Thoughts on attention.
How I'm trying to be fully me.
Before I jump into today’s post, I want to welcome all my new subscribers! This newsletter combines my favorite things- storytelling, creativity, and honest conversations about being an entrepreneur in the music education space.
No matter how you find yourself here, it means so much that you would take the time to read my thoughts. So, thank you.
Last week, I had the privilege of speaking at the NAMM show. Ironically, I was talking about “How to Release Music” with my good friend, Kat. I was telling a standing-room-only crowd of people that they shouldn’t be afraid to put their work in the world! “It’s not that big of a deal,” I said. I was so encouraging!
(Flash forward to me realizing that I am releasing music this week and that I feel terrified over how it will be received.)
Why is it so hard to practice what we preach when it comes to sharing our creative work?
There were two messages that stuck with me from the NAMM show, both from inspiring musicians.
Jon Batiste performed on Saturday night with his band. It was electric, thousands of people singing and dancing. He effortlessly moved from instrument to instrument, improvising melodies and wordlessly directing his band through soul-led song.
At one point, he stopped midway through his set and looked out at the crowd. He smiled.
“This is our chance,” he said. And, while I’m paraphrasing the rest because I could never do the speech he gave justice, the remainder went something like this:
“You, me, all of us here. We only have right now. We’re all together on this planet for a reason. All I can give is all of me and be fully me. And, I’m gonna need you to be fully you in return.”
To be fully ourselves…to open our gifts to those around us and joyfully, unashamedly walk in them. Could you imagine what the world would be like?
*****
The second lesson came on Saturday morning with the incomparable Victor Wooten. We were sitting at a rally for music education, and various performances happened, stitched together with rousing speeches and interviews. Victor (I’m pretending we’re on a first-name basis) improvised for ten minutes on his bass, looping sounds on top of each other to create a layered, complex work of music.
After he finished, and we all recovered from the collective face melt, John Mlynczak (head of NAMM) asked him how he could stay so calm when performing in front of such large crowds.
“It’s not about me,” he said.
“When I make it about me, I get imposter syndrome, and I get nervous about what you all (gesturing to the crowd) think of me. I’m worried about making mistakes.
But the truth is, I will make mistakes because I’m imperfect, and music is imperfect.
That’s why it can’t be about me. It has to be about you. When I focus on serving you and giving you a gift, I’m not concerned about what you think of me; I’m more concerned about what I think of you and how I can show you care through my music.”
Mic drop.
Jaw drop.
What would it look like as creatives if we truly could get out of our own way and see creating as an essential, sacred act? That creating and sharing is something we are called to do? Something that can make the world better?
“But, Sarah!” (my brain says) “The stuff you make isn’t important like what Victor is making. It’s not saving the world. No one asked for it! No one cares if it’s out there.”
This week, I’m changing that internal narrative. I’m walking into and embracing what I’ve been given because being fully me is all that I can be. And fully me includes a relentless love for music and story.
My first solo album is out this Friday. It was a personal challenge—can I take favorite songs from my youth and arrange them entirely on the organ?
It’s weird and specific. No one asked for it.
But it’s entirely me, leaning into the things that I love and that spark curiosity in my spirit.
And maybe if I lean into that, I’ll help inspire other people to be fully themselves, too.
Inspiration
🎧 Two of my dear friends and F-flat Authors have Substacks that really get to the heart of music education. Follow Kate and Darlene if you aren’t already!
🎧 My dear friend Kimberly is celebrating her book release next Monday! This book was everything. I laughed. I cried. I walked away with a greater vision for a more equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible world through mission-driven entrepreneurship. Support Kimberly and get your copy of Build it Boldly here.
Creative
🌟 “Indie Organ Vol. 1” is officially out THIS FRIDAY! Please pre-save this album and help support me as an artist. Pre-saving helps streaming services recommend my work to more people.
🌟 For the past year and a half, I’ve been writing daily, chipping away at my first novel. I just sent a finished draft out to beta readers yesterday. I feel nervous and excited to get some other eyes on my work finally. Would you like to learn more about this process? Let me know, and I’ll dedicate a future substack to the topic of writing and publishing.
Thanks for subscribing and reading. I hope you can be fully you today.
Connect with my work elsewhere:
🎧 listen to my podcast with Kimberly McGlonn
💻 Order my children’s book, Rosie Rocks!
📚 visit my fair-pay publishing company, F-flat Books.
🎤 get songwriting support through Songwriting for M.E.
Just listened to the album this morning. It’s so beautiful and fun and different and catchy and I love it. Thank you for making it for me 🥰😉