Road Trip Part 1
01/23/10 10:24
Road Trip Part 1
So I finally have a chance to perform some of my music out-of-state. This will be the first time since (I think) 1999. My first stop is in Stanwood, WA, where I’ll be serving a small church in their worship service on Sunday morning.
I love to travel with my wife. We never seem to run out of things to talk about. It’s one of the first things that attracted me to her. However, I had a six hour drive ahead of me. Alone. So I loaded up two CD cases with music to pass the time. I’ve never seen 6 hours go by so fast!
Since I’ll not only be performing some of my tunes, but actually re-recording some of them (more on that in a later blog), I spent some time reviewing my own music. I don’t often listen to it, so it was interesting to hear how these pieces have changed in my mind over time. (Did I REALLY play that that fast? You gotta be kidding me!) It’s strange to hear 11-years-ago-me singing these songs. Like looking at my old wedding pictures: Who was THAT guy? I’m having actual difficulty remembering him.
After that, I enjoyed an Ellis Paul marathon till I reached my destination. If you haven’t heard Mr. Paul’s music, you should. He made an excellent traveling companion, although not as nice as my bride…
Spent an hour rehearsing with the worship team at Seven-Lakes Baptist Church. This is a church attended by my cousin and her family. Fun to play at a church with a real piano. I use a digital at EBF, which I happen to enjoy very much, but there’s nothing like wood and wire and a vibrating keyboard under your fingers. Very fun to play with a team and not have to make any real decisions, other than where to play and where to shut up. It has been very gracious of them to allow me to join them, and I felt very welcome. I’ll even be teaching a new song to the congregation in the morning, and possibly bringing a new song back with me…
Wrapped up the day with a great time around the table and living room with my extended family. I’m staying with my cousin Kris and her family and loving the opportunity to catch up and just be together. My Aunt Kathy and Uncle Dave have come over for the weekend to be with the fam and to see me play in the morning. I used to see them twice a year growing up, but the visits get more spread out the older we get.
My aunt recently survived a stroke and a fight with cancer. She’s quite different than the aunt I knew when I was little, yet the old spark is there in her. We talked much about family, music, theology, fun family wedding stories, wedding plans for another cousin who’s marrying in March, and on and on and on.
It’s almost like the music, the original reason I came up, will be an afterthought tomorrow. Maybe I’ll play better as a result. Who knows? After all, music should be about life, not just music for its own sake, and certainly not just for a paycheck.
So much to learn…
Soli deo gloria
So I finally have a chance to perform some of my music out-of-state. This will be the first time since (I think) 1999. My first stop is in Stanwood, WA, where I’ll be serving a small church in their worship service on Sunday morning.
I love to travel with my wife. We never seem to run out of things to talk about. It’s one of the first things that attracted me to her. However, I had a six hour drive ahead of me. Alone. So I loaded up two CD cases with music to pass the time. I’ve never seen 6 hours go by so fast!
Since I’ll not only be performing some of my tunes, but actually re-recording some of them (more on that in a later blog), I spent some time reviewing my own music. I don’t often listen to it, so it was interesting to hear how these pieces have changed in my mind over time. (Did I REALLY play that that fast? You gotta be kidding me!) It’s strange to hear 11-years-ago-me singing these songs. Like looking at my old wedding pictures: Who was THAT guy? I’m having actual difficulty remembering him.
After that, I enjoyed an Ellis Paul marathon till I reached my destination. If you haven’t heard Mr. Paul’s music, you should. He made an excellent traveling companion, although not as nice as my bride…
Spent an hour rehearsing with the worship team at Seven-Lakes Baptist Church. This is a church attended by my cousin and her family. Fun to play at a church with a real piano. I use a digital at EBF, which I happen to enjoy very much, but there’s nothing like wood and wire and a vibrating keyboard under your fingers. Very fun to play with a team and not have to make any real decisions, other than where to play and where to shut up. It has been very gracious of them to allow me to join them, and I felt very welcome. I’ll even be teaching a new song to the congregation in the morning, and possibly bringing a new song back with me…
Wrapped up the day with a great time around the table and living room with my extended family. I’m staying with my cousin Kris and her family and loving the opportunity to catch up and just be together. My Aunt Kathy and Uncle Dave have come over for the weekend to be with the fam and to see me play in the morning. I used to see them twice a year growing up, but the visits get more spread out the older we get.
My aunt recently survived a stroke and a fight with cancer. She’s quite different than the aunt I knew when I was little, yet the old spark is there in her. We talked much about family, music, theology, fun family wedding stories, wedding plans for another cousin who’s marrying in March, and on and on and on.
It’s almost like the music, the original reason I came up, will be an afterthought tomorrow. Maybe I’ll play better as a result. Who knows? After all, music should be about life, not just music for its own sake, and certainly not just for a paycheck.
So much to learn…
Soli deo gloria