July 26, 2005 at 3:59 PM

Living as an artist - the how to...

So you're a violinst that prides his/her self in the fact that you get to do your passion for a living. Trust me, there are plenty of HIGHLY paid professionals that wish that they could do what they love for a fraction of what they make in their high-rise office buildings and white-collar engagements. Thats why, when they want to escape, they pay good money to come see us perform. Make sense?

I'll be the fisrt one to admit that I could most likely make more money doing something else. But I make a decent living doing what I love. I tour 80-120 concerts each year and I wouldn't give that up at any cost. And when I'm not on the road or on stage performing, I feel a lack of art and expression in myself. So what do I do to fill that place? That is of course the purpose of this blog...

Do artful things always! Make it a priority to place yourself in situations where your artistic nature is built, strenthened, and matured. Maybe you're not an painter, that's ok. Go get a canvas and some paint. Try it out. Express yourself this way. Put on your favorite symphonic piece and conduct the symphony on canvas. Go out to your local art supply dealer and get some clay and make something you wouldn't normally. Go to a coffee house and read about in-home recording. It may be something that you've never considered, but stretch your views of music, styles, genres, etc. Go to a rock concert. Rockers, go to a ballet. Learn a new instrument. Imagine if you could become proficeint on 5-10 instruments. Record an album. If you've done that, produce someone elses album. Coach a complete stranger how he/she can make an amzing recording.

Basically, the more and more one stretches oneself in other facets of art, one progresses in playability, thought, and musical conciousness.

So do yourself a favor and think broader about music and art. Its all so very different. But the single thread that ties it together is that its about one's passion. To understand that and to appreciate the passion makes us greater and more artistic. Never stop learning.

-Ross Christopher
www.rosschristopher.com

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July 26, 2005 at 3:59 PM

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