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To this day, I still love Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney, The Stones, The Doors, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix... and of course The Beatles… and many other pop bands. I love them just as much as I do any music. They all played perfectly (to me). And today with my ears having decades of learning, listening and educating, I find this music to be even more astonishing.

I think it's all of you guys, you're having an affect on me. For a while I wasn't doing a lot of listening. I don't mean transcribing or figuring stuff out, I mean listening just to listen.

I've noticed over the last few weeks that it's been really exciting to just listen to stuff!! I think it's from all the discussion around here!

I just heard an arrangement of Arabesque 1 by Debussy, for vibes, performed by Jessica Ryckewaert, on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0xosUMpJgY

If you post here on the site, you'll see some reorganization starting. The first thing you'll see is in the boxes where you post. We're rearranging the 'Type' categories. Everything is still there, just being moved around.

Over the next 2 weeks, there should be a shift in the front page and some other things. Please hang in there with us. I think it will make the site a little better for us all.

Any questions, just let me know.

Here's a suggestion for subscribers using the site and practicing like there is no tomorrow(like you're all doing!).

Say you are working on something, a tune, a progression, a mode or anything like that. The thing to do is to use the search box located to the top left of the page.

Just type in what you are working on (or part of it if you don't get a result) and you'll see posts that relate to what you are working on.

So what if you don't find anything??

I've watched the video I linked to above here several times now. There is a whole study out of how this guy plays. And I think if any 2 mallet player incorporated that into his playing he opens up a whole new world of things.

Since the instrument is pentatonic I realize there's a sort of drum factor happening there, but still that guy makes so much music out of that instrument, I'm floored.

Can I ask you guys a favor? Could you go into itunes and then go to the store, search for 'Percussion Geeks'. Then just write a glowing review of the video podcast.

I would REALLY appreciate it. Even subscribe to it if you can. It will help with things over there.

thanks

My office got wind of me taking vibraphone lessons and asked if I was interested in getting together with some colleagues to play our company's annual Christmas party cocktail hour.

It might end up with just vibes and bass but possibly also with sax.

What tunes would you play at a Christmas cocktail hour?

Thanks,
Barry

Check this out!!! Please feel free to let me know of any mistakes. I'll appreciate it!!

Simple Introduction To Chromatic Cell Structures

It should be understood that these techniques cannot function by themselves and that an understanding of traditional harmony is needed to truly make these techniques come to life. If there is no common ground of harmonic knowledge, only chaos will ensue.