Staff Spotlight: Collin Littlejohn
What's your main instrument & why?
Guitar. Although I started playing drums at about the same time, the guitar is what spoke to me more as my father was a guitarist and songwriter.
What's your musical origin story? What lit the spark for you?
Growing up in such a music central town Memphis, Tennessee, and in a family of musicians who were very plugged into the Memphis music industry I had opportunities to begin playing out live with classic Memphis blues and rock bands. I continued to play and shape my career early on with advice from mentors that I looked up to in the industry to the point that it’s just about all I’ve done. I went on to go to a music college majoring in guitar, which lead to opportunities to travel and cut records making a living, living my dream.
Can you share a good gig story?
On my first tour, out with a country band Maple Ridge, we had a couple of dates in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to kick off this tour. We pulled up for load-in and the venue had some type of interior damage so they moved all shows to a sister venue down the road that was a TINY club with a coffee shop in the front. The “stage” was barely a foot off the ground and not big enough for the band and the PA was mediocre at best. The opener last minute did an acoustic set, we were determined though. Drums were off the stage and part of my pedalboard was hanging off the “stage.” It turned out to be a fun show having so many people packed into a much smaller place than we were supposed to play and guitars too loud.
Tell us about your practice routine and share some practice tips.
I practice after working on music before I shut down my office. Already having my guitar in my hands and having plenty warmed up after working on music I find that I’m much better at accomplishing what I’m working on in practice.
METRONOME! A metronome is a guitar player's best friend, as all my students know. Playing the right notes is only part of playing guitar, a metronome will not only help your rhythm, timing, and feel, but will help you with hard parts/techniques slowing them down and gradually speeding up. I also find that using a metronome in practice for slowing down parts keeps you from “flubbing” through tough sections of songs.
What drew you to the Music House team?
Community, inspiration, and encouragement. These three values are evident and crucial to the culture at Music House and are the things that grow musicians. It’s exciting to see so many students and different levels be connected to each other, inspire each other, and be encouraged in their abilities by the Music House staff and students in one connected community.
Anything else you would like to add?
Rock.On.
