Common Thread - Paul Cronin Studios

This is a repost from six years ago. I felt it was good at this time in the world to have a nice positive post about how music is a common thread to everyone. Might not be the same music but having music in your life enriches you. Besides it is the time of year when I get back in the studios with shorter days and play. I have hooked up with a great bass guitar player and we will be jamming this winter. Maybe add others. I love being in the song. Enjoy. Paul

We all have a common thread in life and it is music. Music is a part of everyone on this planet, some more than others, and all of our lives are better because of music. You might be saying, “Paul this is not about boats, photography, or video?” Well yes and no, music is a huge part of my life and always has been, and makes everything I do better.

There was a time in my early teens when I was thinking of making music my career. Luckily I made the right decision with my driving passion, but that did not mean music could not be with me through out my journey.

My mom taught me the basics of playing the piano in grade school because I was interested. I have since forgot 99% of the piano. Then I played the acoustic guitar from a young age, learning chords from a book, it was the 60’s and British invasion. I loved playing guitar with my mom playing piano/singing, we had fun. But when it came to the vocals, well that is a different story, I only sing when out sailing, in the car, or some place on my own. For that my wife is grateful.

So when my older brother purchased drums piece by piece with cash from his paper route. It was a blue sparkle Ludwig set. Well the die was cast, and I was hooked. Brian is a great brother, and let me use them often. He was a huge influence on my music in those early years through high school. Being older he knew of more bands and always had new records (yes records), on a great stereo. We both played in bands together, and even did some gigs as young as junior high for me. We switched off on drums and bass guitar, some fun memories. We had a blast and it forever instilled my love of the instrument, and living in the song.

1967 Classic Blue Sparkle Ludwig two up, one down kit

I bet we sounded like a flock of geese being attacked by coyote but it was fun, and kids danced. I have never stopped playing and sounding like the geese be attacked. In 7th and 8th grade I took drum lessons in school, they were not fun. Just the snare and not a very good teacher. All I wanted to do was play the kit. So those lessons were one of the many experiences that taught me this was not my path, and sailing boats fast was. But it also taught me that music will always be part of me. So I started enjoying the kit and just having fun.

My choice in drums Tama making it happen live

There has been a lot of years when I did not play, but I always had sticks and pads to keep enjoying the music. And as my wife will admit, I tap all the time, and mostly on time. For the last 20 plus years I have had a kit, and a Auralex Acoustics sound proof recording studio I built so I can play when ever I desire, and not bug the neighbors.

My Tama Birch/Bubinga kit in my home studio

After decades of on and off playing in 1998 I decided to take lesson and start reading, and writing a bit. I took lessons from Gabe (sorry Gabe can’t remember your last name) for two years twice a week. Gabe was a Berklee College of Music graduate and drums were his passion and career. He is an excellent teacher, and at the end of two years he told me, stop, no more lessons, go play with musicians and live in the song, that’s what you need now. So the learning never stops. I don’t play enough with other musicians, but that is on my list to solve, and this post shows it is in the front of my noggin.

A few things sent me on this very different post route. One is Carol bought tickets to the Bonnie Ratt/James Taylor concert we went to early March. It was a blast, and floor seats were close so we could see the bands. Then there is Drummers Resource podcast and site, by Nick Ruffini, who helps me learn about music and beyond weekly, thanks Nick. And also I have been playing a lot for the last few years. Living in the songs makes every day better. One other person I can’t leave out of this is my brother-in-law Stan. Stan has opened me up to so many different types of music. When I wanted to learn Funk, well Stan had CD’s in my hand as he has done for 20+ years, thanks Stan.

So when you feel up, feel down, just need to express yourself or escape there is always music. Make it part of your life and you will feel rich in so many ways. And if it has been a long time since you played an instrument or have never played an instrument, go for it, life is better inside the song.

Thanks for listening to the animal pirate with the sticks. Have Fun Every Day! Paul

Links of interest:

My number one supporter, my wife Carol, thank you

Village Drums in Rhode Island, My music store of choice. Fantastic staff, best products, you won’t want to leave.

Drummers Resource site and podcast, Nick Ruffini is a world of great resources and the pod cast is excellent with almost 500. If you love music and of course drums this is worth the listen. I look forward to it weekly.