Hi, it’s me, Jonah, the baritone saxophonist. Remember?

Is it getting old to put that question at the beginning? Not yet, I think. Speaking of things that will never get old, I love teaching music lessons. 

One perennial piece of advice that I offer to my students is: Don’t try to get it right. This succinct imperative stems from an idea I began considering thanks to one of my Professors in college, Kenny Werner. He was the first to introduce me to the idea of practicing out of fear.

Being a musician is hard. And scary. I’ve spent a really long time trying to make it work, but what if it was all for nothing? What if I wasted my life? I worry. I worry enough that it is easy for me to allow my practice decisions to be motivated by the fear that I’m not good enough, or that it’s too late for me to succeed. Usually that means playing things I’m already good at to reassure myself, or desperately exerting myself to play something correctly in order to prove that I can. These are not very useful ways to spend my time.

Practicing has to start with a straightforward but terrifying admission: I can’t do this.Once there is space to observe a weakness, there is a chance to begin to understand and support it. That’s when the practice can actually start. This may sound easy, but in my experience it takes a lot of courage to admit you can’t do something. If I am feeling fearful (or insecure) when I meet a challenge, I will run towards the fastest solution. I will try to get it right. However, if I am willing to allow myself to fail, then there is suddenly space to observe how I’ve fallen short. Now, I can learn.

If this idea resonates with you, tell me about it! If not, send me an idea you like better. I’m sure my students would appreciate some new material.

A few updates: 

KNIFE THROWER IS PLAYING AT FRANCIS KITE CLUB ON MAY 23

I’m in a new band fronted by Erik Sanko who has been the bass player for The Lounge Lizards, John Cale, James Chance & the Contortions, Ui, and SQÜRL. The band has two saxophone players, two drummers and Erik singing and playing bass. The music is unwieldy, odd, and crudely sophisticated. Just like throwing a knife. If you live in NYC, come see us play at the coolest new spot in Alphabet City

TOMORROW IS BANDCAMP FRIDAY

Bandcamp Friday, the day when bandcamp waives their fees, is tomorrow, May 3. There won’t be another one until September, so this is a really fantastic day to pull the trigger on some shopping: jonahpj.bandcamp.com. Come for the music, stay for the chance to show me that you believe in what I’m doing.

Alrighty, thank you for reading. You are wonderful. Let’s keep in touch!

Talk soon, 

Jonah