baz
Silver Member
Hola dot comrades.
Long time no post.
A little over a year ago l was looking for some kind of spark to add a little levitra to my playing, and I found it through PA gear. I picked up an assortment of mikes, mixers, an effects module, assorted stands, cables etc. I am no where near proficient in it's use, but l am making a little headway up this new twist to my learning curve, and l am not unhappy with my progress..
Having a fully decked out jam space led to reconnecting with a fiend who I used to jam with back in the "open stage for the middle aged" acoustic country gospel jam days from years ago. Wendy, as she is called, is a phenomenal singer/guitar player, She has a great repertoire. and we share a very similar musical taste. We have been jamming together every other week since August. Dare l say, we are sounding pretty good. I have been singing, mostly harmony, but I do take the lead on some wrists and brushes tunes. I have also been recording our jam sessions on garage band, but like my sound mixing, my recording skills are sadly lacking. Once again, I see improvement, and l am not unhappy with my progress. That being said, I am still a ways away from posting anything on the "so that's what he sounds like" thread, but l am itchin to share.
At work, I have been trying to out the closet musicians, as I am always on the hunt for like minded grey pony tails who want to jam but need a place to do so. We have one guy in particular who has had some success as a singer songwriter, and it was he who led to another piece in my musical puzzle. Biff, as he is called proposed, then obtained the commitment from our company social club to host an evening program in the (choose entity here) has talent vein. the venue that was booked was the Dow Centre, which by weekend warrior wannabe standards, is the Fort Saskatchewan equivalent to Carnegie Hall. Professional sound reinforcement, my own monitor with the mix l wanted, Heaven.
I asked Wendy if she was willing to participate, she agreed, so it was time to try and see what missing pieces could be found, and hopefully incorporated with what would otherwise be drums, guitar, vocals, and poor attempts at harmony.
Once the plant wide call for talent was answered, I scanned through the replies list, and found the name of a guitar playing operator that I worked with a couple of years ago, back when l was in a different role. Drew, as he is called answered my e mail and was willing to explore a collaboration. We jammed, then Wendy joined us, and we gave birth to the Square Bales.
The talent show has come and gone, and for our six song set, we smoked. I do not brag about myself or my playing, but l was very proud of how tight we were. We were tight from note one to the last sustain, and our harmonies sounded like we had been playing together a lot longer than we have been. There are still a few missing pieces. For my Santa's wish list l want a bass player and keyboard player, either or both having expertise in sound reinforcing jiggery pokery. l am confident that they will find us.
So what does this have to do with your first drum lesson? Glad you asked. I have whined and complained on this site about how lame my drumming is, to the point that I had to do something about it. That first thing was recording our jam sessions. When l sit and drumsturbate, it always sounds the same and I find that discouraging. When I am jamming, l do not always hear myself in the mix over the kit itself, so I am somewhat self conscious, and timid about my playing. When l hear myself in playback, I hear myself in context, and regardless of the quality of the mix/recording, I have come to realize that a lot of the dull and boring works, and works well. Also, you can make the dull and boring less and less dull and boring by hearing what you do right, and what does not work, In context to the song. This has led to what has probably been my greatest leap forward in my musical progression, and l am really jazzed about it.
The dull and boring is actually a pretty good foundation, and within my limited arsenal, playback has helped me to display a little more creativity, and the confidence to take some chances for a change.
So now, l have some direction. I have a new found enthusiasm for music, and for however long this one lasts, I am going to harvest all of the joy that this feeling is. I also need to take lessons, or guidance if you will so l can play the songs l want to play the way they should be played.
That led to today and my first ever drum lesson.
It went well.
Thank you for allowing me this indulgence.
Barry
Long time no post.
A little over a year ago l was looking for some kind of spark to add a little levitra to my playing, and I found it through PA gear. I picked up an assortment of mikes, mixers, an effects module, assorted stands, cables etc. I am no where near proficient in it's use, but l am making a little headway up this new twist to my learning curve, and l am not unhappy with my progress..
Having a fully decked out jam space led to reconnecting with a fiend who I used to jam with back in the "open stage for the middle aged" acoustic country gospel jam days from years ago. Wendy, as she is called, is a phenomenal singer/guitar player, She has a great repertoire. and we share a very similar musical taste. We have been jamming together every other week since August. Dare l say, we are sounding pretty good. I have been singing, mostly harmony, but I do take the lead on some wrists and brushes tunes. I have also been recording our jam sessions on garage band, but like my sound mixing, my recording skills are sadly lacking. Once again, I see improvement, and l am not unhappy with my progress. That being said, I am still a ways away from posting anything on the "so that's what he sounds like" thread, but l am itchin to share.
At work, I have been trying to out the closet musicians, as I am always on the hunt for like minded grey pony tails who want to jam but need a place to do so. We have one guy in particular who has had some success as a singer songwriter, and it was he who led to another piece in my musical puzzle. Biff, as he is called proposed, then obtained the commitment from our company social club to host an evening program in the (choose entity here) has talent vein. the venue that was booked was the Dow Centre, which by weekend warrior wannabe standards, is the Fort Saskatchewan equivalent to Carnegie Hall. Professional sound reinforcement, my own monitor with the mix l wanted, Heaven.
I asked Wendy if she was willing to participate, she agreed, so it was time to try and see what missing pieces could be found, and hopefully incorporated with what would otherwise be drums, guitar, vocals, and poor attempts at harmony.
Once the plant wide call for talent was answered, I scanned through the replies list, and found the name of a guitar playing operator that I worked with a couple of years ago, back when l was in a different role. Drew, as he is called answered my e mail and was willing to explore a collaboration. We jammed, then Wendy joined us, and we gave birth to the Square Bales.
The talent show has come and gone, and for our six song set, we smoked. I do not brag about myself or my playing, but l was very proud of how tight we were. We were tight from note one to the last sustain, and our harmonies sounded like we had been playing together a lot longer than we have been. There are still a few missing pieces. For my Santa's wish list l want a bass player and keyboard player, either or both having expertise in sound reinforcing jiggery pokery. l am confident that they will find us.
So what does this have to do with your first drum lesson? Glad you asked. I have whined and complained on this site about how lame my drumming is, to the point that I had to do something about it. That first thing was recording our jam sessions. When l sit and drumsturbate, it always sounds the same and I find that discouraging. When I am jamming, l do not always hear myself in the mix over the kit itself, so I am somewhat self conscious, and timid about my playing. When l hear myself in playback, I hear myself in context, and regardless of the quality of the mix/recording, I have come to realize that a lot of the dull and boring works, and works well. Also, you can make the dull and boring less and less dull and boring by hearing what you do right, and what does not work, In context to the song. This has led to what has probably been my greatest leap forward in my musical progression, and l am really jazzed about it.
The dull and boring is actually a pretty good foundation, and within my limited arsenal, playback has helped me to display a little more creativity, and the confidence to take some chances for a change.
So now, l have some direction. I have a new found enthusiasm for music, and for however long this one lasts, I am going to harvest all of the joy that this feeling is. I also need to take lessons, or guidance if you will so l can play the songs l want to play the way they should be played.
That led to today and my first ever drum lesson.
It went well.
Thank you for allowing me this indulgence.
Barry
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