Moments

that make us who we are

Aug 28, 2024

This is BRYSON ANDRES
the Anchorage violinist who went electric - and launched an international career with over 1M+ YouTube subscribers.

Don't You Worry Child {looping setup, song starts at 2:00} - Bryson Andres, violinist

Violin Cover, Portland, OR - Bryson Andres - violinist

"In my professional opinion, I would say he's one out of at least 10,000 who takes up violin and has a natural gift. What he's done with his loop pedal and his music, not everybody has (that talent)," said Petr Bucinsky of Petr's Violin Shop, who first saw Andres play when he was just 12 years old.

Born in Hawaii, Bryson Andres moved with his mother to Alaska when he was 2, and settled in to live with his grandparents in the Anchorage neighborhood of Fairview when he was 9.

At first his family was not supportive of his violin playing. Perhaps because his reason to start was attraction to a girl in his school orchestra who played violin. The girl eventually quit the violin, but Bryson did not.

In high school, Andres received a second, anonymous sponsorship for private lessons. Andres credits his teacher, Nina Bingham, a principal violinist with the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, with bringing him into his own.

"She didn't try to change my sound, she tried to build upon it," Andres said. "I think that's why I thrived."

Bryson was first known for his street music videos performed all over the world and promoted on his YouTube channel. An inspiration for young and older violinists in taking their music to the street where the people gather. Bryson was popular before busking became a thing.

Andres has had gigs in Resort Cruise Lines, the Philippines, Hawaii, and Las Vegas. He has carved out a niche for himself in a demanding, competitive and sometimes brutal world. The Resort Worlds Manila was a perfect match for Bryson. He learned makeup and choreography, wearing glitzy clothing, and staging surrounded by twirling dancers - all on the job.

"You don't have to be the best pop star," Andres said of his progress. "Find the right pocket to fit into."1

His is not a story of Discovery = Rich & Famous. His story is about struggle and growth as a musician and as a young man who never gives up. This is daring greatly.

My Facedown Moment

FOCUS.

What I am like when I am doing

When I am doing I am fully alive. Fully o.k. with Ginger and all positive. Adventurous, risk taker, bold, carefree, studious, serious, committed, zoned [IN] to the moment. Believing all is possible.

NO FOCUS.

What I am like when I stop doing

When I am at stop doing I am chaos incarnate. Magnetized to negative and with an ill fitting skin. Procrastinatuous, ballistic in self-talk, a vapor trail of wrath, zoned [OUT] and drifting. State of complete unbelief in all that is good.

FACEDOWN.

Choosing the way home

This episode was brought on by a great deal of stress from: the reoccurrence of shrill barking from the family dog who has decided to go rogue; home work schedules have changed abruptly affecting creative space and time; the weather going bipolar fire/ice; goals set requiring a steep incline in learning and trials, the trusted ink printer deciding to declare mutiny, and the result: art class deadlines failure. This is Facedown Moment.

Choose which parts you can carry today and which parts must be placed on hold for future activity and attention, because you are not built to carry all loads at all times. If the entire system is in danger of black out, the load dump will preserve the central function unit. By shifting load, a better delivery will be attained, both in quality and strength.

The ideas and creativity can be placed on hold without losing the momentum. Accept that the delay is actually a gift to establish a better course of action, whatever it will be better, and make us stronger as well. Delay is not disaster. Trust in the timing and let go of self-imposed deadlines that were established to whip your self into a mindless plodding that steals the joy from the journey.

Use the interruptions to develop a course of action that includes the Facedown but also the Stand Up. How can the action to incorporate courage, compassion, and connection through this disappointment and the stress that you feel over this episode of life. By not leaning into the stress and anxiety, remorse and fear, and all the negativity, but rather leaning into the joy, the spontaneity of being dragged off course for whatever reason, and the knowledge and self acceptance that you really are not in charge of the universe, not even your own creativity and creative goals, so instead, trust in the One that is greater than you to show you the way forward.

The way of humor and patience

Identifying trips and falls. I can be a bulldozer and a one-woman production assembly line. Get out of my way, especially if your feelings might get hurt by my insensitive creative surges. The 'doing' often overshadows any perspective in life, a 360º view where walking circumspectly would better serve me. My Fall downs are definitely related to my push and shoves.

In my music folder I have a special photo to remind me of the 2 qualities that will help me to go furthest on my creative path, whether it's working with horse, a paintbrush, or a violin bow ~

There are only two emotions that belong in the saddle:
one is a sense of humor and the other is patience.
John Lyons

And I love sharing the stories of those who inspired me and continue to inspire me in daring greatly. A balance of life, destination, timing, with ebbs & flows.

I found my silver lining today, after I stood up. It is the new, crisp fall breeze, a home full of laughing children, a 2nd soccer practice, and my freshly baked fudge brownies frosted with ♥ 's and X's in a tic-tac-toe pattern. All enjoyed by all.

I am an artist after all.