Hello World
Welcome to my Journey: Developer by Day, Musician by Night
Hello everyone and welcome to SaxCoder! In this blog, I will be sharing my journey from a professional musician to a full-time web developer. I will also be sharing how I (try) to balance my career with my life as a husband and father to my young son. I hope you enjoy the content and find it helpful in your own journey.
Who Am I?
My name is Devin and I originally from a little town called Dallas, Texas (you may have heard of it). I am a professional saxophonist and have been playing for over 20 years now. Upon graduating from university, I packed my bags and left to travel the world as a musician working for Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, and Royal Caribbean, playing anything from jazz, to rock, to musical theater. Along the way, I met my wife of almost 6 years and we now have a beautiful son who is the light of our lives. We lived for a few years in Texas before moving to sunny England where I decided to make the switch to web development last year.
A Dual Life
I have always been a bit of a techie at heart, always looking for ways to use technology to make my life easier. During the Covid-19 pandemic, my way of life as a cruise musician came to a screeching halt (while I was stuck on a ship halfway around the world in Australia, no less), and I was forced to reevaluate my career. I briefly ventured into digital marketing and music/audio production before deciding to take the plunge into web development to take advantage of my interest in computers and a self-sufficient way to market myself (the income potential didn’t hurt either).
I have worked extremely hard over the past 1 1/2 years to learn as much as I can and have been fortunate enough to be starting a new job as a full-time web developer and devops apprentice in a few weeks. My music career has not ended, however, as I still play in a few bands, perform almost weekly at dance clubs, and even teach a couple of students on occasion.
What to Expect
As a student with Zero To Mastery, which I highly recommend, I have learned the importance of sharing knowledge and learning in public. While this blog will be mainly focused on what I am learning as a web developer, I will also be sharing my thoughts on music, fatherhood, and life in general. I will share everything from tutorials, to tech reviews, to personal stories and hopefully you will find something that resonates with you.
Where to Find Me
You can find me on the following platforms: