Chris Boardman Media Group

09/06/2024

Yesterday I began submitting my new marimba concerto, “Episodes for Marimba and Orchestra” for publication.

Surprisingly I got this response today:

“Hi Chris,

Thank you so much for submitting your Episodes for Marimba and Orchestra for our consideration. It’s truly a stunning work—both cinematic and virtuosic. The marimba part blends well with the orchestra which is always very tricky to orchestrate, a combination of technical brilliance and emotional depth that I haven’t encountered in any other marimba concerto repertoire to date. The way you blend these elements is masterful—bravo!

This bodes well for the future.

“Episodes will premiere Nov 10th in Raleigh, NC featuring Dr. Ksenija Komljenović

Stay tuned. More announcements coming.

08/21/2024

Sometimes inspiration and support comes when you least expect it.

I’ll be honest: my faith in what I’ve dedicated myself to has been wavering. I try to keep my head down and just plow ahead. But I was awash in questions and indecision that tested my commitment.

Monday I had to go downtown to renew my driver’s license. To be honest, I wasn’t too thrilled about it. But, I got up early to be first in line, thinking I’d be in and out in a few minutes. After struggling to find a place to park and taking a few wrong turns I finally arrived.

The office had only been open a few minutes but there was already a line forming. After about 20 minutes without moving it became apparent that there was a problem. I looked behind me and the line had swelled to maybe 40 people. By the look on their faces I could tell they were all wondering the same thing as me: “what the heck was going on?” It turns out new kiosks had been installed the previous Friday and they weren’t working. We were dead in the water with no clue what to do next.

Finally, a kind woman in the office came to the front of the line and started giving out numbers and motioned us to come into the reception area to wait for our turn.

As I sat down I couldn’t help but notice two gentlemen who obviously weren’t employed by the office. For what seemed like an eternity they sat motionless, staring intently at laptops without saying a word. Then someone from management started talking to them. They said they had no idea what was wrong. I turned to the young man sitting next to me and said we were in for a long stay.

He was a boy. Just 17 years old.

We started talking about our situation and he asked me: “do you write code?” “No. But I’ve been involved with computer generated music for more than 40 years”. Then he asked me: “what are you working on now?” “Well, tbh, I’ve created an intervention that uses music, breath and movement to alleviate anxiety and depression”. He was a bit startled. As I continued to explain how it worked he went to www.moremusicfeelbetter.com and was very interested. He asked if he could email me…to stay in touch. I said: of course. He said he was starting college soon and was nervous about it. The more we talked the more I could tell I had made a difference. My mood was changing. I became more animated as he became more engaged in what I was saying.

My parking meter was going to expire and seeing that there would not be a resolution any time soon I got up to leave and introduced myself. He shook my hand and said his name was Samuel.

When I got to the street I realized something exceeding normal but nonetheless extraordinary had happened. By taking the initiative to speak to a complete stranger and offering to help I made a connection and, more importantly, my faith in The Missing Link had been renewed. By simply having a conversation and trying to be helpful my entire being had been transformed.

I spoke with respect to someone young enough to be my grandson. He was bright. He was unsure of himself. He welcomed the conversation and I hope I gave him some good advice that will help him on his way.

Thank you Samuel. You’ve helped me more than you could possibly imagine.

Little did I expect that going to the DMV would yield such a moving experience. One I will not soon forget.

Inspiration and support comes when we least expect it. The challenge is to recognize it when it appears.

08/17/2024

Are you flying without a net?

I don’t know about you but for years and years, probably my entire life, I’ve created a bubble of identity and beliefs to make myself comfortable.

There is nothing new about this. Humans have used stories for millennia to help them understand what was incomprehensible. Tbh, I find comfort in that.

Today though, I sensed cracks in that facade.

Not a break or breakthrough… just an awareness of the costs associated with my commitment to my adopted purpose: using my unique skills and experience to teach everyone and anyone how to use music, breath and movement to combat the hopelessness that accompanies trauma induced PTSD, anxiety and depression. In my burst of clarity the costs and challenges became evident and real. It’s something I rarely dwell on… I’m usually too busy trying to get something done. Tasks have been my salvation. My escape. My ticket to mental wellness.

This morning was different.

Today a different question was posed: “is turning my pain into purpose (to help others like myself) the best way to spend my time?”

Usually these types of questions enter into my consciousness and leave at the speed of thought. I just put my head down and keep going.

This morning was different.

I thought of the countless hours spent alone in my studio either writing music, building a business, teaching myself how to build financial forecasts, becoming a subject matter expert on how the brain processes sound, music, or how human survival is dependent upon connection.

What have I missed?

Time with family? Relationships?

There are no guarantees in life so we are constantly faced with choices. What do we eat for breakfast? What will I wear today? Who will I see? What responsibilities must I honor?

There are no right or wrong answers.

When we are forced to make a choice, no matter how simple or complex, we look to the bubble we have created: “does this choice match my beliefs? Or not?

What do we do when the choice we want to make is no longer an option?

This is when dread and uncertainty take center stage.

Some lash out in anger and frustration.

Others recoil and want to disappear - to postpone acceptance of the truth they wish to avoid.

In these moments my response can be all of the above.

However, I snap back to what I know about myself.

I’m a creative problem solver. So I look at the situation as a problem to solve knowing that there has to be a solution. My challenge becomes finding the answer

When I am in a creative problem solving mode I look at all of the pieces of the puzzle and imagine new ways of putting them together… to find a solution from what has been presented to me. I don’t dwell on what I don’t have. I focus my attention on what I do have, what I need and how I will find a solution to my problem.

I think of my dear mother who constantly reminded me: “There is no failure. Only the opportunity to learn.”

Flying without a net… isn’t that what we do everyday?

Don’t we make choices based on the probability our desired outcome will be achieved?

And if we don’t succeed (meaning our efforts don’t match our expectation) what do we do? What do you do?

If you’re anything like me, I, again, revert to what I know.

In my case I’ve spent my life finding creative solutions to problems big and small. There is comfort in knowing this has worked for me in the past. So I forge ahead.

What is the fuel that keeps me going?

The connection music and self-expression create.

Music is amazing. We respond instinctively (due to the nature of the auditory cortex and the autonomic nervous system). For me, the look in someone’s eyes that tells me they have received my intended message is my reward. It is payment in full. I am reminded that my efforts have value, that my time was well spent.

No matter how small or seemingly inconsequential, this acknowledgement is the fuel that keeps me going. To persevere. To continue my work (not that I really have a choice hehe).

All of this to say: if you are feeling uncertain it’s probably human connection that you are seeking.

If you too feel like you are flying without a net, reach out to someone you know who may need a kind word, a smile, or a hug. The truth is we all need support… even strangers we may disagree with.

Sometimes we are confronted with complex problems that defy understanding and we fail to see that the answer is actually very simple.

Find a way to connect with someone else.

You’ll feel better. They will feel better and the weight of the world for both of you will be lessened. If only for a moment.

There is nobility in helping others. Real and tangible value.

Truth be told: we are all flying without a net.

The irony is that the net is always there and available to us… if we only stop to see.

I find comfort in that thought, the thought that even though I may feel different than you, in reality we are more the same than not.

I’ve patched up the cracks in my facade of beliefs this morning and will get back to work now… with the knowledge that you have taken the time to read this. In doing so you’ve silently acknowledged me. You’ve invested your time that you will never get back.

Thank you.

In the meantime: more music. Feel better.

www.moremusicfeelbetter.com

08/09/2024

“Character is destiny” - Heraclitus (500BC) and “character is complicated” - John Mecham.

Interesting thought to start the day.

“- who we are and what we do shapes our future more than divine intervention or some magical, ill-defined mythology.”

“Be the change you wish to see and the future will take care of itself”

Interesting thoughts to be sure.

07/16/2024

Why bring a knife to a gunfight?

Most of us boomers (and younger people too) don’t bother with keeping up with tech. Worse yet, with think we do.

After using ChatGTP4.o to help me do research for The Missing Link project it is clear the world we live today will continue to change at an exponential rate. We, as a culture, have to accept that this change cannot be stopped. AI is, and will continue to turn our world upside down. Jobs will be lost. Industries will disappear. It may be bleak. But, sticking your head in the sand isn’t the answer. In fact, willful ignorance will be our downfall.

Why?

Because there are bad actors who thrive on fear and chaos.

The dismal state of politics in America is a result of us being manipulated by fear. This is nothing new. It’s been this way for all of human history.

What single factor has ensured human survival?

Belonging to a community.

There are those who find hope in Trump while there are those that don’t.

AI is coming and can’t be stopped. Our politics will have to adapt. They will have no choice BUT to accept radical change.

So when you think about the upcoming election ask yourself these questions:
Which person/party believes in community?Which person/party has the ability and desire to change?
Which party wants to revert to the past?
Which party wants to lead into the future?

This election is about survival in an AI driven world.

There will always be hope.

Choose wisely.

06/17/2024

Driving to the airport this morning in my Lyft made me reminisce about my father. He's been gone a long time so yesterday wasn't necessarily a day to celebrate.

Pop was all about engines. He created rocket engines, jet engines and had a life long fascination with cars. After he retired he worked for Dan Gurney's All American Racers as an engine/business consultant - helping them to become dominant in the GTO and GTP in the IMSA League.

I remember him telling me in the mid-80's that he suggested that they should take off the mirrors on the front fenders to reduce drag. Instead, he suggested mounting video cameras in the back of the car and put a monitor in the dashboard. Like a smooth airplane wing this would make the car faster. The drivers couldn't make the transition away from mirrors so the idea was rejected.

Well, some 40 years later this is a standard feature in every new car. Much like his design for the pulse rocket, which was adopted for fuel injection (in every auto engine on the planet), Pop was a head of his time.

A conundrum to live with at times (his head was in the clouds most days), I have a lot to be grateful for.

Thanks Pop.

06/06/2024

Your feedback is appreciated!

After months of testing I'm still compiling user data for The Missing Link course. Your input is valuable! If you are subscribed and have taken the assessments (in each module). If not go to https://themissinglink.mykajabi.com/mlqs8 and start today!

06/04/2024

I can be curmudgeonly at times after all these years but this took my breath away:

For the first time ever, John and Tori joined Jacob on stage to perform a live rendition of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ at The Greek Theatre on May 20th, 20...

06/02/2024

The basic principle of The Missing Link project.

Learn why you should stop looking for singular tools for healing.

05/21/2024

Tonight!

"• 66 Million Americans suffer from mental illness

• Every 5 minutes a teenager commits su***de

• Su***de is the 2nd leading cause of teen death..."

A Story of Hope, Tonight on The Life Changes Show with Special Guest, Multi-Award Winning, (6 International Emmy Awards, 13 Emmy Nominations, Academy Awards Nomination, American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) and BMI Film Awards, Multiple Platinum Records, etc.), Film Composer, Arranger, Orchestrator, Producer, Educator, Entrepreneur, Mental Wellness Advocate, Recording Artist, Songwriter, Chris Boardman.

Could music be, "The Missing Link," Listen to Chris on the show, Episode 790 "How to Take Charge of Your Mental Health," broadcastlng live from 7 to 8 PM PT on iHeartRadio via BBSRadiotv at www.lifechangesshow.com.

With host Filippo Voltaggio, co-host Mark Laisure, and segment host Dorothy Lee Donahue, with thanks to Contributing Producer, Alison Goldwyn of Synchronistory®.

04/15/2024

A couple shots of my talk last Friday

03/15/2024

Did you know…

➡️ That music can validate your emotions?

When life gets tough, and sadness washes over us, one of the most intriguing ways we cope is by listening to sad songs. It may seem paradoxical at first – why would we immerse ourselves in sorrow when we're already feeling down? The answer lies in the validation of emotions.

Sad songs provide us with a profound sense of validation. They speak to the depths of our sadness, offering lyrics and melodies that resonate with our feelings. In those moments, it's as if the song is whispering, "You're not alone in this; others have felt the same way." This validation can be incredibly comforting, making us feel understood and acknowledged.

In a world that often encourages us to put on a brave face and suppress our emotions, sad songs allow us to embrace our feelings. They give us permission to acknowledge and accept our sadness, which is a crucial step in the process of healing and emotional well-being.

So, the next time you find yourself reaching for a sad song during a tough moment, remember that you're seeking validation for your emotions. It's a way of saying, "It's okay to feel this way," and finding solace in the fact that others have traveled similar emotional paths


https://buff.ly/3vbDVau

02/13/2024

People ask me “why” I have devoted myself to…

➡️ The Missing Link project.

I could go on and on about the details but the fact is:

I believe I can make a difference.

I believe that the pain I have endured being the subject of a former boss’ narcissistic rage is fuel.

It’s fuel that drives my purpose - which is to make a difference, not only in my life, but in yours as well.

Turning pain into purpose. That’s how I spend each and every day. Looking for ways to align my skills to my purpose so my suffering isn’t wasted.

➡️ Transforming emotional pain into a purpose not only creates energy (fuel), it creates value for you, and those around you. The crazy thing is your tank will never run dry. You will have an endless supply of energy to draw upon.

You may not know where to begin. I use music to motivate me, to excite me, to calm me down, to spur me into action. Music can do that for you - if you know why. That’s why I created the Missing Link project. I believe that if you know why music will improve your life.

The answer is simple:

More music. Feel Better.

https://buff.ly/3nGGkpx

01/26/2024

Plato once said – “music is medicine for the soul.”

Maybe he knew something the rest of us have since forgotten?

In our trying, dysfunctional times the truth is difficult to find so we constantly look for meaning.

We spend an inordinate amount of time on hashtags, memes or click bait while we mindlessly scroll in anticipation of a dopamine rush.

Perhaps we should recognize that the human condition hasn’t changed much in thousands of years.

The unknown makes us uncomfortable so we make up stories (or myths) to alleviate our discomfort and make sense out of our lives.

For the Greeks mythology provided comfort for questions they couldn’t answer.

According to Greek mythology, music, instruments, and the aural arts are attributed to divine origin, and the art of music was a gift of the gods to men. In their opinion music provided a direct connection to the divine in all of us.

Perhaps we have lost sight of Plato’s universal truth - “music is medicine for the soul”?

Who are we to argue with the gods? hehe.

For me the answer to the worry and anxiety created by an uncertain future is clear:

More music. Feel better.

01/17/2024

Support and validation can come when you least expect it.

Some seven years ago I developed ptsd. After much soul-searching I realized that I could help myself by helping others. In essence; turning my pain into purpose.

I embarked on my journey to make a difference without a clear idea of where I would end up or if I would be successful or not.

After devoting thousands of hours into research and development, The Missing Link has evolved into an hour long immersive concert experience and an evidentiary based mental health self-care method that is accessible as an online course.

This past fall I launched a private beta of the online course to gather user feedback. A 67 year old user recently posted this comment:

“I tested several of these songs and found I needed to go find something from my youthful hearing days. I was having a bad day and decided to come back to this lesson and really give it a good go. I played Abba, "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme" and "Dancing Queen." I did my best to work the breathing and movement. It did lift me up and calm me some. It took both songs to get my hands to stop shaking and my heart rate to begin to calm down. Music is great therapy. Thank you for creating this program.”

Bingo! I’ll settle for helping one person at a time.

You don’t have to accept that help isn’t available.

More music. Feel better!

Learn more about The Missing Link project here: https://buff.ly/3nGGkpx

01/10/2024

After enduring a particularly trying few days I have realized that the path through emotional upheaval requires a commitment to being relentlessly optimistic.

That is worth repeating: relentlessly optimistic.

The benefits are many. First is to realize it is a practice. And with anything worthwhile the more you practice the better you get.

Why is this important?

You don't have to be buoyantly effusive. All you have to do is do the practice (I'm using the word practice to describe a process that is repeated).

What will happen next?

You'll feel better because you are focused on something positive. It could be that you want to help a friend who is struggling. It could be that you are trying pull yourself out of a funk. It could be a simple as smiling at someone and maintaining eye contact until they respond (or not).

❇️ Be relentlessly optimistic. It's not rocket science or some kind of mysterious "gift". Its a skill you can learn.

When you combine this with music you will hit the jackpot.

❇️ Be relentlessly optimistic.

More music. Feel better.

01/09/2024

Did you know...

there is a reason that music makes want to get up and move?

➡️ It's because the nervous system responds involuntarily to music. We can't refuse.

So what do we do?

We get up and dance. We move around and feel better. We have no choice!

More music. Feel better!

Learn how to harness the power of music: https://buff.ly/3nGGkpx

01/05/2024

As you may know I’ve invested years of my life to develop a program to reduce the negative stigma associated with mental health promote music as a 24/7 coping skill to self-manage anxiety and depression. At first the ideas expressed in The Missing Link project were based on my personal experience. As I continued to learn more about neurology, trauma and related issues i became more convinced than every that I was a solid path- that the methodology I had developed would help countless others. Yet, I struggled to find research that would validate my work. It seems I was ahead of the curve.

Today I read this article which supports (almost every) aspect of my project. Help is on the way! Accessible. Effective. Low cost and fun!

Read the article here: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20231206/Music-could-hold-the-key-to-developing-effective-mental-health-interventions.aspx

Learn more about The Missing Link project here: https://themissinglink.mykajabi.com

With your help we can make a dent in the need for mental health care and reverse the normalization of trauma.

How human beings respond to music and the biological underpinnings of this response.