About Me
This is my music topics blog. I’ll put here stuff about music I’m listening to, music I’m working on, and topics like that. More stuff at http://bentorrey.com:2112
By way of background, I was formerly a professionally aspiring musician. I studied at New England Conservatory in the dual-degree program with Tufts from ‘91 to ‘94. In 1997, after what I thought were some career setbacks, I decided to get a day job. I ended up pretty much not playing bass at all until late 2004, when I started to notice how much I missed it. I worked through the great exercises in the Artist’s Way book and started on my “artistic recovery” in 2006. Thanks also to Barry Green’s great reminder that “amateur” means one that does something for the love of it, I’m now happy to call myself an “amateur”–meaning I play just for the love of playing without any professional aspirations. (Amateur, by the way, is a word that used to make me cringe!)
Now, with the help of the Artist’s Way, The Listening Book, the second Artist Way book Walking In This World, and the Inner Game of Music, music is again an active part of my life. I’m playing every day, most days about two hours, usually between 4AM and 6AM before going to work. I’m still a long way from playing how I know I’m capable of, and I sure did lose a lot of skill during my “IT ramp up years”, but I’m confident if I continue to apply myself the results will start to show soon.
Be in touch anytime at bentorrey AT Hotmail.com
Also see these sub-pages.
bentorrey :: Nov.04.2007 :: Uncategorized ::
I really appreciate the things you hipped me to when you first started teaching me years ago (1995). The first lesson, you brought over a Police CD because of the sweet groove, an ARU CD with Oteil because of his harmonic awesomeness and another CD which I forget. You also recommended new strings (D’addarios, which I still use today; every
once in a while I ‘ll try something different but go back).
Then of course, your classical shredding really opened up my ear to a lot of possibilities.
You also introduced me to Zen music concepts, which is today a pretty popular notion. A few months ago I read Zen Guitar, which has some not-so-good points possibly but a lot of neat ones.
Thank you very much!
Jeb–awesome man, thanks for being in touch. Glad you enjoyed what we worked on together. Keep me posted on what you’re doing.
Thanks again. I got a reply from you so quickly I was surprised. As I said in my email I really love the music you have here for us to enjoy and I find inspiration. I am an electric bassist and have always played prog rock but I was always in love with classical guitar and solo cello music and wanted to incorporate that into my playing somehow. I don’t think I will reach your level of playing but I certainly aim high and see where it leads me to. I really appreciate your suggestions for the Artist’s Way series and The Listening Book. They have been ordered from Amazon.
Alvaro