By Molly Payne
(Cushing, OK) — Can you believe it’s been 10 years since KUSH began publishing its popular HOME magazine? Me either! To honor its existence and the many contributors, I thought – “why not revisit the stories/articles and post them to our website?” Since the magazine was a brainstorm of the late Rick Sellers and today, Sept. 8, 2025 would have been his 69th birthday, I thought it was an appropriate time to start re-sharing.
WATCH FOR MORE INTERESTING ARTICLES FROM PREVIOUS ISSUES OF HOME!
Local musicians have played an integral part since day one of the magazine. From the 2018 winter issue of HOME – here is some sage advice given by these notable Oklahoma musicians. (Click on name for more information about each artist!)
“What advice would you give a beginning musician?”
Susan Herndon – “Have fun! Keep your nose to the musical “grindstone” that you love and keep pushing forward. Don’t be daunted by failures or successes. And don’t waste your time and energy on people who cause you trouble and those who don’t appreciate you. Stay focused on the love!”
Nellie Clay – “It hopefully goes without saying that playing as often as possible is a good idea, specifically with people more experienced than yourself. Never ever stop learning.
As a songwriter I’m a strong advocate of telling the truth. There will never be a more interesting story to tell than the truth.
Above all else I’d advise a beginning musician, singer, songwriter, artist, whatever, to regularly check his or her heart and soul thoughtfully. Just as life benefits from some contemplation, I think it’s important to have a conscious awareness of Why music? Why songs?
Last but not least, like all beautiful things worth experiencing, the pursuit of music does not come without sacrifice. Be ever grateful for its untold gifts and best of luck negotiating the rest!”
Terry “Buffalo” Ware – Find your own voice. Be true to yourself. Learn and take inspiration from your heroes and peers, but don’t merely copy them or try to be them. They’ve already done it.
Stacey Sanders – “I’ll speak from a guitarist’s point of view…5 tips.
1) Listen to many different styles of music.
2) Learn different inversions of chords.
3) There are many free music lessons on YouTube. Watch them!
4) Never be the smartest person in the room. Meaning -Play with other musicians who are better than
you.
5) Be patient and practice daily!”
Melissa Hembree – “Find yourself in your music. And focus on doing YOU. Never let anyone tell you what music you should be playing or how you should be singing….. be you.”
Erin O’Dowd – “My advice is to observe what other people you admire are doing. Learn what is helping them succeed. And don’t ever lose sight of that joy that started you on your path! That’s what’s really important.”
Jared Tyler – “Listen to, and quote the masters. Always be true to your own authentic voice. Just you being you is all you gotta do!”
Peggy Johnson – “Play any chance you get. Learn something new everyday. Don’t give up.”
Marco Tello – “This is my advice. Find the kind of music you like, and learn it. Become comfortable and conversant in that style of music. Don’t let anybody tell you that that style is not worth learning. And it’s very important to remember that if you like seven different styles of music that are completely unrelated
there’s no reason you can’t learn them all. As I like to say when people wonder what a bluegrass picker is doing in a reggae band or a disco band, or playing flamenco, or singing Russian folk songs, my answer is always, ‘Heck it’s all bluegrass to me!’ Also if you become established always be accessible to younger and less experienced musicians.”
Edgar Cruz – “I agree with Marco on learning what you love especially if your passionate about it. After solidifying your song list and show, success is proportional to your digital promotion. Create a website. Make as many well made videos as possible and post to You Tube and all other media… Facebook,
Instagram, Twitter, Email, Messages etc to spread your videos and upcoming shows. Use iTunes or other sources to sell digital downloads of your songs. Open a Square and or PayPal account for tips, CDs, T-Shirts, performances etc. Your Website should have access to all the above.”
Carter Sampson – “Just play a lot and don’t stop. If it brings you joy do it even more.”
Joe Baxter – (In order of priority…)
1.) LEARN YOUR CRAFT. Take lessons. Concentrate. Learn theory. Get GOOD. Players are a dime a dozen. Be a GOOD one. 1a.) Learn to sing. Sing your butt off.
2.) UPGRADE YOUR INSTRUMENT AS YOU GO. Don’t let an inferior, hard-to-play, crappy sounding instrument hold you back. Begin learning, and as (if) you progress, get a better axe. If you intend to keep on playing, get the best instrument you can afford. Get one that’s suited to YOUR playing. 2a.) Buy a good tuner. TUNE IT, ALWAYS AND OFTEN. Or die.
3.) PLAY FOR YOURSELF. Learn the stuff YOU like. At least at first. DON’T get tunnel vision and do ALL one artist or band. DON’T try to ‘sound like’ them. Just be yourself. Write songs if you feel like it.
4.) BE NICE. There’s plenty of mean people around the music business. Don’t listen to them. Don’t be a critic. Everybody is a critic. Grow some thick skin. NOT a business for the over-sensitive. BUT BE NICE.
5.) SEEK OUT LIKE-MINDED FOLKS. Don’t isolate yourself. Learn from others. Go see shows. Pay attention to older players. Seek out mentors. Ask questions.
6.) Keep and open mind. It’s ALL good…..(Well, most of it…..)
Bottom Line – It’s art. It’s beauty. It’s life. It’s sharing yourself, while still intensely personal. No one can ever take it away from you.”
Amy Carlin Lee (formerly And Then There Were Two – now The Variables) – “The first thing a new musician needs to do is find where they fit. Whatever your style of music is, there are other folks around playing it. Find them. Go sign up and play at their jam nights and open mics. Go to their shows and talk to them after. Go to the festivals they attend and join their music circles. Networking with other musicians is the most important thing you can do. Ask questions, ask for feedback on your songs, ask how to get on the bill for big events, ask for booking contacts. If you write good songs, the rest will come along as you get to know the scene and the
folks in it.
The second thing is to get good recordings of a few songs. You don’t have to put out an album, just 2 or 3 songs to circulate on social media and send to potential venues. Three songs, a handful of professional pics and a live performance video. None of it has to be fancy. Ask the musicians around you for help. Did I mention getting to know the musicians around you and asking for help? Do that. They are your greatest resource.
Don’t give up. This is super important. The business of music ebbs and flows like any other business. You will have times with no shows, you will have times you feel discouraged or like your music isn’t good enough. There are people who will try to tear you down or tell you it’s a lost cause. Don’t listen to them and don’t listen to the voices in your head. They’re wrong. Practice your craft every day. Stay true to who you are. Don’t. Give. Up.”
TZ Wright – “Learn all you can about music theory, your instrument, singing, etc. but don’t forget the need to bring emotion (and sometimes humor) to your performing.”
Lauren Lee – “Listen as much as possible. In every way. Recordings and live performances. Continue to search for the style that makes your heart sing. Find an instructor that can help you get the beginning techniques down and let your style develop as your ability improves. Don’t be afraid to play for people. There will always be more listeners than players and use that situation to learn what people respond to. Just because you think it sounds rough, doesn’t mean someone else will. Fall in love with your instrument and use it to connect and communicate with not only yourself, but others. Most importantly, keep going.
Play through mistakes and don’t let your song beat you. Use your mistakes to allow you to understand thestructure of the song. Practice doesn’t always make perfect, but it can sure get you close.”
John Williams – “Practice until practice no longer feels like work, that’s when it becomes fun. Listen to all styles of music and find what appeals to you most. Jam with people as much as you can, it’s a great way to learn new stuff.”
Jared Deck – “It’s not the job of the listener to find us, it’s up to us to reach out and grab the listener. If we want people to put down their phones, stop their conversations, and listen, then we must create something special, something undeniable that will captivate them. It’s up to us to write great stories, put
them to great music, and perform them well. Music may be magical, but the music industry isn’t; it’s the hardest business there is. We must work harder than any other industry just to make a living. If you’ll do the work and create something that demands acknowledgment, you’ll have a fighting chance.”
Rick Reiley – “Beginning is the best place to start! Learn all you can about music, the language of music, how to read music. All the hard stuff. It will only make the musical journey a better one. Read biographies of songwriters, musicians. And then do whatever the music calls you to do. Even if that means getting a
job at the dry cleaners or the car wash to support yourself while you play music!”
Monica Taylor – “There are all kinds of avenues for playing music…for fun, for a living…for fun AND a living! It’s a gift that we use to benefit our own life and those around us.
And if you are trying to make a living at playing music, know that there are different avenues to take – and usually a working musician is walking many avenues all at the same time. From performing, to teaching, recording, writing or producing music for radio or TV, to honing your craft to be the guitar (or other instrument or vocalist) that people want to call on for their recording project, band, or teacher.
From performing to writing songs to putting on musicals or producing concerts…to helping folks learn how to play or encouraging their inner voice to come out…to taking your instrument to folks who can’t get out of their homes. Music is a sacred endeavor.”
Travis Fite – “Begin by learning your instrument(s) and never stop. Play or write everyday if you can. It’s way more productive than TV or video games.
However, music is not the end all be all, so don’t be afraid to take a break from your music, if you need to get your life together; your music will be stronger and most likely better when you come back to it once you’ve tackled adversity or challenges in your life.
Always be kind and generous to everyone, especially your musical peers and influencers – because nobody likes a jerk. Just turn the other cheek if you are confronted with animosity.
And play for a reason. Not for the money. It’s about the emotion not the number of notes or the style of equipment or the lard you spread on your shiny hairdo.”
Jana Jae – “Plenty of Practice, Persistence, Patience! Enjoy the journey, every step can be so much fun! Don’t get discouraged if you don’t move along as quickly as expected. Get into the mind set that you’ll enjoy the sound, improve the tone, have fun moving those fingers, enjoy each new tune, each new accomplishment!
Find a good teacher, someone inspiring but patient, and find friends to play with!! That makes it really enjoyable, you learn faster, and you can share ideas!
Find a listening audience – even one friend to listen to your new tune is fun and it helps avoid stage fright! I can’t wait to hear you! Stay in touch!”
