"Music essentially has no beginning and no end. We pick up on something and carry it through to a certain point, at which we let it go again. This is how we give music its individual character. The essence of music itself is selfless."
I discovered my love for the guitar at around the age of 15 – my love for music began in kindergarten.
Since music played a rather minor role as a ‘cultural asset’ in my parents' home, I took what was available to me in the mid to late 70s: ABBA, The Sweet, Smokie, Susi Quatro and many others were the early musical heroes that we covered as little kids – with full playback, of course. What fun!
From that time on, music played an important role in my life, at times even the most important role.
When I started playing the guitar, it seemed like all hope was lost, at least from the perspective of my family. Fortunately, my parents always let me do my own thing, even though it must have been difficult for them to understand my musical escapades. For us, puberty was when our parents became difficult…
During those years, between 1981 and 1985, there was a fairly wide selection of great guitarists and other wondrous musicians and artists who showed us young people ways of life we had never heard of before.
But the discovery of jazz and classical music also moved me deeply and influenced me in equal measure.
And yet: it was only after a wide variety of experiences and stages in my life that I decided – already at the age of 31 – to become a musician.
In the meantime, I had completed vocational training in a completely different field, started my own wonderful family, and found my spiritual path. I then ‘emigrated’ to Switzerland, spent a long time exploring a new professional field, and much more. The guitar was always with me.
Years of studying music theory and music history (yes, all voluntarily), constant practical music-making – and, last but not least, Rudolf Steiner's wonderful insights into the nature of music – have naturally led me to recognise the key and the codes with which I play and which I convey in all my offerings.
It's remarkable how long it takes some people to recognise their true calling, even when they spend every spare minute pursuing it... As the saying goes: detours help you get to know the area better.
All of this has been good for me. I have always done what was important to me, what interested me and what I saw as my mission.
The world is big and life is long; there is so much you can do – there is no end in sight…