This post is brought to you via this new iPad keyboard thingy I purchased for the sole purpose of encouraging myself to write more. If you absolutely had no life you could scroll into the past of this blog’s existence and see that I’ve had thing thingy since college...and before that was the beautiful medium of Xanga. Remember that?! As I look in to some of my old posts I can’t help but think, “eek, that needs to go away”, but rather I’ll be keeping them up. It’s nice to look back and remember what thoughts you’ve had in the past whether you still see things the same way or not.
I used to love writing and write often I did. About anything. I’ve never really considered myself to be a good writer...I just know that I’ve always liked it (a bit ironic considering my, at times, complete lack of regard for common English grammar). Maybe it’s because I often speak in a scatter brained way and am self-admittedly a hard person to understand in conversation. I talk fast, I mumble words, and I don’t always build up a clear point. Writing makes me slow down a bit and helps me at least try to be a better communicator. There, that’s why. I will get some epic teasing from my friends for this (the MJPs/UON) but it’s all in good fun. My burning desire to write in sub-mediocre fashion shall persist!
As we grow up life gets busier, responsibilities become larger and I’ve found it easy to lose myself in the hustle. It’s a troubling moment for me when I’ve noticed much time has passed and I feel like I haven’t enough moments of stillness or personal productivity.
I’ll admit, this post is just a grand excuse to start using my fresh new keyboard. I have nothing in particular to write about. Maybe I can just kick things off with a few words on life lately.
It’s been a crazy but fun couple of years for this “want to play in a symphony orchestra” trained trombonist. A lot of different types of gigs often leading to very humbling moments as I’ve been mesmerized by all of the different talent around town spanning a wide spectrum of musical genres. Playing with these people has definitely helped me get an idea of how endless the scope of music can be and how important it will be for all of us to push ahead and be a part of an innovative and fresh musical future. I’ve had amazing thrills in music making when I’ve been taken beyond what I felt comfortable doing (and as I often fail miserably doing so) and also having the confidence of those who have hired me has been a huge blessing and enabling force behind what I feel has been the richest period of time for me musically speaking. As classically trained musicians, as fantastic as the education can be, we tend to develop a narrow idea of what is “good”. Maybe even the, “yeah those other guys may do that but we play with ‘quality’...”. I’ve heard this type of idea come from the “classical” players and my only real conclusion to be made from that is that these types of comments come from a basis of insecurity and close-mindedness that stifles a musical environment in any city. Sometimes it can feel like I’m losing my footing in this more varied musical world and it can be quite disturbing at times but it is indeed a divine problem filled with privilege.
To our health,
James
