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

Rigors of Living

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Plan your work and work your plan!

They often say the best laid plans of mice and men go awry.

Sometimes it’s better not to have plans, and do what you know you should do, and do what you say you will do.

Part of growing up is becoming disciplined. To discipline yourself is the hardest thing to do.

Did you know you can become a life coach without any degree? To become a life coach you don’t even have to join their organisation and get on their mailing list either.

Why do so many people hire life coaches? 

I think people like to have a life coach, although it costs them a lot of money.The fact is people are unable to kick their own butts, they prefer somebody else whip them in line. 

The reality is you probably do not need anyone to tell you what to do. You know what to do. You may not want to do it. However, the ultimate decision is up to you whether or not you do it.

The truth is revealed in the movie The Wizard of Oz. You have the power within you and you’ve always had it.

One of the nice things about the digital Revolution, is that we can set up our schedule on our smartphone, and use the timer and the calendar, and it’s all paper free. 

When it comes to time management, you have to be the one to manage yourself in time. Go for it! You can do it! I believe in you! 

You don’t need me as your life coach, you need yourself to be on your side, to stand up for your truth, and your goals and dreams!

Less TV, more Life

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It would be radical to say I’m giving up on television. I beg to differ. Now with a billion channels there’s something good to watch on TV, but it’s not what you think.

I’m a person who was raised on television. I’ve seen just about every show and every incarnation of story line, that nearly every TV show has become repetitive.

I was watching a movie called Headline Shooter yesterday. The film was made in 1933. The topics and tragedies it covered were just as gory as what is common fodder on today’s hit TV series. Yes death and destruction sells.

Every kind of human depravity grabs the attention of the masses on television and in books. Lately movies have seemed rather flat too. It seems every movie I see uses the same pattern of manipulating emotion in ways that have disenfranchised me to the point where they no longer thrill. Sorry, but the spectacle of special effects is wearing thin as well.

I used to watch TV to be amused and entertained. But being amused and entertained is easy on Facebook and in social media. Also, the news can be pretty entertaining. Some people can be so stupid that you can laugh at them in disgust, or hang your head down and cry. But it is human nature to ignore reality and history, so stupid people continue to proliferate in their heinous acts.

The world’s human tragedy is played out in the newspapers and on social media moment by moment. Television shows are just a faint mirroring of the human condition. So easily forgettable. A quaint escape and a huge waste of time.

In the future I think entertainment will be found in more practical ways than just sitting in idleness glued to a screen.

Human tastes are changing. People are longing to connect to past experiences and friends they’ve lost touched with.

I predict an Entertainment Revolution. I think we are getting sick of being made sick by sick people. But then I could be wrong. It seems sickos never go out of style. People like to watch other people suffer as long as it’s not them. The drama, the tragedy, the sex and violence, an entertainment history that goes back to ancient times, is replayed over and over again in TV and movies because that is what people like.

For me, I like to laugh. I like to see the beauty happiness and romance of life. You can keep it’s dirty underbelly, thank you very much. Reality to me is better than a watered-down rendition of it or grotesque cinema verite.