hey guys,

after tony posted his digital journal i decided to start a journal, too. So i play mini gigs for myself, record it, listen back and take notes to what i was playing.
I do it for a few days now, and it is really cool how you take focus on your "problems" day after day.
I decided to post todays gig on the site so here are my notes (i translated it. maybe there are mistakes. for the german people is the original below.):
02/03/14

tennessee waltz
cheesy melody, but it's okay. the end of the intro comes to suddenly.
my phrasing is better with the hard mallets

At least, it was new to me because I had totally forgotten about it.

First and foremost, thank you to Noel Okimoto. He has recently joined the site and I began corresponding with him about an instrument he has. The subject turned to the music he is involved with, which is Hawaiian music. I kind of remember some of it from back in the 60s on the radio; stuff like Don Ho actually made it on the air where I lived.

I had completely forgotten that it had a lot of vibes on it. Check it out, folks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJK2LwD_nEY

A great workshop today with Tony at the University of the Arts!!

I am learning an arrangement of Clair de Lune, arranged by Nick Baron.
http://www.nickbaron.co.uk/page4.htm

Check out our very own Tifoo playing it. :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wjyehcjTso

Here is another nice rendition:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6q8ezdi8bY

My question is whether I should dampen or not. I added dampening, but the others do not. Dampening is not notated in the arrangement. Please tell me what you think. Suggestions appreciated.

Hey everyone,

the VDOP is another way to try and get the word out about the vibraphone. Official the day is called 'VIRTUAL DAY OF PERCUSSION: FEATURING THE VIBRAPHONE'.

The plan is to play and hang all day. I'm planning a google hangout throughout the day, live performances and videoed performances.

If you want to participate video yourself playing something well. Put up on youtube as UNLISTED (not private) and send me the link. I'll do all the rest.

I've asked some pros and long time members who are playing out and about to do something already, but all are welcome.

It kills me! The music is so great and simple and the audience goes nuts. I just love music like this that is acoustic and simple and makes people happy. That's life, huh? life can be that simple.

Tony has set the example for this...

I got up today. got ready. came downstairs. opened up my digital journal and logic.

and played as if i was on stage (at 8am). then i listen back and take notes. here it is. i hope you guys do stuff like this.

here are the notes. they are usually brief like this. sometimes me telling me i suck. but not so bad today.

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i think i did good. and i felt totally comfortable. was it because i used rubato? i think rubato is an important thing when playing solo. time to get your center!

song is you was finally ok. and i finally found a cool way through the bridge.