Staying in the game: The best practices, attitudes, metacognitive strategies, and intrinsic motivations of aging musicians
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Am I Too Old To Change My Musical Course?

10/31/2017

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Depends. It depends on how your self-concept.  And, the health of your mind and body. If you are the resigned type who declares to all that will listen, "I'm a .... always have been, always will be". For you it will be difficult.

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” Sophia Loren

​To which I would add, "your energy level."

​Try this. Make a list of musical styles you've thought about and either never played or mastered to any level of accomplishment. Then, go to a show or two, take it all in. Do some research of the most common repertoire in that style. Learn the top 10 tunes. Next, go to a jam and hang out, take notes. On your third visit ask to sit in. Call one of the tunes. Voila, you've just changed course.

Best, 

​David Story


Never played brushes? Here is a good start.
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Maintaining Good Mental Health in Late Middle Age

10/22/2017

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  1. Get in shape: Start by talking to your doctor, then start slow. Take a walk in the woods, without your phone, and just listen to the sounds around you.
  2. Turn off your phone for a few hours during the day and savour the privacy.
  3. Start a food and drink diary. That was an eye opener for me. I've been tracking my booze consumption for 2 months. I drink very little, well within safe limits, but I was surprised to see the patterns: Wednesday night band practice: a beer, weekends, a few drinks. It turns out I have a drink 1/3 of the month. Fast food consumption was up this past month due to rising commitments. The result? I gained 5 lbs. Yikes! I've got some work to do. 
  4. Clean up the clutter in your music studio, or if need be, your home. 
  5. Cut the friggin' sugar. The perils of over consumption of sugar is well documented. Explore the world of low glycemic foods. This will help regulate your moods by reducing sugar crashes. Don't diet, just start eating healthy by reducing sugar bit by bit. And, cooking your own food.
  6. Set time aside for practicing your instrument. We are musicians, musicians live to practice.
  7. Fix your sleep. This is something I'm currently working on. The cpap machine is helping, but I've more work to do.
  8. Stay hydrated. This really helps me, stay alert and eager for the day's work. 
  9. Date nights with your spouse. Leave the phones at home. 
  10. Journal, a great way to reflect and makes plans for change.

​Now, a caveat I must bring up. If you are being treated or need treatment for mental health issues this blog is not a substitute for medical attention. I'm not a doctor. Be smart, stay safe, take care of yourself.

Best, 

​David Story
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Why Play with Younger Musicians?

10/22/2017

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It's the best activity for keeping the well of joy full. Younger musicians dream of the future, not the past. That makes for a refreshing experience.  

Best,

​David
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Goal Oriented Practice is the Key to Success

10/15/2017

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​Are you practicing or just screwing around?

Practice: To earn, grow, or maintain proficiency on our instruments. My definition. 

My beliefs: To earn professional proficiency will take time, effort, focus, coaching, piles of $$, and buckets courage or grit.  
To grow our proficiency further will take the above plus vivid imagination. ​To maintain our skills so we don't embarrass ourselves just takes focus on fundamental skills and repertoire maintenance.  ​​

My goals, my strategies, my tactics for 2017-2018 as a drummer...

My Goals
​
Audition for and be accepted to the Siena Jazz Academy summer program. in 2018 
​
My Strategy
​
Dual lessons with both Terry Clarke, jazz drummer and mentor. technique class with Tony Nesbitt-Larking.
​
My Tactics and whys

I've scheduled time for practice into my daily and weekly schedule. No practice, no progress.
I do, as assigned, my homework. I'm paying for their expertise and experience. 
​I transcribe tunes weekly. Learning tunes is the key to being a musician. Those that know the most tunes win.
​​I'm building my jazz solo vocabulary. Learning to speak without an accent, or worse just talking gibberish.
​I use a metronome. ​No time, no hope.
I spend a few hours a day listening to music, paying attention to drummers in particular. Also, I keep the motivational fires burning by listening to drummer interviews on drummers resource, reading drum magazines and books, and checking out instrument reviews. A key component to keeping up enthusiasms over the decades this will take. (I'm eight years in with the drumming)
I only hang with musicians who share my dream of proficiency. The power of association.
I work on my dynamics and sound all the time because I play mostly in smaller venues playing music with a big dynamic range.
​I record all rehearsals and carefully listen back. I don't believe you can fix things you aren't aware of.
​​I jam twice a week or more with musicians who can play and kick my butt.  Out of the studio and onto the stage. I compare the studio to basic training, the stage is combat with live ammo.
I network like hell every week with an eye to the future.
​I take time off to recharge the batteries. ​Avoiding burnout and enjoying and growing my marriage is priority number one. Yes, before music. 
​I play often with much younger musicians to keep me from compliancy and catching the "old fart syndrome".  Youngsters dream of the future not the idealised past. A great antidote to keep "old fart syndrome" at bay.
I fixed my sleep problems (I love my cpap machine). ​
I exercise to stay in shape. I'm 58 years old, not 20.
​I constantly visualise success, which is to play drums with musicians I admire in the Jazz, New Music, Improvisational, and Americana scenes in Toronto and surrounding areas. I really believe I can do it.

Now ask yourself: What are your goals, strategies, and tactics for musical success?

Best, 

David Story



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    Author

    David Story: Professional pianist, drummer, composer, and educator. Well into his 5th enthusiastic musical decade, David works with adults pursuing musical dreams in the autumn of life, while he maintains an active presence in the Toronto arts scene.

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