PATRICK BUTLER’S SCIENCE BEHIND THE ART
I became interested in teaching through my guitar teacher. Growing up in New Jersey there were jazz legends living in the immediate area. Harry Leahey had decided not to join the Sonny Rollins band and dedicate himself to raising his kids and giving guitar lessons. Harry had studied with two famous music teachers in differing areas of theory and developed an incredibly comprehensive method. I started taking lessons in junior high and had no idea that I was being exposed to a highly organized, step by step educational system that would become a template for all my future accomplishments.
My first step to becoming a teacher was at age 13 when I began guitar lessons with jazz legend Harry Leahey. At the time I was not aware of his status, I was a teenager who just wanted to learn how to play rock music and he was a local instructor. As I trudged up to his driveway once a week I never realized how this man would prepare me as a musician and how my lesson books held the keys to musical mastery. I never planned to be a teacher, I wanted to perform and record, but over the years my peers would inquire about lessons since I was known to have been one of Harry’s top students. As I picked up more and more beginning students I found that I could motivate kids. There is no greater feeling than creating a professional level musician from a runny nosed kid!
Patrick, welcome and thank you for doing this article with me through your
incredibly busy schedule. It is truly appreciated. So without further ado, let’s get on with it:
No. 1) What is music to and for you? (Generally – personally)
This is a question for the ages a lot of ink has been spilled by philosophers about these questions
THE BEST THING ABOUT MUSIC IS “ IT CANT BE EXPLAINED BY WORDS” thereby making it the fortress of ONLY THE INTIATED and all the writers, poets, and other shiteloaders cannot use words to insinuate their way into a EXCLUSIVE membership of MUSICIANS. They can only redefine what is great music to get in WHICH THEY HAVE DONE IN THE LAST 40 YEARS- the term “musician” means nothing in our present moment
No. 2) What inspires you?
Another tough question: It all depends what period of life we are talking about. At first I was inspired purely by other musicians, trying to live up to the standard they had raised. Once I got good I was inspired by “love” once I got over that I became inspired by success, now I am inspired by GOD and HIS CREATION.
No. 3) When you are playing, creating, where does it take you? I mean where does your mind (spirit) travel?
Again the high levels of spiritual connection through music can occur any time almost always during solos. BUT AS SOON AS WE NOTICE IT AND SAY 
TO OURSELVES “THIS IS COOL” IT USUALLY GOES AWAY. Only 3 or 4 times in my life did it stay longer than 5 minutes. Most of the time, since I am a guitarist who has to play accompaniment for other soloist I watch the audience for someone who seems to be the most intent listener and I key in on them.
No. 4) Do you feel music, painting and health are related and if so, how?
I don’t have any training in physiology but I have noticed that painters seem to live the longest. I think musicians would have the same longevity but the lifestyle and traveling to gigs that serve alcohol and the like wears us out. A painter usually doesn’t have to travel or stay up all night to please a rowdy bunch of people who want to dance all night. The longevity comes from, in my opinion, a total concentration that allows the mind and body to enjoy a momentary freedom from stress and the self imposed anxiety that humans place upon themselves constantly. If a musician or artist spends enough time in this state it will add years of health.
No. 5) How do you feel when you are playing for yourself versus playing for an audience?
If the person is a NATURAL HAMBONE then it makes a big difference since the attention of people adds a element of potential embarrassment or applause. Personally it all depends on the mood I am in and the type of audience. For example if I am fired up to play and the crowd is ho-hum or if I am tired and the crowd is rearing to go. Playing by your self is totally directed by mood BUT sometimes when you pick up instrument with no expectations of producing anything of value THE FLOOD GATES OF CREATIVITY WILL BURST UPON YOU and conversely when you set out to create a masterpiece NOTHING HAPPENS NO MATTER HOW LONG OR HARD YOU TRY.
No. 6) Under what conditions do you work best?
It depends on the work if it is playing a gig it is always best if the proprietor is a music lover. If he isn’t then you will treated as any other employee of the establishment instead of being treated as a sound scientist.
No. 7) Do you identify with your music and if so, on what level?
This is a hard question since the word “identify” means different things to different people. When I was a self centered kid I totally identified with the process of making music and being a musician. Looking at it now I was a slave to the cult of music. Every aspect of my life served this “god”. The saving grace of these lost years praying to music was that the music I chose to master; classical and what is called jazz, made my brain sharp by its mathematics.
No. 8) Do you feel playing music helps you connect with your higher self, whatever that is for you?
It can connect you with all kinds of things and not all necessarily “higher selves” you can just as easily get connected to your lower self. Music resonates on a molecular level and if people want to learn more about this read Inyat Khan’s books on music.
No. 9) How do you feel about creativity in our public school systems?
I am teaching in the public school system at the present time and the kids don’t need creativity, they got that, they need the discipline and structure so that they can learn how to do READIN, WRITIN, and ARITHMATIC so when they get creative there is something by which to express creativity.
No. 10) In your opinion, what could be a simple solution to improve creativity in public school systems?
DON’T WORRY ABOUT CREATIVITY, AND TEACH THE FUNDAMENTALS OF LANGUAGE, MATH and HISTORY..then maybe MUSIC.
No. 11) What is jazz to you?
Jazz is a American interpretation of European harmonic systems it has been pioneered by African Americans and has a large component of improvisation.
No. 12) How do you feel about musical improvisation?
It all depends on the individual who is improvising, they cannot hide their musical being so just like a conversation it can be exhilarating or exasperating, it can take you to the heights or depths depending on the weather. When improvising on difficult chord changes it is like going 100 miles per hour, one misstep and you can be hopelessly lost the chords rushing by you and your bandmates grimacing at every bad chord you play trying to find your place.
Patrick, again thank you for sharing with us your thoughts and feelings. I
wish you well in all your endeavours and until we work together again, be blessed.
TO THE READER:
Patrick has just released a new album entitled TRANSCENDER. Be sure to check it out. You are cordially invited to visit his website to find out more about this fine musician and hear his music. Your comments are always appreciated, thank you and enjoy!
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