The Saxophone Diaries: Stories and tips from my 30+ years in music - Softcover

What do you learn in the music business in 30 years? A lot. James shares stories, tips and inspiration from his 30 year career in the music field as an Army band member in Japan, as well as experiences and lessons learned as a self-employed musician and public school music teacher. About the author: James has been in the music field since 1986, performing and teaching, composing, recording, speaking and writing. In his current position at Falcon High School, he teaches band, orchestra and guitar. Although teaching is his first love, James still finds time to perform and speak at churches, schools and businesses. James’ Education: - St. Joseph’s College of Maine; B.S. Business Administration - The Army School of Music; all kinds of music performance and theory - Western State Colorado University; teaching license - Southwestern Oklahoma State University; Master’s in Music Education James and his wife have four beautiful children, two of whom are married. He married his high school sweetheart. She is a dental hygienist and occasionally strums a few things on guitar. They have two granddaughters. James is a member of the Colorado Music Educator’s Association, the Colorado Bandmaster’s Association, The Pikes Peak Jazz and Swing Society, the American String Teacher’s Association, the SPCP (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Percussionists) (this one isn’t real). He is also a member of the Colorado Italian Musicmaster’s Association (you have to be a musician and 50% Italian to be inducted). James’ life-long goal continues to be to act his shoe size, not his age (9 ½ for the record). Find out more about James at: www.jamesdivine.net PARTIAL TABLE OF CONTENTS I ALMOST DIDN’T JOIN 6TH GRADE BAND IF I CAN JUST GET MY CD “OUT THERE” THE BOOKING PROCESS MYTH OF THE OVERNIGHT SUCCESS A SAXOPHONE, AN ITALIAN MOM AND UNDERWEAR PERFECTION IS OVERRATED THE PERFORMANCE STARTS THAT MORNING AND SOMETIMES THE NIGHT BEFORE DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME ON NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS SAY NO! SO YOU CAN SAY YES! STAYING FAITHFUL TO YOUR SPOUSE A BIG GREEN CAR, CONTRACTS, UNIONS AND RAY CHARLES SOME BEATS NONE. ADD VALUE. BE ACCESSIBLE. BE A TORTOISE IN A WORLD OF HARES DON’T CONFUSE BEING FAMOUS WITH MAKING MONEY HE NO LOOK GOOD, PHYSICAL APPEARANCE BOUNDARIES ARE IMPORTANT THE LONGEST FOURTH OF JULY EVER THE GENERAL IS COMING! THE GENERAL IS COMING! WHEN I’M WITH YOU I FEEL ALL COLD AND FIZZY SHE PICKED ME OVER CHUCK NORRIS WHY I’LL NEVER HIRE THE BEST DRUMMER I KNOW EGG-SHELLS AND OTHER CRAP FOR BREAKFAST (A PARABLE) I’M A QUITTER AND PROUD OF IT A LOVE LETTER INSPIRED BY THE BEATLES A GIRL, A PAPER BAG AND A POT BELLY I FELT LIKE A ROCK STAR BIG BERTHA IS WATCHING CAN AN ITALIAN LUNCH FEED 5,000 BIG GIRLS (AND BOYS) DO CRY $7 CAN BUY YOU A CAR LASAGNA CAN PREDICT MARRIAGE SUCCESS WINGING IT IS GREAT IF YOU’RE A BIRD SWALLOW THE FROG TREAT SOME PEOPLE LIKE A DOG MIGHT TREAT THEM DON’T BE A FAKE DONUT THE BOY WHO WANTED TO BUILD A TREEHOUSE TO SAVE HIS MOM 8 LIFE LESSONS I LEARNED ON A CRUISE THANK GOD I’M BORING IF I DON’T MAKE IT ON AMERICAN IDOL, MY LIFE IS OVER WHO CUT MY FUEL LINE THE FIRST (AND ONLY) TIME I PICKED UP A PROSTITUTE HE PULLED OUT HIS GUN AND SAID THIS TO ME THE OLD MAN AND THE C THAT’S MY ORCHESTRA TEACHER! LEAD OR GET OUT OF THE WAY GOD MUST HAVE LIKED OUR HALFTIME SHOW WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH A DRUNKEN SAILOR I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO JAIL WHEN SOMEONE REQUESTS AN ENCORE, MAKE SURE THEY REALLY MEAN IT THE BEST GRANDMA EVER TROMBONES SHOULD BE IN BACK WHAT DO GENERALS KNOW ABOUT TROMBONES? NOT MUCH. SOMETIMES CHANGE COMES SLOWLY WE NEED MORE LEADERS LIKE MO WHERE ARE THE CHICKENS? DEPRESSED AND DIDN’T KNOW IT THE UGLY DUCKLING TURNED INTO A SWAN YOU COULD NEVER DISAPPOINT ME I WASN’T ALWAYS THIS WAY FROM WELFARE TO WOW, HOW BAND SAVED MY LIFE IS ALMOST BEING FIRED A BAD THING THE TOP 8 MISTAKES PRESENTERS AND TRAINERS MAKE COACHING AND TRAINING