We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Pete Madsen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Pete below.
Pete , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?
I have had several “regular” jobs. So I know what the benefits and drawbacks are; regular pay vs. being your own boss. The ups and downs of being a self proprietor can be a bit unsettling. I sometimes think about finding some kind of part time work when things get slow. However, when I look at what’s available I become disheartened. And then I think with a little effort here and there I can build things up and probably get more students, gigs, writing assignments. The lesson I have learned is that it requires constant vigilance. Even during times that are flush you need to be making plans for the future. You can never rest on your laurels. Connecting with others is important. Acknowledging what you are good at and putting efforts into that, while also expanding your knowledge base.
In the long run I think I am happier as a self-employed person. I do not have the constraints that an institution or corporation would impose on me — I have been there and seen that, It is a struggle between stability and risk taking. You need to use your creative mind in ways you wouldn’t have anticipated. Composing music is one thing, but having people hear you is a very different matter.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My first musical love was the Beatles. When I was 8 years old I wanted to change my name to “Paul,” but not McCartney:) As the years progressed I had many musical loves, from Jimi Hendrix, to Deep Purple, XTC, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Merle Travis, Robert Johnson, Dick Dale, Django Reinhardt. If you know the people on this list you are probably a little perplexed by the various genres represented. To become enamored with so many disparate musical styles is probably not the best advice for those seeking rock stardom. But all the above artists have one thing in common: guitar. I simply love guitar music. This can be a strength for a teacher or writer. I am able to teach many different styles and get to the nitty gritty of what a student needs to learn, which gives me a lot of flexibility.
For many of the styles represented above I have steeped myself in what I consider the best of the best. It has given me insights into the many ways a guitar can be used to express a wealth of feelings and attitudes.
For example, I went though a long period of studying fingerstyle blues from players like Robert Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, Skip James, John Fahey, and others. As I started teaching this style I developed a curriculum of exercises and songs that I have collected into several book volumes of guitar instruction. That focus has given me insights that I have not seen in other publications and media — perhaps they exist; my knowledge is not exhaustive.
I have developed materials for several media outlets which has been a way to get my name out there and frame discussions on various topics.
I am still developing studies for fingerstyle blues and I perform when I can. I also have the time to keep developing as a musician and educator, which is important to me.
All the while I am still able to teach classes on the Beatles, my first musical love!
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
When I was 25 I dropped out of music and went back to school. For many reasons that I won’t go into here it was the right choice. I had plugged away at menial jobs and played music on the side for several years, but I wasn’t happy with either. College gave me a needed break and allowed my intellect to flourish. When I graduated I felt much more intellectually prepared to face the world and realized that there were many ways to have a career(s) in music. It didn’t involve being a rock star. It involved finding avenues to perform, create, and educate.
My desire to learn had been piqued. I had many inspirational teachers but I didn’t necessarily decide to become a teacher, however, teaching became part of my big picture. I submitted lessons to magazines and publishers and was able to make some connections. When i couldn’t find a publisher for a particular topic I self-published, creating a host of transcriptions and lessons that I use every day in my teaching.
I witnessed many very good musicians resort to teaching as a necessity for paying bills, but with little preparedness and almost a disdain for the avocation. I thought, if I put a a lot of effort into creating curriculum around the musical topics I was genuinely interested in that it would be a win/win. I would learn more about a given topic and I would be able to share it with others and make a living.
How did you build your audience on social media?
I’m not sure I’m what you call a success story. I have about 2,500 followers on youtube, which for the genre I mostly work with — acoustic blues — is probably a decent amount. My videos have a consistent format: I play a song (perform), then I break it down verse by verse. That consistent format brings people back to the channel. They know what to expect.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://petemadsenguitar.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pete.madsen1/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@buzzyfrets?si=OVJsZ0zAghlyuRWH