-a legendary jazz guitarist's advice for becoming a good musician.
The idea holds for other things.
If you want to become good at ultimate; play with a team where you're the worst player. (if they'll have you, you'll improve real fast).
Maybe that conflicts with the idea of loyalty to the one club with whom you started playing. (that is, trying to play with a better team). I've heard some people lament the way the ultimate scene works in Dublin, with many players playing for multiple teams, saying it's a bad thing, and they'd prefer to see everyone fiercely loyal to just one team.
If players can play with a team where they're the worst player, and then later take what they've learned and bring it to even worse players; well the level throughout the scene goes up. It's a very good thing.
If you want to become good at ultimate; play with a team where you're the worst player. (if they'll have you, you'll improve real fast).
Maybe that conflicts with the idea of loyalty to the one club with whom you started playing. (that is, trying to play with a better team). I've heard some people lament the way the ultimate scene works in Dublin, with many players playing for multiple teams, saying it's a bad thing, and they'd prefer to see everyone fiercely loyal to just one team.
If players can play with a team where they're the worst player, and then later take what they've learned and bring it to even worse players; well the level throughout the scene goes up. It's a very good thing.
Nice idea. But usually if you're the worst you sort of know it, then you fear they're all talking about you behind your back, as obviously they'll want to replace you to be better. You stop talking to them with ease, everything they say is analysed, you tense up in your playing trying to show them you're not that bad, you get worse, and you never pick up that guitar again!
ReplyDeleteI wonder how you came to play with this hypothetical team of good players?
ReplyDeleteIf a team lets you join, then even if you have these confidence issues, I'd say you're unlikely to get kicked out if you just focus on the basics. Let the jazz solos to those possessed by the spirit of jazz.