As most already know, Artie Traum died recently, after a bout with cancer. It came from left field for many of us; not knowing that he was sick. I have learned so much from him that I didn't really know where to begin... I wrote the following on Happy Traum's website, Homespun.com where I get my guitar lesson DVDs. Happy responded and I have added it below. If you ever want to hear great acoustic music, go to ArtieTraum.com or to Amazon and give a listen to some of Artie's incredible art.
In regards to Artie's passing, I have been doing a lot of thinking; perhaps like most of you. I thought about his family, his contribution to music, his illness (which is in my own family) and also about my own aging. My boyhood heroes are all aging. When I was 13, I felt as if Bob Dylan got me through a lot of rough times. Close to 70, he is still touring as we speak, and seems ageless; though I know he is not. At 9 years of age, I followed Tom Seaver of the NY Mets, and would "score" all of his games possible, even getting caught in 1973 with a small transistor radio under my books in the 5th grade. He is long retired and Shea Stadium is being torn down this year, and I live too far away for one last visit. Very sad.
I am sad for me. Why? I have never met Artie personally, but have enjoyed reading the testimonies of others (on guitar forums) that have met him, but there is something else, quite unique to our generation (and perhaps our parents' generation: that is, getting acquainted with someone through media.
Unable to afford private guitar lessons, I have "played" guitar (loosely using that word!) since I was a teen. 30 years and I have never graduated past a few chords and a squeaky barre chord. Raising kids meant choosing piano lessons, dance lessons, ice hockey equipment, and so on... for them, or guitar for me. There was never a struggle to choose.
2 years ago, I stumbled upon Homespun. I immediately began to see improvement as I studied and played everyday, for as long as either time, or sore fingers would allow. Friends who have heard me play previously, were stunned at what just 6 months of Homespun had done for me, and I quickly shared the catalog with them.
I learned something really fascinating. It amazes me that 100 years ago, only the extreme wealthy (or talented) could have afforded live music in their home. Today, in a small device, the entire Boston Pops Orchestra plays in my living room via a 3" little box. Dylan is in there, too. Happy Traum, Doc Watson, Bing Crosby...even those no longer alive, or "alive" and singing, just for me, in my living room. Tell this to someone in the 1800's!
With this new and amazing media, some feel, came a loss of personal touch. I understand that now more than ever. When I lived in NY, I took for granted the ability to hear live music played...there is nothing like it. But here in cold, cold Maine (especially where I am) live music is not nearly as accessible. On Long Island, I would go monthly to Katie Daly's and hear live Irish folk music and watch my little ones dance. But here....it is much harder to find, and when found, the drive is usually prohibitive.
So, on one level, there is a loss of a personal touch, but with Music Lessons via DVD, I learned this:
To get the most out of the lessons, you have to use the Pause button generously. Repeat, play, pause, return to menu, play it again, pause here, move on...and what did I find?
I found that with just one DVD, I had "spent" hours and hours with the artist. His (or her) personality comes across; whether it be enthusiasm, which marks Artie's teachings so much, or that wonderfully skillful anticipation of error that Happy has, where he KNOWS that I am going to stumble, so he slows down, or even encourages me to stop and practice this or that section. Some teachers have dry humor (Pete Huttlinger) and others drift into stories (Roy Bookbinder). Some make me chuckle because of their slightly embarrassed smile (John Sebastian) and others touch me because of their humility.
I found that I ended up spending a great deal of time with Artie. Having never met him, I know several things about him just from spending hour after hour after hour listening to him talk and play. From watching him and Happy together, you see two brothers without the rankling of professional or personal rivalry clouding the teaching.
Artie could not hide his love of music!
Artie talks about a small lick that he has played for 30 years as if he just learned it this week and cannot wait to tell you (the student) this new found treasure! It is like having an old friend come into the living room and tell you that you are improving and, hey, you gotta bend this string, oh, do you hear that? man, that is a nice sound!" and you become utterly hooked.
I have gleaned months of straight teaching from a single DVD, played over and over and over. Now, I find myself going back to "last years" teachings and reviewing from the DVD. One of the posters here shared with me that he so much loved the teaching on Mississippi John Hurt that he just puts it on TV to watch...for enjoyment; not for the lessons. I took a handheld recorder and recorded "Richland Woman Blues" duet with John Sebastian and Happy just to put it on CD and play it in the car. It is THAT good.
My 8 year old daughter LOVES Artie's harmony on "New Stranger Blues" from the DVD. We bought the albums on iTunes, but also recorded the DVD songs because they sound so raw and unrefined that they are like precious treasures....they remind me of the early days of "the Great White Wonder" or "The Genuine Basement Tapes" where colletors went to great lengths to here some wonderful unreleased material. She and I recorded ourselves doing "New Stranger Blues" as she tries to imitate Artie's harmony. (It prompted me to purchase the singing DVD from Homespun).
I have not yet tackled Artie's new DVD but am looking foward to it; though sad. I almost wish I knew he was sick because the feeling of being so stunned yesterday was really rough. Many others wrote the same thing....they were just stunned. I think that it will be hard at first to work on his latest DVD, but I already know what is going to happen.
His enthusiasm will overwhelm me, and make me forget that he left behind family and friends, and I will concentrate on the musical legacy that he so generously shared.
Whether it is "Meetings with Remarkable Friends" (what a generous album!), or his "no, you don't want to noodle this lead part" on his DVDs, he has left us all richer than before we knew of Artie Traum.
Forgive me the length of my post. This was a special man, who worked with people who have wonderfully enriched my life, and the life of my family.
Thanks, Artie!
I received this kind response from Happy Traum:
Happy Traum
7/26/2008 10:42:37 PM
Peter,
That is a wonderfully eloquent and heartfelt tribute to Artie - and to Homespun. I so appreciate your taking the time to articulate these feelings and experiences because they feel so genuine. It is very moving for me to hear about Artie's (and our) influence on your music and your life, including bringing our lessons to the next generation - your 8-year-old daughter.
You have put into words exactly what we are trying to accomplish at Homespun, and I very much appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Artie has been an important part of our work here - often behind the scenes - almost since the beginning. I'm glad that we have some of his playing and teaching to share with guitarists, and that his legacy will live on through those who have learned from him.
Musically yours,
Happy
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Happy Traum
Homespun Tapes
