The addition of more meaning, more fulfillment, and better experience we celebrate in our lives is simply a byproduct of the send off parties we host for the unnecessary things that crowd our lives.
Goodbyes are never easy, but they are some of the most significant signposts on the map to your music. Continue reading
After walking through the works of Warhol, Picasso, Monet, and Renoire yesterday I came up with the Two Golden Rules of Art:
Enter. Participate.
That’s what it needs from us and, in return, will give us what we need from it.
You can’t sit this one out.
There’s a rumor that some school districts are doing away with or consolidating their art and music classes at the elementary level.
I would assume this is probably to fit more standardized teaching and preparation for more standardized testing. Even though the tests the world procures for us outside of academic walls are anything but conventional.
There’s a big difference in asking “what’s the answer?” and “what do you see?”. The answer is memorized. What is seen is imagined. Art gives us that opportunity.
There’s a big difference in asking “what’s the answer?” and “what do you feel or hear?”. The answer is a formulaic. What is felt and heard taps into soul. Music gives us that opportunity to tap into such things.
Maybe school should ask more than it tells its students…the same goes for parents: children, leader: team members, etc.
Learning thy self just may be the highest form of education, and we have a problem when our children have missed the opportunity to discover their own unique and personal voice.
It never ends well when we let the music stop.
There are some things words cannot say…we call those things actions.
There’s an aftermath that occurs when actions are taken because of one’s values…we call that aftermath the music.
Your music speaks where words fail and shows what actions cannot.
Music is your holy to-do.
Noise that I speak of on this blog is basically the aftermath of unnoticed, mundane, getting by on getting by, average, just enough to break even, everyday, routine actions.
Notice that noise is not necessarily bad – and that is why we typically settle there. Noise is safe. Noise floats the lazy river. Noise is Groundhog Day kind of life.
Music, on the other hand, requires musicianship, multiple instruments, all instruments tuned, all instruments in the same key, all musicians and instruments in communication, creativity, rhythm, imagination, practice, sore fingers, sore throats, and time…lots of time.
If your taking account of your life on the Noise/Music scale, and noise is outweighing the music, question your bravery.
It’s bravery that takes the stage,
it’s bravery that grabs the mic,
it’s bravery that writes the poem,
its’ bravery that gives the poem,
it’s bravery that chooses to walk-on,
it’s bravery that creates the future,
it’s bravery that launches the website or business,
it’s bravery that starts a band,
it’s bravery that starts a book,
it’s bravery that loves the family,
it’s bravery that moves to Broadway without lead role,
it’s bravery that serves the church,
it’s bravery that changes the world,
and it’s bravery that lets the music play.
Ashton.Gustafson 