Jim Gaven

Joined April 2020

0 stories

Bio

My mission is to write inspirational stories that make you feel good about yourself, put a smile on your face, and think of things in a different way.

www.keyofawesomemusic.com

www.jimgaven.bandcamp.com

www.patreon.com/keyofawesomemusic

Stories (38/0)

Juggling Life
Juggling Life-a non-profit organization who puts on free events for kids with Crohn's, Colitis, and Cancer. Also, a fun and meaningful play on words for what we have to do throughout life--juggle many responsibilities at once. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming. Sometimes we feel we have it covered. Most of the time we teeter between chaos and order. Do we let it get the best of us or do we accept it for what it is?
By Jim Gaven4 years ago in Longevity
Sing for Peace
Sing for Peace is a book written by yours truly, Jim Gaven, published in October 2019. Living in today's world can be a daunting challenge. From the everyday distractions of various social media sites to all the battling news outlets, it can be hard to decipher what is good and what isn't. 'Sing For Peace' is a call to action for the human race to utilize our voices for good...all day, every day, and in every situation. With scientific research backing the physiological and psychological benefits of singing to famous saints who were for peace to popular peacemakers of our time to the various symbols and signs signifying peace, I make the case that if we were to sing to each other all-day long, there would be no need for war...ever.
By Jim Gaven4 years ago in Lifehack
Finding Your Own Tempo
Finding Your Own Tempo, written by yours truly, Jim Gaven, is about finding your own tempo in life. Leading your own life instead of following in someone else's footsteps takes faith, hope, and courage, and 'Finding Your Own Tempo' sheds some light on ways to do that, specifically through faith, music, and exercise, particularly, soccer. Designed to inspire others to take action to live the life they so desire and be more at peace with themselves, I hope to light a fire under you, the reader.
By Jim Gaven4 years ago in Motivation
Manic Music Manifesto
"Manic Music Manifesto", a book written by Jim Gaven, takes a deeper look into the obsessed mind of musicians and why music is so important to their well-being and essence as well as non-musicians alike. With several clinical research studies bringing to light the powerful effect music has on every day life mixed with first hand experiences of musicians caught with the music 'bug', this book is poised to make waves in the industry and beyond.
By Jim Gaven4 years ago in Beat
Cafe Improv in Princeton
Performing at places who are keen to the idea of original music is hard to find these days. Considered few and far between, when we do stumble across one, it's like finding a diamond in the rough. I've been lucky enough to find many places like this in NJ over the years. Cafe Improv is one of those places. Sponsored by the Arts Council of Princeton, the venue is designed to hold events and showcase local artists work. From artists paintings landscapes to musical artists creating soundscapes, the building resonates beauty. It doesn't hurt to have the Princeton Public Library right across the street for foot traffic, advertising, marketing, and appreciation.
By Jim Gaven4 years ago in Beat
Planning, Preparation, and Memories of the National Anthem
It was a late summer evening, and the weather was warm and muggy. The mosquitoes were everywhere, and the anticipation of a big event was in the air. I couldn't believe the night was here, and it was really happening. It was an idea I had been tinkering with in my mind for a little while. Something that I dreamed about doing one day. And now, it was about to actually come to fruition. I was about to sing the National Anthem at a professional sporting event...at a Columbus Crew soccer game.
By Jim Gaven4 years ago in Motivation
Songwriter Showcase at Katmandu
This video is of me, Jim Gaven, performing an original song at local music venue and club, Katmandu, located in Trenton, NJ. Shot in 2009, it brings me back to a simpler time in life. Myspace was rampant, collecting 'friends', or as I thought of them, potential fans. I was single and was about to buy my first house. Amazing how so many things happen in 10 years. The song is called, 'The Girl Next Door' and is just about that. It's about falling in love with the girl next door...someone in your neighborhood...someone you might have went to school with. It's not about a fantasy person like a celebrity. It's about the real deal with someone in your realm of possibilities and proximity. Written in an open tuning, it is a song I used to love to play live. This is before I actually fell in love with the woman I am now married to.
By Jim Gaven4 years ago in Beat
Jammin' in Mr. Jim's Studio
Description: Jammin' in Mr. Jim's Studio is an educational music program geared for children to learn life skills, manners, and instruments all through music. Similar to Mr. Roger's Neighborhood in that the show sets out to positively impact the younger generation in becoming the best version of themselves, Mr. Jim is fun, engaging, and informative.
By Jim Gaven4 years ago in Families
Musician with a Mission
This is a long video (28 minutes and change) of an interview I did back in 2018 on Princeton TV30. The TV station is a local network that goes out to those living in Mercer and southern Somerset counties. It was an honor to be considered as an interviewee for this network, because it came at a time when I just branched out on my own to start running a business on a full-time basis. It was a side project, if you will, for years, but 1 month prior to this interview, it became the main project. The interviewer, Natasha Sherman, made me feel very comfortable during our conversation, as you may be able to tell when watching. Shot from multiple angles, the interview flowed quite nicely from a production standpoint as well as a content standpoint.
By Jim Gaven4 years ago in Motivation
'My Life Juice' at Sayen Gardens
Filmed at Sayen Gardens, a lovely, scenic, peaceful park in Hamilton, NJ, this is a live performance of a song I wrote called, 'My Life Juice'. Tommy Bartlett of T Productions came up with the idea for me to walk towards the camera around the path as I sang and played the song on guitar. As you can see, it was a beautiful day, and he was able to capture a rare moment where I exercised while performing. Being that this video is at least 5 years old, it shows a more immature side of me as far as singing the song goes.
By Jim Gaven4 years ago in Beat
'Make This Moment Last' by Jim Gaven
This live version of an original song, 'Make This Moment Last', was captured using an iMac in 2008 while I was living in New Hampshire for a brief period. As you can see from the footage, it is a little grainy. However, this was a brand new mainframe computer which captured the best it could at that time. Written about someone I was dating between 2005 and 2008, I thought this was the person I was supposed to spend the rest of my life with. It is a song about the feelings you might have for that special someone where you never want the time spent with them to come to an end. Have you ever felt like that? It is an amazing feeling. To me, it's nothing short of what eternity might be like--feeling at peace with everything and everyone for years and years to come. It is my belief that there is no concept of time in eternity, so one moment may actually be 1000 years.
By Jim Gaven4 years ago in Beat
Musical Conversation Between Two Souls
Have you ever met someone for the first time, and just knew they were special? I've been lucky enough in my life to have experienced this feeling several times, but nothing is quite like the day I met Doug. We were at a recreation event for and with those who have developmental disabilities in the county he and I both lived in (at the time). A couple months prior, I started as the Music Coordinator, the Music Man, tasked with creating and implementing a comprehensive music program spanning several different developmental disabilities and a wide range of ages for the individuals supported at this particular non-profit agency. He was wearing a cowboy hat dancing up a storm, letting loose, and cutting up a rug. It was as if nothing else mattered. He was in the zone! I absolutely loved his energy, so I felt compelled to go over and introduce myself. We hit it off cracking jokes and I knew I was in the presence of someone self-less and caring.
By Jim Gaven4 years ago in Beat

Jim Gaven

Bio

Stories .css-19zxm0z-Text{display:inline-block;color:var(--text-default-mute);}(38/0)

Juggling Life

Sing for Peace

Finding Your Own Tempo

Manic Music Manifesto

Cafe Improv in Princeton

Planning, Preparation, and Memories of the National Anthem

Songwriter Showcase at Katmandu

Jammin' in Mr. Jim's Studio

Musician with a Mission

'My Life Juice' at Sayen Gardens

'Make This Moment Last' by Jim Gaven

Musical Conversation Between Two Souls

Stories (38/0)