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Guitar Tip from Learn & Master's Steve Krenz
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 Since last month's tip ("Silent Night") got such a good response, I decided to keep the same spirit of the season and give you another Christmas song... (Can you tell I love Christmas?)
Learn "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"
Let's also have a December contest! Instead of me being the only guy playing - I want to hear you play. Post your video of you playing "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" on the discussion board. We'll pick a winner from the people that post their song (completely by random drawing). We'll send the winner the Learn & Master course of their choice, just in time for Christmas! Have fun!
Click here for the video and pdf of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"...
By the way, if you want to view past issues of Steve Krenz' Learn & Master Guitar Monthly, you can check out the Archives here.
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"Holiday Musical Moments" Contest
Share Your Story...and Win!
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 The holidays are a great time to remember those wonderful times with family and friends. We all can remember some story of the holidays that involves music. Share your favorite holiday musical story with us below and one lucky member will win their choice of either the Acoustic PR-4E guitar pack or Special II Electric Player Pack (includes a Gibson's Learn & Master Guitar course, Epiphone PR-4E Jumbo or Special-II, amp, gig bag and accessories. Learn more about the player packs here.
To get us started, here's a Christmas musical memory that I had...
Last year, we had Thanksgiving with the wonderful family of some close friends. (My wife, Paulette, was in the middle of chemo at that time, so she didn't have the strength to do the "Big Thanksgiving" last year.) After we ate we all sat around their beautiful Christmas tree and sang Christmas carols while I played along. It was a great time. There is something about being surrounded by friends and family and singing Christmas songs. We do it most every year in some form or other. (That's the pleasant memory, see below for my unpleasant holiday musical memory.)
I look forward to reading your holiday musical moments! Make sure to read the necessary Terms and Conditions!
Share your story here. I look forward to reading them.
- Steve
Tuesday Night Live Lessons
7:00-8:00pm Central Standard Time US
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We've started something new - live interactive lessons on Tuesday nights! It's a time where I teach either some tips or a song, then you ask me questions about what I covered or whatever you want. We've been testing it out for a few weeks and each week we keep getting better and better at it (the technical aspects have challenged us, but our team risen to the challenge).
Join us live on Tuesday nights, or watch archived lessons anytime.
Last Tuesday night, we learned a simple fingerstyle arrangement of the Christmas song "Joy to the World." There were people from Canada, England, the Dominican Republic, and of course from states closer to home. If you want to see last week's lesson you can see it by clicking here...
Check the new forum out here! If you want to see the sheet music for "Joy to the World", you can download it here...
http://www.learnandmaster.com/email/Joy-to-the-World.pdf
Everyone is welcome to join us on Tuesdays. You can simply watch silently in "guest mode" or if you want to ask questions then you can easily do so by logging in.
Here's how easy it is:
1. Register with U-Stream by clicking here... (It's a bit of a process, so give yourself a minute or two to go through it.)
2. Then join use for Gibson's Learn & Master Guitar on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM CST...
If you can make it, I'll see you on Tuesday Night!
Christmas Customer Only Offer
Expect an Email This Week!
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Every year about this time, we make an offer to our present customers that's above and beyond our normal offers. I'll send out this year's offer sometime in the next couple of days, so be watching!
As a current customer, you will be able to get any (and every) course you want for only $89 just in time for Christmas. It's a little way of saying "Thanks!" to those of you who already have one of our courses and make such a difference here on the discussion board.
Be on the lookout for an email from me this week giving you the details and the special link.
The Joy, Terror, and Necessity of Playing for Others
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I know. There's a voice inside you that says "Are you kidding? There's no way I'm going to play my guitar in front of people. I might embarrass myself!" Almost everyone I know has this same voice to contend with. But contend with it you must...because the truth is, you will never be the musician that you want to be without eventually playing for others. A pilot might learn many important things in a classroom, but there are some things he can only learn in the air.
You can only progress so far in the confines of your practice room. The training wheels have to come off at some point, and for a guitar player, that means at least a small audience. There are just some aspects of music that you can only learn by playing for others.
I've seen countless guys on YouTube who are jaw-dropping phenomenal players but I get the feeling some of them never play outside of their bedrooms. They have worked hard to paint a musical masterpiece and then hide it under their bed.
"Well, when I get good enough, I'll play for others. I'm just not good enough yet."
It's not about being good, it's about conquering the hurdle of playing in front of others.
"The thought of playing in front of others scares me to death." Welcome to a very large club. Fear of being in front of people and performing is as basic a fear as it gets. Therefore, it also can be a source of tremendous accomplishment and joy once you conquer it.
Here are a couple of "fear killing" tips and suggestions:
1) Set a goal and tell someone about it...Right Now! Get up from the computer and walk into the next room and say these terrifying words to whoever is there "You know, I've been learning to play the guitar, and I thought it might be fun if I played a song for everyone on ____________ (fill in the date or occasion here)."
Setting a goal helps you prepare and telling someone forces you to uphold your commitment. And the "Right Now!" part forces you to commit to it before your brain talks you out of it.
2) Pick something easy and familiar. Do yourself a favor. Pick something easy. You are going to be nervous enough without having to worry about playing something tricky. Play something familiar so that others can recognize and enjoy the song.
3) This isn't Carnegie Hall, so it doesn't have to be perfect. The goal is not perfection. The goal is a simple performance. Swallow your pride, grab your instrument, and stumble through a simple song for your spouse or friend.
The holidays are a great time to play music. Many memories have been made when someone played a simple Christmas song for family or friends. Music has a way of cutting through the clutter and touching the soul. You need to play for others and others need to hear your music and see your dream of becoming a musician taking shape.
Breaking through the mental barrier of playing for others is a vital step for you in your musical development. Let's break through it.
Keep Learning & Growing!
Steve Krenz
December Featured Student Profile
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 Name: Greg Curtis, Jr.
Screen Name: "Greg Curtis"
Gender: Male
My city: Stuarts Draft, Virginia
My instruments/gear:
* Larivee L-03R Acoustic
* Fender Strat
* Telecaster
* Fender Mustang II Amp
* UltraSound AG-30 Amp
* Roland RD-700NX Stage Piano
Favorite Artists/Bands: Fleetwood Mac; Eric Clapton; The Beach Boys; The Who
Favorite style(s) to play: I enjoy playing Classic Rock & Blues
What made me want to play music?: I was inspired to start by a couple of my friends when I was 15 yrs. old & wanting to be able to play the songs I loved.
Previous music experience: Started playing guitar when I was 15 yrs. old but never learned the corect way until this course with Steve.
If your house was on fire, which one piece of gear would you grab and why?: I guess my Larrivee Acoustic as I love & prefer the sound of it as compared to an electric.
My favorite place to be when I'm playing music: My favorite place to play guitar would be tucked away in my bedroom/music room.
My highest musical moment: My highest musical moment was when I played for a class reunion at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Hobbies: Guitar, Piano, Sports Cars, RC Aircraft
Current Job: I'm finally retired
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Nashville, Tennessee
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