Throughout our time in the Urbandale studio, and now ensconced in "the studio of life", it has been our aspiration to make music "kaleidoscopically" and help others do the same. Someone said "the best way to predict the future is to create it." So in this transitional season, we've bravely allowed ourselves to dream, wish, spend valuable time in what Julia Cameron (The Artist's Way) calls "the i-magic-nation."
The personal reflections born during this time have had a lot more to do with "how NOT to do music kaleidoscopically" than "how TO do music kaleidoscopically." It's been a time of backing up from the musical universe in which we've been so enmeshed. When you're too close to something, you can't see it clearly. Only when you back up does the fuzzy picture come into focus. And as wacky, weird, wild, way-out-on-a-limb as this might sound, here's a little of what's been percolating:
If only we could...
sing away all the dysfunctional, out-of-balance, self-destructive, world-destructive crap
sing away all the disease, the disasters, the disgrace
sing away all the depression and anxiety
sing away all the harm, the hopelessness, the hate
sing away all the headaches and heartaches
sing away all the greed, illusion, and disillusionment
sing away all the small and shallow thinking and feeling
sing away all the milquetoast mediocrity passed off as the standard
sing away all the pain, SING AWAY ALL THE PAIN...
So much of what transpires in musicmaking, both onstage and off, doesn't really amount to a hill of beans. Sorry, but it's true; and not just true, but very overwhelmingly obviously true. And yet we go on, both as artists and audience, making our choices based on an insane, out-of-control web of untruth. I'm not elaborating any farther, it's something each of us has to arrive at our own conclusions about (but I'd be happy to dive in further with you over "brandy and cigars" sometime!).
The nature of a root can be known by its fruit. So I humbly ask you to look, listen, back up, question, and thoughtfully analyze the fruit of our musicmaking system. At that point, you may realize that we've been put on a planet in desperate need of the healing power that music possesses. You may wake up and say to yourself, "Sucker!" You may even start creating some plans of your own to do music differently, truthfully, kaleidoscopically!
Please don't think that we think we could dare say what the truth really is, on this or any other matter. It's very simple. We just want what is best, for both artists and audience, for both ourselves and you. I hope you are reminded from the statements above that we as world-citizens have a ton of "singing away" to do. And we need new paradigms and procedures about the power of music and all art, that will enable us to do the maximum musical healing we were put on the planet to do.
If only we really could sing (and play) away the world's pain. Guess what? We can...and we must.
27 March 2009
17 March 2009
The Glory And The Magic of PERFORMING Music
Performing/Creating/Listening/Watching
Performing music has been one of the great joys of my life - it is literally one of the things I'm very certain that I was put on the planet to do. Now that I am becoming "a woman of a certain age", it gives me additional pleasure to help and encourage others in their performance lives, as well as to keep fanning the flames of my own. I've done it in countless settings publicly since I was 3, and as an adult here in Des Moines since I was 18, over 25 years ago. That said, I'm still such a student in the subject, with my most powerful learning tool being the art of "unlearning". What a thrill it is to wave the flag for musical performance excellence, especially in the face of all the mediocrity that's out there. No matter what your genre, there are performance principles that apply across the board, including those from the article below. Enjoy, and I wish you the glory and the magic that can only be found onstage!
A piece about musical performance HERE
A singing tribute to the great joy of singing and all performing by Wynonna
Another singing tribute to singing--as well as a call for compassion & justice from Annie Lennox
Performing music has been one of the great joys of my life - it is literally one of the things I'm very certain that I was put on the planet to do. Now that I am becoming "a woman of a certain age", it gives me additional pleasure to help and encourage others in their performance lives, as well as to keep fanning the flames of my own. I've done it in countless settings publicly since I was 3, and as an adult here in Des Moines since I was 18, over 25 years ago. That said, I'm still such a student in the subject, with my most powerful learning tool being the art of "unlearning". What a thrill it is to wave the flag for musical performance excellence, especially in the face of all the mediocrity that's out there. No matter what your genre, there are performance principles that apply across the board, including those from the article below. Enjoy, and I wish you the glory and the magic that can only be found onstage!
A piece about musical performance HERE
A singing tribute to the great joy of singing and all performing by Wynonna
Another singing tribute to singing--as well as a call for compassion & justice from Annie Lennox
09 March 2009
Music and the Farmers' Market
What does music have in common with the Farmers' Market?
This past year, I've had a little epiphany regarding the state of music in general, and the state of my own music. As an artist, I've enjoyed plenty of diverse success, making my mark in many different genres and settings across our city and state. As a businessperson, I've also enjoyed success, albeit disguised as failure in some ways, but success nonetheless as lessons learned and self-awareness/life awareness gained. Spiritually and creatively, it's with sanity not vanity, gratitude not greed, that I count myself as one of the wealthiest artists that I know, even though this hasn't equalled mega-millions of dollars or earthly star-studded accolades.
So with the music world spinning out of (and I believe ultimately back into) control, I have needed to touch base with myself once again, and re-examine what I aspire to be about as a musician, and as a human, and how it is meant for me to live out those values, visions, and dreams.
Long story short, this brings me to the Farmers' Market. What do we always see as the "catch-phrase" for supporting these grassroots gatherings? It is this: think globally, act locally.
How much sense would it make for me, a Des Moines/Highland Park dweller, to buy my groceries on an ongoing basis from some impersonal faraway grocery stores in Nashville, New York, and Hollywood? My grocery haunt is Linn's on 6th Avenue, where it sounds like somebody's boom box is the overhead music source, and they cut fresh meat on site every day--adorable, unpretentious, and right down the street from where I live.
As absurd as that question might seem, this is precisely what we have been conditioned to do regarding our artistic expression of, and audience support of, music; specifically our purchase and consumption of our "musical groceries." Maybe it's my experience as a small business leader that has tattooed me with this new perspective, but I'm proud to say that my support of local businesses and local musicians, while always high, is on a vigorously exponential increase.
Des Moines is a city with world-class musical talent of its own that is deserving of enthusiastic, committed support. Am I a fan of Sheryl Crow? Sure, but I'm an even bigger fan of our own jazz legend Susie Miget. Am I a fan of Justin Timberlake? Of course (to my husband's constant chagrin), but I'm an even bigger fan of our own internationally renowned organ genius Sam Salamone. Do I get into the occasional Beyonce groove? Yes indeed, but I will follow Gwen Page Schlepphorst's keyboard (Mooseknuckle/Floodplane) anytime, anywhere I can sit under the spell of her exuberant jammy brilliance.
Brandon and I are humble enough to know that as humans, we seem to screw up far more than often than not, and seem to be wrong far more often than right. On this particular sentiment, however, I think we're getting it; and are eager to do our best, as artists, as businesspeople, as ordinary/extraordinary citizens of our city and the world, to be role models of this concept in the best of ways.
Remember the Farmers' Market (whether it be melons or especially music):
think globally, act locally.
This past year, I've had a little epiphany regarding the state of music in general, and the state of my own music. As an artist, I've enjoyed plenty of diverse success, making my mark in many different genres and settings across our city and state. As a businessperson, I've also enjoyed success, albeit disguised as failure in some ways, but success nonetheless as lessons learned and self-awareness/life awareness gained. Spiritually and creatively, it's with sanity not vanity, gratitude not greed, that I count myself as one of the wealthiest artists that I know, even though this hasn't equalled mega-millions of dollars or earthly star-studded accolades.
So with the music world spinning out of (and I believe ultimately back into) control, I have needed to touch base with myself once again, and re-examine what I aspire to be about as a musician, and as a human, and how it is meant for me to live out those values, visions, and dreams.
Long story short, this brings me to the Farmers' Market. What do we always see as the "catch-phrase" for supporting these grassroots gatherings? It is this: think globally, act locally.
How much sense would it make for me, a Des Moines/Highland Park dweller, to buy my groceries on an ongoing basis from some impersonal faraway grocery stores in Nashville, New York, and Hollywood? My grocery haunt is Linn's on 6th Avenue, where it sounds like somebody's boom box is the overhead music source, and they cut fresh meat on site every day--adorable, unpretentious, and right down the street from where I live.
As absurd as that question might seem, this is precisely what we have been conditioned to do regarding our artistic expression of, and audience support of, music; specifically our purchase and consumption of our "musical groceries." Maybe it's my experience as a small business leader that has tattooed me with this new perspective, but I'm proud to say that my support of local businesses and local musicians, while always high, is on a vigorously exponential increase.
Des Moines is a city with world-class musical talent of its own that is deserving of enthusiastic, committed support. Am I a fan of Sheryl Crow? Sure, but I'm an even bigger fan of our own jazz legend Susie Miget. Am I a fan of Justin Timberlake? Of course (to my husband's constant chagrin), but I'm an even bigger fan of our own internationally renowned organ genius Sam Salamone. Do I get into the occasional Beyonce groove? Yes indeed, but I will follow Gwen Page Schlepphorst's keyboard (Mooseknuckle/Floodplane) anytime, anywhere I can sit under the spell of her exuberant jammy brilliance.
Brandon and I are humble enough to know that as humans, we seem to screw up far more than often than not, and seem to be wrong far more often than right. On this particular sentiment, however, I think we're getting it; and are eager to do our best, as artists, as businesspeople, as ordinary/extraordinary citizens of our city and the world, to be role models of this concept in the best of ways.
Remember the Farmers' Market (whether it be melons or especially music):
think globally, act locally.
03 March 2009
MMD--Mental Musical Database
In our "offseason" time of transition, we've been doing what we can to grow both personally and professionally as preparation for ascending into the next phase of Kaleidoscope. Here are some sources we've recently been blessed by, and wholeheartedly recommend for your own body of creative knowledge:
Moving To Higher Ground--a book by Wynton Marsalis
This man's artistry is simply inspirational. From a jazz frame of reference, he makes a compelling case for musical expression as flowing through interconnected veins of character, creativity, and citizenship. When he was in town for a Bucksbaum lecture at Drake a few years ago, it was one of those evenings that I wished every artist I knew could have been present, both for his speaking as well as his band playing. I'm still impacted at the mere remembrance of it.
1000 Songs To Change Your Life/Lost In The Grooves
Another interesting collection of musical perspectives to examine and see what clicks...
Victor Wooten's Groove Workshop DVD
How lovely it is to sit side by side with the spouse in our living room taking notes together on this power-packed video session. Inspirational plus informational--this guy is a really gifted communicator both on and off the bass guitar.
Derek Trucks everything 1
Derek Trucks everything 2
Just saw him at Hoyt-Sherman the other night, and was fed a splendid feast of musical soul food. Derek is still so young, yet has already achieved so much. (And of course, my spouse and I are drawn to him and his wife Susan Tedeschi because of the unique life status we have in common!)
Moving To Higher Ground--a book by Wynton Marsalis
This man's artistry is simply inspirational. From a jazz frame of reference, he makes a compelling case for musical expression as flowing through interconnected veins of character, creativity, and citizenship. When he was in town for a Bucksbaum lecture at Drake a few years ago, it was one of those evenings that I wished every artist I knew could have been present, both for his speaking as well as his band playing. I'm still impacted at the mere remembrance of it.
1000 Songs To Change Your Life/Lost In The Grooves
Another interesting collection of musical perspectives to examine and see what clicks...
Victor Wooten's Groove Workshop DVD
How lovely it is to sit side by side with the spouse in our living room taking notes together on this power-packed video session. Inspirational plus informational--this guy is a really gifted communicator both on and off the bass guitar.
Derek Trucks everything 1
Derek Trucks everything 2
Just saw him at Hoyt-Sherman the other night, and was fed a splendid feast of musical soul food. Derek is still so young, yet has already achieved so much. (And of course, my spouse and I are drawn to him and his wife Susan Tedeschi because of the unique life status we have in common!)
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