Feb. 20, 2023 - I’VE SAID IT BEFORE: SELLING IS TEACHING
Sam Snyder teaches customers about the value of their guitars.
I had the opportunity to teach this young woman about early fretless banjos. I was explaining the advantages of a skin head on a banjo. She gave me somewhat sullen look….I thought perhaps she was a vegan. I asked if that would bother her and she said, "no I grew up on a cow farm!". I hope she joins our Old Time!
Here is a picture of things I know nothing about. I’ll leave it to Sammy Hirsh to teach me what each of these things are used for, and then we will be able to assign a value to them.
We had a visit from long time friend, performer and teacher, Drew Frech, master of the classical banjo, Dixieland jazz and anything else that has strings. Drew graduated with a degree in violin from the Eastman School of Music many years ago….so long ago in fact, that if you had a banjo in your possession, you had to hide it because you might be thrown out of school!
Last Wednesday’s record shattering temperature of 70° allowed me to go out and explore the village of Penn Yan on my mobility cart. It was so much fun to breathe some fresh air. The 18th Amendment, a great restaurant, is owned by our neighbors, Rose and Chet. We hope to get there very soon with my old friend, Bob Duffy! On the way back I’ll stop at Laurentide Brewery and had a yummy cream ale.
I’VE SAID IT BEFORE: SELLING IS TEACHING
February 20th, 2023
Good morning folks,
Life is a classroom and we are in it for the duration. Teaching is truly the most basic and fundamental of all occupations. Handing knowledge from generation to generation is what keeps humanity’s head above the waters of ignorance. I knew I was going to be a teacher from a very young age. As the oldest of six children, I was always teaching someone how to do something, whether it was tying shoes or swimming or swinging a baseball bat…it’s the nature of big brothers. I even remember teaching my sister Elizabeth how to walk! I tried to deny this "pre-occupation", but it must have been ingrained in my being. There was no way I was going to escape being a teacher. I tried other occupations, but I always came back to teaching. I was a realtor for about six months. I sold so many houses and made so much money that it could’ve completely change my life. But I remember one Sunday I was mowing the lawn and I got a phone call to show a house. It might’ve meant as much money as I could make in a month as a teacher. I left the lawnmower where it was and went out to "show a house". When I came back it was just getting dark, pouring rain and the lawnmower was still in the same place. I knew at that moment, I could not have a family and pursue a real estate career. It would have consumed me like a drug. I would have become just another money addict. I also spent a few summers painting houses as many teachers did, but down deep I thought, in the words of my dear friend, Rich Columbo that "Manual Labor" was the name of the Spanish guitarist!
So what does an owning a music store have to do with teaching? We do not have a school there. Teaching is imparting knowledge, and that is what we do. All of the employees I have had over the nearly 20 years have been my "students". I have taught them not only about the instruments, but also lessons from my life. I have instructed them that their goal is to teach our customers about the instruments we have in the store using all of the resources that we have available. When doing this, customers are able to make a choice from knowledge and they end up with an instrument that they’re going to treasure for a long time. Additionally, when folks sell us an instrument they know they have been treated fairly. I make it very clear that selling is not convincing someone that they need something in order to make their lives better. No, rather my staff teaches everyone who walks through the door about the merits and values of musical instruments, whether they are ours or theirs. So what are the qualities of a good teacher? The top of the list is never ending patience, humility and gentleness. Harsh words and an attitude of superiority do not help people learn things, but rather turns off the learning mode. That comes from 20 years of experience in "special education".
Since the beginning, our store has used the back lobby to hold jams in different styles of music. These learning experiences are always free, although we do encourage tips for the jam leader. This past weekend we held our ukulele jam with a couple dozen folks and faithful teacher, Randy Pollok. Our Old Time Jam, and Bluegrass Jam are coming up in the next two weeks and are led by great teachers. We are looking for one more jam, and perhaps we can find someone who would like to lead an Irish Session jam, or some type of mandolin get together. Let me know if you have any suggestions.
Our store, once again, is turning into a vibrant space where people gather and share their experiences, share their knowledge, and share their music. That is why I opened a store in the first place and that is why I have re-opened the doors to the public. We are only open Thursday through Saturday from 11 AM til 5 PM, but it is three very busy days. We are by appointment to do special "one on one" teaching Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It is a model that is working at the current time. Our hopes are to eventually be open full-time and to bring back our musical events. Rest assured, these are not moneymaking affairs, but they are for teaching, for spreading the knowledge, for giving back to the community and for joy of music.
Sincerely,
John Bernunzio
A master teacher in so many ways, Ben Proctor is instructor in the public school system as well as teaching privately and raising a beautiful family. He was one of those folks who was probably born to be a teacher, but he’s also a master performer. Ben will be graciously conducting our Bluegrass backroom jams for beginners. Come one, come all it’s going to be a lot of fun.
Teacher, Dan Palmer on the right will lead the Old Time jam. Hopefully his longtime musical companion, Warren Tole will be with him at the Old Time jam. It’s this SATURDAY!!
I have used this picture before but in a different context. It was for my daughter Kara’s birthday that her sisters and sister-in-law Taylor took her out for dinner. Thinking more about this picture, Rose and Kara, at the center are master teachers and Taylor and Grace, on the ends have taught us much about how to live life. You see, everyone is really a teacher at some point.