Steve Jobs on Following Your Heart

‎"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything -- all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure -- these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma -- which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice."

-Steve Jobs

Back to Square One

I have been practicing with a local group here in Hollister, but they have other commitments and can only practice infrequently.  For that reason, I won't wait for them and any other bands, I will practice on my own.

My goal is to play string bass for jazz standards, jazz swing and mellow jazz.  Therefore, I will discard all practice of other music genres and concentrate on what I love.

I am currently gathering sheet music and chord charts of songs from "the Great American Song Book," that is, standards like "Moon Glow," "Star Dust," "Misty," "All of Me," etc.  I will make it my business to learn many of these songs, and then look for a jazz trio or quartet who loves the same music.

I am cutting to the chase.

"C'est Si Bon" Ow, Cela fait mal à mes oreilles! Sauve qui peut!

Anyone can make a fool of himself on the internet, but how many can make a fool out of himself in French?  Only the coolest of the cool, that's who.  Below I sing "C'est Si Bon."  The key is very much within my range, so I guess I have no excuses this time.

"All of Me," a Great Jazz Standard

I rested my voice for a couple of weeks and today I recorded this sing along to karaoke, the great jazz standard "All of Me."  Recorded by Frank Sinatra, it has also been recorded or performed by Michael Bublé and Harry Connick, Jr.  All in all, I was pleased by the absence of stress in my voice.  I felt much more relaxed singing this song (rest helps).

My goal is to be able to sing well enough for gigs, i.e. live performances before an audience, without anyone throwing empty beer bottles at me or making rude noises.  Listen to the song with that in mind.  I am never going to replace Michael Bublé.

Have a listen below.



Here's the song again, with more chest voice per Bro's suggestion. This is what some people call "singing from your gut."  It doesn't feel completely comfortable to me, but I do believe it sounds somewhat better.