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Toxic People
We all know them. We all run in to them. They are everywhere. I say, “Don’t let the bastards get you down.” The socio-political landscape is full of them. My neighborhood is full of them. The grocery store is full of them. The streets are full of them. Then there is your job. The best…
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Rhythmic Harmony Part 2
Guest Blog by Finn Music Geek Stuff Today we will look at one of my favorite tools. The Baiou’ rhythm and its modes. Baiou’ is pronounced Bayonne (The spelling? Someone kept yelling ” I’ld like a vowel, Vanna”). You’ll need paper and pencil for this one. This is Linear Harmony as opposed to Vertical Harmony.…
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Rhythmic Harmony
Guest Blog By Finn Music Geek Stuff Lets use the example of a bass drum and a kick drum part. Lets say I decide to match each note of the bass and the kick drum. This would be an example of Rhythmic Unison. Now lets say I decide to add kick drum only to those…
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Depression
The grim truth; many of my artist type friends have depression running in their gene pool. It is in my family as well; seemingly prevalent in the families of creative types. One study shows entrepreneur start up founders, who are extremely creative people, revealing 50% with mental conditions and a 30 % depression rate. The…
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Happy Holidays
Wishing all a great Holiday Season and a Big Shout Out for all Those Supporting Mackncheeze Music. Thank You!!!! What to Expect in the Coming Year. We are going to be focusing on creative folks of all types in a large variety of different endeavors; Photography, Filmography, Custom Instruments, Writers and, of course, Musicians. Super…
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Michael Clune and Moondance
Artist Focus https://www.facebook.com/Moondance-Van-Morrison-Tribute-1851895661575428 Mackncheeze: Who are you? Michael: I am my friendships and relationships. I am very blessed that my friendships are from all over the world. My glass of water, I can honestly say, is half full or close to full. I work hard to keep it that way. Its music, or what I…
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Practice Safe Sound
Yeah, Baby. I want to keep my hearing. Entropy has decided to work against me, so I fight back. Every practice session, every rehearsal; ear plugs. Reviewing tracks; I listen at extremely low volumes, often times in mono, mixing off my IPhone, mixing off head phones set across the room, referencing Blue Tooth speakers in…
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Don’t Drink The Kool Aid
I should not make light of this, but the fact of the matter is if you aren’t all in, you’re not all in. Hence the purpose of this blog. It could be argued I’m not all in either, because most of my income is earned outside of music. Seriously looking to change that. All you…
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The Labor Is The Reward
Yeah, you got that right. It is the love of music which sustains me. The love of the people, the process and the execution. What God given talents I have been blessed with have only been the starting point; a flame that kindled. Continually feeding that fire is the process. More accomplishment, greater love, more…
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The Seasons Of My Life
Guest Blog by Marvin Manning ( My Uncle ) Written at age 94 As I move through the seasons of my life and summer turns to fall, I find that the Golden Years are not so golden after all. The junk food that I loved so much has been replaced with lettuce, celery, carrots and…
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Superpower
I have been reading a lot about tapping in to my super power. Most people who know me know that I am not super powerful, which is disappointing to myself since my own self expectations are so high. I wish I wasn’t prone to error. I wish I would not forget arrangements. I wish that…
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The Phantom
“Someone’s talking in the guitar solo.” “What?” “There is someone talking in the guitar solo.” I listened to the track over and over and could not hear the voice. I went through every single track. Nothing. During the guitar solo I muted every track that was inactive. Nothing. “Dude, the voice is still there.” “What?…
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Hyberbole, Standard Operating Procedure
Aggrandize, to increase the power or reputation of something. For me, it implies some sort of exaggeration. It is endemic in the world of music. Please understand, I am as guilty as the next person when it comes to past pretence. I see it in Facebook adds. I see it in band names. How…
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Habits
I have read the books. I have stood in front of the mirror yelling at myself. I have gone to the conferences. I have read the blogs. I have reaffirmed my affirmations. Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah. I have found out what habit is – its habit. The daily routine is what moves me forward. No…
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Somewhere, In The Very Early 90’s
By Todd Ainsworth Writing for a music blog hasn’t been on my radar, but music is one of my passions and an important part of my life. As my generation gets a little older ( I never expected to live to 50 when I was 18 ) and I start to look a little more…
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Breakfast of Champions
Rehearsal, 10 am. Hey I got time for breakfast. I’m heading over to the closest breakfast chain anticipating some great morning grub. I’m hoping to have a breakfast of champions. Man, I can taste those hash browns with my over easy eggs and some wheat toast with strawberry jelly. Lotsa coffee. I’m in Baby. 8:30…
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It’s All About The Gravy
Things I’ve Learned From Otis Trust Your Friends It’s all about the gravy. There are many different ways to enjoy it. Otis has good friends. Smokey comes to visit from down the street, leaping and bounding because he is so excited to see his buddy Otis. I have never seen two cats so comfortable with…
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Caffeine, Its a Life Style
What motivates me everyday? One guess. Coffee. Caffeine, it’s a lifestyle. The Daily Ritual Every morning I participate in the ritual. At least a pot down the gullet. Not to mention the daily Quad-Americano just to finish out the evening. What the caffeine does for me is to facilitate concentration. My best and most productive…