I met Carlos in fifth grade
by Christopher Dawson

I met Carlos in fifth grade when I began to study the classical guitar. At the time, my mother required that my siblings and I learn instruments and so, unenthused by my previous experience with the piano, an instrument which I had little interest and limited success, I decided to move on to the guitar, which seemed the only logical choice to a fifth grade boy with big aspirations. I began taking lessons at Guitar Works, the local guitar shop, but soon felt the same lack of inspiration as I had encountered with the piano.

Through the aid of my mother, who apparently has played a more important role in my life than I have formerly imagined, I came into contact with Mr. Carlos Pozzi.

Carlos was born in Argentina and, for all intents and purposes, has devoted his life to the study of the guitar. Learning the chords, arpeggios and fretwork, Carlos and his self-created instructional system, has been almost the entirety of my personal musical experience, but my interaction with him has also played a huge role in my mental, political and philosophical perception of society, trends and cultures, both familiar and foreign. Over his many years of life he has gathered an incredible amount of wisdom and it is not uncommon to get through only two or three measures in one hour-long class with the majority of the time filled with Carlos’ stories of Argentina, the increasing emphasis of money on club soccer, or the politics and movements of a changing world. In fact, I looked forward more to his anecdotes and insights rather than the lesson itself.

I’ve often felt, especially after viewing Martin Scorsese’s film Kundun, that Carlos could have been the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama had the title not already been taken. His compassion for fellow man and creature is astounding to a point of spiritual connection. One story that he told me that stuck with me particularly, was an account of a relatively minor incident in his childhood. Walking through the streets of Buenos Aires he encountered the body of a dog that had apparently been struck by a car and was now deceased. The encounter induced a weeklong fast where Carlos was unable to eat while the thought of the life lost weighed heavily on his mind.

Another connection to nature that Carlos is emblematic of is the use of odd herbal remedies and foods from all over the globe. A Kidney transplant survivor, Carlos suffers from an externally suppressed immune system and frequent illness, thus he must look to these herbs to purify his body with natural methods. This has led to Carlos’ extensive knowledge of the working of the human body and a plethora or remedies for the ailments and sicknesses. He is an expert on the medicinal uses of Capsaicin, the ingredient in chili peppers that give them their spice, and often has to run to the kitchen to grab a banana to assuage his cramping hands.

Carlos is much more than a musician. He is a wise-man, a philosopher, and a medicine man who has survived through conditions that many less resilient individuals would have simply let themselves succumb to. The memories that I take with me of my years studying with Carlos are not the classics of the Baroque but rather the ability to see life from a larger perspective than just my own and to think carefully about what foods I eat and what I do with my body. Carlos has taught me much more than just then notes and rhythms, and I hope that that is evident in every aspect of my life.

Christopher Dawson studied with Carlos for 7 years as a private student, since he was in fifth grade attending Lucille Brown Middle School and High School at the Governor’s School. This letter was written as an essay for his application to enter a college in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he was accepted and is currently attending. His father, Dr. Dawson, has approved the publishing of his son’s letter as a testimony for the “Tribute to Carlos” webpage.