So who is still around after almost 2 decades?

[Cindy]

Hello there. It's been a very long time since I've visited the forum. Back in the day, Steve's forum was bustling with activity. Does anyone remember all the videos Dennis used to share as he worked his way through the course? His skills were tremendous.

So how are all of you? And how is the LMG content coming along for everyone? Who has finished the course? And if you haven't yet finished, are you stuck on something (either not understanding concepts or needing to develop more finger dexterity)?

Wishing everyone in the US a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

[DianeB]

@Cindy  Hi, Cindy, it's good to see you back! After that first year here in our new home, the discussion board has quieted considerably. Doug and I monitor it daily, but there's only about a dozen regular visitors. Traffic picks up when Steve has a Live Lesson, as people download the accompanying files.

I think there are multiple reasons. DVDs have fallen out of fashion, and Legacy no longer offers the course on physical media; apparently they licensed the content to Udemy. Steve has found a niche and likely has little interest in duplicating what's available through multiple streaming services. There's also a general fatigue around social media now. It's mostly reposts and videos and emoji, and few people seem to have either the patience or capacity to write posts in comprehensible, complete sentences. I find it sad.

I was part of the last cohort of any size to start out with the LMG course, and that was twelve years ago. I've seen maybe three or four people report completing the main course or the fingerstyle course in that time. I'm just not one of them. Even years ago, we observed that once someone reached about session eight, their participation dropped off. Maybe they hit a wall or lost interest. Maybe they learned how to teach themselves.

The good news is that a significant number of us still remain connected through Steve's Live Lessons and conferences. The fingerstyle retreat is thriving, but the summer gathering remains on hiatus while Steve locates a new venue. Attendance dropped off steadily post-covid; enrollment at Trevecca took a hit and revenue with it, and Trevecca raised the facility rental fees beyond Steve's budget. We wait to see if anything materializes for this summer.

Meanwhile, Doug and I tend to the housekeeping here. Since I last heard from you, I've completed several music theory courses at the local university and lots of private lessons. So when the occasional theory question comes around, I can usually field it, as you and BenBob used to do so well. I enjoyed a two year stint in my neighborhood band, and lately play the occasional open mic. This is my way of giving back. I really look forward to seeing the gang in Nashville every year. You'll find my reports in the conferences section.

Hope to see you as a regular again! Happy Thanksgiving, and best wishes!

[Eracer_Team-DougH]

I know you/I have shared a coupe of emails and Facebook chats over the past little while.. but for the record here:

I'm one of those that never completed LMG main course.. took that Master part of the course all too hard with session 4 way back in.. 2007 😫 slowed me down along with my 24x7 job.. thankfully I'm not 24x7 after 30yrs of 2hrs sleep a day.

when I hit LMG Session 8 the Church Choir gig opened up for me and I became over those next 5yrs a Music Ministry Leader and over 300 masses (and more than 300 + practices) ; you'd never know that I played in front of 400-1500 people during mass after my fingerstyle performance where I became derailed somewhat in front of 35. 

I might be the longest running LMG player still left on the forum having started it in May 2007.

both the LMG Blues and LMG Fingerstyle I just barely made it to Session 3 in both of them.

I spend any free time working on Truefire Online courses mostly the Blues courses.

I have a 12 song ukulele set I taught myself to play and usually run that at parties along with my 30+ "sturm'n'sing" guitar song set list. usually minus the solos..

Many of us wish Steve would resurrect the LMG learning series into a GG series of some sort to breath new life here. but has Dianne said.. he's got other things on the go to make him happy.

after 5 months of working only LMG Fingerstyle Series to gear up for the Fingerstyle retreat (Oct17-20, 2024).. I've sort of lost motivation at the moment , semi-floundering on what to do or watch TV.

So I'm sort of splitting my time between continuing the LMG Fingerstyle and Truefire Blues Solo courses.

don't know what will be the next fire under me to go full on learning again.

 

 

Edited November 24 by Eracer_Team-DougH

[Cindy]

2 hours ago, Eracer_Team-DougH said:

... don't know what will be the next fire under me to go full on learning again.

What about going back over some of the Christmas tunes that Steve did on YouTube several years ago? This time of year would be ideal to pull them out. 🙂

[Eracer_Team-DougH]

@Cindy thanks to church all those years I have 30+ Christmas songs. 
yes I could work them into new arrangements with maybe more fingerstyle added. 
usually play 6-10 of those at the family Christmas dinner. 
but work had all of us cancel Christmas vacation schedules this year, so I won’t be playing for anyone this year 

[Nancy Lawing]

Pachelbel aside (lesson 10 hurdle), I'm on Lesson 13 now after ____ (embarrassing number) years.  I tend to take detours to complement what I'm learning, including Steve's fingerstyle course which I'm in now, and a couple of his Academy courses.  I also enjoy justinguitar.com (great songs) and love his ongoing theory course.  Steve started me on the journey, though.  Who is Dennis?

[Cindy]

3 hours ago, Nancy Lawing said:

.... Who is Dennis?

Dennis was one of the early members of LMG. He posted videos showing what was possible going through the course. If I remember correctly, he played trumpet so was familiar with notation. His accomplishments on guitar were really impressive!

[Fretless]

Hello Cindy, I remember you.

I have only been on L&MG since 2011. Like Doug, getting a job playing bass in one band and being invited to ply drums in the church worship group, along with the chidlren's singing (at last, something on guitar) and transcribing hundreds of songs so that the church has written song melodies, not just pages of lyrics with chords, takes a hugr amount of my time.

Add to all that the war next door in Ukraine and the humanitarian aid that needs to be delivered there and the refugees who have temporarily been evicted from their homes by the war - for nearly 3 years so far. Time goes by quickly.

I bought Steve's Jazz course which I will do as soon as I get through the basic L&MG course.

Edited November 24 by Fretless

[Cindy]

2 hours ago, Fretless said:

Hello Cindy, I remember you.

I have only been on L&MG since 2011. Like Doug, getting a job playing bass in one band and being invited to ply drums in the church worship group, along with the chidlren's singing (at last, something on guitar) and transcribing hundreds of songs so that the church has written song melodies, not just pages of lyrics with chords, takes a hugr amount of my time.

Add to all that the war next door in Ukraine and the humanitarian aid that needs to be delivered there and the refugees who have temporarily been evicted from their homes by the war - for nearly 3 years so far. Time goes by quickly.

I bought Steve's Jazz course which I will do as soon as I get through the basic L&MG course.

I do remember you! Clearly you've been busy utilizing the skills you learned. Glad to see another familiar member!

[Randy120]

Still here since 2010. I did a lot of learning, but I would not say I mastered Steve's course. 

He got me playing though. I am still working on it. 

[matonanjin]

Wow Cindy!  Thanks for starting this very thoughtful, memory  invoking thread.  Great to hear from you and I have fond memories of so many of those mentioned.  

I'm still here but not as active, or supportive, as I should be of late.   For the recent few months have just not been very motivated to pick up the guitar.   My wife and I just got back from a mental hygiene break that involved quite a bit of shopping and nice restaurants!  😉  Maybe that will recharge some batteries (or neurons?).   

And, yes, I did finish the course.  I would need to look back at my posts to see when I did so but it's been a while.  

Thanks again for starting this.

[Cindy]

On 11/27/2024 at 11:49 AM, matonanjin said:

Wow Cindy!  Thanks for starting this very thoughtful, memory  invoking thread.  Great to hear from you and I have fond memories of so many of those mentioned.  

I'm still here but not as active, or supportive, as I should be of late.   For the recent few months have just not been very motivated to pick up the guitar.   My wife and I just got back from a mental hygiene break that involved quite a bit of shopping and nice restaurants!  😉  Maybe that will recharge some batteries (or neurons?).   

And, yes, I did finish the course.  I would need to look back at my posts to see when I did so but it's been a while.  

Thanks again for starting this.

It's been a long time, but I remember you! Glad to hear you are doing well.

I have to laugh ... I think you should update your signature since you mentioned finishing the course! Back in the day, I remember several members listing their current session in the signature area. Take care and have a wonderful holiday!