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
17 March 2009
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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