A week ago I spent Wednesday through Sunday at my first national music event: The Folk Alliance International Winter Music Camp and Conference. I can't tell you how much of a blast I had. Not only did I learn a ton, but I felt like a very respected member of the teaching staff for the camp. Tons of friendships and contacts were made, and a new step in my career was made.
Over the last week since then I have had two out of three gigs and tons of time trying to absorb the many notes that I took that week and made since. I've already logged something close to thirty (that's 30) hours this week in music between playing, practicing, and writing. In all of this, I have also been reflecting a lot.
In particular, I've been reflecting on my time spent on guitar vs. my time spent on ukulele.
Honestly, I love both instruments, but as a musician I am constantly forced to do two things very well: Play my instrument and create an image.
I can play both guitar and ukulele well, but ukulele comes much more naturally to me. It seems like everything from rhythm to melodies lay out in a much more logical way. Which is crazy, I know, given how similar the instruments are.
As for image... Well, let me just say that one of my favorite gigs, Headrush, talks more about my ukulele music than about my guitar. Even my mom likes my ukulele more than my guitar.
I don't want you to get the idea that I'm giving up guitar for ukulele. Far from it. My work at my church alone will keep me playing guitar quite a bit every week. Add in the musicals I do and the fact that I just really like playing jazz guitar, and I'll be keeping up with it.
But, as my forte performance instrument... I've decided to finish the Koolaide and go full on with ukulele. I'll be focusing more time on that instrument and working more and more on the arrangements for my gigs. I'll also be doing some recording and notation which I will share with my blog here. The end goal: Building my brand as a ukulele player.
~Danny
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