2017/18 Goals past and to come

As 2017 came to an end and 2018 enters, I always take this as a time to reflect on my goals accomplished and goals desired for the past and coming year.  Though 2017 took an odd turn and I probably didn't accomplish what I wanted, some interesting things did happen... so here we go.

2017 Goals:  Work on and finish a solo "album" of original tunes.  This has been a lifelong dream that I constantly put off.  I will admit, I am not strong and writing music with a great melody.  My lyrical writing is weak in my own opinion, or at least I am a huge critic of myself.  I won't put this goal to bed yet, maybe 2018 will lead me back to it.

Another goal was to make myself more known beyond just being a drummer.  I have spent my life dabbling in other instruments, but never really going to the next level with them.  2017 I decided it was time.  I picked up the Mandolin and focused more time on guitar.  I started playing more gigs on guitar with my friend Marr'lo, helped run an open jam where I forced myself to play more guitar and bass plus learn more songs, and allowed myself to continue with my beginning guitar students to their next level, thus pushing my abilities.

I did join a new party band called the Clique and continued my journey with Element 13 and the fun times we have as friends and band mates.  I also started taking lessons from my friend Ben Janzow.  Though only 3 lessons in, Ben has already impacted my playing in a great way and he gets me excited to learn like I hope I excite my students.  Sometimes I think there is a belief that instructors aren't supposed to be taking lessons from someone else, but I quickly learned that I owe it to my students to keep learning and pushing myself like I do for them.

2018 goals:  This year I hope to continue my video projects performing on multiple instruments.  I find them fun and great way to motivate myself into doing something unique, funny and entertaining. 

Continue performing at a high level and set the bar high for myself and the bands. 

Write more music. Duh.

Let's see how this year goes. 

Mike Grassman