 PM, ICE presents The Klezmatics at the TIB Amphitheater. It's going to be a great show!
The season is looking great too. Stay tuned for the local and touring schedule updates for me and Nyan.

OK, This is for all you guitarists who have been asking for lessons. (And also for R.Ptomey who says I haven't written anything in a while)
My schedule is so wacky that it's really hard to teach any more actual lessons than I do now.
But I think I may have a solution, for season anyway.
Last year I did a guitar workshop that a few folks attended. It was fun and inspiring. The feedback was "we want more"
So I've decided to start a more or less regular workshop series for the winter months.
These workshops will cover everything I can think of that seems important to learn about playing the guitar and making music in general.
I'll cover techniques for learning theory, soloing, writing songs, gaining proficiency on the instrument etc.
It doesn't matter what style of guitar you play, or wish to play. This info will be pretty universal.

I've been playing guitar for over forty years and do have some insights and tricks to share.
I'll also be covering guitar maintenance, and things like how to chose and properly change strings, as well as cleaning. There will be lots of jamming!
These workshops will be very hands on. So we'll have to see who wants to come. We may divide up into beginner, intermediate, and up to very advanced (pro level) classes.
Throughout the winter, I plan to have other professional players also take a turn at teaching one of these workshops.
I've asked some great players that have a wide variety of musical styles to share their secrets. And they are all ready to go!
So drop me a line if you think you may be into it.
Last time was a blast.
We did Cover to Cover books last year and it was very comfy. Maybe that will happen again this time.
So dust off that old guitar in the closet or in the corner or under the bed. It's time to get back into the music muse.
You'll be glad you did.
Love Dave

I heard a comment recently from a musician/teacher who said to his student:
You have to be born into X culture to truly play X style of music.
I have heard comments like this before. And I think they are very destructive and silly.

Music is a language that is accessible to anyone, everyone.
It takes no special training. Listening is free. Even deaf people can feel the vibrations.
Making music is also totally available to everyone.
You do not have to be born into a certain culture or raised in a certain place. It's available to you, and somewhat unavoidable.
I've heard it said that one must be born to play the blues, or born to sing opera, or born into Latin music.

It's Hogwash.

Music is universal, and the choice is one's own.
Everything is available to everyone.
Musicians are made, sometimes self made. Some people know they are musicians from the start, and dedicate their entire being to the craft. Others find music differently, and it becomes a hobby, a release, or a healing pastime.
Pick a style or a bunch of styles, or no style. And go for it. No strings attached. There are no rules. NO RULES!
You can simultaneously love Jimmy Buffet and Devo, Paco DeLucia and Britney Spears, Mozart and M&M, John Coletrane and John Denver. It makes no difference. All Music is valid. You can play it on a violin, a banjo, a rock...
Preferences are OK. Snobbery is a waste of energy.
Go ahead.
Wear the Cowboy Hat!

You may choose not to listen to some kinds of music. There is so much out there that you may want to hone in on what you like during your short time on this planet.
I heard a young man the other day play the blues.
He was playing the blues because he chose the blues. He is allowed. Not because he was poor or black or had the name of a dead president. It was his entry point.
The Blues' endless depth does not preclude its beginning. You have to start somewhere. You have to strum that first chord, pluck that first note, and sing that first word.
Who cares what somebody else thinks?
It's in you and it wants to come out.
You know how many young and not so young Jazz snobs there are?
Lots. Some are even good musicians. But the amazing musicians, the players who really preach the word, those guys are so open and
accepting and encouraging and loving, that a discouraging word would never cross their lips. They Know!

I got a friend, great Jazz and rock guitarist, decided one day he was Irish. He changed his name and picked up a penny whistle. Cool!
I know another guy who saw a movie and started playing music like Django. Not because his family is Gypsy, that music just spoke to him. The woman who plays the most simple folk tunes on a dulcimer......who is she really?

Kahlil Gibran says that children come through us, they are not us.
We are not them.
Actually this is what he said:

"Your children ...are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself"
Thanks Nina.

We are all children of life, on our paths.
As children, we need to allow ourselves, to choose and be whom we choose to be, without putting conditions or limitations on happiness.
Let the students become teachers and know they can do anything.

I hear musicians spew so much crud about what is valid and right musically. Pooh!
"fay çe que vouldras"

Music, any style can be yours, you make it your own.
It may start out as a pale imitation of your listening habits, tempered by your skills and experience. But it is your own. Play it.
Don't cry about what you could have been, if only.
Play, write, dance, whatever!
I know some amazing musicians you will never hear of, who choose to
play the most simple, beautiful honest songs.
Some are amazing not because they are schooled, (some are) skilled, (some are) dedicated, (some are) or born into tradition. (Some are)
They are just honestly expressing what they love, however they know how.
You can sing, bang on trash can lids, or even create music electronically on computers.
Name it whatever you choose.
It does not matter.
Don't let anyone, teachers, parents, piers, loving friends, mates,
etc. tell you that you can't.
You can!