 If you watch Common Ground online, consider becoming a member or making a donation at lptv.org Common Ground is brought to you by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund with money from the vote of the people November 4th, 2008. Music Hello, my name is Lou Samsa and I'm playing guitar at the Lucky Moose in Walker. Music When I do perform these songs, as far as my thinking goes, I want to play these songs with lots of emotion, with feeling. When you know a song well, you can play with much more feeling. If you don't know it as well as you should, then you're worried about what the next phrase might be or exactly that next chord. And then that takes away from the feeling of music. To me, I can't explain the feeling I get out of music when I play. It's wonderful. Sometimes I literally almost fall out of my chair. I'm so excited about it. So I know I'm very sensitive. If I go see a movie sometimes, I'm crying like a baby. And I think that shows in my playing. I think we all have this potential to feel this, but that's one thing I never did figure out for sure. Do we all have the capacity to feel music emotionally? Because sometimes you see people play, they might play one note and it might be like this. Just one note. They're feeling that note. And then you get another guy that's just sitting there kind of stone faced. So I don't know what he's feeling. And that's the saying that you hear many times. You can always tell a player just he might only play one note, but it reflects that emotion is there. I've been teaching guitar for about 50 years. I actually started playing guitar when I was 11 years old. I'm 65 now. So I've been doing this since the dawn of man. But I got introduced to music and guitar. Probably when I was a little kid, when I was like about fifth, sixth grade, I used to listen to Elvis Presley and the Beatles. And that really got me motivated. And I remember learning songs and singing along with them. And I remember getting myself worked up into tears. There was something about music, especially these particular songs by Elvis and the Beatles and Ricky Nelson for that matter. But initially, there was something very moving about music. I knew there was something there, even though I didn't take it seriously. I loved it, but I had other interests that I followed. You know, whether it was sports or what have you. In fact, when I went, decided to go to college, I didn't think I was going to be a guitar major or going to music at all. I actually wanted to become an elementary teacher. And so here I'm at college at Bemidji State University. I'm actually from the Iron Range, from a town called Chisholm. But I came here to college, majoring in elementary education. And after two years, I decided to quit college and move back home and start a band with one of my friends. I moved back to Chisholm, and I started a band there. And we were together for about two years. And we were playing in some of the bars around. I was making some money. But the guys in my band weren't quite as serious about it as I was. So I decided to go back to college and finish my degree. But meanwhile, when I was in college, I met another guitar player. Actually, he was a bass guitar player. And so we started another band. And so here I am in Bemidji, going to school, but also playing this band on the side. And at that time, we were again playing on the weekends. But meanwhile, I met a guitar player that moved into town here in Bemidji. Actually, his name was Kevin Daly. And I took lessons with him for a good year. And he basically changed my life. After I was with him for that year, I realized that I wanted more of this guitar business. So I still finished my elementary degree. And I also took up music. Now, at the time, they didn't have a guitar major here. So I had no choice but to do voice, because you have to pick an instrument. So I chose voice. So I ended up getting a degree in vocal and elementary. Not to mention, I was qualified to teach driver education. And I even have a degree in piano technology. After I finished my degree in music and elementary education, I was substitute teaching around town for a while. And I actually was tuning pianos in town. But there was something about that guitar that was always beckoning me. It was always after me. So before you know it, I started other bands. And I was always playing in bands. I got to the point where I actually quit tuning pianos, which monetarily was probably not the wisest decision, because it was a very good income doing that. But my guitar was always calling me. So I ended up actually teaching guitar here in Bemidji. Kevin Daly, my guitar teacher that got me into all this, he was teaching guitar at a little music store here in Bemidji called the Melody Shop. Now, Kevin actually moved back to Minneapolis. And when he left, he got me the teaching job at the Melody Shop. So I actually started teaching guitar at the Melody Shop, where I was at for 18 years actually. So I was always able to make a living teaching guitar lessons, which I love by the way. I love teaching one-on-one. And also playing in bands. So that's how I was able to make my living, just teaching guitar and playing in bands. And I've been doing that for a long, long time. It's been about 36 years, because after the Melody Shop closed here, I went right to Overbeaks. And so I was at the Melody Shop for 18 years, and then I had Overbeaks now for about 18 years. So just this passion I have. But the interesting thing is, as time was going on, I was always kind of thinking I was good. But then with the computer, I did get on the computer and actually scope out some guitar players that actually taught guitar online, great jazz guitar players, and they actually brought the world to me. I realized that was way behind. Way behind. So right now I actually practice about two to three hours every day. And I've been doing this now for about maybe three years now. So my playing is getting better. I am improving. It's still a joy. I love it. I just wish I had the passion to do 10 hours a day, which great players do. You know, it's a lifelong commitment. It's hours and hours. And my hat goes off to the people that can do that. But what can I say? It is beautiful, even if you do a little bit. About a year ago I played at the Lucky Moose Bar and Grill in Walker, Minnesota, which I actually do now as a musician. I play at restaurants, and I play at weddings and at the Forest Edge Winery and Rutgers, different places like that. I do a solo performance, and I play a variety of music. In fact, I like to refer to myself as eclectic electric. I play a little bit of country, a little jazz, some blues, a little rock, a little bit of classical, just a little variety of music, which I love, because it brings out different emotions in me. Before I did the solo stuff, I played in bands for 35 years straight, basically, pretty much every weekend. But it wasn't until I was about maybe 55 years old where I started doing solo, solo work, which I really love, probably because it's enough to just take care of myself, let alone worrying about three or four other bandmates. I've got plenty to worry about with just me. But I will say that, being a solo guitarist, you really have to know your songs well, because when you play in the public, you never know who's there, there might be some music professors there, there might be people with cameras there, and I've learned in the past that I didn't know my songs as good as I should have. Because there's more pressure that's involved, and it's easy to mess up. But I know this about myself, that if I really dig in and practice like you should, you get to the point where you know that song so well that even if you get distracted, the song can still flow because this muscle memory and it's so locked in your head that even though you get distracted a little bit, you don't fall apart. You can just keep it going. So for myself, I'm sure everybody's different, for myself if I know the song real well, that gives me the confidence, and when I have the confidence, I have no problem. Now some of the venues I perform at, the people are just eating, drinking, talking, so their undivided attention isn't really on me. So it's more laid back of an atmosphere, which relieves a little pressure, but you've got to remember that while people are eating, they still look over and they listen. And I guess my goal is if it feels good to me, I'm assuming it feels good to the audience. I think we're all human beings, and I think they can tell if you love something and it feels really good for you, I think they can pick up on that. So right now I still teach private guitar lessons, still at Overbeaks, and also at Bemidji State University, where I'm an adjunct instructor, and I still do my solo guitar work. And so this is what I do for a living, and it's wonderful. I've always loved sharing what I know, and I still love doing it to this very day. I love teaching guitar. When I give lessons, I'm hoping that the person would like to make guitar their career. This is the way I teach. I don't fool around. I'm not demanding. I don't get upset if they don't practice. All I can do is try to inspire them, get them excited about guitar, because you can actually make a living whether you play in the military or if you're a studio guitarist or if you play in a band or if you teach private guitar. There are a lot of venues, options to make a living playing guitar. So as an instructor, I enjoy watching my students grow. Actually, they pass me up. And I remember one of my earlier students from years ago, who practiced 10 hours a day. He passed me up in three years, and I remember that was kind of hurtful for me, to pass me up. I had played for 25 years and he passes me up in three years. And he went on to move to New York, a great guitar player. Actually, his name is John C. from Bemidji here. So as time went on, I had others that basically did the same thing. So now it's enjoyable to watch my students pass me up, and I can only wish them the best for high levels of success. I would like to encourage everyone to at least study some instrument. I am a believer that if you study an instrument, I think that carries over into all areas of your life. I think that will just make you a better person. I think you'll be able to achieve higher levels in any other field just by studying music, because it's so completely involved with your whole body, your mind, the physicality, the emotional. I highly recommend everybody to study music. As far as unlocking some potential in my students, as far as their guitar playing goes, it's wonderful to see the little light bulbs go off in their eyes when they can start creating music. I love when I see a student grow, but I have to say we don't all grow at the same levels, and I think the accomplishments and feeling of certain people are just going to be higher. That's life. Sometimes you're actually married to your instrument. That's the kind of a commitment some people make. I've had students that were on their way and they actually decided to fall in love with somebody, which is great. But I will say their guitar playing went bye-bye, and I'm married. I've got three kids and it's been awesome. I was able to manage everything. So I've been blessed to have a wonderful family and my wonderful guitar. If that works for you, great. But some people can't have both. I mean, if they really want to get to that high level. If they just want to play a few chords and have fun for the rest of their life, that's fine. But, you know, as far as that commitment to get to those higher levels, boy, sometimes we might have to make that very difficult decision. Whether you want to play guitar or do you want to get married or not? Because some people will tell you that instrument is... you're married to it. What can I say? If you're interested in learning how to play your guitar at a higher level, or if you're interested in hiring me to play at a special function, you'll find me in the Bemidji phone book, Lewis Samsa. I think the audience actually appreciates seeing somebody live working at their craft. It would be like myself when a plumber comes over to my house and I'm watching him. I admire that, or a mechanic, or a carpenter. I think it's wonderful to watch somebody that knows what they're doing. I admire, I respect it. And I think that the audience for musicians is the same. I guess what I would say in a nutshell is that you can find art in everything and in every one and in every occupation. Period.