Anthony Hamilton (Image by grgbrwn via Wikipedia)

Watch R&B artist Anthony Hamilton on PBS. See more from Tavis Smiley.

If you are a musician, (like me) you got 'em! It's the promises we make to no one but ourselves this time of year... usually involving being a little more dedicated to our instrument(s), honing our talents, and so many of us, (me included,) promising ourselves that we will Practice! Practice! Practice!  Hey! How else are we gonna get to Carnegie Hall, right?

Of course, ALL OF THE ABOVE is on my list of musical resolutions this year! (Just like last year and the year before, and... well. You know as well as I do!)

I DO resolve to be a better musician this year! And I DO resolve to practice more! But... in 2012, I have added another layer to my musical resolutions. 

Music is by far my first love. From my earliest memories, I have always dreamt of living my life filled with music, making it my career and my life's ambition. I am truly blessed to have the opportunity to fulfill that dream, at least in part, most days of my life.

We sing the song every New Year's Eve, right? But... what the heck are we singing about anyway?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And days of Auld Lang Syne?

Give me your hand, my trusty friend,

And I will give you mine,

Let's drink a cup of kindness now

For Auld Lang Syne.

 

For Auld Lang Syne, my love,

For Auld Lang Syne,

Let's drink a cup of kindness now

For Auld Lang Syne!

Admittedly, I sang this number for years with a total misconception of message these traditional lyrics seek to implore.  Craving to know the meaning of these mysterious words, I did a little research and I discovered the real meaning behind the song and why it has been so popular hundreds of years!

As we ring out the old year and ring in the new, it is our long-honored custom to see the upcoming New Year as another chance for a fresh, clean start in our lives. It a time to relinquish our old habits, forgive wounds and insults of the past, make pledges to ourselves and others to begin anew, to make this year better than the last and forget things of the past. After all, it's a NEW YEAR! 

But, what about the words to this old ballad? What wisdom do they convey?

Candice Night (Image by Nick Soveiko via Wikipedia)

I was quite pleasantly surprised when a friend gave me one of the most refreshing Christmas CD's I've heard in a long time! Winter Carols by Blackmore's Night.  As soon as I heard the first cut from the album, I was hooked.

I knew that this collection of age-old Christmas Carols, arranged and performed with a Celtic flavor, (one carol even has Gaelic verses,) was right up my alley! Not only the Christmas traditionalist, but also the music traditionalist in me, revels in the sweet medieval sounds of these hauntingly beautiful old songs. In listening to these ancient carols, we get a sense of the time-honored traditions of the holiday and our souls connect with the people of Christmases e're gone.

Taylor Guitar (Public Domain Image by  YDHM via Wikipedia)

Still pondering what might be the ideal gift for the musician or music lover on your list? As the days count down, we sometimes find ourselves at a loss for ideas.

Being a performing musician myself, as well as being married to a bass player/guitarist who also tunes pianos as a primary job, I've become somewhat of a pro at finding great gifts for the musical type.

Check out some of these instruments and accessories that are bound to strike a note in perfect harmony with your favorite musicians, from stocking stuffers to the biggies that Santa himself will be singing along with!

First, a couple of biggies:

• Among the guitarists I know, the sought-after make this year is Taylor. http://www.taylorguitars.com/

These rich-sounding, quality guitars come in many models, both acoustic and electric, and are known for rare burl woods and unusual, artsy inlays. Priced from around $600 for the lowest end acoustic, (the 3/4 scale mini-acoustics can be found for as low as $300,) to about $6,000 for specialty models, (such as the 'Running Horses" inlaid fret board, the pricing is considered mid-range in the guitar world.