What Are You Going To Do Today?

As musicians, each of us has the rare potential for expressing our truest thoughts and feelings in a unique way, to reach people and communicate deep meaning, to change the world one listener at a time. What are you going to do today?

Are you going to be the next Kenny G, who I put right up there at the top of the category of "I'm only in this for me, folks"? You don't even have to try hard to see when someone's energy is entirely directed toward how they can use their minimal talent and maximum chutzpah to get the most attention, make the most money in the most crass and shallow way possible, and then try to give themselves credibility by associating themselves with the true, acknowledged masters in their field ( Pat Metheny has already written about Kenny G. and his awful "duet" with Louis Armstrong, far more eloquently and passionately than I ever could. Read his blistering essay! )

Are you going to be another one of the dozens, even hundreds (thousands?) of young white guys with guitars, bass and drums who put minimal to zero effort into musicianship, songwriting, performance or message, but put hundreds of thousands of dollars into the budget for music videos?

Where are your priorities? What are you committed to? Does it matter?

I yield the floor to Carlos Santana:

" When you can play from the heart, you are being open and honest. And when that is the case, the instrument becomes the vehicle by which you can reach others with the music. "

That's all there is to it: being open, honest, playing from the heart.

The world desperately needs more people in every field of endeavor, from politics to athletics to music, who are committed to these simple ideals. There is a poisonous abundance of those whose actions are solely based on their desires for money, power, and control. There is an embarrassing excess of people in highly visible public positions who simply think that it's okay to be greedy, to lie, cheat, steal and otherwise abuse their fellow man, as long as they don't get caught, and even then, it has become acceptable to evade taking responsibility. (Any presidents, basketball stars, TV evangelists or record company execs come to mind?)

We don't need people who say, "Don't call me a role model, I never said I was a role model," while ignoring the fact that their every action has consequences and repercussions, far beyond one's own short-sighted viewpoint. Kids, especially, learn far more by example, remember?

People who act like that bring us all down, literally. All our spirits die a little more with each un-compassionate, ungrateful act. Of all people, musicians shouldn't be among that crowd.

Be honest about what you do. Do it because you love it. Play it like you mean it, and really mean it! Don't hold back on expressing your feelings through your performance. Seek inspiration, and try to follow the example of those who have aimed for these heights, and reached them. Be one of them.

Your comments welcome!