I like to be “productive.” I feel good about making videos, playing in bands, teaching, writing, practicing, and on and on… In the quest to solidify habits and mindset around those ends, I’ve listened to podcasts and read books and built thought patterns that reinforce a “get shit done” mentality.… Read More »The Productivity Paradox
I haven’t written anything here in a while, and my last couple of attempts to create some consistency have been haphazard at best (false starts at worst). Now, after spending some time revamping the ol’ website and adding a bunch of short fiction, I thought I’d give it another go.… Read More »Does Anyone Read Blogs Anymore? (and why such questions don’t matter)
Look… I’m a “busy” dude. I have a job, I have bands, I have the ocassional freelance project… I’ve got relationships and booking and practice to tend to. I also waste plenty of time on Netflix and bullshitting over a pint. When I talk to people casually (like strangers or… Read More »Hustle Culture
Perpetual positivity is a myth. The reality of humanity is steeped in peaks and valleys – good days and bad. This is as true for diets as it is conversations with your spouse… Dayjob performance or sleep cycles. Sometimes the downs are brief, fleeting even. Other times they persist. As… Read More »Fighting Through The Slumps
This is as much for me as it is for you (as usual)… If you want to do something, anything really, you gotta go for it in whatever ways you can. This isn’t one of those “get out of town or you’ll never make it” posts, or advice about dropping… Read More »Grind With What You’ve Got
I love music, I love learning about it, I love digging into the craft, studying, challenging myself, practicing and performing as much as I can… I’m pretty certifiably obsessed. Smitten. I’m proud of it, honestly. I kind of relish the weird comments or disbelief that I try to do as… Read More »Falling In Love: Reconnecting With Your Instrument
Someone has to say it. I see it way too much – up close and at a distance – the incompatible combination of wanting to do something… AND NOT ACTUALLY PURSUING IT. Forgive me for ranting. This isn’t usually my style, and before I wander into too much lecturing, I’ll… Read More »GET OFF YOUR ASS!!!
Confidence is a strange beast. Some seem to possess it inherently, others seem to fight to find it their entire lives. Musicians are notorious for this dichotomy, many acting as their “own worst critics” or constantly chasing some sense of artistic achievement that’s always out of reach. The mighty Beethoven,… Read More »The Confidence/Knowledge Paradox
I hail from a small(ish) town called Muskegon, Michigan. We’ve got a few “claims to fame,” but for the drumming community, one of the proudest is being the hometown of Derico Watson. Derico is a powerhouse of a player with plenty of chops and super deep pocket, but even more… Read More »A Clinic With Derico Watson
[This was originally written as an internal blog for my day job at LongerDays, but seemed fitting for here too… This goes for way more than drumming! Let me know what holds you back.] Putting yourself out there can be scary… Even more so when you’re sharing a creative work.… Read More »Creative Confidence