Music is a Pastime for Hobbyists; True or False?

“The music stuff is just a hobby” (Tom Felton); true or false?

One of the strongest singers in the young small band that I work with today got a bit discouraged while rehearsing her song. She started doubting in her skill as a singer though she has one of the dopest voices you will hear from a young person.

It made me a little bit sad to see it and so, as we approached the topic of not using the disabling word “can’t” in my presence as far as her singing is concerned, I asked her if she wanted to pursue music in the future as a professional vocalist and she told me that  her dad said that music is just a hobby.

Ever since she told me that, it has been on my mind. Some people do music as a hobby.

They embrace music at home and every now and then, you may see them at an open mic jam or karaoke event or something but they do it as a form of pure satisfaction. It makes them happy and they are not tied to it as a thing they can't live without doing.  

Then there are some who take music a bit more seriously, practice every day and invest money and time in some type of education to better their skill. They also take their art, share it and are compensated for music as a service that is being provided. 

This post is dedicated to all the artists who invest in and gain almost as much knowledge as people pursuing vocations in any other professional atmosphere besides musical ones, work their asses off to do what they do as musicians, are always on time and present where they are committed to be and share their uniqueness as more than just a hobbyist but on a professional level, but who are seen as just having fun and not taken seriously.

“Professionalism is a frame of mind not a paycheck” (Cecil Castle)

  Contemporary Music Theory for The Serious Contemporary Musician

Hobbyist	Professional
What is a hobbyist?	What is a professional?
A hobbyist is a person who regularly or occasionally engages in an activity as a hobby or pastime rather than as a profession and free from the demands of work or duty	A professional is someone with specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation in the theories on a specific focus, who is seriously engaged or qualified to do what they do vocationally and with a businesslike manner in order to fulfill specific demands or duties as a service and for compensation
Music as a Pastime?	Music with a business-like ethic?

“A professional is someone who can do his best work when he doesn’t feel like it”

(Alistair Cooke).

  Songwriter's Market 40th Edition

Pastime	Demands
What is a pastime?	What are demands?
A pastime is something that amuses and serves to make time pass more agreeably; like a hobby with no time constraints, commitments or obligation. A pastime is done on one’s free time.	Demands are the requirements of work or of the expenditure of a resource to fulfill obligatory tasks, conduct services or functions that arise from one’s positions, even on days when life has a way with you and you are committed to fulfilling a need for the service being offered; such as a performance engagement. Requires dedication and lots of prayer.
In other words a hobby is done for fun?	So you mean music as a profession requires devotion?

“A hobby keeps the doldrums away” (Phyllis McGinley).

  Pastime Paradise

“Vocations are born in prayer and from prayer;

and only in prayer can they preserve and bear fruit” (Pope Francis).

Fun	Devoted
What is fun?	What is being devoted?
Something that provides amusement and personal pleasure without turning it into work or something that they cannot live without.	Seriously considering one’s art or music as a profession, making a big commitment to focus on the work and its demands by giving as much time and energy to it as is required with love for what is being done while continually pursuing professional development, promoting the work, pursuing profit, and confidently building on experience and integrity.
Oh, so a hobby is a creative passion?	Oh, so music as a profession is a combination of creativity, responsibility and professionalism?

Now there is nothing wrong with someone having an opinion because if we all thought exactly the same way, life would be a bit bland, but there is something you should know about those who do pursue music on a serious and professional level.  

We are musicians and yes, we bleed, breathe and live like music is the heartbeat inside of our bodies. We pursue music with love both as a love and as a professional thing and it is something quite like oxygen that makes our lives complete. 


We take our music seriously and it is not just a thing of fun for us. It is something we value as a serious life work, many of us and, without music, as they say, life would be like a room without a window. 

What are your thoughts on this? 

Compare and Contrast the Music; O Halloween!

There is no denying that as musicians, we build ourselves up, brick by brick to become who we are.

We strive to be able to handle what we do as best as we can.  We may not always be able to put out the same energy, even though we practice and aim for perfection, but getting into the music is something that we work towards because it is who we are; music! What we don't want to be is unable to execute. 

Believe me, I understand the whole Sasha Fierce thing because I could be with no energy, practically falling asleep but put a mic in my hand and there I go, alive and with all this energy; as if I am a different person. Maybe it is Halloween for me every time I sing. And it is something I cannot explain. Some may follow through regardless of the odds. Some may not feel like they can handle it when life throws a hardball our way. Yet, we still are with a heart to be all that we can be to be considered well-rounded and serious. 

We take on a gamut of approaches to better our craft with hope that we might thrive in the artistic scene. But while propelling ourselves for the duration of our lifeline on this earth, it is important to remember that the art of comparing our musical journey with someone else's can be something that might stymy the flow.

Why and Why Not Compare

I get it! There is so many of us out there striving with very similar goals. How could you not compare? They are working with fire and passion. You are working with fire and passion. Or maybe you are not and then you see someone else achieving recognition and it creates jealousy in you and may make you want to adjust to be or do what everybody else is. Or perhaps it will make you feel out of place and as if you do not belong. But don't let the hype fool you. Everybody was a beginner. Every pro started somewhere. Every person had to crawl before they started walking. Everybody gets sick sometimes and cannot always come with the full plate of stamina all the time. And everybody messes up sometimes because nobody is perfect. 

It is important to remember that just because someone else is doing something that you are not does not mean that is the ultimate way. We all think differently and do things in our own way. And just because you are not doing what they are someone else does, does not mean your method to the madness is the ultimate or that it is irrelevant. 

The Art of Comparison

Beyond music, the art of comparison has been the one thing that keeps love from flowing correctly. Just because you practice something in your tradition does not mean my cultural mores are wrong or of savage nature. And just because your culture practices a certain religion does not mean that is the only religion that is supposed to be practiced. And just because you are accustomed to dressing a certain way does not mean that mine are of any less value. Depends on the person. And just because you live your day in a specific way does not mean that everybody else has to be doing the same thing. You have your way and I have mine. Who's is right and who's is wrong? I am guessing that if we respect each other where we are knowing that the one thing we do have in common is that we share earthen space, even if we are different in culture, career decision, color, gender, sexual preference or religion. We are still family and that is the most important thing, regardless of the differences. 

Please check out my song which speaks about this entitled "People United." It is off my newest album We Are People United with lyrics and vocals by Stephanie Jeannot and music by Paul Garrod and you can find it on spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/track/4Ct0gzHKwv2QG8MgxKA6tR

Now let's take it to the bridge. . . 

Comparisons in Music
If you have perfect pitch and the next person does not. So, what? You have a clear tone and the person next to you has a lisp? So, what? He always nails that high note but you can’t? No need for feeling doubtful about it. Each person's timbre is as unique as a thumb print. So, what? You have energy on the stage and feel comfortable moving around but the next singer stands still while singing. So what?  You got musical education at Berkeley and he got some musical insight from Barry Harris and from jam sessions. So what? He speaks with a beautiful tone and I am singing with this crazy foreign accent. That does not mean you are someone not worth listening to and respecting. That just means you have an accent. So what? She knows more songs than I and I know more of the lyrics of my originals than the Top 40 tunes. So what. Be-you-tiful! That is what it is all about. Being you and loving what you uniquely do. But that is what you uniquely do. Let's stop looking at our own selves, putting down others ways of getting things done and respect each other. Regardless of who we are and how someone else approaches, I find that I can learn from them in even the most minor way, even though we are all unique in our own way. 

Halloween

So Halloween is here. I don't always dress up though sometimes I do like to get a costume on and celebrate; especially if the day comes when I have a gig and I am getting on stage. I mean, why not. It is all in fun right?

I'll never forget the year that I dressed up one year as a princess and realized I didn't have a crown. Thank God there was a Burger King around though because a few minutes later, I had a pretty gold one. LOL! We went to that grade school party and I saw some great costumes there and we all had a blast. I think the costumes are my favorite thing about Halloween. I love to see how people dress up, all so creative and different. I also love all the awesome decor.

So did you decorate? Here is a Halloween themed art of comparison to end this post. I was walking down the streets of my neighborhood and noticed all the beautiful and outrageous décor that the people in my vicinity had ornamented their homes with. I saw theirs and I thought of the little I put up around my house and was like, dang! I thought about heading back to the store to get more decorations. But then I changed my mind. So what if they dressed up every inch of their homes in such amazing ways? Mine was decorated too; just in my own way.  

Mine looked nice too; didn’t it? 😊  I think I have enough candy too for all the trick or treaters. Happy Halloween everybody! Have a safe and wonderful Halloween!