What Music Means to Me

Not a Rant, Just a Roll of Thoughts....

I get goosebumps. The kind you get when you hear the perfect note, or the truest lyric, or the most amazing harmony. I get goosebumps.

I know we all get them from time to time, but I think I get them more than most. I do listen to a lot of music.

Music moves me. Makes me happy, sad, introspective, and motivated. Takes me somewhere else and then throws me back into the moment.

Listening to lyrics make me a stronger person. How? Because it gives me confidence and comfort to know that I'm not the only one feeling the way I do. When a lyric rings true to me, I know thousands of other people must feel the same way... and that's comforting. Whether the lyric is about love, war, frustration, life, suicide, working, writing, love lost, money, jealousy, passion, poverty, history, the mundane, or the exciting, I feel better knowing that other people feel those things, too.

The emotions that can be created through the voice of the instruments alone, without lyrics, are sometimes more powerful.

Though, listening to music makes me jealous. And angry. Angry at myself for being so lazy as a child that I didn't learn the language of music. How to read it, write it, feel it, to dream in that beautiful language. There are millions of nuances, timings, and tones that I can appreciate but not replicate. Practice.

I often close my eyes and just listen. Especially during a music video - I prefer to interpret a song myself through the music and the lyric. Videos seem to be a cheating way to interpret (or misinterpret) a song.

Live music takes me to another realm altogether. Since I perform myself, when I watch someone else perform, there is appreciation and admiration simply for their presence.

I realise now that I watch the stage differently than a non-performer. I listen to the music differently. I take apart the song now - I never used to do that. I listen for the bass line. I notice the variety of guitar sounds. I hear the high hat and the snare and can pick out a triplet with ease. I think about the arrangements and wonder about alternatives (not that I could create them).

Forever I'll be learning and improving and I can't imagine a time when I'm not feeling like there is significantly more learning and improving to do. I'm hypercritical of my own performances and I'm always striving for the perfect take.

Only recently, I realised that, because of all of these things, I am a musician.

Finally.

It'll be just like starting over....

Those words by John Lennon can be used every day. Everyday we can re-start. We can re-invigorate. We can re-build.

Have things stalled? Are you inactive? Do you want to begin again?

Can I offer you a helping hand?

Basically, to get going again, you simply need to start again. Here are five steps to get started:

1. Read section 2 and 3 of the consultant guidelines – Section 2 will inspire you to set goals and act, Section 3 will be a great refresher on a show.


2. Get your own calendar organized for now through Christmas – know when you have personal things to do, when you work, when the kids have activities you can’t miss, mark them all down. You need to know when you can do shows.


3. Host a show at your house this month. Set the date.


4. Write out your FRANK list (again). Seriously, sit down and write down every person you can think of – Friends, Relatives, Acquaintances, Neighbours, and Kids Friends. Invite at least 30 people to your show. Don’t just email them. Email them, post them a postcard invite AND then call them each to give them a boost. If they can’t make it, let them know that they can order from you and you will add it to that show. Make sure they know that there are great host benefits if they will book a show with you. Christmas is coming…. Great informal shopping! Don’t pressure them, but be ready with dates if they are interested. If they want to think about it – ask them if you can call back in a few days. (Definitely call them back!)


5. Call each of the customers you have served already (get out the door prize slips from shows past) and let them know that you’ve been on a bit of a break, but you’re back. If they need any candles, remind them of how to get in touch with you. If they have them, make sure you have their email addresses. If they haven’t been burning their candles (and therefore don’t need more) remind them that candles look best, and smell better, and make their home look nice, when they’re lit.

Just make 3-4 calls per day. Our next Unit Meeting isn’t until October 24. In the meantime, you can call me anytime or you can schedule a weekly/fortnightly call with me if you want. At those calls, I’ll see how you’re doing and offer advice on moving forward.

I hope this helps. I could add more, but I want to keep it simple.

My Guitar Weeps

Yesterday, as I sat on the couch, guitar in hand, pickless, I realized that I have been playing the very same song for over two years - and not very well. I only have 3 songs I play without a pick, and whenever I pick up a guitar without one, I play all three of them: Blackbird, Tears in Heaven, and Landslide. They're all great songs. They deserve better.

I know what notes to play, but my fingers don't always follow where my brain says to go.

Realizing that I've been just playing them and not practicing them, I've decided to really knuckle down and get them right. Ask me to play one next time you see me. Suppose I'd better go learn the lyrics to Blackbird now....