Monday's Muse

You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don't make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can't take their eyes off you.  ~ Maya Angelou

CTO … Heart's Delight

Everybody wants to know … Sweet Baby Girl has arrived!

Check This Out … Evalyn Fern Wilson was born into this world on Sunday, June 22, 8:11am.

Weight: 7 pounds 1 ounce  Length: 22 inches

I am a grandma! and I'm taking the summer off!!
Don't forget to practice!!

Monday's Muse

The worst hour of your life is only 60 minutes long.  ~ Anonymous

CTO … The Price of a Musician

Check This Out … This has been around awhile, but, sadly, still applies:

A guy calls the musicians' guild to get a quote on a 6 piece band for a wedding. The rep says, "Off the top of my head, about $2,000." The guy says, "WHAT? For music?!" The rep responds, "I'll tell you what. Call the plumbers' union and ask for six plumbers to work from 6 'til midnight on a Saturday night. Whatever they charge you, we'll work for half."

… so long as I get somewhere!

"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.
"I don’t much care where--" said Alice.
"Then it doesn’t matter which way you go," said the Cat.
~Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Students ask me what they should practice, how they should practice, when they should practice …

Here's the thing about practice: It is a very individualized pursuit, most effectively designed by YOU to get YOU where YOU want to go. "Progress" means different things to different people. How would you define progress in your own musical endeavors, today?

• mastering a new tune arrangement?
• playing your favorite fiddle tune up to speed?
• successfully playing backup during a jam session?
• learning that tricky right hand root arpeggio pattern?
• etc, etc, etc

Whatever the goal, it's important to have one (or three)! Then, make a practice plan that will get you where you want to be. The Cheshire Cat would say, if you don't know where you're going it doesn't much matter what you do in your practice. While it may be true that doing anything is better than doing nothing … you're bound to accomplish something … if you intentionally gear your practice toward accomplishment of your goals, you will grow in the direction of your dreams.

Monday's Muse

Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art.  ~ Charlie Parker

CTO … Traditional Music is Alive in Chatham County

Chatham County JAM (affiliated with the regional Junior Appalachian Musicians, Inc.) works to get young people playing music!

Check This Out … From their web site:
"Chatham County JAM education program introduces children (from 3rd to 8th grade) to the music of their heritage through small group instruction in instruments common to the Appalachian and Piedmont regions of North Carolina.  Instrument, dance and vocal instruction are augmented by stringband classes providing children opportunities to play and perform in small and large groups. Chatham County JAM strives to make the program accessible to all students by providing free or low cost instrument loans and free or highly subsidized tuition.  Field trips, visiting artists and an introduction to the rich history of music unique to local communities help complete our program offerings."

2013 JAM Camp fun

Next week, June 16 - 20, Chatham County JAM is holding their summer camp at the Farm Heritage Park in Silk Hope, NC. For the third year, I'll be teaching afternoon enrichment classes on the hammered dulcimer. I'm really looking forward to jamming with all those great kids!

Do you have some aspiring young musicians in your life? Tell them about the Junior Appalachian Musicians organization.