Every Note Counts
Oct 24, 2008 muse
We’re all crawling through a tempest these days, or so it seems. Personally, I must admit I didn’t see the uncertainties many folks face today coming, at least not to the depths upon us. But… this is certainly not the first time, and unless Louis Armstrong is called upon to sound the alarm before the advent of our next generations, this piece of history, sadly, will repeat itself.
Through it all, I’m grateful for many things, not the least of which being creative outlets, and in the last couple of weeks I’m trying to make more music by taking less for granted and pushing myself a little harder. Heck, there is no shortage of emotions, so why not try to channel them and get them laid down for posterity. Sure, every song or piece can’t be a gem, but each note counts, and I need to realize that I need to take advantage of every hour I get to play music.
Since taking a creative writing class almost two years ago, I’ve been cruising blogs and sites about writing, novels and such. No, I’m not thinking about writing a novel, but I’m studying that mindset. One payoff has been that I’m allowing myself to take more time and be more satisfied with what I create, and only trying to create until I feel the fountain waning and in need of replenishment. This means more chunks of time (chapters) are needed to get a project done, but that’s OK — as long as I don’t short change the music or song, then every note counts.
There are so many opportunities to create and share, and at some point I really believe I’ll get the goods into some market, somewhere. Whether or not tangible success is achieved, I need to practice, write, and play for the sake of the art and song. I’m way blessed to have the tools and resources, and some level of gifting, it’s the discipline that can be a struggle. Yep, sometimes I just don’t feel like picking up a guitar, or firing up a mic or DAW, but once I do that all changes, and even if all I do is tweak a mix, rewrite a line, or learn another writer/artist’s song, I’m making music and doing what I was created to do.
In the morning I’ll write for the first time with a writer I admire lots. Tomorrow evening I’ll have the opportunity to hang with some pretty darn good musicians and writers and hopefully help someone else enjoy the escape — as long as every note counts, I know I will.
Tags: persitence, small things count, trials, trying
Make Believe
Oct 14, 2008 sojourn
Sometimes things get so frustrating I just can’t think straight, can’t write, the playing and music gets real unsettled and I feel like just walking away from it all. OK, pipe dream, not gonna happen, be stupid anyway, and what does copping out accomplish anyway? Exactly — NOTHING!
My oldest daughter and I have been having some interesting banters of late, come to think of it, it’s been coming fast and furious from everyone in my family these last few weeks. From the inner circle to those I’ve not even seen in years, I’m encountering very interesting perspectives and lots of food for thought.
I need a blow, so I took an extra day off from work, maybe stimulate the muse to visit and lay a “goodie” on me. I’ve got like half a dozen melody/chord combinations floating around my head, can’t take on any more, but I’m waiting for a hook to latch onto, the right theme worth writing about. Don’t wanna go to the politics or helplessness invoked by the political climate, the whole thing is a farce, on BOTH sides, no one is even trying to tell the truth or be of service. Too much personal gain at stake, the level of shame sadly escalating daily.
Not going there… I’m seeing the aqua waters off Captiva and thinking about how I know that feeling, free, peaceful, I wanna go there. Seems a lot of songs these days are about escaping, and why not, stuff’s hitting the fan everywhere we turn. Who doesn’t wanna be somewhere else. I’d like to think there’s a more fulfilling job out there, musical situations that I can really sink my teeth into, a life for my family that fosters a greater level of creativity and joy, it’s out there — I know it.
So here I am, the phrase sticking in my head is “make believe”… my kids want to go there, my wife is in some pretty bad physical pain these days, I’m sure she’d like to go there, over the rainbow like make believe, without the hallucinogens. But then I wake up, make believe is good for a little while, but reality is a cold shower on a February morning in Buffalo, NY. It only takes a few seconds to realize it’s cold, and I’m awake, real awake, and there’s nothing I can do about it if I wanna get clean.
Not sure this is what song I’ll write this week, might not be “Make Believe”, but it sure felt good to get away while I scribed this post =)