Planning is something that we humans seem to spend most of our time doing. I'm forever working on ways to plan effectively so that whatever I plan comes to fruition. I'm not notoriously bad at making things happen, in fact I usually receive compliments about ongoing activities, but from my viewpoint I seem to be very haphazard.
One method I have, and it really makes me laugh sometimes, is naming my to-do list my 'Quest' list, or my 'Mission Log'. I decided that things might be more fun to do if I treated them like Zelda quests or SpecOps missions. All that done I proceed ahead at ridiculous speed and then burnout.
This, I think, is what I'm getting at, the obsession to be continuous productive, always moving and never just taking the time to observe. Meditation and the art of thinking were historically considered a form of work; think about the Greek schools of thought, monks, etc. Consider the following, a line taken from LOST:
“Ludovico Buonarrati, Michelangelo’s father. He was a wealthy man. He had no understanding of the divinity in his son, so he beat him. No child of his was going to use his hands for a living. So, Michelangelo learned not to use his hands. Years later a visiting prince came into Michelangelo’s studio and found the master staring at a single 18 foot block of marble. Then he knew that the rumors were true — that Michelangelo had come in everyday for the last four months, stared at the marble, and gone home for his supper. So the prince asked the obvious — what are you doing? And Michelangelo turned around and looked at him, and whispered, “sto lavorando,” (I’m working). Three years later that block of marble was the statue of David.”
- John Locke (Terry O'Quinn)
That, I think, mirrors what I want to be able to achieve, a state of awareness that allows me to plot a course, see it through and come out the otherside having really achieved something. Extraordinary measures for extraordinary results.
Let's learn from each other - how do you plan?
Voracious Visualisations
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Motivational Mishaps
This summer started with a bang but, as with most bangs, it had to fizzle out. After having studied for almost seven semesters with no break I am starting to realise why hardly anyone does the 'eight straight' approach. In fact, I'm tempted to thing I almost burnt out in my first semester here out of sheer excitement at being able to study at Berklee. But each semester I experience a slump in energy about 2 weeks in, a slump that reappears and grows slightly with each passing period.
It is for this reason that I'm glad that I only have one more semester to go; this school may be wonderful, but it sure does take it out of you. My ability to keep up with blogs, vlogs, updates, etc, suffers periodically but I want you to know that I think about you all every day - missing a blog or a video throws me off, but I'm reestablishing a pattern of work that should tide me over until the end of the semester when I can take a much needed break.
My future is starting to take shape. I'm working on applying for an artist visa so I can stay in the USA as a performing artist, an effort that will fast consume my time but will allow me to do the things I love and support myself at the same time.
And now, onto much, much more exciting things! I have always been a fan of international football, and I vividly remember watching my first World Cup in 1994. Ever since then I find myself unable to do anything but go completely football mad every four years, and this year has been no exception. Yesterday I watched history unfold as Spain played in their first World Cup final and won. I was overjoyed, as were the other 100 Spaniards and Latinos in the room with me. Long live psychic cephalopods.
It is for this reason that I'm glad that I only have one more semester to go; this school may be wonderful, but it sure does take it out of you. My ability to keep up with blogs, vlogs, updates, etc, suffers periodically but I want you to know that I think about you all every day - missing a blog or a video throws me off, but I'm reestablishing a pattern of work that should tide me over until the end of the semester when I can take a much needed break.
My future is starting to take shape. I'm working on applying for an artist visa so I can stay in the USA as a performing artist, an effort that will fast consume my time but will allow me to do the things I love and support myself at the same time.
And now, onto much, much more exciting things! I have always been a fan of international football, and I vividly remember watching my first World Cup in 1994. Ever since then I find myself unable to do anything but go completely football mad every four years, and this year has been no exception. Yesterday I watched history unfold as Spain played in their first World Cup final and won. I was overjoyed, as were the other 100 Spaniards and Latinos in the room with me. Long live psychic cephalopods.
Things We Take For Granted
There are many things we take for granted and I bet the second you read those first few words some very big and serious things came to mind; parents, air to breathe, necessities of life. But today I'm writing about something else, something that struck me as I was checking out an artist for whom I'll be opening for (with The RED Trio) later this summer.
We were discussing our shows in August. Danielle (Deckard) and Liz (Fulmer) were trying to pronounce the artist's first name, but it just wasn't happening. Out of curiosity I asked to see the name, expecting something highly unusual.
Eoghan. To me it is a very familiar and ordinary name, but I soon realised that no-one here is called Eoghan or even Ewen. I then asked about the names Graham, Fiona or Ciaran. No luck there. It's funny that I have lived in the United States for over two years now and have never come across this.
I think the immediate assumption I made when I first visited the States was that because we speak the same language we must be very similar. I have since found language to be one of the only things we have in common - besides being human, of course! But even in language we are different. 'Herb' has a silent 'H' here, and some people 'axe' questions. Here biscuits are large, doughy breakfast foods (similar to scones) whereas back home they are more akin to hardened cookies.
Just a simple observation, but it certainly made me think.
We were discussing our shows in August. Danielle (Deckard) and Liz (Fulmer) were trying to pronounce the artist's first name, but it just wasn't happening. Out of curiosity I asked to see the name, expecting something highly unusual.
Eoghan. To me it is a very familiar and ordinary name, but I soon realised that no-one here is called Eoghan or even Ewen. I then asked about the names Graham, Fiona or Ciaran. No luck there. It's funny that I have lived in the United States for over two years now and have never come across this.
I think the immediate assumption I made when I first visited the States was that because we speak the same language we must be very similar. I have since found language to be one of the only things we have in common - besides being human, of course! But even in language we are different. 'Herb' has a silent 'H' here, and some people 'axe' questions. Here biscuits are large, doughy breakfast foods (similar to scones) whereas back home they are more akin to hardened cookies.
Just a simple observation, but it certainly made me think.
Coincidences
Coincidences. They are interesting things. I am a believer in two forces which are oft described as opposites, but opposites, when tempered, can work incredibly well together. I am a believer in fate or destiny, and also a believer in working hard to get to where you believe you should be going.
So, back to coincidences. I wrote a song in the spring of 2008 called 'The Proposal' and posted a music video to it shortly after. Fast forward to June 1st 2009 and the Hollywood premiere of the film 'The Proposal'. Prior to the release of the film I had only 1,380 views on YouTube. Post release? 10,893. Now, this doesn't exactly warrant the title of a viral hit, but it's a start.
Another coincidence. I recently discovered a wonderful band based of LA called 'The Rescues'. They are a quartet composed of four very talented songwriters, three of which attended Berklee College of Music. One of them is called Rob Giles. I look forward to seeing where this is going.
Perhaps I should write a song called 'Avatar', or 'Eclipse' or 'Shrek: The Final Chapter 3D'. Ok, the last one, no. But I am tempted to start a social experiment. Time to begin.
So, back to coincidences. I wrote a song in the spring of 2008 called 'The Proposal' and posted a music video to it shortly after. Fast forward to June 1st 2009 and the Hollywood premiere of the film 'The Proposal'. Prior to the release of the film I had only 1,380 views on YouTube. Post release? 10,893. Now, this doesn't exactly warrant the title of a viral hit, but it's a start.
Another coincidence. I recently discovered a wonderful band based of LA called 'The Rescues'. They are a quartet composed of four very talented songwriters, three of which attended Berklee College of Music. One of them is called Rob Giles. I look forward to seeing where this is going.
Perhaps I should write a song called 'Avatar', or 'Eclipse' or 'Shrek: The Final Chapter 3D'. Ok, the last one, no. But I am tempted to start a social experiment. Time to begin.
'How To Relax' or 'What I've Never Learned To Do Comfortably'
Having two weeks off from school should do something to my brain, at least that's what I thought would happen. I thought chilling out and doing (relatively) nothing would be easy. And I then I learned that it wasn't. And then I started questioning everything, except for the joy of sleeping more than I've been able to for the past 5 months; can't question that.
What I'm going on about is this: life never stops, even when you've worked your brains out for months on end, performing, writing, studying. I know it may sound like a naive observation, but it's something that I've been figuring out over the past few days. I just finished my 6th semester at Berklee and it was probably the hardest so far. As well as this being the 6th in a row with no breaks, I also took on extra credits; compound that with competitions, traveling and awards, and you have the recipe for HolycowIneedarest syndrome.
So, I've been taking time off, watching Band of Brothers, catching up on TV series', sleeping and going out for the occasional walk in Boston. And yet I've felt oddly uncomfortable doing relatively nothing. On the one hand I am aware that I need a rest and another semester of work will be starting in thirteen days, but on the other I know that there are things to be done.
I can, however, comfort myself in this state of ultimate relaxation; an album name came to me last night, on a walk back to the apartment, and I knew it was right because I've never felt so happy about a name:
Ears To Hear
What I'm going on about is this: life never stops, even when you've worked your brains out for months on end, performing, writing, studying. I know it may sound like a naive observation, but it's something that I've been figuring out over the past few days. I just finished my 6th semester at Berklee and it was probably the hardest so far. As well as this being the 6th in a row with no breaks, I also took on extra credits; compound that with competitions, traveling and awards, and you have the recipe for HolycowIneedarest syndrome.
So, I've been taking time off, watching Band of Brothers, catching up on TV series', sleeping and going out for the occasional walk in Boston. And yet I've felt oddly uncomfortable doing relatively nothing. On the one hand I am aware that I need a rest and another semester of work will be starting in thirteen days, but on the other I know that there are things to be done.
I can, however, comfort myself in this state of ultimate relaxation; an album name came to me last night, on a walk back to the apartment, and I knew it was right because I've never felt so happy about a name:
