I was talking to a friend recently, and I had an interesting perspective on teaching my kids to play music. I was lamenting that I wanted them to be able to read music as well as play music by ear. He said something that stuck with me all weekend long. He simply said, “Don’t worry about them reading music. How long did it take you before you learned to read English? – You Talk Before You Can Read!”

WOW! It’s so true. In 99.999 percent of the time children learn to speak before they can read. The reading comes at different times, but most start the reading process when they get to school. This is something that I never really thought about. It will change the way that I approach teaching young people to learn to play.

Take a look at this video featuring jazz legend, Bassist Jaco Pastorius, as he gave a lesson on the bass guitar. He talks about his philosophy on playing and how he learned to read music long after he had learned to play by ear.

So pick up your instrument, no matter what it is. Have Fun and continue to Play It By Ear

Believe it! It is true! A Clear Mind Is Essential to being effective in life. You need a clear mind in your personal life. You need a clear mind in your business life. You need a clear mind in your spiritual life. And you need a clear mind in your musical life, which includes Playing Music By Ear 🙂  I had to say it.

One of the ways to keep a clear mind is through exercise. I find that when I exercise in the morning, I function better that day. It’s a really good way to start the day and I can maintain a clear mind. Sometimes I may feel sluggish after a meal, but if I can do a quick 20 pushups or so, I’m able to function much better.

I really started working out on December 1st, 2012, when I did 1 pushup. Today, January 9th 2014, marks the 405th day since I started. So today’s total is 405. Here’s a video of a person you may know finishing a workout:

I will have more to say on this subject later on, but right I’m smiling. Why? My mind is clear and so I will always be happy to Play It By Ear!

To Teach or Not To Teach? That is the question. Well for some teachers its not even a question. It’s anathema to them. What am I talking about? Playing Music By Ear. It just is not done. I have had people come to me and tell me that they started experimenting with playing by ear and their music teacher forbade them from doing so. And so it is now that they “THINK” that they can’t play by ear so they don’t try.

I’ve wondered to myself, “Self! What is the reason for this kind of thinking by music teachers who insist on teaching ‘By The Book’?” And the answer is a simple “Lack of Understanding.” In my humble opinion and experience, people fear what they don’t understand and they can sometimes pass that fear on to their students. It is also true that you can’t effectively teach something that you don’t intimately know. Music is a performing art, and you have to be able to demonstrate the lesson as it happens.

There are people who say that playing by ear is just memorization of songs. And to a certain extent that is true. Playing by ear is more a matter of a coming together of a working knowledge of music theory, chord progressions, bass line movement, alternate harmonic anticipation and melodic interpretation. For some who have more experience playing by ear, you can utilize structures and chord progressions that may come from other songs and intersperse them into what they are playing as they are playing it. This is often seen in Jazz, Gospel, Country and other popular music genres of modern times.

So if you want to learn to play by ear does that mean you shouldn’t learn to read music as well? I answer that with an emphatic, “NO!” Learning to read music opens up a whole new world to the music performer and rounds out his or her education. It enables a musician to be more marketable and versatile when they can do both – Read Music and Play By Ear!!! Its quite interesting to note that musicians who can only read music look up to musicians who just play by ear. And musicians who play by ear look up to musicians who only read music.

Oh for the day when musicians can be equally proficient in reading music and are also able to Play It By Ear!!

I Love My Family. I love my immediate family that I grew up with. I love my wife’s family. I love my church family. I love my work family. I. Love. My. Family.  One of the reasons that I love my family so much is that I get to make music with them. I have come to appreciate the times that I have with my wife and children in that they are precious. And before you know it, they’re gone; Gone to College and work and just gone, just trying to pu
So one day I had to play Spain by Chick Corea for Old South Jazz Service. So there were some growning pains with it. But I was able to learn it.  A few months later I heard my son, Joey, trying to pick it out on the piano. So I stopped what I was doing and helped him to learn the song to the best of his and my abilities. Any time he saw a piano, he wanted to play the song. And so when we went to my daughter’s school for her piano recital, we were able to get the song recorded for our enjoyment and yours. I. Love. My. Family!!!

So now when I’m tempted to be down, I look at my family who I love, and I keep smiling as I continue to Play It By Ear…

This is going to be a great year. I had the awesome privilege to teach my kids some music. Specifically I was able to acquire a bass guitar and teach both of Kids to play. It was very exciting! In this case with the bass guitar being the foundation of the songs that we were listening to at the time. It was Chris Tomlin’s rendition of the “God of Wonders” song.

The beautiful thing about this is that I had recently showed them the pattern on the guitar, and when I played it for them they were able to catch on pretty quickly. It was Absolutely Amazing how much they were able to experiment and get on their own.

The most beautiful thing about this whole situation is that I’m able to spend time with them and pass on the knowledge and experience I’ve gained playing music for the last 30 years. Just the thought of it keeps me smiling and willing to continue to Play It By Ear!

The Struggle Is Real!!!

I went down to the basement to get clothes out of the dryer that I had forgotten and almost turned all of the water in my body to ice. There’s No Heat in our basement.

IT. WAS. SO. COLD!!

But what do you do when faced with impossible circumstances? You press on. You Soldier On! You find a way. At least that’s what I thought you would do. Right? So I added an extra layer of clothing and pushed through. The Struggle Is Real!

I. Got. The. Laundry!

If you’re ever in a situation that seems to be insurmountable, don’t give up! Do Not Give In To Your Circumstance! Just keep on keeping on! The Struggle Is Real!

I pray for those who have to experience – 20°F tonight that do not have a place to stay! The. Struggle. Is. Real!

#ToThineOwnSelfBeTrue
#TheStruggleIsReal
Keep Smiling, Adapt and continue to:
Play It By Ear!

View on Path

Someone asked me today, “Has it always been easy for you to play by ear?” And my answer was no. I have had to work at it for a long time to get where I am today.

The product of what I am is the result of hours and hours of practice, performances, and lots and lots of mistakes. It’s how you learn – From a lot of mistakes! There’s nothing that life and music teaches better than mistakes.

The thing to remember is that when to u make a mistake, don’t repeat it. And keep smiling and continue to Play It By Ear!