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Despite studying fifteen years of violin when I was growing up, I rarely listen to classical music these days (yup, it’s still mostly jazz, as I’ve gone on about before…).

But I’m a huge fan of the New Yorker’s classical music critic, Alex Ross. Not only is he a fantastic writer, but he has an openness and innocence in his approach to music of all styles, which I think is a needed and refreshing perspective, especially for that magazine.

Recently he quoted a rule from a composer named Bruce Adolphe: “To say exactly what one means without complication but also without compromise.”

Adolphe may have intended his reflection for composers, but no mantra could ring more true for songwriters. Gotta post that one on my wall.

As a joke, A-Is-For-Aric and I decided to enter the American Idol songwriting competition. This is schmaltz like your Bubbe would spread on her bagel. Try to listen without gagging. Actually, Aric plays the 80’s ballad keyboard masterfully. And the lyrics are particularly bold.

Breaking a Record
By J. Gordon Wright

Face the light
Face their eyes
Ask myself
Is it time

Turn the page
Take the stage
Ask myself
Is it mine

Look without seeing a thing
Hear without listening
To the sound that’s calling me

| Maybe I’m breaking a record tonight
| Breaking through something I’ve held inside
| Maybe this time when they shine the light
| I could be the one
| Maybe this is something I have to try
| Never did I think I would get this high
| Suddenly it’s starting to seem like I just might
| Break a record tonight

Used to think
It’s out of reach
Tell myself
Not to feel

But now I see
This could be me
If I tell myself
That it’s real

So many things I could be
They will come if I believe

] Excuse me if I repeat myself
] I just want to get it right
] Say it till there’s nothing left to hide
] I try to hear what’s etched inside
] I try to hear the track
] It’s time to turn the tables right
] ‘Cause now’s my chance, I’m breaking a record…

Wait… what’s that? Is it…? Could it be…? That’s right, key change! Damn straight.

| Tonight…
| Breaking through something I’ve held inside
| I know this time when they shine the light
| I will be the one
| This is something I knew I had to try
| And I always knew I could get this high
| Suddenly it’s starting to seem like I just might
| Break a record tonight

Listening to it now, I don’t think the schmaltz will hurt our entry. But we went waaaaay over the recommended time limit. Get comfortable:

Hmm… It might be the right length for Celine, maybe I should give her a call…

This weekend I got to hang out with some of the cool kids at Paul Green’s School of Rock. The School asked me to come in and just tell my story, play a few tunes, answer their questions.

I was a bit nervous beforehand, because I knew the age range was anywhere from 8 to 17. I didn’t know if I should bring Don Passman or a KISS coloring book. But when I got there, it was clear that these kids were super-bright and all about rock and roll. My first indication was after I played a few tunes and started to talk a bit about my writing process, the youngest one, Max, astutely asked, “Can you play some more songs?” Fair enough, Max, fair enough.

We had a great time though, and (thanks to Andy, the fantastic guitar teacher who sat in on the class) we capped it off with a songwriting exercise where the kids broke up into groups and actually penned originals:

• Maddy & Paris pulled together a hip girl-rocker, with the kicker “it won’t make you sick, but — it’s con-TAGE-ous!”
• In true Peart-style, Alex put aside his drumsticks momentarily to become a veritable lyric-machine on Max & Gunnar’s melody: “You know I failed every class that I’ve taken in school/ I always break a window when I’m playing pool…”
• The big boys, Elijah, CJ & Parker — already a bona fide rawk band — put a rippin’ hard core riff down for the brain-melter, “Paris Hilton Has a Lazy Eye.” Ahhh, rock and roll is always better when it’s true…