We sorta had some forums here, but they were lame. WordPress+Buddypress’s built in forum software sucked hard. Really hard. So, this weekend I was going to install BBPress but then discovered SimplePress. And that is what we are using now. Ties into the WordPress software nicely. Seems good so far.
Author: ericdano
Polymath, musician, awesome.
Review: EWI Case
I have had an Akai EWI4000S for a while now (5 years? More?) I should probably at some point do a review of it and why you should get the 4000S instead of the crippled USB only version (or maybe that is the review?). But what I can say is that I saw on Amazon the case that I totally love for it, which I had a HELL of a time getting from the Woodwind and Brasswind (backorder hell basically).
The Ritter Soprano Saxophone case works great for an EWI. It’s stylish, has enough compartments for your iRig, 1/4″ cable, and power supply. The current cases have a large RITTER logo on them (mine is several years old and doesn’t have that), but the basic design is the same. Check it out.
Side note…..if anyone has a line on where to get the clip in battery thing for an EWI 4000S….I need one. Mine is lost.
Difference in Selmer Saxes
So, I guess there was some sort of Saxophone Smackdown this weekend. Anyone, someone attended it and came away with some interesting information from Jerome Selmer.
Check it out. Interesting stuff.
App Review: Circular Breathing by Walter Beasley
There are a TON of Apps available for iOS. One app, Circular Breathing by Walter Beasley caught my eye after I read about it on a website I subscribe to in my RSS feeds.
Ok, lets get the good stuff out of the way before I start tearing the “App” apart. It’s a fairly good tutorial/demo of how to circular breathe.
Now, the bad stuff. And there is a lot. First, there is this FREAKING ANNOYING intro music for everything. It was cool the first time. But the start of EVERY VIDEO has it. The start of the App has it. Seriously Walter…..it is annoying as all hell.
Second, the App is just basically a shell with some videos that are chapter-ized. The there are three buttons and a “home” icon. The home icon takes you to Walter’s website….how thoughtful. The Video takes you to the videos. The Bio presents you with a scrollable text of Walter’s bio. And the More button takes you to a page where he’s pawning his other “App” Sound Production For Saxophone, his Facebook, Twitter, “Home” (website link) and YouTube videos.
Third, the App does not remember where you were. And it does not orientate. And it doesn’t really support iPad (you have to scale it).
So, is it worth the $1.99? I guess….I think Walter should have included higher quality video with it (for iPad). But I think he could have just released this as a paid video for $1.99 instead.
I give it 5/10. You can easily find tutorials about circular breathing on YouTube for free that are as informative if not more. And they don’t have the annoying intro.
Special Grammy Award Honoring Steve Jobs/Yo-Yo Ma and Steve Jobs
The Grammy awards are tonight, but some of them have already happened. And Steve Jobs received an award.
Eddy Cue Accepts Special Grammy Award Honoring Steve Jobs:
The Grammy ceremony for the Special Merit Awards was held yesterday, and Apple senior vice president of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue was on hand to accept the award.
The Recording Academy has also published a brief tribute to Jobs by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, a 16-time Grammy winner and personal friend of Jobs.
Jobs’ Grammy marks the second time he and Apple have been honored by The Recording Academy. Apple itself won a Technical Grammy Award in 2002.
And Cellist Yo-Yo Ma had some things to share about meeting Steve and their relationship. Good stuff.
Sheet Of The Week (Bonus) – I Got Mine (The Black Keys)
Breaking into some other groups…..like The Black Keys……
I Got Mine by The Black Keys for Eb Instruments (91.0 KiB, 103 hits)
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I Got Mine by The Black Keys for Bb Instruments (90.6 KiB, 65 hits)
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New FAA Bill Finally has guidelines for Instruments
The AFM applauds passage of FAA Bill :: Official Website of the American Federation of Musicians:
After five years and 23 short-term extensions, Congress has passed legislation reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the next four years. Included in the bill are provisions that create a uniform national policy regarding musical instruments on airplanes. Any instrument that can be safely stored in the overhead compartment or underneath the seat may be brought on board as carry-on luggage. Additionally, the bill sets standard weight and size requirements for checked instruments, and permits musicians to purchase a seat for oversized instruments, such as cellos, that are too delicate to be checked. Existing law allowed each airline to set their own policy regarding musical instruments, and size requirements varied widely for both carry-on and checked baggage. The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) has been lobbying Congress to enact such a policy for nearly a decade.
(Via www.afm.org)
Finally, something our Congress passes that makes sense. Too bad they didn’t put it out for the public to see before voting on it. Remember that broken promise Mr. Obama?
Finale Notepad 2012…..FREE……AGAIN
File this under news no one really cares about….
One of the biggest bone head decisions was MakeMusic charging for NotePad, which had been free up until version 2009 (I think). Well, duh…..no one bought it. And the exposure they got for providing a fairly adequate notation program for free evaporated.
Now, at NAMM, they announced that 2012 version of Finale Notepad is going to be free. Now….if they would only maybe follow through? Hello Minnesota….you there?
I dunno exactly what the point is in announcing something then waiting like a month to deliver it. How hard is it to strip out the DRM in it? Seriously, how MakeMusic stays in business is anyone’s guess.
UPDATE 2/15/2012 Seems they, over a month after they announced it, have released Notepad.
John Williams is 80 Today
One of the best, if not THE BEST, movie composers, John Williams, turns 80 today. Though the article suggests 5 scores of his to listen to, there are TONS more. Like Indiana Jones music, ET, Superman (original), Catch Me If You Can (which has a great saxophone part done by Dan Higgins), Saving Private Ryan….just to name a FEW.
Wiki him. He has pretty much shaped music in movies since the 70s.
Manhattan School Of Music Doesn’t Archive McCaslin
So it seems Donny McCaslin had a broadcasted Masterclass yesterday. But the geniuses at the Manhattan School of music didn’t archive it. Yes, read that again. But the geniuses at the Manhattan School of music didn’t archive it.
Why? This makes absolutely NO SENSE. First, it has value. They invited him to speak, so, he music have some gravitas right? And they broadcasted him right? So…..why not make an archive copy? What if, say, it was such a great masterclass that they want next year’s students to watch it? Nope, can’t do it. It’s gone. What if Donny dies suddenly after watching the latest Twilight Movie at home (his insides literally tore themselves apart sitting through that drivel) and the world is robbed of his talent, and perhaps one of the most interesting discussions he gave was the week before….but they didn’t archive it.
And we wonder why education costs so much.
Now, a smart university would maybe have archived the discussion. Maybe put it on iTunes like say, oh I dunno, Stanford does? Or a TON of other Universities? Or maybe even put it on YouTube and get some revenue from the ads? No no, that would be a good decision. Let’s just broadcast it and throw it away. Maybe NASA should have done that when we went to the moon. Or maybe Stanford should have never archived and made available for free on iTunes. I mean, it’s not like it isn’t probably the most amazing speech given in a long long time, and insight into a genius. No no, no way that Donny could ever do that right? He doesn’t need to be archived.
Stupid Manhattan School of Music. Really stupid. Get into the 21st Century. Archive everything. It doesn’t cost you a dime to upload to YouTube and you could make some money off it.
Sheet Of The Week (Super Bowl Bonus) – We Are The Champions (Queen)
Honestly, I could care less who won the super bowl, but I would be more upset if the Patriots won. Hate that team. They are real *@*X*@&$&!*@$*XA@*#&@! and @*!&#@*$!*X*!&#$!* and @*!*!$&#*!#*(!($*!#&. Oh, and &!&#*$&!#*@$#!*#&. And Tom Brady is $*!*@&$!#^#!&^$#*#!&$*!#&^!#$^*!#. Whew…..feel a little better now.
We Are The Champions by Queen for Eb Instruments (78.2 KiB, 371 hits)
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We Are The Champions by Queen for Bb Instruments (80.8 KiB, 153 hits)
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OK Go’s Superbowl Ad
Brilliant….as always
Sheet Of The Week – Disturbia (Rhianna)
I dunno……after the second time this song is annoying as hell.
Disturbia by Rhianna for Eb Instruments (107.0 KiB, 154 hits)
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Disturbia by Rhianna for Bb Instruments (111.5 KiB, 80 hits)
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Colin Stetson performs “Judges” on Q
Not really my type of music per se, but dude has talent. Looks painful watching him though…..like he’s having a heart attack.
How it was done
One Man Phantom Of The Opera
Whoa, this guy is amazing…..