I once went through your books Mason and compared the rituals of all the men to the rituals of all the women (I actually gave a talk about it at a creative workshop. Thanks for the material!). For the most part, the men follow a very Metheny-like regimented productivity (Stephen King’s 4000 words every day, Victor Hugo’s daily discipline) while the women follow a much more “when inspiration strikes” mentality (Agatha Christie’s “I work when my husband travels,” Gertrude Stein’s “I work when I find the right setting.”) As artists, it’s easy for us to read stories like Metheny’s and say success is all about the work, but just as often it’s all about the inspiration!
Your work has inspired me, and reminded me that there’s no one way to reach success as an artist, for years. I’ve turned to those books time and time again whenever I need to remind myself that there are artists doing things just like me. Becoming a paid patron was a very easy subscribe!!! Thank you so much for all your work!!!
Wow, I love this! I agree that men seem more inclined toward regimented productivity, though of course that could be because they have more often had the opportunity/privilege to put elaborate systems in place, whereas women are more likely to have had to steal time.
At any rate, I 100% agree that there's no one way to be an artist—rather, that the best artists are the ones who find a work process that suits their own individual temperament.
Thanks for your patronage!! Hope to see you in the Discord too, though I know you have your own server to run!
I am a huge Metheny fan and have been for about 35 years. I knew of his abstaining from drugs & alcohol. But I was unaware of this obsessive productivity regiment. Makes sense as he releases a new recording every year, often being something that is vastly different than the previous year.
I have at least 30 Pat Metheny CDs. And to my ear, there is not a bad Metheny album. I'm constantly on the hunt-down for ones I've missed.
Glad to hear from a true Metheny fan! Honestly, I had never really listened to him until I read this interview and got interested in his process. And I'm a little overwhelmed by all the albums. Any recommendations for Metheny newbies wondering where to start?
Oh man...I'm giddy with excitement to answer this question. I'll try to keep it brief. Here's three suggestions from across a 45 year period:
Bright Size Life (1975): Metheny's first as a band leader and chief composer. Recorded at age 21, this strongly hints at his "child prodigy" labeling by music writers. Recorded as a trio with noteworthy drummer Bob Moses and the legendary Jaco Pastorious. Jaco is considered the greatest electric bassist who has ever lived. Jaco is also an example of the opposite of Metheny's disciplined productivity that you write on, as he died in 1987 in his 30's as a street vagabond due to heavy drug use.
Still Life (Talking) (1987): Most people know of Metheny through his tenured co-led band the Pat Metheny Group with keyboardist Lyle Mays (who died in 2020) from 1977-2005. Metheny/Mays were the Lennon/McCartney of the jazz world, having co-written countless compositions. All of their music contains complex rhythms, chordal accompaniments, and orchestrations, often employing wordless human vocal to carry out the melody. Yet the common person can walk away humming the beautiful, simple melody of each tune. Still Life (Talking) was in the middle of their triad of albums exploring Brazilian style music and contains "Last Train Home", the jazz world's closest thing to a hit single...during a decade when jazz was over produced and plasticized.
From This Place (2020). Forgive me, as it's been two years and I still try to wrap my head around this one. I'd liken this recording to a symphonic work performed by a quartet backed by an orchestra of sorts. The first track, the epic 13-minute "America Undefined", has such a passionate, dark buildup to a climatic train whistle roar. Quite possibly one of Pat's writing highlights. And that's saying something as he has a major compositional landmark most every year.
Thanks...I fantasize about writing for music publications. But this will take care of that for now.
Thank you for this! Just put on Bright Size Life — I like the idea of starting at the beginning. Very helpful to have these other two for when I'm ready to branch out. 🙏
The last 5 min of my morning completely opened up by reading this fascinating piece. Thank you for it and thank you for your paid subscription notice. I'm about to do the same and completely horrified. I will now go and subscribe so I won't miss a story by you!
Okay, so this thing with Mr. Metheny is SO FASCINATING—that line between being joyfully disciplined/motivated and being compulsive. I guess the way the difference is, does the person have a choice?
I don't care how good your work is, I don't think you can real contribute anything good to society in the long run if you're treating yourself with anything other than kindness and respect. But from the outside, there's really no way to tell what's going on.
Also: Very happy to have this cheapie subscription option. Mason, it'd be great if could do a post outlining the results of this experiment, if you're inclined to share. :)
Glad you approve of the cheapie plan! Subtle Maneuvers: Undercutting my newsletter competition since 2022™ 😈
(Kidding. Yes, I'll share the results!)
And I'm similarly fascinated by the line you describe. If you're joyfully obsessed with your work, that seems good, right? I mean, more power to Pat. I guess the danger might lie in holding these people up as idols, when most of us can't/shouldn't try to work at that level of intensity all the time.
Loved this last one Pat Metheny!! I’m a fan of his work and often listen to his music in my studio. As an artist mother I couldn’t possibly dedicate a focused 8 hours to my artistic practice, but I so appreciate the struggle for work/life balance. Looking forward to the next newsletter. Thank you for your work!!
That is compulsive, but we each have to find our own way. I get tired easily, and then everything stops, so I need a more gentle approach. I'm really interested in your next newsletter "Pushing yourself vs. letting things come to you" - that truly is an eternal dilemma.
Wow, this is incredible. I love how he acknowledges the line between dedication and compulsion — and doesn't seem to mind crossing back and forth over it. I love this.
If you became a paid subscriber after I sent out this morning's email, then, yes, that email will have a note at the bottom saying you're getting the free version and asking you to subscribe. But that's the last time you'll see it!
If you're seeing it elsewhere, let me know and I'll troubleshoot!
So the idea that Pat Metheny practices for 8 hours is nonsense. I had the opportunity to speak to him at the bar after a concert. That was exactly my question: "Can I ask you how often and how long you practice and what do you practice?" Pat grinned and said: "You know, I have 275 concerts a year, I think that's enough.
I don't know where this myth comes from that musicians practice for 8 hours every day? Paul Gilbert said to me that if I do that my hand will be broken... So much for that!
So the idea that Pat Metheny practices for 8 hours is nonsense. I had the opportunity to speak to him at the bar after a concert. That was exactly my question: "Can I ask you how often and how long you practice and what do you practice?" Pat grinned and said: "You know, I have 275 concerts a year, I think that's enough.
I don't know where this myth comes from that musicians practice for 8 hours every day? Paul Gilbert said to me that if I do that my hand will be broken... So much for that!
I once went through your books Mason and compared the rituals of all the men to the rituals of all the women (I actually gave a talk about it at a creative workshop. Thanks for the material!). For the most part, the men follow a very Metheny-like regimented productivity (Stephen King’s 4000 words every day, Victor Hugo’s daily discipline) while the women follow a much more “when inspiration strikes” mentality (Agatha Christie’s “I work when my husband travels,” Gertrude Stein’s “I work when I find the right setting.”) As artists, it’s easy for us to read stories like Metheny’s and say success is all about the work, but just as often it’s all about the inspiration!
Your work has inspired me, and reminded me that there’s no one way to reach success as an artist, for years. I’ve turned to those books time and time again whenever I need to remind myself that there are artists doing things just like me. Becoming a paid patron was a very easy subscribe!!! Thank you so much for all your work!!!
Wow, I love this! I agree that men seem more inclined toward regimented productivity, though of course that could be because they have more often had the opportunity/privilege to put elaborate systems in place, whereas women are more likely to have had to steal time.
At any rate, I 100% agree that there's no one way to be an artist—rather, that the best artists are the ones who find a work process that suits their own individual temperament.
Thanks for your patronage!! Hope to see you in the Discord too, though I know you have your own server to run!
I am a huge Metheny fan and have been for about 35 years. I knew of his abstaining from drugs & alcohol. But I was unaware of this obsessive productivity regiment. Makes sense as he releases a new recording every year, often being something that is vastly different than the previous year.
I have at least 30 Pat Metheny CDs. And to my ear, there is not a bad Metheny album. I'm constantly on the hunt-down for ones I've missed.
Glad to hear from a true Metheny fan! Honestly, I had never really listened to him until I read this interview and got interested in his process. And I'm a little overwhelmed by all the albums. Any recommendations for Metheny newbies wondering where to start?
Oh man...I'm giddy with excitement to answer this question. I'll try to keep it brief. Here's three suggestions from across a 45 year period:
Bright Size Life (1975): Metheny's first as a band leader and chief composer. Recorded at age 21, this strongly hints at his "child prodigy" labeling by music writers. Recorded as a trio with noteworthy drummer Bob Moses and the legendary Jaco Pastorious. Jaco is considered the greatest electric bassist who has ever lived. Jaco is also an example of the opposite of Metheny's disciplined productivity that you write on, as he died in 1987 in his 30's as a street vagabond due to heavy drug use.
Still Life (Talking) (1987): Most people know of Metheny through his tenured co-led band the Pat Metheny Group with keyboardist Lyle Mays (who died in 2020) from 1977-2005. Metheny/Mays were the Lennon/McCartney of the jazz world, having co-written countless compositions. All of their music contains complex rhythms, chordal accompaniments, and orchestrations, often employing wordless human vocal to carry out the melody. Yet the common person can walk away humming the beautiful, simple melody of each tune. Still Life (Talking) was in the middle of their triad of albums exploring Brazilian style music and contains "Last Train Home", the jazz world's closest thing to a hit single...during a decade when jazz was over produced and plasticized.
From This Place (2020). Forgive me, as it's been two years and I still try to wrap my head around this one. I'd liken this recording to a symphonic work performed by a quartet backed by an orchestra of sorts. The first track, the epic 13-minute "America Undefined", has such a passionate, dark buildup to a climatic train whistle roar. Quite possibly one of Pat's writing highlights. And that's saying something as he has a major compositional landmark most every year.
Thanks...I fantasize about writing for music publications. But this will take care of that for now.
Thank you for this! Just put on Bright Size Life — I like the idea of starting at the beginning. Very helpful to have these other two for when I'm ready to branch out. 🙏
I'll refrain from keeping you in this conversation, as I could easily hijack your post on my love of Pat's music. Ha.
But when you get a chance, let me know your thoughts on Bright Size Life. I love first impressions in music.
The last 5 min of my morning completely opened up by reading this fascinating piece. Thank you for it and thank you for your paid subscription notice. I'm about to do the same and completely horrified. I will now go and subscribe so I won't miss a story by you!
Thanks, Pat, appreciate the support! And glad that this issue resonated with you!
Have just bought my annual subscription & good on you for the donation towards 🇺🇦🌻
Thank you for the support!
Okay, so this thing with Mr. Metheny is SO FASCINATING—that line between being joyfully disciplined/motivated and being compulsive. I guess the way the difference is, does the person have a choice?
I don't care how good your work is, I don't think you can real contribute anything good to society in the long run if you're treating yourself with anything other than kindness and respect. But from the outside, there's really no way to tell what's going on.
Also: Very happy to have this cheapie subscription option. Mason, it'd be great if could do a post outlining the results of this experiment, if you're inclined to share. :)
Glad you approve of the cheapie plan! Subtle Maneuvers: Undercutting my newsletter competition since 2022™ 😈
(Kidding. Yes, I'll share the results!)
And I'm similarly fascinated by the line you describe. If you're joyfully obsessed with your work, that seems good, right? I mean, more power to Pat. I guess the danger might lie in holding these people up as idols, when most of us can't/shouldn't try to work at that level of intensity all the time.
Loved this last one Pat Metheny!! I’m a fan of his work and often listen to his music in my studio. As an artist mother I couldn’t possibly dedicate a focused 8 hours to my artistic practice, but I so appreciate the struggle for work/life balance. Looking forward to the next newsletter. Thank you for your work!!
Thank you!
That is compulsive, but we each have to find our own way. I get tired easily, and then everything stops, so I need a more gentle approach. I'm really interested in your next newsletter "Pushing yourself vs. letting things come to you" - that truly is an eternal dilemma.
Thanks, Cali! Definitely agree that we each have to find our own way.
Wow, this is incredible. I love how he acknowledges the line between dedication and compulsion — and doesn't seem to mind crossing back and forth over it. I love this.
Yeah, it seems like he's actually fairly self-aware, as far as obsessed workaholics go?
I'm a paid subscriber but I keep being told I'm getting the free version & asked to subscribe. ???
Thanks so much for your support!
If you became a paid subscriber after I sent out this morning's email, then, yes, that email will have a note at the bottom saying you're getting the free version and asking you to subscribe. But that's the last time you'll see it!
If you're seeing it elsewhere, let me know and I'll troubleshoot!
So the idea that Pat Metheny practices for 8 hours is nonsense. I had the opportunity to speak to him at the bar after a concert. That was exactly my question: "Can I ask you how often and how long you practice and what do you practice?" Pat grinned and said: "You know, I have 275 concerts a year, I think that's enough.
I don't know where this myth comes from that musicians practice for 8 hours every day? Paul Gilbert said to me that if I do that my hand will be broken... So much for that!
So the idea that Pat Metheny practices for 8 hours is nonsense. I had the opportunity to speak to him at the bar after a concert. That was exactly my question: "Can I ask you how often and how long you practice and what do you practice?" Pat grinned and said: "You know, I have 275 concerts a year, I think that's enough.
I don't know where this myth comes from that musicians practice for 8 hours every day? Paul Gilbert said to me that if I do that my hand will be broken... So much for that!