Author: Mike Shaw

Of all the many life lessons that learning to play music teaches, that is, how playing music improves your life, one of the most important is self-confidence. Athletes, successful business owners, doctors and lawyers—there’s no way they can be effective or accomplished without a great deal of confidence in themselves. The same is true for…

A tradition among jazz musicians is bringing along younger players, giving them a chance to mature and grow their skills as well as their love of playing. The tradition plays itself out in many ways, such as in jam sessions, university jazz programs, and private lessons. But it is also at the heart of groups…

Sometimes, the audience is memorable. Billed “an elegant evening” of jazz the October 6 performance at Atlanta’s Spivey Hall might just as well have been advertised “an energetic evening.” From the get-go, singer Lori Williams’ interpretation of “I Can’t Help It,” a song Stevie Wonder wrote for Michael Jackson, through the excited riffs of the…

I remember a conversation I had with my parents as I was graduating from college and telling them that I wanted to try to make a career playing music. I had made money in college singing in a coffeehouse, enough money that I reasoned I could continue to support myself playing guitar and singing. My…

I’m compelled to call attention to jazz vocalist Karla Harris, who appeared with us on our Music Life and Times podcast, Episode 36. In addition to performing, she has been, from the earliest days of her career, dedicated to the music education of her local community. Initially it was her hometown St. Louis, where she…

You’ve heard the saying—it’s from a John Keats poem—“A thing of beauty is a joy forever.”  One of the gifts that music gives those of us who learn to play is the enjoyment of playing, and playing with others, that lasts as long as we do. I was reminded of the longevity that comes with…

Our podcast interview this week was with Atlanta’s big band leader and ubiquitous performer, trumpeter/vocalist Joe Gransden, who talks eloquently in Episode 35 of Music Life and Times not only about his beginnings and career, but of the returns music delivers to all who commit themselves to learning to play. Joe’s been plying Atlanta with…

One of the things you learn learning music is to always do your best. Sounds clichéd, but as in other things in life it can be tempting sometimes to just mail it in. You might be playing an event where the people are more interested in each other than your music. Or you’re preoccupied with…

My Music Life and Times podcast partner, Kevin Bales, says: “It’s funny how much of what we do musically is not about being perfect and this is not even a jazz genre issue. I love the stories about accomplished classical pianists who will play a wrong note, then repeat the phrase with the correct note…

The underlying purpose of our podcast, Music Life and Times, is to discuss the life lessons that music teaches you and one of those is cooperation, and maybe to take it a step further, collaboration. When you’re playing by yourself you’re pretty much responsible for everything. It’s not just rendering the bass parts and the…