From Ottmar Liebert: "The extraordinary Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos was said to occasionally have held a piece of paper to the window of his place in Rio de Janeiro to trace the line of the mountains onto music paper. That would then … [Read more...]
Ear Training Hacks 1-2
Ear Training Hack #1. To get an accurate account of absolute pitch, it is important to measure the results of a pitch recognition test. Accuracy is necessary to demonstrate absolute pitch. But before you demonstrate absolute pitch, relative … [Read more...]
Preston Reed Is Blogging MusicHacks
Preston Reed is now a blogging musician and people are talking: preston reed is blogging. Dead Cool or Who is Preston Reed? Watching Preston Reed Blog Measurement - Sunday's Random Thought This return to the theme need not always be literal. It can … [Read more...]
New MusicHacks Series
I got excited about my previous creativity hacks and busted out a number of ideas for a hacks series. So stay tuned for songwriting hacks and ear training hacks and stay connected to my MusicHacks del.icio.us bookmarks. Because you're going to help … [Read more...]
Make Your Playing Speak To Me
Morgan Freeman to Play Duke Ellington in Upcoming Film: Actor Morgan Freeman will play bandleader Duke Ellington in the upcoming film The Jazz Ambassadors, according to Variety." I'm a huge Ellington fan. I've been listening to him since I was … [Read more...]
Saxophonists Tricks of the Trade
To make marathon playing sessions easier on your mouth and to soften your sound for classical playing, buy a pack of cigarette papers. Before you play, fold one in half, put it in your mouth and let it soak for awhile. Then fold it across your bottom … [Read more...]
Musical Hand Signals
I just came across a list of commonly used hand signals used to communicate key signatures, section changes, and a whole lot more while in the heat of the moment at a gig. Check it out. => Musical Hand Signals … [Read more...]