1. Better practice. I can play a few songs decently, and several more recognizably, but not quite right. I need to focus on getting better at the ones I have now.

2. Better listening. I pretty much listen to Cajun music exclusively, and thought I knew the songs pretty well till I started playing. Then I realized there were more notes in there than I was hearing before I started playing.

3. Figure out how to play the songs that I can play in front of people. All of my practice is alone, and when I go to my parents and play with my dad in front of family and friends, I get out of time and trip and stumble, extremely frustrating. I know it would help to play in front of and with people more, but not many people in north east Texas to do this with. Any suggestions?? Rick, I am coming one of these days.

4. Figure out a way to get my music loving 9 year old son to want to play cajun music, even if I have to do it over several years. A 3 generation band is my goal.

5. Start my accordion building project. I now have all the parts, so I am too much money into it to turn back now, but it is with both anxiousness and hesitation that I look forward to starting.

Bonne Anée to everyone!

1. Get the 3-row integrated into the band.
2. Find a rubboard player that is truly dedicated.
3. Get Bryan up on stage to do a couple of tunes with us! (Come on when you're ready, mon ami!)

Cheers y'all!

R!CK

On stage in front of a drunk Dallas crowd?? Man I am having trouble keeping it together in front of my own family!! I gotta get control of that.

I'll be getting in touch, soigne'toi.

I've found (from my own experience) that drunks in Dallas love this stuff!

C'est bon!

R!CK

Go either to a local music store or e-bay and pick up a used 3/4 violin. Should be able to get one for between $50 to $75, with case, bow and a stick of rosen. Get it tuned right by a competent music shop. There are Beau Coup violin learning sites on the web, including MIDI fake books with every fiddle tune you could ever imagine. Have him review the 3 left hand positions and how to hold the bow. Put him in a room by himself and let him start sawing away. Don't help him until he ask. You might be really surprised how fast he picks it up. It's up to you and the rest of the poor souls in the house to ignore the cat under the rocking chair.
JB

I gave my dad a violin for Christmas, one we had to fix up. My son helped, and was fascinated by it. He had to carry it everywhere we went, and every chance he got he would open it and make that screaming cat, which dont bother me at all. So I agree, a fiddle may be in the future. Will go along with his screaming coyote sax.

Here goes,

(1) Really, really learn the tunes I now play somewhere between half-slow and half-fast.

(2) Get to Louisiana (more than in 2006) to play music, listen to music, talk about music, down a few cold ones and dance the night away.

(3) Finish work on that Washburn parlor guitar that's still waiting for a fret job, a new nut and some inlay.

That's it for now...Lord knows this will keep me busy.