The Myth of “Free Time”
“I can’t wait for a day off…”
Ever find yourself saying this? I know I do, and it seems like it’s going to be blissful. I will finally get to relax, renew, clear my mind and be rested up for the next busy phase of work and obligations. The longer the stretch of open time, the better.
Or, do you dream of a free week or even a month of time with no demands made on you so you can tackle something you have been putting off? I have done that, too. Some tasks are so big and important to me that I have dreamed of the “blank slate” that only this vast expanse of free time will provide. There are even stories to support this, of times when artists “disappeared” for a while, only to emerge transformed, like butterflies.
Movies and books focusing on the archetypical “coming of age” story will usually condense this life-changing transformation into a collage of images over a few minutes, such as Rocky’s workouts or Luke Skywalker’s exile with Yoda. We really love the idea of metamorphosis taking place out of sight, with a triumphant return of the hero.
Recently, I’ve come to realize that not only are these stories untrue for me, but that they are literally opposite of what I need to do to keep growing.
The Future Ain’t What It Used to Be
Preconception: an opinion about something that you form before you have a lot of information about it or experience of it
-Macmillan Dictionary
We spend a great amount of time believing, talking about, and even trying to convince others about ideas that we really haven’t explored for ourselves. One of the most important of these for musicians is our method of learning and practice. (That is, if we actually have one.) Operating with the wrong information can prevent progress and cause us to become discouraged.
A Little Nudge
The uses of positive feedback
Most of us sincerely want to grow and change for the better, but often find ourselves frustrated and stagnant in our habits. Let’s take a look at how the mechanism of positive feedback can benefit us, getting us moving in new and exciting directions. But remember: I am not a doctor. (though I do play one on TV)
Basic Jazz Voicings Using Interval Shapes
The concept of shape-based voicings is a helpful method of organizing harmonic material on the keyboard. First, it allows us to “grab” a group of notes using muscle memory, avoiding the need to think one note at a time. This method also allows us to “recycle” a shape for use in a number of different musical situations. In this lesson, we will examine two very useful shapes.
“Fromage” CD Liner Notes
Most jazz musicians feel the need to do a “standards” recording at some point in their career. Most choose much-beloved classics or perhaps less-known, but nonetheless well-regarded material.
In my case I chose to do songs that perhaps haven’t gotten a lot of respect in the jazz community- or any community, for that matter. Most people understandably dismiss these tunes as “cheesy” and don’t give them a second thought.
In this recording we will do our best to give these tunes some “love.”
Practicing Independence on Keyboard
One of the biggest challenges of keyboard technique is independence between the hands. This is especially true if there is any improvisation involved, since this prevents us from memorizing a passage by rote.
Myths and Misinformation
There are some misconceptions about independence that can prevent us from succeeding in our goals; moving beyond them can allow us to get the ball rolling with two-handed playing.
Excerpts from my upcoming CD “Fromage”
Here are four short excerpts from my upcoming CD “Fromage.” It is comprised of jazz arrangements of songs usually considered too “cheesy” to be considered “standards.”
The musicians: Piano/arranger: Randy Hoexter Bass: Jimmy Haslip Drums: Tom Knight/Dave Weckl Guitar: Trey Wright Saxophones, flute, bass clarinet: Sam Skelton Trumpet: Mike Barry Trumpet/Flugelhorn: Gordon Vernick Trombone: Eric Alexander Congas, Djembe, Cajon: Kit Chatham Triangle, Shaker: Eric Sanders
See if you can identify these gems of 70s AM pop radio!
Fear of Disappointment
When we are children, our parents do a great deal to protect us from disappointment; they warn us not to “count our chickens” and to remember that we shouldn’t “get our hopes up.” While these warnings may make sense for a small child, we often carry them into our adult life, where they hold us back. Is an uncomfortable moment really that bad?
New Car Fever
When the time comes for us to replace our car, salespeople use our fear of disappointment to maneuver us into all kinds of unwise choices. We select a vehicle, find a model with just the features we want, and we get “fired up” about driving home in our shiny new status symbol.
