Latch Music Blog

Patience-Persistence-Progress

Patience and persistence are important qualities needed to progress at any challenging task, especially music. The older I get, the more I see students, colleagues, and sometimes myself, needing more and more instant gratification. When working at a task that doesn’t give instant results, the tendency is that more people will bail than follow through. As technology improves, we are all being conditioned to get results immediately. As a society, we are constantly going at a faster pace, which causes us to get caught up in a collective maelstrom and lose our ability to be patient. The need for instant gratification is completely contrary to the qualities of patience and persistence. Some things are just going to take time.

Lack of patience leads to frustration. Frustration is very capable of creating the desire to quit working on what ever demanding project you may have going. One has to be aware of which things cause personal frustration, and then come up with a method to overcome that frustration. For example, if I have a keyboard part to learn that I can’t play yet, I like to look at the whole thing first, so I can map out a plan of attack. I usually will break down the challenging task into small workable chunks. My belief is you have to walk before you can run. After I’ve made a plan, I will put the keyboard part together chunk by chunk till I can play it. To be able to play more interesting and complex music, you have to be willing to be patient and take the steps necessary to see and understand the complete picture. By understanding more of the musical puzzle, playing more complex music will eventually happen with greater ease. By breaking things down and being thorough, you can achieve your goals. If playing music was easy, everyone would do it!

So often, I encounter students that would rather bail on learning a piece of music than take the time to really work it out. It seems easier to have the “I Just Can’t Do It” attitude. One reason for this is that they may have not developed the skill of being patient while working at a challenging task. Teaching a student to be patient and figure out all the details is an important part of learning music. If they develop patience and planning, they will be more likely to achieve their goals, and eventually become more independent. Another reason for the “I Just Can’t Do It” attitude is that ego makes the student self-aware. Being self-aware makes you realize that you may not be playing up to a certain musical ideal, which is a good thing as long as you don’t get completely discouraged. For some, the ego has become hyper-sensitive, which leads to the desire to avoid the demanding music ideal all together. No one wants to play badly, but if you are going to progress you have to be willing to crash and burn to learn. Being patient and persistent through the crashing and burning process builds character, and eventually for most, the ability to achieve what they set out to conquer. Through patient, persistent repetition when practicing, over time one can achieve most anything. On the other hand, minimal effort achieves minimal results.

On the other hand, ego can also can lead to a false sense of actual ability, which is bad for progress. You can see this in a musician or student who’s arrogance far outweighs their ability. This person is in denial. They do not want to acknowledge any shortcomings they have in their ability, but usually are keen to point out other players lack of abilities. This aspect of the ego causes them to not set goals and target musical achievements past what they can already do. They’re quite sure that they have everything together, and don’t need to be working on broadening their skills at all. This type of person thinks they have it so together, they don’t even have to deal with being patient and persistent. Generally, this person is insecure or an oblivious jerk, or both.

To progress, you have to be disciplined and stay persistent. If you are not naturally a patient person, being disciplined will be a challenge, and there is no way to be persistent without being disciplined. Your attitudes are all intertwined and directly affect your ability to achieve past what you are naturally capable of, or can already do. If one can’t get a grip on being disciplined, they will be challenged to find their consistent practice routine. With out keeping a persistent attitude towards practice and expanding ones ability, a musician can’t help but be stagnant in their growth. Stagnation then stifles creativity. Stifled creativity is just bad for all of us!

Check out my review of Acoustic Privacy from this great band Inoust.

Wonderful Music.

Acoustic Privacy is a fantastic, intimate musical journey with thoughtful playing
and compositions that touches the heart and soul of one’s inner spirit. The
combination of Claudio Allia on piano and alto sax, Riccardo Samperi on guitars,
Paul Wertico on drums and Alberto Amato on double bass is a perfect fit for this
great music. Collectively they have achieved a musical statement with “Acoustic
Privacy” that will be considered as strong as any of the ECM Keith Jarrett Quartet
recordings, both musically and sonically.

Silent Hunger has soaring melodies and harmonic movement with a 3 groove that is
inspiring, similar to Kenny Wheeler’s composition Gnu High.
Expensive Mood with Gabriella Grasso on vocals is a deep, introspective musical
adventure that will take you to a variety of inner places.

Mouthfeel is thoughtful and expressive with very cool harmonic motion. The
combination of sax and nylon string guitar together is magical.

Prayer Warrior is one of those compositions so well written and performed that you
will never get tired of listening to it. Bubble Tea is great fun. Very interesting lines
and harmonies that have a vibe and feel in the same league as the great
composer/arranger Vince Mendoza.

Xandracos is another great composition with Ruggero Rotolo on drums. The
interaction and sensitivity between the musicians makes this tune a wonderful
example of jazz being played with the expressive feel of classical chamber music.
Nocebo has very cool grooves with passionate, classical inspired interludes. The hint
of reggae at the beginning of the guitar solo was a wonderful touch with the mix of
influences on this piece.

Coelacanthus is the epitome of Chamber Jazz. The composition is strong enough on
its own but the addition of the great string arranging makes the music soar in epic
proportions. Acoustic Privacy is simply one of the best recordings I have heard in a
long time. Insout takes the best of the Jazz and Classical worlds and molds this music
into an example of what art is about. Insout is truly a creative force and Acoustic
Privacy is must have in one’s music collection.

Dave Latchaw – LatchMusic.com

You can’t be a student of music and not know of Michael Brecker.

Found this on the web and thought I would pass this info on.

Michael Brecker is 56 and an internationally renowned jazz musician. As a
result of his harmonic innovations, Michael is among the most studied
contemporary instrumentalists in music schools throughout the world today.
Michael has recorded and performed with a virtual Who’s Who of hundreds of
Jazz and pop giants including McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, James Taylor,
Chick Corea, Chet Baker, George Benson, Quincy Jones, John Lennon, Charles
Mingus, Joni Mitchell, Aerosmith, Paul Simon, Wynton Marsalis, Frank
Sinatra, James Brown, Bruce Springsteen, Steely Dan, Pat Metheny, Billy Joel
and Elton John. As a leader and co-leader of The Brecker Brothers (with
Randy Brecker) and Directions in Music (with Herbie Hancock and Roy
Hargrove), Michael has received 11 Grammy Awards-more than any saxophonist.
For further information, go to http://www.michaelbrecker.com

LETTER FROM SUSAN BRECKER:

PLEASE SEND THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE YOU KNOW

Dear Family and Friends,

My husband, Michael Brecker, has been diagnosed with MDS (myelodysplastic
syndrome) and it’s critical that he has a bone marrow or blood stem cell transplant
(which has nothing to do with embryonic stem cells). The initial search for a donor, including Michael’s siblings and children, has not resulted in a suitable match. We now hope to have as many people tested as
possible that share a similar genetic background as my husband. There are some important points to understand concerning this process:

1. The screening involves only a blood test. It can be done very easily at a
donor center of the National Marrow Donor Program [NMDP]. The blood test
identifies your HLA tissue type. The cost for the test is generally $40 to
$95 depending on the donor center and the lab that completes the test. After
this initial testing all medical expenses are paid for by the patient or the
patient’s insurance. Go to www.marrow.org or call 1-800-MARROW-2 to find
the donor center nearest you. In NYC, you can make an appointment with
Frazier at the NY Blood Bank [212-570-3441 / 310 East 67th Street]. The
test is $40. If it’s difficult to make it to a blood center, private kits
are available from Tepnel Life Codes [800-915-3695]. Order the “HLA
[A][B][DR]” kit for $140. You will need to have a small vial of blood drawn.
Indicate to Tepnel that your test is for “Michael Brecker” and they will
know to whom to forward your results.

2. As a volunteer donor, you are never legally obligated to donate. A late
decision not to donate, however, can be life-threatening to a patient and
among the most disheartening news a family can ever receive. Consider your
decision to be a donor carefully. Thanks.

3. Should you be selected as a potential donor for Michael or any other
patient, please understand that there have been tremendous advances in “bone
marrow transplants” and the term itself can be misleading. At major cancer
centers, blood stem cells can, in nearly all instances, be harvested
directly from your blood. A donor is simply connected to a machine that
separates the needed cells before the donor’s blood reenters his/her system.
On occasion such cells may have to be harvested directly from your bone
marrow. All the necessary precautions are taken to ensure the donor’s
well-being and safety. In the event you’re asked to donate blood stem cells,
a volunteer will first receive a thorough physical examination—at no cost to
him or herself.

4. A match for Michael would be most likely come from those of Eastern
European Jewish descent. If you or anyone you know are in this category
please make a special effort to immediately get tested. Please also note
that testing is free for minority groups at NMDP blood centers. Ultimately,
you would be doing something not just for Michael, but for so many more whom
are in a similar situation as my husband.

5. You are now part of our internet-based drive for donor testing. If
everyone who receives this email can motivate a bunch of their friends to
get tested, and those friends then forward the email to get their friends to
get tested, we will have rapidly expanded the pool of potential donors. I
urge all of you to get tested AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Finally, any local National Marrow Donor Program donor center can assist in
organizing a drive for Michael, although it would be desirable if you can
get a large group, e.g. a synagogue, to sponsor it. The “Gift of Life,” an
organization whose mission is to increase the representation of the Jewish
people in the bone marrow donor pool will test you for free when part of a
donor drive organized through “Gift of Life.” For further information call
561.988.0100 http://www.giftoflife.org. There exist other organizations that
have a similar mission for African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, etc.
Whatever your roots, please get tested to assist others!

Should you have any questions about any of this, do not hesitate to get in
touch with Michael’s management office at 212.302.9200 or
PLEASE REFER TO THE FAQ BELOW THIS LETTER

info@michaelbrecker.com

Thank you so much for your love and support. We are so grateful.

Susan ox

FAQs ABOUT STEM CELL TRANSPLANTS

Susan Brecker’s heartfelt plea elicited an outpouring of support for
Michael—and an outpouring of questions. As there is outdated and conflicting
information on the web concerning the stem cell transplant process that can
assist Michael and so many others, we assembled a list of frequently asked
questions—a hybrid of material found throughout the web in addition to new
information. Before contacting Michael’s management office with your
questions, please review the following. Thank you for your support.

1: What is a bone marrow or blood stem cell transplant?

A: It’s a potentially life-saving treatment for patients with MDS, leukemia,
lymphoma, and other blood diseases. The transplanted healthy stem cells from
a donor replace a patient’s unhealthy blood cells that have been destroyed
by chemotherapy.

2: Are these the same stem cells about which there exists so much
controversy?

A: No. Those are embryonic stem cells—which are completely
undifferentiated. Donors would be providing blood stem cells where the
extent of differentiation is only the specific type of blood cell that will
form.

3: Does my blood type matter?

A: Not at all. The testing is for genotype (tissue type) and not blood
type.

4: Who can be tested?

A: Donors must be between the ages of 18 and 60, in good general health and
be free of chronic diseases. For example, volunteers with serious asthma,
Hepatitis B or C or most forms of cancer (regardless of whether in
remission) cannot be accepted.

5: What is the procedure?

A: Testing only takes a couple of minutes and, at worse, is as painless as
giving blood. Blood is drawn for testing and a consent form is filled out.
In some instances, a buccal swab (a sterile Q-tip which is rubbed along the
wall of your inner cheek to collect cells) is used.

6: Does a person’s race or ethnicity affect matching?

A: Because tissue type is inherited, patients are most likely to match
someone of their same race and ethnicity. There is a special need to recruit
more donors who are, for example, African Americans, Native Americans,
European Jews, Armenians, Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, Asians, Hispanics
and Latinos. The reason why there are greater number or donors needed for
these groups is as a result of either purges of the population (genocide,
etc.) and/or relatively few people in the group in the international
registry. A match for Michael would be most likely come from those of
Eastern European Jewish descent.

7: Where do I go to get tested?

A: Contact the NY Blood Bank [212-570-3441 / 310 East 67th Street] and make an
appointment for HLA typing. Due to an overwhelming number of volunteers, walk-ins
will not be accepted. If you’re not in NY, go to www.marrow.org or call 1-800MARROW-2 to find the donor center nearest you. Marrow.org will assist donors who
wish to join the national registry. We hope that you will join the national registry,
however, if you do not wish to join the registry [see Q13] or it’s difficult to make it to a
blood center, private kits are available from Tepnel Life Codes [800-915-3695]. Order
the “HLA [A][B][DR]” kit for $140. You will need to have a small vial of blood drawn.
Indicate to Tepnel that your test is for “Michael Brecker” and they will know to whom to
forward your results.

8: How much is the testing and who pays for it?

A: The test generally cost $40 to $95 depending on the donor center and the
laboratory that completes the test. Testing at the New York Blood Center is
just $40. However, if you’re African American, Hispanic, Native American or
Asian testing is free at any donor center that’s part of the National Marrow
Donor Program network [800-MARROW-2]. More than 100 centers throughout the
country—including the New York Blood Center are part of the network.
Following the initial testing, all medical expenses are paid for by the
patient or the patient’s insurance.

9: What is the test for?

A: The test is to determine whether a tissue-type match exists between the
donor and the patient. More specifically, potential donors [and the patient]
are given an HLA or Human Leukocyte Antigen test. Antigens are found on the
surface of infection-fighting white blood cells (leukocytes). A match
between specific donor and recipient antigens is critical to having a
successful transplant (i.e., where the two immune systems will not go to war
with one another). Should you see your HLA results, the numbers indicated
are the identifying gene-pair markers (alleles) that are responsible for
your “A” antigen, for example, to be different than someone else’s “A”
antigen. In the fortuitous event you’re deemed a good match after three
specific antigens are compared, you will be asked for a second blood test.

10: What are the chances of my being selected?

A: As you might imagine, given the number of genes that need to match, the
overall chances are quite low…but the more people tested, the more likely
there will be a perfect match awaiting everyone.

11: Has Michael’s family been tested?

A: Yes, both his siblings and children—none match. There is also a rumor
afloat [04AUG] that a match has been found for Michael…. regrettably, this
is inaccurate.

12: How are patients actually matched with donors?

A: The results of blood samples from donors or umbilical cord blood units
[see 17] are added to different registries. The registries are then
searched for a donor whose tissue type matches that of their patient.

13: Can I be tested to be a donor only for Michael?

A: Yes, but on behalf of Michael, we hope that you would not embrace this
alternative. Explains Michael, “I hope to encourage as many people as
possible to get tested not just to assist me, but to help thousands of
others who are either facing or who will be facing the same challenge with
which I’m now confronted.” Should you nonetheless wish to make a donation
only for Michael, private kits are available from Tepnel Life Codes [see
7].

14: If I’m not eligible or prefer not to be a donor, is there anything
else I can do to help?

A; [1] Please encourage everyone you know to be a donor irrespective of
whether they may be a possible match for Michael. There are many people in
the same situation as Michael that are in need of a donor. [2] You can
organize a local donor drive in your community. For more information on
doing so, please contact Michael’s management at 212.302.9200 or
info@michaelbrecker.com. [3] Send a tax-deductible donation to The Marrow
Foundation [payable to: The Marrow Foundation; memo line: Time Is of the
Essence Fund]. All monies will be exclusively used for the testing of
potential donors—not those who just wish to assist Michael, but donors
willing to join the international registry.

The Marrow Foundation
Time is of the Essence Fund
400 Seventh Street, NW, Suite 206
Washington, DC 20004

15: Is there a difference between a bone marrow transplant and blood stem
cell transplant?

A: Yes…and no. As a result of new technologies, the term “bone marrow
transplant” is in part a misnomer. In earlier years marrow had be extracted
from a donor’s marrow. Today at leading cancer centers like Memorial Sloan
Kettering, the collecting process rarely occurs this way. A donor is simply
connected to a machine through an IV that separates and harvests the blood
stem cells from the donor’s blood before the blood returns to the donor
through a second IV. Instead of being tethered to a machine for a few hours,
some folks still prefer direct marrow collection—where medical technology
has also improved. Following anesthesia, marrow—-which continually
replenishes every 4-6 weeks—is withdrawn using fine hollow needles in the
hip. A sore bottom may result for a few days. In short, whatever the brief
discomfort of whichever method that’s used—it’s nothing compared to the
virtue and humanity of potentially saving a life.

16: Can I take my name off the donor registry at any time?

A: Yes, being on the registry just means that you may be asked to be a
donor. It is strongly preferred, however, that you remove your name from the
registry if you feel you may be disinclined to be a donor. Nothing may be as
heartbreaking as someone having to learn that there exists a perfect match
to save the life of a loved one…and the donor changed their mind about being
a donor. Being a donor is not deleterious to your health. While we hope that
you become a donor, please do not add your name to any donor registry if
you’re not prepared to step-up when the opportunity presents itself.

17: If I am a match, who pays for the necessary procedures?

A: If you are a match, the patient’s insurance pays for the entire
procedure—there is no cost to you. This includes the cost of the physical
you will receive to ensure that you’re in good health.

18: I’ve heard about “cord donations” and stem cells from umbilical cords—what’s that?

A: If you or anyone you know is having a child, inform the obstetrician that

you would like the umbilical cord to be delivered to a cord blood bank where

it is tested and where the blood stem cells are frozen for future use in the

event of a match. The collection does not pose any health risk to the mother

or baby and does not affect the birth process in any way. The cord would

otherwise simply be disposed of.

For further information on donating umbilical cord donations:
http://www.nationalcordbloodprogram.org

For ordering a private HLA kit:
http://www.bonemarrowtest.com/getting_tested/pricing_kit_ordering/index.asp

For further information on whether you qualify as a donor:
http://www.marrow.org/HELP/marrow_eligibility_guidelines.html

For learning where to get tested at a National Marrow Donor Program blood center:
http://www.marrow.org/cgi-bin/NETWORK/map.pl?ctr_typ=DC

If you’re Asian American you may wish to visit:
http://www.aadp.org or http://www.asianmarrow.org

If you’re African American:
http://www.aachac.org/healthfactsheets/bone_marrow.html

If you’re Jewish:
http://www.giftoflife.org

If you’re Latino or Hispanic:
http://www.icla.org