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@TroyNaumu808

5 ай бұрын

Thank you.

I taught creative thinking to advertising students and a method I encouraged was to take time to really enjoy something you love. A good meal, a great piece of music, a walk, or a quiet conversation with a friend. No phones, no talk of work, just time to let your mind and senses grow.

@Markknightexeter

4 ай бұрын

🤣

Mary, your talents are way beyond music. Great social observer, great presenter, great explainer. Don't limit yourself to just music.

As a middle school teacher for 20 years I have seen a major shift in the attention span of my students during that time. They cannot exist without their phone in their hand. Teaching via exploration and learning for the love of learning is getting lost. Addiction is a terrible thing and our society, young and old, are in crisis. Thanks for your videos and music.

As a media professional with a masters degree, I can tell you that this video is an absolute bullseye. The transcript would make for an A+ essay or paper. I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, but I felt you deserved a mention for it. Bravo!

@samuelmath1723

4 ай бұрын

I am making music content myself on KZread and I can tell you that I spend more time on this platform than before. Is it for a good purpose? I do admit it is a bit awkward sometimes. Well, I prefer playing guitar and singing with people around. I don't have any account on Tiktok of Instagram. I got a flip phone instead of a smartphone and all I can say is that when I get out from home, I am very focused on what my friends are telling me face to face. Also, it gives me this freedom to look around my neighborhood and see what's new there while I'm on the bus or walking. It is a good thing that you, Rick Beato or other youtubers are speaking about this social media issue. And it is absolutely a right thing for a youtube creator to stop making content for months and coming back. Everyone should enjoy some relief. Thank you, Mary.

I am not a musician (at all) but I love this channel, so many practical good advice for any person in any career super inspiring. Big thanks!

John Sebastian once said, "The songs that buy you your house are the ones you write in 15 minutes." Some songs don't always come that quickly. Some will take months, even years, if you don't set a schedule for working on songwriting. You can write a good song quickly, but a great song will either pop up in 15 minutes or can take forever, but it's worth it as you sand and shape it into your masterpiece.

You are a God Sent. As I waisted away yet another day, neglecting my task list, a list that seems to be growing without ever seeing very much accomplished. I was thinking this very topic just this morning. Of course, right in the middle of another hours span of getting sucked up into this endless hole of knowledge and entertainment, here you come with a virtual slap across the face screaming, "SNAP OUT OF IT!!!". Thank you dear, I will now proceed to my tasks, and vow to accomplish at least one endeavor daily. Geese, talk about timing.

Once again Mary, you are sending me after a book to read to improve my SELF. I know I have told you this before, but you are an amazing person, not just a musician. I have been led on so many journeys to find things about myself by you, a young thirty something. And I am an old 65 year old. Thanks again Mary.

Really needed this. Thank you Mary for your always excellent work.

“Leave your headphones in the bag.” Sometimes I forget them or just choose to leave in their case. On my last walk in the park I didn’t use them. It let my mind wander naturally towards the things I needed to work on most. And in doing that my anxiety level dropped.

Mary, time spent listening to presentations you put together are always worthwhile. You are very talented and it goes so much further than composing or performing. Wishing you a fruitful new year.!!

I did an experiment recently. I usually have my phone at the side of the bed, off, but it's there. I also have my computer in my room too, it's plugged in, but not switched on. I had been having nightmares about twice a week, and was wondering if it was the EMF's from my devices. It was! They are now completely off, and unplugged - no more nightmares!

Thank you for sharing your perspective and advice.

it´s easy to like you and what you´re telling really making sense. you makes other people grow. thanks

Another great read is Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg Mckeown. As a lifelong collector and completist and dreamer who tends to want to go in many directions at once, his discussions of determining what is Essential and cutting out what is not has really given me a new way of approaching my goals and tasks.

Mary: your explaining things + sharing thoughts videos are what hooked me. I listened to you talk for quite some time before I listened to your music. You -being your thoughtful & well-spoken self-is the best promo material for your music. So many of us-musicians included- search and click on our life-long favourite tunes before diving into new (new to us) musics.

This is a vital video for anyone working in a creative field. This is something that I needed to hear today and will putting into practice immediately.

Very sensible discussion. Should be required viewing before using any social media!

Thank you! This is helping me to realize a lots of things, I have watched your videos because of music, but your light goes beyond that, God bless you!

Mary - your lectures coming from your “suitcase” of knowledge, honesty, imagination, wonderful articulation and creativity, to name a few of your aspects, are truly inspiring!

This short video might actually be life changing. Wow! Love you, Mary.

Thank you, I hope you keep up the good work. I find it motivating in all of life's business that want's to pull you away and you pull me in.

Brilliant! Thank you for this video

It's always a pleasure to watch/listen to one of your "thought pieces," Mary. I never had a problem with focus until the pandemic, when months spent basically staring at this iMac screen found me increasingly subject to the helter-skelter attention span (or, more accurately, lack of attention span) that goes with the attention economy. I've had to retrain myself to log out, as it were, from several activities and accounts because, as you've noted they're mostly distractions without much benefit, except to the advertisers. For anyone doing creative work, "flow," without distraction, is what we're ALL striving for, and I say that as someone who is NOT a musician. I play a little guitar for self-therapy. Thanks for this!

@johngraydon506

5 ай бұрын

Agree she is a person I spend more time tuned into than others at 74 I value every moment but not here ‘ she is a shining Light

Very worthwhile topic, thanks Mary

Great topic and discussion! 👏👏👏

Mary, Your music is very inventive and fun. Keep it fun by doing you at your leisure!

I'll add my thanks a kudos to you, Mary. Appreciate you introducing me to new terminology and books. PS love your newsletter

Brilliant! I hope this goes viral. I teach leadership skills to corporations and I can tell you, without hesitation, focus and attention are necessary for success and both are deteriorating in our corporate culture. Your comments prove the epidemic extends to any creative endeavor. It’s sad and difficult, but it is something that can be addressed. Thanks again for your great work and quality videos.

Thank you, Mary! This was so helpful.

I absolutely agree with all that you have said. Thank you for this video and sharing. It's very appreciated.

A video to frame it and nail it to the wall. Razor sharp. Great one. Thank you, Mary.

I have a set of six cassette tapes about 40 years old now, they are teaching creative thinking by one of the previous creative directors of Walt Disney. He speaks/spoke really fast and kept repeating the phrase ‘reinventing the old in a new way’, not many ideas are totally new in 2023, someone somewhere has done it before. 😮🇬🇧🌈♥️👍

Brilliant. Cogent and engaging.

I'm an amateur who just makes stuff as a hobby, but I find doing other things is when new ideas happen, and I go back to implement it then do something else again when the flow has gone, the project you are working on stays in your mind as it's left open on my laptop too so you can immediately add to it, the music grows bit by bit, can take hours or days, you always think of something else you could have added after the fact but you also have to know when to export and move on to the next idea 😄

This summary will be helpful. Thanks.

Thanks Mary

Thank You, Mary. Much better than "good advice", for sure!!❤❤

Boy Mary I could not agree more with the words.

Sound advise Mary. As a new creator for just a couple of months and stumbling on to this, you just might have saved me from numerous setbacks. Thanks for sharing.

I try to hold-off switching on the internet on my phone as long as I can. I also try hard to switch it off if anything is annoying me rather than being tempted to argue with idiots and trolls.

Great video, definitely been feeling extra addicted to screen time recently - instagram reels being the biggest culprit. I've started leaving my phone in a different room purposely. You still get the itch but its harder to scratch it.

Hi,greetings from Slovakia,your songs nice and perfect...

Mary, this is brilliant. Thank you so much. I'm about to turn off youtube now and continue with a song. I always know when I tune in to your channel that I'll be left feeling calm and inspired.

You have the perfect comforting pitch and tone voice. Have you considered doing audio book recordings as a side gig?

It's such a complicated relationship, I only started following Mary on youtube, becuase of her mid song capo change in a pual davids short on youtube. Now I wait for the next newsletter or video. We all hate advertising or click bait. But it works and is an important part of any "business statagy.

Great post again Mary! Sometimes I think this mesmerising social media scrolling addiction is worse than a hard drug habit!

Facebook was my worst time eater. When I realized how much time I was wasting on useless comments and drama, I put my foot down and posted a comment saying to message me directly to keep in touch because "I was focusing on practicing." And I get messages from people that really count - and that's it. And the best part it - my playing HAS improved, and I still have real friends. Good luck to you Mary - I always your content :)

social media, well most people assume that i had died when they eventually re cross my path (ive deleted many channels on my journey and some quite successful ones) It's what it is mary, I like yourself am constantly revaluating everything as time goes by, A great barometer is to visit the final resting place grave sites of the great ones who walked before us and to examine the legacy they left behind, it's quite sobering.

Hi, thank you for the lesson,being retired i find myself caught up with Facebook and KZread far to easily.I shall try a little harder to resist.cheers,Roly🇬🇧.

@marcpigeon7796

5 ай бұрын

Yeah me too, gotta pick up the Martin more often 🏍️🇨🇦

I think a lot of the guilt and ambivalence we as youtubers feel for using attention-getting tactics melts away when we loosen the idea that attention-grabbing stuff is by-definition bad. The conversation currently raging around social media reminds me of the way people used to talk about alcohol - in an all-or-nothing way. We now have a more nuanced understanding - it can be very enjoyable in moderation, and most people are able to use it responsibly, while a minority needs to be sober because they can't. (and like alcohol, we might need some age-restriction that people like Tristan Harris advocate.) I think a lot of the "extreme concentration" stuff like Cal Newport is likewise going to moderate. A lot of people can be pretty productive if they're working on something interesting, and if they get distracted a few times it's okay. I'm working on writing a video, then was "distracted" by Mary's topic and felt compelled to comment. After that, I'll go back to writing. I won't spend 8 hours getting dragged down a conspiracy rabbit hole and lose my job. I agree with the "social dilemma" thesis that social media algorithms are warping our reality, but I think we need more nuance about *who* in society that's affecting - it's not all of us; it's just a fringe. Just as alcoholism is real and debilitating for those who suffer it, and a net tax on society left untreated, we should take the distracting power of social media seriously. But I don't think it's a boogeyman etc etc. Besides, just make clickbait that entertains and informs, instead of politically radicalizing or doing mean-spirited things. My 2 cents.

Y was introduced to you on Rick Beato KZread channel and found you to be very creative and a wonderful musician Thank you for your contributions

Another excellent video, Mary. I’d love to check out that recommended book but I’m too busy focusing on KZread scrolling 😊

@psquared56

5 ай бұрын

LOL😂

Love this! I don’t think we are talking enough about this issue. Read Stolen Focus and liked it but I highly recommend Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman for a parallel take.

The best way to get your music out is to perform LIVE . When you pull off a great show with no machine as middle man you are never forgotten by your audience .

@miahconnell23

5 ай бұрын

This is true. It really is. It isn’t swap-able with other ways of taking in music. That being said, I love recording because once I get the song right, done, finished & proper (and I mean tone & delivery: not pro-tools magic) it’s there in me pocket. Can’t be said I didn’t do it: I’ve proof right here in my day-bag. 🙌 (🍾🍻 Cheers & Hazzah to the COMPLETED SONG !! It WAS in the ether, it WAS in my head, but now it’s here on Earth 🌏💫 and you can have a listen, if’n you’re wanting to 🙏📿❤️)

@RocketKirchner

5 ай бұрын

I have recorded 40 records of my stuff and I like it to . Best way of promo is bring CDs to live shows .

Thank you

Good video. Subscribed!

Very interesting. I usually multitask when listening to youtube. Like today, I listened while working on my new song in my DAW. :)

You are going good places .

nothing more to say, other than Mary, please mention THIS every time in your videos!!!!!!👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋❤❤

Great video and thanks for recommending Stolen Focus. I’ll definitely be checking it out. My problem isn’t creating. I have a songwriting workflow that’s very friendly to my ADHD, so I’m always writing. My next album is entirely written and memorized, I have another album planned and written after that and 18 more songs in my Done folder waiting to be sorted. My problem is finding the discipline to actually record them. It’s the part of the process that, for me, is a necessary evil and I always struggle to get myself to start.

Excellent video

Very interesting topic! BTW, I do remember McCartney relating that "Let It Be" came to him in a dream, too! He was quite the prolific sleeper 🤔

Henri Nouwen wrote about reducing/eliminating the exterior noise in one’s life, which leads to interior noise popping up its ugly head, demanding our attention. This is a good process, leading to a more contemplative and creative lifestyle. I have found that limiting exposure to external stimulus that has little or no value whatsoever is an effective first step towards finding my creative process. I like what you shared about having a balanced approach towards social media - however the attraction is as alluring as the ancient siren’s song…

great question. as a visual creator I know that paralysis sets in when I see all the cool stuff that others are doing and I set upon learning more about it or think about how far back my I've fallen in terms of new tech skills, etc. On the other hand, when I do NOT spend time doing that, I imagine that I'm so far behind the times. New terminology, catch phrases and euphamisms for so much stuff is constantly coming out. "Experts" are always framing the lay of the land in some new-speak. It is very tiresome. Maybe not a "happy medium" but a "useful medium" exists. But I rarely find it.

Being a KZreadr and a massive consumer of KZread, I agree that it can be a problem, but I see it as an education. I am just good at saying stop in time :)

Brilliant saying, I want to be the one that feeds, not fed’ 👍🌈🇬🇧♥️

Mary, (Long time listener, first time commenter) 1.) I will echo others’ comments that your talent goes far beyond music and platform. Aesthetic for sets, shooting/editing and conversational discourse, to name only a couple. Might consider regular podcasting…🤷‍♂️? 2.) “Stolen Focus” was a surprise and delight, while shedding light on some grim realities. I listened to it while refinishing a hundred year old wood floor in our house. (Need to again.) Anyway, please keep following your interests, regardless of subject, medium or content. You - are what makes your stuff interesting!

"I want to bite the hand that feeds me." - Elvis Costello

Non-musician here, but as always thank you for a fascinating topic and the recommendation.

Words of wisdom. Scrolling has become a strong demon. I went back to thinking on paper with an old school binder in order to regain my creativity, and exorcise that beast.

Your discussion reminds me of the book, "The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains" by Nicholas Carr, which came out in 2011.

I am only subscribed to channels I find useful and can learn something from. I mostly only watch any videos with the idea I can learn something from it. I only allow myself to brainlessly scroll every so often. I used to have something very close to a gaming addiction, which is very similar. Once I got aware of this, I made the decision to focus on using time in a useful way. Meaning that even if I decide to go watch YT, I focus on channels and videos that I can pull something useful from. So essentially I am also giving you a big compliment that you're in this list, because my criteria are pretty harsh.😅👍

In reference to the one hour..Hey, bob dylan wrote “blowing in the wind” in 5 minutes. Still blows my mind

Excellent video thank you very much. Trying to make my practice and progress on my guitar journey meaningful. Would love a video from you or Rick, Rhett or Paul where we just play together not a lesson. Just a thought. Cheers!

I definitely identify with this person's struggles. I don't know if they have ADHD, but I personally do (inattentive type), and using social media platforms to promote music is pretty difficult when it's so easy to get sucked into doom scrolling or consuming content of others.

"I'll get to work after one more video". That's me, LOL. I don't have any other Social media other than YT. (70 years old)

One problem with KZread is that it got me to buy a lot of vintage Martin 0-18 guitars and a lot of synthesizers.

Bella/Linda.💎💎💎💎💎💎

The quote that's stuck with me is a variation on your title: You can't serve two masters. Being on KZread is the equivalent of being the regular performer at a Vegas casino. A giant venue. Good money. But there are limits to what you can do or say, and veering too far off from audience/algorithmic expectations will result in financial punishment. It's a golden cage.

KZread is a terrible draw. I spend far too much time on it, with so much to do not getting done. However, it did present me with you, so it can't be all bad. Your music is usually very calming, and good to listen to at the end of a day, especially a difficult day. And your voice is also very calming and relaxing to listen to, so thank you.

you'll never be 'trapped' by a good song

It would be nice to have someone who can watch for you. Let them travel down the rabbit hole. If they see something that would help, point out its merits. Good video Mary

I don't scroll. I no longer care to care. I agree... I'm OUTPUT 90% and input 10%

Don't' take your phone to bed with you. Absolutely. Take your guitar to bed instead?? LOL 🤣😂🤣😀

Thank you for the discussion, I see myself in your comments and I've fallen into this worm hole and maybe it'll be enough to snap me out of it, I definitely have other shit to do.

I'm starting to look at YT as a guilty pleasure. Face it, everything is clickbait and clickbait leads to provocation, so you click on it, and once you've clicked on it, you might as well watch it. Even so, I find myself scrolling through the video to get to the point, or on the lists of recommended videos, scrolling through the list just to see what's out there, because if you clicked on everything that "looks interesting," you'd be here all day. 8 minutes is the YT attention span these days, and you brought it in right on the button.

I wish I had a sister like you. I am a lover of guitars and bought my first acoustic guitar in NYC, at Manny’s Music. Jimi Hendrix got his guitars there. I have been a painter since around 5 years old. I don’t sell my art, I give it to people that like them. I support all of it with my own money. Do you paint or do anything at all. I painted a 4X8 foot painting around 1971. I was 19. Any questions you may have I would happily pass along. So never any income there. I have been a fan and then a family member of the Grateful Dead,which I met in 1971.I want your opinion of their music over the years. Would really would love to exchange some of my journey with them, with you. I am left handed but found Lefty’s guitars on the west side of Florida. I have a home eastern side of the state. My father in law passed away about a year ago. I met my wife at a Grateful Dead concert in 1978 In Providence Rhode Island. I saw their original rhythm guitar player a week ago. I got my first electric guitar around 1988. An original 1964 SG standard for the original owner. SG is the easiest guitar to string upside down. I just had my local guitar technician turn it back to a right handed. It needed some electronic work on the wiring. Sounds really nice. I have known you were a brilliant the first time I saw one of your first videos. I have a gift for finding gifted people. Your dedication to working through anything you undertake is inspiring. If you would like a painting, let me know. My wife inherited several millions of dollars, so I have around 26 electric and acoustic guitars and dozens of high end pedals. Shout out to the guys on That Pedal Show, for the many kind and worthy information. In this life you might not get what you want but get what you need, thanks Mick. I have seen most of the highly noted musicians throughout the years.starting with the Beatles at Shay Stadium. Have to say you glow with a light even through the camera. Thanks brave heart⚡️🖖🏽⚡️

The internet of things is distracting, even listening to music. For example if you are controlling your streaming app or music server with an app, the device is connected to the internet. Being connected to the internet opens the temptation to surf the web while listening. I am moving back to physical media as a result. The vinyl snobs are on to something with this. It is the intentional act of doing something then limiting your ability to switch to something else, allowing our short attention spans to more easily train itself to be shorter.

As you said, "This is what the platform is designed for". To hold your attention to the point of pushing thought out of the window so that your clicks count for the platform, rather than the creator...

Yes. On so many levels. I quit a social site a month ago. It had become argumentative. Why did it matter that I felt the "need" to educate the ignorant? Fuck em. Since I left I was frankly surprised at how much better my emotional state became. Live and learn. I am very selective which videos I watch today. They need to be...helpful...to me. I am selfish. Feed me. But I appreciate it with all my heart.

Excellent analysis! There's a reason I don't own a phone.

Ace!

Great advice, so easy to be distracted by the reactive away from the creative.

Yep, KZread is a diversion that I need to curtail. Too much stuff to get lost in. Focus and time limit on you tube or other internet sites is my best bet to stick to my practice time.

In this old man's case do not know if it is good, or bad that I watch KZread to follow for the most part technology clips. Try to keep my mind engaged to stay up to date on smart phone/ telephony, computer, networking, and Internet technology. On a side note never understand why most all of the pundits are so mesmerized by the GQ look of smart phones. I just want my smart phone to be KISS in operation, updates, and just work every time I go to use it. Thing is they talk about edges, or finger prints when most every normal I know, or see in public always has a case on their smart phone. Now that is out of my system. Thing is without KZread I do not think I would have found you, and your wonderful music.

Preach! May I recommend if you have a desire to watch some YT, always watch in Theatre mode or full screen mode -- (or on the phone, in landscape orientation) -- this will remove the sidebar distractions, and not tempt you with clickbait. At least, not as much. I always go directly to subscriptions, rather than whatever the algorithm offers up. This also helps limit the distractions. May all your efforts be fruitful, and may you tame the clickbait monster!

Surround yourself with good musicians that inspire you. Ones that will be honest with you and provide feedback and encourage you to hone your music career.

"any trap, can bite either the target or the 'trapper'...or it's not an effective trap.." Not an exact comparison, but an interesting example...? Edit: I'm going to try the recommended book...🎯 TY