None of These

Why is the vibraphone so dang cool?

It's right there. From striking of the bar to innervating the ear drum of the listener – it is organically right there with nothing between the artist and the listener.

Many people have often said that the vibraphone is limited by what it can do but I think the simple requirements to control the vibrating aluminum bar IS what makes it so pure and beautiful to the listener. It is that simple perfection that makes it so beautiful. Heck, you could say the same about The Beatles.

After a lifetime of work trying to become a great improviser, I've come to understand that music can be broken down into basic challenges that venture off into more complex ones as you continue to search for the ultimate YOU in your music.

Did you know you can purchase old iphones to use for your camera set up?

I shared my ideas for sound control using shipping blankets at less than 10 bucks per blanket in a previous VW post and now I'm upgrading my studio with curtain sheers draped over the blankets for a more finished look ($20.00 per 96" x 60" panel). I'm still waiting for the rest of the sheers to arrive.

As a following to one of the last topics about piano, guitar or drums as models for vibists, i found that video who took me completely off-guard.
Dorothy Ashby was a jazzwoman playing HARP ! And to my biggest surprise, i discovered that finally jazz harp is very close to vibraphone. Same long notes to dampen, same fight to get a good jazz phrasing, and chords sounding very close to the way they sound on vibes.

On an earlier post, I suggested an idea of creating Good Vibes at www.PIPERvibe.com by helping other artists. In my years working as a musician and then as a rescuer serving the population of many different types, I learned a lot about myself and what I really enjoy doing. I learned that even when I was the "boss" over my fire crew in Antarctica, I loved to cook, clean, and serve them during down time. It creates good vibes for me while serving others. This translates also to goals in music.

Per Tony and Randall Sutin's recommendations I bought two, balanced Earthworks SR 25's (used). They worked great for a while but one of them developed a weird, random static while the other was just fine. I contacted Earthworks and told them about the problem to see how much a repair would be. Earthworks asked for serial numbers to see if they were still under warranty. I told them I bought them used. They said it didn't matter and the warranty was good for 15 years.

Reading on the vibraphone is not easy. I find it to be very difficult and for me, it is perhaps the most challenging part of playing.

I'm very particular about the recording and sound. I'm a novice at best for working Logic Pro and final cut but I do know that if I don't control the ricocheting acoustic sounds flying around the room, I'll be frustrated from the start.

In the past, I built expensive baffles and they worked okay but were very difficult to build and even more difficult to move if I want to take them to a new residence or even just move them to a different spot. If you move, you simply fold them up or use them as padding for furniture (win/win).

6 + 4 African Bell Perspectives

This video explores a contemporary treatment of a bell pattern from the country of Benin in West Africa. These drumset examples are adapted to playing the balafon, but can be applied to any instrument. The 2-bar pattern in 12/8 is built with the first bar in a “6” feel and the second in “4.” The alternation of 6 and 4 creates a profound shift in perspective as it is played by the musician and heard by the listener.

Download the attached file for notation and variations.

Something we all should be able to do ...