So for the last three months, I’ve been candidating for a position as Worship Director, at a church about an hour and a half from us. This past Sunday after a long interview with the leadership board, I was offered the position and I took it! So know I’m getting to know everyone that’s been involved in worship in the past, and I have to put together a schedule, and prepare at least a month worth of services for June. Plus I have a team almost ready to go for an event on June 6 called Jesus in the Park, in the general vicinity of the church where I was hired. And so far I’ve also got a July 4th I need to prepare for (secular/ private party). Normally I have more summer gigs set up by now, but this new church gig is going to take a lot of my time and energy moving forward. I’m still here, I’ve been praying about what to do with this group, and I really want to focus on it and grow it, I’m just so very busy now, with at least four part time jobs now… it’s kind of crazy, one of them being my guitar teaching/ coaching business. This church gig is gonna be part time for now, until the dust settles and we get better established. Currently the church gig, Sundays alone is about 8-10 hours with travel and my family with me, just on that day alone. Plus now, we’re most likely going to sell our house and move closer to the church. Which at this point, is going to take up our whole summer just to figure that out. So with that being said, I still have a lot to do here, but because I have so much on my plate, it’s gonna be minimal for awhile until I can figure all this out. I have been working behind the scenes to get what I do with my current private students/ clients codified in a way that I can package it here and for other places where I congregate with my “tribe.” I have so many content ideas and other things I wanted to launch but now this is taking a lot of what I have left, which frankly at the moment isn’t much… My question for you is, is it worth it to keep this group going. My heart is still in it, and I don’t want to let it go, but I’m praying about I need to focus on moving forward…

… it’s an identity problem… Going through some training to help me relaunch… And I saw this and thought… wow, that’s truly it… it’s all about clarity… when you become clear about who you truly are, everything else starts to line up… Your old identity is who you think you are, usually based on goals, pressure, image, proving you’ve got what it takes… etc… believes the more you do the better you will become, but it keeps you stuck in complexity, confusion, insecurity, uncertainty…it’s a trap… The new identity, the freedom identity is based on alignment, who you truly are, doesn’t need more… just pick the one path that directly leads to who you want to become… When you see yourself as a guitar hero, even though you may not “feel” like one yet… start believing you are one and it will come eventually… Suddenly you won’t make excuses as to why you don’t have time to practice… etc… More to come…

This is a song I stumbled on several months ago. I emailed the guy and he said he wrote/ orchestrated the lyrics but he’s not a singer or a musician. He used AI to assist with those two parts. I would really like to play this even it were a simplified version. I’ll share the YouTube link and picture of the chords I have. Disclaimer they may not be accurate. https://youtu.be/gc33J_H8ACQ?si=QUFF53l6TIRyTLpB

What are some good tips for playing guitar? Found this on Quora… Learning to play the guitar can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Here are some tips to help you as you begin your guitar-playing journey: Get a Good Guitar: Start with a guitar that is comfortable to play and suits your budget. Acoustic guitars are a good choice for beginners, but electric guitars can also be suitable depending on the style of music you want to play. Learn the Basics: Familiarize yourself with the parts of the guitar, how to hold it properly, and how to tune it. Learn basic chords, such as open chords (like G, C, D, E, A, and Am), power chords, and barre chords. Practice Regularly: Consistent practice is key to improving your skills. Set aside time each day to practice playing the guitar, even if it's just for a few minutes. Regular practice will help you build muscle memory and improve your playing technique. Use Proper Technique: Pay attention to your posture, hand positioning, and picking technique. Using proper technique from the beginning will help you avoid developing bad habits that can be difficult to correct later on. Start with Simple Songs: Begin by learning simple songs that incorporate basic chords and strumming patterns. As you gain confidence and skill, you can gradually progress to more complex songs. Learn Music Theory: Understanding basic music theory concepts, such as scales, intervals, and chord progressions, can greatly enhance your understanding of the guitar and help you become a more versatile player. Take Lessons: Consider taking lessons from a qualified guitar teacher. A teacher can provide personalized instruction, feedback, and guidance tailored to your skill level and learning style. Use Online Resources: There are many online resources available for learning the guitar, including video tutorials, chord charts, and tablature. Websites like YouTube and Ultimate Guitar can be valuable tools for learning new songs and techniques. Play with Others: Playing with other musicians, whether in a band or just jamming with friends, can be a fun and effective way to improve your skills. It can also help you develop your sense of rhythm and timing.

Let me be the first to introduce myself: I'm Mel Williams, I've played guitar for over 30 years, and taught guitar for over 20 years, and now also ukulele, and bass guitar. I've played with and/or for some amazing musicians, like Grammy Award winning saxophonist Chad LB (who has played with Chris Botti, and Taylor Swift), and David Russell (Grammy Award winning classical guitarist) studied with Matt Slotkin DMA from Eastman, and Hugh Douglass (studied with Paul Bollenback), among others. I have played on stages big and small from solo, to orchestras, Big Band, and Small Jazz Combos, led a few of them myself, weddings, funerals, parties, Worship events, etc. Even with all that being said, this isn't about me, its about you. Ultimately, how I can help you Unleash Your Inner Guitar Hero, so for me to do that to the best of my ability I need you to do your part... Are you ready? If so, let's go! Everyone has a different reason for joining this community… Maybe it was the courses, bonuses, live trainings, the chance to get 1:1 time with me, or the guest experts (could be you someday) This will allow you to make some life long connections here and allow us to celebrate you, your gifts, your wins, and support you every way we can along the way. If you have not posted your introduction yet... PLEASE TAKE 2 MINUTES TO GET IT DONE :) Go to STEP 2 to do so... IMPORTANT: Let’s help everyone rise up the leaderboard. The more you post, like other people’s posts, comment on posts, and like all their comments… the more we ALL WIN TOGETHER! Thank you for being here... I am truly grateful for YOU! Without further ado... let's get started!!!