Interesting

I don't know if I've ever talked much about Jared Anerson. He is a worship leader from Colorado who is a part of the Desperation confrence. Pretty cool stuff....definately check him out. You may have heard some of his stuff on the radio ("Amazed", "Beauty of the Lord", "Rescue"). Some very good tunes. I like his music for a few reasons...very well written, beautiful instrumentation, great practical arrangements, and he writes songs that can easily be used in worship.

Well, a few weeks ago when the Nashville stuff came about, I stumbled onto his MySpace site. Unlike most artists on MySpace, he actually maintains his own, blog and everything. So, I figured I would drop him a line and see what sort of information and advice he might have. Not expecting much back, I received an email from him last night:

i would say, finish your degree. serve in your church, keep doing what your doing. always play to a click (metronome). study drums like crazy. study music in general (bass lines and patterns, chord theory, basic recording and production). get a simple recording software and dive in. make tracks to songs that already exist. write songs. nobody makes on just one skill. you have to be decent at several things.

always try to play with people that are better than you are. find musicians you respect in your area and become friends. be the best at what you do. invest in people around you. become a great man, not just a great musician. most great musicians that i know are great people aside from their music.

you never want to try and jump into shoes you're not big enough to fill. like proverbs says, it's better to choose a seat at the end of the table and be called up to the seat of honor, than the other way around.

Pretty cool advice...not unlike most of my friends said on here. I find it cool that I am already on that path he mentioned...you know, absorbing and learning more.

So what does this mean....not much. All my friends have said this same thing, but I was impressed that Jared said that same thing, and seemed very eager to help. I have decided I am not going to transfer to Belmont at least until I get a degree at SFA. Why? Because I need to learn more, grow more, be more, before I make a jump into that. I have wanted to improve my songwriting for a while, but maybe it's the perfect time to pick that up, mix up some music theory, and begin writing again. Maybe working with Jonathan and possibly have somebody to write with would help.

I am taking an electronic music class (AGAIN) next semester, and may try to see if I can learn some more theory in there....probably will see if the school offers some more. Also, Graham Tyson from FUMC in Lufkin has been writing a bit and maybe recording some of his stuff will help me grow some more.

I never want to reach a point where I'm not growing though....I want to always know more, and not just about drums, but music and life in general. I am reaching this point where I have decided that to be successful in the music industry, you have to be talented in many areas, and be respected in what you do. I feel I am reaching that....reaching a point where people respect me as a musician, but as a person too. I need to continue to grow msuically, but also spiritually. Go further and deeper into the Word, closer to Christ, learn and grow in Him.

Wow, isn't that cool how it all goes back to the Creator....everything is centered in Him, no matter how big or small...it always goes back to where it came from? I know this, but maybe I am just now opening my eyes to that.


Anways, check out Jared Anderson. Purchase the "From the Rooftops" CD by Desperation. He wrote a good majority of the songs on that record. Pick it up, you won't regret it.