Meet John Dalton

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to John Dalton. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have John with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

My work ethic was developed of many years with the help of positive role models. When I first started college for music, one of my teachers (Jaime Eckert) told me a good daily practice practice range to see positive results, and I’ve tried to stick to that. As I’ve grown and become a working professional, the scope of what constitutes practice has expanded. A goal I try to stick to is to do something musical every day. That can be practicing my instrument, working on a mix, doing score study, or deep listening. Immersion into what you’re doing helps to not only inspire you, but also allows you to absorb what you’re working on. I’ve also learned consistency is key to seeing results in the practice room. I always tell students that 15 minutes every day is more beneficial than sporadic practice.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am a drummer, composer, bandleader, and improviser. I play regularly in the northeast United States, both with my band as well as various freelance work. My group Spheres of Influence is a modular ensemble that plays my compositions and arrangements of popular repertoire. Sphere’s debut album, Indigo Skyline, released in 2019. A follow up album is currently in the works.

I’m also in a group called Spatial Decay. It is an improvising trio that features Sam Childs and Evan Palmer. We play sets of fully improvised music.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I think 3 qualities that are important to having a sustainable life as an artist are kindness, dedication, and honesty.

Kindness is a valuable as a musician because in this business, you’re only as solid as your reputation is. It’s within one’s best interest to treat others with the respect and dignity they deserve not only because it’s the right thing to do, but it can create more opportunities for yourself. There are always going to be folks more skilled than you are, but if you’re professional and easy to work with, you’re more likely to get called for opportunities.

Dedication is needed on many fronts as a musician. You need to be dedicated to the work of honing and developing your craft through practice. You ned to be dedicated to your own artistic vision, and developing that despite the naysayers in society and even within artistic circles. You need to be dedicated to the music, because there are going to be setbacks and trials that may make you question the path you’re on.

Honesty is paramount in art. I feel there’s no point in pretending to be something you’re not in music. You need to follow your heart, and your ears. If that means you like abrasive sounds or lyrical melodies, you need to be true to whatever moves you. That’s what makes really compelling art in my eyes. Honesty also means being honest with yourself, being able to evaluate what you need to really work on in the practice room

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

I slightly lean towards going in towards your strengths, but it’s important to work on weaknesses too. As a drummer, you need to have some fluency in a variety of different styles. One day you might have a funk gig, and another a straight ahead jazz brunch, and then a show playing salsa music. All these types of music have something you can learn from, and are rich and deep traditions. But that being said, you have to be honest with yourself, and pursue the kinds of music that really move your spirit.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Bosse Studios
Mark Redmond

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Leadership Development
Empathy Unlocked: Understanding how to Develop Emotional Intelligence

“Empathy is the starting point for creating a community and taking action. It’s the impetus

Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Boosting Productivity Through Self-Care

When you have a never-ending to-do list it can feel irresponsible to engage in self-care,