I've been alive almost 40 years, now I'm finally fine-tuning what I want to do. I grew up playing soccer (in leagues...), recreational hockey, basketball, football, riding unicycle, riding bikes, cross country skiing, swimming, working, and eventually learning guitar, and playing in a rad band which switched names more than I changed my socks... (well, not quite). After I graduated from High school I, in a roundabout way, decided I was going to study music. I thought I would go to Vienna and study composition, then write musicals/ rock-operas. Then I moved to Oregon (not quite Vienna). I did learn German fairly well, but that's about as close as I've gotten to Vienna so far. Ever-since I learned to play I was teaching guitar a little here and there, so I decided to make that a more permanent fixture in my life. I also played in some bands here and there, at a church for a while, and founded Coolbeans with Morgan Locklear (who rocks by the way!!!!) We released the smash hit album (in our own minds) WABASH in 1998 while we were both attending Portland State University. It was a tremendous and wonderful experience and is a fun album with some pretty great songs on it.
During my first marriage, before and a few years after my son was born I continued teaching full time 6-7 days a week, Performing most weekends, and taking other odd jobs to try to support my family. I was a zombie. Eventually my first marriage ended.
I continued working too much.
A couple years, and bands: The Climb, Server-X, Bev and the Boys, S-L-A, Mike Soto, The Martins, Dany Oakes (solo acoustic), Dany Oakes Trio, later, I got married again, This marriage, sadly ended as well, but only after six very interesting and wonderful years together. This time I have no regrets, I just miss her, and love her very much still. We both did the best we could, and eventually realized that the best we could do for each other, and ourselves is to let go, so we could be healthy, and progress the way our lives were pulling. During that time I gradually performed less frequently, and with fewer bands, and focused more on teaching, and re-learning what my goals and dreams are. I began setting up recitals for my students, and focusing more on my instructional books, reading, and starting to think more about doing some video lessons. Now I've bought a small digital camera which will allow me to make some video recordings at home, while I'm planning to go into a studio and record some more within the next few weeks.
This is what I want to do:
During my first marriage, before and a few years after my son was born I continued teaching full time 6-7 days a week, Performing most weekends, and taking other odd jobs to try to support my family. I was a zombie. Eventually my first marriage ended.
I continued working too much.
A couple years, and bands: The Climb, Server-X, Bev and the Boys, S-L-A, Mike Soto, The Martins, Dany Oakes (solo acoustic), Dany Oakes Trio, later, I got married again, This marriage, sadly ended as well, but only after six very interesting and wonderful years together. This time I have no regrets, I just miss her, and love her very much still. We both did the best we could, and eventually realized that the best we could do for each other, and ourselves is to let go, so we could be healthy, and progress the way our lives were pulling. During that time I gradually performed less frequently, and with fewer bands, and focused more on teaching, and re-learning what my goals and dreams are. I began setting up recitals for my students, and focusing more on my instructional books, reading, and starting to think more about doing some video lessons. Now I've bought a small digital camera which will allow me to make some video recordings at home, while I'm planning to go into a studio and record some more within the next few weeks.
This is what I want to do:
- Teach guitar, bass, and ukulele to the best of my ability
- Offer opportunities for students to perform regularly
- Write instructional books to help students learn to be the best musicians they can
- Write and record music
- Arrange and compose music
- Perform music
- Read, learn and grow (even though growing hurts)
- Live a relatively normal, debt-free, balanced life
- Travel, and see the world
- Have health and dental insurance
- Feel alive
- Enjoy each and every day with peace of mind
- Eat, Pray and Love (it's a great book!) (Believe me, I know most guys are like "what are you talking about - it's a chic book!") Maybe we all need to open our minds a little. If you're man enough you would read it, and probably learn a thing or two! HA!
