Skip to main content

You Can Go Your Own Way

I believe that some problems in our society may be due to not enough time carved out for, or appreciation for having creative outlets. Also, the desire to be precise over all else. Precision is important, of course, but I see an abundance of online comments and threads about how to play the guitar or bass exactly like so and so. When I was learning guitar and bass as a teenager, there was tablature notation, but even that wasn't 100% precise. There are so many Youtube videos with note-for-note duplication and or attempts to do so, and unfortunately there are plenty of viewers who criticize others for not being 100% on the mark. To a "T" my guitar and bass player heroes would recommend for players to take the best of what they had heard, but in the end carve out a unique identity.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Reflections on Libraries

It has been brewing in my head to write down some reflections of library memories. What aspects of various libraries have stayed in my mind over the past forty years, and some aspects that perhaps led me to become what I am today, an academic librarian.🎓🖳📚 I tend to focus on libraries as place and materials, but that is not intended to be a slight of any librarians who may have helped me in the past. Mid to late 1970's Halstead Kansas Public Library - As with many children, dinosaurs were a favorite of mine. I recall this library having a good collection of children's books on dinosaurs, and my family and I going to a slide presentation on fossils by an area high school teacher (very cool!). I remember stating in first grade that I wanted to be a paleontologist when I grew up, and repeatedly asking my dad all kinds of questions of the winners of hypothetical dinosaur fights. My dad was patient but even he grew tired of my questions (thanks and sorry, Dad!). Newton Kan...

Chicago Highlights

A few weeks ago I attended the Innovative Users Group Conference in Chicago, Illinois. Even though I had visited the " Windy City " a few times before, this was my first time to have an extended stay downtown. I initially had some hesitations about getting around in a big city for a conference, as the largest conference location I had been at previously was in Minneapolis and I was in walking distance from most things I needed at the time. However, I can honestly say that the Conference and visit to Chicago were definite blessings. This travelogue and diary of sorts is probably mainly of interest to me, but maybe I might have some gems of insight to share. 4/17 - left from Ottumwa IA to Chicago via Amtrak's California Zephyr . It had been about 10 years since I had traveled via Amtrak, and this was my first time to have a major hub as a destination. It was an amazing experience to walk between the Amtrak behemoth engines at Union Station - with the sights of their ...

(The Two Towers of?) Eureka Springs Arkansas

A few weeks ago my wife and I took a trip to Eureka Springs Arkansas. I hadn't visited there in approximately 30 years, but it still seemed the same, at least according to my mind's eye. I'm sure that the city being placed on the National Register of Historic Places is a big reason for the sameness over the past four decades. We stayed at the Oak Crest Cottages in a pleasant Monet's Garden themed cabin . There is a uniqueness and authenticity to Eureka Springs that I haven't experienced at very many other locations in the States. Much of Eureka Springs feels like being transported to a time past, especially at turn-of-the-century landmarks such as the Crescent Hotel, the Carnegie Public Library , and the former Roxy Theater.   My wife thought that a visit to Eureka Springs wouldn't be complete without taking one of the advertised "ghost tours" at one of the local haunts (I know, very bad pun), and I was game to visit one of the old hotels. Anyway, w...