How developed as a player/musician were you at 22?

[AllenS]

Because Vinnie.....well....





My tongue was firmly in check when I made this thread.

[Paul Marangoni]

Yes, but....Tony at 19....

[AllenS]

Yes, Tony was truly a prodigious drumming/musical genius (with Vinnie being the first to tell you that), however I figured that since this is the Vinnie forum...ah nevermind, they were both insanely skilled innovators from a very young age.

[Julián Fernández]

What about Jeff playing with Steely at 20?
All the greats seem to have in common a great facility at a very young age...

Here´s a cool rehearsal track...

[Odd-Arne Oseberg]

I was just a guitar player then. Completely done with the hi gain shred stuff and was actually at Jeff Berlin's Player's School of music that year.

Not necessarily the best teachers except for Matt, who was just the sweetest guy. In the end I regret that I didn't go to MI instead.

IN any case. The type of path and tone I've been going for since was found around that time.


Now I've mainly been a teacher for young kids and I play mostly drums. Took a while to feel at home there, and as I am pushing technical chops way more than I've done in a while on guitar it's different. But it's a different instrument. I've met plenty of teachers who do just one thing, but in a way I feel the minimal acceptale skills as a drummer take more work to achieve. Offcourse, the money beat gigs are still what pay the best, but that's hard too, loud consistent, steady.

As an all rounder with taste for improvised music, there really is no end though.

[Pocketplayer]

All the greats seem to have in common a great facility at a very young age...

Astute. Howard Gardner would agree with this. Not to get off topic here, but it is interesting,
at least to me.
The recipe follows these guidelines;
1. start early...rapid learning curve compared to peers (usually playing with others, wide variety of experiences most learn in the 20's)
big help is if a parent is in the "biz" while living in the culture daily w/a heavy does of sacrificing the personal for the professional
2. develop a reservoir or database that will serve you the rest of your career
3. there is a 10 year incubation period (first learning experience to success)
4. medium age for the first level of success is 20
5. significant flow at 28
6. major contribution at 37

Other
* strong sense of self--not afraid to be different, to be exposed, to be criticized, resilient, motivated by insecurity to overcome
* characterized by both excessive optimism and overwhelming fear of failure creating a dynamic equilibrium
* strong intuition
* leap before you look characteristic...dive in and learn to swim

Not all exclusive, but some of the commonalities

The boys in TOTO (Porcaro, Paich, Lukather) were breed in this world
Joe Porcaro, Marty Paich (musical director for TV shows Ironside & Sony & Cher), Bill Lukather (asst director/prod manager)

[Paul Marangoni]

Simon at 19...

[Julián Fernández]

Nice post, Pocket. Many of the greats do have many things in common.
Louie with Benny, Anthony with Buddy (and Benson too), Cliff with Michel, Jordan with the Blues Brothers... Tons of examples of guys already ripping it at his early 20s. Scary! Ha.

[Pocketplayer]

Jeff at 20

[Paul Marangoni]

Jeff at 20

Jeff and Jim Hodder...