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okay, so her two weeks into the tune of the month. I'm curious as to your thoughts of what's happened so far, what's happening to you, and what you think of this process.

I know for myself that just thinking about things changes my direction and give me things to learn. I personally got way more into tunes based on the tune of the month club and have altered my practicing and am studying lots of tunes again. I know for myself this is been a great thing.

I'm inspired by the TOTM gang.

I used to have a database on my palm phone with several hundred tunes on it. I knew almost all of them at one point. Then I switched phones, got a palm pre and didn't switch all that over.

However you guys inspired me and a week ago I installed a DB program on my Iphone. I put in about 200 tunes and am building the list again. I have a DB set up with a few different views.

All tunes
Swing tunes
ballads
up tempo tunes

Then I have a pop menu for each tune. Either I know it, have to refresh it (means I can fake it if I have to), or learn it.

The Vibesworkshop videos are now available on Android phones. The app has the same functionality as the Roku app, so see http://www.vibesworkshop.com/video/vibesworkshopcom-roku-now-available/… to see how it works.

The app is available for free in the Android Market, just search for "vibes". Any feedback/problems, post here or e-mail me. Enjoy!

Tom P.

I'm digging the idea of making a vibe collective book. I posted something in reply to barry's Ktude (i love it).

The ultimate book for vibe players. A book where we all contribute, or rather whoever would want to contribute. You know if lots of subscribers contributed, I bet we could beg some of the pros here for a little something to put in the book.

I've even thought about the money:

the site makes a percentage
managers make a percentage
contributors make a percentage based on pages they've contributed.

My great and dear friend and phenomenal violinist Diane Monroe never ceases to amaze me with her wisdom. At a workshop yesterday she said something that I thought was pretty profound.

We were playing in front of a bunch of really talented violinists and Diane was talking about rhythm. She said "Mozart was known for being a melodic genius, but thing was he was first a rhythmic genius". Then she began to explain that rhythm is the essential ingredient for being a melodic genius. That's what made Mozart a melodic genius.

Everyone:

I've been communicating with Tony and here's what we came up with for the Tune-of-the-Month Group (TOTM):

First week:
• Find and listen to 3 versions of the tune. You may have to buy them. Don’t just get them off YouTube. This way, you’ll have them to listen to anytime. Share which versions of the tune you’re listening to with the others in the group.

The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article on the modern business of writing song lyrics. See http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100014240527487041649045754218135164517….

Tom P.

I busted Mario's chops all through the workshop in Delaware for a good discount for anyone who came to the workshop. Mario finally agreed to $425 dollars off the price!

I begged him to extend that to ALL VW members and he agreed.

So if you want a mallet kat NOW is the time to get it!!!

Just go to the Alternate Mode Website and email mario!

I had in mind a 'Summer of Good Vibes' much different from the one that happened. But this one was pretty cool, thanks to Stephen Hambright, Harvey Price, John Daly, the one and only David Friedman, Marie Noelle and all the vibes workshop people.

We can't forget the companies that helped us out. VanderPlas Baleo, Yamaha, Mike Balter and the biggest percussion dealer in the world Steve Weiss and the U.S. Embassy!!

Here's my latest email from 92 year old vibe player Angelo. Man did he just design the ultimate frame? I think video is coming!

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Hi, Tony! Haven't heard from you for a while. How did your gig in Europe go?

Remember me telling you that I was working with my machinist in redisigning the
vibraphone frames (keybed & base) so that the  heavy weight of these parts are
detrimental to the vibraphonist especially for multi-gigging.