Classical guitar major finds healing in music

A native of Detroit, home to rock legends KISS and more recent rock star Kid Rock, Matthew Douglas Smith wanted to play guitar his whole life. Detroit had established itself as a city infatuated with rock 'n roll, and it was the perfect laboratory for up-and-coming rock stars. \nBut Smith wasn't really interested in any of it. \nEver since he began to play guitar seriously as a freshman in high school, Smith has known his talents were better suited for the Metropolitan Opera than they were for the Mets' Tigers' stadium, which hosts occasional rock concerts.\n"Our mom played classical music for us when we were babies," Smith said, explaining his preference for classical music. "I just never listened to popular music."\nNow a 19-year-old freshman at IU, Smith studies classical guitar at the Jacobs School of Music, shunning the lights and celebrity that come with rock and popular music. \nIn many ways, Smith is rebelling from the rebellion, choosing to remain "unplugged" in an era where amped electric guitars dominate.\nSometimes though, Smith said he envies those famous guitarists. \n"Sometimes I do get jealous, just how better known guitarists can play anything," he said. \nBut like all music majors, he sticks to his instrument and style of music because he "loves it."\n"During my first lesson, I learned the guitar is shaped like a woman," he said. "You go in there caressing it; you play it with passion.\n"What do you do with a timpani?" he asked a fellow music student. "You bang it."\nPlaying classical guitar, Smith gently plucks the strings with his fingers instead of heavily strumming the guitar with a pick, like popular musicians do. \nAlso, unlike popular musicians, Smith only plays his guitar sitting down, cradling the instrument in his hands as it rests on his knee. As he sits, his foot rests on a small foot stand so the guitar sits at an appropriate height.\nSince an acoustic guitar doesn't have to be plugged into an amplifier, Smith can play anywhere he pleases.\nAnd he does. \nFor five hours a day, Smith nestles himself in hallways, stairwells and anywhere else he can manage practicing guitar.\n"It takes a lot of work," he said. \nThe drive to play forces Smith to never lose sight of his goals: to earn a master's and a doctorate in classical guitar performance and, one day, play guitar professionally. \nSmith's twin brother and roommate Greg marvels at his discipline. \n"Me, I get tired practicing," said Greg, who auditioned on piano for the Jacobs School of Music in late February. "But he can just sit there. That's just dedication."\nThough Smith has wanted to play guitar his whole life, prior to high school he had different career goals: to study biology and become a doctor.\nThat all changed after two years at University Liggett School in Grosse Point Woods, Mich., where his love of classical guitar was "rekindled." His freshman year Spanish teacher held a Ph.D. in classical guitar from the Conservatory of Madrid, and she inspired Smith to start studying classical guitar more seriously. \nAfter only one lesson with her, Smith was again hooked on the "expressive instrument."\nTwo years later Smith switched his career vision from medicine to Mozart, but he doesn't see much of a difference between the two fields.\n"Both medically and musically, you still find ways to heal people," he said. \nBut he had a lot of work to do to catch up with other guitarists who had been playing since elementary and middle school. Smith said the fact that he did not begin playing at a younger age is "something I regret."\n"I know I would have been so much better at it now," he said. \nIn many ways, he uses that regret to help motivate his brother for auditions. \n"He'll always ask me, 'Have you practiced?' or 'Shouldn't you be practicing now?'" Greg said, admitting that it kind of annoys him. \nBut for two brothers who are only separated by a minute of birth, six feet between their bunk beds and a disagreement on which is the better classical instrument, guitar or piano, Greg can understand where Matthew is coming from in encouraging him to practice for his music school audition. \n"It's probably because he wants me to get in so I can experience all the things he has," Greg said.