Refining My Niche
June 30th, 2008 Print This Post

As time has gone along, I have seen more clearly that I cannot be all things to all people.  I guess we each have our unique calling and journey we undertake as the body needs many different individual members in order to survive.  So it is with me.  I am finding that the thing that resonates most deeply with me in terms of how I conceive, produce, think of and focus my music, is with it somehow connected with the world of autism, of which I am most closely linked via our daughter and all of the other autistic and other special needs kids we have come to know because of her.  I have touched on this connection earlier:

Part of this is because of what I have come to realize is my larger purpose and mission, especially in regard to this site, my songs, my nursing home ministry, my life with a child living with autism, having endured many years of infertility and failed attempts at achieving pregnancy and as an adoptive parent:

I must heed Christ’s call as so eloquently echoed by the late, Great Pope John Paul II to proclaim the Gospel of Life.

This linking continues outward beyond strictly autism, but to anyone struggling with a developmental, medical or aging condition such as Down’s syndrome, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, dementia, alzheimers or whatever affliction aging might throw at someone.

Due to my progression through this thought process, you will notice that as of today, I have modified the  tag line on my web site to now read, “Chris Hartzog dot Com - Music From and For Autism, Dementia and Alzheimer’s”

Tim McGraw Concert Brawl in Seattle
June 27th, 2008 Print This Post

At Wednesday’s Tim McGraw concert at the White River Amphitheater outside of Seattle things got interesting during the concert.  Apparently an over enthusiastic fan “smelling of alcohol” tried to rush the stage and either pushed or fell into some female fans in the front row.  When McGraw saw this he actually grabbed the guy and yanked him up on to the the stage.  Then it looked like McGraw was almost ready to get into a fist fight with the guy.  More of the story and a video is available here on Seattle KOMO TV.  When I play in nursing homes I only have to worry about out of control wheel chairs.

Concert on Sunday
June 27th, 2008 Print This Post

I will be playing bass Sunday.  Come see the Woodinville Concert Band perform at the Shoreline Arts Festival.  Come down to Shoreline Sunday afternoon for some free entertainment. The Woodinville Concert Band plays Sunday at 4:00. There’s a bunch of other stuff there to do and see as well. Here’ s the link if you want to check the schedule: http://www.shorelinearts.net/saf.html

5 Tips to Achieve Your Musical Goals Faster
June 26th, 2008 Print This Post

There are some things that you can do besides just wishing for things that will expedite your journey towards your goals as a songwriter and musician:

1. Think Positive

Believe in yourself, even when you think no one else does…especially when you think no one else believes.  Believe that metamorphosis is possible even when you have not seen the changes that you want yet. I bet if you think about it you can come up with examples in your life when you did not expect something to happen and then suddenly it appeared.  If you can’t find examples from your own life history, look outward and find somebody else that this happened to.  Read and absorb stories about “incredible people” who overcame seemingly incredible odds to achieve tremendous transformation in their lives.  Find a musical icon to learn from or some other person who is a success story.  The person I am presently focusing on myself is Lance Armstrong.  You might want to read along as we progress through the book.  Any one can make it.

2. Stay in the Present

If I am running and I look at the clock for how much longer I have until I can quit, my body…actually my mind…wants to quit right then and there.  If I take my eyes off the clock and just run…usually listening to music at the same time….the time seems to fly by and before I know it I have achieved my goal and I wish I didn’t have to stop.  How weird right?  Remember the past is past, tomorrow is not here yet and all we really have is this present moment.

3. Set Realistic Goals

Don’t expect too much too soon, you’ll only get discouraged. Aiming high is nice to say but truly it is easier to stay positive if you set your sites on realistic, smaller goals.  If you just started playing guitar last week, do you really think you are going to be invited to be the opening act for U2 when they go on tour next month?

4. Eliminate Temptation

Remove distractions. For example, if you are songwriting, you need to create an environment that is conducive to creativity and free flow of ideas.  Don’t try to balance your checkbook when you are trying to come up with the hook for the chorus of your next killer song.  Surround yourself with people and an environment that reflect the goals that you have for yourself. Hang out with happy, creative people, read inspiring books, and listen to some great music that motivates you to get moving and take action.

5. Stop Making Excuses

Everyone can always find an excuse for something.  It doesn’t take much effort to think up one.  I bet you have even used some yourself.  When you want to change more than you fear change you will chuck the excuses and nothing will stand in your way from achieving your goals, whatever they might be…writing a hit song, becoming a “guitar hero”, starting your own band, whatever.

So what are you waiting for?  Like Lance Armstrong says, “When it’s raining, I just put on my rain jacket and go.”   Ready?  Go!

Should I Buy a Mac or PC?
June 24th, 2008 Print This Post

I am going to need to replace my computer this year.

I have been using PC’s since before Windows. My first PC was in 1987. I have done DOS, Windows - Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, etc!

But, suddenly this time that I find myself needing to upgrade/replace my computer, I have had a new idea growing in my mind:  Maybe I should consider switching to a Mac? (There, I said it.)

I would like to hear others ideas on why I should switch or not switch. Obviously, one of my big concerns/uses will be music: Recording, Playback. Graphics as well as I am a bit of a graphic artist wannabe.

What do you think?  Send me your comments!

Important Stretches for Guitar Players
June 22nd, 2008 Print This Post

The older I get, the more I learn about important preventive things you can and should do to take care of your body.  When playing an instrument this is especially important because playing is a very repetitive activity and can cause injuries if you are not careful.

One area of big concern for guitar players is the shoulders.  Whether you’re playing a Stratocaster, a Les Paul or I think even more so with an acoustic guitar, such as my Martin, it is a problem.  This is equally true to computer users who spend hours hunched over a keyboard like my Dell laptop, or maybe your MacBook Pro.  To counteract hunched, pulled forward shoulders, you need to stretch your pectoralis (chest) muscles.  This is an exercise recommended by my physical therapist:

Go to a corner, put your hands out on each corner about eye level and lean in.  Hold this stretch for 4-5 seconds and relax.  Repeat this several times, stretching those muscles in the chest.  This will help lengthen and relax the pec muscles so they don’t pull your shoulders forward as much.

Be sure to do this any time you have been playing your guitar for awhile…or if you have been working on the computer.

Buy Me a Beer?
June 22nd, 2008 Print This Post

You might have noticed that there is now a convenient way for you to participate in my happiness and in further supporting my music.  The “buy me a beer” feature has been added to my left sidebar.  If you have been reading my site, listening to my music, or downloading things, do me a favor and won’t you buy me a beer?  I get thirsty doing all this hard work.  If I can ever figure out how Brad Sucks mood altering substance icons work, perhaps some day I can offer to display your own memorial icon on my page for your kind donations.

For the Geekish Among You
June 20th, 2008 Print This Post

Firefox 3

Firefox 3 was released recently. You can download your copy here. I’ve just installed it, and so far it looks good. It has an updated user interface, more features, and it’s more secure.

Take a look!

Lance Armstrong and Music
June 19th, 2008 Print This Post

How Does Lance Armstrong Apply to Music?

My current reading list includes “How Lance Does It” by Brad Kearns

I love reading stories about successful people and who is a better example of a success story than Lance Armstrong?

I think for my own edification and yours, if you are reading this, I will begin a series of posts on my progress through the book and give my thoughts on how the “Lance method” might apply to us as songwriters, guitar players, or whatever kind of instrument you play.

So, there’s no better way to begin than by simply beginning. So, today,I will begin with the beginning! Here are some highlights and my thoughts on what I have read so far:

Introduction

  • The basis of Lance’s secret is his pure joy of living life and riding his bicycle.
  • Lance’s approach to his sport and life is simple and clean.

Lance tends to live in the moment and does not get bogged down in complex psychological “issues”. Rather, his attitude is best summed up by his statement, “When it’s raining, I just put on my rain jacket and go.” How can we apply this to our own “bad weather” of our own lives? We might not be training for the Tour de France, but we all have stress that comes into our lives, unexpected crises, etc. Do you discipline yourself to write that next verse and just pick up your pencil and go, or do you get sidetracked and distracted with other issues and make excuses to waste time thinking about or worrying about things?

The Lance Success Factors

1. A Positive Attitude: He chooses to interpret past and present experiences in a positive manner. Note the emphasis on choice and free will. This resonates with the “psychology of mind” school of thought (also known as “health realization”) that says that the thoughts we think dictate the feelings we will experience and the best part is that we have the power to choose our thoughts. You don’t like how you are feeling? Think about something different!

2. Clarity of Purpose: Lance Armstrong knows what he wants and he makes the sacrifices needed to reach his goals.

3. Specialized Intelligence: You don’t need to know everything in the world, but you should hone your skills and deepen your knowledge about your chosen area.

4. Pure Confidence: There is an old fashioned way of achieving confidence and building a positive self image: Doing it! Work hard and achieve your goals and you will feel good about yourself and you won’t need others to tell you.

Well, that’s my all for this installment. You might want to get your own copy of the book and read along.

Aloha.

Chris Hartzog is a folk singer/songwriter. He produces his music and records everything in his own studio making his own MP3’s and CD’s. Chris plays guitar, electric bass, ukulele, Irish penny whistel and harmonica. His philosophy is all about Hawaiian “aloha” and “mana”.

The Best WordPress Plugin So Far: Global Translator
June 18th, 2008 Print This Post

As I mentioned a few days ago, I added “Global Translator” to my web site. Notice the pretty little country flags in the top left corner of my web site? Kind of looks like a mini United Nations. Clicking on the language flag you want instantly translates the post/page you are on into your language and then all subsequent pages that you view after that. Since going live with GT, the page hits on my site have tripled!

If you are a musician or blogger or maybe a blogging musician, this is a zero cost and very low effort way to increase your audience size. I doubt that the auto-translated pages are perfectly translated, but it does give someone a good understanding of your content.

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