I was talking with some “work friends” earlier this week and the topic somehow swerved into music. Imagine my surprise when I learned that one’s wife was a happy and talented PTM (Part-Time Musician) bassist, and another had played lead guitar in a band several years back and still kept his hand in the music whenever he could fit it in. It got me to thinking: just how many of us are out there?
Turns out quite a few. This article about comedian/actor Paul Reiser sheds light on his PTM-ness and makes me smile every time I think about it. One of my favorite points he makes is this:
Q: What made you want to explore music the last few years?
A: Having started with music before comedy I always just thought I would get back to it. Part of the reason I was able to get into stand-up comedy is there was a structure in place – you go to this club and there’s this hierarchy and so on. But with music I realized I wanted to just give myself the freedom to take any structural demands out of the equation. So if I came up with a little melody my brain would go, “Well what is it? Is it a song, is it a symphony, is it a string quartet?” And I thought maybe it’s just a seven-second music cue, just let it be what it wants to be.
Most of us were exposed to making music as children, in one fashion or another. Many of us played an instrument or sang in school. Some came to music later as a form of self-expression, a release, or just something fun to do. Regardless of how any of us got there, we all hear the music and want to share it with others…even if it’s just the family pet. :-)
Don’t be shy! Sing, play, listen, and experience your music – whether a symphony or a seven-second riff – knowing you’re not alone. And don’t be surprised who you learn shares your playing addiction. They’re everywhere… 
All the best,
Mark
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Tags: around, everywhere, Julia Fordham, musician, part, part time musician, Paul Reiser, PTM, time
General, News | Mark December 11, 2010 | 
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November was a bit crazy, but crazy isn’t always a bad thing. Here’s hoping your November was “crazy good”, too. :-)
Below are links to the choice articles from November. Enjoy!
November 13: Crazy conductors
November 14: How to Make a Transposing Wheel
November 16: PartTimeMusician.com goes mobile!
November 28: Choosing your Instrument
November 29: How to Avoid Regrets as a Musician
As we approach Christmastime, allow me to put in a good word for your PTM advertisers: if you’re in the market for something exceptional for a friend, loved one, or that special you in your life (!), please check with the advertisers here first. They’re good people, 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 everyone, and thank you for another great month. Merry Christmas, all!
Keep playing,
Mark
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Tags: 11, 2010, articles, best, musician, November, part, parttimemusician.com, time, top
General | Mark December 8, 2010 |
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It’s probably inevitable that the older we get, the more we think about regrets we may someday have about things we have, or haven’t, done. So as a Part-Time Musician (PTM)…how do we avoid those regrets?
Some time back, friend Robert DeMaine of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra shared this satirical story, courtesy of The Onion. Like most good humor, it has enough basis in truth to really make a person think. To me, it always seems to come back to this: don’t keep your music within you.
If you haven’t yet found *your* instrument, I’d encourage you to look for it. If you have, I’d urge you to play it. Music, like most gifts, is of little worth unless it’s shared…and once shared, it’s a gift to all – including you, the giver.
It may sound trite, but simple truths are just that. Think about it. :-)
Keep playing,
Mark
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Tags: avoid, how, music, musician, part, PTM, regrets, time, within
Inspiration, Joke of the Day | Mark November 29, 2010 |
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As part of the PartTimeMusician.com family, we wanted to give everyone a quick update on some work on your site that has been happening behind the scenes. We’re pretty excited about what’s already done, and we’re eagerly anticipating what is to come.
PartTimeMusician.com is going mobile! Yes, you read that right. We’ve added capabilities that makes the site much more “smartphone-friendly”, especially for those with iOS-based (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad) or Android-based devices. We’re trying to work out some quirks for Blackberries; hopefully, that too will be in place soon. The site has a very nice look and feel on the iPhone and Android phones, and the option is there to switch between the web view and the normal (full) display. Pretty sweet. :-)
But wait, there’s more! We’re also begun work on a native iPhone app with some pretty nifty “bonus” features. No release date to announce – hey, it’s only in the very early phases! – but we’re excited about it and wanted to share the news. Stay tuned!
Well, it’s time to get back to the music. All the best to you!
Keep playing,
Mark
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Tags: Android, app, Blackberry, iPhone, Mobile, musician, part, PartTimeMusician, parttimemusician.com, time
Tech | Mark November 16, 2010 |
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Time to give the trombonists a break and pick on a woodwind. Hmm…how about those squeaky soprano saxophones? Yes, they’ll do just fine! ;-)
Q: What’s the definition of a minor second interval?
A: Two soprano sax players reading off the same part.
Take heart, soprano saxophonists – someone else will be in the hot seat next week! Until then…
Keep playing,
Mark
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