Category The Music Life
Tuba Duo Four
Here is a little look at some playing I’ve been doing lately. Soon I will be doing a post talking about my experience using GoFundMe, the crowdsourcing website. Until I get to that here is a little taste of what I’ve been up to.
New Beginnings
These past few years have been an amazing time of growth and entrepreneurship. I have met so many amazing people and done some pretty cool stuff in the process. Honestly, it’s all too much to fit into a single blog post. And that’s not really the point of this post anyway. While there will be […]
Interview Questions
This is an interview I did with Matt Owen, a great tuba player who is helping to pioneer the first ever ElectroBrass Conference this summer. It will be happening June 4-6 at the University of Alabama. It is going to be a great time. In preparation for the conference he is doing interviews with some […]
What We Learn from Our Instruments
As musicians we should be more like the instruments we play. I recently watched Note by Note, the documentary about the Steinway Piano Company. It’s available on Netflix and I urge you to seek it out. The film takes you step by step through the whole process of creating these amazing pianos, works of art […]
Something Worth Paying For
I enjoy working on my car. I can do all the basic stuff—change the oil, replace belts and hoses, and even change the alternator. But when it comes time to do some real work, there is a level of expertise I don’t have. If I were to attempt some repair jobs, I would be very […]
Five Things I’ve Learned from Gordon Ramsay
I know I’m a little late to this party, but I’ve become a bit addicted to Kitchen Nightmares, the show in which famous chef Gordon Ramsay walks into failing restaurants and rips the entire staff a new one. I’ve always found a strong connection between the culinary and musical arts and what it means to […]
Five Truths of Being a Musician #5
For the last month we’ve been discussing the truths of the musical life. They are … • Most people simply will not “get it.” • They don’t want to hear that new piece you’re working on. • Sometimes you will (and should) turn down a gig. • You may realize this job is not for […]
What Others Say / Arnold Jacobs
Don’t encourage mediocrity. Play at your best and don’t be second class in the head. —Arnold Jacobs, principal tubist for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 1944–1988 Tweet: What Others Say / Arnold Jacobs
Five Truths of Being a Musician #4
As I’ve noted, there are several truths about the musical life. • Most people simply will not “get it.” • They don’t want to hear that new piece you’re working on. • Sometimes you will (and should) turn down a gig. Some of these truths you had to learn the hard way. Some are just […]
Five Truths of Being a Musician #3
Being a musician means you accept certain facts about the way you choose to make a living. We’ve already discussed that most people will not “get it” and that people don’t want to hear that new piece you’re working on. This week’s truth: Sometimes you will (and should) turn down a gig. Doing a favor […]
Long Tones: The Pursuit of a Life in Music 