When you love to do something, keep on doing it. If you can. No matter what they say. Or don’t say. I can’t tell you how many body blows I’ve taken over the years just doing what I do. Making music. Or how many times I’ve heard my mother’s I-told-you-so-voice in my head scolding me “you should have stayed in nursing school” when I got fired from a gig or didn’t get the audition, or whatever. Somehow I kept going anyway and in the process put in my first 10,000 hours of practice. Singing. Playing an instrument. Telling a story, a joke, heckling a heckler.
You see, when I first started out I was so scared to sing in front of people or talk or stand up without falling over, that I would throw-up before a performance. Slowly that turned into plain old pre-show nausea, which is a vast improvement over hurling. But for too long I am still a deer in headlights and plenty sure I am going to get mowed down by something or someone.
Really it is amazing that I hung in there at all, considering… My singing teacher was befuddled by the terror that struck me before a performance. “You’re there to express, not impress,” she would say. “Do you love music? Then share that.” It all sounded like a bunch of Hallmark card hooey to me. At the time. But she was a smart teacher, a gardener of sorts. She planted seeds.
And I’m lucky because somehow those seeds got watered, apparently when I wasn’t looking, because today, finally, I really enjoy performing and am not astral-projecting out of my body when everyone is staring at me.
What’s the cause of this metamorphosis? Everything. And everybody. Everyone I have encountered or brought into thought. Talk about “connection.” And maybe growing up a little has helped too. Not taking things quite so personally, or seriously, and realizing how quickly this life passes anyway. Poof. Whatever I did this morning already feels like a dream. So I play a song, give it my all, then let it go and move on.
I am pleased to report that there is no nausea (or worse) before my CD Release Party and Concert last Sunday. In fact I am thrilled to be there. To share what I love…making music. I am thrilled that folks have purchased tickets to breathe the same air together for two hours. To laugh and sing along and that hubby joins me on a few songs, adding a bit of sass and class. I am thrilled that it’s a full house and I get to be the “singer-songwriter” for an evening and perform my own tunes.
Then let it go.
And thanks to all of you!
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Speaking of moving on… Here’s a note to the SoCal locals (and locals at heart).
Starting Saturday, October 19, 2013, from 11 to noon, in Culver City, California, I am teaching Ukulele for Beginners, a four-week workshop that gets you playing and loving the ukulele.
So you say you can’t carry a tune. That your fingers are too big. Or too small. You think a “beat” has something to do with some dead poet. You’ve never played a musical instrument because your “favorite” aunt said you have no talent for that sort of thing… Well screw that. The ukulele beckons. Almost everyone can learn this humble, joyful instrument and make music. There is precious little in this world that is more wonderful.
Here’s the flyer. So fly over to Boulevard Music and join the ukulele revolution!
Rebecca Woo
Thank you for addressing the late bloomer topic in your newsletter. I am over 60 and have been playing ukulele for about 5.5 years – I have played in public in groups, but recently decided to be brave and do some solo stuff. Ukulenny hosted a Uke Night recently at Pa’ina Lounge, a Hawaiian style restaurant and club in San Francisco where I live, and in addition to two sets by him and his guest and 2 jam session sets, he had two open mics sets as well. Three friends and I signed up to sing as a group, but two of them also signed up for solo slots. I decided that if they could do it, so could I. This club has a “real” stage, as opposed to a gerry-rigged one, with fancy lighting and sound system and a translucent lighted floor, OMG… But I managed to get through my song and even heard people singing along, which is generally a good sign – I think when people sing along, it usually means they’re having a good time. Then a similar thing happened last month at the Wine Country Ukulele Festival – a couple of my friends signed up for solo slots at the open mic and so did I. I sang a funny song I had written a couple of years ago (my original lyrics, someone else’s music) – I was so nervous I started on the wrong key and then forgot the words and had to start the last verse again. But as it turned out, people were enjoying the words to my song and tuning out the mistakes, and 7 or 8 people came up to me the next day and said they really liked my song, even one or two people I didn’t know. So even though I’m older than dirt, it’s never too late…
Anyway, enough about me – also wanted to tell you that I’ve enjoyed taking workshops from you at festivals and really look forward to your newsletters. Thanks for your entertaining and down-to-earth approach to making music.
Cali
Thanks Rebecca! It’s a wonderful to make music and make this kind of connection with others too. I can only wish everyone has this kind of heart-full experience.