There are thousands of books and videos on how “positive thinking” can create success, or how “visualizing” your goals will make them come true. Is there a “secret” to this? If you just believe hard enough, will the universe re-arrange itself to make you happy? Let’s explore some misconceptions about “winning.” Continue Reading…
I should say, “The three forces that, when in balance, make what I think of as art,” but it is a title, that’s a bit cumbersome. In this series, we will explore these forces, and how we can utilize them to create work that “works.”
It does seem odd that many things come in threes: the three spatial dimensions we experience in our universe, the three legs needed to make something stable, the strength of a triangle, and even the three skills needed for practice. So it is with art and its subset, music.
Most elements of art exist somewhere in a continuum between order and chaos. Both of these extremes lead to a feeling of meaninglessness in the work. A completely predictable pattern seems mindless and automatic, and complete randomness seems incomprehensible and without information. Continue Reading…
In our journeys as artists, we will interact with both bullies and true leaders. We will also have the opportunity to play these roles ourselves. What is the difference between the two? How can we move forward with our goals while motivating and inspiring others rather than pushing them around? Here are some suggestions:
Ever notice there will occasionally be something someone has said that resonates for you? It could have been a critical remark, a compliment, or even a cruel put-down. It also may have been a general observation that “hit home” in a way that you remember for the rest of your life. Or perhaps you read or saw something that sent your mind on a new journey. If we open ourselves to “collecting” these nuggets, we can learn and grow. I have left most of them anonymous in order to avoid any hint of “name dropping.” This isn’t really about me anyway! 😉
Happy New Year!
In the spirit of resolutions and goals, let’s discuss how we can move forward this year (and beyond.)
In general, we find it irritating when others put a label on us; we rightly want to break free from the restrictions of such things. Yet, we are more than happy to constantly put labels on ourselves, and to staunchly defend those self-determined limitations. Let’s look at some common ones, both in our music and in our overall existence.
These often begin with “I’m a person who…” and become gospel to us. Below, let’s identify some of these, translate them into what they really mean, and look at ways to challenge them.
Here is a bunch of Christmas music for your holiday enjoyment! We did these recordings from ’94-99 just for fun. Alesis ADAT tape machines! Tracks 1,3, 7 and 8 were recorded on Fostex 1/2 inch analog 16 track. (you may notice some slight hiss) Hope you enjoy!
The musicians:
Randy Hoexter: arrangements, keyboards, BG vocals
Chip Lunsford: Drums
Joe Reda: Bass (1,3,7,8)
Bryan Lopes: Saxophone (1,3,7,8)
Alfreda Gerald: Vocals
Angie Driscoll: Vocals (5)
Carl Culpepper: Guitar (5)
Every year, people watch the Grammy Awards and wonder about the process, and how certain artists win, some over and over. In the process of submitting my material to this competition, I learned a lot about how this and other merit-based awards are chosen, and about our industry in general. Continue Reading…
A few years back while giving a class on basic harmony, I was explaining the major scale in terms of whole and half-steps. A student raised his hand and said:
“That’s too many rules.”
Needless to say I was taken aback by this comment, since I never really thought of that as a rule, more like an observation. Nor have I ever felt particularly held back by the structure of a major key. But this did cause me to consider an issue in music and creativity that rears its head more and more often: Not wanting to know.
Like many musicians, over the decades I have worked very hard on my “time” and accuracy, seeking to play “perfect” time. There are legends of virtuoso studio drummers listening to a metronome, leaving, walking around the block, and returning without losing a beat. What is perfect time? Is it better?
