So, Who Am I, and What is This?

Welcome, one and all, to my latest adventure: the world of websites and blogging. I have no idea what this website will become, but I know it’s something that I want to do, and I want you to be on the journey with me as it develops. Hopefully it will develop into a place in which I can share some music, tell some tales, share some hard-won wisdom, share ideas, and a place where a large community can learn from each other.

But I may be getting ahead of myself. I should start by telling you a bit about myself. My name is Mike Stallings, and I have spent almost my entire life learning about music, making music, composing music, and directing church choirs. Along the way I’ve been ordained as a Deacon in the United Methodist Church, had some incredible successes, some embarrassing failures, and have done a lot of interesting things. I’m at a point in my life and career that I want to share some of the thoughts and lessons that I’ve learned in order to maybe inspire, help, or encourage others who are in the same line of work or have the same interests that I do.

You’ll learn more about me as we go along, but for now it’s enough to know the basics: I’ve been married for almost 28 years to the smartest and most creative woman I’ve ever known and I have two awesome sons who are artists and musicians in their own rights. I’m a proud graduate of the University of Tennessee, and am sometimes ridiculously passionate about its sports programs (particularly football). I love any sort of puzzle, particularly word puzzles, and have been known to become unreasonably annoyed over a crossword puzzle. I can also become nerdishly excited over discussions of music theory. I love learning about philosophy, although I’m not a very good philosopher. I think Socrates, at least as we know him through Plato, was someone that I’d love to hang out with.

Many of these articles will be related to music, but there will also be content for non-musicians as well. Sometimes I will talk about faith-related things, but I’m not out to convert anyone to my way of thinking. Hopefully I’ll provide you with something to think about, but I assume that you’re intelligent enough and intellectually honest enough to form your own beliefs. I won’t discuss political issues. You have your opinions and beliefs, and I have mine. Again, I’ll assume that we reached these through careful and critical thinking.

So, welcome! I hope you enjoy these posts, and will comment, ask questions, disagree (respectfully), and that we can engage in friendly conversation and help each other grow.