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Louis: Hello my name is Lou Samsa and I'm playing
guitar at the Lucky Moose in Walker.
♪
♪
♪
When I do perform these songs as far as my thinking
goes. I just 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 from 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 they 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 a 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.
Like about 5th, 6th 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 decided to go to
college, I didn't think I was going to be a guitar major.
Or go into 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 2 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 2 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 you know finish my
degree. But meanwhile when I was in college
I met another guitar player. Actually he was a base
guitar player. And so we started another band.
And so here I am in Bemidji going to
school. But also playing in this band on the side. You know
and at that time we were you know again playing on the weekends.
But meanwhile I met a guitar player that moved into
town here in Bemidji. Actually his name was Kevin Daily.
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 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 have a degree in piano
technology.
♪
♪
♪
After I finished my degree in music and elementary education
I was substitute teaching around town
for awhile. 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 Daily, my good guitar teacher that got me into all of 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 shop 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
well for a long, long time. It's been about 36
years. Because after the Melody Shop closed here I went right to
Overbeeks. And so I was at the Melody Shop for 18
years and then at Overbeeks now for 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... but I did get on the computer and actually
scoped out some guitar players that actually taught guitar
online. Great jazz guitar players and they actually
brought the world to me. I realized I was
way behind, way behind. So
right now I actually practice about 2 to 3 hours every
day. And I've been doing this now for about maybe about 3
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 & Grill in Walker,
Minnesota. Which I actually do now as a musician I
play at restaurants and I play at weddings and at the
Forestedge Winery and Ruttgers. 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 this 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... work. Which I really love.
Probably because it's enough to just take care of myself let
alone worrying about 3 or 4 other band mates.
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 whose 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've. 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. You know 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
Overbeeks and also at Bemidji State
University where I'm 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 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 of 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. I remember one of my earlier students from years ago who practiced
10 hours a day. He passed me up in 3 years.
And I remember that was... kind of hurtful
for me to pass me up. And I had
played for 25 years and he passes me up in 3
years. And he went on to move to New
York. A great guitar player. Actually his name is John Sea (?) 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'll 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 3 kids. It's
been awesome. I was able to manage
everything. So I've been blessed to have a wonderful
family. And my wonderful guitar. [laughing] And you know if that
works for you great. But some people can't have
both. I mean if they really want to get to that higher
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 interesting in learning how to play your guitar
at a higher level. Or if you're
interested in playing at a special function,
you'll find me in the Bemidji phone book,
Louis 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 everyone and in every
occupation period.
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