In my 16 years covering the arts and cultural scene here in the North Okanagan, I have encountered some incredibly talented youth.
Many of these young stars – often unspoiled and humble– have gone on to pursue their passions. Some have left for big city universities, or a college in performing, visual, dance, music, or even cirque arts.
Some, as you probably have read in these pages, have done quite well for themselves.
Some have gone away and come back to share their aptitude for the arts as teachers, performers and mentors.
Some have never left, and are still helping out at local community theatres, various arts programs and the like.
Amongst these artists, musicians, actors, writers, acrobats, dancers, backstage crew members... is one thing in common: They all had a good teacher at one point in their lives.
My guitar teacher, David, was that person to me.
Even though I am not a famous musician, or a musician at all these days (I traded my strings for a pen and computer, sad to say), I still count him as one of the most important influences in my childhood.
He instilled in me not only a love of music, particularly in classical/Spanish Flamenco guitar, but gave me a sense of confidence that I didn’t find at regular school.
When I started taking guitar lessons at the insistence of my mother, who wore out her Andrés Segovia records and wanted me to become the next Liona Boyd, I was an awkward 11 year old. I used to be embarrassed about playing the guitar. I’d dash behind parked cars, trying to hide, when I spotted anyone I knew while walking with my guitar to my lesson a few blocks away from my home and school.
Don’t get me wrong. I loved playing. Once I arrived at the studio with David, I felt protected. And if I can brag just a little, I actually became a pretty decent guitarist and even busked on the streets while travelling Europe after I graduated high school.
Thanks to David, I not only became comfortable about my musical pursuits, but about expressing myself. I even took up the flute, mostly because the guitar position in my high school’s concert band was taken up by a wonderfully talented musician, whom I also attended elementary and middle school with. Coincidently, that musician, Jason Fowler, and I both had David as our guitar teacher.
I was recently able to catch up with Jason in Vernon when he was in town to accompany Canadian tenor John McDermott. Jason is not only McDermott’s guitarist and music director, he is an acclaimed recording artist, singer-songwriter, soloist and session musician who has played all over the world.
Just recently, Jason was kind enough to send me David’s e-mail address. They have kept in touch, whereas, it’s been decades since I saw or spoke to my old guitar teacher as he lives outside of Toronto, and well, I live here.
However, I want to officially thank him for all he did for kids like Jason and I.
So, as all you music, dance, theatre and other art students wrap up your performing/school year, never stop dreaming or practising, and don’t forget to thank your teacher.