1/9/23 The Times They Are A-Changin'

When CD’s came out in the early 80’s, I was that guy who said, “I've bought hundreds of cassettes and now their all outmoded?? I’m not getting fooled by some record company scheme to get us to rebuy our music! 

I’m going to skip this CD fad and wait til they settle on a format.” 

Well, I held on for a few years but finally gave in and started buying CD's when it seemed like they might stick around for a while. And they did.

But I learned my lesson: The state of the art is always changing and I just have to change with it. Even when it’s frustrating.

Otherwise, I’m completely out of the loop and nothing works anymore.

So, now—I may wait a minute til they get the bugs out—but then I update my software to the current version. And even though it’s super annoying, I try to keep on top of the new features on social media, (…talk about a constantly changing environment!) 

I even occasionally buy some new sneakers or clothes that are currently in style! 

And the same updating process is happening in the string world. Progressive string players everywhere are retooling their techniques to sound more authentic playing in popular music styles like Hiphop and Rock, etc.

String players are taking the time to learn how to chop, to learn how to groove and to ghost. Players are updating their technical and pedagogical OS.

As Bobby Z put it so eloquently in The Times They Are A-Changin’

“Don’t stand in the doorway

Don’t block up the hall

For he that gets hurt

Will be he who has stalled”

Call it growing pains, the cost of doing business, or just the cost of tuition in the school of life.

But, either swim with the current or you’ll find yourself washed up on the river bank.

That’s why I’m always talking about the future of strings. (I have a podcast called “For the Greater Groove: The Future of Strings”)

Because it’s either about the future of strings or it’s about the extinction of strings.

Groove on, my people!

--Tracy