Years ago I was taking a lesson with Billy Bauer. It was raining out and we were talking about music and life ( same subject right). He said can you hear one rain drop fall at a time. When you can, you will hear music and understand life. Need I say more........
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So many times I'm asked am I not worried about my hands getting damaged being involved in the Martial Arts. The answer is NO!!! The Martial Way has given me an insight to life in the way of seeking balance.
As a musician I am always looking to get better, more knowledgeable. As a Martial Artist I seek balance a softer approach. For years my music eluded me because I tried so hard achieving perfection but as I live the Martial Way I have a softer way. How is this possible? Simply by accepting what I have and making that work for me. As a musician I pushed harder and harder every day seeking more and more but the martial way taught me to seek the simple and less therefore enjoying it ( music) more. Seeing the smallest flower and love it equally as a gift of life. It doesn't have to be any more than just that. Hang Tuffff, Ritche Deraney I was taking a lesson with Bucky Pizzarelli and I quote " one night I'm at Carnegie Hall and the next I'm playing at a nursing home. They're both equally important".
Music is about giving. The passion, the melody, the subtle and the joy. It's not about my ego. I run in too many musicians that forget. For whatever reasons the originators of this music always remembered it is always about learning. That comes from every person & experience you have but it's also about giving without expectation. February 28th, 2013
Welcome to my website. I have found over the years that because of the discipline of music, my life can either be obsessively complex or extremely simple, that all depends on my approach. To be honest as I am getting/am older I am looking for that simpler way but more so the balance of it all. I will never be perfect nor will I ever master the art of music. But I can be open and forever be a student. The first lesson I had with Billy Bauer, he was 60 years old, he said two things that changed my life a) that he was not a teacher but an instructor. He could give me the instructions but it was up to me to teach myself who I am & b) he was just scratching the surface. Man that threw me. Here’s a guy that is a legend saying these two things to me. What an amazing journey this has been. I have had some great opportunities and some not so great but all great lessons. In the 80’s, when I had hair……. I wrote a lot of pop tunes and one of them was called “West Side Pump Star”. One of the lines in that song was “… music’s in my soul part of the greatest invention”. I still feel that way today!!!!!! I love music so much and all it has given me. So thank you God for allowing me to experience this journey. Hang Tufffffffffff, Ritche |
AuthorRitche Deraney is a jazz guitarist located in Glen Rock, New Jersey  ArchivesCategories |
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