The Saxophone Diaries: Stories and tips from my 30+ years in music

By James Divine

What do you learn in the music business in 30 years? A lot. James shares stories, tips and inspiration from his 30 year career in the music field as an Army band member in Japan, as well as experiences and lessons learned as a self-employed musician and public school music teacher.About the author: James has been in the music field since 1986, performing and teaching, composing, recording, speaking and writing. In his current position at Falcon High School, he teaches band, orchestra and guitar. Although teaching is his first love, James still finds time to perform and speak at churches, schools and businesses. James' Education: - St. Joseph's College of Maine; B.S. Business Administration- The Army School of Music; all kinds of music performance and theory- Western State Colorado University; teaching license- Southwestern Oklahoma State University; Master's in Music EducationJames and his wife have four beautiful children, two of whom are married. He married his high school sweetheart. She is a dental hygienist and occasionally strums a few things on guitar. They have two granddaughters. James is a member of the Colorado Music Educator's Association, the Colorado Bandmaster's Association, The Pikes Peak Jazz and Swing Society, the American String Teacher's Association, the SPCP (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Percussionists) (this one isn't real). He is also a member of the Colorado Italian Musicmaster's Association (you have to be a musician and 50% Italian to be inducted). James' life-long goal continues to be to act his shoe size, not his age (9 1/2 for the record). Find out more about James at: www.jamesdivine.netPARTIAL TABLE OF CONTENTSI ALMOST DIDN'T JOIN 6TH GRADE BANDIF I CAN JUST GET MY CD "OUT THERE"THE BOOKING PROCESSMYTH OF THE OVERNIGHT SUCCESSA SAXOPHONE, AN ITALIAN MOM AND UNDERWEAR PERFECTION IS OVERRATEDTHE PERFORMANCE STARTS THAT MORNINGAND SOMETIMES THE NIGHT BEFOREDON'T WASTE YOUR TIME ON NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONSSAY NO SO YOU CAN SAY YES STAYING FAITHFUL TO YOUR SPOUSEA BIG GREEN CAR, CONTRACTS, UNIONS AND RAY CHARLESSOME BEATS NONE. ADD VALUE. BE ACCESSIBLE.BE A TORTOISE IN A WORLD OF HARESDON'T CONFUSE BEING FAMOUS WITH MAKING MONEYHE NO LOOK GOOD, PHYSICAL APPEARANCEBOUNDARIES ARE IMPORTANTTHE LONGEST FOURTH OF JULY EVERTHE GENERAL IS COMING THE GENERAL IS COMING WHEN I'M WITH YOU I FEEL ALL COLD AND FIZZYSHE PICKED ME OVER CHUCK NORRISWHY I'LL NEVER HIRE THE BEST DRUMMER I KNOWEGG-SHELLS AND OTHER CRAP FOR BREAKFAST (A PARABLE)I'M A QUITTER AND PROUD OF ITA LOVE LETTER INSPIRED BY THE BEATLESA GIRL, A PAPER BAG AND A POT BELLYI FELT LIKE A ROCK STARBIG BERTHA IS WATCHINGCAN AN ITALIAN LUNCH FEED 5,000BIG GIRLS (AND BOYS) DO CRY$7 CAN BUY YOU A CARLASAGNA CAN PREDICT MARRIAGE SUCCESSWINGING IT IS GREAT IF YOU'RE A BIRDSWALLOW THE FROGTREAT SOME PEOPLE LIKE A DOG MIGHT TREAT THEMDON'T BE A FAKE DONUTTHE BOY WHO WANTED TO BUILD A TREEHOUSE TO SAVE HIS MOM8 LIFE LESSONS I LEARNED ON A CRUISETHANK GOD I'M BORINGIF I DON'T MAKE IT ON AMERICAN IDOL, MY LIFE IS OVERWHO CUT MY FUEL LINETHE FIRST (AND ONLY) TIME I PICKED UP A PROSTITUTEHE PULLED OUT HIS GUN AND SAID THIS TO METHE OLD MAN AND THE CTHAT'S MY ORCHESTRA TEACHER LEAD OR GET OUT OF THE WAYGOD MUST HAVE LIKED OUR HALFTIME SHOWWHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH A DRUNKEN SAILORI THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO JAILWHEN SOMEONE REQUESTS AN ENCORE, MAKE SURE THEY REALLY MEAN ITTHE BEST GRANDMA EVERTROMBONES SHOULD BE IN BACKWHAT DO GENERALS KNOW ABOUT TROMBONES? NOT MUCH.SOMETIMES CHANGE COMES SLOWLYWE NEED MORE LEADERS LIKE MOWHERE ARE THE CHICKENS?DEPRESSED AND DIDN'T KNOW ITTHE UGLY DUCKLING TURNED INTO A SWANYOU COULD NEVER DISAPPOINT MEI WASN'T ALWAYS THIS WAYFROM WELFARE TO WOW, HOW BAND SAVED MY LIFEIS ALMOST BEING FIRED A BAD THINGTHE TOP 8 MISTAKES PRESENTERS AND TRAINERS MAKECOACHING AND TRAINING

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1540398889
• ISBN13: 9781540398888
• Release Date: November 2016
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 242 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"