1. Re-listen to 10 albums that inspired you to be a musician as a youth. 
   
2. Polish your instrument.
   
3. Catalogue your music collection.
   
4. Transcribe a new piece.
   
5. Book an online lesson with one of your heros. They are all available and sitting at home. Do your bit to support the arts.
   
6. Troll Kijji for bargains. 
   
7. Trade stems with other musicians and build a track.
   
8. Start a blog. 
   
9. Build your skills on your DAW.
   
10. Learn to read music
    

Best regards, 

​David

Think you are too old to learn new tricks?

I've many students past the age of superannuation. What have they been up to?

1. G., formed his 1st jazz trio after age 75, they meet weekly. His wife makes cupcakes for the guys.
2. E., age 75+, created a website for Scottish folksong arrangements she creates herself. She has learned to arrange music, create webpages, YouTube videos, simple coding and deliver customer service to her fans. 
   
3. J., is working on her Grade 3 piano.
   
4. G., a retired diplomat is rediscovering Grade 8 piano and enjoying attending piano recitals monthly. 

Let's get going. Otherwise it is just Netflix, lethargy and death. 

​David

Maybe Eric should have been paying a little more attention. 

​David

Assuming you can find the motivation to practice when the world is falling apart, I'd ramp up practice time slowly to avoid injury. Every year at jazz camp I meet so many "hobby" musicians who after 2 or 3 days are in trouble. Bleeding fingers on bass players, blown embouchures on brass players, tendentious flaring up in pianists and drummers. There are tears. 

So, I suggest ramping up practice about 10% a week. Warming up the muscles before you thrash the hell out of your instrument is helpful too. I'm working out in my home gym this morning and then heading to the practice studio.

For helpful advice I suggest all eager musicians read "The Musicians Way". I read it like many people read holy books. 

Good luck.

David 

My generation finally got its war. The casualties will likely be similar too.

How do soldiers prepare? I imagine the following:

1. They accept that they are soldiers and now belong to a bigger cause: Humanity
2. They get into top physical shape.
3. They learn a combat trade that has impact on the results.
4. They follow orders.
5. They count their bullets prior to and during battle.
6. They move forward in the face of danger, never looking back.
7. They get rest when ever its possible to preserve unit effectiveness.
8. They work with their unit, do their job. They are preservers.
9. They understand its not personal.
10. They dream of peacetime.

After several days organizing work, I'm back practicing. First drums, today I will add piano. I miss jamming. Musicians are social creatures, music making/creation is a team sport. This is not going to be easy. 

The outcome going forward is far from clear. But if we follow the orders of the health department and government officials most of us will get through this.

For inspiring words on being an eminently qualified human being. I invite you to check out Jocko on what is an eminently qualified Marine.
 
​

1. Social distancing will limit jamming in person. 
   
2. Work interruptions will be difficult for many. 
   
3. Some of our family and friend undoubtedly will perish. 
   

"Suppose you catch the virus. You will give it to 3 other people, and they will each give it to three others, and so forth. Here is how the math works, where you, the “index case,” are the first line:
1
3
9
27
81
243
729
2,187
6,561
19,683
59,046
177,147
531,441
1,594,323
4,782,969
14,348,907
So, in just 15 steps of transmission, the virus has gone from just one index case to 14.3 million other people." Dr. Alex Filipski

So,

Let's do our bit to help minimise the pain. Stay home, practice, get some sleep, exercise and ration the toilet paper. Be part of the solution. 

David

More thoughts on avoidance behaviour. Tough thoughts. No easy answers. If the answers were easy we'd all be fit and rich. 

David

• They love the repetition of practice
• They understand cause and effect
• They love the minutiae of practice
• They understand the value of patience
• They have conquered their fears
• They see themselves as committed to a larger community of accomplished and developing artists
• They seek feedback from those who know
• They are organised 

​

1. They love the repetition of practice. Simply put they live in a great part for their craft, especially in the early stages of development.  As an early mentor said, "if they aren't twice as good every 6 months, they'll never make it" 
2. They understand cause and effect. Nobody gives you skill, you earn it through hard consistent focused effort. Period. To an outsider it looks easy and effortless, but insiders understand.
3. They love the minutiae of practice. As Wayne Gretzky said, "I loved every aspect of the game". What some see as drudgery, he saw for its true value: the path to greatness.
4. They understand the value of patience. Musical skill is an athletic skill, it takes time, you can't be given it, your body learns it slowly over years of effort and commitment. Ask Michael Jorden.
5. They have conquered their fears: They get courage and energy from the audience and seek out every opportunity as young musicians to develop their skills in front of live bodies.  
6. They see themselves as committed to a larger community of accomplished and developing artists. "I’m a jazz musician", "I'm a classical musician", "I'm a piano teacher" etc. They feel at home in a company of peers. They don't wait for permission to join; they just show up and learn to fit in. 
7. They seek feedback from those that know. Feedback is the breakfast of champions. One small insight from a master musician can change everything. 
8. They are organised. Life is short, get it together. 

• 
  Best regards, 
  
  ​David

Mark is an inspiring mentor/teacher and a fabulous jazz pianist. My buddy bassist Rory Slater and I took a class with Mark this past week. I was drumming. My dignity is intact, though I'm sitting home in a bit of a daze. 

First: what fun it is to play with a professional. 

He showed me 3 significant things on the drums:

1. How to comp like Elvin Jones: quarter note triplets started 1/8 note after the downbeat. Others have mentioned it, he explained it, then we played it. Voila. Got it. 
2. Crash cymbal outlining the form on the “and” of 4 anticipating the top, or on the beat 2 in measure 1. Never on the downbeat at the top of the form. Ever. Oops.
3. How to play ballads with one brush on the off beats and other hand with a broom. Groovy
4. Crisper high hat
   

This old dog has learned a few new tricks. 

David

Apparently age 50 is the golden year to join or form a "dad band". This explains a lot. The proliferation of collectable instruments as a start. Pros are not buying the expensive boutique guitars, pre-amps, snare drums. They are mostly broke. Fifty-year-old lawyers with dad bods and rekindled musical passion are. Online video lessons reach out to the same demographic. As do jazz camps, rock fantasy camps et al. I know, I've been. The "campers" are predominantly male and skew heavily to ages below 25 and over 50. The before and after children crowd. All have exquisite instruments. 

Why do fifty-year-old women not do the same? They know better. Someone said they run marathons. But I digress.  

For a hilarious take on "Dad Bands" and inspiration for this blog post check out this link to "The Debaters Podcast" 

I realise that lately I've been drumming in a lot of "Dad Bands" and "Grandpa bands". Oh boy. People I haven't seen in 30 and 40 years are in these bands. "Hey Dave, where have you been?" My response is always, "super, whom am I talking too?" I remember young men.

I'm reconsidering my next move. My 85-year-old mother tells me I'm not ready for this, I'm still making a living as a professional musician. I should wait until the time is right, she says. Good advice. 

• First step, stave off the “dad bod”
• Second step, hang with my professional and musical peers
• Third step, stay sharp
• Fourth step, seek new opportunities to earn money
• Fifth step, play in challenging situations only

 
David