What Is Music?

 I had an interesting conversation with my friend Shaun McGill from England last week about music for his podcast “McGST”. It was the third conversation we’ve had covering a bunch of questions about what music really is and how it affects us. I have been so blessed to be involved in music for my whole life. I know that it is a gift that is meant to be shared and used to give joy and meaning to the world. I have read many books about music theory and physical relationships with the world as well as its affect on the brain and our moods, and even with all I’ve read I know that its true substance and significance eludes us. It is a magical and spiritual force in our world that is wrapped up in mathematics and physics and emotion and creativity in ways that is truly astounding. It just shows me that our world and universe is such an interesting place, and I think all our problems would be ended if we just realized it and lived in awe of what it and we are. Here are links to all three conversations I’ve had with Shaun about music. You can also find them on most podcast apps if you search for “McGST”. 

Most recent: 

https://mcgst.com/2021/03/29/mcgst-podcast-episode-57-what-is-music-part-3-with-tom-munch/

Previous two:

https://mcgst.com/2020/12/12/mcgst-podcast-episode-38-what-is-music-to-different-people-with-tom-munch/

https://mcgst.com/2020/12/22/mcgst-podcast-episode-40-what-is-music-part-two-with-tom-munch/

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What have I been up to?

I had one senior show last week that had to be online instead of outside because of inclement weather. I did a bunch of spring songs and western tunes.

My Thursday show online was 60’s Motown songs, and it was one of the most fun shows I’ve ever done. All of the music is so danceable and engaging, and you wouldn’t think that they would sound good on one guitar and one voice, but somehow they come to life even with a sparse arrangement. I was dancing to many tunes throughout the evening as I played and sang.

My Sunday show was a huge variety of songs as always with such a wonderful group of folks. I can’t say enough about how sweet it is to have such good folks and energy to support and be a part of.

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What am I up to this week?

I have a couple senior shows to do this week, and I think one will be indoors with full masks. I ordered new masks made especially for singers that should protect me and my audience better. The masks offer better coverage that allows more jaw movement and harder breathing that are both needed for singing. Here’s an article about them if you’re interested in learning more - https://makermask.org/constructing-masks-for-singers/.

My Thursday show online 7-8:30 mountain time will be rain and Spring songs and it should be a fitting way to start April. I’ll try to keep it to songs of rebirth and growth since some of the rain songs can be little somber and damp. ;-) It should be a great time!

My Sunday show online 7-8:30 mountain time will be the favorites and requests that I’ve enjoyed learning and performing this past year. I always have a new supply of songs that I’m working on and arranging for guitar and voice, and the fine folks who come out to join in always make for exceptional evenings. Come on out!

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That’s it for this week. I don’t know how much longer things will be shut down in general. I know that a lot of folks are trying to resume normal lives, but I’m still playing it a little more cautious even though I’ve had the vaccine. I know we’ll have to continue wearing masks for much of this year, and I fear if we get any sort of surge that much of the summer schedule will vanish for me since singing and gathering a crowd for music don’t really fit in with a viral world. I’ll continue to do online concerts as long as folks continue to come out and join in with the love and support they’ve shown so much over this last year. You give and you get more, right?

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Rain and Spring songs

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

When:  Thursday, April 1, 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, April 4, 7-8:30 pm mountain time

Theme Shows

I thought I’d write on what doing musical themes has meant to me over these past few months. I started doing these theme shows as a way to introduce some variety and fun into the weeks as COVID stretched on. It gave me and my audience something to look forward to each week, and it gave me an opportunity to dive into some of the musical groupings I’ve always had. I cross-catalog all my music on the laptop I use for a songbook in many ways from genre to era to writer to general and specific themes. This allows me to do a theme at the drop of a hat, which I have always done for my senior facilities. I ask them where they want to go at the beginning of a show, and then I pick songs to fit the theme for the hour. I’ve done shows for holidays and events the same way over the years. It’s fun and it lets me tailor a show to fit almost any audience. But for the theme shows I’ve been doing online during COVID I’ve carried this to new levels. I do an intense study of each theme for at least two days - listening and learning and polishing and finding facts for each song as well as the general theme. It lets me see into a whole world in a way that is so enlightening. I get to be on the train with the person feeling the rhythm of the swaying train and smelling the cinders. I can be on a stage with a group of performers who have a camaraderie that is felt in the music with intensity. It lets me visit a place or a writer’s life in a way that helps me understand and relate to the music in new ways. It’s a privilege, and I have so enjoyed doing it. So this Thursday is Motown music of the 1960s, and all that wonderful beat and excitement will be thrilling!

What have I been up to?

I had one online senior show and one outdoors which was great! The weather actually cooperated very nicely. 

My Thursday show doing music of the Mills Brothers and the Ink Spots on the old archtop guitar was so much fun. The group remembered more songs than they thought they would, and the old guitar really rang out. I feel inspired to do another oldies show of some sort again very soon.

My Sunday show of favorites was a blast too - going far afield to some really sweet and crazy tunes. We have such a wonderful group of folks who have embraced each other and my music in such a meaningful way. It’s just what we need.

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What am I up to this week?

I only have one senior show this week, and it will probably have to be online since we have another storm moving through this week. 

My Thursday show 7-8:30 will be the aforementioned ‘60s Motown songs. These are such fun songs, and I’m sure this evening will be a hoot! Listen in if you can.

My Sunday show 7-8:30 will be favorites and requests as always, and I look forward to what songs will be requested and how I’ll put together the show for this week. I never really know what I will do until I put it together on Saturday and Sunday. Come on out for that too. You’ll be greeted with a warm welcome and entertained with all I can give.

Quick note - I’ve been using PayPal and Venmo for tips this past year, and a friend recently turned me on to Zelle as well. It’s a free service provided by most banks that lets people send money to each other with no fee. You just log into your bank account and do a search to find where to enable the Zelle service. Then you use the phone number or the email address of the person you want to send money to and enter the amount. It transfers directly from one bank to another with no middleman and much less risk of fraud.

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That’s it for this week. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading a little bit about my world, and I hope you are safe and healthy.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of ‘60s Motown songs

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

When:  Thursday, March 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, March 28, 7-8:30 pm mountain time

Multitasking During COVID

 One of the more interesting things to me from this last year of dealing with COVID has been the way it has made my life more deliberate. Although I have been working really hard to learn songs and prepare for my online shows as well as recording videos and doing a few outside gigs, I have ceased a lot of the multitasking I used to do. My days used to be listening to books and podcasts in my AirPods while I drove to gigs and did the myriad of promotional and business dealings I had with booking and performing 10-15 gigs a week. When COVID hit that whole apparatus shut down for me like it did for a lot of us. I spun my wheels while I tried to figure out what I was going to do with all the inertia I had built up for so long. I settled on doing online concerts and recordings and the few senior facilities I can do safely from outdoors and online, and that’s all been good, but the amazing thing is that I’ve learned to do just one thing at a time now. Because I’m learning songs and staying home I’m not driving while listening to a book or podcast. I tend to focus on the task at hand and let everything else go until I reach a natural stopping point. I’m developing new habits and routines that center around concentrating on one thing at a time and giving that one thing the attention to do it well and thoroughly. I still get distracted, but I feel less stress, and I think I am more centered and peaceful. These are all good things, and I wouldn’t have thought my life would change like this. I’m now wondering if I can ever go back to the way I was before. I don’t even feel as much angst when I drive now. I talk to the other drivers with thoughts like, “What’s the hurry? We could lose a whole year, so what’s a few minutes?” The moments are now what really matters.

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What have I been up to?

I got to do one senior facility outdoors last week, and it was strange setting up and playing for the first time in several months, but it was also the proverbial “riding a bicycle” that happened with no thought. I couldn’t see the folks through the window very well, but it was so good knowing they were right there within earshot. Some have had COVID and have compromised bodies or thought processes now as result, but it was still good to share their presence.

My Thursday show doing Irish tunes was a wild ride. I was in the mood for some of the fast and crazy Irish tunes, and so it was a night full of energy and pathos. Slainte!

My Saturday night show doing Philmont songs for Philmont folks was wonderful too. I got to interact with so many friends from way back, and the memories were flowing. It was the first time I did a sponsorship, and that went great too. My Philmont friend Jason Mascitti with Thrivent partially sponsored the evening, and in return I mentioned his financial planning services several times. That was easy to do as I think financial planning is a very worthy thing to do, and Jason and his company are top notch.

My Sunday night show was a bunch more Irish tunes in addition to several favorites and requests. I was  a little scattered I think from the time change and not enough time to learn all the requests I had, but it all worked out fine. This community we’ve created online is such a caring and genuine group of people. I love them one and all.

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What am I up to this week?

I have several senior shows both online and outside, but with the snow and cooler weather we’ve recently had we’ll have to move to online shows or reschedule for warmer days.

My Thursday show 7-8:30 I felt like doing something different, so I’ll be playing songs by the Mills Brothers and the Ink Spots. I have loved these two groups for as long as I’ve known them, and they offer such a unique and cool sound and songs. I know it will stretch a few ears, but I know it’ll be a good time. Please tune in if you can. I’ve dug out my ‘40s Gibson archtop guitar so it’ll sound authentic and be a little more fun.

My Sunday show 7-8:30 will be the favorites and requests we’ve come to enjoy over the months.I can’t tell you what that will be until I get into the list and of requests and formulate the show, but it will be entertaining and warm as we all get together in our online community. I’d love to have you if you’re available.

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That’s it for this week. How has this last year with COVID been for your multitasking and focus?

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert Mills Brothers and Ink Spots

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

When:  Thursday, March 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, March 21, 7-8:30 pm mountain time

Growing Up

 I was interviewed for a podcast for Philmont Scout Ranch alumni called “Silver on the Sage” that aired today, and listening to it and reflecting on it made me think of how we grow up and change over our lives. Since Philmont was a place I worked at in high school and college I was relatively youthful and naive to the ways of the world. I said as much in the podcast, but I was struck by how much of that youthful outlook I still have today. Many of our experiences in our lives shape how we see the world, and some tarnish us and some polish us. In many ways I’m still that wide-eyed kid who saw everything with wonder and magic. One of the things Jen and I didn’t do in our lives was have children. It wasn’t necessarily a conscious choice, and I know that we missed the wisdom and shaping that having children brings. We have had grief and suffering so that we haven’t missed out on that tempering and forging of our souls. So in listening to myself on the podcast I can see how in many ways I never will grow up, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Bless the interviewer, Caitlin Lowe, the daughter of my college friend John Ficke who I made a lot of music with, for hanging in there with me and following me on a wild ride of stories and reminiscences. I really get wound up tight when I’m on a roll. You can listen to it on Apple podcasts or Spotify or on the podcast website - https://silveronthesagepod.wixsite.com/philmont/podcast/episode/4d0074f3/tom-munch. Hear for yourself if I’m still that goofy kid who saw the world as so grand.

What have I been up to?

I had a couple of online senior facilities last week. I really enjoy these as I have said before, but it’s hard when I don’t see faces and get to interact as much.

My Thursday show was doing only my own favorites this week for the theme. I did this partially so I could do some old favorites I haven’t sung in a long time, and partially because I didn’t have time to work on requests due to needing the time to finish taxes. It was a fun show of a lot of mostly western folk songs that I have sung and recorded over the years that folks really seemed to enjoy.

My Sunday show was a lot of new music by younger writers mixed in with some old favorites. I think it may have been my favorite show yet on Facebook since so many great folks joined in and the music was so rich.

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What am I up to this week?

I will be doing just one senior facility this week, and it will be in-person and outside if the weather holds - which it looks like it will! I haven’t seen these folks since October or November, and a couple folks have passed since then so there will be a little sadness. It’s also the first time I’ve performed outside the house since the end of November, so it’ll be a little like a first time in some ways. Wish me luck!

Thursday 7-8:30 mountain time my online show will feature Irish songs. I would wait until next week, but my Thursday show is a day after St. Patrick’s Day, and a lot folks may not still be in the mood for Irish music the day after. I have said before how much I feel my little bit of Irish blood, and I really get enthused about Irish music. I hope you’ll tune in to be part of it or else at least to see me go a little crazy over a couple jigs and pub songs. It’s good stuff!

Saturday 7-9 mountain time I’m doing an online show for my Philmont Songs Concert Group on facebook, so if you’re part of that group I’d love to have you come out and join in. I’ll be doing a lot of Philmont favorites for mostly alumni staff. This will be partially sponsored by my Philmont friend Jason Mascitti and Thrivent.

Sunday 7-8:30 mountain time my show will be our usual favorites and requests. I don’t know how we’ll top last week’s songs, but we’ll sure try. I’m sure there will be some more Irish music too since we’ll still be looking forward to St. Patrick’s Day.  

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What coming in the future?

There hasn’t been much future to talk about in so long that it’s hard to think about it, but I do have a few things I’m scheduling this summer in hopes that the virus has been reduced enough to have concerts. I’ll most likely be doing the Westcliffe Feedstore concert on Labor Day, the Yellow Pine Barbecue on Thursdays, and hopefully the Royal Gorge Bridge on some weekdays. I’m also talking about maybe doing a little touring doing museum and community center theme shows of different types looking after the summer into next year. This is all as tentative as it can be, but if we continue to get vaccinations and keeping up precautions then this summer could be a cautious but good time.

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That’s it for this week. I love you all and miss seeing you in person. Here’s to the Irish, and here’s to growing up in whatever way we can.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Irish songs

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

When:  Thursday, March 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, March 14, 7-8:30 pm mountain time

Music of Our Lives

 This Thursday I will be playing some of my favorite songs from my life, and it has me thinking about how the songs we love become the soundtrack that plays at our very core. They comfort us, make us smile, make us dance, and express who we are deep inside. They tend to be songs from our younger days when we listened to more music generally and were more impressionable, but they also include songs that accompanied important events in our lives. They also are songs that spoke to us when we needed them. For me they are also songs that fascinate me or inspire me as a musician. One of my favorite book-series is a science fiction / fantasy group of books by Robin Hobb about the Farseers. There is one character who has music as part of what amounts to his aura that is always playing in the background. I believe to some extent that our consciousness has the same kind of musical aura made up of our favorite songs that dwell somewhere in our depths. They really do recur and surface when we need them most. I hope to reach those points in me this week during my Thursday concert and share them with you.

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What have I been up to?

I had just one senior facility to play for online last week. It went very well!

My Thursday show playing car and road songs was a blast. There are so many songs that express our love affair with cars and the road, and we did a bunch of them.

My Sunday show was so much fun too with so many people tuning in and sharing of themselves. I had a bunch of new tunes as always from requests. I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends who listen and encourage.

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What am I up to this week?

I have a couple senior facilities this week. One of them is ready to have in-person shows again. I’ll do this month online still since I just had my second shot and need to wait a couple weeks before the vaccine is fully effective. I’m ready to see them but it will be tough still wearing a mask and not giving out hugs and handshakes all around.

Thursday 7-8:30 my show will be themed around my most-favorite songs as I mentioned above. I need to get my taxes done, and so I need to dedicate all my time this week to getting all my data together. It is always a daunting task even though I am a very good record-taker during the year. The songs I will be playing are some of my very best with stories on many to match. I look forward to sharing them with you.

Sunday 7-8:30 my show will be favorites and requests as always. Sunday night’s show is such a special time that I look forward to, and I will be sorry when all this is over and we no longer have the luxury of doing weekly shows with the rest of my schedule. That is still a while off though.

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That’s it for this week. I hope the music that plays in your depths will keep you company and give you joy this week. I hope to see you soon.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of my most-favorite songs

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

When:  Thursday, March 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, March 7, 7-8:30 pm mountain time