On Thankfulness (2012)

22 Nov

I’m thankful for having a roof over my head and food in my stomach.

I’m thankful for my loving wife and family.

I’m thankful for the blue skies and sunshine that I look out at today.

I’m thankful for having a job that challenges me and allows me to work with others to change the world.

I’m thankful for living in a country where I can speak my views openly and be judged on the quality of my actions and content of my character.

I’m thankful to the authors, musicians, artists and film makers who in the pursuit of excellence help me understand a little bit better what it is to be human.

I’m thankful to the Republican party for choosing Mitt Romney over Jon Huntsman and thereby enabling President Obama to be re-elected.

I’m thankful to the campaigners in Scotland who fight every day to show that nationalism is ‘the measles of mankind’.

I’m thankful for the creators of the Kindle for giving me untold access to knowledge.

I’m grateful to the entrepreneurs who work everyday to make the world a better place.

I’m grateful for the peacemakers who try to help opposing sides settle scores by the ballot box and not the bomb.

I’m grateful for my health and the good health of those I love.

“May all beings be well, may all beings be happy, may all beings be free from suffering.” – The Buddha

What are you thankful for (leave a comment below).

 

 

Michael Marra (1952-2012) – Reflections

23 Oct

Dundee lost its greatest musical son today.  Michael Marra left us at the age of 60 and a city and a nation loses one of its greatest songwriters.  I have no doubt that future generations will be listening and studying the music of Michael and he’ll be ranked alongside Burns, Scott and MacDiarmid as a leading Scottish writer.  My own discovery of Michael’s music happened in 1997 in a small apartment off Dundee’s Perth Road.

Alison, my future wife and someone who sang on a number of Michael’s albums and singles, played me some of his music.  One of those songs was ‘Hermless’, which many call Scotland’s alternative national anthem.  Here was a beautifully crafted song not about borders, flags and battles but about humanity, compassion and canniness.

Wi’ ma hand on ma hert and ma hert in ma mooth
Wi’ erms that could reach ower the sea
Ma feet micht be big but the insects are safe
They’ll never get stood on by me

Hermless, hermless, There’s never nae bother fae me
I ging to the libry, I tak’ oot a book
And then I go hame for ma tea

As the years went on I had the good fortune to spend a little time with Michael at late-night sessions in Skye, dressing rooms in Dundee or when he visited our home in Perthshire to talk about a live album he had just recorded.  What always struck me about Michael is that I could have imagined him perfectly at home as an intellectual and writer in Hemingway’s 1920′s Paris or a 1960′s Hungary.  His soft-spoken voice and slight figure disguised a creative mind and the eye of an artist.

Frida Kahlo's Visit to the Tay Bridge Bar

Friday Kahlo by Michael Marra

A couple of years ago I introduced my friend Malcolm to Michael’s album ‘Posted Sober’, perhaps one of the most under rated albums of that year.  Two songs on that album of gems stood out to me, ‘The Lonesome Death of Francis Clarke’ and ‘Frida Kahlo’s Visit To The Taybridge Bar’.  The first was about a distant relative of Michael’s and the recurring story of Scot’s leaving it’s shores for opportunity and adventure.  ’Frida Kahlo’s Visit To Taybridge Bar’ perfectly encapsulates Michael’s gift, the ability to root art in the everyday tales of men and women’s lives.  He makes you care for Frida, despise Diego Rivera, laugh at St Peter and want to buy Jimmy Harry a beer or Wallace’s pie.

Today above the piano at our house in Scotland hangs a painting by Michael that we bought at a small exhibition he held in Kirriemuir.  It’s of his beloved Frida Kahlo and today I’ll be thinking of that picture and the man that created it and listening to some of the finest songs about love, loss and our fellow man.

SFMusicTech Summit

4 Oct

I’m super excited to be heading to SFMusicTech Summit in San Francisco next week for the bi-annual get together of music tech folks.  Having attended MIDEM, ILMC and many of the other music industry conferences over the years I would describe SFMusicTech as the TED conference for music.  You couldn’t hope to meet a room of more interesting people who live at the intersection of music and tech.  It describes itself as:

“The SF MusicTech Summit brings together visionaries in the evolving music/business/technology ecosystem, along with the best and brightest developers, entrepreneurs, investors, service providers, journalists, musicians, and organizations who work with them at the convergence of culture and commerce.”

I attended the summit for the first time earlier this year and you can read my SFMusicTech Virgin story here.  This year we actually have ArtistWorks CEO and co-founder David Butler speaking on a panel with Berkleemusic CEO Debbie Cavalier.  Check out this little video to see just how excited I am and then head over to www.sfmusictech.com.

Trumpet Lessons Online – ArtistWorks v TrumpetStudio v eTrumpetLessons

20 Sep

Trumpet Lessons Online

So you want trumpet lessons?  You normally have three choices:

  • In-person trumpet teacher
  • Books & DVD’s
  • Online

If you are looking to learn trumpet online then the four most popular sites are TrumpetStudio.com, eTrumpetLesson.com, PlaywithaPro.com and ArtistWorks’ Online Trumpet School with David Bilger.  Here is a little review of each of them:

TrumpetStudio.com

TrumpetStudio.com

Pros – Good selection of articles, tips, practice routines and methods books to learn to play trumpet.

Cons – Only suggested for beginners as there isn’t much depth to what is available.

Rating – 3/5

eTrumpetLessons.com

eTrumpetLessons.com

Pros – Basic introductory guide to playing trumpet consisting of online videos, dvd’s and a book.

Cons – Still very basic and the whole site felt very salesy

Rating – 2/5

Playwithapro.com

PlaywithaPro.com

Pros – Selection of great teachers with high quality online videos.

Cons – You have to buy individual packages of videos and there is no feedback or community to the site.

Rating – 4/5

Trumpet Lessons with ArtistWorks

ArtistWorks Trumpet School with David Bilger

Pros – High quality instruction, hundreds of videos, personalized feedback, community features, experienced teacher.

Cons – Slightly pricer than the other sites but still well worth it.

Rating – 5/5

So all in all if you are looking at learning trumpet then I would highly recommend David Bilger’s online trumpet school with ArtistWorks.  ArtistWorks is the gold standard in online music lessons and you can get free sample lessons from their trumpet school at www.artistworks.com

In the meantime here is a list of just some of the trumpet lessons and trumpet exercises you’ll find at the ArtistWorks Online Trumpet School with David Bilger:

Fundamentals to Professional

  • Holding the instrument
  • Breathing Part 1
  • Breathing Part 2
  • Developing Your Sound
  • Single tonguing –Part 1
  • Single tonguing –Part 2
  • Single tonguing –Part 3
  • Major and Minor Scales
  • Intonation – multipart lesson
  • Rhythmic Basics
  • Basic Daily Practice Habits
  • Proper Posture
  • INTERMEDIATE LESSONS:
  • Buzzing – multipart lesson
  • Multiple Tonguing Basics – Part 1
  • Multiple Tonguing Basics – Part 2
  • Flexibility to Extend Range – Part 1
  • Flexibility to Extend Range – Part 2
  • Dynamic Range – Part 1
  • Dynamic Range – Part 2
  • Finger Dexterity
  • Rhythmic Subdivision
  • Vibrato
  • More on Intonation
  • The Use & Tuning of Mutes – Part 1
  • The Use & Tuning of Mutes – Part 2
  • The Use & Tuning of Mutes – Part 3
  • Flow Studies for Developing Phrasing
  • Practice Tips and Defining a Routine
  • Pedal Tones
  • Lip Trills for Ultimate Range Development
  • Developing an Even Sound Across Registers
  • More on Dynamic Range Development
  • Multiple Tonguing of Difficult Passages
  • Mixed Meter Rhythms
  • Transposition
  • Intonation Refinement
  • Defining Your Style
  • Employing Different Keyed Trumpets – Part 1
  • Employing Different Keyed Trumpets – Part 2
  • Recital Planning and Competitions – Part 1
  • Recital Planning and Competitions – Part 2
  • PROFESSIONAL LESSONS:
  • Extended Techniques
  • Vibrato for Musical Effect
  • Moving Easily Between Styles
  • The Role of Different Orchestral Section Members
  • Balancing Practice with a Difficult Performance Schedule – 2 parts
  • Pops Concert Playing
  • Audition Prep and Performance – Part 1
  • Audition Prep and Performance – Part 2
  • Situational Dynamics
  • Constructing Cadenzas

Etudes

  • Longinotti Etude in form of a cadenza
  • Carlier Etude #3, Part 1
  • Carlier Etude #3, Part 2
  • Bordogni Etude #3, Part 1
  • Bordogni Etude #3, Part 2
  • Arban Characteristic Study #4, Part 1
  • Arban Characteristic Study #4, Part 2
  • Charlier Etude #13, Part 1
  • Charlier Etude #13, Part 2

Orchestral Excerpts

  • Introduction to Orchestral Excerpts
  • Bartok – Concerto for Orchestra, 1st, 2nd & 5th mvmt
  • Beethoven – Leonore Overture 3
  • Beethoven – Symphony #9, 4th mvmt
  • Bizet – Carmen, Prelude to Act 1
  • Brahms – Symphony #2, 1st mvmt
  • Brahms – Symphony #2, 4th mvmt
  • Copland – Outdoor Overture
  • Debussy – Fetes, 2 parts
  • Gershwin – American in Paris – Part 1
  • Gershwin – American in Paris – Part 2
  • Gershwin – American in Paris – Part 3
  • Gershwin – Concerto in F, 2nd mvmt
  • Haydn – Concerto in E flat 1st mvmt
  • Mahler – Symphony #1, 1st mvmt
  • Mahler – Symphony #1, 3rd mvmt
  • Mahler – Symphony #3, 3rd mvmt
  • Mahler – Symphony #5, 1st mvmt
  • Mussorgsky – Pictures at an Exhibition
  • Mussorgsky – “Samuel Goldenberg”
  • Ravel – Bolero
  • Ravel – Piano Concerto in G, 1st mvmt, Part 1
  • Ravel – Piano Concerto in G, 1st mvmt, Part 2
  • Ravel – Piano Concerto in G, 1st mvmt, Part 3
  • Respighi – Pines of Rome, 1st mvmt, multipart lesson
  • Rimsky-Korsakov – Scheherazade, 3rd and 4th mvmt, Part 2
  • Rimsky-Korsakov – Scheherazade, 3rd and 4th mvmt, Part 3
  • Rimsky-Korsakov – Scheherazade, 3rd and 4th mvmt, Part 3
  • Rimsky-Korsakov – Cappricio Espagnol
  • Schumann – Symphony #2, 1st mvmt
  • Shostakovich – Piano Concerto, 2nd and 4th mvmt
  • Shostakovich – Symphony #5, 1st mvmt
  • Strauss – Don Juan
  • Strauss – Ein Heldenleben – B flat Offstage
  • Strauss – Ein Heldenleben – E flat
  • Strauss – Zarathustra
  • Stravinsky – Petrouchka Ballerina’s Dance
  • Stravinsky – Waltz Part 1 and Part 2
  • Tchaikovsky – Swan Lake, Neapolitan Dance
  • Tchaikovsky – Symphony #4, 1st mvmt
  • Wagner – Parsifal Prelude, Part 1
  • Wagner – Parsifal Prelude, Part 2

Solo Repertoire

  • Arutunian – Concerto for Trumpet – Part 1
  • Arutunian – Concerto for Trumpet – Part 2
  • Arutunian – Concerto for Trumpet – Part 3
  • Arutunian – Concerto for Trumpet – Part 4
  • Arutunian – Concerto for Trumpet – Cadenza
  • Pennequin Concert Piece – Part 1
  • Pennequin Concert Piece – Part 2
  • Pennequin Concert Piece – Part 3
  • Haydn Concerto in E flat, 2nd movement
  • Hindemith Sonata, first part of 1st movement, Part 1
  • Hindemith Sonata, first part of 1st movement, Part 2
  • Ropartz – “Andante and Allegro” – Part 1
  • Ropartz – “Andante and Allegro” – Part 2

More online trumpet lessons here.

Online flute lessons from Mr Miyagi

19 Sep

Everyone knows that if you want to get really good at anything then you need a mentor or coach.  Phil Mickelson has Butch Harmon, Venus and Serena have their dad Richard and the Karate Kid had Mr Miyagi.  If you are a flute player then there is probably no greater coach alive today than Jeffrey Khaner.  As flute professor at Curtis Institute of Music and Lynn University’s Conservatory of Music he is widely considered as the world’s best flute teacher.  But there is a problem….

Flute teacher Jeffrey Khaner

It’s easier to get into Harvard than Curtis and so you chances of getting to study with Khaner were infinitesimally small.  However that’s all changed now with the introduction of a new online flute school with Jeffrey Khaner.  You can now get access to hundreds of Khaner’s video flute lessons but more importantly you can receive personalized one-on-one feedback from the great man himself and all for less than $100 a month.  To check out the sample lessons go to www.artistworks.com

In the meantime here are a list of just some of the lessons you’ll find there.

Foundational Skills

  • Why We Practice
  • How To Practice
  • Using Tools: Metronomes
  • Using Tools: Tuners
  • Learning Music
  • Position
  • Embouchure
  • Breathing
  • Intonation
  • Dynamics
  • Tonguing
  • Phrasing

Etudes and Exercises

  • Introduction to Etudes
  • Andersen Opus 37, Performance
  • Andersen Opus 37, Analysis
  • Gariboldi Performance
  • Gariboldi Analysis
  • Köhler Opus 33 Performance
  • Köhler Opus 33 Analysis
  • Paganini- Caprice Performance
  • Paganini- Caprice Analysis
  • Karg-Elert – Caprice Performance
  • Karg-Elert – Caprice Analysis
  • Bach Etude #1 Performance
  • Bach Etude #1 Analysis
  • Altes Etude #1 Performance
  • Altes Etude #1 Analysis
  • Bitsch Etude #1 Performance
  • Bitsch Etude #1 Analysis
  • Bozza – Arabesques Performance
  • Bozza – Arabesques Analysis
  • Castéréde – Etude #1 Performance
  • Castéréde – Etude #1 Analysis
  • How to Approach Exercises
  • Longtones Part 1
  • Longtones Part 2
  • Vibrato
  • Scales
  • Intervals Part 1
  • Intervals Part 2
  • Articulation
  • Double Tonguing

Orchestral Excerpts

  • How to Approach Orchestral Excerpts
  • Taking an Audition
  • Bach St. Matthew Passion
  • Beethoven Symphony #3
  • Beethoven Sympony #4
  • Beethoven – Leonore #3
  • Beethoven Symphony #6
  • Beethoven Symphony #7
  • Bizet – Carmen Entr’acte
  • Brahms Symphony #1
  • Brahms Symphony #4
  • Debussy Afternoon of a Faun
  • Dvörak Symphony 8
  • Gluck Menuet and Dance of the Blessed Spirits
  • Hindemith Symphonic Metamorphosis -2 mvmts
  • Mendelssohn Midsummer Night’s Dream Scherzo
  • Mendelssohn Symphony #4
  • Prokofiev Peter and the Wolf Opening
  • Ravel Bolero
  • Ravel Daphnis and Chloe
  • Rimsky-Korsakov Cappricio Espagnol
  • Rossini William Tell Overture
  • Saint-Saens – Carnival of the Animals, Voliere
  • Shostakovich Symphony #5 1st and 2nd mvmt
  • Strauss – Salome
  • Strauss – Till Eulenspeigel
  • Stravinsky – Firebird Suite
  • Stravinsky Petrouchka Part 1
  • Stravinsky Petrouchka Cadenza

Solo Repertoire

  • Approaching Solo Repertoire
  • On playing Bach
  • Bach Sonata in E Minor 1st & 2nd mvmts
  • Bach Sonata in E minor 3rd & 4th mvmts
  • On Playing Mozart
  • Mozart Concerto in G 1st, 2nd, 3rd mvmts
  • Taffanel Griffes Poem

Classical music lessons for the 99%

19 Sep

Excited to announce that anyone interested in learning classical music online can now do so for a fraction of the cost of attending one of the big music schools. ArtistWorks just launched four online classical music schools in one day!  It’s now possible to get flute lessons from Jeffrey Khaner, trumpet lessons from David Bilger, clarinet lessons from Ricardo Morale and French horn lessons from William Caballero and all online and from the comfort of your own living room.

ArtistWorks Classical also includes current ArtistWorks instructors Christie Peery (Piano Lessons), and Jason Vieaux (Classical Guitar Lessons), with Violin Lessons with Nathan Cole coming soon.

The CEO and co-founder of ArtistWorks, David Butler said:

“The dream of every aspiring classical musician is to study under a world-renowned master. The ArtistWorks Classical Music Campus makes this dream a reality by offering serious music students an opportunity to get direct guidance and individualized instruction from some of the greatest classical musicians teaching and performing today.” 

classical music lessons

ArtistWorks offers the best classical music teachers, all of whom are principal performers within their respective orchestras. In addition, most are music instructors at various ultra exclusive classical music schools including Juilliard, Curtis Institute and the Carnegie Mellon University School of Music (among others). Previously, having direct access to these prestigious teaching artists was virtually unobtainable.

Each ArtistWorks school covers everything an aspiring player would want to know, regardless of the level that you enter at.  They also provide the most popular etudes, orchestral excerpts, and solo instrument pieces designed to give classical musicians a competitive edge for competitions and auditions.

Through ArtistWorks’ patent-pending Video Exchange™ platform, each master teaching artist is able to provide a complete online curriculum in the form of streaming video lessons. Students can work through the music lessons and submit videos of their practice directly to their teacher. Their teaching artists can then provide video responses with expert advice, guidance and feedback on their technique. All online student teacher interactions become visible to the entire membership, forming a virtual master class where each student can benefit from one-on-one teaching.  ArtistWorks now powers over twenty-two online music schools from some of the biggest names in rock, classical, jazz and bluegrass.
To get free samples of the lessons go to http://artistworks.com/classical-lessons

What are you for and against?

14 Sep

Every so often it’s important to take a step back and evaluate those values that you hold dearest.  You’ll probably notice that over time they may change.  Indeed Warren Buffett said “Any year that passes in which you don’t destroy one of your best loved ideas is a wasted year”.  On a recent flight I took the time to list those things, ideas and values I cherished and those that turned me off.  I’ve listed them below.  What are yours?


For Against
Freedom Fenced-In
Creativity Blandness
Small Teams Committees
Personal Communication Mass Communication
Variety Routine
Fast Moving Slow & Steady
Short Projects Long Multiyear
Intuition Analytical
Positivity Negativity
Change Status Quo
Risk-Taking Risk-Aversion
Originality Carbon-Copy
Learning Ignorance
Connecting Detachment
Interdependence Dependence
Big Idea Details
Contrarian The Herd
Boutique Café Starbucks
Persistent Transience
Curiosity Uninterested
Smart Dumb
Selling Making
Sprints Marathons
Creating Maintaining

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