Well, we just got back from a fantastic tour of Korea. What a country. The concerts were extremely rewarding, and the audiences were filled with positive energy. There were even a few days off which allowed us to see some of the local sites and taste some indigenous cuisine. (If you haven’t had Korean BBQ, I HIGHLY recommend it!)
[Joe and Gene taking a walk on the town in Korea.]
For the last year I have been thinking about sharing many of the ideas I have had while touring, recording, and performing with the Canadian Brass. Everywhere we go people ask us many questions about playing our instruments, what life is like on the road, what we do in our spare time…the list goes on. Well, this is the place where I hope to address many of these questions. It’s a place where I hope to share many of my own thoughts and maybe even post some ideas from the other guys.
Many of the questions I receive are related in some way to “How do you guys DO what you do? How do you maintain such a busy concert schedule, giving master classes, teaching, traveling all the time?” I can’t speak for all the guys, but in this first installment, I will describe what I feel is the most important aspect of how I manage myself on the road. This one aspect (aside from the importance of daily practice!), is…
HAVING A GOOD ATTITUDE!
So, what I do to maintain a good attitude:
Have a good perspective on life
Know what is truly valuable in my life
Stay positive regardless of the circumstances
Keeping my mind and body healthy
Have everything I do stem from a Pure Motivation
Perspective. That’s the word we use when describing how we view something. “What’s your perspective?” someone might ask. A good perspective is an outlook that is aligned with reality. “I will never be able to play this piece because it is too high.” This is an example of a poor perspective. It assumes I will never improve. The statement is self-defeating. To know that the place I am in at this moment is NOT the place I will be in one month or one year… this knowledge is very freeing. “I have to play perfectly to be a good musician.” Again, this statement is assuming something not based in reality. Nobody plays absolutely perfectly, and furthermore perfect playing is not even what music is all about. A statement like “I am going to play the best I am capable of doing” is much more meaningful and healthy. Also, having the realization that music (or whatever your passion/obsession is) is just one aspect (a very important aspect yes, but still only one aspect) of life. We are not dealing with life and death here. We are dealing with a mode of expression that we take great care in perfecting. A good perspective during a performance might be: “I’m going to truly share what I have to offer with the audience.”
[Blast from the past!! Marty Hackleman (third from left), former CB hornist, current
principal horn of National Symphony, me, Marty's son and Chuck after a
concert.]
For me, knowing what is truly valuable in my life is paramount. Why am I doing what I’m doing? Why are we, as musicians, investing all of this time and energy into our craft? Will it really be worth it in the end? YES! The reason we do it is because we can inherently sense Music’s priceless value. You can’t really put a price tag on it because it is far beyond that. Being able to recognize the tremendous value of my family is also a key to my having a good attitude. I feel amazingly blessed to have such a supportive family. Equally important are my friends…people who will stick with me through thick and thin. I feel lucky that I am able to surround myself with people who share a similar outlook on relationships.
Where and how does music fit in to our overall life picture? I believe, ideally, that music is not the end all in our life, but rather is an outgrowth of our love. I’m getting a little philosophical here, but what I am saying is that music is a natural thing. It is a product of our creative self. All humans need to express themselves in some way. Creativity is built into our DNA! So…love, in all its forms, is the key for me. It IS the most important thing. The more I understand that, the more I am able to enjoy all facets of my life.
[Joe after our last concert in Korea 2006.]
“Stay Positive!” The two words pretty much sum it up…the basis for every self-help book. It’s easy for me to stay positive when I am feeling the first two things (perspective and value). Sometimes life gets rough though, and I need to really make some serious decisions. Actually acting in a positive way outwardly can and will allow my body to feel it in the inside. Studies have shown that by simply smiling, we release powerful chemicals in the brain that cause happiness. By standing upright instead of slouching, I can accomplish the same thing. We have more control over our minds and bodies than we think! Throughout our lives everyone will experience the entire range of human emotions. But, in the end, the positive thoughts will carry us through the difficult times. This makes a positive mindset really valuable when it comes to the ups and downs of a career in music.
Along with having good practicing habits, playing at a consistently high level in music very much requires a sound mind and body. I personally try to do some physical exercise everyday. I don’t have to become a world-class athlete, but getting my body into shape makes all the difference in the world. The mind operates on the same principles. It will be in a better condition simply by having the body strong, but there are ways to strengthen the mind on its own. Canadian Brass members have done meditation (TM™) for years, and it is a great way to stay focused, calm the body and mind, and experience reality in a clearer mode. I try to do meditation and prayer every day. Getting adequate sleep/rest as well as eating a reasonable diet is absolutely essential for performing well. This includes drinking LOTS of water! Last but not least, I have to know when to really burn the midnight oil and when to let go and experience R&R. All work and no play make me feel extremely tired and dull. As my grandpa always says, “If you don’t have your health, you don’t have much at all!”
[With Hermann Baumann (my idol!!) after a concert in Dusseldorf.]
Finally, there is the subject of Pure Motivation. A pure motivation stems from an innate love for something. In music, I play my horn because I love the sound, I love making music with other people, and I love sharing my musical thoughts. Making money, gaining fame, etc. are all nice things, but they need to be the result of our love and passion, rather than the reason behind it. This is what I mean by pure motivation. Anyone who is a musician knows what dedication it takes to pursue our art. It takes great care, time, patience, suffering even, and quite a bit of uncertainty for those wishing to become professional. At the core of all these sacrifices we are making is love…love for music, for the adventure, for discovery, for knowledge, for the journey itself. Knowing that I’m doing something because I WANT to as opposed to because I HAVE to is incredibly freeing. It allows me to experience freedom in what I am doing. If love is NOT at the core of what I am doing, then I have to take a step back and reevaluate. There are many things in life I have to do for sheer utility—chores, paying the bills, cleaning the house, etc. They don’t have to be laborious but more often than not they are. Music can never become like that. We absolutely have to latch on to this thing that can make us feel so alive, give us so much pleasure…this thing we call MUSIC!
Meditating on these thoughts helps me stay positive and focused on the tasks I have before me. The minute I lose that focus, I start to flounder. Through a greater understanding and awareness of myself, I am able to express myself better. There are obviously many things that can contribute to having a positive and healthy attitude throughout our lives. These are just a few things that work for me.
I wish you happy practicing and I hope to see you in our travels! And… I look forward to YOUR comments, the comments of our friends, fans and family through our fan mail.
