Music

My music ‘career’ began with the clarinet in 4th grade. I went on to play in Jr. High & High School bands as well. More fun than I ever wanted. Hah – Not! Should’ve ended that much sooner than I did. You always had to play music you had no interest in AT ALL… I was SUCH a good boy. Too good. What can ya do? It happened. I can’t deny it. Can’t even apologize.

So instead of practicing that clarinet, I was figuring out tunes on an old 40-key, electric air organ down in the basement. Much of it was just time spent memorizing numbers on the keyboard with these funky looking, colorful organ songbooks. I enjoyed the visual aspect of being able to see with my hands what I was playing – the recognizable patterns. OH, and somewhere in those high school years I purchased a drum set. Loved it!

Skip ahead a few years. I taught myself to play piano at age 25 and got totally hooked on the feeling of expression it gave me. It was beautiful music. Eventually, I found the sweetest, used upright piano around the corner from Berklee School of Music – but had to sell it to pay the rent a couple years later. Good thing that job at the B.C.A.E. provided a baby-grand piano (late nights and weekend afternoons) - Nice! After that, the years went by… way too many – playing on & off, mostly off.

In 2010, I figured it was time to put some effort into music, so I got a MacBook Pro and hooked it up to the Yamaha 88 keys. Yep – One of my better moves – and I’ve moved around alot.

I love making my own music – or jammin’ away to internet radio - especially when I’m in the mood. It’s total connection! In hindsight, I realize that I never got excited about playing other people’s music. Learning to express is its own therapy. So in this instance – MORE… actually is, MORE.