Thanks to all of the PartTimeMusician.com family for making August a momentous month! Here are some of the “blue ribbon” articles from the past month that you may want to revisit:
August 4: How to save a bundle on musician’s resources, tools, music…
August 5: Trumpet Transcription: Chet Baker’s Solo in The Best Thing For You
August 7: The ultimate part-time musician
August 11: Viola shootout! – Episode 1
August 12: Viola shootout! – Episode 2
August 13: Viola shootout! – The Final Episode
August 17: Riverdancing Violinist
August 18: Movie Music to Inspire
August 19: BandsInTown helps locate live performances
August 26: Living the Dual Lifestyle: An Interview with Nick Drozdoff
A quick plug for the PTM advertisers: if you need anything for your music-making, please check with them first. They’re good folks, and their prices, service, and quality are tough to beat. Their ads are in the right column…please give them the chance to earn your business and in doing so, you’ll be giving back a bit to the PTM community at the same time…at no extra charge! And please don’t forget about the PTM Guide; we guarantee it will save you money, and all updates are free…forever!
Thanks to all involved for their contributions and the shared information and camaraderie. You are truly the best of the best.
Keep playing,
Mark
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The following quote helps to answer the age-old question, “Why do we play?” No one really says it better than Satchmo:
“Musicians don’t retire; they stop when there’s no more music in them.”
Louis Armstrong, jazz great
We play because music is inside of us, begging to be let out. The funny thing is that the more you let out, the more seems to be there. Don’t try to understand it; just go with it. 
For more information on the great Louis Armstrong, this article is an excellent starting point.
Keep playing,
Mark
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I recently had the opportunity to interview Nick Drozdoff, Chicagoland trumpet player and Maynard Ferguson Orchestra alum, and get his thoughts on music, day gigs, juggling time commitments, and other topics important to the Part-Time Musician (PTM). For anyone who hasn’t yet had the pleasure of knowing him, Nick still plays professionally…but also manages to hold down a day gig teaching advanced-placement Physics at a Chicago-area high school. And did I mention that he has a family?
What was intended to be just a quick question and answer session turned into a great conversation. Nick offered some inside stories of the music industry and a lot of detailed information to back up his thoughts on each topic we discussed. In doing so, he managed to provide a good deal of great advice for music students, PTMs, full-timers…well, just about anyone with a love of music and a desire to play it well!
To listen to the interview, just click the play button on the audio control below. The discussion runs just under an hour, so feel free to bookmark or email this page and listen in shifts, clicking in the title track area to reposition the player….if you can pull yourself away. The more you listen, the more you’ll want to hear!
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
If you’d like more information about Nick, his music, and his soon-to-be-released practice guide, please visit NickDrozdoff.com.
Keep playing,
Mark
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Tags: Chicago, day gig, dual lifestyle, interview, Maynard Ferguson, Nick Drozdoff, Physics, trumpet, trumpeter
Brass, Gigs, Inspiration, Learning | Mark August 26, 2009 | 
Comments (1)
I have to admit that this is one of my all-time favorites. I hope you enjoy it as well…especially if you also play viola.
Q: What is the difference between a viola and a trampoline?
A: You take your shoes off to jump on a trampoline.
Keep playing,
Mark
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Please welcome Ultra-Pure Oils as your newest PartTimeMusician.com advertiser!
Since everyone’s combination of body chemistry and equipment is unique, there is a need in the marketplace for more than one superb oil and slide lube. Ultra-Pure offers a line of great products that is synthetic, odorless, and non-toxic…and is endorsed by many world-renowned players.
If you’re in the market for a top-quality valve oil or slide lube, check them out by clicking the Ultra-Pure Oils picture above or the ad in the right column! And tell ‘em Mark sent you.
Keep playing,
Mark
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Tags: instrument, lube, lubricant, new advertiser, oil, slide, Ultra-Pure Oils, valve
Brass, Gear, General | Mark August 24, 2009 |
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