Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving...I know it's a day late, but I believe that we should be grateful for everyday of our lives, not just think about it before we have turkey and dressing. A couple of updates:

1. My oldest daughter, Jody, turned 2 years old. It seems like yesterday when she appeared. She was so small..now she's almost 3 feet tall (35.5 inches to be exact) and getting into every thing. My youngest, Joni, is 6 months old and has two teeth. She loves to bite me and suck on my face. In the picture above, Jody is on the left.

2. I celebrated my 35Th birthday on Tuesday. I hope the next 35 are as fun. Honestly, I don't feel any older. I don't want to have the attitude that I'm becoming an old man. I know stuff will not work as well and I have more gray hair. Someone told me I was too young for gray hair. I have a question: What's the right age for gray hair?

Tomorrow (Saturday) I will get the chance to celebrate my birthday. I didn't on Tuesday because of school work that was due. Better late than never...TTYL

Ph.D or No Ph.D... That's the question

Earlier this month I had decided that I wanted to continue school until I finished doctoral work. Now I'm not so sure. As a family, we're stressed because we don't see each other as much as we should. Both of the adults (Myself and my wife) are always tired and it's not always because of the children. Schedules are crazy, even though I have made adjustments. Honestly, I can make more teaching in public school and teach private lessons unless I become an administrator. My wife also brought something to my attention. If I want to just teach...go get the PH.D. I know for me, I want to do more than teach music. I still want to play and record and write music. That is what I went to school for, not teaching. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy teaching and I have many ideas for a saxophone curriculum. I don't want to stress myself nor my family. We'll see what happens in the next year. If I can find a way to not teach school for a while, it may work. We'll see.

Gigs and Stuff

December is starting to look good as far as gigs. A couple of offers for New Years Eve and Christmas Eve and a couple of club dates. It's funny how things just work out if we're patient and do the things we know to do (Network, show up on time,etc..)

I've even pick up a few new students and I'm at a new location: Ken Stanton Music in Roswell.

I realized that my schedule is too packed. I've arranged my schedule so that I will be done with teaching by 6PM every night, except Wednesday. Faculty meetings make this hard. This will be until I'm done with graduate school.

From there, I'm not sure. I want to go on to doctoral study, but I don't want to stress my family out. My wife has been frustrated because I've been out of the house a lot and she feels that nothing is getting done at home.I've been asking myself if it's worth the trouble. I'm not sure if it's worth the trouble to continue graduate school or not. There are other projects that I want to do and I need to pay off some bills. We'll see...

Doublers Fun

For my gig at E'Clipse D'Luna, I was playing Alto and Tenor sax, clarinet and flute. I don't mind doing the work on other instruments. What I hate is bringing an instrument to a gig that I only get to use once. That's more work for me than necessary.

Out of all of the woodwinds, I'm the weakest on clarinet and oboe. I think with the clarinet, I don't get to play enough of the instrument. I need an outlet for developing my clarinet chops. I studied clarinet in college for one year and I need more study on that instrument. I play tons of flute with the Latin/Salsa groups that I play with and I'm starting back on oboe. My former teacher, Sam Skelton, told me years ago if I want to work as a musician that I need to learn the other woodwinds. His advice has proven true countless times. I'm grateful for him and I'm glad I listened.

Tomorrow (Saturday) I'm playing with the Adrian Ash Group for a wedding reception. Lots of jazz standards and lots of fun.

That's all for now...TTYL

Update: teaching and gigs

Today for me was kinda stressful. Just because the nature of my job, I won't go into details. I'll just say that I'm ready for a break and I think my students and co-workers are ready for one as well. Just five more days and we all get a week off for Thanksgiving. It's too tense around work. I just need to make sure I plan some extra fun stuff for next week.

Right now, I feel that I'm dealing with lots of stuff, from school, trying to spend time with family, job situation, going to school, etc.. There are some days that I wish that I could just quit everything and move on. People with strong characters and conviction have to overcome adversity against different enemies, including their own feelings. I can't live my life based on how I feel. I would never get anything done. I have to stop being emotional.

On the gig front, I play with Wild Rice tonight at Loca Luna. The gig went fine; I felt I was just doing everything I could just to keep. Daniel, the leader, wants me back and use me as a sub on a regular basis.

I got offer a couple more gigs for December. It's interesting how just things work out. As musicians, we have to be patient.

More to come later...

New Stuff

I have added a new track and updated my gig calendar. I have a bunch of new music to post, but I need the time to edit and modify, if necessary. Enjoy...maybe come out to one of my gigs and hang out.

Teaching schedule, gigs, etc..

I am in the process of re-arranging my private teaching schedule so that I'm done by 6PM on most days. I don't want to continue to miss out on gigs and other playing opportunities. Don't get me wrong, I love and enjoy teaching my woodwind students. I went to school to learn to play my chosen instruments. Somebody will read this and say "You need to do something when the gigs dry up". I realize that. If I do the things I need to do in regards of promotion, practice and networking, things will take care of themselves. Until I'm finished at Full Sail, I need to limit what I do anyway.

I'm about 80% done. I just need to keep pushing to the end. The last thing I want to do is just be lazy the last parts of the program. I want to get it done, but I want to do a good job.

On the gig side, I have been asked to play for a Christmas Eve mass. There is the possibility for a New Years' Eve gig. I have played on New Years Eve in about 3 years. It's funny how gigs just work themselves out.

More to come later...

upcoming week: Wild Rice Gig

This Thursday I am playing with Daniel Padron's group Wild Rice. We're going to be at Loca Luna from 7:30-11:00.

Today I taught three students and work on cleaning my reed set-up. I carry too many bags and it can be murder on my back. I just need to stop carrying so much stuff when I go to rehearsal and gigs.

More to come later...

Sat Night.

I had a gig last night with Nova Sound at E'Clipse D'Luna tapas bar in Atlanta. The gig went fine. One of the members arrived a little late due to work issues. We just played some Latin jazz until he got there. Overall, the gig went fine. At this restaurant, we have to keep the music soft or the management gets upset. I only used a microphone for the flute. Whenever I played Alto or Tenor sax, I went without the microphone.

Tonight I don't have a gig, so I am catching up on school work and other computer related stuff. Everyone is asleep and I'm in the office. This is about the only time I can get any work done.

Gig Tonight

I'm playing with Nova Sound tonight at E'Clipse D'Luna in Atlanta. This will be a long gig. Right now, I'm just happy to have work.

On a good note, gigs are picking up (sort of). I'm subbing a group next Thursday and there's the potential of getting more work. We'll see.

I won't keep you. Until next time...

The Passing of Adam Mewherter

This past Tuesday, I received news that an old friend from my years at Georgia State, Adam Mewherter, passed away. I was even more shock on how: Adam took his own life. There were times in the past day that I could not function without breaking down into tears.

Adam was one gifted and talented musician. More importantly, he was a great friend. I met Adam my 1st quarter at Georgia State University. He was one of the older musicians who helped me out along the way. There were times I was frustrated musically and Adam reminded me that learning how to play your instrument takes time and patience. Adam will be missed. Rest in peace my brother....

I have been thinking about my own life. I am reminded that life is too short to deal with trivial and non-important items. My life can end at any time. I have to value the time spent with my family and friends. More on this later.....

Update Oct-Nov 2009

It has been really busy in my life over the last two month. It also has been very stressful. Here are some updates.

1. My oldest daughter is starting to speak a little bit more..not a whole lot. For a while I was worried because saying much. Her pediatrician assures me that everything is fine as long she understands you...which she knows me better than I do. Also ,she will be 2 years old in about 2 weeks.

2. Gigs have started to dry up again. That's not too bad because it's allowing me to finish at Full Sail with my 2ND masters. I now know that I DO NOT want to pursue more study in education technology. I feel that my future is more in music.

3. Work has been stressful, at the minimum, but good. I have realized that I have to make some hard choices in my life and not worry about what other people think about those choices.

4. I have decided that I will pursue doctoral study in music. I may have to wait to get my skills up to doctoral level, but I may audition in 2010 anyway. I don't know if I want to enter fall 2010 or spring 2011. Regardless of what I decide, I will have to take time off from work. I'm just hoping that a couple of things work out in my favor. If I leave my current job for school, it will not be as hard on the family. I still plan on continuing to teach privately and gig while I'm doing doctoral work. I just do not want to be 40 and still in school (I'll be 35 in three weeks). I want to be done and get on with the next phase of my life.

I will do my best to blog more often to give the readers something...It's just been difficult lately with work,school and other stuff. See you next time.