We recently connected with Paul Jost and have shared our conversation below.
Paul, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
It seems to be a never-ending dance, but I’ve learned there’s nothing better to support confidence and self-esteem than simply being well prepared.
The gnarly insecurities that stick with us while we try to evaluate our worth and how we fit in can be suffocating. Thoughtful opinions from teachers, mentors and guides can show us positive ways to be honest with ourselves, and why it’s important to consider the source of opinions so we don’t give them all equal value. If not, they can negatively shape our views and move us away from our goals and potential.
We need to find our voice, explore it, and then offer it to the world. Once we do, the opinions we hear back might range from expressions of total dislike to genius (with none taken too seriously). What’s more important is to satisfy our own measures and then present the best interpretations of what we’re trying to convey. Eventually, I realized there’s only one of me, and that it’s only me competing against myself. Can I be a better version of myself? Always, of course; and helpful ways to keep moving in that direction are to be inspired and motivated by others and not feel intimidated or jealous.
As we take inventory of our work, I think it’s important to acknowledge when we’ve successfully hit the mark, but also to see when our efforts could have been better. When asked why he continued to practice into his 90’s, Arthur Rubinstein said “Because I hear improvement.”
I try to be an honest friend to myself. I wouldn’t give much weight to the opinions of a friend who only praised me or only pointed out my faults. It’s hard to love ourselves because our insecurities make it easier to doubt and criticize rather than give a private pat on the back when deserved. Positive encouragement goes a long way when given to others…and to ourselves.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m an instrumentalist, vocalist, composer/arranger and hope to be a “story teller” in whatever I’m doing. My last two quartet collaborations are “Simple Life” and “While We Were Gone” with Jim Ridl-piano, Dean Johnson-bass, Tim Horner-drums and guest artist Joe Locke-vibes. I’m grateful to have the opportunities to work with these gifted and like-minded artists who are also story tellers and who always put the collective music first. *(There are new works in the making but no release dates as of this writing).
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
My best advice is to apply the “3 P’s” (Patience, Practice and Persistence). They’re three of the most important elements I can suggest to anyone starting out, in the middle of, or at any part of their journey. Though they pretty much cover all the bases, it’s also important to remain genial. Leave the sharp edges for your art, not your relationships. I’m not saying be dishonest with yourself, just offering a reminding whisper in your ear that it’s a small world.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When feeling overwhelmed, my default position is to dig in deeper, but it seldom works. Most often that approach just creates a bigger and more frustrating hole to dig out of and leaves me feeling even more overwhelmed. What’s come to work best for me is to stop, walk away and give myself some space. I’ve found this works in all areas, not just music. Whenever I become obsessively myopic about anything, it’s best for me to back off, regroup, take a breath and address whatever challenge it is later when I’m clearer and without having obsessed about the problem during the time away.
I’ve noticed too, that when I’ve stopped practicing a little bit (a little bit 😉 I’m more relaxed and open interacting with the music when I return. So now, I try to take a day or two off before a performance and not dwell on the material I’ll be doing. I also partially shut down a bit during a rehearsal-sound-check because I know if I come up with spontaneous things I like, that I might subconsciously aim at them or fight myself from doing so later in the performance.
Regarding space, there’s a notion that the 13th note is silence and one not practiced or given enough attention. Miles, Wayne Shorter and Charlie Haden are three artists that immediately come to mind as masters of the 13th note.
Silence can be unnerving to those who feel compelled to fill the air, fill the space. However, it seems those who are well practiced, prepared and confident, embrace the quiet knowing that gold is found there. They don’t run from it, but toward it.
It’s a never-ending dance.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pauljostmusic.com
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC15s2lKyqY3ZqrlgIkFL-FA
- Other: *Paul Jost and/or Paul Jost Quartet is on iTunes, Bandcamp, Amazon, Spotify
Image Credits
Tracey Yarad, Jonathan Broady, Chris Drukker, Anthony Dean
