Scott Coner Music: Staying Focused in the Middle of it All

By Scott Coner

Nashville Recording Artist, Songwriter, Performer, and Author

Trying to stay focused on something that is constantly changing can be challenging. Today's world seems to move in so many directions it's hard to keep up. I have been writing and playing music since I was 15. I’m not all that old, but I remember a world that was far less technical than the one I’m living in now. I remember the joy I felt as I learned a new chord or came up with a melody or sound that seemed like it was all mine. Back then I wasn’t sitting with a lap -top to write lyrics with. I didn’t have a practice studio. And I sure wasn’t running to a studio every chance I got or worrying about writing for the market. Instead, I wrote for my own enjoyment. I was finding myself sitting right there all alone with a cheap acoustic guitar. At that moment, I think my goal in life was to grab an “F” chord without having to stop in order to get my fingers out of a knot.

Lately, I have found myself removed a bit from the reasons I wanted to play music in the first place. I worry about finding the right booking agents that will want to work with me I worry about being certain I have the right group of people together in order to do the shows right. I worry about the fact that the phone isn’t ringing off the hook. I worry about trying to stay in good physical condition. And lately, I worry about the fact that I seem to worry all the time. I’d say the biggest issue is, in order to maintain sanity, I have to have faith in others. I have to believe people will do what they say. I have to not be in control. I have to be confident that things will be done in an orderly way. It’s a lot harder than it sounds. Believe me.

Music has become a business to me these days, and I wish it didn’t have to be. I wish I could focus on doing a good job on the songs themselves. Somewhere along the line, I have allowed things to get out of hand. You find yourself wanting something so badly your willing to get knee deep in things that aren’t central to accomplishing much of anything. All I ever wanted was to play music and write songs. It has always been about the passion of the art itself. That moment of magic is what I have loved so much. I hope to find that part of me again soon. I hope that this year will allow the songs themselves to matter more. I still practice and prepare. But I don’t work at writing like I have for most of my life. I feel like I should be preparing for what is around the corner instead of chasing a song down a rabbit hole. Some days I wonder if things will ever actually fall into place like they need to. But I don’t allow my mind to drift in that direction for too long. I have told people for years that if you focus and prepare, the change you desire will find you. We live our lives in faith. We believe that we have a Savior in heaven. We believe that our significant other loves us as much as we love them. We have faith in our children. I think it is just as important to have that same type of faith in what we have pursued. I don’t think God plays us as a fool. He doesn’t put something on your heart only to break you into a thousand pieces. But, at the same time, He never promised an easy ride. Sometimes we just need to man up and grab a hold of the moment. We know that things will happen just as much as we know there is an invisible wind in our face.

So where was I going with this rant? I guess I wanted you to know that we all have weak moments. We all get nervous in the middle of the night. For whatever it’s worth, just stay the course. Whatever your dream is, remember that it matters. Remember that you matter. Go and do what you love. Chase what comes naturally to you. And no matter how hard things get, always know that the rest of us are right there in the same boat with you. We have all felt foolish or let down. We have all wondered what in the world we are doing. But there are two types of people in this world. One type knows what it is to hang on and never give up. Just make sure you are this type of person. Don’t allow yourself to be full of regret for not taking steps in faith. Just believe that God is, and always will be in control. He gave you your gift for a reason. It is up to you to develop it and share that part of yourself as you see fit.