Want to learn to play an instrument? It’s not always easy to know where to start, especially if you don’t want to go through the tough path of music theory and traditional teaching. The Woodbrass Music School was created with the idea of offering alternative lessons, letting students play the songs they love and touch an instrument from the very first class. To make this possible, you need skilled teachers, and among the new recruits of the 2016 school year, guitarist Samy Docteur joined the team. Here’s his story.
How did you get into music?
Like many teenagers, my friends and I listened to a lot of rock—bands like AC/DC, Motörhead, or Slayer. One day, before even knowing how to play an instrument, we decided we wanted to start a band. One wanted to be the drummer, another the bassist, so I naturally picked up the guitar. That band never really took off, but I kept going. I formed other bands, and today here I am, a guitar teacher at the Woodbrass Music School.
Why the guitar?
I think it’s mainly because it’s one of rock’s key instruments. After listening to AC/DC, Jimi Hendrix, or Led Zeppelin over and over, you just think, “Wow, that’s so cool—I want to do that too.”
What was your training?
I was self-taught for five years until I realized I wasn’t progressing the way I wanted. I didn’t know theory or harmony. So I took private lessons for six months and then decided to move to London to study at Tech Music School. I stayed there for three years, learning from excellent musicians such as Femi Temowo (Amy Winehouse), John Wheatcroft (John Jorgenson), and Jim Clarke. Studying in London opened me up to new styles, especially jazz, and gave me the chance to play a lot with musicians from all kinds of backgrounds. Once I had my degree, I returned to France and earned a master’s in musicology. I specialized in African-American music, particularly jazz, under the guidance of musicians like Philippe Michel and Yves Torchinsky.
What music do you listen to?
After two or three years of listening mainly to blues, jazz, and soul, I’m now going back to very rock-oriented bands like Winery Dogs or the Dead Daisies—with Ritchie Kotzen and Richard Fortus, who are among my favorite guitarists.
Who are your reference guitarists? Your favorite composers?
That’s a tough question. I’d say Derek Trucks, Jeff Beck, John Scofield, Richard Fortus, and Biréli Lagrène.
What does your musical life look like now?
Between my lessons at the Woodbrass Music School, I do gear tests for Guitar Part magazine. I also have my two bands, Voltrain and Docsy, and I take part in jams and sessions here and there. My schedule is pretty busy—and that makes me very happy.
What approach do you want to share in your lessons at the Woodbrass Music School?
When I first started playing guitar, my main goal was simply to have fun. I never went to the conservatory because it seemed—perhaps unfairly—too academic and not very exciting for a 14-year-old. My goal in my lessons is to teach students while keeping this sense of fun, which I believe is essential. Learning music, like any other art form, inevitably brings some frustration. My idea is to minimize that while also teaching discipline, so students become more and more independent in working with their instrument.
Do you have a favorite guitar?
It depends on the period. I like guitars with character—I’m not a big fan of “Swiss army knife” instruments. Right now, I’m playing my Strat a lot, which has a very Texas blues vibe. I also have a Les Paul at home, and I’m planning to get a Tele with a maple fingerboard soon.
What are your five favorite albums?
Appetite For Destruction (Guns N’ Roses)
Revelator (Tedeschi Trucks Band)
Performing This Week… Live at Ronnie Scott’s (Jeff Beck)
Hand Jive (John Scofield)
74 Miles Away (Cannonball Adderley)
