Student Spotlight: Blake Sloan

This "Student Spotlight" is on an up and comer named Blake Sloan. He is 13 years old and is in 8th grade at North Augusta Middle School. He has been playing guitar for around 5-6 years now. He has been taking lessons from me since April 2010. He started playing guitar because he has a brother who got him into it. His brother is a former student of mine named Aaron Sloan who was in a local band called the J man Band. There are several musicians in his family from his brother Aaron to cousins. Blake also plays saxophone and piano. I have had the pleasure of watching Blake really improve in the last two months. He practices regularly and it shows in his playing. I have witnessed his fingers and hands getting faster and stronger and his timbre improve greatly. His favorite band out there is Weezer. His dream concert bill to be a part of would be Metallica opening the show, Weezer in the middle and his band closing it out. He would love for his band to be a nice mix of Metallica and Weezer. If he could get a guitar lesson from any guitar player in history it would be Eddie Van Halen. Why Eddie Van Halen? "Eruption......that's enough said....if someone can create a song like Eruption I would love to know how his mind works" is what Blake's response was. If there was one place in the world he could play a gig at it would be Times Square in New York City. Blake said playing there and being around all those people would be a thrill. Blake's dream guitar would be a Gibson Les Paul Gold Top. I asked Blake where he sees his self musically in 5 years and he told me " Playing in a band regionally around the south east." The most embarrassing song on his ipod is Fur Elise. That's not really that embarrassing, I love that song!!! When Blake gets out of high school he wants to attend the University of South Carolina. He hopes to grow up to be a neurologist. He certainly has the brains and work ethic to be one. I have witnessed how smart he is first hand. He is a bright kid. Blake told me the most important thing he has gotten from lessons so far is a life lesson that if you learn to read music it takes you a long way with other instruments too and that as far as guitar goes finger exercises get you precision and quickness. So here is to you Blake........keep rockin...keep playing.....and keep having fun!!!!