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ANOTHER TRAIN LEAVES THE STATION

January 20, 2023 by

The train leaves the station to waving crowds. Or it leaves quietly. Either way, it’s your train and you’re on it. It’s all good as long as you realize everyone else rides their own train too, on their own schedule. Not your schedule, not mine.

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LIFETIME LEARNING MEANS HOMEWORK FOREVER?

November 14, 2022 by

Lifetime learning means not quitting until you figure things out. It also means knowing what you don’t know and when to call an expert. This is when it gets dicey. You know what you don’t know, but still wonder if the experts know more. These are the lessons of when to listen and learn.

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WHIPLASH IN REAL LIFE: HOUNDED BY AMBITIONS

October 5, 2022 by

Whiplash the movie came out in 2014. I saw it two days ago. After I heard about it I waited to watch until it was unavoidable. My takeaway? Don’t wait. But watch it with a musician for the best experience. It’s not just for drummers.

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LIFE PURPOSE? ADD EXCITEMENT TO THE DAY

September 23, 2022 by

‘Life Purpose’ sounds like something said at a funeral. That’s where the mystery is revealed, like what have you been doing with your life? “His life purpose was exploring the wilderness.” Is that you? It’s not me.

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MUSIC MANNERS FOR EVERYDAY LIVING

August 31, 2022 by

Music manners start with listening, which may be a reason school music programs get cut: No one knows how to listen. And being able to listen is the key to musical education. Teachers don’t tell their class to shut-up and listen, but it’s a goal.

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BEATLES BREAK UP REASONS REVEALED IN GET BACK

July 13, 2022 by

The Beatles break up runs through the Get Back documentary. The lads joke about it, work through it, and eventually the end is near. Why the break up of the greatest band ever assembled? They weren’t as happy together as they were alone.

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MUSIC GOALS: MEET THE FANS

June 1, 2022 by

Music goals come with a problem: Not everyone shares the same goals. Whether you learn music theory, go to music school, or tear it up in a garage band, the basic goals apply. Stay in rhythm, hit the leads, and sing low. And leave room for others.

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AGING MUSIC FOR COUPLES TO GROW OLD BY

May 23, 2022 by

I first heard aging music from the Beatles. When I’m Sixty-Four came out when I was thirteen. Why would a young band contemplate being 64 years old? It seemed weird. Until I turned sixty-four.

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CREATIVE SPARK: DRUMS, GIUTARS, BASS, AND STEW

February 21, 2022 by

A creative spark hung in the room while two guitar players worked it out. They decided which key to play in, set the tone and tempo, while the bass player and drummer listened in. “Sorry to take so long,” one guitar player said. “Not a problem, you’ve got go pick it out,” the drummer said. […]

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BEST CONCERT: A BOOMERPDX REVIEW

February 19, 2022 by

Reviewing for best concert happened the usual way: I opened a box of pictures and found Prince. I saw this show in 1985 for $17.50 with my then-girlfriend, driving up to Tacoma and back from Portland. We got married a year later. Prince The Closer?

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