Thought I would write about music again. My life has been turned upside down once again. Just as I’m humming along my Church calls me to come and run the office, something I had done for 22 years. Issues with the former admin assistant. Music doesn’t usually pay the mortgage so one has to have other jobs especially when benefits are involved. It’s just easier. Anyway, I am now working that job 22 hours per week, making music, and trying to figure out more marketing for myself and even other small businesses if possible.

Being a musician is a life-long pursuit. It chooses you as much as you choose it. You cannot hide from it. In fact, a person cannot hide from their gift in life no matter what field they are in. If you are blessed with a special gift, you must pursue it or be kinda miserable throughout life. I’ve always felt like that.

My Church is Greek Orthodox. The music is Byzantine, which is actually where music started…in the Church. There was no western style notation, no scales, no time signatures, no key signatures. The beginnings of music were very archaic. It was a system of modes…8 modes. The notation always reminded me of short-hand…the age-old system of executive assistants/secretaries taking dictation from their bosses quickly. Neumes with little designs over them. The Chanters, the main Church singers at the time, read those neumes and improvised ornamentation according to how they interpreted the neumes and other markings. They still do it today in the Orthodox Churches. Quite the challenge. So music was more difficult to create in antiquity.

Fast forward to current times, music itself is not difficult to read. It’s a system. It’s also math-involved. It’s very common-sense. What takes time and work is the learning of the instrument you are using including voice. Learning music from different eras…the style. Learning music history. Learning to be a musical artist. Learning to put yourself into your creative art…just like a painter. It’s a lifetime of executing and learning and polishing and becoming more of an expert. You become seasoned. You become your art. Takes a lifetime but it does happen.

And there are no shortcuts. None. There are no shortcuts to becoming a seasoned expert in any field. No instant gratification. There are plenty of “wannabes” though who want to attain the level of expert without putting in the work. Music is full of that. Fortunately they do fall by the wayside soon enough. “Wannabes” can’t keep up with seasoned professionals in any field. Doesn’t take long to figure that out either.

One thing I love about being a musician is the deep-seeded appreciation for other musicians creating their own music so expertly. Listening to other instruments being played so amazingly, and the beautiful sounds of other instruments is truly a joy to behold. Captivating. And listening to world-renowned artists performing amazing musical feats…breathtaking. It comes from knowing the work involved in mastering your own musical craft. You know the drill and are stunned by how some very talented people on this Earth make music happen so incredibly.

Being a musician is a crazy thing. We’re all nuts. But it is something I would never trade in for a billion dollar career in something else. It’s me. For the Love of Art.

And you? What defines you? Where does your heart lie? Feel free to comment.

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