You are currently browsing the monthly Archive for December, 2007.
Notice the balance of the major and minor modes in this ancient carol. For me, Christmas carols are a musical journey, taken at the same time each year. They are like ghosts of a much older meaning; --one that is obscured by many of the modern trends of this season.
The new year is a cultural manifestation of an astronomical cycle of seasonal significance. It can be much more, if you're interested in creating new meanings for yourself. May the spirit of renewal follow you throughout the coming year.
As we move closer to the end of the year and take a breather from all the holiday bustle, I’d just like to take a moment and say thank you for coming here and reading my teaching blog. This has been an open diary and forum to reflect on what’s happening; –mainly in the music industry side of things. I’ve pondered opening a music theory “House of Pancakes” blog to deal with the first year theory curriculum (the most important of all things!)….but I barely have time during the day to reflect upon the music industry side. I would encourage my colleagues to try this education blogging; –it opens lines of communication and expands my classroom and my thinking. That can be a really good thing when you’re a stuffy old college professor who’s over twice the age of his students. Some old geezer who wears a tie most days and needs to clean up his office; –that’s me.
In other news, I recorded with the Digidesign tape saturation plugin. I stuck it on a master fader track and would have to say that my first impression is that I like it, but I need more time to really figure out what it can do. It’s an expensive plug-in but Santa was pretty good this year.
Posting has been and will continue to be light this week as I’ve been doing a lot of traveling and holiday chores w/ family.
And thanks again for reading. I really appreciate it!
If you’d like to read a post about gratitude with grace, I’d recommend Louis Schmier’s holiday post.
Peace.
J
Campus Downloading offers a free DVD to help educate students and stop illegal downloading on your campus.
Music Thing showcases the free Tony-B Flash music game.
New Music Strategies posts its Year in Review of 2007.
Listenerd links to an article from UK about Apple’s upcoming ability to prevent your hearing loss from Ipods and Iphones.
Guitar Flame posts a disturbing Ozzy/Jessica Simpson Christmas video. Doesn’t Ozzy’s voice sound computerized? I know some call Kelli Osborne the “Auto-tune Queen”.
Good Musician is scared of child prodigies…
The secret code hidden in the 12 Days of Christmas.
DMMobile has Christmas Studio-building pics… I can’t think of a better Christmas present! Are you listening, Santa?
I’m off to Mom and Dads’ and 2 Christmas Eve services.
Merry Christmas, everybody!
Peace.
J
Even though things get a little rushed this time of year, I hope you take a moment to count your blessings and be thankful that you’re not stuck on an asteroid somewhere out in the far reaches of the universe.
*Quickstop Entertaiment is giving away a free download of this Jonathan Coulton hit tune, if you’re interested. It’s been given the stamp of approval *(i.e. LEGAL) from JoCo himself.
Now I’ve seen everything. A nifty microphone disguised as a ring.
More phantom-power, Honey?
This means Clear Channel can start buying newspapers, right?
Future of Music blog is pretty confident that this is a win for big business. Perhaps it will be a fresh reinvention of radio and newspapers…like a cell phone edition that calls you up every day, tells you the latest gossip with your favorite song playing in the background while AC Nielsen records your GPS coordinates and bankcard balances. (Just kidding, AC!) 
Guess what Santa’s bringing the media industry this Christmas? An affirmation that intellectual property has specific ownership and rights that supercede what some say is a public’s right to free content. Read more about USB’s acceptance of DRM checks for video content. This means that Hollywood and multimedia developers can hope for a brighter future (unless you believe a hack is already being developed).
Read more about USB and DRM here:
What happens if the pirates win?
There are only 2 days left to vote in Hypebot’s Best Music News Blog poll and my favorite underdog needs your help!
Vote for Listenerd!
Do it now!
Where else can you go on the internet to find rockin’ videos of phonographs playing AND a pithy Colbertesque synopsis of all the music news that’s worth reading? You certainly won’t find that here…
Promedia blog teaches Toggling to Pro Tools Toddlers.
Max’s studio is looking good from Ground Zero. (dmstudio)
Ad-supported music says Limewire is on 36% of computers.
Gibson has a reverse flying V guitar on the line. (MusicGadgets).
New Music Strategies looks (or promises to look) at promising new tools.
Good Musician pics 10 Musicians to invite to your College Party.
My wife reviews “I Am Legend” even though Listenerd has already proven that Will Smith doesn’t use toilet paper…
Our Digital Music names 10 musicians To Invite to your Office Christmas Party.
Hypebot found this video somewhere and it makes me want to post a Zappa quote…
This was a killer Wednesday and major amounts of “grace” were enjoyed by so many at my end of the building! This has been a killer semester and the exam grades reflect just how busy we all seem to have been with extraneous things. In the spirit of reflection and overall adherence to academic standards, I offer the following 2 videos: Read the rest of this entry »
Didn’t landowners once plant gold in mines in order to get a good price?
Worthless claims were made to appear rich and rewarding with the sprinkling of a little gold dust to show prospective buyers. “This practice became so common that purchasers were always on their guard,” writes Hubert Burgess in Anecdotes of the Mines, “and it was necessary to exercise much ingenuity to deceive them.”
Tom sent me this link and at first glance I thought it was a good deal. I don’t have an Itunes account and don’t plan on it, but if you’re so inclined, you can take advantage of some free songs (their choice, not yours). Of course, they hope you’ll browse around and find something you’d really like…then you’ll have to buy from them! This is what happens when my wife goes into an antiques store…
34 free songs
A $33 value, free for you.
Download the album free on iTunes
http://www.tunecore.com/freealbum
I wonder how much some of those bands were charged to get their songs “Packaged” with Vai and Marillion?
Part of the true power of music is evident in this TV advert for Sony’s video mp3 player. Look beyond the ad and see what’s happening with the people. When diverse people with diverse agendas can come together and cooperate to make music for music’s sake…well, that’s what it’s all about, for me at least. Can you relate?
I never had much respect for the telecaster. But Ethan’s Tele-vision music video is a cute little cheese-ball of video editing. But besides being a great way to spend 10 minutes, there are musical clues hidden within that, if you’ve identified more than anyone else, will earn you $2000 worth of cool valuable pro audio prizes.
BTW, Ethan has a killer page on Acoustic Treatments…
If you have spare time, of course….
Dr. J & 2 of 3 of his mad elves…
Give yourself some SAX this weekend!
The Grammy Nominations are announced… and my nominee didn’t make it!
Got one of the refurbished ribbon mics in today; thought I’d play a little game…
Here’s 3 mics; Listen to the clips of a Double Bass playing wrong notes. Identify the ribbon, the condenser and the transducer mics.
Answers to follow…
So here comes the busiest week of the year; my apologies for the light posting! Digidesign still hasn’t fixed the 101 Exam administration problem, so I’ve had to scramble to provide another grading opportunity for Audio principles I folks. Now comes 50+ students who need to rehearse with me before juries! And I have to play the Troy Arts Council concert tonight after spending last night fixing their sound system woes in the Crosby Theatre… it’s good to be needed.
**Update** - the ProTools 101 test server issue has been resolved!
Frank Zappa plays “Blues In A”
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