A white man sitting on a curb, strumming a guitar with the case opened next to him

This is my story. It's a story of success and failure, of elation & frustration, of hard work and laziness, of perseverance and despair. Maybe you've been there, struggling and hoping to improve, or make a name for yourself. (Read more here)


I played until my fingers bled - literally! 

Choosing a starting point can be difficult. Each musical instrument has its own unique sound and appeal. There may be multiple instruments that fascinate you, but it can be hard to know which is the right fit for you until you have begun your journey of learning. Over time, you may decide to

change courses or branch out and experiment. The key is to master the foundation of reading music and understanding your basic notes and chords first. From there, you will have what you need to explore your options further. Time will help you decide if you are on the right path or if

you should try something different. (Cont'd here)



A drum set with a microphone over it, with a tattooed man adjusting it.

I had to try drums, because, let's be honest, they get the chics...
Yes, that's literally why I chose them as my second instrument. But give me a break, I was a senior in high school. My reasoning wasn't always logical, just based on more sensual observations (a lifelong problem). As it turned out, I improved faster (Read more here)


Two people playing trumpets, one seen blowing, the other showing hands on the instrument

Trumpet & sax, because they are masculine & LOUD!


What male doesn't love being loud and obnoxious on occasion? Isn't that a basic right and responsibility of all males? If so, I would be remiss in my manhood if I didn't do our species proud by belting out a high decibel tune. (Read more here)




Where am I now? How far have I come? What are my current goals? Great questions. My current musical life consists of weekly gigs with our band, playing at a variety of bars, weddings, corporate events, and festivals. Yes, these are paying gigs. We aren't becoming millionaires, but it's great to have a side hobby/talent that pays. As we improve, we are getting phone calls from more prestige clientele and restaurants/night clubs, bigger events, and more specific requests for certain types of music. We are maintaining our skills, still practicing on a regular weekly basis (individually & together), and branching out into a wider variety of musical genres. Although I wouldn't say our band has "arrived", we are all definitely feeling like our hard work has paid off. 


Personally, I am getting more comfortable at performing harder & more complicated chords/beats and combinations, and am now able to do them faster on all my instruments. It has been a long process of learning, and keeping at it through boredom. I am not really sure how to quantify how far I have come to someone who may not be in the musical world. However, I will say, I am proud of myself to have gotten good enough to play in front of large crowds of people who really seem to enjoy the music. That's a huge thrill for me.


My current goals aren't so different from 10 years ago: keep improving on my skills, and expand my musical genres. I don't really have a specific goal for each instrument, but I do know what my current abilities are, so I am trying to set some more definite goals to attain. I am currently in the process of writing a song that has all of my instruments in it, and will record the song with me playing a ll seven instruments (obviously, not all at once). It's quite the undertaking, but I'm actually excited to be in this place of growth. I will say that as far as our band goes, there are several contests and very large festivals that we are trying to get involved in. If we win anything big, I'll be sure to post it. What a kick that would be! Maybe silly dreams to come true, after all...

A group of musicians posing for a picture while seated in front of their band equipment

Every artist, great or amateur,  learns to appreciate art and artists of all kinds. When you yourself struggle with the daily grind of trying to improve your skill over months and years, you can appreciate, even more, all the hard work , abilities and talent that others possess. It is most definitely no different for me. As I've met other musicians, painters, singers, sculpters and more, I am better able to recognize the beauty in all these forms of expression. I definitely enjoy them more now than ever before. But there's also a camaraderie that comes with that appreciation. We've all been through the ringer trying to hone our skills, battling with personal issues, and trying to persevere. So, whenever I have the chance, I try to give a shout out to others in the art or entertainment industries, just as a way of giving them a nod, some encouragement, and to give back in some small way.


In this section, I will highlight other musicians, artists, and businesses that are, in my opinion, doing their part to beautify our world with their chords, or brush strokes, or pirouettes. A beautiful harmony.


My first spotlight to celebrate is DJTempe.com in Tempe, AZ. This is an up & coming DJ service that is making a name for itself by providing great music for weddings, birthdays and events of all kinds. My hat is off to you!
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