"Life’s a journey, not a destination" or Practice, practice, practice

It works great when you do it, even though at the time it usually seems painful and futile. Unfortunately, I have not been doing very well at making the time for practice. By the time the evening is done, dinner is made, eaten and dishes are washed, kids to bed and settled in, there is little left of me to practice.

I think about it all the time. Every song I hear I mentally pick apart. But by the time I get down to play, it's gone, whatever inspiration I thought I had that would ignite my playing again, that impetus to start practicing more and more, AND more effectively. Promises, promises... all broken.

Without practicing there will be no way I can move this love of music and playing to the next level by playing with others. In my head I hear a symphony, or a great old song at the very least. But out of my mouth and hands comes hesitation and, frankly, drivel.

Okay, I'll admit it...I love GLEE!

I was hesitant at first to accept it, but it's really hit my inner "showtune loving" self right where it hurts...sentimentality!

I was fortunate enough when I was in high school to get into trouble, so much so in the 11th grade they asked if I could go to another school. I hated Bryant High School with the only exception being that I met and dated my future wife there, it was oppressive. Fairly standard mentality of rednecks: homophobe, xenophobe, ignorance, racism, etc. No one cared if you were bullied, or talked to/treated harshly by admins if you were outside the norm, even slightly. It was conform or go home.

My one and only rule...well, Barney's, not mine

My one and only rule

From the Barney Stinson Blog:

My one and only rule

Written on February 28, 2011 by Barney Stinson in My blog

I am, if nothing else, a man of integrity. I choose to live a life governed by strict morals that are often difficult to remember. That’s why I’ve simplified everything into one simple, easy-to-understand rule:
Never date a girl with a hook for a hand.
For me, it’s just that simple. Whenever I encounter an ethically gray situation, that one rule almost always guides me in the proper direction.
After you’ve discovered your own “one rule,” you’ll need to commit it to memory. I find it helps to take out a piece of paper and simply write your rule over and over, like this:

We love HIMYM!

Still believing the children are our future!

There really is no better feeling for me than giving a child an instrument! It helps that the child is my younger step-daughter, Corey, and that she really appreciates it. She's an awesome kid, smart, quick study and sweet. Talented too! She plays violin, uke, sax and now a little bass. I'm enjoying playing the bass as well! Being primarily a guitarist, this thing is so easy to play.

This bass is the new Squier (by Fender) Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Special (short scale). It may be inexpensive but it plays and looks like way more than it cost! Right out of the box, perfect, well nearly. I'll still do a full set up, but it was set up well enough that we just tuned it up and started playing.

The only niggly things that I will have to correct are the back of the neck's skunk stripe needs a little sanding, the knobs weren't aligned and really, that's it! Even the strings are nice.

SO...Go Fender/Squier for making it easy to put a smile on a kids face (and mine too!). Go Corey for learning the bassline to Garbage Truck by Beck from Scott Pilgrim vs. The World so quickly! You rock!

Another Website Project: Kathy Cooper Studios

My piano teacher needed a new site, I needed lessons... MATCH! I'm enjoying working with her on both! She's learning how to post to her new blog and I'm learning how to play Kansas City Blues!

Bookmark kathycooperstudios.com and check back as we update regularly. Much to come in the future. AND If you need to hire Kathy to play at your event or know someone that wants lessons, I can't recommend her enough!

What I'm working on

I have a tendency to head in many directions at once. I can't help it. Call it ADD, call it extreme curiousity...

Whatever it is, occasionally I calm down enough to try to sit and learn just a few things at a time and not try to "eat the whole elephant". Taking a "bite at a time", I decided I needed to start learning a song on the piano that I love, that others enjoy hearing, one that I can conceivably play and sing at the same time (and sound good!). I decided Van Morrison's "Someone like you" was a good match.

It's coming along well. I've got the song's main motif down now. Now it's just a matter of learning the rest.

NO I'm not brave enough to share a video of my playing just yet, but I'm getting closer. For the time being, please enjoy the man himself playing this wonderful song:

I'm also working on Moondance by Van, as well as, Lady Antebellum’s Need You Now, Run To You, some Chris Isaak songs on guitar, some Elton John, as well as continuing to work on The Luckiest by Ben Folds, and attempting to learn some Kansas City rag style blues licks. Too much again, but I'm taking it slow this time... yeah, right!