Okay, if this vid coming up doesn’t warm your heart … check your pulse.
First. Old Yeller is a white Ovation Custom Balladeer my wife bought for me back in the 90’s. I gifted it to my son. You know. Pass on a treasured piece of my musical history to my boy.
His son, Jackson, or Jax as he likes to be called, was born a micro-preemie at 1 pounds six ounces.
Yeah, I know. That’s pretty small. But he’s a fighter.
And here’s the thing, he’s two-years old now, and that little 21-inch rock star loves music.
That little dude even has his own drum kit. I’m not kidding you… and he lays the sticks to the drum heads, too.
Well he’s not a Buddy Rich, or Mike Portnoy yet… he’s only two for crying out loud.
Maybe I’ll show you his reaction getting it on Christmas day sometime.
Anyway, I’ve got a video here of Jax checking out Old Yeller.
Here’s what I picked up on songwriting from Jax watching him.
Even at two-years old, he’s seen daddy’s guitars, drums, etc. for over half of his life.
He’s no stranger to the music room. Camped out inside the kick drum with his blanky a few times. What a cutie.
But in this vid, he’s in awe of being able to touch the strings of Old Yeller.
Jax approaches it like it’s the first time he’s ever seen it.
If that gasp of awe and self-applause in the beginning don’t put a baseball sized lump in your throat…
Well, maybe it just means you’re not his G-pa, but still…
It made me think how in life, and in songwriting, we can get caught up on the ruts and ritualistic perspectives.
What would it be like to approach songwriting like Jax here, with that level of awe?
What if we stood back and took a few new swings at it?
Then, actually use techniques we half-knew about, but never consciously put in our songs?
Or better, check out techniques we’d not heard of before and use them too?
Maybe use a monthly technique or tip as a featured incentive to write a new tune?
That’s what Tune Booster is about.
Taking a fresh approach… Gasping with a new breath… Digging in… Giving your songwriting a boost.
Maiden issue coming up shortly.
Get your tune on.
Until then…
Keep writing from the heart!