🎸 7 Days to a Better Musician (and why I wrote it)
When I was 18, I got married.
At 19, I became a father.
And like many young people in small towns, I had one goal: survive.
I worked everywhere I could — as a waiter in several restaurants, cutting firewood, selling ice cream in the summers, trying (and failing) to be an insurance agent, and eventually selling alcohol for a local distillery.
But every Sunday, I’d sit in an internet café and transcribe guitar solos by John Scofield and Robben Ford, by hand. I had a band — David Kollar Band — and things were starting to move. We played gigs, I practiced hard, and I dreamed of doing music full-time.
When I was 25, I quit my job.
I came home and told my wife.
She looked at me and said, “I’m pregnant.”
I was terrified. I doubted myself.
But I also took it as a sign.
This was the moment to go all in.
I stayed home on paternity leave with our daughter Barborka, and set up a strict daily routine – 8 hours a day.
1 hour of guitar technique
1 hour reading serious literature
1 hour watching a good film, taking notes on the music
1 English studies
1 Analyzing biographies of great artists
2 Listening, reflecting, building
1 hour of rhythm scales
I wasn’t just trying to be a better guitarist. I was trying to become a deeper person — so my playing could grow with me.
And even now, years later, I still follow a similar rhythm. Not as strict — but the idea is the same: daily work, daily curiosity.
Barborka is now 15.
And I’ve had the chance to collaborate with some of my heroes:
Pat Mastelotto and Trey Gunn (King Crimson), Steven Wilson, Erik Truffaz, Nils Petter Molvær, Arve Henriksen, Fennesz, Gergo Borlai, Marco Minnemann, Rick Cox, and many others.
I’ve composed music for the two biggest Slovak films in recent years.
Published two books.
And still — I feel like I’m just beginning. 🙂
This year, I created something small but meaningful:
7 Days to a Better Musician.
A 27-page PDF.
Not about scales or theory — but about attention, identity, curiosity, and daily practice.
A mix of creative tasks, listening challenges, and philosophical questions.
For guitarists, musicians, or anyone who wants to go deeper — not just play better.
📘 You can get it here (it's discounted):
👉 https://davidkollar.com/product/1095475-7-days-to-a-better-musician-by-david-kollar
Thanks for reading.
Thanks for listening.
And if you end up playing something beautiful with just 3 notes — send it to me.
I’m still listening, too.
– David