Fortunes of Hard Work: Why You Should Never Give Up 

Rick Beato, you honestly literally save people from suicide. Your enthusiasm and genuine humility is absolutely contagious. You are an embodied Angel!!!🔮

"It was unbearable but it did not deter me." Gave me chills for a month, I found this at a great time, thank you man.

I have no possible explanation.But when i see and hear Mr. Rick Beato, it feels like he is the Musician Godfather I never had. So, thank you Unc Beato. You are awesome.

Hey Rick...you a great story teller! That is a gift in itself.

Wow! What a great story. It’s so inspiring to know your humble beginnings after starting to follow your channel at the lofty height of seeing you interview Sting and then to know the rejection you must have felt and to has achieved so much in your career says so much about your character and determination! Thank you so much for sharing this story and for your incredible channel.

The amount of similar stories is astounding. I've heard this in one version or another many times before, but this story told a whole new level of "fake it til you make it", haha! Great story - thanks for sharing, Rick.

You bring so much joy to my life. I’ve been making art for 35 years and it’s not a lifestyle for the faint of heart. I can tell you’ve been through the ups and downs so your videos mean that much more. God bless you and your family! 💀🔥

Rick, you and I have a very similar story. I got rejected on my first music audition, and then re-auditioned and became a music major in the Spring of my Freshman year. As of May I just graduated with a degree in music and received an award for top student of my program. Your story resonated with me so well.

Very inspiring story Rick! I'll keep it in my mind. Thank you

Great story Rick, and the bottom line is ever valid. Regarding myself - 30% talent plus 70% hard work has gotten me pretty far , and still now age 56, i practice al the time and learn new instruments as well

I was listening to your story about your personal history and love how inspirational it is. How you persevered despite being rejected and how you were even accepted as a peer to play beside your music teacher, Steve is just awesome. Then when you mentioned playing at a bar in Elmira, New York, I couldn’t help but wonder if it might have been the same little bar at which a band I drummed for back in ‘84 had also played. Can’t remember the name, but will never forget that we drove all the way up from Harrisburg, PA and there was a big snowstorm that night and we wound up playing for just two girls who had braved the storm to come out and they just sat there and just quietly stared at us the whole night.When we finished playing our sets the girls approached us while we were striking our gear and said, “ You guys are the best bend we have ever seen.” To which I responded, “ Thanks, but we couldn’t really tell if you liked us or not. You didn’t clap or anything.” Anyway, that’s my Elmira, NY story. Gotta love Rock n Roll. Doesn’t matter if you play for two people or thousands. Play it like you mean it and people will love it!

As a music journalist who lives with music and tries to learn and discover as much as possible about music, i'm really interested in your your stories. Please keep on spending time for us. Please keep on telling us your eyes opening, mind expanding stories on music. Thanks for sharing Rick.

Hi Rick. I've just commented on your recent Fortunes of Failure video - which is what led me to this. Again, I can relate. I was clearly a bright and imaginative child, and learned to read, write and tell the time before I started 1st Grade. But I failed abysmally at school. I couldn't grasp so much of what was being crammed into us. I was bullied, labeled a dunce and a failure, and finally left at age 15 with no qualifications. I went to work as a farm labourer, which was practically the only job I could get. I accepted that I must be 'thick'... and yet there was something inside me that told me there was far more to it - and that I'd been failed rather than the other way around. Fast-forward to 23: I take an IQ test and am admitted to Mensa, with an IQ of 158. Ten years later, I graduate from university with an Honours degree in English and American Literature. I've gone on to become a published writer... and also (at the late age of 56) to discover that I have Asperger's Syndrome. This latter accounts for many of the problems I've encountered in life, right from first starting school: social interaction, social communication, methods of learning, depression and anxiety, etc. But I've come through. I gone ahead in spite of the obstacles. I've proven all those teachers, critics and nay-sayers wrong. Good message, my friend. Don't give up. Follow your own head, and follow your own path. Success and fortune are relative concepts, and take many shapes. Only by pressing ahead with life, and rising above the failures, can we truly discover what this whole thing is all about... and why we, as individuals, are here.

Rick that is an awesome story!!! Take away...never give up, persevere because ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! Thanks for sharing such close personal details about your life & what it takes to become successful in life & the music industry!

This channel and now also your course is honestly the best thing to happen in my life in the last 10 years regarding self esteem, creativity and just general purpose in life. I cannot thank you enough. x

Thank you, Rick, for your encouraging history. My musical life has taken a huge detour (forty years?), but the impetus to create has always been with me. I am now finally actualizing it, attempting to create music worthy of a listener's time. I sang for a number of years in a semi-professional choir, and highly recommend it for solidifying tonal relationships and melody. Anyway, thank you for your work and here goes...

Your story is truly inspirational, Rick! Thank you for sharing it.

When you say "all these people take time out of their days to watch my videos and they're so gracious" do you know what I think? I think: "I'm so glad that someone finally explains music theory and so much more on a level that I connect with!" What I mean to say is that it's not us, but YOU that makes the kind of content that we want to watch! I hope you will keep up the amazing content for years to come! Love from the Netherlands.

Thank you Rick ! I'm 41yo looking to finally doing a bachelors degree in music . Cheers :)

Sometimes you need a rejection to really cement your resolve and make you realise you really want to do this. Thanks for sharing your story with the world!

You are to be commended for keeping your eye on the prize and pursuing your goal at such a young age. Too many times kids the same age just do what is expected of them as opposed to chasing what interests them. Kudos to you, sir!

Can't get enough of your channel. So much knowledge to offer. I'm thankful for your effort in educating people. The mix tutorials are on another level to everyone else.

What a wonderful story. Rick thank you so much for sharing your life experience. It gives me hope for the future. ❤️

Great story, really inspirational - not only a fantastic musician but also a very gifted and natural storyteller too.

Thank you Rick. It took me three tries to get accepted by the US Navy for a commision as an Officer. Never give up on your dreams!

I've almost quit a couple times but always keep at it, so listening to something like this almost brought tears to my eyes, this is inspirational on so many different levels

Grit, persistence, and the willingness that you have to pick yourself up and try again...Man....My man, you are a one of a kind. I'm beyond grateful in knowing that your insight on a topic is always going to be right there for when I find myself in a rut. Learning from you has moved mountains in me. You can't get something like that from just anyone. I am very happy and grateful. Some say it's the little things in life that make you happy, but this concept of what you do is no where near the same vicinity as something little...you badass.

Wow thanks Rick for your excellent story. I am a self taught sax player and I often find myself filled with doubt and the urge to just say "forget it". Truly being as you said resolute about your goals and having the desire to pursue them is the only true way forward.

Thank you for sharing the story Nick. What it tells you is that concequence of hard work backed by personal drive is fruitful.I only started music production 2 years ago. Within last 12 months I have nearned a lot of musical knowledge and sound engineering.Satisfaction is the greatest prize.

So I’m listening to your story & my jaw is dropping. I graduated HS in 1980 and went with my parents to Ithaca to audition for the music dept. Although I wasn’t accepted (luckily -went into art/design instead), I may have bumped into you if I had gone there!

Any viewers of Rick's really owe it to themselves to watch this. Such a great story.

As an experienced musician of over 30 years on multiple instruments, I so very much enjoy your videos. There is little you can teach me, but there is some you can, which I appreciate. Just wanted to say "Thank You" for doing what you're doing!

I'm glad you didn't quit, because you inspire us all to be better musician and actually teach us, thanks for sharing your experiences! The journey goes on!

You are everything I ever wanted to be. I only wish I had discovered your channel before quitting music... but I feel blessed you're out there, anyway. Your videos, tutorials and stories make my days better and musical, everyday.

Thank you so much for sharing your story; it's so inspiring to hear how you worked so hard when it would have been easier just to give up and move on. I should be going to bed, but all I want to do right now is go over to the piano and start practising!

Wow, this hits me in the gut! So many parallels to my own early story. As a fellow Rochesterian, I was very familiar with Fredonia and Ithaca, those were schools I also considered. I too relied on talented friends to help me learn to teach myself guitar out in Webster. I learned mainly by ear, but was interested in reading, but never really found a teacher who I could relate to. I knew I had talent, but had no idea how to make use of it besides writing songs and improvising. Meanwhile I listened nonstop to Miles, Weather Report, Genesis and Zeppelin. A couple years later, I struggled with learning and *understanding* the repertoire for college auditions. Part of it was that I didn’t see a reason to study a single instrument (guitar) to the exclusion of everything else related to music - e.g. composing, recording, arranging, soundtrack work, etc. At that time, (and in my little bubble in Webster) finding a path in music seemed abstract - literally nobody knew any more than I did. I look back now and wonder why it was so hard to get good information? Anyway, once I realized that I wouldn’t be able to compete with students who had been basically groomed for the process their entire life, I gave up on studying music at that time and gravitated toward media and film studies, which allowed me to stay involved in music on many levels. But part of me was still unfulfilled. So as a sophomore at SUNY Buffalo, I remember seeing my guidance counselor about it, and remember him telling me to give up trying to study music because the acceptance process was too rigorous and it was too late. The coda is this: a month before graduation, I ventured to the music school one day (to see John Cage - I was lucky enough to meet him and spend time talking with him in an anechoic chamber there, which is quite pithy if you know Cage’s work). Anyway, afterward I stumbled into a rehearsal studio and spoke with a professor there about my media studies and what was next for me. When I told him about my experience trying get a chance to study music at UB, he told me that my guidance counselor should have known that there is a COMPOSITION major at UB which would have been a perfect fit for me and had no audition required. I’m not blaming him, because I should have been more curious, but I’ll never forget how I felt at that moment. Such a dunce! Eventually I was able to parlay my media studies to get work in the music recording field and worked in Rochester at PCI and as a freelance engineer and assistant for film and video production, which allowed me to work on interesting recordings with top musicians. Bottom line is: listen to Rick and don’t just give up. Ask questions and question authority.

This the best motivational and touching Rick Beato video! And the heartbreaking blockages in our path just makes us tougher because of our calling to touch people's lives through the power of Music and Salute to Rick for keeping the fire burning! Nothing can ever Stop our creativity and this story is a testimony!

Great story Rick. We have a somewhat similar story...I too was a track guy in HS, broke some records, etc, but all I could think about was music. Thanks for sharing your story.

It's very reassuring to hear that someone with so much knowledge (at least now) has also felt that very specific feeling of embarrassment and frustration that comes along with playing music and sharing that with others during the whole very long process of musical growth

As a Cubs fan and someone who quit on music once, this man is absolutely on point! ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN! Thank you sir. Lovely story.

Love your channel. You are an inspiration and putting your amazing talent to good use.

Great story Rick, thank you for sharing. Respect for working hard and not giving up!

Great story. Someone told me once, "If you want to make a living making art for yourself, give it ten years. It takes a long time to build up your voice/sound/perspective and hone it into something worth paying for."

If you want to go to music school, make sure you have a teacher who has a degree or knows what it’s like to audition. That being said, sometimes underachievers need the incentive of a failure to make them realize their potential. The sting of failure is a real motivator for some people. Look how far Beato has come just on grit alone- love it!

"Anything can happen if you work hard enough" I love you, Rick! What a great story! Thank you for sharing!

Thank you very much for that. I‘m preparing for a degree in jazz guitar too at a conservatory here in vienna and this is just a perfect motivation to try even harder and not give up and just what i truly needed. Thank you very much. I love your channel 🙏

Rick, you have a _great_ channel and amazing content. Thanks for sharing such wisdom - especially something as personal and inspiring as this post. I immediately shared it with my family.

Rick, you are such a HUGE inspiration, thank you so much for everything you do

I think a lot people, no matter their talents in life, can relate to your story. Thanks!

Thanks Rick for sharing. Your story is amazingly inspirational. I’m 58, and while I never learned to play an instrument, I’m watching your educational videos to learn music - and perhaps even learn to play the electric bass (my family bought one for me for Christmas awhile back in hopes that I might learn to play it, so far it’s collected a ton of dust).

Now that is an honest and great motivating story of your life. Thanks Rick!

Great story! The conclusion is to never give up. If you’re get kicked out the door you’ve to try to get through the window.

Thank you for sharing such a terrific and inspirational story. It goes to show that persistence can really pay off.

Awesome and inspiring story. Thank you for this wonderful channel. I have learned so much from you, man. I am deeply appreciative. Even at my advanced age, you can still get better in this game if you work at it.

i love that you had come full circle and taught there you are such an inspiration to me as well as other people i also love jazz and have been wanting to learn how to play it for a long time now but can’t find a teacher in my area that teaches that thank you for the wonderful story God bless you and your family always

Absolutely inspiring. Thank you for sharing Rick.

Great story! I'm an older-than-you upstate music major (Crane - piano - SUNY Potsdam) who can identify with everything you went through. Your success is inspirational. I saw another comment from a person who said, among other things, that he had "a very different personality than you, so I wasn't making friendships and connections to support continuing." This is key: in this and your other great bio video I felt that your personality and 'sure, I'll do that' confidence was every bit as important as your natural ability, if not more so. So many of the successful musicians I've worked with were equally blessed.

Rick, not sure if you remember but I was one of your first students back in 87 at Ithaca . I remember many nights watching you play at places like the Nines or in the student Center and your relentlessness to make sure all of us who studied with you worked hard to achieve our goals. The passion that you instilled in me helped me in getting a degree in Jazz Guitar( I transferred out to DePaul) but your work ethic actually stuck with me and has helped me become successful in education as an administrator ( my career for the last 20 + years). It's great to see your passion has not changed - keep it up!

Coming here from the future to look at the full story from the past. I just have to say, starting guitar at 30 for the reasons I did, and then listening to your story, gives me hope and definitely shows what you can do / accomplish if you persist. Thanks Rick!

Thanks a lot Rick. All of your motivation and talent has now made you a much better musician.

Thank you so much Rick. I am 15 years old and my biggest dream is to become a music-composer. I learn almost everything from your videos. So again, thank you for sharing this great story

What a story, Rick! I’ve been playing guitar for more than 50 years now. Through all the ups and downs, the twists and turns of life it’s been the one constant for me and the best friend I ever had. I’m a pretty decent guitar player but still nowhere near where I want to be! So I work at it every doggone day and love it as much as the first time I ever picked it up!

Rick , you are the rare combo of someone who is popular & a real guy. Usually its one or the other. Thanks for spreading your knowledge and love of music.

Rick... I watch your videos almost every day... what you are doing is beyond amazing.. this story .. truly inspirational.

Great story Rick, way to go!

This video connected with me more than any other instructional videos I've been watching from you for over a year probably now. I went through similar struggles as a saxophone perf major through elementary high school in Atlanta and college at Troy State AL and UGA, first chair in high school and failed most my other classes except music but I was still an outsider and preferred to shoot from the hip on intuition and improvisation through my ear instead of the book but always tried to study. So many heartbreaks with family expectations to go into proper business but always and still wanting to follow my own path on guitar. I played in the 1:00 jazz bands on both instruments but didn't have the proper training. Still trying to make up for it today. High school track coach wanted me to do hurdles but I turned him down. I've taught hundreds of kids how to play guitar but I'm still so behind. Went to GIT in Atlanta in 86 with Jimmy Herring teaching and it's still a burning desire to improve and find peace with it. It's an inspiration for me to see how your intestinal fortitude got you to where you are today. Thanks, Jamie, Cartersville GA

your humility and willingness to share gives much strength to so many other people! :) thank you!!

I think this story and many that you’ve told should be turned in to a Movie! Love your channel Rick - loads of information and inspiration! \m/

Thank you Rick for being an inspiration to us all including me. This really inspires me.

Well over 76,000 people know this story now... So inspiring! Thankyou Rick!

Rick, your love for music is infectious, and again, another great Rick Beato video/story. I keep telling my musician friends to check you out. I'm shocked how many of them don't know you, so there's still a treasure trove of Rick Beato lovers just waiting to discover you and I'm doing my part to spread the word. It's no accident that your son is who he is!

great story Rick thank you so much. so much great information in your book. I'm 73 years old and still learning every day. I first started to study guitar in 1957 I got out of the navy in 1966 and have pursued guitar since. you are awesome thanks for being there.

What an inspiring story Rick. Thank you for sharing your story. Life has strange twists and turns. Funny how the universe works because your story came across to me today when I needed to hear it. My 20-ish yr. daughter is having some difficulties, one being school. I'm going to share your story with her later today. I feel it may give her some honest insight on dealing with her troubles at the moment in a positive way. Thanks.

Thank you, Rick. Your story is truly inspiring.

Thank you so much for sharing your story Master Rick. To speak the truth is the boldest thing one can do...😌🖖🏾🤟🏾

Every now and then I stumble upon a video here that really focuses the mind. Sometimes groups, oftentimes lessons for guitar and keyboards, but occasionally I find something like this. This story sounds so familiar as far as the eras lived through, beginning performing in '72, but points out that one thing I quite lacked- dedication. I watched the video with Frampton this morning, and immediately found Beato's groove. Thanks, man, for the story as much as the lessons. It means more than I have the ability to describe. Peace.

Thanks for sharing this story Rick! Such an encouragement

The energy I got from this story is gonna help me all week. You're a musical Buster Douglas, the guy who wasn't supposed to qualify, then you metaphoricallly got the knockout.

Wow, what an inspiring story, Rick! It really shows that you can achieve your dreams if you are dedicated and work hard. Thank you for all the work you put in your videos and all the knowledge that you share with us :)

Great story. Congrats on having the will and persistence to turn things around! You've inspired me to begin my guitar music theory video course I've been staring at across the room for about six months now. You have another regular viewer! Thanks for all you do, Rick.

This is a powerful story! Inspiring... it shows what you can achieve if you don't give up... and how things can radically turn around. The thing that brought it home for me was that your office as a professor was exactly where your started and flunked out, it must have been surreal... WOW!!! As I imagine what that must have been likey, I have no words to express other than very awesome! Thanks for sharing.

Oh man Rick this was a incredible story , I felt so bad for the terrible rejection from Steve the professor almost brought a tear to my eye , but your ability to persevere and focus was phenomenal I salute you Rick and thank for sharing this story with us. ….paul t

WOW! what a story of life! I am a Vietnam vet and at the age of 70 I am just beginning my musical journey. I did become frustrated with the piano but after listening to your story I am motivated to journey on! Thanks!

Goosebumps, Rick. Thanks so much for sharing your story; very inspiring.

Rick!! What an amazing story! It reminds me so much of my own story!! I failed to get to the Conservatory of Music from were I'm from TWICE!! But, I made it happen on the third try!! It was so frustrating and depressing but I faugh through it!! Thanks for the story! I really appreciate it!! 🎸🎶

Rick, you are a rock solid dude. I never played any musical instrument. In high school I wanted to play drums and have a band. My defeatist attitude stopped that. But I really enjoy learning from your channel. I have no regrets.I became a good listener of music though (LOL). I appreciate your work on this channel- always great and informative.

Hi Rick, so glad I saw this video! I had a music assessment on Drums at University yesterday, and it didn't feel at all as though it was going to plan, and no where near the level of standard in my rehearsal at home. It almost felt like a slow motion car crash emotionally, which I guess we can all relate to from time to time. So much so when I came home, I avoided playing the drums since. Just a few minutes ago, I watched your video feeling quite down, and it lifted me more than you can imagine. Then I remembered what my Dad said to me before he passed away in August, keep going, the timing is right for you all these years later, to live your dream and pursue your real career goal finally. Mom and I are behind you 100% he told me, and would support me every step of the way. Even after yesterday, I'm not giving in! I've waited 39 years for this opportunity to pursue a Degree course in the field I love, so there is no way I'm giving up now, this is literally my last chance. So I just wanted to say, how time timely Praise The Lord, that I should your video about your experience. It's given me great hope, and challenged me not to give up the fight to achieve what I wanted to embark upon 39 years ago! Thank you so much Rick! God bless, Mark.

"Anything can happen if you work hard enough". ... and when you work hard enough, everything can happen. I have enjoyed listening to you late into my African dusk. You have made a difference by adding something of great value to my perspective. Thank you, Sir. and Kind regards. Keith.

As someone who has repeatedly failed in most things and quit so many times, this video is INVALUABLE. Thanks so much Rick!

Great story. Had something very similar happen to me. No one knows you better than you know yourself and if you are confident you can do it, then do it.

That story almost made my stomach hurt while you were trying out the first time. It is such an emotional and and scary thing to fly away from home the first time. I did not have an easy go of it either, finding my way in life. Thank goodness we only have to go through that one time. The whole time I was wishing someone had give you more guidance, but at the same time, too much guidance makes people weaklings, so perhaps it is best for it to be hard at first. I am glad everything worked out for you in the end! I am really enjoying your channel, btw.

Thanks Rick. Amazing story. Very inspirational. Would love to hear your critique of the movie "Whiplash". Any real life eccentric maniacal instructors like that in the real world? Thanks again.

Thank you for telling this story. I have a similar story. I got rejected from my dream school and backup school the first time I auditioned, and this video helped my gain the courage to audition again, and I made it in!

Thank you for being so honest... a rarity today. I absolutely love the way you present music and life... much, much appreciated!

Great story Rick. I always value your input. Always keep it up.

Rick, this is a grand tale of high adventure and youthful innocence, and I am tremendously grateful for you posting it. A truly beautiful story.

Great Story.. It's in your blood and once it is, you can't deny it.. ❤

You have a ton of grit and determination! That's great! My story of music isn't nearly as dramatic as yours, but I started playing classical piano when I was 5 and cello when I was 8. I played in orchestras through high school and did pretty well, but that was the end of my classical music experience. I taught myself rock/blues guitar starting when I was 15, but a few experiences of severe stage fright (my fingers would shake so badly that I couldn't play) convinced me that I would never be able to play guitar in front of people, much less with a band. This lasted until last year--when I was 32 years old. I saw a post on NextDoor about an open acoustic jam band and decided to just go. I took my acoustic guitar and joined their open jam session. A couple of sessions in, two of the guys from there invited me to start a rock band with them. Now, a year later, I've played several gigs with the acoustic band and have recorded about 20 covers and a few originals with the rock band (just on SoundCloud). They've told me repeatedly what a great guitarist I am. I always *knew* was a great guitarist--I taught myself Jessica by the Allman Brothers when I had only been playing guitar for 2 years--but I never had the confidence to go for it. I'm glad I did and I wish I had done it earlier!

You're the man Rick. Very inspirational.

another reason why I'm subscribed to your channel, not just music, but this personal sharing that really is something special. Rick thank you so much for sharing such an inspiring story. Believe me I've had ups and downs in my life so I definitely can relate, not to give up.