It's great to be a beginner again
2008-04-07
Ah, it's great to be a beginner again.
I'm starting some new companies to help musicians. Getting back to the core of what I love doing : helping my fellow musicians in ways that big companies don't find worth it.
I'm learning piano - boogie piano, specifically, but I have to start with just doing my scale fingerings that I haven't practiced in 18 years.
Great contrast from the complexity of running a company with 85 employees and 200,000 clients. Just practicing my scales with a metronome.
I sold my house, furnished! Now everything I own fits in my car. Once I read my queue of 50 books and give them to friends, everything I own should fit in 2 suitcases.
It's fun to be back at square one.
Confidence is needed to shake off previous expertise.
Excitement comes from being in over your head.
Next comes Mandarin and surfing lessons.
i just turned 40 and I'm starting to play drums after playing guitar for 29 years! Feel's good to discover something else you're good at!
"Confidence is needed to shake off previous expertise."
Love that - a great reminder that the skills we spend a lifetime acquiring and developing can indeed become a crutch if we get lazy and complacent.
Digging your blog, Derek. Learning Mandarin and how to surf aren't exactly in my future, but you definitely inspire me.
Derek;
this sounds beautiful. Very brave. Getting back to the basics. Very inspiring to read this. Reminds me to go back to the moment. Everyday. Start fresh and discover the beauty in small things.
There is beauty and excitement in your post.
As I'm writing this it's morning and the sun lights the alps that are still covered with snow. A beautiful moment.
Your post has made my day.
I wish you all the best for you new path and can't wait to hear about your new projects!
Lao Tzu writes:
Become totally empty.
Let your heart be at peace.
Amidst the rush of worldly comings and goings,
observe how endings become beginnings.
Things flourish, each by each,
only to return to the source....
to what is and what is to be.
To return to the root is to find peace.
To find peace is to fulfill once destiny...
(Excerpt from 16th verse of Toa Te Ching
"Next comes Mandarin and surfing lessons"
Hopefully not at the same time.
Unless they surf in China.
Man, that's brave. Did you find it easy to whittle down your stuff that much, or was it hard?
I myself aspire to get rid of as much clatter as possible. It's amazing how good it feels to throw out stuff. Acquiring often increases the weight of my baggage.
It's been my opinion that to grow maturer means to grow leaner -- at least in terms of materialistic aspects. You figure out all the things you don't need.
You've given me something to aspire to.
ari
I was probably 7 or 8 when my aunt told me she would buy me a record for my birthday. She said "Go to the living room, pick any of the records we have, listen to them and I'll buy you the one you prefer".
That's what I did for the rest of the day and I picked Claude Bolling's Original Boogie Woogie (1968).
A few days later, I got a tape with this album and the Original Ragtime from Claude Bolling. I listened to this tape over and over for the next few years and I desperately wanted to play like this piano player.
When I was 18 or so, a friend of mine brought me the piano scores of all the pieces. I spent the summer learning the ones I could play. They're extremely hard to play and the guy can play sixteenth (yes C-A) with his hands whereas I can barely play an octave.
It was a blast spending the summer on the piano. I had so much fun with my old little piano.
Derek, besides the old Boogie-Woogie classics, definitely check this guy: Claude Bolling "Original Boogie-Woogie". I think you'll love his music. You might not be able to play them yet but you can take some elements to practice. The left hands patterns are killers.
The key in piano Boogie-Woogie is to have a rocking left hand. The right hand will follow. Another good learning trick is to sing the LEFT hand while playing the tune. Finally exaggerate the swing feel of the left hand when practicing.
Just my 2 cents
Vincent
PS: the music/scores can be hard to find. Let me know if you have any problems. I go back to France for a few months and they're easy to find there.
I forgot the most obvious:
Boogie Woogie is not classical music. Don't be afraid of missing notes and be dirty. It's part of the style.
You have to play fearless and loud
Thanks for that last comment regarding boogie woogie piano Vincent. I think that's why I have trouble with it.
Maybe take up Vietnamese too? I heard now even Charlie surfs!
My current band has a drummer in his 40's that never played in a band and started on guitar 20 yrs ago. Our bassist had no prior musical instrument experience. Before we had a drummer I programmed all our beats on various devices. This caused a lot of phrases to come out of my mouth like, "oh, that's a high hat?!" and "oh that's what is meant by 'back-beat'."
I find it pleasing that the more things you learn, the more you understand your own roots.
Hey Derek! Very pleased to have found your blog. Do I sense some "4-hour Workweek" influence here?
Bravo Derek!
My wife and I are selling our house, unfurnished though as we've already sold off most of what was in it. Sold the extra car too. How liberating it has been to get rid of the *stuff*...to just get down to daily necessities.
We've both retired from our day jobs. Bought a travel trailer...gonna see the country...and go to other parts of the world.
And for the first time in my life I'm going full-time into a music career...at 50! My wife is a fantastic writer and she's pursuing that.
Yes...it's great to begin again!
Michael
I started out like many other musicians; playing bass in a band with my friends. When everyone else "grew up" I didn't know what to do, so I just kept playing. I was pretty good, but I also had a supportive family and some great friends. One day, things started falling apart, and my immediate reaction was to join the real world and behave like most adults around me i.e. work at least 50 hours/week, live on credit and basically ignore everything that really mattered to me. After seven wasted years I realised that I would wake up one day and hate the sight of myself in the mirror. So I altered my lifestyle, and became a truly self-sufficient musician at the age of 41. It didn't just happen - that's an important point. Many young musicians just think that everything is going to "happen", but it rarely does. Maybe that's been the biggest change for me. I learned a new instrument in my 30's and practiced a lot, cut down on luxuries (like the second car) and studied the audience I was aiming my music at. But for the first time in my life I'm actually excited about who I am and where I'm going.
All the best,
Andy Salvanos, Chapman Stick player
South Australia
Go Derek,
Thanks for the inspiration that the light in your eyes provides. Also recommend "Radical Simplicity" by Jim Merkel and "Your Money or Your Life" both books help free you from materialism so you can enjoy and contribute to life.
Best wishes, Kathy
It's definitley about balance... and choices. Birthing & running a successful company like CD Baby (always attempting to be mindful as hell about everything from not feeding into the big machine, to being fair to each individual artist & employee, to staying creative & ahead of the game) had to be exciting, rewarding & profitable... BUT also had to be a HUGE life & energy & time hoover! A "curse & a blessing" as they say. (whoever They are)
We can all get sucked onto that train... but sadly, some of us never get off.
For Derik, realizing the excitement & challenge & shiny newness of things like surfing, Spanish, piano were missing & calling... You were wise & risk taking enough to hop off the train. What a 1 track journey you'd have had if you'd continued on that 1 rushing flash! Now you'll have balance & fullness & fun & passion... "Art's not the only art." Life Is Art!
Years ago while driving thousands of miles from gig to gig with a Bigass Saturday Night Stage Performance at The Almighty Everything Venue as my goal, I realized how unbalanced my life would be to make that alone happen. So I made changes & took some risks. I never had to have a shiny new everything,or spent above my means, so my lower financial needs made survival less "desperate".
I saved so I could travel & experience more. I took everything in & I studied life & searched for what's really important. And what lessons I learned... singing & playing percussion with 20 non english speaking laughing people on a beach in Thailand. They didn't have fancypants instruments, so we used sticks & shells. We didn't speak the same language, so we mimed.
I lived in my shoes needing only what I could carry in 1 pack for months. So many I met had so "little" by some standards, but they were always laughing & sharing music or food or simple moments trying to impress no one but themselves. IMHO they had more than most everyone I'd ever met.
As a CD baby artist for years, I've been a huge beneficiary of Derik's powerhouse train, but I'm glad as hell he's letting other bits of strangeness & quirk into his bubble. I'm also betting "knowing him" that his off the track tapdances will bring even more exciting new ideas & bits to all of our lives anyway!
I was also excited when I read Derik's bit about "if I had a record label would you be signed to it"... pick me pick me. Then I thought about it. No, I don't want to live in my van touring constantly anymore. I want to perform sometimes & write a lot & sit in & spank congas for my friends' band when I feel like it & ride my motorcycle (see I don't just own the clothes on my back... I made choices & having a bike was 1 of my personal priorities) & surf in my kayak & plant bananas &... have a big life doing many little things I love. So I juggle the balance. I fill my cup with things that are always new & exciting & changing, I pay the bills, (teaching songwriting & percussion & gigging & whatever) I don't wizz money away on shiny junk I don't need. I live HUGE in each minute. I love the shoes I'm in now... or I change shoes or go barefoot.
Yea, someday some bigass company or artist who loves nothing but the road (not that that's bad, it's just not for me) will record or use 1 of my biker songs or instrumental songs or whatever songs, but if that never happens, I love my life. It's full of laughter & dirt & quirk & passion.
We can all do that if we stop & think & be creative & take chances.
Go for it Derik.
& the rest of y'All out there. Don't forget to get off the train once in a while.
Look for ways to do your art while making your life art.
It makes all of the bits more shiny & fun & full of passion.
Annie~ proud longtime CD Baby... lover of music & life & art & ...
Hey there,
I know what you mean with "square one". But it's a NEW beginning. If you got rid of all your experience, monetary income etc. It would be another type of square one...
Circles don't really exists since we're moving in time as well as space. Spiraling is the word. There's never a way "back" to anything. Everything changes. Always. We affect the outcome by acting on our beliefs and thoughts.
A big up to your new beginning. May you prosper "again"
Ricky
Qubenzis Psy Audio
Derek,
My label - The Sirens Records - on CDBaby - is dedicated to Chicago blues and boogie woogie piano. In order to learn you have to listen to best players. My suggestions - listen to Jimmy Yancey, Pete Johnson, and Albert Ammons. On my label, listen to Erwin Helfer's I'm Not Hungry - But I Like To Eat Blues! (Erwin is one of the last living links to the Yancey's) and Heavy Timbre (the best of the later Chicago pianists).
Next, you should move to Chicago for 6 months and take lessons from Erwin. I did 40 years ago and I still play everyday. It gives me the greatest pleasure!
Best
Steven
President The Sirens Records
On the topic of beginners relating to musicians --
Experience is good, but sometimes the lesser-experienced musician can be better for you to work with. I've been playing keyboards since age 12, but I picked up bass guitar at age 23. I spent all evening practicing, and when I was confident about playing out, I jumped at every chance to play bass. Everything was a learning opportunity. Sometimes extremely experienced people, despite their high level to talent, get jaded or cynical and lack the enthusiasm. Everything for them is "been there, done that." So ideally you want someone with just enough talent to sound good, but just enough newbiness in them that they're excited about their playing.
I'd also recommend learning a different instrument just for the sake of picking up a different musical perspective. A drummer that learns how to play trumpet, let's say, would probably have a newfound appreciation for the horn section.
Splendid, logical, goal directed plan: freeing yourself from both managing (and living for) your possessions, diving into new experiments without burdening (and limiting) yourself with conventional "wisdom". Einstein said that imagination was considerably more that factual knowledge. Being a slave to conventional thought abdicates your responsibility for considering each thing that you choose to do, ignore, or oppose. Your conventional demon has made those choices for you, once you see yourself as a (fill in the blank...Democrat, Republican, Baptist, Athiest, member of PETA, ACLU, the Klan, etc.) You no longer feel a responsibility to consider anything that your announced group has taken a stand on. I've just recorded my first CD, writing nearly all the music and lyrics. Two years ago, I started climbing mountains. This Summer, I've signed up for a ceramics class. A year ago I took an intensive writing workshop: my book will go to publishes this Summer.
I think that being alive is justification for spending some time examining things that we have been doing out of habit. I have never had a regret about things that I've tried, whether they turned out well or not. My regrets are things I've dodged, or never imagined doing.
Splendid, logical, goal directed plan: freeing yourself from both managing (and living for) your possessions, diving into new experiments without burdening (and limiting) yourself with conventional "wisdom". Einstein said that imagination was considerably more that factual knowledge. Being a slave to conventional thought abdicates your responsibility for considering each thing that you choose to do, ignore, or oppose. Your conventional demon has made those choices for you, once you see yourself as a (fill in the blank...Democrat, Republican, Baptist, Athiest, member of PETA, ACLU, the Klan, etc.) You no longer feel a responsibility to consider anything that your announced group has taken a stand on. I've just recorded my first CD, writing nearly all the music and lyrics. Two years ago, I started climbing mountains. This Summer, I've signed up for a ceramics class. A year ago I took an intensive writing workshop: my book will go to publishers this Summer.
I think that being alive is justification for spending some time examining things that we have been doing out of habit. I have never had a regret about things that I've tried, whether they turned out well or not. My regrets are things I've dodged, or never imagined doing.
YAY for you! It is, indeed, a wonderful, exciting, scary feeling to start over.
I did it, just two years ago, with my five kids.
Not a stick of furniture, no clothes, no stuff, just an empty little tiny apartment and a lot of bravado.
Every day has been an adventure, and I hope that's how you feel too!
Keep in mind that when speaking Mandarin, you can say something with a certain inflection, and it means, "May I please have a glass of water," and if you say the exact same thing with a slightly DIFFERENT inflection, it means something like "I double dog dare you to knock this chip off my shoulder, you ugly piece of shite, come on, bring it. And your momma is even uglier, by the way."
So watch yourself.
Now I'm jealous Derek. Boogie piano? Like Fats Waller and Professor Longhair?
God I'd KILL to be able to pull that shit off! Even Randy Newman or Fats Domino would do it for me. Great chops. Can't help you on the Mandarin.
Shit I can't even help you on Cantonese either so your out of luck with me on that new venture. The next time I'm ordering take out I'll call you and test you.
I like beginning again without having to crash & burn if at all possible.
Derek,hello,after touring the all topics listed i found this one to be important enough to like and condense my thoughts.your still a musician at heart which puts you in the hero catagory..but id keep in mind that pigs unlike sharks dont live in the ocean and eat people while surfing.we never had a booking agent and did this while we traveled .publishers and producers and setting up meetings with a limited 3 song once a month or year while trying to survive was an easy decision to keep moving if one wanted to eat.now the time has come where the internet does make it possible like what cdbaby does best. piracy is everywhere since i had my very old fat tired bikecycle stolen many years ago,but it doesnt keep me from creating new and old music nor searching for my bike.theres always plenty to do even if you dont have a steady unlimited income while you sleep.perhaps you might consider oneday having songs pitched to where they need to be placed and set up a staff within the cdbaby organization where a percentage commission takes place once a song is successful.a great song is still better than a good produced song and real ears are still better than tin ears reguarding to the writing part of music.stop by on your one of your journeys someday,youll have a place to sleep and keep your two suitcases,plenty of things to do and pizza to eat around the campfire..vic..ps..i dont know exactly what microcredits are about but i do have to turn off this computer for now and get something done
Anytime you want a surfing lesson, let me know.
http://surflounge.com
Derek, have fun with the boogie piano - and listen to Bob Milne if you need inspiration. Wow, that man can play.
Good luck with all your upcoming adventures.
So who are you inspired by for that style of piano, Derek? James P Johnson? Albert Ammons?
Do you like stride piano too?
It's great stuff, when played well.
Derek, I have always dug your action from the beginning--and I have always been in awe of your ability to give personal attention to us multitudes in your empire.
We here at Funk Dub Division have just signed with a national distributor who will be putting our product on shelves across the country this month. Our first sales of course were with CDBaby. We're tracking and arranging new material for our next release.
But now your talking about surf-and I want to help you learn to surf. Where is your home break, I'm coming there brah!
Go for it, bro!
Sold our house in Memphis 5 years ago, downsized again last week. On the road for five months with lots of open dates. Still learning Mandarin. Ni hao, ma?
Life is to short and uncertain to be bogged down in the mundain and stifling. If you don't do what you really like now, you may not be able to later. However, responsibility contrains us to do what we must even when we want pleasure and fun. I think the goal is to make what we do pleasurable and fun, thereby removing stress and drudgery. Of course that implies doing what we are good at and what blows our whistle.
Whatsoever thy hand finds to do - do it with thy might.
Go for it, friend.
Tsai jien, Wo da pengyao.
ILnteresting. I play piano and was impressed about the boogie woogie part. I work solo as you know from my cd on cdbaby. One song was boogie woogie. I play alot of styles and wonder at times if I should concentrate on one. Your stories were great. Why should I concentrate on one style when I think I'm pretty good at many. One gig I think would be apropos to your new outlook was at the Kennedy compound in Hyannisport. I was contacted by a musician friend to fill in for him because of a scheduling conflict. I went to the compound not knowing what exactly was the format. I felt that I was in a history museum with all the famous people in photographs on the piano. The maid had to remove them so I could play(the piano was an untuned baby grand). The first person that I saw was a person in a wheelchair who was severely handicapped. I soon foun out that the format was for me to play "sing-a-long" songs to get a response from her. Ted, Eunice, Pat and Ted's wife Vickie and me spent two hours singing songs for a response from her. She only responded once to "take me out to the ballgame" to great reactions from the people. No photo ops , no political statements, just a group of people trying to accomplish improvement in one severely handicapped person. That certainly was one memorable gig. Good luck with the piano and especially boogie woogie-who knows maybe we could make a cd together. Best wishes Larry Matthews
Derek[jelly roll],
There is much here to respond to and thank you for this.
As you know I'm a beginner at doing things other than writing/recording/performing,having been on a major lable [Virgin/Epic/EMI] and shedding past ideas is needed in order to learn a new way.
You and cdBaby and part of my process.
I have always prefered traveling light with regards to 'things'. And I agree that having a set of restrictions/limitations as a framework is freeing. Less to think about. Children when given too many options will become anxious.
I guess if we see a guy driving around with a piano and a surfboard it might be you.
The artists I find to be the best,most interesting with their own unique 'voice' and perspective and the most to offer often have a bit of trouble coping with the 'normal'
world and self medicate. Ideally this would not be so. Not an excuse,just an observation of some of the best music artists throughout history in every type of music. I think the ability to show up and do a great job,whatever that may mean,would be my bottom line.
The circle of concern,etc.. trying to work with people whos egos and agendas are much more dominant than their concern for the big picture including the artist is of course very bad. Beware the preditors who message you on your myspace,wanting to help you to achieve your goals. And knowing when to 'reduce your concern' can save your sanity.
So many great topics here, I will have to reread.
Thank you for sharing your insights and motivating me.
最好祝愿在您的努力
Hey Derek,
AGAIN, another cool blog...
I love what you did, long as you can financially afford it...
5-6 years ago had a similar epiphany...
In the early 90's I played bass for Bad Co. for 3 years. It was an unbelievable, as you can imagine. For whatever reasons it ended and I never got to be on that level again. Going from 20,000 to 20 people gigs!!!
It was devastating!!! You have to experience it to really know what I mean.
I walk through life aimlessly for 10 years..Got out of the biz, I'm not even going to go into what I actually did...
I got mad one day and said...what the heck am I doing..Of course heck wasn't the word.....So at 40ish I picked up the guitar..(which i hadn't played since I was 12) I just started learning songs so I could play acoustic solo gigs and starting writing my own stuff. I was so sick of counting on other musicians for gigs. I wanted control of my career.
It wasn't easy and I certainly had rough spots..But after packing all my stuff into a mini van and moving to Delaware. I finally have my career in my own hands. I just released my solo CD in June, of songs I wrote (without help) and sang all the lead vocals on...(never sang in the studio before).
Whether people like is important, But I'm very proud I've accomplished.
It is awesome to be a full time musician again...
YOU'RE RIGHT ON...
Confidence is needed to shake off previous expertise
Next...Being a Chef and learning Italian
I agree with you that if one thinks about doing something, one should pursue it. After all how long did it take Mr. Henry Ford to build his first automobile? Keep up the good work of inspiring.
Thanks Derek for the information. I enjoy reading and then trying to implement your suggestions. Good luck on your ventures and the adventures you might pursue.
Thank you Derek,
This is good stuff! I too have returned to the piano after many years and am loving the inspiration it brings. So here's to reinventing ourselves and continued Success!
Thanks for sharing your wisdom. I like that it stems from personal experience and takes into consideration real world scenarios. I'm one of those who, in the past, has had a tendency to be preoccupied with things beyond my control instead of focusing on things within my circle of influence. Recently, I started being more proactive instead of blaming the world and others for my lack of progress. Instead of trying to find and keep a band together before playing out I started to play solo gigs and, before I knew it, a couple of dedicated fellow artists came to me. Now I have a band and we're playing more and more gigs which is what I was trying to do in the first place.
Ultimately, whether real or not, external obstacles to personal progress are not going to diminish the regrets and "what ifs" one will feel looking back on a life of missed opportunities. Thanks for reinforcing my belief that there is a standard of success and truth independent of the vicissitudes of life that we can proudly attain. I am not alone. If you ever need a place to stay, let me know. Thanks again, brother.
Im young and already have a lot! looking forward to go back to square 1 as well....lets see first what life has to offer me first, hehe;)
Have read all other articles from you and thank you very much for all the good tips!
Cheers!
Hi Derek,
Just wanted to share my favorite "Learn Mandarin" site.
http://chinesepod.com/
Regards,
Speedro
I hold my lighter high for you Derek!
For all that you have done and all that you are doing. I would not have fans around the world if it were not for you and CDbaby! Last month I came close to 20,000 hits. I may not be a super(stupid)star, but I have far more confidence in myself for what little I contribute to music than I ever had many years ago. Power to you!KEEP PUSHING BACK THE CLOUDS!!!!!
thanks for reminding us what is feels like to be alive.... to love creating music for the sheer sake of creating music...
for reminding us that, to be creative, first and foremost, we need to be ALIVE!
to be different is to be okay.
Derek,
Bravo! When I separated from my wife 10 years ago, I had my car, my computer, my CD collection, my clothes and my instruments. That was it. And while I was scared out of my witless mind, I came to eventually realize it as the most liberating point in my life. No stuff, no attachments to things... And it allowed me to focus on those things that were truly important to me - most notably my performance, writing and studio skills.
Fast forward ten years and I have been on tour for five years straight, am a prolific composer and arranger and have several projects under my belt as a producer and engineer. Would have never happened if I didn't make space in my life for those things to exist, or believe I was capable of them.
Cheers to you for all you have done, and for all all you continue to do.
Peace,
John
The Beginner
My wife had baby
Now I wake in the morning
Sunrise is Square One!
Ballsy, my man, Ballsy!
Most folks who do that are called "Divorced!" So I guess in a way, that's what you did. More power to ya! ....And the piano thing? Just play what what you feel and the rest will follow! Good luck!
Just stopping by..I'm checking you out