I recently had my Adult Kids listen (separately) to some Cool Jazz in my Meditation Chamber (my home’s music room), and shared with them the important lesson of “The Next Note”, and how this subtle skill should be applied to their Lives.
After decades of listening to rock, pop, jazz, folk, metal, and reggae etc., I recently and finally (better late than never) focused my attention to Cool Jazz. Below are my recent CD acquisitions, all since May 2026.
My Cool Jazz CD Collection (above image). Calming sonic ointment to the soul!
Jazz is best played fast and spontaneously, by top-drawer musicians. It does not pound, it flutters, it flatters, it tickles, it seduces, it draws you in, and it’s pleasing to the soul. I listen to my calming Cool Jazz at night. Do read my “Cool Jazz Greats” and “Miles Davis 100” blogs.
The Importance Of “The Next Note” (above image). My Wasa Immortal Punk Guitarist toy figure.
Sometimes in its haste, even the most talented jazz musician can accidentally play a “bum” (wrong) note. But they know that the subsequent note corrects that previous bum note and moves on to unexplored sonic adventures.
A “bum note” is a musical note that is played or sung incorrectly; being off-pitch, out of tune or mistimed.
Of course, bum notes and next note corrections are prevalent in all forms of music genres. I just want to make a shout-out to Cool Jazz and Miles Davis. Haha.
Sometimes my musician buddies may accidentally play a bum note on stage, and they sheepishly give me a wink. I simply wink back. The audience probably thought nothing of that split-second “improvised” note.
My Miles Davis CD Collection (above image). When Miles plays, I listen to Greatness!
The Miles Davis Famous “Next Note” Anecdote: Legendary pianist/keyboardist Herbie Hancock once played a wrong chord during a concert performance, Miles Davis instinctively played a series of notes on his trumpet that made Hancock’s wrong chord sound entirely correct and intentional.
To Miles Davis – “It’s not the note you play that’s the wrong note; it’s the note you play afterwards that makes it right or wrong.” His advice to his band members – “Don’t play what is there, play what is not there.”
Life Application of “The Next Note”
So back to my Adult Kids in my Meditation Chamber. Never take Life too seriously. Stress less. We all make mistakes, treat Mistakes as Lessons. Whenever you make a “bum note” in your Life journey, you make it right with the Next Note. If you failed a test, do better with the next one. If you didn’t get accepted into your desired university, attend the next best one that accepts your application and ace your results there. If you didn’t get hired by your desired corporation, go work for their competitor. You now appreciate the “Next Note” kungfu Life maneuver.
And then at the end of a tiring, fruitful Life journey, when you look back at your footsteps, you’ll noticed that the Dots have somehow, wonderfully connected and you realise You Did Good after all! Allow me to give you a proud and firm pat on your back!
You know that nervous feeling you get when you make public speeches in front of an audience? You don’t have to disclose that you’re nervous. I guarantee they are NOT aware of it. So why tell them that in the first place? Tell an appropriate topic-specific witty joke instead, to get them to laugh, to get their attention. They will anticipate a fun and enlightening talk from you.
Yours Truly Speaking In Front Of An Audience Of 1,200, 2013 (above image). No podium! No problem! I didn’t tell the audience that I’m nervous. I might have started my speech with a lame joke.
So make as little “bum notes” as possible in Life. Or in Ed-speak – “Don’t step on too many shit”.
But by all means, play your Next Note until your final Full Stop; your ultimate “Amen” moment, ending your performance with a knowing, cheeky smile.
