Hey Indiana,
Yesterday, I sent you an email about our Next-Level Jazz Coaching program that we are now accepting applications for (6 days left).
Well, I want to share with you something personal, and it has to do with why I decided to offer this program in the first place.
I want to tell you the story of how jazz coaching changed my life.
I know, that's a bit of a strong statement, but I assure you, it's true.
You see, even when was 10 years old, there was one thing I wanted to do more than anything else: play music.
I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a professional musician.
(And I know that's probably not what you want out of music - most musicians I help do this for fun, which is so awesome. But I definitely know you'll relate to some of this story.)
I would lay in bed at night and dream about it. When I was a kid in school I couldn't wait to come home and play my guitar. I just loved music so much.
I grew up in a household with 4 other siblings, and I was the only one who played music. In a way, I was sort of the black sheep of the family. While my brothers and sister were crushing A's on all of their math tests, I was struggling for B's and C's, but pumping out guitar solos left and right.
When my senior year of high school rolled around, I had fallen in love with jazz, and I knew what I wanted to do next - go to music school for college.
So I applied to a bunch of schools. They were all horribly expensive, but I thought if I could just nail my auditions I would get good enough scholarships to attend - so I practiced harder than ever before.
Well, I did make it into the programs (they wanted my money), but I didn't get any scholarships. I remember having some painful conversations with my parents, because I just couldn't afford to go to some of these great jazz schools.
Honestly, I felt discouraged, and like a failure. On top of that, I felt left behind. All of my friends had plans for college, and many of them were going to great music schools. I didn't know what I was going to do.
Of course, I've been through way harder things in life than this so many years later, but for an 18 year-old kid who only ever wanted to do music, that one really hurt.
I had an amazing teacher at the time, Justin (a pianist, not a guitarist), who saw the pain I was in. He knew how serious I was about being a jazz musician, and he wanted to help me.
So he proposed that I stay back a year before going to college and do a program with him, teach guitar lessons and play gigs to save some money, and apply to schools for next year.
So that's what I did.
For the next year, I did everything Justin told me to do. I learned over 100 songs in one year, learned tons of solos, practiced many hours, played many gigs, and improved exponentially with his consistent direction and guidance. That guy really cared about my success and I'll appreciate him forever.
The next year I did go to a great music school with a scholarship, I did move to New York City (my dream), and I did become a professional jazz musician.
All of those nights laying awake as a kid, dreaming of being a musician - it had all become reality. All of this because I had a jazz coach who believed in me, knew what he was doing, and I followed through.
So what did jazz coaching get me?
Well, you might say it got me a scholarship and a career. But here's what it REALLY got me:
- A feeling that I was on the right track, and not practicing things that wouldn't help
- A feeling of immense support - I just needed someone to tell me I could do it, and that they were in my corner ready to help
- A shortcut to musical success, by receiving the wisdom from a pro jazz musician who had walked my part of the path already
THOSE are the things that actually helped me reach my musical goals.
And so I hope you understand now why offering this Next-Level Jazz Coaching program is personal to me.
Jazz coaching was a game-changer for me, and I know it can be for you as well. | | Now, because of the nature of this program we only have a limited number of slots available, so click the link above, see if the program is right for you, and apply today.
Here's what Next-Level Jazz Coaching includes:
Bi-weekly live group coaching calls. You'll have access to live video calls with me personally, to get further coaching, instruction, and to learn from other students in the program.
Free Bonus #2: Inner Circle membership (3 months). You'll get access to all of our jazz courses, jazz standard studies, and community so you have the resources available to make huge strides with your coach.
I share a bit of my story with you today just to show you what is possible when you have a great jazz coach in your corner.
Your musical goals may not be my musical goals, but I know coaching can help you achieve them.
Looking forward to personally reading your application! |
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