August 30, 2009
Last week I was in Germany. I was there for ten days for the International Guitar Festival in Hersbruck. There were some fantastic players and teachers there including the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (LAGQ), Michael Langer and Leo Brouwer. Mr. Brouwer is from Cuba and I studied some of his pieces in college and I was most excited to see him. His compositions for guitar have really moved the guitar into new and exciting territory.
After the festival, I went with some family to Schwabach where the Hüttlingers have history dating back five hundred years! We toured the city, saw great art, met other Hüttlingers, met with the Bürgermeister, and made lots of new friends. I suppose we all wonder, at some point in our lives, where we come from. And we got the chance to trace more of our history than most folks get to do. The trip to Schwabach was one of the highlights of my life.
Today I am in Anchorage, Alaska. I'm really not one who likes to go to McDonald's or Burger King or Applebee's or any other chain restaurant. When I go somewhere I want to discover some local flavor, culture, people. I can go to those places and I could be anywhere in the world because they are all the same. (Not to mention the food isn't that great and generally not good for you). So I searched high and low this morning for a local breakfast. While driving around I noticed lots of small music stores. I probably saw five different stores where you can rent band instruments, buy guitars, get instruments repaired. It was so great to see Mom and Pop stores still exist. No Guitar Center or other big chains selling dozens and dozens of exactly the same thing... I finally found a little diner/restaurant called Harley's. The food was fresh and made to order. Bacon and eggs... I know, I know - We can buy that stuff anywhere. But I'm in Alaska and I wanted it cooked and served by Alaskans in a local diner. Not a corporate owned place. I ate too much and loved every bite. Read the local paper, chatted with the waitress, watched other locals come and go. It was great... Now if Delta Airlines didn't want so much darned money for baggage ($20 1st bag, $30 2nd bag and a whopping $125 for my 3rd bag [the fishing gear]) I'd be going fishing before I start teaching at Acoustic Alaska tomorrow. Instead, I'll take a drive and take some photos. No worries, I'm in Alaska and I'm going to have fun!
Last week I was in Germany. I was there for ten days for the International Guitar Festival in Hersbruck. There were some fantastic players and teachers there including the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (LAGQ), Michael Langer and Leo Brouwer. Mr. Brouwer is from Cuba and I studied some of his pieces in college and I was most excited to see him. His compositions for guitar have really moved the guitar into new and exciting territory.
After the festival, I went with some family to Schwabach where the Hüttlingers have history dating back five hundred years! We toured the city, saw great art, met other Hüttlingers, met with the Bürgermeister, and made lots of new friends. I suppose we all wonder, at some point in our lives, where we come from. And we got the chance to trace more of our history than most folks get to do. The trip to Schwabach was one of the highlights of my life.
Today I am in Anchorage, Alaska. I'm really not one who likes to go to McDonald's or Burger King or Applebee's or any other chain restaurant. When I go somewhere I want to discover some local flavor, culture, people. I can go to those places and I could be anywhere in the world because they are all the same. (Not to mention the food isn't that great and generally not good for you). So I searched high and low this morning for a local breakfast. While driving around I noticed lots of small music stores. I probably saw five different stores where you can rent band instruments, buy guitars, get instruments repaired. It was so great to see Mom and Pop stores still exist. No Guitar Center or other big chains selling dozens and dozens of exactly the same thing... I finally found a little diner/restaurant called Harley's. The food was fresh and made to order. Bacon and eggs... I know, I know - We can buy that stuff anywhere. But I'm in Alaska and I wanted it cooked and served by Alaskans in a local diner. Not a corporate owned place. I ate too much and loved every bite. Read the local paper, chatted with the waitress, watched other locals come and go. It was great... Now if Delta Airlines didn't want so much darned money for baggage ($20 1st bag, $30 2nd bag and a whopping $125 for my 3rd bag [the fishing gear]) I'd be going fishing before I start teaching at Acoustic Alaska tomorrow. Instead, I'll take a drive and take some photos. No worries, I'm in Alaska and I'm going to have fun!
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