Struts & Frets Reading Response

           Life as a teenage musician isn’t always easy. Having learned music since I was 7 years old, I had various struggles; work constantly interfered with practices vital to events, and even the events themselves. The fact that I had nothing to practice with also slowed me down on my growth in music. However, until today I am certain that I will not get separates from music easily, like Sammy. The novel, “Struts & Frets”, by Jon Skovron, guides the reader through the teenage life of the guitarist Sammy Bojar. Going through hardships and tribulations, which vary from trying to keep his metal band, “Tragedy of Wisdom”, together, all the way to having a therapist mom that the leader singer of his band, finds alluring, Sammy struggles to find his identity and place out in the world. Throughout the novel his view on the world changes due to his changing view of his best friend to girlfriend, his grandfather, who he trusts and loves so much, now beating up Sammy’s mother, and seeing “tough” Joe, the lead singer, on the ground crying because of a broken hand, during a fight with Sammy. However, throughout the novel, one thing remains the same; his love for music. Jon Skovron utilizes items that belong to Sammy to symbolize and portray his critical relationships with music.

The first relationship that Skovron portrays, through guitars, is the relationship between Sammy and his band. Take for example, towards the beginning Sammy shows devotion towards his prized possession, a 1961 Gibson SG reissue. This guitar takes him more than a year to get enough money for only half of the total price. Devotion similar to this also applies for the band, where it costs him a lot to save it and keep it together. Sammy is even willing to give up his role as the song writer, for the sake of the band.  He can’t bear to see either the guitar or the band fall apart. However, later Joe, the lead singer of the band, talks about how alluding Sammy’s mom is and how he ought to marry her, forcing Sammy to throw his guitar towards Joe. The guitar ends up breaking and as Sammy quits the band which causes the band to fall apart. Not long after this does Sammy get a new and better guitar, as he starts a new band, “Fidgeting”, with his friend Alexander  and the old drummer, TJ, which ends up being an even greater band. The author uses the guitar, because of its vital role in Sammy’s life. The relationship between the band and him is also vital. The guitar is not, however, the only symbol to represent his relationship with music.

The next relationship between Sammy and music in general, is demonstrated through Sammy’s old 1970’s Buick, or what he calls the “Boat”. Just like the Boat, the relationship between them is old but still remains.  He says that he crashed the car, yet the car still holds together and works well. His mother completely opposes the idea of Sammy turning into a professional musician for a career, but she does not stop him. The Boat is also Sammy’s only mode of transport to far locations, from where he lives. Music is also Sammy’s only mode of transportation to a faraway world, free of the real world’s hardships and plights. Thus, Sammy constantly drives his friends around in the Boat as well. His love of music in the same way is shared with them, for they also love music. Skovron shows through this relationship that the love of music is not personal or private. He is not ashamed to share it with others. Skovron also shows that there is more to the world than what is visible. Many other worlds can be reached through the talent that on possesses.

As a musician, I can relate with many of these problems that Sammy encounters throughout the book. Yet this does not only apply to the musician. It applies to anyone who is willing to take the advice. Many times we will find ourselves challenged where we have two options, you are either going to do what I tell you to do or not. If we love what we do, we will try to do all that is possible to have it last. However, like Sammy we must learn to break and hold on to some relationships, for it will come in handy in our future. We must also learn to be determined to continue and preserve what we believe and love. Many problems will come but it is up to you to decide if you will do what it takes to keep what you love.