I want to thank Steve Weiss Percussion for generously supporting the vibesworkshop.com workshop at the University of Delaware. Thank you Steve!!1 www.steveweissmusic.com
I took down my Chi Chi study, because it's flawed!!!!
I just learned the head yesterday and threw the changes underneath that seemed to fit in my mind. but i should have listened to the whole thing, especially if i was going to do a lesson on it. Of course I've listened to it before but yesterday I was just moving quick. There are one set of changes for the head and a normal blues for the solo. I was basically right for the head. I still don't hear 7th's in the first Ab. And listening to Parker's solo and referencing the Omni book I would argue he doesn't either (more to come).
I gave a lesson earlier today to my student Chris (who just joined the website!) on reading out of the Omni book. One of the things I was trying to get him to do was to keep going no matter what happens.
Tony's post on Chi Chi got me practicing that song.
What you hear is me trying to sight read the head and Parker's solo from the Omni book. My objective was to try and get through without dropping the time. I take a second run through it but my friend knocks on the door 3/4 of the way through my recording so I don't finish the second run through. C'est la vie!
Recently I purchased a Yamaha Pocketrak stereo audio recorder, and I am quite impressed with the sound quality. It makes CD quality recordings using standard 16 bit, 44.1 sampling rate. It also makes mp3s at what ever bitrate you want - 32, 64, 96, 128, etc. The unit is smaller than my TV remote, and has a nice pair of onboard mics positioned in an x-y setup. The unit only cost $180! 15 years ago I paid several thousand for gear that records no better than this tiny thing.
Try this experiment. Next time you can't get something, or you're sort of getting it. Stop and come back to it in 10 or 15 minutes. In my practicing I usually get it right the first time. Maybe after that I'll start screwing it up, but I think my brain has had time to process the information and store it? Am I nuts? And then I come back and all is cool. After I do that a few times, I have the tune or lick or whatever down.
Something like that.
Get funky with your bad self.
Ok Voyeurs, I posted part of my practice mp3. I'll turn the recorder on and just mess around with an idea and then listen back. So mistakes and imperfections, here's what I do, maybe it will get some of you guys doing some of this.
Dana titled his blog with a date and I dig that. That means we can just title the blogs with the dates and talk about whatever! So great idea Dana.
Man I just made a John Adams radio station. You guys know him? I think he took the minimalist thing to a place that I really dig. I'm really into the music that that station plays.
Here's a link to the Pandora Station:
http://www.pandora.com/?sc=sh251068476568477366
Guys,
As we were talking about (and hearing) some accordion, I came across this... wow!!
Enjoy,
- M
This is my dad playing at 80 years old on 6/19/2010 in Oklahoma City.
I'm posting this because dad was the first president of the Percussive Arts Society and still loves all things percussion, percussive arts education, and how things have grown. He is extremely happy that I am playing vibes now.
He just retired as a community choir director and has not played drums in decades. But he was having a ball. They are playing "All of you" .
So yeah, a really really great gig last night. It's a large part to do with this site and our discussions and seeing what everybody is up to.