I alluded to this blog entry on a Facebook post earlier this week, as there are several projects in the works that I haven’t yet mentioned, and I wanted to provide a glimpse into what has been happening behind the scenes:
Last Monday, I decided to embark on {17 days ’til PASIC 2017}, the process of documenting my preparation leading up to the PAS Solo Artist Competition. It is my first foray into consistently documenting something with different kinds of content, and I wanted to share my experiences here so far.
Embracing failure is:
Not a new concept,
Restated over and over and over again,
Still important!
But, as musicians, it can feel different for us. Here’s my take on it…
This one is huge for me, and something that I struggled with for a very long time.
There is a distinct difference in being humble and being self-deprecating.
Nobody in the professional world wants their first interaction with you to involve building you back up after you continually tear yourself down. It’s exhausting for them, and that person will likely never call you back.
Why?
A quick video on a brand new topic for me – mallet wrapping.
After traveling with the World Percussion Group and performing at the Yamaha Young Performing Artist Concert this summer, I did not touch an instrument for TWO MONTHS.
I was burnt out.
Some people think this is crazy, but I couldn’t be happier.
Here are some of my thoughts on taking time off, in both the long and short term…
In 2014, I had no clue what I was doing with my life. I had no goals. I figured I would become a band director, because I was studying music education and that’s just what you did, right?
Wrong.
One year ago, I heard about the World Percussion Group’s upcoming European Tour.
Eight months ago, I submitted an audition video that took me weeks to record and edit.
Six months ago, I woke up to a Facebook message from Tim Palmer...