A little note to musicians, artists and appreciators of both.

I have been very blessed in my life, with support, community and drive. However like most people, I have a tendency from time to time, to stop and wonder, where I am going and why I am doing what I am doing. After returning home from a month long tour with This Way to the Egress, Voltaire, and Hellblinki, I have had a difficult time adjusting back to a "commoners" way of living. Do not get me wrong I have a wonderful job, I have about 30 students who I teach music lessons to weekly, but I have been contemplating my need to be constantly involved in a traveling gypsy band and music and art of any kind.

Faced with issues like lack of money and not necessarily doing the most "responsible" of things, one does have to survive, and having a place to live, visiting the doctor, and things of such require money and in our country we are born and bred to work for more "things", come home stuff ourselves with cheap unhealthy food in front of the computer or television.

I have been feeling rather discouraged with the struggle of being and artist and musician in this way of life. Sometimes it can be difficult to keep a balance, and I have encountered more then a couple of times a feeling of being a "degenerate" or like I am Living in a fantasy world from those who don't understand my choices. It seems more and more, the arts and music are cut from school and lives. Funding is difficult to acquire if you aren't willing to put yourself into thousands of dollars worth of debt at a college that forces you to study in fields you have no interest in pursuing and more and more it seems like the benefits of being creative get pushed aside.

Today and every day I am reminded of the amazing things the arts do for people and families. I have watched my students and their abilities grow and with that comes a sense of accomplishment and confidence for them. I may not, now or ever, understand why the choice of being a musician or artist is not nurtured in our society, but I will continue on and hope that I will one day offer a haven and financial boosts to anyone who is passionate in their choice to make this an avid way of life. Many Many thanks to anyone who has supported This Way to the Egress, or any one in the arts, surrendering their "cushy" 9-5 jobs, working around the clock for little to no pay, studying until your fingertips are numb, making it a point to continue to to produce in a world where CEO's reign. I leave you with this quote,"Without music life would be a mistake"- F. Nietzsche