Re: Motivation, inspiration... perspiration; losing, finding and keeping your musical mojo
Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2018 6:08 pm
Before I say anything else in this thread: Thank you, Dennis, for your contributions to helping our brothers and sisters in arms. You are on my list of heroes. B)
This evening brought home to me something powerful about what music means to me. One of my young nephews, just starting in high school, is being raised by an amazing single mom who has gone to ballad-worthy efforts to finish a lucrative technical degree and make a better life for her son. She's been concerned about the lack of adult male influences in his life, and he's been showing an interest in guitar music.
He's been having a very hard time, both with school and with his peers. I see so, so much of me in him and in his struggles. I didn't have anyone during that period of my life: my dad was out of his element and my uncles were more interested in being cool and getting chicks. I also didn't have music apart from my church vocal activities.
Well, for the past few weeks I've been taking my acoustic over to their place and spending an hour with him, going over basic strum patterns, chords, and the rudiments that could evolve into playing actual songs.
Today, for whatever reasons, went way deeper than just that. My inner wellspring burst, and we broke from the song-based exploration into what I see as the roots of actual music: we started making ditties that touched on our pains, our frustrations, our anger, based on chords in the key of the song we were looking at today.
Wow. So much old sediment stirred up, so much connection with his pain and need. So, so much honest tapping into what music can do for one's inner demons, one's soul.
Right now I'm in an odd state, verklempt and wrapped up in old pain. Also deeply moved, and happy that I was able to connect with him on that level, to be there for him, and for me. By our next week's session he's pledged to have some more ditties written for us to look over, using the key I gave him to work within.
So. That is what music can mean to me. That is part of what will keep me going. :side:
Mark
This evening brought home to me something powerful about what music means to me. One of my young nephews, just starting in high school, is being raised by an amazing single mom who has gone to ballad-worthy efforts to finish a lucrative technical degree and make a better life for her son. She's been concerned about the lack of adult male influences in his life, and he's been showing an interest in guitar music.
He's been having a very hard time, both with school and with his peers. I see so, so much of me in him and in his struggles. I didn't have anyone during that period of my life: my dad was out of his element and my uncles were more interested in being cool and getting chicks. I also didn't have music apart from my church vocal activities.
Well, for the past few weeks I've been taking my acoustic over to their place and spending an hour with him, going over basic strum patterns, chords, and the rudiments that could evolve into playing actual songs.
Today, for whatever reasons, went way deeper than just that. My inner wellspring burst, and we broke from the song-based exploration into what I see as the roots of actual music: we started making ditties that touched on our pains, our frustrations, our anger, based on chords in the key of the song we were looking at today.
Wow. So much old sediment stirred up, so much connection with his pain and need. So, so much honest tapping into what music can do for one's inner demons, one's soul.
Right now I'm in an odd state, verklempt and wrapped up in old pain. Also deeply moved, and happy that I was able to connect with him on that level, to be there for him, and for me. By our next week's session he's pledged to have some more ditties written for us to look over, using the key I gave him to work within.
So. That is what music can mean to me. That is part of what will keep me going. :side:
Mark