Starting Over: One Person’s Journey, part 2

This is the second post of a series from our newest feature writer at PartTimeMusician.com. The names have been changed to protect the musically-addicted (!), but the content needs nothing else to stand on its own. We’re excited to be able to share this with you and welcome your comments!

That said, I’d ask that any encouragement be offered freely and any criticism be offered with civility. I’ve gotten used to the occasional trip to the woodshed from our few irascible-but-dear friends, but please take it easy on the new folk. We’re all on the same journey, even if we take different paths to get there. 

I always had excellent reading skills, a good feel for the English language. That must help explain why I ended up becoming an editor. Unfortunately, that ease does not extend to the language of music. I am, at this point, musically illiterate.

When I first tried to play the trumpet (20 or so years ago), I never learned how to read music. It was always difficult for me and, truth be told, I didn’t really try. But now, with my long-term goal being a second career in music, it was time to do things right.

This remains a daily struggle. After 10 months I am really happy with my tone, range, endurance, intonation, but I am still falling short in my reading. I simply lack the reading comprehension to keep up. Without that ability, all the rest means so little.

Now, I threw myself into the breach by joining a community band in order to force myself to learn how to read music. But three months in and I am still lagging behind. I am so frustrated.

In fact, I just decided not to perform in the group’s first concert because of my faltering reading skills. While this was the right thing to do for my band mates, it is difficult for me. It’s like everyone is reading and speaking this foreign language fluently and I can only catch every other word or so.

I don’t know how many of you have felt this, but I find myself getting lost early and often during rehearsals. My mind, my eyes, my fingers are all slow to the task. I cannot keep up.

To tell you the truth, this is the biggest roadblock I face right now. And self-doubt begins to creep in. That corrosive feeling sets upon me each time I fall behind during a run through. Can I really do this?

I know the solution – sight reading and dexterity exercises – but I wonder if I am up to the task.

Given that I never really learned how to do things the right way as a kid; I am essentially starting from scratch. That doesn’t breed confidence. Because I never did these things before, I am constantly asking myself, “Will I get this? Will I get any better?” While my teacher assures me that I will, I need to prove it to myself.

So, I make do. I am hunkering down on technical exercises to improve my dexterity and working every day on sight reading so my reading skills improve. That’s what I need to do. I just hope it’s enough.

I knew this would be a long journey and I am ready for that. I apparently have just hit my first fork in the road. I press on, but with concerns.

I’d be really interested in your early experiences with sight reading, musical reading comprehension. What challenges did you face? How did you overcome them? At what point did you realize that you had things right?

Take care,
Starting Over

 

Please feel free to contact SO by email at startingover@parttimemusician.com or leave feedback below. To subscribe, please click this link. All the best to all!

Mark

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Starting Over: One Person’s Journey

This is the first post of a new series from our newest feature writer at PartTimeMusician.com. The names have been changed to protect the musically-addicted (!), but the content needs nothing else to stand on its own. We’re excited to be able to share this with you and welcome your comments!

That said, I’d ask that any encouragement be offered freely and any criticism be offered with civility. I’ve gotten used to the occasional trip to the woodshed from our few irascible-but-dear friends, but please take it easy on the new folk. We’re all on the same journey, even if we take different paths to get there.

Hi, I’m “Starting Over” and in September 2009 I was suddenly out of a job, after my company merged with another. Who knew that this awful experience would lead me back to music and hopefully towards a second career? Surprisingly it has.

After a few months looking for work, I was out of my mind, checking my email every five minutes for call backs from employers. At my wits end, I decided to kill some time by cleaning out my old Benge trumpet. I just wanted to make it through the day, but I got a lot more than I bargained for.

After cleaning the horn (which was hidden away in the basement for 20 years) I decided to try to play it and so it began.  All the old feelings came back and I was on my way.

As a kid, I always loved the trumpet, but never made the effort to do things the right way. I never practiced or bothered to learn the fundamentals of my instrument and later I just quit, putting the horn away in frustration. I told myself I just didn’t have the ability.

Now, having picked it up again, I felt a mix of excitement and regret. I was excited to come back to something I really loved, while regretting all the years I wasted away from the instrument. While I couldn’t go back and change the past, I could make up for the lost time with a vengeance. So, even though I was 37, I was determined to make a serious go at this.

I wanted to do whatever it took to become a pro, no matter how tough a road it would be. And I know it’s a tough road, especially with a family and a new full-time job, as a great company made me a job offer just a month after I picked up the trumpet again.

I have been playing for 10 months now, putting in several hours every day. Beyond the fundamentals of the instrument, I am studying every day to improve my reading music, which has always been dreadful. Since I am so early in my journey, each day is a real learning experience for me and I’d be honored to share those experiences with you.

I also would appreciate any advice and encouragement from folks out there who are doing the same thing. God knows, I need all the help I can get.

Take care,
Starting Over

 

Please feel free to contact SO by email at startingover@parttimemusician.com or leave feedback below. To subscribe, please click this link. All the best to all!

Mark

 

Related Articles:

• Starting Over: One Person’s Journey, part 2
• High Note Humor
• Comic for the Day: Learning the positions
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THE Two Keys to Success in Music (and Life)!

I was chatting with a friend of mine recently and he passed along some advice so simple, yet so profound, that I felt it just had to be shared. With all of the excellent advice out there for the current or aspiring Part-Time Musician (PTM) – and I’d like to think we’ve passed along a good deal of it! – it just doesn’t get much better than this.

It’s Never Too Late to Start

However old you are now, whether 8 or 88, you’re at the perfect age to start playing an instrument. If you don’t already play the instrument you’d like to play, for Heaven’s sake, START NOW! What is holding you back…really? Fear of committing to…doing something you’ve always wanted to do? Fear of…not being very good until you’ve progressed a bit? The cost of…investing in your personal growth and fulfillment? Short of physical inability (five year old + double bass = bad idea), there is no good reason for putting it off. IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO START PLAYING THE INSTRUMENT YOU LOVE!

Something is Better Than Nothing

We’ve written previously about “micro-sessions” for practicing (click here to see article), but to cut straight to the chase, any quality time is better than no quality time…even if it’s just a few minutes each day. You won’t get to Carnegie Hall on five minutes a day, but you could learn a few tunes over the course of a few months, work on tuning and intonation, throw in a few embellishments, and amaze just about everyone you know – including yourself – with your progress in less than a year’s time. Yes, you’ll improve faster with more time and thought invested; but begin with whatever you can and adjust as appropriate. SOMETHING REALLY IS BETTER THAN NOTHING!

These same principles apply to anything in life (fitness, learning a language, reading, etc.), but they hold special importance for us as PTMs. Remember these keys and apply them, and someday, you just might amaze yourself with what you can do.

All the best,
Mark

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Three Secrets to Enjoy Practicing!

This article introduces new PartTimeMusician.com writer JP Montgomery. JP is a guitarist/bassist who will be contributing from time to time on a variety of subjects. JP’s hobbies include playing music, listening to music, and hanging out with his girlfriend…but not necessarily in that order.  :-)

Sitting alone in a room with the door closed and drilling all-too-familiar exercises is no fun for anyone. When I started playing guitar (and later, bass), I wanted to get rolling as quickly as possible. Who doesn’t?!? And once I got to a basic level of playing competence…well, I still didn’t want to waste a lot of time with boring exercises. Here’s what I do.

Warm Up with Scales

Well, that sounds boring, doesn’t it? You have to know the notes, but playing them doesn’t have to be a drudge! Add some pep to it, change up the rhythms, slur (winds), run patterns of notes, etc. Mix it up! This gets you warmed up, reinforces your scales in your head, and keeps things from getting lame.  :-)

Play some Challenging Music

After you’re warmed up, grab some challenging music from your stack and get busy. Whether it’s new music (for sight-reading, technique development, etc.) or just a piece you’ve been working on that remains just outside of your reach, this is the time to tackle it. Push yourself, but have fun with it. Work on that new chord, practice the riff your favorite lead player or bassist throws in during the best part of your favorite song, or whatever. Imagine yourself playing it for your buddies next week – that always gets me going!

Grab some TABs, Plug in the Tunes, and PLAY!

This is the dessert portion of the practice session. Plug your iPod into your amp via Line In (Editor’s note: See earlier article Really USE your practice amp for tips on this, especially if your amp doesn’t have a dedicated Line In plug), grab some tablature or sheet music, and just kick it! If you know the music well, experiment (remember those grooves we were talking about earlier?). If it’s a new piece you’ve been dying to play, just work your way into it and live in the moment! There is just something about playing along with your favorite artist/group that really gets the juices going. In fact, you may have to make yourself put down the axe once you’ve gotten to this point!

Simple as it is, it keeps me driving forward. Give it a try! Life doesn’t always have to be hard, you know.  :-)

Peace,
JP

Like what you see? Subscribe! And tell ‘em JP sent you.  ;-)

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Neverland School of Music

As the parent of some very talented musicians (as many of us are!), I am always interested to see news of educational opportunities for future generations of musicians, part-time or otherwise. As such this tidbit really caught my eye.

This article from our friends at Just So You Know claims that Michael Jackson’s former residence/compound, Neverland Ranch, could become a top-notch music school. Colony Capital, now owner of the King of Pop’s expansive property, has filed plans with Santa Barbara County and awaits approval, but it’s difficult (for me, at least) to envision a better use for the place or a nicer tribute. The intention is to develop a school of Juilliard’s reputation on the other side of the country. So…why not?

Assuming they can pull it off, and once the required investments are made and leading teaching talent assembled, would you encourage your kids to attend? Would you steer clear until the school’s (and not just its teachers’) reputation is established? Or does the idea of another music school just leave you shaking your head, wondering where all the graduates will go for work?  :-)

Drop us a line or post a comment below. We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Keep playing,
Mark

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