Two of my students/artists are in American Idol right now (Dilia Michelle & Marissa Pontecorvo – that’s  Marissa to the right.) Who knows how far they will go, but the fact that they went the distance by auditioning for American Idol and made it into the top few hundred out of the whole country is really awesome. I am so proud of them. It takes a lot of craft, experience, talent and courage to go [...]

Every musician, had a mentor — a person who, in one way or another, inspired them to plug in their guitar or step up to the mic. Mentor / men-tor, noun: A wise or trusted advisor or guide. An influential senior sponsor or supporter. I want to take this moment (for Thank Your Mentor Day, Jan. 26) to really acknowledge those people who have inspired me in my life – I want to sing their [...]

I used to have a phobia about joining groups. Everything about it repelled me. I wanted to run for the hills rather than being with other artists or people trying to be successful. I guess it’s because I don’t want to waste my time, and up until then, most groups I found myself in had been a waste of time. I think I was in the wrong groups. Because what I’ve experienced in the past [...]

Most often artists I meet are either worried they are not good enough, are afraid they’ll arrive too late, are too old, ill fated or flawed in some irreparable manner. And because of it, sometimes unknown to their conscious waking selves, they don’t commit fully. And commitment is one of those non-negotiable things. You’re going to need it for the long haul because it’s not just about how good you are at your craft, it’s [...]

What is the one thing that without it, you most likely won’t be successful with your music (at least not enough to live off it anyway?) Well you might quickly blurt out “talent”. But think again. Think about the artists who are not so talented or “gifted”, that even in spite of it, have achieved music success – even fame. Yes, some mega stars are super-talents, but many others are just moderately talented, yet somehow [...]

2012. Doesn’t it just sound powerful? Must be the two “t’s” . Nevertheless, this quite anticipated year, perhaps, will hold nothing more than change. Are we ready? Any new year is an opportunity, if charted with care, thought and precision, that holds the promise of your innermost unbridled desires and deepest yearnings. The New Year is a perfect time to reassess, realign, set out on a heart filled journey, set new goals, and go for [...]

A new year – and 2012 to boot (more on that in an upcoming article!) is a GREAT opportunity to start where you are, make a solid commitment to your future, and get off to a jump start to a new and improved you in all aspects of your life and career. I LOVE the advent of the New Year – and the great promise that lies ahead for each of us. Time and time [...]

Do you notice a change lately? Of course we see the world changing, but do you notice anything changing in your thoughts, the way you do things, how you feel? Call me crazy, but not only do I notice things breaking down and reconstructing all over the place, I also notice my thoughts changing, the way I am thinking about things. And I wonder, does that come from something inside me, or is it the [...]

I’m in the middle of writing/presenting the first pilot run of my new program Fast Forward to Fame, that has 40 artists worldwide in attendance (from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, England & the US.) It is a 12-week program that addresses the independent music artist’s plight to claim their space in the overcrowded online global terrain called The New Music Business. We are on Module 3, The Fanbase Growth System, which shows how to [...]

Wouldn’t you love that to be your journal entry Dec 31st, 2012? Wow – that would be off-the-hook incredible! The crazy thing is, it’s possible. Stranger things have happened. You never know what’s around the corner, unless you lock yourself away in your room day after day – and then the story is clear. You know what’s going to happen – you’ll be in your room safe and sound. But what if this is the [...]