Poseur to Composer

The scruffy old man came back to the thrift store today, wearing the same clothes he wore on Tuesday and Wednesday... and he had the trumpet! He saw my surprised expression and said "I got it back".

He was there to return the trumpet for a refund. Normally our store doesn't do refunds or even exchanges on special items like the trumpet, but we made an exception here.

Thank you Lord!

On to today's practice: I was busy running errands after work, so I didn't do any improvisation tonight. It's a shame because I've learned a lot from Youtube channels like New Jazz, Walk That Bass and Piano Pig but have so little time to really experiment with it.

A big thank you to those content creators as well.

Here's another cool Miles Davis video with a far out solo by Keith Jarrett.

Meditation Time bookstanding today: 25 minutes Quality of meditation (out of 10): 5

Practice Minutes on the keyboard today (out of 40): 22 minutes Quality of practice (out of 10): 5

A few days ago a scruffy old man bought a trumpet at the thrift store where I work. I asked him if he played and he said he didn't. He wanted to learn though. Yesterday I saw him again, wearing the same scruffy clothes. I asked about his trumpet and if he started practicing yet. He replied it was stolen. He is homeless and it was taken from him while he slept.

Today was my day off, and while I tidied around the apartment and practiced piano I thought of him. He doesn't have the stability that I enjoy. Like so many other homeless people, he has dreams and aspirations. By purchasing the trumpet with what little money he had, he tried to jump up Maslow's hierarchy of needs from basic survival to self-actualization. Unfortunately the harsh reality of the streets will keep him down at the bottom.

On a lighter side, I did something approximate to a jazz improvisation. It was definitely fun, noodling about with my right hand. Flow-inducing too. I probably did this for a half hour before pain in my left elbow forced me to stop.

Meditation Time bookstanding today: 40 minutes Quality of meditation (out of 10): 5

Practice Minutes on the keyboard today (out of 40): 55 minutes ...Exceeded time needed to practice Quality of practice (out of 10): 7

I can't seem to replicate the jazzy seventh chords I see on tutorials. My triads sound fine, but when I add the fourth note it often sounds muddy. Could it be my keyboard? My (lack of) technique? A bit of both?

The fact I can't play seventh chords is slightly worrying. Jazz is all about the sevens, the nuanced melodies, the diffused harmonies. Maybe I'm better suited for playing simple two-note stadium rock power chords.

Reminds me of an interview long ago with J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr when he said he couldn't get really tight-sounding riffs out of his guitar (unlike a band such as Helmet, although I don't recall him mentioning anyone in particular). J's sound is messier, and totally his own. You can tell a J Mascis riff from a mile a way.

And that's what it comes down to for musicians: finding your own sound.

Meditation Time meditating today: 0 minutes Quality of meditation (out of 10): 0

Practice Minutes on the keyboard today (out of 40): 32 minutes Quality of practice (out of 10): 5