Junior Ben Bristol received his first guitar on his 14th birthday, roughly two years ago, but he wasn’t that eager to get his hands on it. Now, Bristol is Danielle Loschavio’s first guitar teacher aid. Bristol really became proficient playing his strings about a year and a half ago.
Bristol started taking outside guitar lessons under Southern New Hampshire lesson teacher John Medeiros. Throughout his time in sophomore and junior year, Bristol has taken three consecutive semesters of guitar. Previously under the direction of Emily Dawson, now under the education of Loschavio with a new reconstruction of the class.
“I have only taken it two other times,” Bristol said. “The first time was with Ms. Dawson, and then last year when I took it the second time, it was Mrs. Loschavio. Other than the first three songs we learned, all the other ones were different.”
Outside of class, he enjoys playing guitar for fun with his friends and family. His favorite genres of music include everything outside of country and rap. When Bristol tries out new charts on guitar, he enjoys playing folk music, or at least, he thinks that’s what you would call it, “yet there is no specific thing” that Bristol “tries to play.”
Bristol’s close friend, junior Ethan Peterson, encouraged him to truly start pursuing his interest in guitar.
“Ethan inspired me to play more at school, he got me to join guitar class last year,” Bristol said.
Bristol learned a bunch of techniques and foundational education outside of the Music Department, as many proficient musicians do. While he was taking lessons outside of school, he noticed he was going about it with a different approach.
His learning process can differ from other musicians, as Bristol includes both learning from ear, and learning visually.
“My guitar teacher was focused on guitar skills versus songs, like learning scales, picking rhythms, chord transition,” Bristol said. “More practicing stuff rather than playing which is important but it’s boring.”
Bristol’s favorite part about playing guitar is working toward the result. He personally expresses that when he perfects a song it often at times can feel like a reward.
“When I finally figure out how to play a song and it sounds correct and not just close,” Bristol said. “A lot of songs on guitar will sound close, just not right.”
Bristol has a very unique way of learning how to play new songs, and he enjoys the strategy of becoming proficient with each song he plays.
“I usually listen to it a whole bunch, try to figure out the strumming pattern of how it sounds and look up some chords, and if I can’t figure it out myself I’ll look up a YouTube video and let someone else tell me how to do it,” Bristol said.
It has been brought to Bristol’s attention that students and peers often question how being a student teacher’s aid differs from being a regular student in class.
“I’m more cognizant of the people around me, if they seem to be doing something wrong or struggling, I try to butt in and help,” Bristol said. “I sort of did that before in class, but I am trying to do it more.”
Bristol’s process was quite an easy and successful process, although it ended quite differently as he eventually came up with a different plan. He decided to become a teacher aid and aimed away from having an independent study. The only “work” he engaged in with administration was accepted to not receive a credit.
“When I was supposed to be in an independent study as well as teacher aid, there was a whole bunch of paperwork I had to do,” Bristol said. “Signatures, writing up lesson plans, and writing what I would do.”
Bristol encourages people to partake in this music elective.
“It’s definitely an easy class,” Bristol said. “I think it’s a really easy and simple way for people to join music, there isn’t a skill level required for the guitar class.”
Loschavio asked Bristol for lots of help last year, as it was also her first year experimenting with guitar, so it isn’t too different for him. Bristol takes advantage of when people seek his help, as he loves to be able to help in any capacity that he can.
“Being able to teach people little tricks to make everything easier, or the things that they probably wouldn’t have learned otherwise,” Bristol said.
Peers often ask Bristol about the thought approach he goes through when choosing a guitar. Bristol looks into the build of the guitar. He locates himself citing the true science of how he picks a significantly well-built guitar, mainly focusing on the neck of the guitar.
“The most important part of the guitar is the neck,” Bristol said. “If you have a pretty body but the neck isn’t great it can affect playing.”
Bristol realizes that for a handful of people, guitar is hard to fully understand by yourself. Sometimes having the opportunity to have a one-on-one relationship in a classroom setting is able to “help teach you things you wouldn’t have gotten taught.”
Bristol knows that music will forever stay a huge part of his life, whether he is creating ot playing, no matter the career path he chooses in the future. Bristol is currently interested in studying in the field of Biology Sciences.
“I’ll definitely be playing music my whole life, but I won’t be going to school for music,” Bristol said.
Bristol has a special place in his heart for music, he carries it everywhere and he always finds a song to fit the emotions that he feels.
“Music is a huge part of my life.” Bristol said. “There isn’t a time when I’m not listening to music, it makes me feel happy.”
