Critical Killjoy

Hi everyone! First off, thanks so much for reading this blog. People from over ten countries have been following this blog and getting in touch with me with further questions and comments. If you'd like to suggest a future blog subject or have any questions...feel free to get in touch! I greatly appreciate the time that you take to show your support and offer advice/words of encouragement. Secondly, I've been busy working on the music for the recording with my "out of town" band. Things are going great so far! As for my "hometown band," things are starting to turn the corner. Other musicians have been pulled into the picture and there seems to be a good vibe. I've also managed to write a few more songs, and I'm looking forward to working them with the band.

In this blog post, I'd like to discuss the critical voices of music. Check out the following quotes:

"I hope the four guys who make up the group, whose names don't matter, are putting money away for the future. The near future, because KISS won't be around long."  -Seattle Daily Times May 27, 1974

"If there was a conservatory in Hell, and if one of its talented students was to compose a symphony based on the story of the Seven Plagues of Egypt, and if he had written one similar to Rachmaninoff's, he would have brilliantly accomplished his task and would have delighted the inhabitants of Hell." -Cesar Cui, St. Petersburg News, March 16, 1897)

"The Beatles are not merely awful—I would consider it sacrilegious to say anything less than that they are godawful. They are so unbelievably horrible, so appallingly unmusical, so dogmatically insensitive to the magic of the art, that they qualify as crowned heads of anti-music, even as the imposter popes went down in history as 'anti-popes'." -William F. Buckley, 1964.

"The singer (Mick Jagger) will have to go; the BBC won’t like him." -First Rolling Stones manager Eric Easton

There are many more quotes such as these, that we can all shake our heads at and get a good laugh. In this day and age, with shows such as American Idol, criticism has become a driving force in the music industry. Talented individuals listen to the criticism/opinions of a mere handful of the music listening population, and allow other people to decide their fate for them. For some reason, people enjoy watching the process of killing off dreams for the sake of making the popular contestants into stars. While I agree that not everyone is cut out for performing, it makes me wonder what amazing talent and dreams were killed as a result of the nasty, critical voices of the industry. Survival of the fittest is present in nearly every  career, but why are we so quick to attack and so slow to help others achieve their goals? I often wonder what voices/bands were silenced as the result of critics and what songs we will never hear due to someone else's opinion. Critics have become the "peer pressure" of the masses. Most people tend to listen to what the critics decide is good. We are giving up our own voices and allowing someone else to decide for us. I know that there are many movies that received excellent or terrible reviews, but I have found them to be the exact opposite of the critic's view. Consider this when you purchase music. Don't be afraid to listen to the lesser known groups. Decide for yourself. Give other artists a chance and help to promote their music. The critics are merely strangers with a very loud opinion. Music will not progress naturally if the critics continue to gain strength and decide our style for us...much like the fashion industry. Decide for yourself!

Purpose, Goals, and Motivation

Lately, I have been doing quite a bit of thinking about my music career. I've had some great conversations with fellow musicians, and friends about our career paths. I've also had long conversations with my private music students about their futures and whether or not to make music their career. Everything seems to boil down to the answers to three questions: What are your talents? What do you hope to accomplish in life? Where does your heart lie?

Each one of us has many different talents. This is a great thing, but it can also make it very difficult to decide on a career path. I think that there is a tremendous amount of pressure to pick careers that seem "normal" according to society. In other words, people tend to pick careers based off of their desire to please other people...even if it makes them miserable. I personally feel that this is one of the key reasons that there are so many unhappy people in the world. If a person truly cares for us, they will not expect us to sacrifice the talents that make us happy. If your talent is hockey and you desire to play professionally...go for it! If you are a fabulous cook and you desire to become a chef...please do it! It is not enough to "sort of have interest" in cooking and decide to be a chef because it is a family business or something that you feel pressured to do. You will eventually tire of your career and you will do a lousy job. Realize that it is all about YOUR desire. If you let other people decide your life, you will have regrets. Your talents have a purpose. They are not a mistake. Think carefully on your many talents and explore the possibilities.

The next step is to consider your life goals with your talents in mind. If you have music talent, but also desire to have a family, you may want to pick a career that would allow you to have a good family life while satisfying your musical desires. Touring with a band is not always the easiest thing for families, but anything is possible with the right plans. The key is to plan ahead and not lose sight of your talents/goals. Denying your talents, will make you just as miserable as failing to plan how your talents will work with your life goals.

Finally, consider where your heart lies. Think about the things that bring a smile to your face. Be honest with yourself. Don't let people or money be the deciding factor. The fear of a lack of money and/or greed becomes a deciding force that is difficult to ignore. However, I would argue that if you have the talent, passion, and excellent work ethic...you can make it to the top of your field. You will have financial and personal success as a result. Those that stay at the bottom of their field, tend to be the people that have chosen their career for the wrong reasons. They are miserable, they make everyone else miserable, and their pay checks reflect their misery since they aren't capable of doing an excellent job due to a lack of heart. Employers would be wise to hire those that demonstrate their passion for a particular field. If you could do anything you'd like...what would you do?

Life is short. Get motivated. Find out what makes yourself tick. There is no point in spending each day, for the rest of your life, at a job you hate. Start searching for your dreams now. Tomorrow is too late. Yes, it will be difficult and it will cost you more than money (check my earlier blog posts and you'll see what it has cost me). Apathy is not the answer. You must do the work to achieve what you want. If you are miserable, you have no one to blame but yourself. Everyone has excuses. Rich or poor, successful or broken, we all have 24 hours in a day. All of the excuses in the world will not change that fact. You can start taking steps right now to achieve anything you'd like. It all becomes a question of just how badly do you want it?


"Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained." -Curie

Still Searching

Things are moving along with the new band that is about two hours away. I will be learning their new music over the weekend. While we may be using some of my originals, the bulk of the recording will be their music. I'm okay with this, and very excited to have the opportunity, but my intentions remain the same. I still plan to record and perform my music, but I think it will have to be with a different band. So why am I bothering with the new band? Well, this band happens to need a singer and I happen to need a band. We are trying to help each other out, and see what comes of it. Our styles are a bit different, but it works. I genuinely like their music. I'm just not giving up on mine. So, I am still searching for talented musicians that would really like to have this opportunity. I've thought so much on this whole experience, and I really don't feel ready to throw in the towel on my own music. I don't think that would be a very smart idea. I've had so much positive feedback on my music, that I feel encouraged to continue with it. I also love writing and performing those songs. I just need to find the right musicians. My drummer has stayed on through all of this. We have patiently watched audition after audition. Some people are actually very good, but lack the time commitment that we need. Others just want to jam here and there, but lack the discipline to be in a serious band. The location of this group is not promising. The area is not inclined to excellent musicians. It is not a large city with a focus on the arts. There are some incredible musicians here, but most of them are already tied up with other projects. The pool of serious musicians is quite small. I consider making a move, but the timing isn't right for that. The frustration that I feel is continuing to grow. Time is money. I don't want my songs to become extinct before they ever get off the ground. I have my life in a good place that allows me the time I need to focus on a band that will perform/record my music. It's just too bad that I can't find that band.