Let the wise also hear and gain in learning, and the discerning
acquire skill. - Proverbs 1:5

Contrary to popular opinion and old wives tales, you CAN teach an old
dog (or a young one) new tricks.

As a matter of fact, as those of us who are currently over the age of
21 get older doing creative stuff, we MUST continually soak up all the
knowledge we can, especially if we are making music or really, any art.

The New Ubiquitous World of Music

In a great book called "The Future of Music", the authors talk about
the `Net Generation'. These are kids born between 1976 and 1998. They
are now 30 percent of the US population. Bigger than the Baby Boomers!

"These kids have grown up on digital media technologies and are active
and SKILLED users of video games, cell phones, e-mail, instant
messaging, the Web, CDs, and DVDs."

The book goes on to say that while the music "industry" may be in some
flux, the music "business" is just fine. It's just that music is
becoming ubiquitous in how it's heard, sold, and shared.

So what does this mean for you ?

Well you old dog, it means you have to continue to learn, study,
adapt, investigate, think, create, imagine, produce, and grow. It
means that if you
have time on your hands, you BETTER be reading, surfing, studying,
browsing a book store, reading the paper, or practicing your craft.

Practice (verb) - To do or perform often, customarily, or habitually;
to perform or work at repeatedly so as to become proficient; to train
by repeated exercises.

Back to media for a second. The reason I brought that up is that music
and art are no longer confined to the radio or the canvas. In this new
digital media age, our art is used in a myriad of new ways.

Yes, I know how distressing it is to think about having to study and
find ways to get involved in web, video, e-mail, texting, movies,
television, downloads, iPods, cell phones, video games, and whatever
new format comes out next week.

But do you know that the downloadable content released last year for
the video game "Rock Band" has gone SIX times Platinum?? That's six
million sales folks!

Now yeah, maybe kids at home aren't waiting to download your newest
single, but your audience is.

That's why it's so important to not dismiss this as just another "This
is what you should do" rant. (Even though you should do it...;)

This is why if you are a musician you should be reading books like the
Future of Music, keeping up with the USA Today's Technology section,
checking the Berklee Music blogs on a daily basis, and looking for any
magazine that deals with music and technology trends.

Or, you should be seeking out folks near you who are reading about
this stuff and could help. You know them. That nerd friend of yours
who seems always connected to the Internet or technology (also known
as your child if you are a parent of anyone over 3 years old).

But I do know this: You are never too old to learn new technologies or
processes. My dad is a gear nut! He always was, bless him! And though
he is in his 70s, he's still learning and teaching new processes to
folks around the US (and I wonder where I got it???)

For those of you who say you have no interest in web sites, cell
phones, video games, etc, I think that's fine. But you need to know
the new frontiers (at least for today) of music and art. You need to
be open to new ideas and new options for your art.

"In a time of drastic change, it is the learners who inherit the
future. - Eric Hoffer

There's never been a more drastic change than entering the Information
Age, which like the Industrial Revolution 100 years ago is remaking
the world. And the "Net Generation" are inheriting this new world.
What a future huh?

Hey, maybe we'll finally get flying cars (with our music playing on
the invisible audio field of course!).

Hmmm, better start studying physics too!!!

Have a great week!

EC
------
Eric Copeland is a student, teacher, and avid cheerleader of all
things Creative. Specializing in Contemporary Christian and Jazz
fields, his company Creative Soul has helped hundreds of artists reach
their creative potential in music and ministry!

Want to know more? Good answer. http://www.CreativeSoulOnline.com