Turning 38
07/23/10 02:30
Sheesh. It was my
birthday a few days ago. 38 years old. Another year
older, a bit more grey in the beard (and in the
hair, much to my chagrin). I’ve noticed that I’m
old enough to be the father of ANY my piano
students, now.
Had a normal day. Staff meetings at Church, a few piano lessons, some time with my kids, hung a picture for my mom. My kids gave me little coupons to do the things with them that I know they want me to do more often, and I loved it. Cathy gave me a book on astronomy and a biography of Einstein, both of which I’ve been eyeing for a long time.
We had a great evening hanging with my buddy Richard while all our kids ran around the house loaded on pizza a soda. We ended the evening with a round of Lego Rock Band that blew the roof off! (Highlight for me: my 8 year old son singing an epic rendition of “The Final Countdown” that almost brought tears to my eyes.)
Yet, I can’t help but wonder if I’m doing it right. You see, I can remember when my parents were this age, and they sure seemed to have a lot more together about life than I feel now. I mean, they had a plan, they had control, they had everything figured out, right? They could fix or find anything. And they sure didn’t play Lego Rock Band, either…
Meanwhile, I’m totally making this up as I go. Insecurity raises it’s ugly yet familiar head again and yells at me that I’m probably doing something wrong. Just not sure what. Did my dad feel the same way, too? As he passed away eight years ago, the time to ask these questions is long past.
Most dreams don’t mean anything to me. I know my psyche well enough to recognize the nonsense that usually surfaces in my sleep. I can recall only one other dream years ago that seemed to hold meaning for my life. This was (perhaps) another one…
The night before my birthday, I was up late starting to read Dune again (thanks, David!). When the light went out, my dreams were fitful, but I slept away most of the early morning. However, the last dream I had before waking caught my attention. I was walking through a crowded street, maybe a carnival. The images I remember are very busy and frantic.
All at once, I felt my father’s arms wrap around me from behind in a soft but firm embrace. I couldn’t see him, but I recognized his touch. He was walking with me, matching my stride, just holding me as I wandered the chaotic scene. No words, just an embrace.
I remember thinking in the dream, “Remember this. Remember what it feels like, because it won’t last long.” We walked together like that for quite a while.
I half-expected something random like a giant hedgehog to jump out, or my least favorite high school math teacher to come up and tell me I failed my final exam and had to repeat my senior year. But instead I gradually woke up and realized it was my 38th birthday.
And it was going to be OK.
soli deo gloria
Had a normal day. Staff meetings at Church, a few piano lessons, some time with my kids, hung a picture for my mom. My kids gave me little coupons to do the things with them that I know they want me to do more often, and I loved it. Cathy gave me a book on astronomy and a biography of Einstein, both of which I’ve been eyeing for a long time.
We had a great evening hanging with my buddy Richard while all our kids ran around the house loaded on pizza a soda. We ended the evening with a round of Lego Rock Band that blew the roof off! (Highlight for me: my 8 year old son singing an epic rendition of “The Final Countdown” that almost brought tears to my eyes.)
Yet, I can’t help but wonder if I’m doing it right. You see, I can remember when my parents were this age, and they sure seemed to have a lot more together about life than I feel now. I mean, they had a plan, they had control, they had everything figured out, right? They could fix or find anything. And they sure didn’t play Lego Rock Band, either…
Meanwhile, I’m totally making this up as I go. Insecurity raises it’s ugly yet familiar head again and yells at me that I’m probably doing something wrong. Just not sure what. Did my dad feel the same way, too? As he passed away eight years ago, the time to ask these questions is long past.
Most dreams don’t mean anything to me. I know my psyche well enough to recognize the nonsense that usually surfaces in my sleep. I can recall only one other dream years ago that seemed to hold meaning for my life. This was (perhaps) another one…
The night before my birthday, I was up late starting to read Dune again (thanks, David!). When the light went out, my dreams were fitful, but I slept away most of the early morning. However, the last dream I had before waking caught my attention. I was walking through a crowded street, maybe a carnival. The images I remember are very busy and frantic.
All at once, I felt my father’s arms wrap around me from behind in a soft but firm embrace. I couldn’t see him, but I recognized his touch. He was walking with me, matching my stride, just holding me as I wandered the chaotic scene. No words, just an embrace.
I remember thinking in the dream, “Remember this. Remember what it feels like, because it won’t last long.” We walked together like that for quite a while.
I half-expected something random like a giant hedgehog to jump out, or my least favorite high school math teacher to come up and tell me I failed my final exam and had to repeat my senior year. But instead I gradually woke up and realized it was my 38th birthday.
And it was going to be OK.
soli deo gloria
Anatomy of a Gig, Part II
04/22/10 04:09
[This
is part II of a travelogue through a particularly
fun gig opportunity I had recently with the
Northwest Christian University Community Choir.
Part I presented my preparations for the rehearsal
and the rehearsal itself…]
Since I had really only had one run-through of each tune with the choir on Tuesday, and the concert wasn’t until Sunday, I set up my gear at home. Throughout the week, I occasionally pulled out the charts and ran through the hard parts as Sunday drew nearer.
Surprisingly, my biggest challenge ended up being my own gear. For gigs like this, I often use two keyboards, one stacked on top of the other to allow more flexibility in sounds and technique. My bottom keyboard has 88 weighted keys (like a piano) and a great piano sound, as well as a newer collection of good quality organ and orchestral sounds. My top keyboard is smaller and has non-weighted keys, allowing me to play faster and to easily slide my hands all over the keys for that classic rock and gospel organ “smear” sound. Having both sets of keys also allows me to make quick transitions between sounds as I’m playing live.
My 14-year old “top” keyboard has not aged well. Recurring tuning issues as well as some other electronic troubles confirmed my fears that it is no longer reliable for live shows. Not having the funds to run out and pick up my dream keyboard (anyone got an extra Kurzweil PC3 lying around?), I set to work making sure I could do the show with only my “bottom” keyboard.
I programmed some new sound combinations that I could switch between quickly using a foot pedal and the controls on the keyboard. Voila, the problem was solved. (However, playing those sliding gospel organ smears on a weighted keyboard proved to be a good exercise in pain management…) I had a lot of fun using my expression pedal to fade one sound into another and to “ride” my own volume to match my orchestral sounds with the volume of the choir and band.
Gig-day arrived and I showed up for warm-up and rehearsal. I’d never been asked to be so early to a show before, but it was the best thing we could have done. The band had time to run-through the trickiest parts of the set before the choir arrived, which resolved the last of my issues. This, combined with a great sound-tech, allowed everyone to be comfortable on stage and hear what they needed (you rock, Ray!)
After a quick check of key tunes with the choir and soloists, we took an actual break before the show (again, I’m not used to all the luxury, here). Melissa had provided some food for the band, and we took some time to hang and chat before we headed out to the stage.
At the last minute, we decided to jam on a truly groovin’ gospel rendition of an old hymn as the choir came in (I’ll never hear Blessed Assurance the same way again). How fun to sit without a chart and just feel my part take shape as the band played. No rehearsal at all for this one, just following Loylene and seeing where the music went. Might have been my favorite part of the night.
The concert was a blast. I’ve never seen a director move so seamlessly and quickly between tunes. I learned that the more notes I take in my music, the better, as I had to have everything in place for a new song within seconds of finishing the last one. I only got off track once when the director turned to me for a song intro and I wasn’t ready for her. (I had forgotten a step in preparing my one keyboard for the tune that really needed two. That won’t happen again!)
Gospel, rock, bluegrass, traditional hymns, pop tunes, it was all there. What a joy to get to stretch out my chops and learn a bit from some pros. What a joy to see some gifted amateur singers have the opportunity to sing and perform in such a well-run choir (this is a non-audition choir that is open to the community and only rehearses 75 minutes a week). To know that there are people doing this in our community warms my heart. Thanks to Melissa Stock, the band and the NCU Community Choir for letting me have a part in all this!
Let’s do it again!
Soli Deo Gloria
For those who care: The Gear List
Bottom Keyboard: Yamaha S90ES (with FC3 Sustain pedal and FC7 Expression Pedal)
Top Keyboard (Rest In Peace): Alesis QS7
Mackie 802-VLZ3 mixer (to give me my own monitor mix before sending things to the house mixer)
Mackie SRM350v2 speaker for my personal monitor
Starbucks hot chocolate with peppermint and fuel from Quizno’s and the Pita Pit
Since I had really only had one run-through of each tune with the choir on Tuesday, and the concert wasn’t until Sunday, I set up my gear at home. Throughout the week, I occasionally pulled out the charts and ran through the hard parts as Sunday drew nearer.
Surprisingly, my biggest challenge ended up being my own gear. For gigs like this, I often use two keyboards, one stacked on top of the other to allow more flexibility in sounds and technique. My bottom keyboard has 88 weighted keys (like a piano) and a great piano sound, as well as a newer collection of good quality organ and orchestral sounds. My top keyboard is smaller and has non-weighted keys, allowing me to play faster and to easily slide my hands all over the keys for that classic rock and gospel organ “smear” sound. Having both sets of keys also allows me to make quick transitions between sounds as I’m playing live.
My 14-year old “top” keyboard has not aged well. Recurring tuning issues as well as some other electronic troubles confirmed my fears that it is no longer reliable for live shows. Not having the funds to run out and pick up my dream keyboard (anyone got an extra Kurzweil PC3 lying around?), I set to work making sure I could do the show with only my “bottom” keyboard.
I programmed some new sound combinations that I could switch between quickly using a foot pedal and the controls on the keyboard. Voila, the problem was solved. (However, playing those sliding gospel organ smears on a weighted keyboard proved to be a good exercise in pain management…) I had a lot of fun using my expression pedal to fade one sound into another and to “ride” my own volume to match my orchestral sounds with the volume of the choir and band.
Gig-day arrived and I showed up for warm-up and rehearsal. I’d never been asked to be so early to a show before, but it was the best thing we could have done. The band had time to run-through the trickiest parts of the set before the choir arrived, which resolved the last of my issues. This, combined with a great sound-tech, allowed everyone to be comfortable on stage and hear what they needed (you rock, Ray!)
After a quick check of key tunes with the choir and soloists, we took an actual break before the show (again, I’m not used to all the luxury, here). Melissa had provided some food for the band, and we took some time to hang and chat before we headed out to the stage.
At the last minute, we decided to jam on a truly groovin’ gospel rendition of an old hymn as the choir came in (I’ll never hear Blessed Assurance the same way again). How fun to sit without a chart and just feel my part take shape as the band played. No rehearsal at all for this one, just following Loylene and seeing where the music went. Might have been my favorite part of the night.
The concert was a blast. I’ve never seen a director move so seamlessly and quickly between tunes. I learned that the more notes I take in my music, the better, as I had to have everything in place for a new song within seconds of finishing the last one. I only got off track once when the director turned to me for a song intro and I wasn’t ready for her. (I had forgotten a step in preparing my one keyboard for the tune that really needed two. That won’t happen again!)
Gospel, rock, bluegrass, traditional hymns, pop tunes, it was all there. What a joy to get to stretch out my chops and learn a bit from some pros. What a joy to see some gifted amateur singers have the opportunity to sing and perform in such a well-run choir (this is a non-audition choir that is open to the community and only rehearses 75 minutes a week). To know that there are people doing this in our community warms my heart. Thanks to Melissa Stock, the band and the NCU Community Choir for letting me have a part in all this!
Let’s do it again!
Soli Deo Gloria
For those who care: The Gear List
Bottom Keyboard: Yamaha S90ES (with FC3 Sustain pedal and FC7 Expression Pedal)
Top Keyboard (Rest In Peace): Alesis QS7
Mackie 802-VLZ3 mixer (to give me my own monitor mix before sending things to the house mixer)
Mackie SRM350v2 speaker for my personal monitor
Starbucks hot chocolate with peppermint and fuel from Quizno’s and the Pita Pit
Anatomy of a Gig, Part I
04/15/10 08:50
I got the call on
a Monday night: A local choir director in desperate
need of an accompanist for a concert happening the
following Sunday. I get calls like this fairly
often, and my schedule rarely allows me to jump in
and help. A few weeks ago it was for a local middle
school production of Romeo and Juliet needing
improvised Elizabethan music during set-changes.
That was fun, and paid well, but still not much in
the way of what I call “soul-food”.
This call was different, though. The director needed what’s called an “auxiliary keys” player, meaning I would be playing string and horn parts, B3 organ, etc. This requires a different set of skills and musical gear from the normal piano accompaniment I do. Could I please come down and do one rehearsal the next night, and a concert on Sunday? My schedule was free enough, and there was enough pay to justify being away from my family for two extra nights. So I said yes.
She e-mailed me some MP3’s and one music chart. I would then drop by her office the next morning and pick up a folder so I could look things over before the evening rehearsal. Turns out there were 17 songs to learn, some on organ, some on strings, some on horns, some using other synth sounds. I realized there was no time to really read through everything before my regular students arrived, much less learn the parts.
I quickly set up my keyboards to make sure I had everything I needed. (Discovered two power cables with shorts in them requiring a quick trip to buy replacements. How did they both fail at the same time?!!!) I jotted some quick notes on each chart (musical score) about what sounds she might want, finished my lessons, packed everything up into my car and rushed to the rehearsal.
Upon arrival, I was handed a bunch of new charts to replace some of the ones I had picked up earlier. (These were much easier to read, so I was grateful!) The pianist turned out to be incredible! I was so blown away I was tempted to turn 13 years old again and get jealous. Then God nudged me and reminded me to learn and grow and enjoy the moment. What a treat to sit behind her and watch how she approached each tune, some pieces note-for-note from the score, some fully improvised from the lead sheets we all had. When I grow up, I want to play like that. (Thanks, Loylene!)
Three straight hours of rehearsal, no break. Melissa (the director), bless her soul, brought a Quizno’s sub and a Starbucks hot chocolate for me, which I nibbled and sipped between songs. We blazed through each tune (usually only once), and I took hasty notes in my charts as we went. I hadn’t seen most of the songs before she counted them off. I was so grateful to my teachers for forcing me to sight-read in the past.
What struck me at this point was the trust we in the band all had to have for each other. I needed the drummer to lock in the timing of the song. I needed the bassist to keep the bottom end solid so the rest of us could build on top of him. The pianist was the core, and I needed her to lead me harmonically through all of these new tunes. The guitarist was providing rhythmic drive at some points, and melodic fills at others, and any overplaying on his part would distract from the sound of the band and the 90-voice choir singing behind us. My job was to provide the “icing” on top of everything: violins, organ “stabs”, horn lines, and whatever a larger orchestra would have done if we could have hired one. Add to that a harmonica player, percussionist, and a violinist, and you had a very full band indeed.
As I read or improvised each part, my trust was rewarded again and again by the skill and preparation of this band, most of whom I hadn’t even had a chance to meet yet. They were gracious, humble, disciplined, and they each knew what needed to be done and they did it. They were relaxed and cracked jokes, yet never at the wrong time so as to take the director’s attention away from what she needed to do with the choir. The rehearsal ended on time (unbelievable!) and we packed up and headed home. I had my scribbled notes in my charts so I’d have some clue as to what to practice in the days before the show. I was tired but extremely jazzed to have this opportunity!
More next time about the concert itself…
Soli Deo Gloria…
This call was different, though. The director needed what’s called an “auxiliary keys” player, meaning I would be playing string and horn parts, B3 organ, etc. This requires a different set of skills and musical gear from the normal piano accompaniment I do. Could I please come down and do one rehearsal the next night, and a concert on Sunday? My schedule was free enough, and there was enough pay to justify being away from my family for two extra nights. So I said yes.
She e-mailed me some MP3’s and one music chart. I would then drop by her office the next morning and pick up a folder so I could look things over before the evening rehearsal. Turns out there were 17 songs to learn, some on organ, some on strings, some on horns, some using other synth sounds. I realized there was no time to really read through everything before my regular students arrived, much less learn the parts.
I quickly set up my keyboards to make sure I had everything I needed. (Discovered two power cables with shorts in them requiring a quick trip to buy replacements. How did they both fail at the same time?!!!) I jotted some quick notes on each chart (musical score) about what sounds she might want, finished my lessons, packed everything up into my car and rushed to the rehearsal.
Upon arrival, I was handed a bunch of new charts to replace some of the ones I had picked up earlier. (These were much easier to read, so I was grateful!) The pianist turned out to be incredible! I was so blown away I was tempted to turn 13 years old again and get jealous. Then God nudged me and reminded me to learn and grow and enjoy the moment. What a treat to sit behind her and watch how she approached each tune, some pieces note-for-note from the score, some fully improvised from the lead sheets we all had. When I grow up, I want to play like that. (Thanks, Loylene!)
Three straight hours of rehearsal, no break. Melissa (the director), bless her soul, brought a Quizno’s sub and a Starbucks hot chocolate for me, which I nibbled and sipped between songs. We blazed through each tune (usually only once), and I took hasty notes in my charts as we went. I hadn’t seen most of the songs before she counted them off. I was so grateful to my teachers for forcing me to sight-read in the past.
What struck me at this point was the trust we in the band all had to have for each other. I needed the drummer to lock in the timing of the song. I needed the bassist to keep the bottom end solid so the rest of us could build on top of him. The pianist was the core, and I needed her to lead me harmonically through all of these new tunes. The guitarist was providing rhythmic drive at some points, and melodic fills at others, and any overplaying on his part would distract from the sound of the band and the 90-voice choir singing behind us. My job was to provide the “icing” on top of everything: violins, organ “stabs”, horn lines, and whatever a larger orchestra would have done if we could have hired one. Add to that a harmonica player, percussionist, and a violinist, and you had a very full band indeed.
As I read or improvised each part, my trust was rewarded again and again by the skill and preparation of this band, most of whom I hadn’t even had a chance to meet yet. They were gracious, humble, disciplined, and they each knew what needed to be done and they did it. They were relaxed and cracked jokes, yet never at the wrong time so as to take the director’s attention away from what she needed to do with the choir. The rehearsal ended on time (unbelievable!) and we packed up and headed home. I had my scribbled notes in my charts so I’d have some clue as to what to practice in the days before the show. I was tired but extremely jazzed to have this opportunity!
More next time about the concert itself…
Soli Deo Gloria…
Road Trip Part 3
01/26/10 12:36
I spent most of
this day (Monday) re-recording some of my solo
piano tracks for an upcoming project. (Watch this
space for more info about this project when it
becomes available.) Having recorded
Impromptu
on a digital
piano, it was an absolute joy to hear these songs
coming out of a seven-foot Kawai grand piano. They
have a new life and richness in their sound that
almost makes them into new pieces!
However, it is incredibly challenging to record on an instrument that is unfamiliar. I laid tracks for all three songs this morning, but then spent six hours re-doing them when I found that I had finally “bonded” with the Kawai and my interpretation of the music improved ten-fold. By 10:30 tonight I was ready for dinner and a stop to the recording. I think you’ll like what I’ve done, and I hope you can hear the fruits of my fingers’ labors soon.
By the way, many thanks to my cohorts this weekend: To Joe for the use of his glorious piano and studio equipment, as well as the excellent food and a place to stay for the weekend. And to Scott for hanging with me today, sharing our lives a bit and for the ever-important critical ear and encouraging word as I figured out what to keep and what to toss in the studio. Blessings to you both, my new friends…
So in a way, I’ve been able to play at being a piano star for 48 hours. Kinda fun, kinda challenging, and quite illuminating. After laying some extra tracks in the morning, I’ll be ready to go home and see my family again. I miss them. Though I’m glad to get to visit this part of the musical world occasionally, I’m glad I have a home to return to with my best friend and my children around me.
Soli Deo Gloria…
However, it is incredibly challenging to record on an instrument that is unfamiliar. I laid tracks for all three songs this morning, but then spent six hours re-doing them when I found that I had finally “bonded” with the Kawai and my interpretation of the music improved ten-fold. By 10:30 tonight I was ready for dinner and a stop to the recording. I think you’ll like what I’ve done, and I hope you can hear the fruits of my fingers’ labors soon.
By the way, many thanks to my cohorts this weekend: To Joe for the use of his glorious piano and studio equipment, as well as the excellent food and a place to stay for the weekend. And to Scott for hanging with me today, sharing our lives a bit and for the ever-important critical ear and encouraging word as I figured out what to keep and what to toss in the studio. Blessings to you both, my new friends…
So in a way, I’ve been able to play at being a piano star for 48 hours. Kinda fun, kinda challenging, and quite illuminating. After laying some extra tracks in the morning, I’ll be ready to go home and see my family again. I miss them. Though I’m glad to get to visit this part of the musical world occasionally, I’m glad I have a home to return to with my best friend and my children around me.
Soli Deo Gloria…
Road Trip Part 2
01/26/10 12:35
It’s been a busy
couple of days, and it’s midnight as I’m typing
this.
Yesterday (Sunday) started with a great time at Seven Lakes Baptist Church in Stanwood, WA. The worship band played and sang well, and I enjoyed just being a part of their team for a day. I performed two of my own pieces (First Steps and Who Am I) and the pastor asked me to close with another song at the end of the service (Dave Lubben’s Lay It Down was a perfect fit). I met some warm and caring people who were encouraged by the music and the time of worship. I look forward to coming back there in a couple months for my cousin’s wedding.
After lunch and a bit of wedding music planning, I headed on to Kenmore and finally met Joe Bongiorno and Scott D. Davis, my partners in crime for the weekend. There is nothing like meeting accomplished musicians who know their craft, who take it seriously, and have no ego about it. I’ve watched these guys from afar via their websites and musical postings, but now I got to see if they were the real thing. They are.
Our Piano Haven show at Joe’s house was sold out, and it was a blast. Joe is one of the most sensitive players I’ve heard, and his melodies are simply perfect. Scott has developed a dedicated following due to his incredible playing and his ability to take metal anthems and turn them into solo piano showcases. His performance of Metallica’s Master of Puppets was amazing and had me singing along quietly behind the audience. (Didn’t know I knew those songs, didja?) I was somewhere in the middle bringing some lightning and some grace as my music took me where it wanted. And, as we usually do at shows featuring Whisperings artists, we ended with a jam with all three of us on the piano at the same time. A standing ovation is always nice to receive…
In addition to seeing some old friends, I met some wonderful people who were hearing us for the first time. I’m always amazed when I hear another story of how my music, which I merely created for my own therapy, has touched someone. It’s very humbling and encouraging to know that God can use these musical loaves and fishes to bring healing and encouragement to people I may never see again.
I’m very grateful indeed to be an instrument in His hands…
Soli Deo Gloria…
Yesterday (Sunday) started with a great time at Seven Lakes Baptist Church in Stanwood, WA. The worship band played and sang well, and I enjoyed just being a part of their team for a day. I performed two of my own pieces (First Steps and Who Am I) and the pastor asked me to close with another song at the end of the service (Dave Lubben’s Lay It Down was a perfect fit). I met some warm and caring people who were encouraged by the music and the time of worship. I look forward to coming back there in a couple months for my cousin’s wedding.
After lunch and a bit of wedding music planning, I headed on to Kenmore and finally met Joe Bongiorno and Scott D. Davis, my partners in crime for the weekend. There is nothing like meeting accomplished musicians who know their craft, who take it seriously, and have no ego about it. I’ve watched these guys from afar via their websites and musical postings, but now I got to see if they were the real thing. They are.
Our Piano Haven show at Joe’s house was sold out, and it was a blast. Joe is one of the most sensitive players I’ve heard, and his melodies are simply perfect. Scott has developed a dedicated following due to his incredible playing and his ability to take metal anthems and turn them into solo piano showcases. His performance of Metallica’s Master of Puppets was amazing and had me singing along quietly behind the audience. (Didn’t know I knew those songs, didja?) I was somewhere in the middle bringing some lightning and some grace as my music took me where it wanted. And, as we usually do at shows featuring Whisperings artists, we ended with a jam with all three of us on the piano at the same time. A standing ovation is always nice to receive…
In addition to seeing some old friends, I met some wonderful people who were hearing us for the first time. I’m always amazed when I hear another story of how my music, which I merely created for my own therapy, has touched someone. It’s very humbling and encouraging to know that God can use these musical loaves and fishes to bring healing and encouragement to people I may never see again.
I’m very grateful indeed to be an instrument in His hands…
Soli Deo Gloria…
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