Your first assignment for the 2011 workshop is simple. Post something here. How about a tune you will play at the workshop.

If you don't have a decent way to record yourself, well that then is your first assignment. Learning to play the instrument in this day and age requires a good way to record yourself. Back in the day when there were tons of gigs and playing opportunities, it was easier to get feedback. this is one way we do this today, because you can listen back to everything now and critique yourself.

AS you probably know, i have an antique ludwig and luwdig vibraphone. The dampener bar is about 2 inches deep and creates a lot of noise when pulled down. We think it may be the springs, but are not sure. There is 2 springs, one on each side. Is there anything else that will quite the dampener? We tried putting pieces of felt underneath and above the bar. That did nothing. We are going to try some oil. Will changing the springs reduce the squeaks? They are original and are 60 something years old. Maybe they are rusty.

This badge, or logo, may be the only one around. We may never know. There could be several more, but to our knowledge, there is no more vibraphones with these badges, or logos. What do you think?

Hi everyone,

Here's a new etude for the site. The pdf is attached. Hope you like it.

Behn

My buddy says there are not a lot of good musicians on this Island (St. Maarten). Man if this is how I lived, I get it. All I want to do is sit out here and watch the water!

I can for one say absolutely for sure that I'm the best vibe player for miles and miles around! Cause I'm the only one (I hope).

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Hey, isn't it Tj's birthday today? And if I'm not wrong it's a great one this year!! Tj is not "noisy" like me. But he's working hard "in the shade" here, and (among other things) making the winter europe workshop a warm moment!!

Let's wish him a great birthday!!

Hi all,

I found this practice mp3 from about two months ago. I remember that I wanted to post a version of this tune, but I never ended up posting because of a part of the melody that slightly tripped me up. It really bothered me at the time, and I ended up forgetting about it until now. After not hearing it for awhile, I feel like it doesn't bother me as much as it did before, isn't it funny how that can happen?!! Anyway, hope you enjoy it.

Behn

Hi everyone,

I haven't done an audio lesson yet for the site, so here's one on vocabulary looping.

Behn

You probably don't know much about Dick Richardson, who passed away last week. He is the guy who built Musser into a major company.  Dick bought the Musser Company from Claire Musser back in the 50s sometime, when the company typically was selling about 50 vibraphones each year.  

I'm heading to St. Maarten. I'll check in down there. Marie's in charge so behave!

Behn is going to post some lessons while I'm gone. I'm making this like I won't see you guys for a few days, however, I have two routers with me, an Ipad a computer, an iphone, a synth, a set of vibes, a recorder. so let's see what happens.

I'm not a touristy kind of guy so between gigs I imagine I'll be practicing and hanging on the site, like usual.