As we are wrapping up this course (or better said, as we transition to BLIM II Stage II) I would like to express my deep gratitude to Justin and the team for affording me the opportunity to join this course through the scholarship program.
The acts of kindness that Justin promotes are well known, and we have seen how the group picks up on this and continues to pay it forward. I would just like to share my thanks for being a recipient of it.
When I saw BLIM I being advertised, I heard the calling, as one of the reasons I picked up guitar five years ago was to learn how to vibe on my own with the blues. When I saw the Masterclass with Chris Buck I almost lost my stuff as his sound really reverberates in me and I said to myself “I need to learn to play like that”. Being that I am a teacher and on a limited budget, the cost made it impossible, and I tried forgetting about it.
One day I got the guts up to reach out to Fanny and see what was possible to do, and never expected such a quick, dignified response. I wrote that guitar has become a way for me to connect to my students, as I teach in a program for boys who struggled/were kicked out of High School and are working to put their lives back together. Having a teacher/mentor who knows how to play, and gets the vibe, has been a real tool for connection. I saw this when I was playing acoustic, and it skyrocketed when I began on electric. I remember the look in one guy’s eyes when I told him I bought a slide and am learning it. I think part of it is their seeing their mentor learning and trying new things gives them a sense that they can do it as well.
I want to add that this entire Justin Community is something so unique and special. The amount of giving and positivity is infectious. I all goes back to Justin and his rare goodness at wanting to see people enjoy the gift of music and he is willing to give it for free if that’s what it takes. I really believe this is not just a community but a movement that makes people and the world better. To quote Justin and use it to describe him “He is just a really good human”. If there were only more places like this in the world, humanity would be in a different place right now.
Cheers and much success to all in your continued journey.
Peace to all,
Andrew
Andrew, what a dream statement. My friend, and yeah, Fan is brilliant, such a cool girl and a massive help to this community, man, I can not recommend your post be read man, cheers HEC, Fanny, this man is cool Man cheers HEC
I love knowing that you and others we have interacted with during our course reached out and or just recived help and hookups to help along the path. I am also glad you felt comfortable doing so. As a educator you can pass some of that joy on perhaps, to a few students, that would not have had the influence. Right on, I really enjoyed your message.
Andrew, I am really glad that you got the opportunity to learn Blues in the best online programme, and that you use music to connect to kids and help them find the right way in life. As for the Justin and his team, this shows once again the great ethos behind this approach of teaching music. It is a thriving community because people respect this and want to be part of such supportive and friendly environment.
Andrew - what a wonderful and warm message of thanks.
You have encapsulated in a few words so much of what makes JustinGuitar and the Community a rare and special online group of virtual friends.
Wow, such an incredibly heartwarming read 
Thank you so much for sharing with our Community, @drew45. I will relay this to Justin and the team as well - this is why we do what we do! 
thank you for taking part of it and your passion for learning !
Thanks for the message. That’s really nice of you. We’re happy to help and glad you enjoyed the course.
That was a true inspiration, Andrew, and your comments on the course, the faculty and the BLIMMers on the course themselves, was spot on. It appears that the ethos that Justin and his team have infused throughout their teaching, the course design and messaging about ‘paying it forward’ and the supportive atmosphere thus created appears to have attracted like-minded people to embrace not just the music but the whole ethos surrounding the programme and community and to step out of their comfort zones and offer their support to total strangers around the world. It has been a great privilege to have been even a small part of this inspiring community. Thank you for your message and thank you all for your kindness. BW Richard
Hi Andrew,
Nice to read that by something as relatively simple as learning to play the guitar and sharing this, you give people a goal to look forward to…
Next year I’m going to do a similar thing with displaced people/refugees and I hope that some people will have a little more fun (less bad is better said) in life as we know mucis can do magic … even if it’s only there for 1 and a few hours a week and have a goal, it will be worth it…
Thanks for sharing 
Greeting