Gratitude

This Thanksgiving (U.S.), I’m grateful for everything that has guided me to music. Some things were very wonderful events that anyone would be grateful for, but other experiences were not so nice. Sometimes, you find your calling through tragedy (see my first few blog posts). Every once in awhile, you need something that shakes your world up and gives you a different perspective. All of the events in my life so far, have been exactly what I needed to get myself headed in the right direction. I can see the influence of every teacher, friend, enemy, failed relationship, and family member. The kind words of encouragement have meant just as much as the words that were meant to take the wind out of my sails…both have kept my passion alive in their own ways.  Health scares, pain, loss, and weakness, have made me grateful to be alive and healthy…but also created a sense of urgency to really live my life, use my talents, and pursue what I love, since I’m not promised another day.  Even my inability to locate the right musicians for my band, has been something to be thankful for. Sure, I want to find them, but in the mean time, I have opportunities that I wouldn’t have had otherwise and I’m learning so much about myself as a musician. Yes, I’m very thankful every day of my life, not just when things are going along smoothly. All “good” and seemingly “bad’ things are all quite positive when you look at every experience as a lesson to learn. My mom always reminds me that, “behind every cloud, there is a silver lining.” Find the positive in every scenario and at the end of each day, reflect back on all of the things you have to be grateful for.  This act will help to fill you back up so that you have something left to give. Sometimes, you even stumble upon the lyrics to a new song! Happy Thanksgiving to those in the U.S. and many blessings to you all!

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”  ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Music Help

Everything in the music industry has changed so much due to the internet. Gone are the days of being "discovered" on a stage in the middle of nowhere. Record companies used to take such huge risks on new artists. These days, the internet has given them a bit more "insurance" on their gamble. Sites such as YouTube, keep track of how many views a video or channel is receiving. The unknown artist has the ability to show a record company that there are enough people interested in their music. Even television shows, such as "American Idol," use a similar method by allowing the public to vote on their favorite artist. This is to help show which artist will make them more money. The artist with more talent may not stand a chance when it comes to the popularity contest of the general public. There are so many non-music elements that the public may opt to vote on, such as appearance, race, sex, etc. I think we can all think of certain famous artists that may not have the music talent of a lesser known artist, but because they opted to show more skin, the public fell for it and that artist shot to the top. It doesn't seem fair from a true musician's point of view, but that is what we are up against. Today's music is a battle between true musicians and the cheap imitations. It is up to the public to decide who wins.

The quality of music is declining rapidly in many ways. I personally feel that this is due to the lack of support for the true musician...and by "true musician," I mean the musician that has actually studied, practiced, and opted to learn from great musicians. I am not talking about the person that can match pitch, sings karaoke, or occasionally plays guitar around a camp fire and then decides to audition for "American Idol." I'm talking about real technique and discipline. Most true musicians feel a sense of accomplishment from striving to be better and achieving success based off of their talent and not a popularity contest. However, the true musician is now forced into the popularity contest by the need to "show the numbers" to the record companies. This is where I'm at, and I need your help. I have been busy loading some of my original songs and a few covers to YouTube. I will load more updated versions once I finish recording them, but I've been instructed to get things moving along. I need to promote my music and prove myself worthy to the record company. I'd be incredibly grateful if you would go to my YouTube channel, watch my videos, share them with your friends via Facebook and such, subscribe to my channel, and spread the word when you have a chance. Your help is so valuable to me, and I thank you for your support! Also, support your other favorite, new artists. They depend on your help and I'm sure they would appreciate it as well. Thanks again! Keri Weber's YouTube Channel

Positive Mind of Dreams

After last week's extremely frustrating post, I spent a great deal of time thinking about how I should proceed with my music and getting my attitude back into a more positive place. It is difficult to always have a smile, speak positively, and see nothing but rainbows and unicorns. I try my best to not get down, but I think everyone has their moments. I think it's great to have a supportive group of people that are there to encourage you through the rough patches. While I don't have anyone that stands by to encourage me on with my music consistently, I am fortunate to have people that offer kind words upon hearing my material and those comments help me tremendously. I am also fortunate to know some very talented musicians, and their performances, recordings, and words of advice are worth more than I can even say.

I hesitate to discuss what my next step will be, because the details are not complete. However, this is how I'd like things to go. I will be recording a few songs under the guidance of an incredible musician/producer that has performed with some of the greatest bands/musicians in the world. He is such a positive and inspiring person. He also has his degree in music, like me. This is wonderful, because we can "speak the same language" and he also values the same level of detail that I crave. I'm certain that I will learn a great deal from this experience! If I like the direction that the songs go, I may end up recording a full album with him. The goal is to use this album to attract the right musicians for my music. It is difficult to accurately describe with words, what I want my music to be, and much more efficient to just play a recording. The recording will also be a great way to showcase what my voice can do these days, in the event that I should choose to audition for a band. Of course the ideal scenario is that my recording will get into the right hands and poof...I'll have a contract AND a band. I'm pushing for that. I am working my butt off to make this happen.

As I said before, I spent some time getting my attitude back into a more positive place. The following quotes really helped me to remember to focus on the positive, believe in my abilities, learn from my mistakes, stay passionate, and to never give up. Life loses meaning when you don't have dreams to work towards. Back to the drawing board...aka...the piano and MacBook. Thanks for reading!

“The tragedy in life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.”–Benjamin Mays

“Enter every activity without giving mental recognition to the possibility of defeat. Concentrate on your strengths, instead of your weaknesses… on your powers, instead of your problems.”–Paul J. Meyer

“Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press On’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”–Calvin Coolidge

“An invincible determination can accomplish almost anything and in this lies the great distinction between great men and little men.”–Thomas Fuller

“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.”–Norman Vincent Peale

“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”–Winston Churchill

“Successful and unsuccessful people do not vary greatly in their abilities. They vary in their desires to reach their potential.”–John Maxwell

“Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It’s quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn’t at all. You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it, So go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because remember that’s where you will find success.”-- Thomas J. Watson 

A Nice Warm Cup of Frustration

I feel like I'm on a roller coaster of excitement and disappointment right now. Things are good and bad, all at the same time. I have several great opportunities in front of me, but I am only able to pick one. I'm indecisive at the moment. It irritates me to be like this. However, I'm grateful for the opportunities! Meanwhile, I ended up losing two older opportunities. One was my own choice. I pulled myself from a project because I just didn't feel that it was my style. Remember my previous blog post on not selling out when it comes to your style? Ha ha ha! I guess I taught myself a lesson! I care about other people's music and I felt that someone else would be better suited to bring the music to life. I honestly want to help people succeed with their music and I never want to hold anyone back. The other opportunity involved a very exciting recording opportunity that has evaporated into thin air. I feel that it is due to very busy, successful musicians...that truly want to help me, but lack the time. I am incredibly frustrated, as this scenario has continuously played out over and over. There are so many generous musicians that have so much to offer, but they are too busy with their own projects. I'm very happy for them, but I'm left wondering...now what? So, once again...I'm starting back at the beginning of the maze and hoping that my next path leads me closer to what I want. I've evolved so much in my music tastes/style. My writing is better. I'm enjoying things even more! Singing feels so wonderful and free. I feel very connected with my emotions and I'm able to express them more. I really like the direction I'm headed from a trained musician's perspective. As I'm growing my skills, I'm discovering that what I want, is also changing. I want a group of talented and dedicated musicians to step up and be committed to my band. I'm tired of dealing with the talented musicians that decide to ruin themselves with drugs and alcohol. I'm done giving them chances. I'm also tired of being the one that puts 110% into travel, practice, expenses, etc...while everyone else sits back because they know I will go the extra mile because the band is my passion. I'm tired of being the nice one that forgives the guitarist for the third time after showing up to practice unprepared. I'm sick of the unprofessional, jam band mentality. I'm tired of my band becoming a place for musician-like creatures to come test the waters and leave when they find something better. In short, I'm getting really angry, frustrated, and impatient. I will not sell out on my style. I will not work with those that can't stay sober, practice, and show up prepared. I will not work with those that are not willing to give 110%. And here I sit...crickets chirping...alone. I'm using this time to decide, reflect, and let the air clear from the mess that is left. I laugh to myself when I think of all of the musicians that have seemingly disappointed me. I realize that the disappointment is actually due to my standards. I just never realized that asking for healthy, talented, and dedicated musicians was such a stretch. They've GOT to be out there. Sigh. On with my search...back into the maze.