I was driving home from a meeting in Nashville (ah those glorious in-person meetings when you are wearing a nice shirt AND dress pants and shoes, and you bring a purse and meet at a coffee shop, and the person you are talking to doesn’t freeze in the middle of a really important sentence)…
Ok. Back to my thought: I was driving home and I passed a beautiful tour bus with a trailer!
My heart skipped with excitement. It’s SO GOOD to see musicians back on the road, working, making music, helping people sing along, and experience something magical. I was so happy I got a bit choked up…
When I came home, I checked my phone and found a retweet of a blog I wrote in 2018. It was like an angel arranged this timing. I read it and felt as if I had written it for my future self as a reminder of why the world needs musicians.
Don’t you love when the divine shows itself in ‘little’ coincidences?
So, here is the blog:
Let your ‘holding it all together’ self die a little,
so you can be renewed. (April 6, 2018)
I was driving home from a meeting in Nashville (ah those glorious in-person meetings when you are wearing a nice shirt AND dress pants and shoes, and you bring a purse and meet at a coffee shop, and the person you are talking to doesn’t freeze in the middle of a really important sentence)…
Ok. Back to my thought: I was driving home and I passed a beautiful tour bus with a trailer!
My heart skipped with excitement. It’s SO GOOD to see musicians back on the road, working, making music, helping people sing along, and experience something magical. I was so happy I got a bit choked up…
When I came home, I checked my phone and found a retweet of a blog I wrote in 2018. It was like an angel arranged this timing. I read it and felt as if I had written it for my future self as a reminder of why the world needs musicians.
Don’t you love when the divine shows itself in ‘little’ coincidences?
So, here is the blog:
Let your ‘holding it all together’ self die a little,
so you can be renewed. (April 6, 2018)
I love leaving Nashville with the rest of the ‘gigging’ and touring musicians – some of us (like me) driving alone in our small cars filled to the top with gear and merchandise and our performing clothes; some in tour vans; and others still, in their big star coaches.
We pass each other on the road, we recognize each other at the gas stations and breakfast stops… we share the same bitter-sweet experience of the road life – always feeling sad for leaving those we love behind and looking forward to doing what we love to do – making beautiful music, touching people’s hearts and hopefully, changing their lives a little bit for the better.
It’s like dying a little bit each time and growing into a new life – letting go of what’s safe and comfortable, and accepting the uncertainty and the challenge of the road ahead.
We give our all, we bare our soul, willing to feel and express what we feel through our music, so that others can tap into their own feelings and let them go too…
And on Monday mornings when most people are getting ready for work, we come home tired but satisfied. We quietly unpack our travel bags and process our experiences. Unglamorous and unfiltered, we slip into our roles as parents, spouses, neighbors and friends…
I once did a presentation for the Music Honors Society Club.
I spoke to the teenagers about the importance of music education (and music theory!), and why it’s crucial that they know WHY they want to pursue a music career (because the sense of purpose will get them through tough times and help them persevere.)
These were all Honors Students, smart and serious and responsible. Almost a bit too mature for their age. I could tell they were all a bit tired from the stresses of all that’s been going on…
I love leaving Nashville with the rest of the ‘gigging’ and touring musicians – some of us (like me) driving alone in our small cars filled to the top with gear and merchandise and our performing clothes; some in tour vans; and others still, in their big star coaches.
We pass each other on the road, we recognize each other at the gas stations and breakfast stops… we share the same bitter-sweet experience of the road life – always feeling sad for leaving those we love behind and looking forward to doing what we love to do – making beautiful music, touching people’s hearts and hopefully, changing their lives a little bit for the better.
It’s like dying a little bit each time and growing into a new life – letting go of what’s safe and comfortable, and accepting the uncertainty and the challenge of the road ahead.
We give our all, we bare our soul, willing to feel and express what we feel through our music, so that others can tap into their own feelings and let them go too…
And on Monday mornings when most people are getting ready for work, we come home tired but satisfied. We quietly unpack our travel bags and process our experiences. Unglamorous and unfiltered, we slip into our roles as parents, spouses, neighbors and friends…
I once did a presentation for the Music Honors Society Club.
I spoke to the teenagers about the importance of music education (and music theory!), and why it’s crucial that they know WHY they want to pursue a music career (because the sense of purpose will get them through tough times and help them persevere.)
These were all Honors Students, smart and serious and responsible. Almost a bit too mature for their age. I could tell they were all a bit tired from the stresses of all that’s been going on…
At the end of my talk, one student asked me to sing a song. She said, ‘one you like to sing the most.’
I looked at them and their teachers and thought to myself ‘why not!’
I sang “Those Were the Days” – just like I sing it at our family parties and in my less formal concerts and gigs. Several of them started to tap their foot during the fun “na na na na na na” part, and at the end, when I invited them to sing with me, they all let their voices out.
Their faces stretched into smiles, their eyes widened with that inner (still child-like) joy and they sang… for a moment, at least a little bit of the emotional turmoil they are going through, was released…
It was such an incredible moment.
Several kids thanked me and said how wonderful that felt. “It’s so good to express our feelings through music,” said one girl to me…
What is your favorite song that you can sing – and express your feelings through?
Put it on, turn the volume up and sing along (or play it yourself if you are an instrumentalist.) Let tears come. Or laughter. Or all of it.
Let go of your comfortable, safe place, and let some of your ‘holding it together’ self die a little. And then let the music bring you the grace and love you need to be renewed.
At the end of my talk, one student asked me to sing a song. She said, ‘one you like to sing the most.’
I looked at them and their teachers and thought to myself ‘why not!’
I sang “Those Were the Days” – just like I sing it at our family parties and in my less formal concerts and gigs. Several of them started to tap their foot during the fun “na na na na na na” part, and at the end, when I invited them to sing with me, they all let their voices out.
Their faces stretched into smiles, their eyes widened with that inner (still child-like) joy and they sang… for a moment, at least a little bit of the emotional turmoil they are going through, was released…
It was such an incredible moment.
Several kids thanked me and said how wonderful that felt. “It’s so good to express our feelings through music,” said one girl to me…
What is your favorite song that you can sing – and express your feelings through?
Put it on, turn the volume up and sing along (or play it yourself if you are an instrumentalist.) Let tears come. Or laughter. Or all of it.
Let go of your comfortable, safe place, and let some of your ‘holding it together’ self die a little. And then let the music bring you the grace and love you need to be renewed.
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AND live your dream life.
Get weekly emails, exclusive content. special offers and
event updates directly to your inbox.