Listening YAY

Shostakovich Symphony 1, mvt 2 Allegro


just a great piece, and its Russian= amazing.

performed by the London Symphony Orchestra

Viol da gamba project

For some reason I decided that I was not busy enough, and embarked on a journey through the realm of period instruments. The Uconn Collegium group, which performs on authentic recreations of instruments from the 1200-1600's, will be traveling to Ecuador in the spring. As a string major, I found picking up the tenor and bass viol da gamba easier than expected. WHAT IS A VIOL DA GAMBA?
well, let me just tell you:
the viol is a precursor to the modern day violin/cello/viola/bass. It has six strings and 8 or so frets. The intervals of the strings are tuned in the same manner as a guitar. Fourths plus a major third and two more major fourths. The bow is closely related to german bass bow, and is held between the thumb and index fingers, so that pressure can be applied to the bow hair for different strokes and tones. (fear not, I will put pictures up of so you can see what I am talking about).

I also am working on some solo pieces as well as duets and trio ensembles for my recital on November 30th. so you should all check that out. I'll maybe upload some videos later of me playing the thing so you can get a feel for what it sounds like.

Prog-Power 2010

Yes, I guess I'm one of those people now.  I went to a two day music festival this past weekend in Atlanta Georgia. It was quite the experience let me tell you, 20 hours of live music from some amazing bands(and some realllly not so great ones). What is Prog-Power one might ask? There is not a good answer, but basically 13 Progressive Rock/ and Power Metal Bands perform at one of the top music venues in the world. I normally would not go to such a thing as this, but two of my favorite progressive rock bands, Seventh Wonder and DGM, along with Kamelot, were performing. And HEY, I'm young and adventurous and I want stories to tell when I'm old and grumpy. Over all it was a fantastic weekend. Atlanta is one of the most beautiful cities that I have ever visited.

The food is amazing! If you ever go to Atlanta find a place called TAPS. The blackened chicken sandwich is sooooooooooooo good.  but anyhow, back to the music...

 

Us with Michale Erikson, lead singer for Circus Maximus. He was just walking around the venue.

My favorite prog band...Seventh Wonder!!!!! The bass player is the crazy looking one, and he is epic at his instrument.

Us at a cool little place that served the best Peace Ice Tea in the World!

And part of the group on Sunday, looking tired/ridiculous

Musical Roots

I've been thinking about this post for a while, and its kind of an experiment so I don't really know what will happen but here it goes...
Every band or musician that you listen to today, is not original. I know its a shocking statement, but what I mean is not so much the actual songs its self, or the unique chemistry of the band. Rather, I mean every musical moment that you experience has traveled thousands of years to reach its current state. There really isn't any music that exists on its own. Everyone is influenced by the past, and its silly to think that a band can create a "new type of music". Why would you want to do that? Why reinvent the wheel so to speak. when millions of musicians have died over the years doing that type of work already. Its much more satisfying to take what they have done, and incorporate your own personality and creativity. Flowing off of this is also important to note that there is no set "pattern" that a band or musician needs to follow in order to be considered a type of music. These different categories stem from our need as humans to rank things or sort them. I think that a major road block for young bands and artists is that they feel that they are shoved in a category according to past examples. While to a certain extent, no one can escape sounding like some one in the past. Obviously if you grew up listening to say, Chicago, then you are going to write music that sounds a bit like Chicago. The difference is that YOU are writing it, and its OK, to show your influences in your music. You don't have to sound like something completely out of this world that no one has ever experienced. I say good luck to that. Its impossible. So embrace the past, and learn from the great musicians that have gone before.

So here is the experiment. In order to be more aware of how much modern day bands are influenced by the past, lets do some ethnomusicology.

I will pick Red Hot Chili Peppers, cause I love them
now, just do a google search, or wikipedia. and see what their musical influences are. Then pick some of those influences and do the same, until you either get bored or can't any more. You might be surprised at what you find


RHCP- (Jimi hendrix, Sly and the Family Stone, Steve Wonder,) I'ma going to pick sly and the Family Stone

Sly and the family Stone- James Brown, Broadway Showtunes, motown pop


James Brown- Louis Jordan, and gospel

Louis Jordan- Big Band Swing music


thats all for now, and obviously, I could have picked a different band to start from than Sly and the family stone, but I think you get the picture. Give it a try with your favorite band!

THE Year AHEAD!!!

SO....I realize it has been awhile, but I will have you know that I have been quite busy "bassing" and enjoying life disconnect more or less from the internet.(ok, excuses yeah yeah)

Once the school year starts up, be sure to stay tuned for more and awesome posts. Its going to be crazy awesome, as expected...and radically random.

The mars volta

Recently I found myself looking for a new band to listen to, and my roomamte back from Uconn introduced me to this wacky group. The mars volta, won a grammy two years ago for their hard rock song, "wax sulmucra". I have to say when I bought the album, Bedlam in Goliath, I couldn't stop listening to it. These guys know how to rock, and the arrangments are quite interesting. Of all the bands I've heard, these guys are probably among the strangest and craziest, and thats saying something cause I have heard a lot of wacky stuff in my day. This is a sample of thier song, "Goliath", its so strange...yet amazing. I can't explain it.

goliath

New Toy for the Summer

So once I start making some moneys from working, I plan to buy this lovely contraption

I shall then plug it into my amp and proceed to melt faces. 

THE END

Long time coming

YEAH. so I am done with junior year of college. crazy. This year has probably been the most difficult one of my journey though the strange and wonderful land of Uconn. But now it is summer, I survived, with most of my sanity and the music blog lives again.
So this post is not really about a musical group, its actually about a book. I can't call it a review though, cause I'm not done with the book. How I got this book, is an awesome story. Basically after my junior recital at uconn, my Grandparents who reside in Florida, gave a copy of my program notes to the Weismans. Now I had no idea who these people where, but apparently their son is a music producer and drummer out of Seattle. He also wrote this incredible book called,

The Artist's Guide to Success in the Music Business by Loren Weisman

those of you who know me, know that I like straight to the point. Thus, I knew I was going to love this book.

I'm barely past the third chapter, and already I have learned more than I have in the past 3 years about the music business. The book, mind you is geared towards bands getting started and how to maintain an financially secure career. I'm not talking about millions here, I'm talking about being able to pay the bills and make music. Who could ask for more than that? But I would totally recommend this book to any musician. It is not just for "bands" it is for any musician who has been in the situation of playing with other people. It covers a range of topics, from dealing with arguments, copyright issues, stage performance, anything you could possibly come up its in the book. So, if anyone from VR is reading this, you will be required to read this book, haha.
No, seriously, its a good book. find it. love it. read it. in that order.

the NEAG ESSAY

thats right, this is the essay I have to write in order to get in to the program.
If anyone has any suggestions, comments, or feedback.(I guess all of which are feedback. oh well)
PLEASE COMMENT! I know you are all scholarly readers so take a peek. I am always  open to ways of refining my writing style.

Integrated Bachelor's/Master's Program IB/M Essay Prompt - For Fall 2010 Admission Read the CNN article at http://edition.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/07/22/bia.education.success/ Incorporate your thoughts on the article as you respond in writing to the following prompt: Think about yourself now and about where you would like to be three years from now as a graduate of the IB/M program in the Neag School of Education. What experiences in your life have already equipped you with skills, attitudes, and/or beliefs that will help you work with culturally and linguistically diverse students? What more would you like to learn—and/or how else would you want to develop—in order to be successful in working with culturally and linguistically diverse students? Your response should be in electronic format using MS Word or a comparable word processing application. You will be required to upload your response during the electronic application process.

As a hopeful graduate of the IB/M program in the Neag School of Education, I would like to pursue a position as a high school or middle school music teacher with an emphasis on instrumental instruction. Throughout the course of three years it is my goal to have begun developing a music program that is integrated in the community as well as within each department of my school.  Such a goal will present opportunities to work with students of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The article presents the idea that success in education can be augmented through holding students to high expectations. As Breonna Arnum, a senior of Capitol Prep interviewed for the article voiced,  "It makes a difference because everybody has the same goals as you. So it's not like anyone is there to pull you back. Everyone is going forward”(CNN). There are two experiences I have had over the past few years that have developed certain of my skills, attitudes, and beliefs. These experiences have helped open the door for me to learn more about serving students of diverse backgrounds.

            Often times it seems that our society is geared towards immediate gratification. Students, adults, and teachers, want results as soon as possible. I too fall to this mentality, yet my experience working as a construction and worship music leader with a church missions team in Fairmont West Virginia gave me a new perspective. West Virginia is the second poorest state in the nation, that being said our task of rebuilding one house out of the thousands that needed repair seemed trivial. However, that was not our goal. Our goal, our belief, is about showing real love to others. We received more than what we gave, the residents provided us with hospitality out of their own poverty. I have returned to the same neighborhood for seven years because I believe in the big picture.  Principle Perry’s Capitol Prep School seeks to impact the community through molding role models, a goal that is based on big picture perspectives. Skills such as patience, self-sacrifice, and perseverance are ever sharpened through interacting with people outside your own culture zone.

            A second experience that helped me develop as a student and a future teacher was teaching a master class at the Trinity Christian School in Windsor Connecticut. The school was putting on a jazz day as the culmination of their Adventures In Learning Program. This event is important to me because it marks my first teaching experience in an urban setting. I can remember how nervous I felt on the drive up, how could I possibly relate to any of the students? Would I say the right thing? All of these troubles were based on false expectations. They were based both on the unrealistic notion that I had to be perfect and stereotyping those whom I was about to teach. However, once the jazz band had set up and we started talking about the history of jazz and our instruments, all my fears and expectations disappeared. I will never forget the fascination in each student’s eyes, the excitement in each of their questions. Music breaks barriers and it constructs bridges. The article talks about giving all students the chance to learn equally(CNN). Music can be that opportunity. For example, I knew nothing about any of the kids present; their backgrounds or families, and they knew nothing about me. But when the band started playing some standards the entire class just started dancing. The whole event was eye opening; it was this moment when I knew that I was going to be a teacher. This experience gave me a new outlook on how music and teaching function together. It showed me the importance of being able to adapt ones plans and expectations to real situations effectively.

            After looking back at these two experiences and how they have shaped me as an individual and a future educator, there are several goals that I believe the IB/M Program at the Neag School of Education can help me accomplish. The first is being able to have more opportunities with working with culturally and linguistically diverse students. Through this program I hope to learn how to effectively use my skill set to help mold role models for other students. I want to learn how to practically build a music program that stems from the belief that music breaks barriers and builds bridges, as well as strengthen other departments in my school. I know that by attending the IB/M Program at the Neag School of Education one of the most valuable things I can learn is not necessarily achieving the big picture, but rather handing out the paintbrushes.