Monday, February 22, 2021

Why I Share Sunrises

 I walk with Beau before sunrise every day and take pictures that I share on Instagram and Facebook. At first I was doing this for my own enjoyment - saving the moment for future reflection. The early morning is so peaceful and soulful, and sharing the time with my dog Beau is a good bonding experience for the two of us. It also charges me up for the day - giving me depth and strength that lets me remain on center through whatever trials may come during the day. Sharing these moments seems like the natural extension of the joy I get from seeing these things - hoping that the pictures inspire the same kind of peace and stability that I feel when I am there seeing the scenes. I have said before that I think giving is one of the secrets of life. It turns us into a well of strength and inspiration for others, and it taps the good flow of energy that emanates from the big mysterious power that you can call God or the universe or spirit. It seems to be where artistic intention comes from whether it’s painting or music or literature. Even in times of trouble like we’re in now we need to have these endeavors that remind us why we’re here and what we’re truly living for. So we share our gifts with others to try to help to make the world a better place. It’s worth it.


——


What have I been up to?


I did a couple live online shows for my senior facilities last week. They went very well. I’m in hopes that once I have the vaccine I can go back into many of these facilities - with caution.


My Thursday show doing dog and cat songs was a blast! There were so many interesting tunes that were suggested or discovered, and I think we did justice to our furry family members. I even wrote a song about my sunrise walks with Beau that I performed both Thursday and Sunday.


My Sunday show was very enjoyable even though we were missing a lot of regulars. I know the weather had knocked several folks offline.


——


What am I up to this week?


I just have one senior facility show to do online this week. I had hoped to do more during this isolated time, but it hasn’t worked out that way. Most facilities have limited internet access, and so it just isn’t practical to do online shows for them. That will come in time, I’m sure.


My Thursday show online 7-8:30 mountain time this week will be the theme of car songs. There are so many great songs about our love affair with the automobile, and this will be a really fun show. Please tune in if you can.


My Sunday show online 7-8:30 mountain time will be the favorites and requests we always enjoy. My request list has gotten huge over these months because I can really only get 20 or so songs into the time allotted, and I get many more requests than we have time for. It’s a lot of fun, and I really enjoy surprising someone with a request he or she made as much as two months before that I have finally gotten to.


——


That’s it for this week. I encourage you to give when you can and see how much you actually get from the experience as you become a conduit of goodwill toward others. It’s definitely worth it - as I said above.


Best always,


Tom


——


Details this week:


Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of car songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Thursday, February 25, 7-8:30 pm mountain time 


Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, February 28, 7-8:30 pm mountain time

Monday, February 15, 2021

Pets

I wanted to write about my best friends today - our devoted pets over the years. We had a dog, many guinea pigs, and several cats as kids, and we’ve had 4 dogs, 1 ferret, and 4 cats and several foster dogs over the past 35+ years on our own. They’ve all had an awareness of life and living that took me many years to accomplish myself. Some have been selfish. Some have been loving no matter what they were going through. Some have been goofy and cute. And some have been frustrating to understand. But they have all been friends and companions at a level that seems deeper than most human friendships I have had. Those of you who have had pets know of what I speak. They seem to have an innate sense of awareness that we big-brained beings have lost. They understand just being in the moment without all the baggage we attach to living. So we develop these relationships with these little beings that enrich us in ways that are hard to fathom, and when we have to say goodbye at the end of their shorter lives (unless you have a parrot) the experience is deep and affecting. So here’s to our beloved pets today. I’ll be doing songs for them and about them for my Thursday show this week.


——


What have I been up to?


I did a live show and a few recorded shows for my senior facilities last week. It’s interesting doing shows for later viewing at my facilities. I know some of the people who will be in the audience, so I can talk to specific folks, but I also don’t know if they’ll watch in a small group or individually, so I have to keep that in mind as I sing and interact. It’s still fulfilling, and I know how it makes a difference in their week.


My Thursday show was a love theme for Valentine’s Day week, and we really did some good love songs including some wonderful new songs that folks requested. It was pretty special.


My Sunday show ended up being mostly love songs as well since it was Valentine’s Day, but we threw in some darker songs that had been requested too as well as a couple Mardi Gras songs for this Tuesday. My head is usually swirling with all the requests and with trying to remember all the melodies and riffs I’ve tried to master in rehearsal. It’s sometimes a jungle in there.


——


What am I up to this week?


I have a couple online shows for my senior facilities this week over Zoom and Skype that I’m looking forward to. Some of them set up a camera so I can see who I’m singing to as well which adds to the experience.


My Thursday show 7-8:30 mountain time will be the above-mentioned theme of dogs and cats. There are some pretty neat songs about our pets, and there are plenty that mention dogs although not as many as there are cats. It will be a time to remember and cherish these little beings who fill out our lives.


My Sunday show 7-8:30 will be favorites and requests as always. We have such a warm and inviting group, and many have become good friends outside of the concerts - a fact which thrills me to be part of. I’d love for you to be part of it too. Come on out!


——


That’s it for this week. We’re waiting for it to warm up to at least zero degrees this morning to walk Beau who is lying on his bed next to me impatiently waiting to go. Have a wonderful week and be safe.


Best always,


Tom


——


Details this week:


Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of dog and cat songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Thursday, February 18, 7-8:30 pm mountain time 


Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, February 21, 7-8:30 pm mountain time


Monday, February 8, 2021

What Comes Next?

Reflecting again this morning. One of the biggest questions everyone has seemed to be asking this past year with the coronavirus and all the challenges we’ve experienced is, “What comes next?” I’ve felt this particularly because I thought my road was fairly mapped out for the rest of my days. I figured I would keep playing music for all who would listen in whatever way was helpful until I could no longer play. I still intend to do this, but there isn’t really a map for how this is going to be done in the future. You know, will there be places where people will gather for concerts or even small groups as much in the future? Will music’s importance to our world change if it is not part of a social event? I dearly love the online concerts I’ve been able to do and the group of folks who have incorporated it into their lives, but hugging and shaking of hands and seeing the faces of those I’m connecting with is a big part of having a meaningful experience. I’m sure you’re feeling that in your work or life’s passion as well. We know we will make it through time this into a new reality if we have patience and creative thought about what comes next. But the waiting really is the hardest part, and there are those who don’t have any cushion to wait this out. I really feel for them. So I wish you well as we figure out what comes next. As long as we go into it with love for each other and respect and patience for each situation we will be fine.


——


What have I been up to?


I only had one senior facility this last week. I rescheduled my other one to this week because they were doing COVID shots the day I was scheduled.


My Thursday show playing blues tunes online went really well even though I was more than a little pensive about my blues skills and the setup of my electric guitars and amp. It was a lot of fun, and the folks really want to do another blues night. We’ll come back around to that, I’m sure!


My Sunday show playing favorites and requests was a blast as always. Even though I was up against the Super Bowl there were plenty of folks who tuned in even if they had one eye on the game. It is such a great group of folks we have gathered.


——


What am I up to this week?


I’m starting to figure out when I can go back into the senior facilities to play and how many I will play for. It will be a slow process. Many are still trying to figure out how to get by day-to-day. Once I have had both vaccinations and a little time to make sure I have antibodies I will start to go to at least a few. Until that time I’ll keep trying to make online shows work for them, and I have a couple this week. I’ll do both a live show and also a recording of that live show that they can download and use for the month.


Thursday 7-8:30 is my weekly theme show, and this week I’ll play love songs since Valentine’s Day is coming up. There are some wonderful love songs to sing - isn’t every song a love song one way or the other!? I’d love to have you tune in.


Sunday 7-8:30 is my weekly favorites and requests show, plus it’s Valentine’s Day so I’m sure there’ll be a few love songs. The following Tuesday is Mardi Gras, so we might have to have a couple of those tunes thrown in - especially if we end up doing a Mardi Gras theme for Thursday of that week. There are some wonderful Mardi Gras songs and a wealth of New Orleans songs and history to dive into. Good stuff! Plus I have some great requests that I haven’t gotten to yet that you will really like. Please tune in if you can.


——


That’s it for this week. I miss seeing you and sharing hugs ands stories. Be safe and patient until we see what comes next.


Best always,


Tom


——


Details this week:


Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of love songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Thursday, February 11, 7-8:30 pm mountain time 


Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, February 14, 7-8:30 pm mountain time

Monday, February 1, 2021

The Blues

 I want to write a little bit about blues music since my show Thursday night is “Blues (and Some Rhythm)”. My understanding of blues and to some extent jazz is that it has its origins in the interpretation of African music on European instruments. It’s no secret that different cultures around the world have different musical structures, scales, and traditions. We tend to see music though the lens of European traditions since most popular instruments today are based on the even-tempered tuning that was invented in Europe, but other cultures based their music around what they heard and felt, and the music they created had other tones that aren’t expressed in European scales and traditions. So it was that as African Americans first picked up and played instruments created by European traditions and tunings they would play the notes that sounded closest to the music they heard and felt. Some of these notes, particularly the flatted third note of the major scale, came to be known as blue notes. I’m not sure if this was because they were closer to the minor scale and so felt more melancholy or blue or because they were just an odd note that needed a name to show their difference.  Either way, this note and others created the unique sound, harmonies, and even rhythms mixed with other influences particularly in the South around New Orleans that created the blues and jazz. I will say that there is also an element of hard times and loss in much of the blues, and that experience sometimes is the secret to playing the blues with the genuine feel and emotion that characterizes it. Just like the ancient Greeks and their cathartic plays, we tend to like to commiserate with one another, and that also helps gives the blues its appeal to so many. But blues can have really upbeat and driving rhythms that just feel good and gritty and authentic, and there are happy blues tunes too that just celebrate life. It’s really a style of music that isn’t specific to the traditional 12-bar “I woke up this mornin’” blues that some think of right away when you say the word blues. So Thursday I’ll play a bunch of blues tunes. Some will definitely be dark and dirty, but some will be upbeat and just plain fun! It took me a while to get a feel for the blues, but just like a driving two-step or an Irish jig or a four-on-the-floor rock and roll song it is so satisfying when you get the rhythm and the flow and the sound. I hope you’ll hear it and agree.


——


What have I been up to?


I had just one senior facility to play for last week, and it went very well online. I didn’t record anything to put online although I’m thinking about it still. Just have to make time and do it as part of routine. 


My Thursday show online was really fun. The folk rock ‘70s tunes are some of the first songs I learned to play, and I lock into them right away and just fly. We had a great group of folks come out and spread the joy. 


My Sunday show had more requests than I can remember having before, and I worked really hard and felt way behind as I started the show, but it turned out just fine. I have such a supportive bunch of folks that I can always rise to their wishes!


——


What am I up to this week?


My senior facilities are starting to talk about having folks back into their facilities like me although I think it’s realistically several months off. I have a couple of facilities to perform for online this week. 


My Thursday online show 7-8:30 will be the above-mentioned “Blues (and Some Rhythm)” tunes I mentioned above. This music is really a blast to play, and I think it will be a night to remember. Please come out if you can. 


My Sunday show online 7-8:30 will be requests and favorites as always. My request list has grown huge, and I can only knock out about 20 tunes each show, but we keep rolling and enjoying the flow and the camaraderie. It’s such a special show each week!


——


That’s it for this week. We keep on authentically living life and trying to help where we can while enjoying the little moments that make it so worthwhile. Be safe, and I hope to see you soon.


Best always,


Tom


——


Details this week:


Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of blues (and some rhythm) songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Thursday, February 4, 7-8:30 pm mountain time 


Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, February 7, 7-8:30 pm mountain time