March, 2007

"Making a Dream Happen"

by Webmaster

In Feb. 2006, I wrote an article entitled, "Visualize and Dream". It was about the T. V. show "West Wing." Martin Sheen was quoted as saying they didn't think the show would be a success because there wasn't action (car chases, etc). "The action was in the word." I wrote about the oral tradition and Shakespeare's plays. The title of the article has more to do with what I want to write about here, not the content.

Last month, I wrote an article entitled, "Acknowledging". It referred to focusing your attention on what you want, and thereby getting more of what you want. If you want help, acknowledge the people who give you help, and you'll get more help. It was more about how to make your dream happen, by acknowledging.

This month I want to write about the reward of visualizing, dreaming and focusing my attention on what I want.

Let me start by acknowledging that I am not the greatest singer. I love to sing, but I don't have a gorgeous voice. I'm also not a hot guitar player. I'm a solid rhythm guitarist, most of the time. But, I get a lot of enthusiastic, positive feedback about the songs I write.

So, I decided to make a CD of my original tunes.

It started with a dream: I want a CD of my original tunes. Over the last few months, I developed a clear vision of what I want this CD to be. I'm rallying my friends to help out. Some of my friends are marvelous instrumentalists. Some are wonderful harmony singers. Some are great song-writers and we're co-writing songs. Some folks are helping me arrange the songs so they have more presence and impact.

Everyone is helping me make the best possible recording of my songs.

Four people who are instrumental (no pun intended) are Ernie Martinez , Christy Wessler, B. J. Suter, and Jim Ratts of Runaway Express . Ernie is producing my CD, arranging some of the songs, and providing a lot of instrumental tracks. We also co-wrote a cowboy song, and Ernie will be singing it and doing then entire arrangement. Christy Wessler is coaching me through the vocals and through the live performances of my songs. She is singing harmony on my songs. B. J. Suter, president of the Colorado Bluegrass Music Society , is arranging the harmonies on some of the songs, and co-writing some of my songs, which she will sing on my CD. Last, but definitely not least, is Jim Ratts, Raven Recording, who is doing a masterful (no pun intended) job of recording, coaching, arranging harmonies, and singing on one of the songs (so far).

As a result of including my friends, my co-written songs are better than they would have been if I'd written them myself. And, the recordings of my songs are better than they would have been if I'd done it all myself.

Two songs are almost done. They will be released on a sampler CD, which I'll sell while I record more songs.

My dream was to have a CD of my songs. My vision has developed into a clear picture of a CD of my songs; a CD which also empowers and acknowledges my friends who are helping me accomplish my dream. We're all having fun with this project and some of my friends have told me that they were in a stuck place--uninspired and blocked as writers. Somehow, by asking them for help, I managed to inspire them and get them creating again.

That makes my CD project more valuable to me, like the project has become bigger than itself.

I wish for all of you that you have a dream and make it become a reality. And I wish for you that your project grows and takes on a life of its own.

Thanks for visiting AcousticByLines.com.

 ©2004-2023
 All rights reserved
 AcousticByLines
Colorado Sandstorm Productions