What Catholic Teachers Can Learn from Guitarist Phil Keaggy

Phil KeaggyPhil Keaggy is one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Regularly listed at the top of Guitar Player Magazine polls, he also has a voice as honey smooth as Paul McCartney’s. His musical style runs the gamut: solo acoustic, electric blues, melodious pop, classic rock, you name it. And since the mid-1970s, he has used his considerable talent to spread the Gospel.

As one of Christian music’s pioneers, Phil Keaggy has inspired hundreds of thousands of people, especially those fortunate enough to have seen him perform live. I count myself among the lucky, having seen him in concert several times. After each concert, I left with the desire to inspire my students the way Phil Keaggy inspires his audience.

What can a Catholic teacher learn from a musician like Phil Keaggy? I invite you to ponder that question as you watch an amazing performance of “Salvation Army Band.” Phil Keaggy performs the song with a single guitar and a device called a JamMan, which allows him to create several loops with the guitar and layer them over each other by using foot switches.

What are the lessons we can learn from Phil Keaggy?

Know your stuff: In order to inspire, we must first perspire. No doubt some of us are born with a natural ability to teach, as Phil was born with a natural ability to play the guitar. But that ability must be nurtured and developed through constant practice.

Innovate: Phil plays guitar like no one else, always pushing the creative envelope. Do we sit back and reuse our lesson plans year after year, or do we look for more effective, creative ways to bring the gospel message to our students?

Make technology work for you: As talented as Phil is, he also knows how to use the latest technology to be even more entertaining and expressive. Are we taking advantage of educational technology to be more efficient, interesting and relevant?

Enjoy what you do: There is a joy that radiates from Phil’s face as he plays. What radiates from our faces as we teach?

Give it all to God: Finally, Phil understands the source of his gifts, and is living a life of gratitude by offering those gifts back to God. We, too, have the opportunity to make our work a living offering to the great God of the universe.

3 Replies to “What Catholic Teachers Can Learn from Guitarist Phil Keaggy”

  1. This is really good Nick! I love all these points. We all have abilities that need to be nourished and developed. When you really know your stuff, you can create and innovate in a way that brings your own unique expression to handing on God’s message. Then, technology becomes a tool not your whole game. And, we have to have joy when we’re doing this! There shouldn’t be any sour faced teachers and catechists! If you’re not enjoying teaching the Faith, go home! And, of course, the last is the best…do it all for God. Thanks for the inspiration!

  2. Like Marco above, I like them all. The point about enjoying what we do is really important to me. Young people don’t need frustrated, bitter and burned out teachers–especially Catholic school teachers who claim to represent God and the Church. I’m reminded of Mother Teresa’s instruction to her new aspirants “As Missionaries of Charity we serve Jesus in the poor–with Joy. There is much work to do–difficult work to do, but we must do it with joy, with a smile. The poor have enough problems–they need the Joy of Christ that comes through us.” The same can be said of our young people many of whom are spiritually and emotionally poor if not financially.

  3. Marc and Roy, you guys made my week. You remind me of how we can be a source of joy for each other when we affirm and acknowledge the work we do. Thanks for the joy!

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