Blog #5
I just recently aquired a guitar from my older brother. It is a 6 string acoustic and sounds great, the only problem is I dont know how to play it. He taught me a few basic things when I saw him but it wasnt enough to go writing songs or playing comfortably. I decided to look at some youtube videos about how to learn simple songs. That was cool for a while but playing only a few things over and over is boring. I decided a more fun way to get aquianted with the guitar was to just play on my own without really knowing how. I am a musical person and understand key and pitch and tone so knowing what sounds decent and not so decent is easy. So, I started improving. I came up with a few cool ideas and wrote them down in hopes that I can go back to them once I get really comfortable with the guitar. I guess I am just really excited to have a guitar and am excited to keep exploring the instrument.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Improv Exploration
Blog #4
Good news…I got my leg back. I can once again play drums and feel comfortable doing it. Since my knee was injured I have been experimenting with alternate techniques of playing which seemed to aid my improvisation style. Now that I have my leg back I actually feel like my ability has gotten better, so rather than keep using one leg I have decided to do a few things that may help aid my improving.
One thing I found very fun was using my drum pad and having another person listen through the headphones to what I was playing but only they could hear it. Since I was completely unaware of what exactly it sounded like I started ‘communicating’ with the person by watching their reactions to what I was playing. Sometimes they would look bored, so I sped up and they seemed to enjoy that, and then I may turn the volume up and they wouldn’t exactly like that. It was a very fun experience to do that.
Another technique I used was mixing up the drums I was playing. I would play a tom as if it were a high-hat, and put different cymbals at the toms, and the bass drum would actually sound like a snare. It sounded weird, but every once in a while I would play a cool jam and realize that I would never play that on a traditional style kit.
I guess the point I am trying to make here is that you can teach yourself how to improvise by trying new techniques. When I jam with people again I will most definitely play with some of these new techniques I have learned. I feel like if your unsure of what your playing then you will be a great improviser.
One thing I found very fun was using my drum pad and having another person listen through the headphones to what I was playing but only they could hear it. Since I was completely unaware of what exactly it sounded like I started ‘communicating’ with the person by watching their reactions to what I was playing. Sometimes they would look bored, so I sped up and they seemed to enjoy that, and then I may turn the volume up and they wouldn’t exactly like that. It was a very fun experience to do that.
Another technique I used was mixing up the drums I was playing. I would play a tom as if it were a high-hat, and put different cymbals at the toms, and the bass drum would actually sound like a snare. It sounded weird, but every once in a while I would play a cool jam and realize that I would never play that on a traditional style kit.
I guess the point I am trying to make here is that you can teach yourself how to improvise by trying new techniques. When I jam with people again I will most definitely play with some of these new techniques I have learned. I feel like if your unsure of what your playing then you will be a great improviser.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Innovative ways of notation confuse me!
Blog #3
After reading the Braxton article I was a little frustrated and confused. I have known music only in standard notation and nothing else and looking at some of these notation style makes me a little frustrated. I am asking myself how someone can see/play music from these notation styles. At the beginning of the article Braxton shows us some of the new ways he writes notes or sounds on a page. Why not stick to the way it has always been done? I understand that this is for an improvisation style of music, but I still dont really like it. What this is showing is that I could potentially write random designs out make it into a improvisation notation and for some reason that takes the fun out of it for me. I suppose that since I listen to very structured and tight sounding music I like a notation system that is easy to understand and is known by all.
Also a point Braxton made was that a lot of notation inspires improvisation. I agree with this, but I also feel that most people start out improving when writing music. I feel like this whole discussion about notations is very individualized to the person talking about it. I would say that I am the complete opposite of Braxton. I like standard notation because it is understood and I feel like standard notation give enough to allow for great improvisation. I dont need to draw a picture, or complete a new notation to be able to improv. Who knows!
I am truly confused and frustrated with the article so I will leave it with the idea that innovative notation styles are very individualized and not for everyone. However, I accept that some people are searching for more and that standard notation is not for everyone either. PHEW!
After reading the Braxton article I was a little frustrated and confused. I have known music only in standard notation and nothing else and looking at some of these notation style makes me a little frustrated. I am asking myself how someone can see/play music from these notation styles. At the beginning of the article Braxton shows us some of the new ways he writes notes or sounds on a page. Why not stick to the way it has always been done? I understand that this is for an improvisation style of music, but I still dont really like it. What this is showing is that I could potentially write random designs out make it into a improvisation notation and for some reason that takes the fun out of it for me. I suppose that since I listen to very structured and tight sounding music I like a notation system that is easy to understand and is known by all.
Also a point Braxton made was that a lot of notation inspires improvisation. I agree with this, but I also feel that most people start out improving when writing music. I feel like this whole discussion about notations is very individualized to the person talking about it. I would say that I am the complete opposite of Braxton. I like standard notation because it is understood and I feel like standard notation give enough to allow for great improvisation. I dont need to draw a picture, or complete a new notation to be able to improv. Who knows!
I am truly confused and frustrated with the article so I will leave it with the idea that innovative notation styles are very individualized and not for everyone. However, I accept that some people are searching for more and that standard notation is not for everyone either. PHEW!
Broken leg = MORE IMPROV!
Blog #2
I have been a little behind on my blogging the last couple weeks. However I had an experience in class that I wanted to talk about regarding improving.
A few weeks ago I fractured a bone in my knee and being that I am a drummer I tend to use both legs, one for a hi-hat and a the other for a kick pedal. Like everyone else in class I had a chance to play with another member of class. I could have used a set on bongos, or something else not involving my feet but instead I decided to bring in a small drum pad with foot pedals and try it one footed. I never imagined how difficult it was to get into a smooth rythym only using one leg.
It takes a lot of time in general to be comfortable playing any instrument with confidence but when I took away my right leg (kick pedal) and played the kick pedal with my left it brought in a whole new world of technique. I started noticing that I was back to a simple beat on the bass drum while my arms tried to make up the difference for the missing leg. I seemed to be completely improving everything I played because nothing felt familiar to me. I felt like I was learning the drums all over again. I kept wanting to use my right leg but I obviously couldnt.
I feel like if a guitarist broke a finger or something that would be similar. I am not saying that breaking body parts is the way to go, but I am saying that this minor injury opened my eyes up to how a small change in a regular form can allow you to improv a lot easier. Once I get my leg back I may try doing other things to change it up like removing a few toms from my kit, or playing hi hat with my right leg and the bass with my left. It could either be very annoying, or I could love it. It could even be a good practicing technique to become a better drummer. Who knows!
I have been a little behind on my blogging the last couple weeks. However I had an experience in class that I wanted to talk about regarding improving.
A few weeks ago I fractured a bone in my knee and being that I am a drummer I tend to use both legs, one for a hi-hat and a the other for a kick pedal. Like everyone else in class I had a chance to play with another member of class. I could have used a set on bongos, or something else not involving my feet but instead I decided to bring in a small drum pad with foot pedals and try it one footed. I never imagined how difficult it was to get into a smooth rythym only using one leg.
It takes a lot of time in general to be comfortable playing any instrument with confidence but when I took away my right leg (kick pedal) and played the kick pedal with my left it brought in a whole new world of technique. I started noticing that I was back to a simple beat on the bass drum while my arms tried to make up the difference for the missing leg. I seemed to be completely improving everything I played because nothing felt familiar to me. I felt like I was learning the drums all over again. I kept wanting to use my right leg but I obviously couldnt.
I feel like if a guitarist broke a finger or something that would be similar. I am not saying that breaking body parts is the way to go, but I am saying that this minor injury opened my eyes up to how a small change in a regular form can allow you to improv a lot easier. Once I get my leg back I may try doing other things to change it up like removing a few toms from my kit, or playing hi hat with my right leg and the bass with my left. It could either be very annoying, or I could love it. It could even be a good practicing technique to become a better drummer. Who knows!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Improvisation to me...
Blog #1
Improvisation to me is one of the most creative forms of music. You are not reading from a score, nor following any particular idea. It is a completely random and creative process. The only thing that can influence you is your surroundings, or what someone around you is improvising. Improvising is a form of communication!
I have never played in a band, and I have never written a song. But I have played the drums for 15 years. I usually listen to music on my iPod and almost always improvise a drum beat along with the other instruments. Occasionally I try and actually learn a song, but 90% of the time I am improvising. I also play with my buddies occasionally. I have a couple friends who play guitar and all we do is jam. Someone plays a riff or beat and we just take it from there. I truly enjoy jamming because it allows you to be free in your thinking.
I am actually very surprised that I love to improvise and jam so much because the type of music I listen to is completely opposite. I listen to a ton of Dream Theater which is a progressive rock band out of New York. They have very long, complex, and technical songs with many different time signatures melded into each track. When they finish a song, they have memorized everything and fit many different ideas into one long thought out work of art. I love listening to the transitions and I absolutely love watching the live DVD’s because of how they communicate on stage during their songs. They have mastered each other as well as their songs.
Lastly, I feel like most bands aren’t very structured during their writing process. I know for a fact that Dream Theater just sits around and plays riffs until someone likes something, and then they go from there bouncing ideas around. I would call that jamming/improvising. So, even a very structured sound can some from improvising and jamming.
Improvisation to me is one of the most creative forms of music. You are not reading from a score, nor following any particular idea. It is a completely random and creative process. The only thing that can influence you is your surroundings, or what someone around you is improvising. Improvising is a form of communication!
I have never played in a band, and I have never written a song. But I have played the drums for 15 years. I usually listen to music on my iPod and almost always improvise a drum beat along with the other instruments. Occasionally I try and actually learn a song, but 90% of the time I am improvising. I also play with my buddies occasionally. I have a couple friends who play guitar and all we do is jam. Someone plays a riff or beat and we just take it from there. I truly enjoy jamming because it allows you to be free in your thinking.
I am actually very surprised that I love to improvise and jam so much because the type of music I listen to is completely opposite. I listen to a ton of Dream Theater which is a progressive rock band out of New York. They have very long, complex, and technical songs with many different time signatures melded into each track. When they finish a song, they have memorized everything and fit many different ideas into one long thought out work of art. I love listening to the transitions and I absolutely love watching the live DVD’s because of how they communicate on stage during their songs. They have mastered each other as well as their songs.
Lastly, I feel like most bands aren’t very structured during their writing process. I know for a fact that Dream Theater just sits around and plays riffs until someone likes something, and then they go from there bouncing ideas around. I would call that jamming/improvising. So, even a very structured sound can some from improvising and jamming.
Monday, December 1, 2008
noise...music...nothing...what!?
Blog #11
I am going to blog about the chapter 10 readings regarding noise music and Merzbow by talking about an experience I had making a noise piece. David Kerschner and I recently embarked on a quest to make a noise piece. We had no idea where to start so we looked at a few different noise artists, mainly Merzbow. Within the reading, the text states that “in noise music there is no endpoint or ultimate moment.” I wasn’t completely aware at first but upon finishing the piece I realized that at no point in time did we ever mean to put something in a particular spot, or at a particular time within the piece. There was no ‘ultimate moment’ for anything to happen.
I am going to blog about the chapter 10 readings regarding noise music and Merzbow by talking about an experience I had making a noise piece. David Kerschner and I recently embarked on a quest to make a noise piece. We had no idea where to start so we looked at a few different noise artists, mainly Merzbow. Within the reading, the text states that “in noise music there is no endpoint or ultimate moment.” I wasn’t completely aware at first but upon finishing the piece I realized that at no point in time did we ever mean to put something in a particular spot, or at a particular time within the piece. There was no ‘ultimate moment’ for anything to happen.
Another quote from the text states that “Merzbow’s music make a form so complex it no longer is a form, and makes it out of junk.” I loved reading this because the whole time we were making the piece I asked myself what it sounded like? Does this make sense? Will it sound good? Does this work? Once I reasoned with the idea that there is essentially ‘nothing’ I have to think about when making the piece, I really started to like it! My point is that noise music is very random and allows you to put a lot of ‘nothing’ into something and end up getting a nice reward in return.
Playlist
Earshot- “Wait”
Filter- “Cold (Anthem for the Damned)
Tool- “Right In To”
Chevelle- “I Get It”
Dream Theater- “Finally Free”
Monday, November 24, 2008
Response to Tyler's "Do genres die?"
Blog #10
After thinking about the question of "do genres die?" I have come to the conclusion that they don't. I feel like a bunch of genres are not played much anymore, but I guaruntee that someone still listens to at least one of every genre at some point. I also believe that genres evolve into other genres which I feel can sometimes be a little ridiculous.
A pet peeve of mine has always been how many different metals there are. I would hate to say that I listen to 7 different kinds of metal if someone asks me so I just say "metal", as a whole genre. I am in no way saying that bands should be denied of their uniqueness but to put it lightly, holy shit! I have seen genres that just dont make sense, for instance, "metamorphic rock"! I hate to be mean but when a bunch of bands have been around and have been known as just being "rock" bands, and then immediatly change into "metamorphic rock" bands I have to ask how their sound has changed to make them into this new genre.
MY POINT- Why so many genres? Simple as that.
Playlist
The Crystal Method- "Weapons of Mass Distortion"
The Crystal Method- "Name of the Game"
Pink Floyd- "Wish You Were Here"
Army of Anyone- "Disappear"
Ra- "The First Step"
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