I’ve been working on my scales in 2nds through 7ths (on flute) and am learning a lot. Learning to improvise over these intervals is fun and is expanding my improvisation skills. To keep it fresh, I wanted to change it up a bit, so I was double tonguing through the scales and realizing how long it had been since i worked on my double tonguing. It was slow going, to say the least. So, I do what I usually do these days…I Googled it. I found some good instructional videos by ‘ target=_blank>Nina Perlove. She does a lot of instructing via the internet and is fun to watch. But…what blew me away was the composition by Ian Clarke “The Great Train Race”, and the performance of it by Aleksandr Haskin. Check it out…

I was watching it realizing how much further I had to go until I was where I want to be. I spent a few minutes being a) blown away; b) depressed; 3) overwhelmed, etc. My son came in the room and started watching the video with me. He said, "Wow.” And I said, “Yeah…. makes me either want to practice really hard, or throw my flute in the trash.” He giggled and said, “No, don’t do that. You can play like that – you  just need to learn the fingerings.” Ah…the perspective of a 6 year old! But…he’s right. What I was experiencing was impatience. I think that I feel rushed because I’m older and pursuing my life’s passion late in life, so I feel like I have lost all this time, but it’s all perfect really. I have myriad experiences that will come into play in my music and it all lends to passion behind the music. So, I just took a different path, but can come to the same place and I have plenty of time to get there.

So, again I am reminded to love where I am. The frustration comes in always wanting to be someplace else. Wanting to be further than I am. If that’s my approach, I’ll never be happy. I could be 80 years old and still wishing that I’d have pursued music. By the time I’m 80 – I’ll be playing Ian Clarke’s “The Great Train Race” like Aleksandr Haskin, because I didn’t allow myself to get too discouraged and I kept on playing!

So…I’m looking for inspiration daily and loving getting my ass kicked so I’ll keep showing up!

Until next time,

Doe

Ciao!

Doe

So, for a year, I dabbled in wanting to be a musician. That meant “wishing” I was playing music more. Wanting to be a better singer. Blah, blah, blah. Then Tina asked me if I was showing up as a musician. I had to think of what that meant. I live with a professional musician and I see how he shows up: daily practice, booking gigs, intense listening to music, discovering new music, analyzing music (time, rhythm, meter, etc.). Jonathan does all this on a daily basis and as a result, he plays with the best jazz musicians in town and is quickly recognized as the outstanding bass player he is. Me…I was wishing, but making excuses: too much work, too much house cleaning, too much homeschooling, etc. The truth: it was all a bunch of excuses and I wasn’t really showing up.

What came out in the Rapid Success Experiment was my true desire to travel the globe, playing music with my family and homeschooling my children in various cultures, experiences, and the diversity of life. When I started to step into it, amazing things happened. I immediately got a weekly gig on flute, which turned into flute and vocals at Agape Center for Spiritual Living playing with top-notch professional musicians. This gig expanded me exponentially. I learned to improvise and be able to perform with minimal preparation. I get to go to “school” each week with professional musicians and learn how they think, how they work and what they do to be their best. It brought my dream of being a musician much closer to home.

So, here I am playing music every week. Is that the goal? Nope. Not enough. So, back to the question…am I really showing up? I’m practicing. I’m taking lessons. I’m writing when I’m inspired. Is that the key?

I went to a BBQ with friends and colleagues this weekend and was drawn to talk with one of the artists Roger Light. Now when you check out his website, you’ll find him to be quite prolific. So I asked him how much he paints…6 hours/day. Again, I had to be honest with myself. I was just dabbling in this “I want to be an artist” role.

My question to you…are you showing up for your dreams? Are you diving in? Our are you just wishing things were the way you want them to be? There is a big difference between intending to pursue your passion and just wishing it was all here. I find that the intention starts with developing the clarity. Then I spend time visualizing what that looks like in my life. Then I ask for the next step through meditation and when the inspired action comes in…I take it. When I do that…magic happens.

So this week…I’m diving in even deeper to show up for my dreams.

One of the main things I needed to processes was that I am where I am at this given point in time. I could continue to practice for the gig and I could flush out some areas that were giving me trouble, but for the main part – I am where I am. I am following my heart in this musical journey. I am singing because that is where my heart is leading me and I trust it. I’ve experienced too much to do anything other than trust. In fact, trust came up A LOT. Trust in myself, trust in the Universe, trust in my heart and the guidance I was receiving, trust that all would be well. That’s a big thing: trust. So…I just keep showing up, asking for the next step, taking action, saying “Yes!” to the opportunities that come in, and ignoring the little voice on my shoulder that tells me I’m not ready. Does any one out there know that voice I’m talking about? The one that stops you in your tracks? That keeps you from taking opportunities that are presented to you (and that you usually regret declining at some point in the future)? Yep. That voice. That voice continued through my entire gig and you know what? That that little voice that said I’m not ready was wrong. I was ready for whatever came up. We always are. And despite that voice – we received tons of positive feedback and unsolicited compliments after we played. Was it perfect? Nope. But then again…wasn’t it? Isn’t it always perfect? Isn’t it always just as it should be? Was it perfect in the ears of the art critic? Not likely. But we got an offer to do an in-studio performance on Enlumnia Radio Network, I was offered the opportunity to play flute on upcoming performances with Dr. Paul Hubbert on his crystal bowls and my music coach Robin Hackett told me to get out there and play as often as I could. I am ready. Too often we wait for perfection instead of having the courage to just leap. I’m going to leap…the net is waiting should I fall and I will bounce back up again to leap once more.

I would say that’s not bad for a first gig. But even more that that…there was the really great feeling behind the fact that I stepped out. I showed up. I got the nudge that I’m here to sing and I took action. Now the question that keeps coming up is…what’s next?

My question to you is: are you stepping out into your dreams?

I am writing my first real entry on my new website thanks to the fabulous Mark Ferguson who walked me through the whole thing with great input, talent and insight. Thank you, Mark!

I’m also listening to Dream by Priscilla Ahn. Check her out.

She has such a beautiful voice and I love this song. This song has a particular hook in me because she completely wrote my story. It’s as if she had some glimpse into my soul. Thank you, Priscilla. And thank you Tina Ferguson for finding a song that you knew so described my experiences — and for asking me to sing it at the Snap Out of It! Conference next Thursday. I get to be on stage with Tina as she shares her beautiful insight and gifts with everyone there. I’ll also be debuting my new single Snap (coming here soon), so come check it out. There’s a lot of great speakers and I have the pleasure of knowing some of them personally. I am continually amazed at their big hearts, their journey of growth and joy, and their bright spirits.

Well, I’m going to take my pregnant self and stretch out, sing Dream and collect the images and memories that are flowing in right now.

Enjoy your dreams tonight and I’ll see you soon.

Come join us at the Snap Out of It! Conference on Thursday, May 20, 2010 at the Plano Center. Take I75 North to Spring Creek Parkway, turn right and the Plano Center is on the right. See www.dedemurcermoffett.com for details!

So…snap out of it and show up for a day full of fun and growth!