Keep it fresh: Joining new communities

I`m working hard on the technical limitations with Terry Clarke and others since this was written.

Social isolation as a musician is musical death, or at least a lonely purgatory. As we age the musical colleagues and scenes we were part change, die, or mostly likely, just fizzle out. Not a good situation. If you are a jazz or rock musicians who remembers the glory days of gigs, gigs, gigs, fun, fun, fun, $, $, $, you know what I mean. Most jazz fans are either dead, in the home, or too old too tired to go out.

But,...

Here are some thoughts.

1. Be the oldest guy in the band. Why not? Learn some new repertoire and join the younger set. If they are thirty plus, they'll hardly notice. My 83 old father is the oldest guy in his choir. The rest of them try to keep up. If they are twenty somethings, join them at public jam sessions to start.
2. Take some lessons with a much younger musician. That will shake it up I promise. Their energy and enthusiasm will wear off on you, if you let it. I'm learning double bass drum pedal technique right now from a musician old enough to be a son. 
3. If you can swing it, go to a summer music camp for adults. There are dozens of great ones. Heck, even Billy Cobham has one every summer in Mesa Arizona. There are jazz camps all over the USA and Europe. I've been to a few. Summer 2018 I plan to go to Siena Italy for a swingin' two weeks. This summer Jamey Aebersold in Kentucky.
4. If there is no `scene`in your town, start one. You won`t be the only musician sitting at home wondering what the hell happened.
5. Let the good old days go. It`s a new day. Having goals for the future gives life direction and meaning. Looking backwards, not so much.

Cheers,

David Story
www.davidstory.ca

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Musician Hand Stretches and Warm Up
​For Better Guitar and Bass Playing