True North

When I went back to school in my 40s, I found two mentors. One was a teacher in the music education department and the other was my piano instructor. Both of these faculty members shared passions of mine. I knew that I could not go wrong listening to the wisdom of either of these venerable leaders. At one point, in a discussion with one of them I remarked, “You guys are my true north!” This statement both surprised and pleased me, and made me realize that I had found a path that felt good and made sense in my life.

Love of music (as love of anything) is powerful, and can deeply shape one’s future.

I can imagine Brad as a kid, watching Fame and those musical variety shows that were so popular at the time. He naturally identified with some of the performers. Heroes and mentors make it possible to picture one’s self in a similar position. This is how dreams form.

I’m struck by how immersed and focused he became on keyboards, taking his monthly Keyboard magazine to school. I see him stunned and excited by the large cardboard box his dad brought home that said “Yamaha DX7” on the side. I have no trouble imagining his piano teacher telling his father that desire and passion would take Brad a long way toward being a musician.

If you scan through the years of Brad’s career there are incredible highlights. He went to Berklee, studied with great teachers, landed gigs with numerous outstanding musicians and even won the audition to become a Falconaire. There’s no doubt that Brad’s hard work has led to his “lucky” breaks, but I’m also convinced that he’s become a great musician by doing the next right thing, following his passions. He has used opportunities to their fullest, and known when it was time to move on.

A happy, fulfilling music career may not always unfold in a straight line, but there’s always a true north if love is the driving force behind it.