Cello Wars: A Fun Farewall to the Year!

As we prepare to celebrate the passing of one year and the arrival of another, I hope everyone in the PartTimeMusician (PTM) family can take a moment to reflect, anticipate, and smile at what we hope the future brings our way.

The past year brought challenges for all of us – you…you…you…and me as well. But somehow, we made it through. And the year ahead brings with it much promise. There will be time for scales and studies, exercises and etudes, practices and performances once the new year begins! For now, though, we here at PTM wish you a fun-filled, safe New Year’s Eve with this slightly-geeky ode to Star Wars and orchestral musicians.  :-D

May your light sabers stay sharp and your pitches stay true,
Mark

Related Articles:

• The Effects of Classical Music on an Open Mind
• How to make a BEAUTIFUL cello
• How to make a cello
• The Impossible Duet

On Earth Peace, Goodwill Toward Men

Each year during the holiday season, most of us tend to reflect a bit on the year and count our blessings. This has always seemed to me to be a good thing, as it takes our focus off of the difficulties of the past 12 months and redirects our attention to those things, large or small, that have been the treasures that shone through.

It’s been a challenging year for many of us, but I’m thankful for so much…including a wonderful Part-Time Musician (PTM) family with which to share triumphs, setbacks, musical challenges, accomplishments – in short, all of the things that make life, well, life.  :-)

When I was growing up, every major holiday throughout the year had a Peanuts(TM) special that played on TV the week before. I admired and respected Charles Schulz, and I still do – few people have given so much to the human race, and few people’s legacies will last as long as his. To his family, thank you; we miss him.

Below is one of my favorite “Peanuts moments”, where Linus answers Charlie Brown’s plea asking what Christmas is all about. I know I’m an old softie, but it never fails to bring tears to my eyes.

Wishing you all peace and goodwill, and may you and yours have a very merry Christmas.

All the best,
Mark

Related Articles:

• Presidential Part-Time Musicians: Violinists
• Part-Time Musicians Are All Around You
• How to Avoid Regrets as a Musician
• Five Key Challenges for the Part-Time Musician…and How to Conquer Them
• Five good reasons to “go back” to college

Thoughts on the Old and New Years

As this year draws to a close and a new year approaches, it’s a perfect time to pause and take stock of the ups and downs of the past and consider the year ahead…but there’s no reason we can’t have a little fun with it. Feel free to join in!

Last year was a good, but hectic, year. Like everyone else with too many irons in the fire, it’s a struggle for us to find time to work job(s), keep up with family, practice, play, and tackle additional necessary tasks – like posting! This year will be better.

Music is usually best when it’s shared with others, and most of us share it most of the time with friends and family. We had a great time last year in informal jam sessions, intimate concerts, chamber gigs, and orchestral performances…and we’re really looking forward to more in the year ahead!

Medical struggles of friends and family alike have taken some bandwidth over the past year, but thankfully, outcomes have been (overall) quite positive. Things like that also tend to make you more thankful for the people in your life, so let me pass it along: thank you all for being a part of our lives. Now, go hug your kids and call your family & friends you haven’t seen in awhile. Really.

Hollywood may not “get it” in many ways, but they’re starting to understand the value of a good soundtrack. This past year (the past few years, actually) has seen some good music roll forth from the movie & TV moguls. While many parts of society fail to recognize the value of music education and music in general, it’s true that popular entertainment helps drive values. Admittedly, that cuts both ways…but in this case, movies and TV are doing a good thing. Enjoy it, support it, and encourage it!

For the next year, I’d be happy if we just added to the high points of the past year and turned down the low. Nothing revolutionary, but incremental improvement is more than most accomplish with new year’s resolutions. Meeting more great PTMs, refining and sharing the music, and experiencing more of life with loved ones as we go: can it really get much better than that?  :-)

Wishing you all a joyous, fulfilling, and musical new year!

Kathy

Like what you see? Subscribe! We don’t spam you, and we don’t give out your email address to anyone. Period!

Related Articles:

• Welcome to the New Year. Now what?
• Happy Labor Day 2010!
• Keeping it fresh: learning a new instrument
• The Best of PartTimeMusician.com: 2009
• Learning a new instrument…as an adult

Crazy conductors

Friend and fellow trumpeter Stan Modjesky passed along a great clip that I felt must be shared with all. For anyone who has played in an ensemble, this is hilarious! And if you haven’t yet, it gives you something funny to look forward to.  :-)

Of course, not all gigs are like this. But just one time with a quirky conductor/bandleader/frontman and you’ll treasure those memories forever. Eventually, you’ll have a collection of them, and they make all the hours of scales, exercises, and etudes worth it…all by themselves.

Without further ado, here is Mr. Bean conducting a Salvation Army Band. Enjoy!

Keep playing,
Mark

Related Articles:

• On Earth Peace, Goodwill Toward Men
• Quote of the Day: Sir Thomas Beecham
• Joke of the Day: Drummer vs. Conductor
• Christmas cartoon for musicians
• Why there is no Trumpeter’s Christmas!

Happy Labor Day 2010!

To all of our PTM family, whether in the United States of America or not, we want to wish you a very happy Labor Day. While our cousins across the pond typically celebrate a few months earlier, we hope everyone reading this takes the time to appreciate what they have and the possibilities of the future.

May you all have a restful, blessed day.

All the best,
Kathy

Related Articles:

• Thoughts on the Old and New Years
• Quote of the Day: Albert Einstein and Happiness