Author: Zents Music Studio

I am a music instructor/radio DJ/singer-songwriter and book author who enjoys speculating on the future. When I was a child I used to walk around with a little microphone. It was square. It was not operative, but in my mind I used it as a walkie talkie to talk to myself. I turned out to be a radio broadcaster. I do like to observe the world and come up with opinions about where it is heading.

Alive and kicking

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I just watched a really good show on HBO about heart disease.
Amazingly, in spite of all our good luck here in the USA with an overabundance of good food, good health care, access to clean water, and digital devices, obesity is killing people and that really is the heart of the matter.

Sadly, the people who are most prone to being obese are those who are economically challenged, namely the poor. Nevertheless, there are many folks who look like, heart attacks waiting to happen, among the upper crust as well.

We see this all around us and it is epidemic. The most horrible fact is that the problem is getting worse.

The question is, with all this cardiopulmonary disease sitting like a time-bomb ready to explode in these many obese bodies, is there anything to stem the tide?

Obviously, eating less and moving more to lose excess weight off the belly is a start.

Too bad it takes a tragedy for people to wake up to reality about obesity and heart disease.

You may come from an abundant country with lots of food tempting you every which way, but don’t let that be your excuse. If you want to live without regrets, then the time to act is now before it’s too late.

Follow the following three rules in addition to weight loss:

  1. Avoid alcohol
  2. Don’t smoke
  3. Don’t sit for longer than 50 minutes at a time.

Much of the heart disease today is preventable in America.

If you want to be successful and live a long life you have to take personal responsibility. You might be a lone voice in the wilderness of obesity, but after they’re gone you’ll still be here alive and kicking!

Inspiration found through Information

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A little walk, a little sit, a little sip, can inspire a great idea!

Walking often yields my inspiration, but so does surfing online.

If you’re looking to be creative, walking certainly makes a difference. You don’t even have to walk very far, just four or five blocks will suffice. It’s an opportunity which affords the brain to formulate an idea.

Right now I’m enjoying my Teavana Earl Grey creme, and reflecting on recent thoughts.

I think we live in a society where we are often drained of our inspiration by people, politics, and events.

I look back on some of my blog posts and the things I’ve published. Sometimes I scratch my head and wonder what I was nattering on about. I must admit some of my earlier posts were pretty rough. Some of them even seemed nonsensical and scattered.

Nevertheless, some of of my WordPress posts were truly inspired. Especially those based on real-life experience. There are lessons to be learned every day.

From personal experience we can glean not only punishment but precious rewards.

Learning from personal experience is one of the the harshest ways to learn, but maybe that’s why the lesson sticks.

However, I do find inspiration and consolation in some of my previous blog posts, and the blog posts of others.

😀
Musically yours,

Amy Zents

It’s called the Banjolele or banjo uke

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Well my husband got me hooked on George Formby. You may not know who he is if you are not familiar with the British musicals that George starred in during the nineteen thirties and forties.
His father, George Formby, Sr. was also a popular and successful musician and entertainer. As a result of dad’s success, George Jr grew up in a life of opulence that belied his Blackpoolian humor that hinted at humble beginnings.

Like his father before him, some of the songs that George Formby jr. performed on stage were full of double entendre.

But that’s British humor for you. They like their shows to include bawdy music hall jibber-jabber, knee-slapping goofy hi-jinks, and I like it too.

My husband asked for a Banjo Uke on his Amazon wish list, and I got him one as a surprise. Here is a video of us with his new banjo ukulele demonstrating the difference between the Hawaiian ukulele and the banjo ukulele.

Ukelele vs. Banjolele

And here is the great George Formby Jr. Playing one of his signature humorous songs.

 With me little ukulele in me hand

I like George Formby’s lighthearted style and it really helped lift up Britain during the darkest days of World War II.

During our cold Minnesota winters, I enjoy listening to George Formby on Google Play while I relax and wait for Spring!

Time to track time

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A good way to find out what you do with your life is to track what you do with your time.
Be the boss of who you are. Tell yourself what to do. Be careful not to be distracted.

If you pay attention to the things you do you will start to lead your own parade.

Others will take notice, but pay them no mind. Keep your eyes on your own track, and get what you want.

Keep in mind, you will have a good life when you appreciate the fact that only you are responsible for your self-respect. You can have whatever you feel you deserve. 

Don’t forget to enjoy the journey and focus on the pleasure of your own goals.

It’s important to win. The things others have are things you can have too if you can pay attention to how you control yourself in the time you have been given.

The mind controls the body, so use your head.

Musically yours, Amy Zents

The idle and unfocused

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It seems I’ve gained a month of time since I last posted a week ago. I have stayed off Facebook and Twitter in efforts to gain my life back. I think about how TV robs me of my time as well. The main thing in order to live is to be able to concentrate your mind on something that is beneficial to you. There are so many things that can distract us from our purpose and dreams.
I think people are becoming more idle, more sedentary and more fat because they are glued to a screen. Rich or poor people, it doesn’t matter, if you are idle and unfocused you are not progressing, and you cannot feel content with your life. Take charge of who you are, and decide what you want. If you want to be happy, take control of your own mind and don’t let others keep you from reaching your goals.

Less and More

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New year. New chapter. New page. But, same old Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. This year I am only planning to go on social media once a week. Today I posted my weekly post on all three social media sites. Lovely. Now I can dive my into real life.

Smiley’s Tavern Open Mic

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A beatbox and bongos are part of the mix at open mic for adventurous musicians

I would like to post something daily for the next 16 weeks to develop a writer’s discipline. Last weekend my husband and I attended open mic night at Smiley’s Tavern.

Smiley’s Tavern has a storied history. It is not the most glamorous bar on the planet.

A terrible upstairs fire that threatened it’s existence a decade ago, only seemed to temper it. To my surprise, the owners just fixed it up and put it back in working order.

 I spent a lot of hours at Smileys with my husband in our courting days. It is where we used to sit and smoke cigarettes and drink beer before such things became verboten.

It’s a very informal tavern. Folks play cards in the other room, and there is a full bar with an assortment of spirits and soft drinks to imbibe.

However, we just go for open mic night. The people that belong to NUMOSS, or New Ulm Musicians Open mic society are a talented bunch and a fun group of grown-ups with an eclectic taste in music. Some of the music is original, but most of what you hear are cover songs. 

That’s okay, people like the tried and true.

Smiling at Smiley’s Tavern

Your best present

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Your focus is your gift to yourself

Where are you? Where did you come from? Where are you going? 
Today is a very special day. Today you are alive and today you are here. There is a saying, older but wiser.

Facts are when you get older you are less concerned about your future and more concerned about savoring your present. Every day above ground is a good day. Sometimes when people are young they are miserable, when they get older and look back on their youth they wonder how they could have been so stupid to be so worried about stupid things, and why they wasted so much time.

There are studies that show people over the age of 50 are often more content because they know who they are and they know their story.

Young or old, it’s good to be present. To be calm and to be mindful means to take your time and enjoy the journey. Too often we rush for the destination, and never think about savoring the present.

There are 3 things you need to be happy, something to do, someone to love, something to look forward to, but let me add a fourth, something to focus on right now. It is important to do one thing at a time with great love. It is a gateway to supreme happiness and contentment.

You are born alone and you die alone, so make yourself your best company. There’s nothing wrong in loving your life.

Don’t let the greedy marketers tell you that you should be miserable because you don’t have a brand new house or car or wear designer clothes.

You have the best present in the universe. You have now. Make today your day and own it! Okay?

Musically yours,

Amy Zents

Sing your song!

Lazy cat world, holiday rant

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Sometimes you wonder if the whole world has turned into a lazy cat.

Why does it seem that getting good service, especially from contractors and sales clerks is like pulling teeth?

Not to be discriminatory, but generally it seems older people are more genuine when they make promises. Much more it seems than the younger crowd.

Nevertheless, with the proper checks and balances, young people with good job supervision are reliable.

These days it seems one has to be almost apologetic in order to garner good service.

It used to be that cooperation and reliability was a given. Now, it seems one has to beg, charm and coerce others into working with dignity and honesty.

With contractors as well as other business folk this warning still holds true: caveat emptor, let the buyer beware.

It’s not so much that they want to cheat you, it’s just that you get the feeling they would rather be someplace else than helping you.

During this Christmas season, I’ve noticed some sales clerks are very rude. They are coarse, careless, avoid eye contact, and they just want to grab your money and get rid of you as fast as they can.

Why is it that so many people have lowered their standards when it comes to courtesy and friendly service? Is it because management has stopped breathing down their necks?

Or are they just genuinely ugly souls?

Is management at fault? 

One imagines good training means good service.

I’ve come to the conclusion that it all boils down to the fact that people have free will. If bad people get a chance to pollute, to destroy, or give bad service, they will. If they can get away with it they will, and oftentimes they do.

I’ve seen it many times. Without rules and regulations, without watch dogs and security or staff overseeing things, some employees go haywire left to their own devices.

Let’s just watch ourselves when we are in business this season, so we don’t become like those bad apples. They’re disgusting.

I was listening to an interview with a football player. He was out for months because of a head injury.

That’s football for you, is all he said to excuse his violent injury and his absence from the field.

Well when it comes to workers who deliver poor service, we don’t want to use the excuse, that’s people for you!

I always thought people were good at heart.

Sad to say, I’m just tired of those who are loser lazy.

Then again, those who are their own heroes and rise to the higher standard, garner my admiration!

A new website domain name

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Find my music at CD Baby

So now I’m using this WordPress to update my music life. Part of being me, is being a radio broadcaster, a singer-songwriter and a music teacher.

I do have a music teaching studio call Zents Music Studio, but my life is really a studio of sorts. I’m learning everyday.

Although I’m looking forward to a bright musical future, I also want to discuss great singing technique, guitar and piano which I teach. But also there’s the lessons of living.

As a writer and songwriter there are stories everywhere you go, from the smiling old woman who curls her hair too tightly that you see at the grocery store, to the way you feel about the young guy who likes to use the electric wheelchair/shopping cart around the store even though he’s healthy.

There’s also the matter of psychology that comes along with being a performer. You can’t deny that people compare you as a singer-songwriter, the way you sing, the way you play, and the songs you write. Also, there’s no denying the CD’s which you record, and produce are always being judged.

There’s so many topics to write about here on my new WordPress domain at Zentsmusicstudio.com