WorkshopLive interview with Ian Campbell
Started Playing: Age 21 in 1999
Intruments: guitar, vocals
Styles: Acoustic fingerstyle, Rock and/or Roll, Country
When did you start to play? Played as a child, but REALLY started to play in 1989 (age 21)
When did you start to notice that your playing was different from everyone else's? When did you find your voice as a player? About 1995 (6 years after I started).
How do you keep your playing fresh? Never stop learning. I put aside specific time every week for serious study.
What do you do when you get stuck? Study Theory.
What do you still find hard to do? I'm no shredder, that's for sure.
How often are you surprised by your playing, or what you're listening to, or music in general? Alternate tunings make my ears perk up. That has been giving me some surprises lately, both with listening and playing.
Do you have a regular practice regimen? Do you have a practice "tool-kit" - metronome, tuner, recorder, etc.? Do you have a special place for practice set aside in your home? How do you practice on the road or when you travel? Yes, I have a regular practice regimen. I use NGW's "Stand Alone" CD's for lead guitar work, and a "loop station" pedal. I have a particular place in my home for regular practice, but I have "Crasher" guitars in many rooms that I can just pick up and play on a whim. When I'm on the road, I always bring my "Back-packer" guitar. It's tuff as nails, and I can take it on walks.
Is there a piece of gear you just can't live without? No, but I really do LOVE my Ovation Elite.
Are there one or two core ideas that are central to your teaching that you make sure every student learns? Practice is teaching your hands to do what you see or hear. That is where the learning is.
Do you find yourself returning to listen to the artists who inspired you when you first started to play? Who are they? Absolutely! James Taylor, Jackson Browne.
Does your playing change when you switch instruments? Not much.
How often, when you're playing, do you find those moments of pure music, when your head is clear, your fingers are working,
there are no distractions, and it's just you and the music?
I'm amazed how many times I feel that on stage with a big crowd of people looking
right at me. It's total freedom, like I'm flying. It happens often, but only when I relax. If I feel stressed, it doesn't work.
We have a feature called "Big Ears", where we suggest interesting music to our members that they might not have heard before. What would you suggest for them? Patti Larkin, Eddie From Ohio, Meg Hutchinson.
What are you listening to these days? Do you search out music that's new and unfamiliar to you? I really enjoy contemporary folk music. There is a circuit of outstanding singer/songwriters out there that you won't see on MTV.
Do you have a musical wish list - other instruments to learn, people to play with, artists or styles to explore? I strive to be a great piano player as well as a great finger-style guitar player.
Have you ever had a really great teacher? What made him/her so good? 2 of them. Lou Manzi teaches in a way that is very easy to understand. He uses theory very well... 2nd, Matt Smith, who makes everything look easy and really cares about his students. He has real passion.
How do you learn best? By watching someone do a skill. I am very visual.
Do you have any practice tips we can share with our subscribers? Understanding Theory and learning the notes on your fret-board will accelerate your skills. When you're sitting around watching TV, or doing nothing, play your scales.
visit Ian at www.iancampbellmusic.com
