About Me

First Name	Michael
Nickname	Michael Brooks
Why I'm Here	I got my Guild guitar about 40 years ago, it was a gift from my wife. I took lessons on and off (more off than on) for many years. Felt bad about it because I think that a musical instrument made by hand has a soul and that soul needs to be fed i.e. played (no matter how good or bad). Maybe it was because I was young and impatient and maybe because I really have no natural talent for playing the instrument, but I just couldn’t stick with it for long. Every time I’d pick it up it was the same old thing. A few years ago I started taking lessons every other week. My teacher is good but I felt I needed something more. Then, 2 years ago I signed up with Tony and it’s been wonderful. I have had many small wins and light bulb moments and some dry spells and stalls but I intend to continue because I believe Tony is a great teacher, the program is very well thought out and always improving and his staff is great too. Tony is the first instructor that has made theory accessible to me. I need repetition (lots of it) and the online aspect and written info downloads make this very possible. I hope to reach out more this year to the community for feedback and info as well. While I don’t aspire to be a virtuoso I do aspire to greater enjoyment and growth. And between Tony and my live instructor I am doing that. I can now play lead…never could before. I am grateful.
City	Getting better at guitar is important for a number of reasons. When you stretch yourself a bit it feels great! I am 69, over the years I have been able to learn and achieve things (getting a pilot's license, martial arts, an advanced degree) not because I am smart or talented (I am an extraordinarily, profoundly average person—on my good days) but because I hung in there and stuck with it. In martial arts there is a saying, "A black belt is merely a white belt who didn't quit". Also, as a geezer it is important for me to keep cognitively active and vital. I think playing a musical instrument is an outstanding way to do this. It requires both mental and psycho-motor skill development (and it's fun!) And besides, as I said before, my guitar has a soul, it is my responsibility and privilege to make it sing and do what it was created to do.

Michael