Long time no write/ Happy New Year/Todd Rundgren

Well it has been a long time since I have written but that is because shattered my elbow, had re-constructive surgery and i am now in the middle of 1½ years of rehab (ya it's that serious). If you have the stomach for it you can read about it here.

So Happy New Year and I will re-enter the blog-o-sphere with a little praise for one of my bigger influences as a musician...Todd Rundgren.

12 years my senior I think I first encountered his music full on with the release of Back to the Bars and The Hermit of Mink Hollow.

On the Live album he was just great with a good band but on hermit I learn how good someone could be playing ALL the instruments. The inspirational message here to those who know me is obvious. At that time I was 'just' a drummer but between Todd and Stevie Wonder I knew music, good music, could be made by just one person.

Todd, while not the household name his career should invoke, he is the writer and/or performer behind such hits as Love is the Answer, I Saw the Light, Hello it's Me, Can We Still Be Friends, Bang on the Drum All Day, A Dream Goes On Forever etc. Part of his "Rock's Biggest Cult Musician" Status could be placed on his eccentric non pop star way of behaving. Even now he seems to loath self promotion. His website used to be more a work of art now at least it provides a bio, store and something very unique a Rock camp???  But tour dates?? New record releases?? Naw that is only for insecure types.

Anyhow I will leave with an obscure Todd vid. him Playing Wait for Me with Darryl Hall.

Winnipeg Music Lessons, Jazz Bands and Recording

The Work of MY Students

I put together a 10 medley of my students year end recording work.

enjoy.

Winnipeg Music Lessons

My YouTube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/user/riverheightsmusic


Winnipeg Music Lessons

How to hold the Pick

I am a big fan of simple so when explaining things to students I like the number 3. Three seems to be the number of items I can get at the store without needing a list. 3 legs are more stable they say than 4 that’s why a tripod is used for that kind of work I guess. So here are my 3 rules for holding a pick. If followed correctly they it will minimize the myriad of wrong ways to hold a pick and give us one of the many correct ways.


1. The pointy end goes toward the guitar

2. Only 2 fingers should touch the pick (index and thumb)

3. The pick should be held on the side of the 1st finger with the pad of the thumb

Once you have done this go back to rule one.

Now outside of doing anything whacky or unconventional this should work just fine. Make sure the hand is in a natural, flat and relaxed state.

I recommend the use of hard picks for the best sound and action. Soft picks make things easier at the beginning but are a liability in the long run. Only a small portion of the pick should ‘peak’ out from between your thumb and 1st finger (it should look like you aren’t even holding a pick). The tip of the pick should glide over the strings and not get caught deep inside the strings. The pick can either attack the strings flat or at an angle.

I use #3 Jim Dunlop Stubby, it is very hard and very short, but I do not recommend it or other exotic pick as they seem to go through times of being hard to get. Better to go with a more traditional size and shape of pick while still going with the thick and stiff variety. As well avoid metal picks they wear your strings and the ‘shavings’ get picked up but the magnetic picks of electric guitars and they just don’t sound good.



Winnipeg Music Lessons

Musical Definitions

As I have been teaching music for over a ¼ century I have often marvelled at the nature of musical definitions. Almost all of them are only understandable if you already know what they are. I guess it is fair to say that music is best experienced verses talked or read about but nonetheless describing a pickup as “One or more notes at the beginning of a strain, before the 1st measure, are referred to as pick-up notes. The rhythm for pick-up notes is taken from the last measure and the beast are counted as such” gets the new music student no closer to playing them correctly.


Two definitions that irk me in particular are ties and accidentals. “A tie is a curved line between 2 notes of the same pitch. The first note is played and held for the time duration of both. The second note is not played”. This one covers it but usually requires further explanation. Unfortunately, in some music method books, they attempt this. Sometimes they ‘add’ the notes together which has students counting to 6 halfway through a bar of common time which is just wrong. Sometimes the phrase “2nd note is not played” is modified to “should not be played” making it less clear. Just like Johnny shouldn’t eat chocolate before supper makes chocolate eating that much more acceptable.


The other musical explanation that drives me coo coo is the way accidentals (sharps, flats and naturals) are explained. Usually something along the lines of “When a sharp is placed in front of a note that note is raised one ½ step” Well I am here to tell you nothing of the sort is happening.

The note, maybe in this case, an F# is not an F that has had something done to it is an entirely different note called F#! The note we knew before was just called F (short for F Natural). But we knew that note so well we are on a 1st name basis.



And don’t get me started on that Ta Ta Ta Tee Ta Ta baby talk way of counting!

Winnipeg Music Lessons

My Mother's Passing

As I ready old photos and some of my music for use in a memorial service I find myself pondering her influence on my music life.

She wasn't overly supportive but she wasn't overly negative either. We didn't have a lot of  money growing up so some free irregular guitar lessons in the churchbasement had to suffice. At somepoint she sold my guitar because 'I wasn't practicing enough' the real reason is we were broke. TO become the drummer I literally quit high school before graduating, left the house, moved to Calgary, got a job, bought drums, quit job, practiced drums and then returned east to start playing music.

But dating further back I realize that she had a very eclectic record collection. Not only that we were the only house that I can recollect actually having a modular stereo vs those enclosed ones that were disguised as furniture like they were ashamed of it.

My mom had George Shearing, Sarah Vaughan, Johnny Cash, James Last, Nana Mousqkouri etc. You get the idea. Add to that she liked more contemporary stuff, bought us stereos and radios. She even woke my older brother up to watch the Beatles on Ed Sullivan.

I had a friend who insited I needed someone to either encourage me in music so I could get some support or discourage me so I could rebel. I think I got what I needed.

Till next time

RB


Music Lessons in Winnipeg

Godin Does it Again

It is no secret that I love Godin Guitars I currently have 3 and I recomend them regularly.

Currently I have amid priced acoustic (an S6) nothing special and fine for camping.

Along with that 2 out 3 of my main working axes are Godin.

1 is the nylon string Multiac SA

It combines the warm complex sound of a nylon string guitar (Masterfully reproduced with RMC pickups) and Roland GR Synth Access

The second is my xt SA

It Combines the same rich sound of an acoustic guitar (this time steel string) with electric gitar p/u's AND synth access!

Other guitars I gloat over are the fretless 6 string

The 11 String Fretless Glissentar

The 5 string fretless SA Bass

But I was blown away by thier new archtop series. Again they combine the elements of price good looks and play-a-bility.

Thew 5th Avenue Guitars are All Under $1,000!!

I sent my new Jazz student (a concert guitaist) towards these and he bought and loves the 2nd one (5th Avenue Kingpin)

Until next time

RB

Winnipeg Music Lessons