🎸 What I Learned (and Didn’t) from the “Founding Father Method™” A personal reflection on pedal steel’s most revered (and carefully protected) learning program Disclaimer: This post reflects my personal, good-faith experience as a paying customer of a widely known steel guitar course. It is not intended as defamation, harassment, or commercial harm—only an honest review of a product that didn’t work for me. If it worked for you, that’s great. This is simply my take. ...

What AI Is Doing to Software Development (and What It Can’t Do Yet) I started writing software just before the Internet changed everything. Back then, if you wanted to know how a Windows API worked, you didn’t Google it—you went to the bookshelf. Mine was packed with Microsoft documentation: thousands of pages in thick printed volumes. Win32 Programmer’s Reference, MFC Library, SDK Tools—it took up most of a shelf and all of your patience. ...

For the past few years, I’ve been balancing a range of creative and technical interests — pedal steel guitar, app development, retro computing, and more — all while working full-time at Sweetwater in Fort Wayne, IN. I’ve been part of both the mobile and desktop teams there for over five years, helping build the tools customers use every day. I’ve also moved the blog to a new domain: johnsmusicandtech.com. The name reflects what this space is really about — the intersection of sound and software, strings and code, music and machines. It’s still me writing, just under a name that better fits the shape of things going forward. ...

Two historic guitars are on display in the GFI room. This belonged to Ralph Mooney: This was a Gene Fields guitar: Gene was a great innovator. It was interesting to see his work in person.

I am in Dallas for my first Jamboree! I am halfway through Doug Jerningan’s seminar. There is a lot to take in, but it has been very informative. Doug is a great player and teacher. He has prepared an extensive course for today’s seminar.