THIS Is Why I love Learning For Its Own Sake

Late last year I signed up for an introductory class from Rochester University, The Music Of The Beatles.
(Online learning has come a very long way...wow)
Coursera
A taxing deep class it was not. There was some discussion of song forms but for the most part even if you just took the tests, never having heard a word of the lectures, using the internet as your reference, you could pass.
40,000 signed up.
4,000 completed the class.
3,000 received a Statement of Accomplishment.

Fine. Let's ramp up the skill level. Yeah.
What possessed me to enroll into a class present by Berklee College of Music, Jazz Improvisation with Gary Burton, I cannot say.
This is no 101 introduction.

The Beatle class consisted of an hour and a half worth of videos. Each had a question at the end and then there was a quiz on all the videos at the end of the lectures.

In the Berklee class, Gary Burton makes five two minute videos. Each succinctly (no, really?) explaining the point to be conveyed.
And then he unloads with, for example (week 2) six modes - are they major or minor (explain your thoughts on separate paper) and then play each mode for 30 to 60 seconds uploading your work to Soundcloud.
Shameless Plug - 'Hey You'
This is serious work.
Half of these applications of the modes are things I never thought of. As a young man when confronted with these modes I tended to play by ear. With rehearsal I can play anything. But I could get away with it, if need be. This assignment took me over three hours to complete. And at that, it was a C at best.
(I knew I could do better but I want to complete this and not endlessly tweak towards imagined perfection - I know what I know)

But it opened a door. And I am of the age and focus to be aware. A light went on.

Tonight I decided to work on some pieces I had written and yet until today could not lay a solo over...not to my satisfaction. And there comes a point when you accept your guitar and it's voice, with all the foibles. The inner critic says - "Let it go," like the assignment.

As soon as I started playing I looked at the neck and without hearing his words, I got what Mr. Burton hoped to get across. I learned something.
I can play with the tunes that had stymied me?!
I have no barriers?

Okay, so the Bruins didn't win, I did.


P.S.
Modes in music are a second way of looking at most "normal" scales. Modes can be Major or Minor or even Altered. My point is they are nothing new. Just a slightly different way to look at scales and the chords that underpin them.

Al had taught me of scales which I devoured and modes which I did not. As I said, I have a great ear and can play with Chick Corea with no qualms without understanding what I am doing.

All at once, the long lost information Al left me coupled with this terse, almost unfriendly man online (he has smiled once so far?) blew the horizons of my musical world wide.

This.is.so.cool.