I don't feel bad for you, Blue. You made your choices, and you seem perfectly content with them. Plus, you often post up interesting and thought-provoking questions such as the one that started this thread. If music is what you do, and what you choose, and what you are, then to deny that which makes us what we are is the only real thing to feel sad about.
Music is secondary to me, but it has a special place in my life. Sure, I might be the "Resident Hack", but honestly I've been involved in music, in some form, for most of my life. Bass guitar is my most recent focus after woodwinds, piano, percussion, and guitar. Honestly, bass guitar is my favorite of all of them.
But my hobbies and interests are varied. Motorcycles, cars (I currently have a great fun car I bought), movies, etc..., but most importantly my family. I would pitch everything and anything for them, especially my son.
You see, here is where music has been a gift from God in my life.
My son Daniel is 11 years old and a wonderful, loving boy who wants to grow up to be an auto mechanic. He loves dogs, thinks fettucini alfredo is the best food ever, and watches super hero movies. Batman is his favorite.
Daniel is also autistic. On the milder side of the spectrum, but was quickly identified at a young age.
When he was 8 years old I put a guitar in his hands. He watched me play a few instruments and he just seemed to "understand" music. The guitar came naturally to him, he was easily able to navigate his way through the strings, and he somehow just adapted to it. He had a keen sense for what sounded right, what sounded wrong, and how to make that guitar say what he wanted it to. He idolizes Slash, and he is currently the lead guitarist in the Jazz Band at the school he attends. For his birthday we got him a flame top Les Paul similar to Slash's guitar from Appetite For Destruction.
Music allowed me to make a connection with my son and share a commonality that I was struggling with. When he sees our band perform he lights up and I see the boy that is inside him that most of the world doesn't see. The other band members have adopted him as a "junior member" and they let him sing sometimes or play guitar with our songs in practice. The kid is so good he showed our lead player a couple things he figured out on songs we do.
So for me, music is a hobby but also a life enhancing feature, if you can call it that. While others talk about how much money they are getting, or whether their bands are successful, or what amp to buy, I'm really thankful when I sit down with my son and play basslines so he can practice his upcoming guitar solo for the school concert. The rest of it....well, it doesn't mean much. Sure, I make a couple bucks playing for a mediocre cover band in dive bars with a bunch of drunks belting out "Friends In Low Places" (which I sing), but my real happiness comes from watching an 11 year old boy smile and say "Thanks, Dad. I needed some help on my solo. Mr. K-M is going to like it".
Music is secondary to me, but it has a special place in my life. Sure, I might be the "Resident Hack", but honestly I've been involved in music, in some form, for most of my life. Bass guitar is my most recent focus after woodwinds, piano, percussion, and guitar. Honestly, bass guitar is my favorite of all of them.
But my hobbies and interests are varied. Motorcycles, cars (I currently have a great fun car I bought), movies, etc..., but most importantly my family. I would pitch everything and anything for them, especially my son.
You see, here is where music has been a gift from God in my life.
My son Daniel is 11 years old and a wonderful, loving boy who wants to grow up to be an auto mechanic. He loves dogs, thinks fettucini alfredo is the best food ever, and watches super hero movies. Batman is his favorite.
Daniel is also autistic. On the milder side of the spectrum, but was quickly identified at a young age.
When he was 8 years old I put a guitar in his hands. He watched me play a few instruments and he just seemed to "understand" music. The guitar came naturally to him, he was easily able to navigate his way through the strings, and he somehow just adapted to it. He had a keen sense for what sounded right, what sounded wrong, and how to make that guitar say what he wanted it to. He idolizes Slash, and he is currently the lead guitarist in the Jazz Band at the school he attends. For his birthday we got him a flame top Les Paul similar to Slash's guitar from Appetite For Destruction.
Music allowed me to make a connection with my son and share a commonality that I was struggling with. When he sees our band perform he lights up and I see the boy that is inside him that most of the world doesn't see. The other band members have adopted him as a "junior member" and they let him sing sometimes or play guitar with our songs in practice. The kid is so good he showed our lead player a couple things he figured out on songs we do.
So for me, music is a hobby but also a life enhancing feature, if you can call it that. While others talk about how much money they are getting, or whether their bands are successful, or what amp to buy, I'm really thankful when I sit down with my son and play basslines so he can practice his upcoming guitar solo for the school concert. The rest of it....well, it doesn't mean much. Sure, I make a couple bucks playing for a mediocre cover band in dive bars with a bunch of drunks belting out "Friends In Low Places" (which I sing), but my real happiness comes from watching an 11 year old boy smile and say "Thanks, Dad. I needed some help on my solo. Mr. K-M is going to like it".
I play guitar while she sings songs she likes today.
