As a part of our series about business leaders who are shaking things up in their industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sean Campbell.
Sean Campbell is a musician and the visionary behind The Music Lyceum, an exciting new startup based on a groundbreaking piano tablature invention that insiders say is capable of revolutionizing the music world — and changing people’s lives. Disrupting the multi million dollar sheet music industry teaching aspiring pianists — and those who’ve always dreamed of making music but never thought they could learn — how to play the piano in a brand new way. Campbell graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Business Management before working at Sony Music where he managed a stable of signed acts. With a growing passion for music, he taught himself several instruments and helped form a music school based in Santa Monica, California. His piano tablature invention spawned from a desire to accelerate his students’ understanding of music notation. Students and media around the world know PianOLD — but Campbell introduces them to PiaNEW — and a whole new world of music, self esteem — and possibilities.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
I never played a single note of music until, just before my 20th birthday, through a confluence of synchronistic events, I was given an electric guitar. I immediately bought a book, “How to play rock and roll guitar.” I read the book and began practicing diligently. I learned music theory, harmony and composition from Oscar Castro Neves, a renowned Brazilian guitarist and composer who along with Antônio Carlos Jobim is considered a founding figure of the Bossa Nova style. Then I learned the art of advanced rhythm and lead guitar pyrotechnics from Carl Verheyen, a member of the group Supertramp. One morning I woke up from a dream where a little boy looked up at me and said, “Reach up to the glorious sky and step into the wind.” I used that line to write his first poem. I then put music to the poem and completed my first song, “Wild Future.” I had never sung but decided to give it a try. I then searched for a drummer and bass player and was soon playing all the hottest clubs as the singer, songwriter guitarist of the band Deputy Zero. I later taught himself to play the piano by transferring my knowledge of music theory and composition to the piano. I began teaching, invented piano tablature and became one of Santa Monica’s most sought-after music teachers.
Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?
The online distribution of traditional piano sheet music is nearly a billion dollar per year industry. Whereas learning to read traditional sheet music takes years of hard work, I’ve invented and patented a new system of music notation, that takes only two minutes to learn how to read. Learning to play piano using my system, which I call piano tablature is exponentially easier, faster and far more enjoyable than the traditional path.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
In order to create my piano tabs I first translate traditional sheet music into a format from which a graphic designer can create the final product. I hired a developer to create an app that would streamline the process. He was extremely intelligent and we had great rapport. We were making progress and were about halfway done with the app when I lost communication with him. It ends up he went a bit crazy and checked himself into a mental institution. Never again will I make payments to someone before the final product is delivered.
We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?
After I graduated from college I met Jeff Powell. He was playing bass in a band with Axl Rose’s younger brother. Jeff was an extremely talented singer and guitarist. We became close friends and I soon became his manager. He served as my inspiration in regard to my songwriting and guitar playing. About ten years ago I entered into a relationship with a woman named Paulette. She owned a music school and although I had no desire to teach, she pushed me to teach at her school. From the first lesson I taught I knew teaching was what I was meant to do. She also encouraged me to teach yoga and I was soon teaching at two of the largest yoga studios in Los Angeles.
In today’s parlance, being disruptive is usually a positive adjective. But is disrupting always good? When do we say the converse, that a system or structure has ‘withstood the test of time’? Can you articulate to our readers when disrupting an industry is positive, and when disrupting an industry is ‘not so positive’? Can you share some examples of what you mean?
An example of positive disruption would be my piano tab. People can become complacent in thinking there is only one way to do something. Piano tab is now disrupting the traditional way of learning songs on the piano with a much simpler and efficient method. Piano tab is now opening once locked doors and unleashing creativity and artistry which was previously lying dormant.
An example of negative disruption could be seen in the health care industry. Of course there are many benefits to the advancement of modern medicine, but they are often used in place of the ancient healing arts which can be equally and often times more effective.
Can you share five of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.
The lyrics from Pure Imagination. “If you want to view paradise, simply look around and view it”
Life is like the children’s board game “Chutes and Ladders.” As we rise in consciousness we must hold on to the rungs of the ladder for dear life, for if we look back we will end up sliding down one of the many tantalizing chutes and have to start all over again.
Imagination is the most powerful force on the planet. If you can imagine it, it means you have the ability to accomplish it.
Energy flows where your attention goes. Keep your mind on the things you want and off the things you don’t want.
Use your mind in the manner it was meant to be used. In the human scene, the mind is creative. It can create good and it can create evil and this is what it is continuously doing. In the spiritual scene, however, the mind is not a creative faculty, but rather, an avenue of awareness.
We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?
I am hopeful that in the near future I’ll have the opportunity to share some of the things I’ve learned thus far on my journey. Perhaps in some way I’ll be able to help reduce the overabundance of hostility, anger and fear that our planet is currently experiencing.
Do you have a book, podcast, or talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us? Can you explain why it was so resonant with you?
There was a time when I sat on stage with a Master of Kundalini Yoga named Guru Singh as his guitarist. He is known for his ability to articulate the “Teachings” and would often lecture for around 45 minutes before he went into the yoga portion of the class.
I also enjoyed the book, “The Untethered Soul.” It describes how we all have a voice inside of us that is continuously talking to us. It’s constantly narrating our experience and often times speaks negatively to us. The book tells us that we are not the voice and then gives instruction how to simply observe the voice rather than identify with it.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Be the change you want to see in the world” — Mahatma Gandhi
It took a long time for me to realize that no matter how hard I tried, I could not change other people. For decades I was attracting the same type of people to me. I was having fun, but eventually the fun would transform into drama. But when I began making changes in my speech, behavior and thinking, I began to attract people who made me feel peaceful and joyous. Soon the drama began to fade away.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Stop playing the blame game and take responsibility for your own happiness. Most people are dependent upon others for their feelings and emotions. If they are treated well they are happy. If things do not go their way they are unhappy. Look not to other people or things outside of yourself for comfort and satisfaction. The only place true fulfillment exists is within each and every one of us.
How can our readers follow you online?
https://musiclyceum.com/
https://www.facebook.com/themusiclyceum/
https://www.instagram.com/musiclyceum/
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!