Pitchfork

Photo by William Kirk

Fame and fortune sometimes come as a package, but they are also sold separately, as Roger Miller can attest. Though the guitarist/singer/songwriter's place in the annals of music history is fairly secure as a member of legendary post-punk band Mission of Burma, he still has to earn his keep financially. It's a little sad, but he has come up with an awesome solution: give guitar lessons. Even better, announce them in a post on the Boston area craigslist.

Miller's post, dated July 8, reads as follows:

I am a very experienced guitarist, composing, touring and recording. I have recorded over 40 albums, and remain active as guitarist/singer/songwriter with Boston's Mission of Burma. Our last CD, The Obliterati, got rave reviews from Spin, Rolling Stone, etc. [Ahem! --Ed.] I have also been a producer for other bands.

"Mr. Miller can summon up three decades of guitar sounds." N.Y. Times

Beginners through Advanced. Weekly basis or a one-time session to open potential. I am primarily known for unorthodox techniques and approaches to the guitar. However, I have a very wide interest in guitar music. While most of my notoriety stems from the post-punk era, I studied composition at California Institute of the Arts, and enjoy playing blues. I have played piano all my life. I am currently keyboardist/composer in the Alloy Orchestra, a three-piece silent film accompanying ensemble that tours film festivals all over the U.S. performing our scores to classic silents like Metropolis, Nosferatu, and lesser known classics. We have many DVD releases to our name. Our touring will take us to Kazakhstan next spring.

Please feel free to contact me if you are interested. I tailor what I teach to an individual's interests.

Thanks for reading.
Roger.

We got in touch with Miller, who explained his motivations for teaching and expanded upon his qualifications. (It's hardly the first time Mr. Miller's words have appeared in these pages.)

"The primary impetus to give lessons," he wrote, "was economic. Burma is not exactly the most hyperactive band on earth, and even Alloy Orchestra has very few gigs this summer. So I thought I'd try out the guitar-lesson thing. I've done it before, and I seem to be a pretty good teacher. Sympathetic, moderately knowledgeable, that sort of thing. I was quite surprised at the amount of responses.

My students range from 11 years to 51 years old. From beginners, to people who want to have their guitar-minds expanded a little bit. I have my approach to the guitar of course, but I try to give the students the information they need, rather than teach them how to play Burma riffs. (Of course if they want that, I could probably learn a couple Burma riffs to show them....).

I taught a course at the Cambridge (MA) Center for Continuing Education 15 years ago that I called 'A Semi-Zen Approach to the Electric Guitar.' I thought it kind of summed it up-- I am no Zen Master, but I can see things most people don't. It was amazing the flak I got from other teachers there: "Yeah? What's SEMI-ZEN!?" Real hostility! I knew I was on the right track then. It was a good learning experience for me, because I compiled everything I was interested in and thought about for the electric guitar. I'm thinking of going back to those tapes and formulating an approach to the guitar from that. Who knows? I've also considered doing a yearly concert with 10 or so guitar students-- it would be for full guitar orchestra, though given the various levels of the students, it would probably not end up as a Branca Symphony. However, it's an interesting idea. And I am a slave to my ideas, if nothing else."

We wish Miller the best of luck and hope he takes this gentleman under his wing to teach him those most fundamental of guitar lessons: 1) Pocketknife ≠ pick. 2) Arm ≠ fretboard.