I covered the next two paragraphs on my Facebook artist page and on my Patreon page, so feel free to skip that part if you already saw those posts:
Patreon is similar to Kickstarter... except it is for ongoing projects rather than a single project that needs funding. It is a way for people to support creatives - to allow them to keep doing what they do best. The creatives have various "rewards" for different payment levels, these are things they give to those who become "patrons" or supporters/participants of their creative journey. Some charge per project, others charge once a month. There is a huge range of talent over here, pretty inspiring!
How I am starting out with this, is with a specific year long project. I want to create/record one original small song (probably 1-2 min. or less) a month and release it through Patreon. If you would like to participate/support this project, it is $1/month (which is basically you pay $1 and get to hear and download the monthly original song - the song is yours to keep - and also get to enjoy whatever other content I share over there). I guess I am almost using it as a “shop” in a way or like one of those monthly subscription that we see a lot of these days that involve paying per month for something that interests you yet has an element of surprise (I don't know what to expect from these songs, so it is a surprise for me too!).
So, music...
Music was my first love. As a little kid, I would set up buckets like a drum set and use pencils (specifically with big erasers) as drumsticks. I used the vacuum cleaner handle to belt out tunes. I really loved my tiny kiddie keyboard. When I was eight, I started piano lessons. When I was in eighth grade, I started drum lessons. Soon after that, I found a new kind of music in the form of the band Creed, which blew my mind - from lyrics to the incredible guitar picking, it took music to a much deeper level for me. I just felt this need to be able to play these songs, so I started to teach myself guitar. The song I started with was What's This Life For (here is the guitar book on Amazon or check out the My Own Prison album on Amazon). I also started composing music on the computer. As an adult, I've added dabbling in ukulele and xylophone.
I used to be able to sit at the piano (or with any instrument really) and play for hours. However, in my early twenties, some health issues crept up and has made it difficult to continue to play music, especially like I once could, much like some of the struggles I have talked about with art. With art, I have been able to find new ways to create: I've embraced smaller works, and I have expanded the range of mediums/materials so that I can bounce around between several projects depending on what I can physically do and what I feel inspired by. I haven't found tricks like this with music yet, I don't know if they exist. I have been grateful to be able to play a few songs, once in a great while - as that can sometimes be difficult in itself!
Much like embracing small works of art, I have had several small songs that have come about through the years. I tend to devalue them, because they aren't full length or anything terribly amazing. However, there is something kind of neat about them that I thought would be interesting to explore. And while I explore, I thought it may also be time to start opening up this creative outlet to share...
I think I may stop there for now, and continue this another day.
Affiliate disclaimer: NFG (artist) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. ...What this essentially means is that if you use the Amazon links in this blog (which I tried to label as such) and make a purchase, I would earn a small commission. That being said, I would suggest these things regardless of how you choose to purchase (if you choose to purchase).
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