What Motivates?

As a young kid, I grew up thinking I was going to become the next Michael Jordan, idolizing his mastery of the game of basketball. Never in my early youth was I so inspired by someone’s dedication to his craft; a principal that I strive to remain cognizant of every day. As fate would have it, I would not grow to be six-foot-six, nor would I posses the skills necessary to play basketball at even the high-school level. Whether by fate or circumstance, it quickly became clear to me that my true passion was in the arts; music being the clear path of expression. A native of Normal, IL (yes, the town is ACTUALLY called normal…), the opportunity to play jazz on a regular basis was rather slim-pickings’. Fortunately, having the support and guidance of my parents to pursue my love for music and performance was and continues to be, a crucial component to my successes as a person. My father instilled in me the importance of creating opportunities for myself. At the age of 12 I started to perform in public and at private events around my area. At 15, my dad taught me an invaluable lesson when in essence he said “You need to line up work for yourself.” The result was early exposure to the business aspect of being a performing musician. Fast-forward to present day, and I can honestly say that getting my feet wet with the business early, was of the utmost importance. A highly driven and motivated person, some are often curious as to where the focus for these characteristics comes from. I think many artists would agree that these characteristics are rarely incited by desire for money or fame; but rather desire to make art at its highest level. Living in a Mecca for artistic creation (NYC), I am in daily reminder of two thoughts; affirmation of my dedication to music and the places from which the drive to stay the path, originate; the latter of which aids in setting goals for myself. Throughout this process, keeping mindful of the future is important, but equally important is living in the moment-some of the best art happens here. In reality, what may be construed as spontaneity is really a reflection of meticulous work put in ahead of time. Presently, I am most motivated by my desire to improve and fear of the unknown. Whereas self-improvement is seemingly self-explanatory, the fear of the unknown has its intricacies. The uncertainty of the future irks many people, yet how we deal is crucial.  Taking negativity and cultivating it into something positive is perhaps one of the greatest skills one can possess.  If as artists we keep the drive alive, we will continue to enjoy the fruits of our labor, inevitably changing the world around us through our artistic expression. I leave you with this thought, “Take care of the art, and the art will take care of you.”

All my best,

Adam Larson 

Time Management- Blog #1

Being a student, I often find that it is a challenge to remain active both in and outside of the classroom walls. As with any career, I’ve found that one’s aptitude for time management skills is extremely important. Having just finished my junior year of college at The Manhattan School of Music, I have seen my “free” time, if you will, steadily decrease from when I first moved to the city in the fall of 2008. Whereas I had many open hours during the day to do whatever during my first two years of school, that is no longer the case; thus the importance of good time management.

An idea that I came to realize quite soon after moving to New York, was that although Manhattan School of Music essentially had no campus (1 building), the entire city became my campus. With this concept in mind, I have always made it a habit to go out and see music and artists on a weekly basis. Another contemporary of mine made a great point that I reflect upon often, having said “Some people come to school and get all A’s and never step foot outside of the classroom.” Some people come to school don’t do as well in the class room , make great strides outside of school.” She would go on to explain that for most, the former of the two statements was the most common. Academics have always been something that I put high value on, and I am by no means endorsing slacking through school. What I am pushing is the importance of being able to balance a life in school, while making necessary outings to see music, network with other musicians, etc. I feel that many of my fellow classmates can often get so consumed with the classroom that they forget to take advantage of all of the great music, arts, and culture that New York City has to offer; myself included. I have established some of my closest musical relationships in the last three years with my peers at school and many outside of school. Knowing and playing with as many people as I can has helped me grow as a musician, person and has been a great way to let others know that I exist outside of the walls of school. I would encourage anyone to remember that one could very well be the next best thing since sliced bread, but if no one is aware of that, then it becomes considerably more difficult for one to accomplish what he/she desires. 

Until next time,

Adam Larson