Getting a '52 Tele!

[lennon211]

I've come home from a bad day of school today, and I was even angrier when my mom told me I'm not going to get it (and the new amp) tomorrow, and that I'm going to have to wait some more. My performance in my History hasn't been that good, so that's why I'm not going tomorrow. Saturday, if I'm lucky, she told me.

It really sucks having to wait!!!

I just got done turning in the grades for the history classes that I teach. Some students are very happy, some not so much, and the only person that the students have to blame is themselves. If you're not doing well, then you should re-evaluate the situation. Your parents aren't trying to punish you so much as trying to get you to realize that there are some priorities that need to be taken care of. I hate to say it, but it's part of the territory of being a teacher, that maybe some more time committed to the books rather than combing ebay would help. After every test that I have given, I spend a day breaking down where things went wrong for students and it is almost inevitably that they have no sense of proportion in prioritizing. Many are involved in extra curricular activities which is great. Students being involved is a great thing. What happens is that they lost sight of the fact that they are student/athletes, student/actors, student/musicians, student/whatever...the point is that "student" comes first for a reason. I'm not much better at times, but there are things that come first. The sooner that it's realized the better that students will almost always do in class. The same rules apply in the classroom as with guitar Jake: you play like you practice. If you put in the time and commitment in studying the details of the lessons that you do in learning a rhythm part for guitar then you'll be doing yourself a huge favor that will pay off greatly in the long run: you'll gain an education that will probably take you much farther than anything else that you can get for yourself. This is something that you can get now and it may not seem like much but it will in the future. I'll yield the soapbox...

[jingle_jangle]

...to me, and I'll reinforce that the biggest difficulty my own students have at the college level is in simple time management and prioritization of tasks. Oddly, this is not formally taught in my school. It should, IMO, be taught and practiced in tenth grade.

The soapbox is once again vacant.

[deaconblues]

And as a college student, I'll admit that this forum is a MAJOR distraction!

Hang in there, Jake! '52 Teles ROCK!

[tennis_nick]

And as a college student, I'll admit that this forum is a MAJOR distraction!

Hang in there, Jake! '52 Teles ROCK!

Ditto! Rickresource or Organic Chemistry???? Meh... I do both!

[JakeK]

I'm sad to say that I'll be waiting a little while longer. My mom found two assignments I forgot to turn in in my Geometry class.

My gradebook is available online, and my mom is on it all the time. If the grades are satifactory tonight, the amp MIGHT come, but the Tele is going to wait, I've been told. I really would like one of these better than my standard Tele, which is very heavy and gives a very biting sound.

[sir_andrew_of_left_coast]

Looks like you're ready to parody a Johnny Cash tune...

Folsom City Blues.

[johnallg]

Jake, what's the problem? It can't be that hard to just do the class assignments and turn in the work. At the very least, if you expect your parents to fund your musical jones, you ought to at least get your schooling down.

As Paul said, soapbox is again open....

[lennon211]

...to me, and I'll reinforce that the biggest difficulty my own students have at the college level is in simple time management and prioritization of tasks. Oddly, this is not formally taught in my school. It should, IMO, be taught and practiced in tenth grade.

The soapbox is once again vacant.

Paul, I couldn't agree more. I have had many discussions with students about how easy they can have it if they just make some adjustments. Unfortunately there is very little emphasis on life skills and much more on core curriculum...plus there is only so much time in a school day. I really wish that there was an opportunity to do this, because 10th grade is really when a lot of the immaturity of middle school starts to wear off and ideally, students should be challenged on the level of upper-class levels in the spring of 10th grade. A chance to devote some time to helping students develop some study and time management skills goes a long way...so does simply telling students to write things down. I yield once again...

Add-on:
Jake, I wanted to add that we're not trying to beat up on you. It's just that many of us do have more awareness and a better perspective that's tempered by years and experience, whether it be a few in my case or more in others (not to call anyone old). If you notice, many of us are the same ones that have been right there cheering you on and encouraging you to make up your mind and stick to something. It just looks right now like you need to stick to the books. Also, grades being posted online is an amazing thing in my opinion. It provides a lot of opportunity for parents to see what is going on and it looks like in your case, it's meeting its other purpose of allying the parents and teachers in helping a son/daughter/student work in school.

[ozover50]

I've deliberately refrained from posting in Jake's threads but I couldn't agree more with a number of these posts. The ongoing sagas with the 1997 and this Tele have been painful reading for me. Heck..... I was tempted to offer my 1997 to Jake at a crazy price just to ease the frustration..... for both of us!!

Head down, *** up and get your work done, Jake. All good things come to those who wait - and work for it! I suspect that dreaming about your ultimate guitars is distracting you from the job at hand and I am 100% with your parents in holding back until you get yourself sorted out.

Not wishing to come up with one of those 'when I was your age' tales but....... when I was your age my parents gave me a ****** no-name student acoustic guitar for my 16th birthday. Ever since that day I've had to buy everything myself. Heck - they wouldn't even buy me a new set of strings!! I had to use steel wool on old ones if I didn't have any money - and I rarely did!

Personally I'd be thankful that I have a pretty good guitar in the Mex Tele that you have rather than some unplayable piece of junk!

Off the box............

[jingle_jangle]

...and I'm back on...when I wuz yer age, I wanted a combo organ, as I was a budding keyboardist.

NADA. My grades were straight "A", but there was no money.

I ended up with my father's 1937 Castelfidardo pearl and rhinestone encrusted, 120 bass accordion, which he got when he was 10.



I made do and kept on schoolin'. IT was important. Music was a hobby.

Chances of making a good living with a college degree in just about any field: >70%.

Chances of making a good living as a non-formally-educated musician: <10%

[kenposurf]

...and I'm back on...when I wuz yer age, I wanted a combo organ, as I was a budding keyboardist.

NADA. My grades were straight "A", but there was no money.

I ended up with my father's 1937 Castelfidardo pearl and rhinestone encrusted, 120 bass accordion, which he got when he was 10.



I made do and kept on schoolin'. IT was important. Music was a hobby.

Chances of making a good living with a college degree in just about any field: >70%.

Chances of making a good living as a non-formally-educated musician: <10%

Nice accordian Paul...now I understand your endlees passion for the Polka

[JakeK]

I know most of you find my posts about not making up my mind on instruments frustrating...I get it from my mom's side...!

Me not getting my work done has been a recurring phase since the 7th grade. I've got to straighten my stuff up immediately.

I'm probably one of the most aggravating members you guys have had when it comes to wanting instruments, I know, and I really should try and learn a thing or two about wanting instruments.

[johnallg]

It's really quite easy Jake. Get the classwork done first then that leaves time for everything else you want to do. If your friends think that is lame, then look at the type of friends you have.

As for guitar, learn to play the one you have as good as you can. In high school, there are music classes, choir, band, etc. that you could take and further your music learning as well as fullfilling credit requirements towards graduation. In college there are whole departments, and even whole colleges devoted to music, which will only take your learning to levels you never imagined, letting you go anywhere musically you want.

With just a high school diploma or dropping out, you better memorize "Do you want fries with that?"

It is possible to get good grades while doing the extra things you want to do. My two daughters played volleyball in HS, played travel teams, hung with friends and went out, and had time to study too. You learn to use the time you have to do the things that need to be done when they need doing. My middle daughter got all "A"s from kindergarten through 12th grade, graduating with a true 4.0 while taking advanced classes and getting college credit, while doing all the other things mentioned. Both girls put themselves through college with volleyball and graduated with honors or high honors. My middle is working on her doctorate in astrophysics. All because they learned to manage their time and do what needed doing when it needed to be done. Wasn't a cakewalk but they survived and are happy with themselves.

It can be done if you want to.

[tennis_nick]

My middle is working on her doctorate in astrophysics

......... yaeh but.... that's like the easiest physics....

I'm sure John is proud of his daughters. don't you want your parents to be proud of their daughter?



Yes I know you're a boy, just roll with the joke.

[johnallg]

Nick, I'll let her know she's in the "easy" physics when she gets back from Santiago, Chile Sunday. She's at a conference about her research - conditions that foster the start of stars.

Actually, Nick, I was going to use you as an example too, but decided not to. Though you certainly qualify.

Oh, and I am VERY proud of all 3 of my children. My son is finishing his 3rd year in CIS (part of the business college) and pulling a 3.80, taking summer classes to finish in 4 years, and working 30-40 hours asst.-managing a Little Ceasars Pizza. My oldest daughter is working for a start-up that is making soya based stains for outdoor finishing of wood. She is starting the marketing department for the company while also doing just about anything else that needs doing, as do the other handful of employees.

Sorry for bragging, but I am very proud of them. I've always said they turned out great in spite of their Dad!