Trey Anastasio launched a series of free music lessons on Friday night. The multi-hyphenate music man uploaded the first in a series of videos to social media, starting with the very basics of dividing rhyhtm.
After touring the country and world, performing music for countless fans over the last several decades with Phish, his own solo band, and many other projects, Anastasio decided it was time to shed some light on some of the tips and tricks that have made him so successful. As an acclaimed and classically trained musician, there are few people who could provide as much insight and knowledge to the blossiming artists of tomorrow.
The Phish frontman explained at the beginning of the lesson, “every time I turn on any kind of social media I end up feeling horrible,” which made him think, “maybe I can use this platform for something I’ve always wanted to do.”
He continued, “I had sort of this lightning bolt moment that I could do tiny little music lessons, you know, for people who are younger who are starting out on any instrument, and maybe share some of the things that I’ve learned, and use this platform for something a little more positive.”
With that short introduction, Anastasio launched into his first lesson with a little story about receiving drum lessons in middle school. He explained that the basis for learning music on any instrument is having a deep understanding of rhyhtm and being able to divide rhythm. Trey discussed the importance of listening to music and having a limitless love for music, and went on to describe certain musicians that impacted him as a kid as well as those that continue to inspire him to this day.
After making mention of Talking Heads, JJ Cale, and D’Angelo‘s mastery of unique rhyhtm’s Anastasio actually put down his guitar and traded it for a pillow and a trusty metronome. Highlighting the need for developing rhythm early on in the learning process, he spent this entire video breaking down concepts by clapping his hands and tapping his pillow over different time signatures. He started with tapping quarter notes before moving onto eight notes, triplets, and more. As the video drew to a close, Trey promised many more videos to come in the future which will cover a variety of concepts.
Watch Trey Anastasio teach his first music lesson, dividing rhythm, via the video player below.
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Anastasio will hit the road with Phish next month as the band travels to Riviera Maya, Mexico for a four-night run at Moon Palace Cancun (2/24–2/27). Then, in April, the band will make its way to Madison Square Garden in New York (4/20–4/23) to make up its postponed New Year’s run. Head to the band’s website for tickets and additional tour information and visit Trey’s Instagram to stay up to date on the latest music lessons.