We’re now well into 2010, and it’s time for a quick look at last month’s topics and a note of heartfelt appreciation. Thanks to everyone who is a part of the PartTimeMusician.com family – writers, readers, commenters, well-wishers, subscribers, and all who have contributed in any way – for all you do to make this site the information hub for your playing addiction.
Below are some of the “blue ribbon” articles from January that you may want to revisit:
January 5: Three tips for setting – and reaching – your goals
January 8: Music publishing for the masses? About Sibelius First
January 11: Keeping it fresh: learning a new instrument
January 13: Music matters
January 14: Fun with music: a classic(al) cinema moment!
January 19: PTMs in the news: “passion players” in the UK
January 21: From virtual musician to real musician
January 25: Build Your Own Soundproof Studio
January 27: Citation/ticket for bass players
And the usual (well-deserved!) plug for your PTM advertisers: if you’re in the market for something, please check with them first. They’re good folks…and their prices, service, and quality are tough to beat. Check out their ads in the right column, and please give them the chance to earn your business. By doing so, you’ll be giving back a bit to the PTM community without paying a single dime more! And please don’t forget about the PTM Guide; we guarantee it will save you money, and all updates are free…forever!
All the best to you all, and thank you for another great month!
Keep playing,
Mark
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As we bid a fond farewell to 2009, the staff here at PartTimeMusician.com extends a hearty “thank you!” to the greater PTM family. It’s been a big year, and we’ve had a great time with the community you’ve trusted us to manage on your behalf. Hopefully, you’ve had a great time, too!
Here is a quick rundown of 2009’s feature articles, in case you’d like to review some of the fun and informative topics we discussed last year…or even if you’re just feeling a bit nostalgic. :-) ”And the winners are…”
Handing over the baton
Music: Mega-vitamin for the brain
Music and stroke recovery: a first-hand account (part 1 of 2)
Music and stroke recovery: a first-hand account (part 2 of 2)
How to make a marimba
Review: Hercules BS100B portable music stand
Media praise for the part-time musician
Review: BiNaK instrument oils and slide grease
Workshopping vs. Woodshedding
Music IS an addiction?
Music and Intelligence/Mental Health
Playing Music Sharpens Your Brain
Review: Manhasset Stand-Outs and Floor Protectors
Top three ‘gotchas’ of buying music mail-order
The man behind the mute tray
Get some rhythm and hold the blues – three great reasons to use a metronome
Advice for buying a violin “long distance”
Top 7 Tips for Flying with a Musical Instrument
Pianos, pianos everywhere!
Baseball bat violin? You bet!
Five good reasons to “go back” to college
Flying with a Musical Instrument: And Another Thing…
Attend a live performance to get your mojo back!
Play along to enjoy playing!
Vintage sheet music, back in print
How to fix an instrument cable in 10 easy steps
The Impossible Duet
How to save a bundle on musician’s resources, tools, music…
Trumpet Transcription: Chet Baker’s Solo in The Best Thing For You
The ultimate part-time musician
Viola shootout! – Episode 1
Viola shootout! – Episode 2
Viola shootout! – The Final Episode
Riverdancing Violinist
Movie Music to Inspire
BandsInTown helps locate live performances
Living the Dual Lifestyle: An Interview with Nick Drozdoff
YouTube for musicians: boosting the burn!
Loud music stimulates your brain
Videogaming helps your mad music-making skillz!
What is holding you back?
What is holding you back? No, it isn’t!
Learning a new instrument…as an adult
YouTube for musicians: equipment setup
YouTube for musicians: technique
How to replace the pickups in your guitar
Transposing for Trumpet: A Handy Reference
Culture through music
PTMs in the news: Learning other subjects with music
PTMs in the news: Giants among us
New and Updated: The PTM Guide!
Review: Clayton Haslop’s Violin Mastery DVD course
Being a musician is good for your hearing
Tage Larsen, CSO Trumpeter
Music should be FUN!
The Silent Mute Tray: an update
How to make a cello
How to make a BEAUTIFUL cello
Cyber Conductor: For the person who has everything
Music is for sharing
PTMs in the news: Maya Shankar
How to make your own guitar pickups
Play trumpet AND horn? Good advice for doubling
How to cook a conductor
Review: Mel Bay’s Easiest Fiddling Book
Five Key Challenges for the Part-Time Musician…and How to Conquer Them
Musical diversity produces musical “freshness”
Church Music Resources for Part-Time Musicians
Why there is no Trumpeter’s Christmas!
Treatment for Tinnitus
PTMs in the news: LA Lawyers
In spite of the difficulties 2009 may have brought into our lives, we’re grateful for the good things – and especially for the music. What better gift is there to share among family, friends, and soon-to-be friends?
Please remember your PTM advertisers as needs arise, and may you all have a wonderful, musical 2010!
All the best to all,
Mark, Kathy, and the entire PTM crew
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We say it every month, and we mean it more each time. A hearty “thank you” to the entire PartTimeMusician.com family – writers, readers, commenters, well-wishers, subscribers, and all who have contributed in any way – for all you do to make this site the starting point (on the internet, anyway!) for your playing addiction. Each and every one of you contributes something great to this site and this planet, and we appreciate you for it. 
Below are some of the “blue ribbon” articles from November that you may want to revisit:
November 3: The Silent Mute Tray: an update
November 5: How to make a cello
November 6: How to make a BEAUTIFUL cello
November 9: Cyber Conductor: For the person who has everything
November 11: Music is for sharing
November 17: PTMs in the news: Maya Shankar
November 23: How to make your own guitar pickups
November 24: Play trumpet AND horn? Good advice for doubling
November 25: Joke of the Day: How to cook a conductor
November 30: Review: Mel Bay’s Easiest Fiddling Book
Another well-deserved plug for your PTM advertisers: if you’re in the market for something, please check with them first. They’re good folks, and their prices, service, and quality are tough to beat. Check out their ads in the right column, and please give them the chance to earn your business. By doing so, you’ll be giving back a bit to the PTM community without paying a single dime more! And please don’t forget about the PTM Guide; we guarantee it will save you money, and all updates are free…forever!
All the best to you all, and thank you for another great month!
Keep playing,
Mark
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October was a busy month! In addition to covering some interesting topics, we published an update to The PartTimeMusician.com Guide to Free and Nearly-Free Resources for Musicians, a handy reference we put together to help musicians everywhere bulk up on the things we all need to make music for next-to-nothing. Thanks to all involved!
A hearty thanks as well to everyone in the PartTimeMusician.com family for making October another great month in a long string of them. For all you have done to make your site a good one, THANK YOU!
Here are some of the “blue ribbon” articles from October that you may want to revisit:
October 1: Culture through music
October 7: PTMs in the news: Learning other subjects with music
October 8: Quote of the Day: Alan Kay
October 9: PTMs in the news: Giants among us
October 14: New and Updated: The PTM Guide!
October 15: Review: Clayton Haslop’s Violin Mastery DVD course
October 19: Quote of the Day: John Quincy Adams
October 22: Being a musician is good for your hearing
October 23: Tage Larsen, CSO Trumpeter
October 30: Music should be FUN!
A quick (and well-deserved) 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…without paying a single dime more!
Thanks to all involved for their contributions. You are the best of the best!
Keep playing,
Mark
September
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This quote really strikes home for the Part-Time Musician in so many ways. Most of us tend to be short on time and impatient for progress.
“If you are doing your best, you will not have time to worry about failure.”
Robert Hillyer, American poet
Looking to others for inspiration is a good thing, but comparing ourselves to others can be disastrous if we aren’t careful. After all, there is always someone better out there…even for the full-timers! The real question is, “have you done something today to improve?”
Doing your best every day, practicing and playing for both enjoyment and self-improvement, are the real indicators of success. If you do that, you can forget about worrying about failing…even if you do have the time to do so. 
Keep doing your best,
Mark
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