Someone asked on a songwriting board, what would happen if you got to the place with your music that you had to write great songs to deadlines... how would you keep your passion alive?
One of the ways I keep the fire burning is to play with other aspects of creativity. I think it's really important to "play".
I play at painting and writing and jewellery- making;
I play at finding small and joyful things in my life;
I teach because my students consistently teach me, awaken me, challenge me, inspire me;
I collaborate because my co-writer(s) take me places I never would have gone on my own;
I sing new songs written by the members of my trio, or by collaborators, so I'm challenged & excited to work on new things;
I love working on music, but sometimes it can be frustrating or feel overwhelming or mechanical. I find the element of play is really important to me. If I push to try to match the perceived expectations of others, I lose my joy. So I have to just allow that I am where I am, knowing what I know in this moment. I am still growing and learning... music (and life) is a process.
I've worked in theatre & opera, so I know what it feels like to rehearse like mad for a few short weeks, and then need to be "on" every second night in repertory or shows that go up 5 nights a week - plus a matinee on Sat.
You have to know your own needs & take good care of yourself, look for space & time to be alone, and get enough rest.
Most importantly? I believe in naps :)
home at last
Got home yesterday despite the near hurricane-force winds up here in the Pacific Northwest -- but instead of boarding a boat in Seattle to bring us directly to Victoria, we were bussed up to Canada, and the ferry to Vancouver Island - only to find it wasn't running either. We waited at the ferry terminal for 5 hours, and finally got on the first ferry that left at 3:45 pm. I was home at 6:30 - instead of 11 am as planned. I went to bed and slept for hours but I still feel tired.
The Road Rally was an awesome experience, and I met so many musicians, singers, and songwriters there, as well as talking person to person with John Braheny, Debra Russell, Michael Anderson, Pat Pattison, Susan Turner and many more. I really enjoyed my stop over in San Francisco too.
I'll be posting some of my notes from the Rally in a couple of days. Stay tuned!
The Road Rally was an awesome experience, and I met so many musicians, singers, and songwriters there, as well as talking person to person with John Braheny, Debra Russell, Michael Anderson, Pat Pattison, Susan Turner and many more. I really enjoyed my stop over in San Francisco too.
I'll be posting some of my notes from the Rally in a couple of days. Stay tuned!
Jason Blume
Hey - today I heard a very inspirational talk by Jason Blume (6 Steps to Songwriting Success; This Business of Songwriting). He basically said you gotta do these things to get where you want to go:
- be persistent and determined; when knocked down, dust yourself off and keep going
- be teachable, be willing to rewrite as many times as it takes
- success in music is not a straight line. It's not like, studying to be a doctor - you know if you do the work, you'll end up with your degree. Songwriters/artists have to do it all, cause we don't know which approach will work.
- we have to be good at creating opportunities (not wait for them to come along)
- network, connect, exchange CDs, emails, links - you don't know where the guy sitting next to you is going to be
- we're in a business where "good" is worthless. Only 'exceptional' will work, and you need to maintain that exceptional level, cause, if you do, and you keep putting it out there, eventually something will stick Be unique, special... blow them away.
- "luck" comes from working your butt off AND being prepared for the opportunity when it comes up. Are you doing everything you can do to get 'lucky'?
- be persistent and determined; when knocked down, dust yourself off and keep going
- be teachable, be willing to rewrite as many times as it takes
- success in music is not a straight line. It's not like, studying to be a doctor - you know if you do the work, you'll end up with your degree. Songwriters/artists have to do it all, cause we don't know which approach will work.
- we have to be good at creating opportunities (not wait for them to come along)
- network, connect, exchange CDs, emails, links - you don't know where the guy sitting next to you is going to be
- we're in a business where "good" is worthless. Only 'exceptional' will work, and you need to maintain that exceptional level, cause, if you do, and you keep putting it out there, eventually something will stick Be unique, special... blow them away.
- "luck" comes from working your butt off AND being prepared for the opportunity when it comes up. Are you doing everything you can do to get 'lucky'?
in LA for a week
Hey, just buzzed thru San Francisco (lovely city, great time - love Little Italy) and am now in LA for the big music conference (road rally) -- they had a record high here yesterday of 95C, today it went to 97C. Needless to say I didn't do much sightseeing, I laid on the bed with a cool compress on my eyes & the air conditioning on. However, it is much cooler this evening, so went out and explored a little, bought some lighter clothing & had a bite. Tomorrow the rally begins. Much to do in just 3.25 days. I have gone thru the schedule with a fine tooth comb to figure out what is most important for me to do. Hoping also to touch base with some other musicians I've been collabin' with over the past while.
I had planned to have 60 demos ready to pass out, but, because my studio engineer dropped the ball and I had to scramble to find other resources to produce at least 2 out of the 3 songs I'd expected him to complete... I didn't get the final song until the evening before I left. I sat up til 4 am burning CDs and then got up again early and started again. When you've got one old computer, and several songs to burn, each CD takes about 10 minutes. So, at about 5 an hour - you do the math... 12 hours to burn em.
Other than today, when it was so overwhelmingly hot, it's been a good trip so far.
I had planned to have 60 demos ready to pass out, but, because my studio engineer dropped the ball and I had to scramble to find other resources to produce at least 2 out of the 3 songs I'd expected him to complete... I didn't get the final song until the evening before I left. I sat up til 4 am burning CDs and then got up again early and started again. When you've got one old computer, and several songs to burn, each CD takes about 10 minutes. So, at about 5 an hour - you do the math... 12 hours to burn em.
Other than today, when it was so overwhelmingly hot, it's been a good trip so far.
getting ready for California
Yeah, I'm headin' to CA next week to attend a music conference in LA - but I'm stoppin' in San Francisco for a couple days first. I been slowly working on getting ready for the trip, doin' things like buyin' a few new clothes, and some new walking shoes, get the hair cut, get the demo mastered, stuff like that.
My other projects right now doing vocal tracks on a couple of songs for collaborators, writin' music for a couple lyrics, gettin' my newsletter out, and rehearsing with my trio for our upcoming Dec gig. I'm also working on a couple more originals for that.
The next album is slowly coming together. I have most of the songs written, but it will take some time to get them produced. I don't think it will be ready til maybe summer 2007. It's amazing how long it takes to birth a song... from that first scribble in the middle of the night til the final master. I just keep puttin' one foot in front of the other and trust I'll get there one day ;)
My other projects right now doing vocal tracks on a couple of songs for collaborators, writin' music for a couple lyrics, gettin' my newsletter out, and rehearsing with my trio for our upcoming Dec gig. I'm also working on a couple more originals for that.
The next album is slowly coming together. I have most of the songs written, but it will take some time to get them produced. I don't think it will be ready til maybe summer 2007. It's amazing how long it takes to birth a song... from that first scribble in the middle of the night til the final master. I just keep puttin' one foot in front of the other and trust I'll get there one day ;)
Pursuing a dream AND paying the rent = ?
Q: What are some of the things you are doing to make the moves that are necessary to make your musical dreams come true and eat at the same time?
A: Sixteen years ago, when I started taking voice lessons, I could barely read music. I'd played instruments in high school but dropped them all except strumming the guitar now and then. I was also working full-time in an office - something I found creatively limiting and time-consuming, but we all have to pay the rent…
Six years later, the company I worked at was sold… and we were told that our jobs were safe.… and a week later, they laid off 9 people - I was one. I was pretty bitter about that… but I met an old friend on the street that I hadn't seen for a while.
She said, "why don't you teach singing?"
I said, "I couldn't do that."
"But you've been taking lessons for years. And you don't have to think about training someone for the opera.… lots of people just want to be able to sit around the camp fire and sing comfortably."
She was kind enough to help me prepare 6 proposals for group voice classes that I sent to the different community centres in Vancouver… and one of them said yes. The class minimum was 6. Only 4 people signed up - I said I'd take a cut in pay to teach it. Once the class began, 2 more signed up.
The next semester, another community centre got on board. And I got a part-time job in the office of the church where I sang in the choir. Not only did I need a part-time job to pay my rent, but I also could then use the piano rooms for practice....and eventually got permission to teach there as well. Within a year, I'd changed the group voice classes into 30 minute private lessons at both community centers.
Within two years I was teaching 3 nights a week at community centers, a few hours at the church, and working part time in the church office. I did that until I moved to Victoria, where I was fortunate to find a place I could live and teach.
Through a fortunate turn of events - one of my students suggested I get in touch with a local recording studio who was looking for singers.… the producer and I started talking.… we ended up writing a few songs together (I hadn't written in years).… he inspired me to get back into songwriting....
Now I write music, record music, teach music, perform music… I live in music every day. I've since taken piano lessons, guitar lessons, harmonica lessons, I just picked up a mandolin... and I'm taking courses in songwriting, too.
I can tell you quite honestly when I started voice lessons I had no idea I would be teaching singing, writing songs & instrumentals, recording in my own studio, etc. I'm still amazed by it. I can also tell you that I have sacrificed financially on an ongoing basis to be able to live this creative life. To me it is worth it, but I didn't have to worry about bringing up a family. If I did, I'd probably still be working in an office and playing the guitar now and then.
You must perververe. You must find a way to bring music into your life everyday. You must do music for the love of it, because you can't imagine doing anything else. And keep moving forward yes, but don't limit yourself in your definition of success (a hit record, singing at the Opry)… my goal in life is to "be IN the music" and that's what I try to do everyday.… and I trust that is leading me somewhere.
Most of all, I thank God for the people who have come into my life - especially people like you, who take the time to listen to my music and read my words, and who take the time to share a little of their journey with me :)
A: Sixteen years ago, when I started taking voice lessons, I could barely read music. I'd played instruments in high school but dropped them all except strumming the guitar now and then. I was also working full-time in an office - something I found creatively limiting and time-consuming, but we all have to pay the rent…
Six years later, the company I worked at was sold… and we were told that our jobs were safe.… and a week later, they laid off 9 people - I was one. I was pretty bitter about that… but I met an old friend on the street that I hadn't seen for a while.
She said, "why don't you teach singing?"
I said, "I couldn't do that."
"But you've been taking lessons for years. And you don't have to think about training someone for the opera.… lots of people just want to be able to sit around the camp fire and sing comfortably."
She was kind enough to help me prepare 6 proposals for group voice classes that I sent to the different community centres in Vancouver… and one of them said yes. The class minimum was 6. Only 4 people signed up - I said I'd take a cut in pay to teach it. Once the class began, 2 more signed up.
The next semester, another community centre got on board. And I got a part-time job in the office of the church where I sang in the choir. Not only did I need a part-time job to pay my rent, but I also could then use the piano rooms for practice....and eventually got permission to teach there as well. Within a year, I'd changed the group voice classes into 30 minute private lessons at both community centers.
Within two years I was teaching 3 nights a week at community centers, a few hours at the church, and working part time in the church office. I did that until I moved to Victoria, where I was fortunate to find a place I could live and teach.
Through a fortunate turn of events - one of my students suggested I get in touch with a local recording studio who was looking for singers.… the producer and I started talking.… we ended up writing a few songs together (I hadn't written in years).… he inspired me to get back into songwriting....
Now I write music, record music, teach music, perform music… I live in music every day. I've since taken piano lessons, guitar lessons, harmonica lessons, I just picked up a mandolin... and I'm taking courses in songwriting, too.
I can tell you quite honestly when I started voice lessons I had no idea I would be teaching singing, writing songs & instrumentals, recording in my own studio, etc. I'm still amazed by it. I can also tell you that I have sacrificed financially on an ongoing basis to be able to live this creative life. To me it is worth it, but I didn't have to worry about bringing up a family. If I did, I'd probably still be working in an office and playing the guitar now and then.
You must perververe. You must find a way to bring music into your life everyday. You must do music for the love of it, because you can't imagine doing anything else. And keep moving forward yes, but don't limit yourself in your definition of success (a hit record, singing at the Opry)… my goal in life is to "be IN the music" and that's what I try to do everyday.… and I trust that is leading me somewhere.
Most of all, I thank God for the people who have come into my life - especially people like you, who take the time to listen to my music and read my words, and who take the time to share a little of their journey with me :)
How subtle and sneaky our psyche
This week has been one of insights shared with my students, who are often catalysts for my personal growth. They honor me with more than just being in my studio. They are present with me on many levels, allowing me in, and so we work together to find the voice that has been hidden by past experiences, wounds, bad habits, and programming.
This week it seemed that many lessons developed into a conversation about how our behaviors make us scattered, or tired, or stressed, or anxious, and therefore, because we have somehow created that internal storm or lassitude... that we again do not take a active step forward in our journey.
The paintbrush sits in the jar, the canvas attracting dust. The lesson tape is forgotten, lying on the seat of the car under something else. The things we've left undone crowd upon us, convincing us we have no time or energy to do our artistic practice.
How subtle and sneaky our psyche is. We have a thousand reasons for not doing the one thing that we long to do.
Each day that I live I am aware how hard I have to fight my programming. How easy it is to slide into the slough of despond and end up on the couch watching reruns.
Each day I am aware that yes, I accomplish a fair bit... but how much time is wasted by avoidance, procrastination, feeling scattered or overwhelmed by all there is to do.
I find myself talking sternly to myself, on the one hand, telling myself that I may not play on the computer before I've done my chores, had my daily walk, prepared for my day.
On the other hand, I find myself talking back to the gremlin in my head, saying, 'Yes, I am worthy. Yes, I have accomplished something today. I walked, I taught, I wrote, I sang, I created a new song, I wrote a lyric, I paid a bill, I ate healthy, I called a friend. I am all I need to be in the present moment, and I am beautiful.'
This week it seemed that many lessons developed into a conversation about how our behaviors make us scattered, or tired, or stressed, or anxious, and therefore, because we have somehow created that internal storm or lassitude... that we again do not take a active step forward in our journey.
The paintbrush sits in the jar, the canvas attracting dust. The lesson tape is forgotten, lying on the seat of the car under something else. The things we've left undone crowd upon us, convincing us we have no time or energy to do our artistic practice.
How subtle and sneaky our psyche is. We have a thousand reasons for not doing the one thing that we long to do.
Each day that I live I am aware how hard I have to fight my programming. How easy it is to slide into the slough of despond and end up on the couch watching reruns.
Each day I am aware that yes, I accomplish a fair bit... but how much time is wasted by avoidance, procrastination, feeling scattered or overwhelmed by all there is to do.
I find myself talking sternly to myself, on the one hand, telling myself that I may not play on the computer before I've done my chores, had my daily walk, prepared for my day.
On the other hand, I find myself talking back to the gremlin in my head, saying, 'Yes, I am worthy. Yes, I have accomplished something today. I walked, I taught, I wrote, I sang, I created a new song, I wrote a lyric, I paid a bill, I ate healthy, I called a friend. I am all I need to be in the present moment, and I am beautiful.'
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