David Nevue's Blog - The Life of a Solo Piano Artist

Words

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 19:38:00 +0000

Social Media, especially now, is our most immediate connection to others.

Our words are exceedingly visible to dozens, hundreds, thousands... almost instantly. The power of written words are MAGNIFIED.

You can use this power to BLESS others,

You can use this power to CURSE others.

Be careful which you choose.

If you use this power to curse others, even those you deem unworthy of respect, you do not know it, but you are destroying relationships you actually do care about.

Friends, family, neighbors, brothers and sisters in faith or purpose who would otherwise embrace you... see your words, and guess what? They believe what you say.

How many times have I said this to myself?

"Wow, if this person hates and curses THEM so much, if they really knew me, they would clearly despise me too."

Trust is broken. I can never trust this person's inner thoughts again, because I have seen the poisonous outer thoughts put on display for all the world to see.

So careless with those weapons that are words.

Words that are written reveal your heart.

Words that are written have power and they stick.

Words that are written are remembered.

So...

Be INTENTIONAL with what you write.

Be POSITIVE.

LIFT UP others.

EXHORT others to GOOD THINGS.

To KINDNESS.

To PATIENCE.

LOVE your enemies.

Yes, LOVE.

Sometimes "loving" means simply taking control of your words.

And putting down your weapons.

This Christmas - Let's LIVE, not just WATCH.

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 19:50:00 +0000

Some thoughts...

It has really struck me this last couple of weeks how my generation (I'd say with the advent of Color TV especially) was really the first to "watch" life as much or more than to actually "live" it.

As the decades progressed, some in the 70's, then a LOT more in the 80's and 90's, our "shared happy memories" are TV shows, sports on TV, and movies...

I grew up with "talk around the watercooler" being about Dallas/Dynasty, Letterman, SNL, Star Wars, Michael Jordan and the Bulls, MTV, The X-Files, Twin Peaks, Beverly Hills 90210, Friends, The Real World, The Office, The O.J. Simpson trial, The LotR movies, Survivor and whatever is the "happening show right now" on Netflix...

Just some examples that come quickly to mind.

We talk as much or less about "real life" since, as a culture here in the U.S. anyway, how we relate to each other is as much or more about the things we "watch" rather than what we are actively doing in our lives. Talking about what we "watch" is easier than sharing our hurts, or opening up to others, especially when, at this time in our culture, we are more than ever surrounded by mere acquaintances or complete strangers.

Christmas, too, has become - to a large degree - about what we watch. Our "traditions" now include watching A Christmas Story, Home Alone, Elf... A Charlie Brown Christmas (love all of those!)

I think CHRISTMAS, especially during these difficult times, is a good time - maybe the best time - to try and BREAK OUT of that.

To SHARE in life, love... to look at each other, into each others' eyes and hearts, to listen, to open up our arms. To TALK to each other about deeper things.

I know these are extraordinarily difficult times. The time of year when hurts hurt more. Regrets compound. Even without COVID.

We need something real, not just fantasy. Not just "the show."

Family... it's time to BE FAMILY!

Family being more than watching things together.

Being more than a shared escape from our worries and troubles.

To READ TOGETHER the Word of God... the real Christmas story (Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2), to discuss it, to talk about and share our joy in the HOPE we have in God, and the PEACE and GRACE that have been gifted to us through the birth of Jesus, the precious Son of God, our Lord.

I am writing this really, to preach to myself... the need for something real. I want to actually BE ALIVE this Christmas. To "live" something. Not just watch something.

I write this next thing, knowing I may get flack, but... it's OK.

Tonight, for the first time since last March or so, I am taking my family to Church... to our Christmas Eve service. Yes, we'll be masked.... and socially distanced. But I am going there to WORSHIP my Lord and Savior. I am going for HIM and to honor HIM and to offer up my praise. I am setting aside my fear and concerns and my fleshly desire to "stay home and watch the livestream" and I am choosing to worship with other believers in person.

I want to LIVE this Christmas. I don't want to just watch it.

Again, I am just preaching to myself here, exhorting myself to make Christmas more than watching movies about Christmas.

Maybe, in here, you will find encouragement too.

The easiest thing to do is to do nothing. To just watch.

The Lamb of God is worthy of so much more.

Worth my effort, worth all risk, worth all my energy.

To be ALIVE in Christ.

To experience family.

That's what I want to really dwell in this Christmas.

May the Prince of Peace greatly enrich and bless your Christmas and holiday season.

Your Own Personal (and Private) Jesus

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 19:00:00 +0000

I was recently (February 2014) asked to write a 500 word article/commentary for the Religion section of the local newspaper. I discovered how very difficult is it so write something of substance, make your points and explain those points in just 500 words! My first revision of the article was over 800 words... far too much, so I had to take a more minimal approach, constantly editing down, reducing my number of points, cutting, simplifying and being as succinct as I could.... Even with all that, I went over a bit (by 11 words!) Fortunately, the paper was accommodating. Here's the final text of the article as submitted.

Your Own Personal (and Private) Jesus

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I want my life (and my thoughts) to honor Him. That can be difficult when, wherever I go, I am surrounded by a culture that thrives on sensuality and selfishness. Spiritually, I feel like I’m always on defense, continuously having to “avert my eyes” and my mind. According to a 2012 Gallup poll, 77% of Americans “identify with a Christian religion.” If that’s the case, why doesn't our nation better reflect Christian values?

There are many reasons. I’ll focus on two. First, let’s be honest, most Christians are far too caught up in the pleasures and distractions of this world. We are surrounded by images that stimulate not only our senses, but our desire to WANT things. We spend our time chasing after possessions, ideals and fantasies that have no value whatsoever in God’s Kingdom. Secondly, we've bought into the idea that we should keep our faith in Jesus private. The culture tells us… “Let’s not make others uncomfortable,” so we comply, keeping our Jesus-faith “personal” and hidden. We walk around in “secret,” blending into the busy, always-in-a-hurry world around us.

The result? Many Christians don’t look like Christians. We look like everyone else. We talk to our friends/family/coworkers about the latest movies, games, gadgets and politics… but not Jesus. We remain spiritually anonymous, which begs the question… if the people around us don’t see Christ in us, are we truly being Christians? Think about it (1 John 1:6).

In Matthew 5:13-16 Jesus says that we are to be the salt and light of the earth. Salt is meant to add flavor. It’s not intended to “blend.” It’s supposed to enhance, and if it doesn't Jesus says, it’s “no good for anything.” Light also has a purpose… to shine, to be seen, to light up the dark, and to “glorify your Father in heaven.” Jesus intends that His followers be salt and light. He wants them to be noticed, seen, heard and observed. Jesus did not intend for Christians to remain anonymous, because HE is not anonymous.

While not all of us are called to be pastors or teachers of the Word, we are all called to be ambassadors of Christ (2 Cor. 5:18-20, Col. 3:17). As His ambassadors, we should represent Him wherever we go, encouraging others to seek reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ. God put us in a specific job/city/school/place for that reason, so that when others look at us, they see Jesus reflected, reaching out to a lost world, offering forgiveness, peace, and hope of everlasting joy.

Go take a look in that metaphorical mirror. Do you reflect Jesus? What do people see when they look at you? Does Jesus ever enter into your conversations? Do you encourage others with scripture? Do you pray with those who are hurting?

My words of salt to you: if you call yourself a Christian, make sure that in all you do, all you say, everything you post on Facebook… you reflect Jesus Christ. Let His light shine through you (Eph. 5:7-14), drawing others out of the darkness. If every Christian did that, our culture would be a little less dark.

David Nevue

An abandoned church in Locust Grove, OR. Photo by David Nevue.

Interview with David Nevue: On Playing and Arranging Hymns for Solo Piano....

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 18:41:00 +0000

On February 17th, 2014, I was sent a list of questions by a college student who was assigned a research project for his music education courses. The subject of his research: the modernization of hymns. A fan of my solo piano music, the student sent me this list of questions about hymns and my overall approach to arranging them. I hope you enjoy it! Now, to the questions...

What drew your attention/interest toward hymns?

I grew up singing hymns in the church... but as a kid I never liked them much. I remember one of my early piano teachers trying to teach me how to play hymns and I completely resisted... I didn't want to be a "church hymn player." Of course, I was twelve at the time. In my late teen years, I discovered an album (an LP, remember those?) in a used record store bin called The Vigil by Kemper Crabb. I just loved the album artwork, and so bought it unheard. That record became one of my favorite records of all time. Included on the record was an arrangement of Be Thou My Vision that just really spoke to my heart. And that was when the tide started to turn. I created my own arrangement of Be Thou My Vision for my third CD, The Last Waking Moment. That was the first "hymn" arrangement I recorded. In fact, it was the very first song I ever released that was not my own original composition. And my fourth album, The Vigil, was conceptually inspired by Kemper Crabb's album of the same name. That's how much that record impacted me.

How did the form and structure of original hymns influence the harmonies and structure of your arrangements?

To be honest, I'm not sure that "hymn form and structure" had any influence on me at all... I've never thought about the songs that way. For me, it's all about the melody. And of course, the melodies of the great hymns, well, they have lasted for generations for good reason. The melodies are incredibly memorable and instantly recognizable. And when arranging hymns, the melody has to be the main thing. You can deviate a little, and you can take some creative liberties, but the substance of the arrangement... it really needs to hang on that melody. Otherwise you start to lose touch with the heart and voice of the original hymn.

Did the text of the original hymns influence your writing?

Yes and No. No, in that I don't think the text of the hymns had any influence over how I arranged the songs, per se, but YES, in that that text did impact how I approached the songs on a spiritual level. While working on them, the words of hymns drew me inward toward God... almost like moving closer and closer to His throne. So there is a seriousness, an awe and a reverence that goes along with that. I have really come to view the hymns as sacred... the words are so deep, so passionate and they resonate with my Spirit. They 100% speak the truth unashamedly and there is no holding back. They are a deeply felt response to God's grace, forgiveness, and Christ's death on the cross and resurrection. With the classic hymns, there is no sense of "let's make this song palpable to the general public." When you compare modern contemporary worship music to the great hymns, there is simply no comparison lyrically. Not to knock contemporary worship, I love a lot of the modern songs, but they are basically lyrical fast food, and for the most part, they don't require us to think too deeply. Whereas the classic hymns... well, dwell on those words, really consider them, and they penetrate your heart on a deeper, maybe even life-altering level.

What was your inspiration for your piece Eden Again ?

My belief that the day is coming when God will redeem all of his creation and return it to its original state, uncorrupted by sin and the fall. Essentially, "Eden" again. The song looks forward to the events spoken of in Revelation 21 and 22, when God dwells with us here on Earth once more. Just as it was in the Garden of Eden, when God met and walked with Adam and Eve, so it will be then when God dwells with us (Rev: 21:3).

Why do you write for solo piano?

Ultimately, it's because as a solo pianist, I have complete control over the output. I don't have to rely on anyone else to do their part. When I was young and in college, I played in a few rock bands. Nothing came of those years (aside from some great friendships!) but I did discover one of the problems of working with others to create music... there are lots of clashes of opinion and personality. Those clashes can result in some amazing music, but it's also very volatile. Musicians, you see, are generally very sensitive people. We're insecure, subject to ego, and emotionally tied up in what we create musically. So during my "band years" I struggled with all those things. I didn't want to feel that my musical success was dependent on other people. So... that was when I first started composing for solo piano. I found the process much more peaceful. Less angst. And the only person I had to worry about playing a part perfectly was myself. And as a bonus... it's much easier (and less expensive) to record a quality solo piano album than it is to record an album featuring multiple personalities and instruments.

In regards to your albums, how do you decide the grouping of your songs?

Generally speaking, I am telling a story with the music... not only with the songs, but with the album as a whole. So the scope of the story I am telling over the course of the album will determine, to some degree, the order the songs appear in. Key signatures and the general feel of the songs affect the song order as well. All of those elements play a big part.

Why do you have some albums that are specifically dedicated to hymns while other albums have hymns interspersed?

Well, when I started composing, I never had any intent to record hymns at all. That wasn't in the plan early on. I mentioned earlier the story of Be Thou My Vision and how that came about for my 1997 album The Last Waking Moment. That was just a one-off thing. I did it because the song spoke to my heart, and I was drawn to it. The next album that I put a traditional hymn on (if you don't count my Christmas album or my arrangement of Jesus Loves Me on my album Sweet Dreams & Starlight) was Overcome. That album, released in 2005, was dedicated to my father, who I had lost to cancer in 2003. My father was a great man of faith. He was a pastor, evangelist and missionary, and in composing the album in his honor, I felt led to include a couple of hymn arrangements that were his favorites... so there are two hymns on that album, plus three praise song arrangements. During the process of arranging the hymns for Overcome I dug out my hymnal and really started to read the words of the hymns for first time. I started flipping through the pages and memories came flooding back... memories of singing those old songs with my family in church. And it was at that point, that I really fell in love with the hymns. That's when I started reading the words and realized what a treasure they are. And those moments at the piano with the hymnal put the desire in my heart to sit down and arrange some of my favorites. And that led to next album, Adoration: Solo Piano Hymns, which is entirely made up of hymn arrangements. The following album, Revelation: Solo Piano for Prayer & Worship, contains five hymns, ten praise song arrangements, and a couple of originals. Revelation was a complete accident. Most of the album was improvised and recorded during the Adoration sessions. So again, that album really was the work of the Holy Spirit. Not something I planned... total a God thing. After that, the only hymn I've recorded was For the Beauty of the Earth for my most recent album Open Sky. I heard the tune, got an idea for arranging it, and it fit very nicely within the context of the album... so I used it. So that's the story of the hymns so far.

Where is your preferred location to write your music? Do you take a keyboard outside (I noticed that a lot of your pieces are titles reflecting nature)? Take a photograph? Or do you just imagine the location you are writing about?

It's all in my head and in my heart. I compose the music on my piano in my living room. However, I also arrange the songs in my head when I'm out and about and especially just before I go to sleep. I hear the tunes in my head and I work on them, and then I'll take new ideas to the piano the next day when I'm at a place where I can sit down at the piano.

And there you have it. I hope you enjoyed the interview!

What Sustains Me? How Do I Do it All?

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 18:13:00 +0000

A friend of mine asked me this question last night....

"For years I've always been in awe of your energy to get things done; to devote time to your family, your touring, your recordings, your church, etc... How do you have so much energy? What do you think it is that sustains your energy?"

I thought about it for a moment, and here's how I answered...

Wow, what a question. It's nice to know that I am perceived this way.

I don't know that you'll like my answer as it's going to sound a little cliche... but really, it's a God thing.

Everything I do in music really is an expression of my faith ultimately. I see myself as a servant of the Most High King... I believe that God has given me certain gifts... music yes, but also the gifts of administration, marketing, communication, writing and even theater (my performances). And since I believe God designed me specifically to do these things, I feel like these things are a part of my "purpose." And so in applying myself to this purpose... in doing the very thing that I know God designed me to do... it brings me joy and peace. And it's that joy that keeps me going.

But sometimes, it can still be a struggle to stay motivated when I am doing things that don't obviously seem to be a part of my "purpose." Because the reality is, God uses all kinds of things to bring us into His will for us... and sometimes they are not obvious. I mean, when I spent ten years working at Symantec doing customer support and quality assurance work, I didn't really feel like I was working in my gifts (well, I was, but not in the way *I* wanted to), and yet God used those years to mold me into who I am now.

So really, I find that a lot of my prayer time is asking God to lead me, and to give me patience to wait for Him to reveal his plan for me, because I don't always see it. And being content in all things, in all situations, bad and good, is not an easy thing to do. But the longer I live, and the more of my life that I have lived, the more I look back and see how God used everything (even what I perceived as bad) to bring me to where I am now... and so that strengthens my faith. And seeing that also gives me the strength to keep on going.

Each day that we have is a gift from God. Every moment we have with our family is a gift. And so in all things, I try and take those gifts and give them back to God. And doing that requires an heart of thankfulness... and I also think it takes a humble heart... one that is willing to submit to God, to yield to Him and to simply say "Thank you, forgive me for my selfish ways... give me patience, wisdom, and help me to conform to your purpose."

I could say so much on this topic... I am typing stream of conscious here a little bit... but I hope that it makes sense.

To sum it up... I have a lot of joy in what I do because I see God's purpose in it and because I try to give every moment back to God in thankfulness. And the more I see God's hand in my life, the more that encourages me to keep on going, even when I feel like I sometimes don't have the physical (or emotional) strength to do so. And if I fall down on one particular day (more days than I like), I just start over again the next one, because God's mercies are new every morning... and even if I am not always faithful to do what I'm supposed to, God is always faithful to do what He does.

-----

As a follow up to this...

Check out Ephesians 2: 1-10, but especially verse 10, which speaks to this...

I particularly like the NASB translation...

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

It reflects the idea that one, we are crafted carefully by God (as an artist would design his masterpiece), designed specifically for doing the good works that God prepared for us to do before we were even born...

So as God's artwork, I think we are happiest when we do the things He crafted us to do.

If you think of it that way, with God being a great artist who designed us for a specific purpose, you can see why if we deny His existence (or even just ignore Him) and go our own way and chase after our own selfish desires without any thought for Him, it leads to not only eventual unhappiness, but also a great feeling of loneliness and emptiness that we have a hard time filling.

When we are out of His purpose for us, we are completely out of sorts... because we are going at it alone and because I believe innately....subconsciously... we realize we are actually out of step with God's design for us... but we don't want to admit to it because we want to serve ourselves with earthly pleasures. So truly, without Jesus we are "lost," wandering aimlessly from one thing to another... filling our soul with empty things... like blind men.

So right now... I'm going to go and submit to my purpose, which at this moment is practicing the piano!

David

Open Sky: The Story of the Album....

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 07:15:00 +0000

Within just a few short weeks, I'll be releasing my new album, Open Sky, to the world. This project has been a long, long labor of love.... and that is an understatement. I don't know that I have ever worked so hard on a project... or for so long. I am ready to release this puppy, let it go, and move on with my life.

That said... if this the last music I release to the world... then I'll be OK with that. This album really feels like a capstone. Like the final icing on a "David Nevue" cake. I don't know that I can ever outdo this.

I am so thankful to God for my life... and for filling my heart and hands with music. He has been so good to me... to my family. All around are blessings.

And so, now that we are only a month or so out before many of you begin to hear the music, I thought I would share the liner notes with you... this will give you a little insight into the album and the music it contains..

Enjoy...

Out Under the Open Sky...

I have always been rather prolific when it comes to writing music. No matter where I am in life or how busy I am, I can't seem to stop the flow of new material that comes bursting from my soul. So even though I spent most of my creative time between 2005 and 2009 arranging and recording hymns and praise songs for my Adoration and Revelation album projects, I continued to compose my own original music on the side. By 2010, I had a stockpile of original works that I was anxious to record and release.

Songs from that "stockpile" finally started to see the light of day in 2011 when I announced A Delicate Joy, a cheerful album of light, bright music. That album featured all the "sweet, peaceful, happily-ever-after" style tunes that I had composed (but not released) up to that point. Once that was finished, I was left with a dozen songs that didn't fit into the Delicate Joy concept... songs that were more driving, edgy, experimental and even melancholy. It's those remaining compositions (plus a few new ones) that now make up this album, Open Sky.

Open Sky begins with the title track, which to me feels a little like the "Wild, Wild West." It's a song about freedom, exploration and the exhilaration that comes from seeing and experiencing new things. I picture myself out on the open road, driving with the windows down, enjoying The Sound of Sunshine and the amazing landscape around me. It is a celebration of those "wide awake moments" when you feel truly alive, almost as if you were somehow standing a little closer to heaven.

Dragonflies and Butterfly Dance are basically musical paintings. Two flying creatures, two very different moods. When our family visited the Badlands in South Dakota, dragonflies flitted about everywhere, zipping to and fro. Dragonflies is an attempt to capture that cadence. As for Butterfly Dance, during a visit to Yellowstone, I watched a butterfly dance its way around a dozen boiling, steaming mud pits. That picturesque moment stayed with me. Butterflies are such carefree creatures.

For the Beauty of the Earth is a hymn arrangement and the first of four "cover songs" on the album. The tune just struck me one day and I started exploring it on the piano. It seemed appropriate to include. Forgotten Places takes me back a few years to when I took my family on a self-guided tour of abandoned churches and ghost towns in Eastern Oregon. There's something quite sobering about visiting places that have faded away into history. As you walk among the empty, broken buildings, you can almost feel the weight of time.

Undertow was composed in 1987 and was originally part of a soundtrack I wrote (on synthesizer) for a theater production of C.S. Lewis' book, "The Screwtape Letters." I've always liked the energy of the piece, and decided it was high time to reinvent it for solo piano.

I first performed Scarborough Fair as an improvisation with two other pianists at a concert in Albuquerque, NM. I liked what I came up with so much, I just had to keep working on it. It's really fun to play! As for Summer Rain, it reminds me of my time living in Colorado, and those summer afternoon storms that would quickly appear, pour down rain and lightning, and then disappear all in the space of about an hour.

Distant Thunder is an improvisation left over from my Revelation recording sessions. I've only ever played the “song” once and that was purely by accident. I just happened to be recording when the "accident" happened. When my wife heard the tune, she commented that she could hear distant thunder in the piece. I thought that was the perfect image for it.

Twister is a real challenge to perform. You can't fake your way through the song or play it half-heartedly. It only works if you go for it! One of my happiest achievements with this album was to finally get a recording of Twister that I was mostly satisfied with. Swirling and intense, it's a real finger-twister!

The Water is Wide is my take on the traditional English melody. I've always liked the tune. Haunting, dreamy and pensive.

Dark Afternoon was composed in the late 1990's. The tune was originally called Nails as it represents Jesus' dark afternoon on the cross. The composition was part of a musical Passion Play that I performed on a few occasions for Easter and Lent. An early recording of this song was released in 2002 on a short-run CD called Foreshadows. Only a few copies of that CD were ever made, so if you happen to own one, treasure it. It's very rare.

Echo Canyon is the newest piece on this collection, written just a week before I went into the studio to record this album. I was noodling around on the piano and my son walked in and said "I really like that... what is it?" I told him I was just messing around. Five minutes later my daughter walked in and said the exact same thing. At that point, I decided to try recording the song. The key to this composition working at all are the dynamics. They add a sense of mystery, power and purpose. To me, it feels like walking in a very ancient, remote place. Thus, the title.

Stargazing takes me back to a late night road trip across the Utah desert with my family. The night sky was as clear as I'd ever seen it, so I pulled off the highway onto a secluded road and woke up the kids. We all got out of the car and marveled at the starry, starry sky.

I started writing Eclipse around 2006. I was showing the chord progression to my friend (and fellow pianist) Joe Bongiorno when he joined me at the piano and began improvising a melody over the top of what I was playing. That melody stuck with me... and changed the tune forever. It left me with two variations of the song; my "original" version and a "four hand" version (as played with Joe.) In the end, I combined the two versions, arranging the piece so that it could be played with just two hands (otherwise, how could I ever play it?) This hybrid is the result.

Finally, I was asked to play Morning Has Broken for a wedding and worked up this rendition. While I've never been partial to this particular song, I sure enjoy playing this arrangement. It's got a little edge to it. A fitting finale for the album, I think.

That sums it up. I really hope you enjoy this collection. It's been a long, long labor of love.

- David Nevue, April 2013.

Coming Fall 2011: Awakenings: The Best of David Nevue: 2001-2010

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 17:25:00 +0000

I am excited to formally announce the soon release of Awakenings: The Best of David Nevue (2001-2010). We just finished the concept for the cover art design and I wanted to share it with you all...

Here it is!

Nice, eh? I really like it as it looks so unlike any of my other album covers. I think it's very striking. The photo was taken on location at Shiprock in New Mexico by my lovely wife, Julie. The art design is by my good friend Matt Strieby of Newleaf Design.

At any rate, this album will be a collection of fan favorites from my albums Postcards from Germany, Sweet Dreams & Starlight, Overcome, Adoration and Revelation.

Here's the tentative track list...

1) Overcome
2) Eden Again
3) Big Snow in Salzburg
4) Winter Walk
5) As the Deer
6) In God's Hands
7) Treasure Falls
8) The Kindness of Strangers
9) The Lion and the Lamb
10) Sweet Dreams & Starlight
11) The Gift
12) Wonderland
13) Greensleeves
14) Broken
15) Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
16) Here I Am to Worship
17) Amazing Grace
18) The Amazing Accordion Man (Live)

I expect to release Awakenings in November... just in time for Christmas!

Also, my new album of original music, A Delicate Joy is on track for release on September 6th.

David Nevue
http://www.davidnevue.com

Advice to an Aspiring Pianist and Composer...

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 18:22:00 +0000

Recently a young man, a piano major at University of West Georgia, emailed me about his music. He's a composer, has written a few songs of his own and is hoping for a career in the music business. In particular, he hopes to someday compose music for film.

He had two basic questions for me.
1) "Can I continue with composition after I finish college?"
2) "How did you get started?"

I took some time to write him a fairly detailed response, so I share this with all of you in case this will be of some help to you as well. I'm pretty straight-forward with him. This business is exceedingly hard to make a living in, so I paint the most honest picture I can, while at the same time trying to encourage him to pursue his art and passion.

Here's my response...

Yes, of course you can continue composing music after college! If that's something you want to do, then do it. That's not to say, however, that someone is going to pay you for it. So you need to ask yourself... is composition worth doing even if you're unrecognized and not getting paid for it? Would you be happy just composing on the side, as a means to express yourself, even if it's not paying the bills? Do you love doing it that much? Because, really, that's what's required.

Making a living in the music business is extremely difficult to do. I graduated from college in 1987. It took me until 2001 to be able to support my family with my music... so that's 14 years of hard work to get just to that point.

However, I composed music simply because I loved doing it. I started composing music for piano during college, and the only reason I recorded my first album was because it seemed like the obvious thing to do. I had written eleven songs, and so what else is there to do with them, but record? So I asked for some studio recommendations, picked one (I recorded at the home of Billy Oskay of Nightnoise), saved up some money and in 1991 I recorded my first album, "The Tower." I didn't record the album because I hoped to sell a million copies... I did it just to have a permanent record of my work, and I figured I could share it with folks I knew and maybe sell a few copies.

So that's how I started. I played coffee houses here and there and sold my album. While doing that, I kept writing new music. After three years, I'd saved up enough money to record a second album (While the Trees Sleep), so I went back in the studio again. I kept playing the very occasional show (I played in public maybe only 3-4 times a year at that point). But I kept selling music and I saved the contact info for everyone I sold an album to. When I released my second album, I informed all the folks that bought the first one, and most of them bought my second, which made it easier to financially support my third album (and so on).

And that brings us to 1995... that's when I started promoting my music on the Internet, and that opened me up to a whole new audience. I kept writing and recording, and kept promoting my music on the web. I released new albums in 1997 and 1999... each album got easier to do because I was selling enough copies by that time that it covered my recording costs and more.

In 2001 I released my first "best of" album (Whisperings) and quit my day job. I was making as much money from selling my CD and sheet music on the Internet as I was from my day job.

But it took years and years to get there. No one helped me. In terms of the music industry, no one was ever interested in me or my music. I built my own fan base. It's only in the last few years that the music industry has taken much notice of what I do, and I think that's in great part because I've outlasted so many other folks and because I'm one of the very few musicians who has managed to build a successful music career (and make a living at it) using the Internet. Even with that success, I think most in the industry see me more as a curiosity than anything else. :)

So now, back to you...

I tell you all this just so you realize what's ahead of you. It's a lot of hard work, and you really need to do your art because you love doing it, first and foremost. And then just do it. Find a way. Realize you'll probably have to work a "normal" job for a very long time in order to support yourself and your future family. I don't know if you're a Christian or a believer, but for me, I very much feel like God has led me to where I am now. I look back and see His hand in everything. And honestly, although I've put in the time and work over all these years, God is the one who blessed it. I really believe that without God's leading, I'd still be working a day job. So there is that spiritual element to all of this. If you are a Christian, just walk with the Lord and trust him to guide your footsteps. If He wants you to be a composer, and if that's what He's made you for, then that's what you'll do if you follow His leading.

Aside from that, the advantage you have now that I didn't have in 1987 is the Internet. You can put your creations out there for all to hear. Plus, in 2010 we have digital music distribution that ANYONE can get into, and thousands of Internet Radio broadcasts you can market your music on. It's much easier in 2010 to sell and market your music than it was in 1987. Trust me on this. However, the one thing that is different today is that in 1987, people expected to PAY for music. In this day and age, many folks expect to hear it for FREE. So while it's easy to be heard, it's not as easy to get folks to pay for it! That being said, I just had a record month in CDs sold online... so there are still people out there willing to pay. :) Also making up somewhat for the fact that folks aren't buying music as much as they used to are the royalties than can be earned from Internet radio. I'm making a good income with that now, as well, so even when folks hear your music on Internet radio, you can make a little something. It isn't much for single plays, but if you are successful and tens of thousands of people are hearing (and requesting) your music online, it really adds up.

As for writing for film, the film industry isn't something I know a lot about. I do know that getting into that "club" is extremely difficult. One of my good friends, Jace Vek, is a brilliant composer and has won three Emmys for his work on film and television (documentaries). And yet, as far as I know, he still hasn't gotten access to the "major motion picture" world yet.

I've gotten my music on lots of little independent film projects, but in those cases, folks approached me about it, asking if they could use my music for their projects. Most of the time, it doesn't pay much. Most folks don't have the budget. However, I enjoy the additional exposure it brings to my music.

So... it's a tough road, but if you love music, and you love composing, it's something you do because it brings you joy. And if you do THAT long enough, and use the Internet to market and distribute your music, maybe you'll find a little niche for yourself.

I hope that helps. I know it's not a lot of "do step one, then step two, and then step three type of advice," but there really are no magic steps. It's just got to be something you do because you love it. And hopefully, others will love what you do, too.

As a reference, you might check out my book, How to Promote Your Music Successfully on the Internet." That will be a great help for you along the way.

David Nevue
Solo Piano Artist & Creator of Whisperings: Solo Piano Radio
http://www.davidnevue.com
http://www.davidnevue.com/listen.htm
http://www.solopianoradio.com
http://www.twitter.com/davidnevue

Sign up for my newsletter, "Notes from the Piano", at http://www.davidnevue.com/subscribe.htm

A Delicate Joy - A Sneak Peak...

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 07:08:00 +0000

My next solo piano album is called "A Delicate Joy." It is mostly recorded, with just a bit more to do. Mastering/Editing will start in June. I am hoping to release the album by October.

This album will be almost entirely made up of my original music. There are a couple of exceptions... most notably my arrangement of "Morning Has Broken" and (possibly) "Down By the Sally Gardens." It's my first album of predominantly original work since 2005. I'm so excited to release it! It feels so good to be writing and recording my original music again.

I wanted to share the cover with you. This isn't final, but is very close...

That's my little girl, Noelle, from a photo shoot we did with her at the Woodburn Tulip Festival here in Oregon. Our family goes every year. It's a family tradition!

Anyway, I thought you'd want a sneak peak at what's coming!

David Nevue
http://www.davidnevue.com

Seeking God's Will for Your Life...

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:36:00 +0000

Recently, I received an email from a young lady asking whether or not composing music was "God's will for her life." She was wondering because she was just starting to think about her college career, and she wanted to make sure she was following "God's will." She loved composing, thought she was good at it, but wanted to make sure she did what God wanted her to do when it came to her studies and her education.

I sent a response that turned out to be a real encouragement to her. So, I thought I would share that response here, for anyone else who might be seeking out God's will for their life. Perhaps my thoughts on this will be an encouragement to you in your own walk as well.

Here's was my reply...

"I firmly believe that if the Lord gifts us in a particular talent, AND if God puts the desire in our heart to use that gift, then that particular talent is something the Lord wants us to develop. To what extent is hard to say. God may gift someone in musical ability, but that doesn't necessarily mean that God desires that person to be a professional musician. It just may be that music is somehow important for developing that person in Christ.

So if composing is something you are gifted at, and it's something you earnestly want to pursue, then you should pursue it to God's glory. So long as you are walking with the Lord, praying daily, and abiding in God's Word, you don't really have to worry about what "God's will" is. You are already walking in it. You can just live your life in Christ, pursuing your Godly desires. God will direct your path along the way.

Often Christians stress too much about being in "God's Will" as if you can somehow miss it and then ruin your life or disappoint God because you're off track. Really, it's simple... just walk with Him. Stay in the Word. Pray. Fellowship with other believers. The rest comes naturally... and we need to rest in Him.

If we're doing the basic things with the Lord, we can be assured that we can't "go wrong." God has already set our path before us. We just need to walk with Him, and then trust Him to take care of the details. God doesn't need us to "understand" what he's doing in order to help us get there. He doesn't need us to "do our part" to make his Will come to fruition. God is the one who does the work.

So just rest in His grace and watch in wonder as your life unfolds.

David Nevue
http://www.davidnevue.com

My Avatar Experience - Is there more to Avatar than meets the eye?

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:01:00 +0000

I have an admission. After all the hype, I went and saw "Avatar" in 3D. I didn't really have a desire to see it, but the way everyone was going on and on about it, I decided to take an afternoon and see what all the fuss was about.

So off I went, and I have to say - it was the most stunning film I've ever seen. I haven't had a movie experience like that since I was a teenager. Something that so completely blew my mind, that so took me into another world.

But it wasn't too long after I left the movie that I became troubled by the experience. I was having these intense emotions - I was giddy. I felt like I had a serious "buzz" on, and that bothered me. After all, it was just a movie... so why was I behaving like - and this is the only way I know to describe it - like I just had my first kiss? I was "infatuated" with the film... at least, I was for a couple hours after seeing it.

After I came down from the Avatar "high" - and it did feel like a high - I sensed that I had been mentally manipulated. That seeing the movie somehow altered my mental state, though temporarily. Like I had been given a drug. And I thought to myself... did this movie somehow subliminally mess with my consciousness? It really seemed to effect my emotional state. Days later, I'm still feeling the effects. I desperately want to see the film again.... to experience it... and I want to bring others to see it with me. This is NOT something I normally feel - no matter how much I like a movie. It really bothers me.

Sounds crazy? I know, I know. But I've secretly wondered if underneath the "wonder" and the "beauty" that is Avatar, if there is something else going on. Maybe even something sinister.

I kept this all to myself, because it sounds insane. But then, tonight, I saw this...
http://bit.ly/6KCTLR

Hmmm...

With the dawn of this new age of 3D films, where the visuals are so real, lifelike, and wonderful, is it possible that somehow, deep in our subconscious, our minds are bypassing our surface knowledge that "this is just a movie" and beginning to respond to this visual stimulus as if it is, in fact, reality?

I mean, really, we don't understand all that much about the human mind. The brain is so incredibly complex, so amazing in it's capacity to process information. Perhaps we've tapped into something here... something that isn't altogether healthy. Physically, emotionally, spiritually.

I'm not a conspiracy nut, but perhaps in our quest for entertainment, we have stumbled onto something that may be harmful to our minds, to our emotions, and to our Spirit.

In the name of entertainment, we may be unwittingly walking into something wholly different and not as innocent as it seems.

I hear you saying... "it's just a movie... lighten up." I hear you.

I'm just saying... be aware. Be watchful.

And think carefully about what you submit your mind and Spirit to.

David Nevue
Solo Pianist & Creator of Whisperings: Solo Piano Radio
http://www.davidnevue.com
http://www.davidnevue.com/listen.htm
http://www.solopianoradio.com

December 2009 Newsletter....

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:36:00 +0000

Hey Everyone!

I want to get right to the point.

My new solo piano CD "REVELATION" is now available! You can purchase it right now from my web site at http://www.davidnevue.com/albums.htm

Buy as many copies as you want. Hey, 'tis the season. Great for gifts! Use the 5 CD Set Discount option at http://www.davidnevue.com/cdspecial2.htm and you can get 5 copies of REVELATION for just $50! or, you can purchase a combination of ANY 5 OF MY CDs and get the same price.

Want to preview music from REVELATION? I thought you might! You can do that at http://www.davidnevue.com/albums/revelation.htm . I've listed the songs there and put extended clips of each of the solo piano tunes for you to preview.

REVELATION is comprised mostly of praise/worship song arrangements and improvisations. It is a continuation of my previous album, "Adoration." About half the recordings on the album were improvised and/or recorded and arranged "on the fly" while I was working on the "Adoration" CD. This is my first album ever that is "improvisational" in nature. It is a soulful album. Quiet, peaceful, serene, prayerful. Great piano music to worship and study with. That's 19 tracks. The album runs just over 70 minutes! My longest album yet!

Now, I know not everyone digs what they perceive as "religious" music. If you fall into that category, guess what? You'll still love the CD. You may not know the songs, but it will still sound like the "David Nevue" piano music you've always known and enjoyed.

So... Phew... after two years at work on it, the new album is out! Yes!

Oh, and one other thing....

---

WHISPERINGS: the SOLO PIANO SHEET MUSIC SONGBOOK!
I also just released the sheet music songbook of my solo piano album "Whisperings: The Best of David Nevue - 1985-2000"

The printed book includes sheet music from the entire album! It's spiral-bound, which means it will stay open on your piano without having to bend or put weight on the pages like so many other songbooks out there. The printed songbook is available for $24.95, and you can purchase that at http://www.davidnevue.com/albums/whisperings.htm

And don't forget, the songbook for my album "ADORATION: SOLO PIANO HYMNS" is available from my web site too!

---

CREATE YOUR OWN Sheet Music Package! PICK ANY 4 for $11.95!

Ever wish you could CREATE YOUR OWN custom sheet music package? Well now you CAN! Pick any four sheet music transcriptions from my catalog and purchase them together for just $11.95. That saves you about $4.00 over purchasing them individually! For details on
how to do this, see http://www.davidnevue.com/sheetmusic.htm#Package

Want a different package setup? Perhaps more than four selections? Just email me at dnevue@rainmusic.com or david@davidnevue.com and I can create a special, unique sheet
music package just for you!

---

TOUR PLANS....

As you know, I'm on the road a lot. After the holidays, I'm taking a much needed break from traveling. Well, mostly.

LOS ANGELES / SAN DIEGO... in JANUARY?
I have a conference I'm attending in the L.A. area the weekend of January 15th-17th. If you're in the L.A./San Diego area and want to book a concert in your home or church, get in touch with me. I know it's short notice, but we can iron out the details if you're interested. You can read up on booking info at http://www.davidnevue.com/booking.htm . Just email me at dnevue@rainmusic.com

CO, WY, MT, ND, SD, NE, KS
I am going to start actively seeking bookings in the above states in January for my Spring 2010 Tour. If you're in one of the above states and would like priority consideration for a concert in your home, church or school, or if you just have questions about the process, just email me at dnevue@rainmusic.com

---

WHAT the FUTURE HOLDS...

I've already mostly recorded my next album, "A DELICATE JOY" which consists almost entirely of original music I've written. I'll start editing that in the Spring and release it around September 2010.

I've also got a "live" house concert CD in the works, plus "Whisperings: The Best of David Nevue - 2000-2010." Both of which will probably be released in 2011.

It's hard to say after that. I certainly have plenty to keep me
busy.

---

FOLLOW ME....on TWITTER, FACEBOOK

If you want to keep track of what I'm doing every day, you can follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/davidnevue . I'm also very active on Facebook and you can find my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/davidnevue

---

WHISPERINGS: SOLO PIANO RADIO

Have you checked out Whisperings: Solo Piano Radio yet? Tune in at http://www.solopianoradio.com for beautiful solo piano music 24/7! It's free, and you can listen via iTunes, Windows Media Player or even direct from the web site. The broadcast features
my own piano music, as well as music from over 150 artists from around the world.

---

iTUNES and MP3 DOWNLOADS...

ALL my piano music is available at iTunes: Just visit http://www.itunes.com/davidnevue to open up iTunes and see my work in the iTunes Store.

If you prefer MP3 FORMAT, most of my songs are available at Amazon.com as downloads. Just go to http://bit.ly/4u2AfQ

---

JOIN the DAVID NEVUE PROMOTION TEAM!

If you'd like to help promote my piano music, I would very much appreciate it! I get more support for my music via word-of-mouth advertising from fans than just about anything else!

Here are some promotion ideas for you...

1) Tell your friends about my music. Better yet, lend them a copy of one of my CDs! Warning - you might have a hard time getting the CD back! If they really like it, you can always get them a copy of the CD as a gift.

2) On Twitter or Facebook? Recommend my music to your friends! Direct them to my web site at http://www.davidnevue.com/listen.htm to take a listen to my solo piano tunes for free.

3) Write a blog about my music and talk it up. Post your thoughts on my music in any groups, forums or chat rooms (like Facebook, Twitter) you regularly participate in. Be sure to include a link back to my web site.

4) Watch and recommend some David Nevue videos. Go to YouTube.com, search for "David Nevue", watch some videos, rate them, and then email your favorites to friends. You can find
several videos at http://www.davidnevue.com/videos.htm

5) If you're into iTunes, go to http://www.itunes.com/davidnevue, pull up the details on an album and rate my music! Help encourage others on iTunes who find my music to take the plunge and purchase it!

6) Just like #5, do the same thing on Amazon.com and CDBaby.com . Search for my music and add some customer reviews! Encourage others to take a chance on the CDs.

7) Tune into Whisperings: Solo Piano Radio while you're at work. You can tune in at http://www.solopianoradio.com . If you have iTunes, just look under the Radio/Classical genre and you'll see it there. When people come by and comment on the music, give them the solopianoradio.com URL. If you REALLY like the station, sign up for Whisperings PureStream and support the broadcast.

8) If I'm playing a concert near you, invite all your friends and family. Make a big "piano" party out of it! Have a nice dinner, see a concert, and come say "hi" to me after. If you go out with your friends for dessert after the concert, invite me. I might come and hang out with you for awhile! Don't be shy!

If you have other ideas to help promote my music, email me and maybe I'll put it in my next newsletter!

That's it for this time. Merry Christmas!

David Nevue
http://www.davidnevue.com

An Update on the New CD, "Revelation."

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:54:00 +0000

Just an update on the new CD, "Revelation," for those who are interested...

All the studio work for REVELATION is now complete. We're just finishing up the art design and then the album goes to the manufacturer for manufacturing.

REVELATION is comprised mostly of praise/worship song arrangements and improvisations. It is a continuation of my previous album, "Adoration." About half the recordings on the album were improvised and/or recorded and arranged "on the fly" while I was working on the "Adoration" CD. This will be my first album ever that is "improvisational" in nature. It is a soulful album. Quiet, peaceful, serene, prayerful. Great music to worship and study with.

Here's the final track list for the album...

A Mighty Fortress is our God
Sing Alleluia to the Lord
Awake to the Light (an original improvisation)
Softly and Tenderly
In the Shadow of Your Wings
Praise to the Lord, God Almighty
The Mystery and the Glory (original improvisation)
How Deep the Father's Love
Here I Am to Worship
More Love, More Power
Blessed Assurance
Your Holiness Surrounds Me
You Are My Hiding Place
Your Word (written by my good friend, Allison Long)
A Shield About Me
Holy, Holy, Holy
The Lion and the Lamb (original)
Amazing Love (You Are My King)
The Steadfast Love of the Lord

That's 19 tracks. The album will run just over 70 minutes.

Release date: Early December, 2009

David Nevue
http://www.davidnevue.com
http://www.twitter.com/davidnevue

An Update on the New CD, "Revelation."

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:14:00 +0000

Fall 2009 Concert Tour Set List...

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:38:00 +0000

I've come up with a set list that I like for my September/November tours. I may deviate from this a bit from place to place, as sometimes I get the sudden desire during a concert to play a particular song, and when that happens I usually go off script. But this will be the "planned" order:

The Vigil
Be Thou My Vision
Big Snow in Salzburg
The Gift
Sweet Dreams & Starlight
Overcome
As the Deer
Amazing Grace

- INTERMISSION

Psalm 77
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
While the Trees Sleep
Eden Again
It is Well With My Soul
The Amazing Accordion Man
No More Tears

If an encore is requested, I'll finish with one of the following depending on what feels like the right vibe for the show:

Doxology: Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow
A Midnight Rain
Racing the Northern Lights
The Walled City
Castle Hunting

I hope you can make a concert. For my complete concert calendar, see http://www.davidnevue.com/calendar.htm

David Nevue
http://www.davidnevue.com

David Nevue - House Concert in Seattle - March 21st, 2009!

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 09:52:00 +0000

I am returning to the Seattle area for another intimate house concert event on Saturday, March 21st!

I will once again be playing at Joe Bongiorno's place in Kenmore, just north of Seattle. We have just 35 seats available and the last time we did this, the concert sold out pretty quickly. If you think you might come, don't delay too long in getting your tickets.

WHY ATTEND THIS CONCERT?
Well, it's special! As before, we're recording it for a possible "Live" concert CD release! So if you're there, you might just hear yourself clapping on a future David Nevue CD release (well, let's hope there will be clapping!)

PLUS, it's a very intimate venue, in a terrific home, on a magnificent piano! One of my favorite pianos I've ever played.

General admission tickets are $15 each.

Here are the concert details:

SATURDAY, MARCH 21ST at 7:00 PM
David Nevue in concert with special guest, pianist Joe Bongiorno. Purchase your exclusive seats now by clicking this link: http://tinyurl.com/cbkubx

Or you can purchase the tickets through my web site at
http://www.davidnevue.com/calendar.htm

You can also call Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800-838-3006 to order by phone.

WHERE: At Joe's Place, of course!
15744 62nd Ave NE, Kenmore, WA 98028
Map at http://tinyurl.com/awc7fo
Directions on the ticket page at http://tinyurl.com/cbkubx

SPECIAL BONUS "AFTER CONCERT" CONCERT!
For those of you who aren't in a hurry to leave, after the "formal" concert I'll be sitting down at the piano and playing a few more tunes. I would love it if several of you can hang out for fun, conversation, and some ad-libbing at the piano. Who knows what I might play. Maybe some new stuff. :)

I hope you can make it! If you have any questions, just email me at dnevue@rainmusic.com

Thanks so much.

David Nevue
dnevue@rainmusic.com
http://www.davidnevue.com
http://www.twitter.com/davidnevue
http://www.myspace.com/davidnevue

The New Album from David Nevue...

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:12:00 +0000

Just an update on the new CD, "Revelation," for those who are interested...

The studio work for REVELATION is now complete. Recording and editing is done. The final thing to do is to decide which tracks to include and which to drop, finish up the art design and then burn the final master for manufacturing.

REVELATION is comprised mostly of praise/worship song arrangements and improvisations. It is a continuation of my previous album, "Adoration." About half of the recordings were improvised and/or recorded and arranged "on the fly" while I was working on the "Adoration" CD. This will be my first album ever that is "improvisational" in nature. It is a soulful album. Quiet, peaceful, serene, prayerful. Great music to worship and study with.

Songs recorded for the album include...

Sing Alleluia to the Lord
Softly and Tenderly
In the Shadow of Your Wings
There's Just Something About That Name
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
I Love You Lord / I Exalt Thee
You Are My Hiding Place
A Shield About Me
Your Holiness Surrounds Me
Amazing Love (You Are My King)
Open the Eyes of My Heart
More Love, More Power
A Mighty Fortress is Our God
I Can Only Imagine
Blessed Assurance
Holy, Holy, Holy
How Deep the Father's Love
Here I am to Worship

Plus three original pieces.

That's 21 tracks recorded for the album. I need to narrow that list down to the best 15 or so, a process that won't be easily done!

Tentative release date: November 2009

David Nevue
http://www.davidnevue.com
http://www.twitter.com/davidnevue

Lots of Questions for David Nevue.... and some answers...

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:27:00 +0000

A fan just emailed me a rather long list of questions about my background, what inspires me, where my music comes from, my faith and so on. So many questions, in fact, that it would take me a good long time to provide a detailed answer!

Most of her questions I have actually answered at my web site and a few other places, so what I did was provide her a link to things I have already written.

So this blog posting is sort of a compendium of sources where you can learn "stuff" about me should you care to.

So here goes...

OK, first, here's a little background:
http://www.davidnevue.com/bio.htm
I really need to update that bio, but it will give you a good idea.

Also, read this FAQ:
http://www.davidnevue.com/faq.htm

And this forum thread at PianoWorld.com:
http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/985190/1.html

And this interview:
http://www.davidnevue.com/interview.htm

My Fact Sheet:
http://www.davidnevue.com/factsheet.pdf

About my faith:
http://www.davidnevue.com/mission.htm

A detailed Fact Sheet specifically for churches - with more info on my faith and beliefs:
http://www.davidnevue.com/factsheet_church.pdf

My musical influences:
http://www.davidnevue.com/influences.htm

That will give you some reading! But it should answer a lot of questions if you have them.

If you have other questions, let me know!

David Nevue
http://www.davidnevue.com
http://www.twitter.com/davidnevue

News from Pianist David Nevue - December, 2008

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 16:42:00 +0000

Here's a copy of my latest newsletter. If you would like to subscriber, just visit my web site at http://www.davidnevue.com/subscribe.htm

David Nevue's "Notes from the Piano" - December 2008

_______________________________________________________________

E-News for friends and fans of pianist David Nevue
http://www.davidnevue.com
_________________________________________________________________

Hi Everyone!

Just wanted to give you a few quick updates, including....

- 20% CHRISTMAS DISCOUNT ON CD Orders over $20.00
- NEW CHRISTMAS SHEET MUSIC
- UPCOMING PERFORMANCES in EUGENE OR, LOS ANGELES and SAN DIEGO
- BOOKING NOW for NORTH CAROLINA/SOUTH CAROLINA
- FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER - http://www.twitter.com/davidnevue
- The NEVUE FAMILY VIDEO on YOUTUBE

20% CHRISTMAS DISCOUNT - USE COUPON CODE: CHRISTMAS
Christmas is right around the corner. It's hard to believe we are
already just two weeks away. There is still time, however, to
order CDs to give to your loved ones gifts if you like. If you
order by mid next week, they should, hopefully, still make it to
you in time for the holidays - that is, providing you live in the
U.S.

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: Place ANY order at my web site for an amount
over $20, enter the coupon code "Christmas" in the shopping cart
and you'll save an additional 20% on your order. That deal is
good through December 25th and only good via the web site.

NEW SHEET MUSIC
I have four new sheet music selections in the works right now for
the holidays. They are....

Coventry Carol
Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
Joy to the World
Watching Their Flocks

All from my "O Come Emmanuel" CD.

They are being proofed right now, and I hope to have them up on
the web site by Monday night. Once they are available, you'll be
able to purchase all four for $11.95, or get them for $3.95 each.
You'll find those at
http://www.davidnevue.com/sheetmusic.htm as soon as they are
ready. Be on the look out for them!

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

EUGENE, OR: Valley River Center Mall
I am playing at Valley River Center Mall several times before
Christmas. Come down, listen, buy some CDs for yourself, your
friends and gifts for the holidays!

Saturday, December 13th, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Friday, December 19th, 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Saturday, December 20th, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sunday, December 21st, 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Wednesday, December 24th, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

The date and times are set, but if we get some serious snow, as
is supposed to happen this weekend, it could effect things. If
there's no snow, I'll be there.

SAN DIEGO, CA: Friday, January 16th at 8:00 pm
I will be playing a Whisperings concert in San Diego with Joseph
Akins, Scott D. Davis and Christine Brown at the PianoSD Store in
San Diego. Tickets are $20 for Adults, $10 for Students. Buy
Tickets online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/49943 or
call the Brown Paper Tickets hotline at 1-800-838-3006 to order
by phone 24/7.

LOS ANGELES, CA: Saturday, January 17th at 7:00 pm
I will be playing a Whisperings concert in Tustin CA with Joseph
Akins, Michele McLaughlin and Joe Bongiorno at the "Soul at Home"
store, 17612 E. 17th St., Tustin CA 92780. This one is a FREE
concert, but an RSVP is required as seating is limited - only 60
seats available! Call 714-573-7685 now to reserve your seats!

For the complete concert calendar for upcoming shows, see
http://www.davidnevue.com/calendar.htm

---

BOOKING NOW.... for NORTH and SOUTH CAROLINA

I'm playing a show in Walhalla SC on February 21st with David
Lanz and Wayne Gratz. I'm looking for a couple other concerts to
book around that that weekend, either house concerts or church
concerts. Pretty much anywhere in North or South Carolina.

So if you're in North Carolina or South Carolina and would like
to consider booking a "David Nevue" concert for your home,
church, school or other venue, please get in touch with me at
dnevue@rainmusic.com . Let's talk about it and see what we can
work out.

About half the concerts I do are in people's homes on pianos of
varying quality. So you don't need to have a 9' Steinway for me
to come and play a concert in your home! I am happy to play on an
upright too.

I just ask that you try to bring 20-30 people in for the concert.
My fee for a house concert ranges between $300-$500 when
I'm on tour. The amount depends to a great degree on when and
where the concert is and what other things I have scheduled. I
try to get $500 for a house concert if I can, but I know not
everyone can afford that. Talk to me and let's see what we can do
for you.

For more information (details on rates and what to expect), see
my booking page at http://www.davidnevue.com/booking.htm

---

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER - http://www.twitter.com/davidnevue
Do you "tweet"? I've been using Twitter for the last couple
months and loving it. If you're interested in what I'm doing at
any given time, you can follow me there.

I'm also on MySpace... http://www.myspace.com/davidnevue
I'm also on Facebook... just search for "David Nevue"

---

NEVUE FAMILY VIDEO on YOUTUBE
I put a video together featuring some of my favorite family
photos from the last few years. The music you hear on the video
is my own, a song called "Sweet Dreams & Starlight" from my album
of the same name.

Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjZT0rO-WtQ
Be sure to view the High Quality version of the video if you can.
Please rate it for me if you like it!

One of the greatest things about touring all over the country
playing concerts is that sometimes I get to take my family
along... and as you can see, we have a blast. It's such a
blessing to be able to go on the road with my family. Many of the
shots in the video are taken while on the road. So many beautiful
places. Life is wonderful, no matter where you are. Don't take a
single moment for granted. Children are a treasure.

---

WHAT the FUTURE HOLDS...

In March I return to the studio to wrap up recording for my next
album, which is now called REVELATION. You can preview the cover
for that at http://tinyurl.com/5m5n5j if you'd like a sneak peek.
This album will be comprised of hymn and praise song arrangements
and improvisations. It it a continuation of my previous album,
"Adoration." Most of the recordings were improvised and/or
recorded and arranged "on the fly" while I was working on the
"Adoration" CD. This will be my first album ever that is
"improvisational" in nature. I am very, very happy with it. It is
a soulful album. Quiet, peaceful, serene, prayerful. Great music
to worship and study with.

Songs included on the album will be...

Sing Alleluia to the Lord
Softly and Tenderly
In the Shadow of Your Wings
There's Just Something About That Name
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
I Love You Lord / I Exalt Thee
You Are My Hiding Place
A Shield About Me

and many others. Tentative release date: June 2009

Also in March, I hope to start work on A DELICATE JOY, a new
album of original "David Nevue" compositions. Recording for that
will start in March and continue into June. Tentative release
date: FALL 2009

April Through September will be "creative" working months for me.
I have decided to take some time off of touring and performing to
focus on writing, recording and getting a few other things done.
During this time, one of my priority tasks will be to get the
rest of my music turned into sheet music. I really need to
accomplish this, and that will be one of my major focuses for
2009.

2009 will also see the release of a DVD I've been working on for
a while now. The DVD features an hour long interview as well as a
few live concert recordings. Look for that in the Spring.

Planned Tours for the Fall of 2009 include trips to the South.
Specifically GA/TN - maybe a stop back on FL. Also, I hope to
visit KS, TX, LA, OK, MO and AR. If you're in one of these states
and are interested in booking a house, church or other concert in
the Sept/Oct/Nov time frame, email me at dnevue@rainmusic.com

---

OTHER STUFF....

ALL ALBUMS in MP3 FORMAT!

GREAT NEWS! You can now buy every one of my CDs in MP3 Format
(with NO DRM!) via the CDBaby.com web site!

You get the entire album as one zip download, which includes the
MP3s and a JPG of the album art!

They're regular MP3 files that play easy on ANY MP3 player,
whether iPod, cellphone, Blackberry, iPhone, Nokia, Windows, Mac,
Linux, etc.

The MP3s are encoded at top-audiophile-quality (~200k VBR),
higher than iTunes or any other major store!

And EVERY MP3 album is only $9.95!

Just go to http://cdbaby.com/all/dnevue and pick an album! When
you click on the cover art, you'll be taken to the album page and
see the MP3 album listed under the cover art for $9.95!

---

JOIN the DAVID NEVUE PROMOTION TEAM!

If you'd like to help promote my music, I would very much
appreciate it! I get more support for my music via word-of-mouth
advertising from fans than just about anything else!

Here are some promotion ideas for you...

1) Tell your friends about my music. Better yet, lend them a
copy of one of my CDs! Warning - you might have a hard time
getting the CD back! If they really like it, you can always get
them a copy of the CD as a gift.

2) If you spend much time on MySpace, go to my MySpace page at
http://www.myspace.com/davidnevue and invite me to be your
friend. Then include some of my music on your MySpace page and
share my music with your friends.

3) Write a blog about my music, how much you like it, and how it
has influenced and inspired you. Post something similar on any
groups, forums or chat rooms you regularly participate in. Be
sure to include a link back to my web site.

4) Watch and recommend some David Nevue videos. Go to
YouTube.com, search for "David Nevue", watch some videos, rate
them, and then email your favorites to friends. You can find
several videos at http://www.davidnevue.com/videos.htm

5) If you're into iTunes, search for "David Nevue" on the iTunes
music store, pull up the details on an album and rate my music!
Help encourage others on iTunes who find my music to take the
plunge and purchase it!

6) Just like #5, do the same thing on Amazon.com and CDBaby.com .
Search for my music and add some customer reviews! Encourage
others to take a chance on the CDs.

7) Tune into Whisperings: Solo Piano Radio while you're at work.
You can tune in at http://www.solopianoradio.com . If you have
iTunes, just look under the Radio/Classical genre and you'll see
it there. When people come by and comment on the music, give them
the solopianoradio.com URL. If you REALLY like the station, sign
up for Whisperings PureStream and support the broadcast.

8) Get a David Nevue Ringtone for your cell phone! See
http://www.groupietunes.com/artists/davidnevue

9) If I'm playing a concert near you, invite all your friends and
family. Make a big "piano" party out of it! Have a nice dinner,
see a concert, and come say "hi" to me after. If you go out with
your friends for dessert after the concert, invite me. I might
come and hang out with you for awhile! Don't be shy!

If you have other ideas to help promote my music, email me and
maybe I'll put it in my next newsletter!

---

CDs and SHEET MUSIC at a DISCOUNT...

Don't forget that as a subscriber, you can get 10% more off on
any purchase over $12. Just use the coupon code "subscriber" in
the shopping cart

Also, ALL of my albums are now available to purchase as downloads
from a variety of stores, including iTunes. To see some of your
options, visit http://www.davidnevue.com/albums.htm

---

AND THE WINNER IS...

Every issue of this newsletter I give away free stuff (a CD or
sheet music - your choice!) to one random subscriber to this
list. Here's the catch:

1) Your full name and mailing address must be in my database!
Note that if you've purchased a CD or sheet music from me,
you're already there . There's no need to send me your info.
But, if you're not sure, feel free to email your name and postal
mailing address to me at dnevue@rainmusic.com and I'll add you!

2) If your name is listed below as the winner, you must respond
to this newsletter to collect your prize.

By the way, I'm not asking for your postal address so I can send
you stuff in the mail, I'm asking so that when you respond to the
contest, I can verify you are who you say you are! :)

The winner this issue is...

CRYSTAL BROWN of CALGARY, ALBERTA in CANADA

Crystal, if you're reading this, congratulations! Drop me a note
and you get the free CD or sheet music of your choice!

-----------------------------------------------------------------

That's it for this time. If you have any questions about
anything, just email me at dnevue@rainmusic.com

David Nevue
http://www.davidnevue.com

Coming Soon from Pianist David Nevue...

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:56:00 +0000

I think I just settled on the title for my next album....

I had been contemplating "Adoration 2" as a title for awhile, since the album was born right out of the "Adoration" recording sessions. However, I really didn't want to get into the "sequel" mentality. "Adoration 2" seemed a bit too lazy. I wanted a stronger title, something that still obviously carried on from "Adoration," but that would create a sense of progression from one place in time to another.

I wasn't sure about the title at first, but once we put the text on the cover shot we planned for it, well, I really, really like it.

BTW, the cover shot was taken by Yours Truly. It's the steeple from an old Methodist church in Lonerock, Oregon.

What do you think? Post your comments.

David Nevue
http://www.davidnevue.com
http://www.twitter.com/davidnevue

Follow David Nevue on Twitter...

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:40:00 +0000

Hey everyone,

I've not been too good about keeping up this "blog" thing, I must admit. Much of the reason is my obsessive nature and that I cannot seem to write anything of substance without spending hours and hours on it. I just don't have that kind of time.

However, I have come up with somewhat of a compromise on this... Twitter.

I've just recently set up an account on Twitter. You can see that at http://www.twitter.com/davidnevue. What's Twitter, you ask? Well, it's a micro-blog. It's like a blog, but you're limited to 140 characters. People use it mostly to add comments and short notes about what they are doing throughout their day. Essentially, all day long you answer the question, "What am I Doing Now?"

For me, it allows me to "blog" without the pressure of having to write something "significant." I really like it.

So if you're interested in my music and want to follow what I'm doing on a day-to-day basis, come follow me on Twitter. Just visit http://www.twitter.com/davidnevue to do that.

Thanks everyone!

David Nevue
http://www.davidnevue.com

My Little Girl is Growing up Too Fast....

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 08:09:00 +0000

Here's a picture of my little girl, Noelle, at about two months old. This is one of my favorite pictures of her and I....

Notice the back wall. This is the same "now famous" green wall we used for the cover of my "Overcome" CD. :)

But my, look how she's grown! Here's a photo from my recent California tour which included a trip back (the long way around) through Arizona, Utah and Idaho. This was taken at Zion National Park. She's almost four here...

And here she is again, being her fun self a day later!

This picture just totally captures Noelle's personality. She's fun, feisty, and always colorful! Would you guess she's a morning person?

The photo was picture taken at our favorite place to eat on the entire tour, the Bryce Canyon Resort Restaurant. Incredible service and amazing food! Here's a picture of it...

The place was really unassuming. It's about a mile down the road from the "main" resort that everyone goes to just before you enter Bryce Canyon in Utah. If you ever go to Bryce Canyon, you'll drive right past this place and almost not see it because you're so focused on the larger, "more attractive," tourist spots up the road. But don't pass it by. It's a hidden treasure.

David

Got a New Baby..... Grand!

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 07:05:00 +0000

I have a new instrument in my home. Well, new to me. It's actually used, but when it comes to buying a piano, I prefer to buy a used one (already broken in) than a new one.

I've been playing a Young Chang 4'11'' baby grand for about 8 years. I always dreamed of someday owning a Yamaha grand piano - and now I do!

This last week, I was offered a private showing at a piano sale here in town. I was invited to go down and check out the pianos before the sale was open to the public. The sale was offered by a Steinway dealer. I walked in and, sure enough, they had one solitary Yamaha piano there - a used Yamaha C-3, which is a 6'1" grand piano.

It was the first piano I sat down and played and after checking out many other pianos in my price range, I kept going back to it and finally decided to buy it. It was a really great deal, and I couldn't pass it up.

They delivered it on Sunday, and in doing so, took away my trade-in, my old Young Chang. I have to admit, I teared up a bit watching "my little girl" being packed away and carried off. I mean, I wrote a LOT of my music on that piano! It was really hard to see it go.

But then I sat down at my new piano and started playing and well, I'm over it now! It's got a really nice action, "like butter" as my wife said after sitting down and playing it for the first time.

The new piano was long overdue. The Young Chang I had was a great piano, but it has seen better days. It was a very inexpensive, entry-level grand piano, and really not made to be played two hours a day for ten years. I really put the miles on it.

Anyway, it's nice to have a new instrument with some life in it. I am so blessed!

David Nevue

Adoration - The Very First Review...

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Thu, 24 May 2007 07:08:00 +0000

As I mentioned in my blog yesterday, I decided to release the premix of my upcoming new CD, "Adoration," to a few choice people to get some feedback on it. For more details on the reasons behind that, read yesterday's blog. The long and the short of it is, I feel a lot of pressure about the release of this new album, and I'm not sure what I have in it. Is it a good album? Is it bad? Is it just "okay?" I can't be objective as I'm much too close to the music.

I want the album to be "Amazing." It has to be, as it's an album of Hymn arrangements telling a story of devotion to God. The music has to be worthy of the subject matter. I can't release a "worship" album that's just "okay." It's either worthy or it's not.

So I put it in the hands of others for feedback, others who can be more objective than I.

The first person to hear the new album, other than my wife, was Michael McDonald, who mastered my last CD, "Overcome." Now Michael is someone who doesn't give out praise lightly. Like me, he hears so much music in his profession that really, it all rather blends together. It takes quite an album to grab our attention.

I asked Michael to give me his honest opinion on it. How does it sound? Does anything about it bug you? Is the mix OK? How does it come across? Is it worthy of release as is?

After having the premix in his hands for two days, here's what he emailed me... this is the first "review" of the album.

"The album is stunning! I thought I'd put it on yesterday morning while I went over some paperwork with my coffee. I sometimes pick up on things better if I'm not completely focused on listening for details. After about 5 minutes I stopped the paper work and got taken away by the music. That doesn't happen often with me. I really like this album! Love the mix and reverb. It's a gorgeous sound and performance. It's a wonderful album and needs to be heard. Something about this body of work seems very blessed."

I read his comments with tears of relief. Seriously. I feel so much pressure about the release of this album - what a delight to hear those words of encouragement. I mean, he wasn't just polite, he was really and truly touched by it. What a gushing review!

If this album touches many people this way, I will be so blessed.

I continually stand amazed that God would use such an imperfect man as me to reach into people's lives with this music. After all, I'm just a piano player.

But what a joyous honor it is to be a piano player in God's kingdom.

David Nevue
http://www.davidnevue.com/

In Anticipation of Adoration...

noreply@blogger.com (David Nevue) — Wed, 23 May 2007 06:54:00 +0000

It's been 18 months since the release of my last CD, Overcome, and you know, never has there been so much pre-released excitement about a new "David Nevue" album as there has been about my next one, my CD of Hymn Arrangements called "Adoration."

Whenever I run into someone familiar with my music, they inevitably ask me, "When's the new Hymns CD coming out? I can't wait for it! It's going to be SO GREAT!"

Seriously, I get asked that question at least once a week. I don't remember any album of mine ever being so eagerly awaited for.

It's a bit daunting.

What if the album turns out to be just "okay." What if it's not "Amazing?"

I felt a lot of pressure going into the studio for this CD. I booked an entire week near the end of this last March. I wanted to take the time to make sure the album was perfect. I wanted to knock the ball out of the ballpark. I wanted to sit down at the piano, feel the Spirit move on me, and play these Hymn arrangements like I had never played them before.

At least, that's how I pictured it before I went into the studio.

It didn't turn out that way. It was the most difficult recording session of my career. On top of the "human" pressure, the pressure of knowing people expect me to put out a GREAT album, was the pressure of wanting to honor God with this music. I mean, Adoration is an album of songs that have been devoted to God for generations. These songs speak of life and hope and faith in God, the Eternal One, the Everlasting One. The Alpha and the Omega. The First and the Last. The Beginning and the End.

What do I do if the album is not "Amazing?"

After I finished recording the album, I couldn't listen to it for a month. Even now, almost two months later, I still can't listen to the album as "music." I'm hearing this thing in the mix, that thing, the other thing - stuff that bugs me in the recording.

And I keep thinking, what if it's not just absolutely "Amazing?" I can't release this if it's not worthy. It must be worthy.

Finally, I burned a few copies of the pre-mastered CD to hand out to a few people to get their initial response. And now I wait for the feedback.

And yet, even if they say they LIKE it, how will I know they really like it? How do I know they won't just tell me what they know I want to hear... that it's "Amazing," when maybe it's just "okay."

Alas, this is the torment I go through as an artist. With every album I release, I become more obsessive - my brain focuses in so hard on every little detail. I can't hear the musicality of what I've recorded because I'm zooming in on overtones, harmonics, imperfections in the instrument, mechanical noises - you name it.

I can't hear the music through all the noise.

And then I think back on my previous album, "Overcome."

I had the same problem with that one. For the longest time, I wasn't sure I wanted to release it. And then I did, it became a hit, and won an award for "best instrumental album of 2005."

It turned out to be "Amazing," despite all my fears.

And now I look back at Overcome and I see it as a defining album. One of the best of my career, even as good as The Vigil, which I have always considered a personal favorite.

And so, what of Adoration? How will I feel about it five years from now? Will I look back and think.... "that was Amazing!"

Let's hope so.

More on Adoration next time.

David Nevue
http://www.davidnevue.com/