Staying Focused in a Noisy World

I had the opportunity to attend the NAMM show last month and for those of you that don’t know it’s a gigantic convention/trading show where all the instrument, software and musician related products congregate to demonstrate their products.  The amount of people that come to the event is really mind blowing.  People from all different backgrounds, from the beginners to the experts and then to the famous influencers in the music world.  All of us connected by a common denominator: Music.

I felt like a kid at Disneyland! so many interesting things, before I knew it, time flew by and the day came to an end and I hadn’t even visited the brands that I really wanted to see.  I easily got distracted by the booths trying to grab my attention and the noise of the place.  I had to make a decision: There was no way I was going see the whole place, I needed to focus and walk toward my destiny, the keyboard and technology area.  

Things continued to be fun and distracting the next day but I was determined to head towards my area.  When I got there I felt at ease because I was where I wanted to be, I bumped into people I know, follow and even admire!  I could really experience NAMM in another level and at the end of the day I felt satisfied and grateful for meeting new people and trying out new gear, this really made me a better person for the music industry, I had such a good time there!

This whole experience was a lesson for me because I realized life is very similar to a day at NAMM. There are so many people and distractions trying to grab your attention that sometimes you fall for them but in reality that’s not really what you’re into.  These things entertain you but they don’t really satisfy you and at the end you feel like you are not fully accomplishing much because you are not spending time doing what you love.  It takes discipline to reach your goals, this can be as simple as leaving Netflix and social media for a while, maybe quitting that job that is not taking you anywhere or just waking up earlier will bring you closer to your dreams.  You know your distractions but you also know what you truly love and makes you happy.  I challenge you to block your distractions and that you focus on your goals, this will bring out the best person that you can be! 

Record a song from your house

Are you wondering how your favorite artist is releasing new material every few months? That person is your inspiration and you think: “One day I will record my own songs, one day I will be on that level.” But  when will it happen? that’s for you to decide.

Nowadays you don’t need to go to a  studio to record a song, you don’t even need to wait to get the best and most expensive gear.  You can record at the comfort of your own home and I bet you have the essentials to record your ideas.  This is what you need:

1. Computer, iPad or smart phone with an app or recording software

2. Instruments & microphone

Three elements are needed to create a song: Melody, harmony, rhythm.

Melody is easy, use your voice.  Can’t carry a note? invite someone that can (we all have that one friend that sings or things that can sing) you don’t have any friends? then whistle!

Harmony- Take out that guitar or keyboard that are collecting dust.  You don’t know how to play? mess around with some midi instruments in your app or software.  

Rhythm- This is one of the easiest elements to add in your software through midi.  Don’t know a lot about midi? record your baby’s rattle, don’t have kids? get your salt shaker, don’t have any salt? then clap.

No excuses, we all have what it takes to record our own song or idea.  Record these three elements and mix them.  Simply make sure that the volume of each track is not too high or too low.  Done, you just recorded in your house! Remember is not about having the best gear, it’s about what you create with your resources. 

The Power of Our Actions

Feels good to be writing again after some time away from the blog, I have to admit it's been hard to find inspiration but here I am getting back to it.  This is a clear example that if you stop fighting and pursuing your dreams, time will fly by and instead of being a reality, your dreams will become a phantasy.  

This is precisely what I want to talk to you about.  God has placed us strategically in the places we are now for a greater purpose.  Reading the book of Esther encouraged me to take action and be courageous.  If Esther had not been courageous to go before the king, history would have been a lot different.  This is what I want to highlight: We all have influence in our circle of people, this being family, friends, job, social media, etc...

There's a good chance that you have a larger family than I do, more friends, or more followers.  If we remain quiet and motionless then things will remain the same, but if we take courage and action then our surroundings start to change.  We all have goals and dreams and I encourage you to follow them and make them a reality.  Your actions will impact people around you! Maybe you want to eat healthier and go to the gym, practice your instrument more, apply for that new job or call that loved one you have not talked to in years.  Take small steps towards those dreams and goals, and influence those around you by creating a positive impact.  

The way Im taking action and being courageous in my own personal life is by creating this web page and writing this blog.  It's way easier to stay quiet and I could be spending my time and resources in something else, but if this article speaks to a single person then I have made an impact and it is totally worth it.  I hope these words inspire and push you to take action and if they do please let me know!

Thanks for taking the time to read :)

3 Tips to Avoid Burn Out

Time goes by and without noticing we get stuck in our daily routine and we start to ware out little by little.   Work during the week, practice on Thursday and before we know it it’s Saturday night and we have to get ready for Sunday morning worship.  Beware of falling into a boring routine and getting burnt out because that will slowly become your life.  Wake up and let’s work against being tired musicians who are not growing.  Im giving you three ways out to avoid burn out.

1. Learn

Try something new. It can be learning a new song or implementing a new arrangement to an existing song.  Get private lessons or attend a course to improve in your instrument or sometimes buying or borrowing a piece of gear can get us excited to play our instrument once again. 

2. Collaborate

If you are part of a band invite some friends to play or you guys can even swap the places you normally play in, that’s a nice change of pace for both the audience and the bands.  If you find yourself tired about your tone or are having trouble with parts of a song, reach out for help and advice from your band members and friends.  If you are a songwriter or arranger send your ideas to others you trust so you can receive feedback and maybe finish a project together.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help and share your musical ideas with others. 

3. Experiment and Create

Experiment with different sounds and textures, you can also try and tune your guitar differently or if you’ve never composed a song, start now; try something you normally won’t do.  If you are a songwriter and you typically come up with fast and upbeat ideas, take the challenge to make a slower and more intimate song or vice versa.  Get out of your comfort zone and take on new challenges.  This will keep you excited and focused on music and you will grow. 

I hope these tips help and inspire you to create good musical habits to avoid burn out.  Let me know how you implement these in your life, I would love to hear!

Practice Thankfulness

2017 has been a great adventure and I’m glad because I’ve turned into a better person than I was a year ago.   It was not perfect, there were still some difficulties but I can say that God has been good and it’s been a great year.

This brings me to the point of this article: It’s great to reflect and be thankful for what we have and who we are.  On this past holiday season we clearly felt the stress in our finances and we tend to focus in what we lack of, that we would like to have more money for food and presents.  Also, if we are away from our family and loved ones we start to feel down and depressed because we would love to be with them.  This makes us loose our connection with the people we are currently with and we have a bad season all together.

It is very important to stop for a minute and analyze what God has done in our lives, the people He’s surrounded us with, our good health, the comfort of having a warm and dry bed every night and the great amounts of cookies we ate in every Christmas get together over the holidays.  Thankfulness brings humility and that automatically makes us better individuals.  

As we start 2018 I invite you to practice thankfulness, trust me, you have way more and you accomplished greater amounts than you think you’ve done in the past year.  

Wish you the best and Happy New year!