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Expanding your hobby by expanding love

Let me be a little Zen here. I’ll keep this short.

99% of what we read in magazines and on this forum are about consuming. Like wine tasting.

That’s fine, I enjoy that too.

But I also want to encourage you to consider if you are asking "what do I buy next?" maybe you should ask "how can I contribute to musical culture?"

This can take on many shapes. Supporting local playhouses and orchestras. Supporting local public school music programs. Donating used but working instruments. Taking your grand kids to see a live orchestra doing Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Donating regularly to a local radio station.

Isn’t there a merit badge with the Girl or Boy Scouts of America regarding music you can offer to help with?  Or electronics? 

Above all, this is a great way to expand your love into a verb that connects us with each other outside of the audiophile community, because music is universal.

There will always be things to consume, and new speakers / cables to try out, but time is precious and our connection with others fleeting. Let’s give back, and by doing so gain something entirely more precious.

Best,


E
erik_squires
erik_squires OP
16,138 posts
 
@whart 

There's lots of little known musicians who are fantastic and  could use evangelizing, so get started. :) 


bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,821 posts
 
Fans of Americana already know about Buddy Miller, but for those who don't he's Emmylou Harris' guitarist, bandleader, and harmony singer. He is also a solo artist with a bunch of great albums, and an in-demand producer. Iris Dement is a very special songwriter and singer; I learned of her from Merle Haggard, who covered her incredible song "No Time To Cry" (on her My Life album).
tpreaves's avatar
tpreaves
2,686 posts
 
Buddy Miller is also a mmber of Robert Plant's newest incarnation of Band of Joy.
n80
2,117 posts
 
My sister-in-law, her friend who is a professor of piano, a violin professor mutual friend, my wife and a large group of others successfully assembled a professional symphony for our small, southern, ex-mill city. We had our first concert earlier this month. I had very little to do with it but I’m certainly proud of our little city. As the conductor said at one meeting...at a time when a lot of small symphony orchestras are folding we have started a new one. The organization and the first concert were fully funded. Funding for the final two concerts is almost completely funded...........all from ticket sales (sold out), donations and charitable work.
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