Reflections
Jan 19, 2010 Songs
Here is just an improvisation that I did to try out some new sound recording equipment that I am able to use.It’s still not studio quality, but it is stereo and is a drastic upgrade from the built-in mic on the camcorder that I was using.
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Audio: Purpose of Upcoming Release
Jan 19, 2010 Announcements
In this audio clip, I tell how I would like to use the music of the hammer dulcimer to be the carrier of the messages of love, hope, and purpose to those who are in painful circumstances.
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Do You Want to be a Musician?
Jan 8, 2010 Development Zone
This article simply expresses my personal experience with being a musician. I’ve consulted with many individuals who wonder what place music has in their lives. In no way will this article answer all of your questions, but it may assist in getting your thought-process on the correct trail.
The Hunger of Music
Music can be something that gets into your soul and begs for a way of expression. It is a hunger of the soul which exists within the emotional, not the physical. You must accept that music may be a part of who you are and needs to be nurtured and not ignored. If it is ignored, you may find that you are not as happy as you could be.
How Strong Are Your Desires?
Additionally, you have to figure out how intense your musical desires are and how much they need to be fed. If overfed, you may burnout. If underfed, you’ll be unhappy.
As a personal illustration, at this point in my life I do not want to be a full-time musician. I would consider myself to be a part-time musician because there are other areas of my life that need attention. I am employed at a rescue mission, and I need to be responsible to my spiritual needs by working with the homeless. There are also other time consuming activities that I enjoy that would make it impractical for me to be a full-time musician. If I had to rely on music to be my primary source of income, I would view it as an indifferent discipline and not an enjoyable, gratifying venture. I want the creativity to flow when it happens and don’t want to force it for the necessity of my pocketbook.
Learning the Balance
The next step is to learn the balance for how much music is necessary in your life in comparison to other priorities, passions, and interests. This is a difficult question which takes time to figure out. No matter what the circumstances are, there will always be seasons of frustration that you will have to push through, as wells as periods of lack of musical expression that will need endurance. But, the balance is attainable if you’re intentional about your approach. I’m not a big fan of pre-tailored, systematic decision making since every situation is unique. But, I think there are good guidelines to follow.
1. Be A Leader
Don’t be a follower by simply relying on what your family or peers say you should do. While advice and counsel is helpful, this is your decision and you need to be the leader and make it for yourself. You and only you can discover what the truth is.
2. Get Your Feet Wet
You’re simply not going to know what you want until you try it. You’re not going to know if you will enjoy the life of a musician until you “get your feet wet”. Start basic, with things such as performances at retirement communities or teaching lessons to beginners. Progressively work your way up to a more committed schedule and see if you like it.
3. Count the Cost
Don’t pursue being a musician at the sacrifice of other things that are important or should be a top priority in your life( Example: God is #1, and family is #2). If you have abandoned those desires or priorities, this may result in unconnected frustrations that you can easily mistake for not liking music!
4. You Enjoy Music for a Reason
God made you to enjoy music for a reason. He didn’t give you a gift or an appreciation for music to not benefit you or others in some way. If you don’t want to be a musician, don’t abandoned music completely. You don’t have to be a chef to enjoy cooking or good food! Always enjoy music and know that there are rewards for having it in your life.
5. Play Music for the Joy
If there has been one lesson that I’ve had to learn the hard way, it is that I should play music for the joy. If you’re playing music for any other reason than for the joy it brings into your life, than you’re not going to be happy as a musician. I’m not saying that you won’t be successful, but it will simply be a career choice that puts the groceries in the refrigerator.
Humbly look to see how your music can benefit others. Music is a powerful healing tool and resource which brings endurance, motivation, and encouragement to lives. Using it this ways should be your greatest, joyful satisfaction.
Performance Tips
Jan 7, 2010 Performance
Listen to the Audio Version
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Performing is one of those things which I grew into. It is one thing to be able to play a song well in front of a crowd, and it’s entirely another to be an entertainer. In a future post, I’ll go over a performance outline, but for now I’ll share with you performance tips from my soloist’s perspective.
Know Your Audience
Age group. Place. Mood. Expectations. Attention span. All of these things must be “felt”. I can’t say that I have a real scientific formula, but I’ve learned to pick up on who my audience is and how to perform to them. If I tell a joke that gets a big laugh 90% of the time and people don’t laugh, then maybe they’re in a more serious tone and want me to be the same way. The same goes for tune selection. Keep on an eye on reactions and applauses to your tune selections and figure out what it is that they like and play those tunes.
Play a Variety of Tunes
Sure, you’ll run into genre specific concerts, such as Christmas concerts, but I think it’s a good idea to play a variety of genres and moods when it is possible. This keeps things moving. Vary up speeds and volumes to add a lot of emotional impact and keep attention.
Don’t Drag
If you see a lot of yawns or feel anxiety in the crowd, then maybe it’s time to close things down or shake things up. If I’m losing the crowd mid-way thru a concert, I try to involve them. This almost guarantees to bring them back. Children love to be involved. Some are rather shy, but you can usually find one that would be thrilled to come on stage with you. Then, I let them hold the hammers and guide their hands to play a song such as Jesus Loves Me.
If no children are present, I (once again, entirely depending on the mood and setting) pick a “VIP” from the group (such as a pastor or event coordinator) and ask them to come on stage impromptu. I have them play something simple (such as a droning 4/4 5th to the metronome) from the front-side of the dulcimer while I grab my 2nd pair of hammers and play a song backwards. This is an easy way to play a duet that actually sounds good. And, the crowd loves it!
Keep the Songs Short
Depending on the setting, 2:30-3:00 minutes is as long as your songs should be. Keep the 4:30 stuff for the CDs. There are some venues where your piece could be much longer if your listeners are trained music appreciators, (such as a classical event), but that’s probably not what you’ll be doing on the hammer dulcimer.
Don’t Talk too Much
I can get in trouble here, and there are a lot of performers who do. You may have a unique presentation where people are just as interested in hearing you speak as they are your music, but I’d venture to say that most people want to hear your music. From my experience, in a 30 minute concert, you need to play at least 6-8 tunes. If you’re only playing 3-4 and the time runs out, you’ve said too much.
New Recording Coming Soon!
Jan 6, 2010 Announcements, Songs
It is called The Entrance of Sound.
It will be live. All solo. No overdubs. Pure hammer dulcimer. Mostly original compositions. Release date is May 2010.