StickNews Digest Issue #277 - 08/25/05

An online digest about The Chapman Stick® published by Jim Reilly.

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CONTENTS:
WELCOME
  • Greetings from the river.
GO
  • Update your stats.
  • Seminars and get togethers abound.
  • Bob gets the star treatment.
  • LIVE STICK!
PLAY
  • Mixing it up.
  • Basic and not so basic.
  • Dutch Courage.
ENJOY
  • Don, Don, Don.
  • Jimmy Somebody.
GREETINGS FROM KAMLOOPS

Hello All,

A good friend of mine runs a marine construction business. He builds docks and wharves, drives pilings and tows log booms all around the many lakes and rivers that surround Kamloops. For the last three years we've had a little summer ritual. In late June/early July he phones me up and says, "Jimmy, I need you. I've got tons of work and not enough people. Be down at the dock at 6:30 tomorrow morning." This year we're driving pilings along the Thompson River, the river that runs right through the middle of Kamloops.

We take a log, anywhere from 30 to 50 feet long, peeled of all it's bark and hopefully pretty straight, lift it with a crane, secure it in a chamber suspended from the end of the crane's boom, drop a 950 lb weight on it any number of times and pound it into the ground. The best part is when I get lifted up with a winch and climbing harness 50 feet straight up to mess around with the log at the top of the boom. It's hard, physical work, long hours, I have all sorts of cuts, bumps and bruises but I've also dropped a couple of pounds, feel like I'm in getting into pretty good shape and have a really nice tan.

What does that have to do with Stick playing? Not much. In fact, I've hardly picked up my Stick for the last month and a half. By the end of the day it's all I can do to make some dinner and crawl into bed. But my manual labour summer job is wrapping up in a week or so and I've started picking up my Stick again and the most amazing thing is happening.

It's happened before after both self imposed hiatuses and those breaks from regular practice and play that a busy life sometimes requires - when I come back to my Stick, my playing is miles ahead of where it was when I left it. Sure there's a little rust to work off but that goes away really quickly and usually it just takes a minute or so to realize that I haven't forgotten how to play. It's like I come back to my Stick fresh, re-focused, purged of past mistakes. I'll even go so far as to say there is a little bit of that beginner's enthusiasm and sense of discover. My music sounds more musical and the physical, emotional and spiritual rush I get when my music sounds more musical is overwhelming.

So I'm going out on a limb here, or maybe out on the end of a 50 foot crane boom and saying, (it's hard to say this but) maybe, every now and then, it just might be the right thing, or at least try and see if it works, but, well, don't play your Stick. When ideas run dry, fingers feel like mush, you can't come up with anything that excites you, maybe a break is what's needed. Go for a walk, work in the garden, ride your bike, drive pilings in a major British Columbia waterway. Space, time, distance can be a good thing. For me anyways the renewed sense of perspective is a reward that makes all the hard work more than worthwhile.

Take care,
Jim

WHAT'S GOING ON?

From: Sticknews@aol.com
Subject: player directory updates
Date: Mon 25/07/2005

Hi Everyone,

I've not updated the player directory for some time. Recent computer troubles have resulted in the loss of several new entries I had stored.

I'd like to get back on the case with the directory, so if you're a new player who wants to sign up or you want to update your entry, now is a really good time. you can find the directory at:

http://members.aol.com/sticknews/sticknewsarchives/playerdirectory/

I apologize to those of you who sent in entries that have not appeared. Please send them again, this time I'll get them up there, I promise.

Also, If you are going to send in a picture (which I strongly recommend), please attach it to your email already sized at 95x95 pixels. Thanks,

Happy Tapping,
Greg
www.greghoward.com
New CD "Ether Ore" now available


From: steve hahn [steve@deepchocolate.com]
Subject: The Colorado Stick Seminar and Concert 2005
Date: Thu 28/07/2005

Hello folks,

Here's a quick anouncement for an upcoming Stick event. The link below will lead you to the seminar webpage which provides further details.

The Colorado Stick Seminar and Concert 2005
( http://www.deepchocolate.com/stickseminar/index05.htm)
presented by Steve Hahn
Saturday, October 1, 2005
Seminar from 12:00pm - 5:00pm
Concert at 7:30pm
The Denver Music Institute
4195 South Broadway
Englewood, CO

All the best,
steve


From: SteveAFran@aol.com
Subject: Phoenix area
Date: Tue 02/08/2005

I'll be back in the Phoenix/Sedona area early October. This time I'll have time to do some kind of seminar/clinic. Anyone interested in helping to organize?

Email me directly,
Thanks,
Steve Adelson


From: Irene Orleansky [irene@musicbrothersrecords.com]
Subject: news for sticknews
Date: Thu 11/08/2005

Shalom Stickistas!

Read my interview with Bob Culbertson on Showcase page of my Website. Plenty of interesting information there.

Here is the link: www.musicbrothersrecords.com/irene/showcase.html

Enjoy it!
Irene


From: Ron Baggerman [rbaggerman@galaxygypsy.nl]
Subject: Gig on 1 October Worms/Germany: Ron+ Michael Koch
Date: Sat 13/08/2005

Concert of Ron Baggerman on the 1st of October in Worms/Germany together with the band of Stickist Michael Koch.

Details:
www.galaxygypsy.nl/page.php?pid=en_714

Style of music will be mainly progressive Rock.

Thanks Michael for setting up this event,

Ron
www.galaxygypsy.nl


From: SteveAFran@aol.com
Subject: Long Beach Jazz Festival
Date: Sun 14/08/2005

For those in the area, here is the schedule for our third annual Long Beach (NY) Jazz Festival. There will be at least two Stick players participating. The other musicians are world renown and the scope of the music is diverse.

All shows are FREE at The Long Beach Public Library - 111 West Park Ave.
(516-432-7201)

Thursday, Sept 8
7pm ---Aerial Acoustics (guitar duo)
8pm ---Los Playeros de Long Beach (latin harp group)
9pm ---Matt Wilson (drums and pipa duo)

Friday, Sept 9
7pm ---Jim Lampi (solo Chapman Stick)
8pm ---Bryan Carrott trio (vibes, drums and Stick)
9pm ---Debbie Knapper (funk group)

Saturday, Sept 10
12noon ---Mike Barnett Band (quartet)
1:00pm ---Kerry Kearney Band (Blues group)
2:15pm ---Chieli Minucci/Steve Adelson Group (guitar, Stick and percussion)
3:30pm ---Stephane Wrembel trio (gypsy swing jazz)
4:45pm ---John Favicchia's Dharma All Stars (Latin/funk group)

Sunday, Sept 11
12:30pm ---Paula Atherton and Interplay (quintet)
1:30pm ----Ted Rosenthal (solo piano)
2:15pm ----Steve Adelson Stick-Tet (with guest Ted Rosenthal)
3:30pm ----Mark Elf trio (bebop guitar)
4:45pm ----Afrodysia (Latin band)


From: Stickist@aol.com
Subject: Stick®-Tech workshop, Sunday, Oct 9, Charlottesville, VA
Date: Sat 20/08/2005

Hi everyone,

In the interest of expanding on the kinds of instructional offerings available to Stick players, I'm happy to announce the first Stick®-Tech workshop in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Sunday, October 9th.

This workshop will deal exclusively with recording and amplification issues, rather than technique studies. It will be held at the Music Resource Center in Charlottesville, and will be followed by a Stick Night at Gravity Lounge that night.

Students who want to, can also perform in the Stick Night concert.

We will cover various recording techniques and strategies, talk about editing Stick tracks, and cover a wide range of pre-amp and amplification options, and compression and effects usage. You can even bring your rig for trouble-shooting.

I'm especially happy to announce that Glenn Poorman, an excellent composer, performer and looper will be on hand to talk about his concepts and gear and to play at the concert. Looking forward to welcome you to Charlottesville, Glenn!

Because I want to make this experience the most useful for the folks who sign up, admission will be limited to 12 students.

The fee for the event, which includes admission for two persons to the Stick Night is $115.

Payment can be made by PayPal or check, you can also pay with a VISA or MC through PayPal.

I have no doubt this event will fill up fast, so folks who pay the registration first will have priority. If you're planning on coming, and will be sending a check, please write back to me right away.

Those who want to PayPal should use stickist@aol.com as the recipient address.

I've arranged a block of discounted rooms at the English Inn in Charlottesville for Saturday and Sunday Nights.

The rate is $86. You can call the hotel to make reservations at 434-971-9900. Rooms are reserved under the name Stick Tech. If you want to share a room, let me know and I can hook you up with another student from the seminar. There are other hotels in town, some less expensive, this is just my favorite one.

The seminar fee does not include food, but the hotel provides breakfast, and there are many cheap eateries around the seminar site.

Class will go on Sunday from 9-5:30 pm, with a lunch break from 12:30-1:30.

Many thanks to Vijith Assar and the folks at the Music Resource Center. I look forward to seeing you there.

Happy Tapping,
Greg
www.greghoward.com
New CD/DVD "Ether Ore" now available

Stick is a registered trademark of Stick Enterprises, Inc, and is used with permission for this event.


From: SteveAFran@aol.com
Subject: Speaking of videos.
Date: Thu 18/08/2005

My trio (Stick, vibes, percussion) did a live studio half hour TV show this past May in NY. Good quality 4 camera shoot. If anyone is interested in a DVD copy, email me privately and we can work it out.

Steve Adelson


From: Tom Griesgraber [tom@thossounds.com]
Subject: S CA Seminar e-mail
Date: Mon 22/08/2005

Hi folks,

I just sent a bulk e-mail out to everyone who is currently registered for this weekend's S CA Stick Seminar.

If you didn't receive it, it's probably either because I don't have your e-mail address, or maybe I didn't get your payment yet.

The e-mail had more specific information on locations, times and what to bring. If you didn't get it, please check in with me and we'll sort it out.

Thanks!
Tom

Tom Griesgraber
www.thossounds.com
760-942-1031


From: Jeremy Nesse [jeremy@cooldryplace.net]
Subject: COOL DRY PLACE performing at The Derby THIS Friday (New Wave >Night
XI @ The Derby) at 9:45p
Date: Tue 23/08/2005

Hey everybody. We're playing at The Derby this Friday at 9:45 with World Wide Spies. Also appearing: The Republic & The Renders. It's part of The Derby¹s New Wave Night! Thanks for the support...
For more info check out www.myspace.com/newwavenights

ALSO, NEW CD out in September! More info to follow...

Jer

TAP, TAP, TAP

From: Chris Crain [stickmusic@earthlink.net]
Subject: Mixing It Up
Date: Tue 02/08/2005

In the last issue, I showed you some LH chord inversions. This time I'm going to show you some RH chord inversions and how I applied them in my song "Nawty Nuff". The audio is an excerpt from the end of the song and lines up with the sheet music after 24 seconds.

The first RH chord, in the first measure, is F major. More specifically - F major / 2nd inversion - written as F/C. So why does it say Dm7 above the chord? Good question. Let's look at the bigger picture. The RH plays an F/C triad (F-A-C), which combines with a single D note played by the LH. The result is D-F-A-C. Dm7.

Keep mixing it up here


From: SteveAFran@aol.com
Subject: Spinal Column numba ate
Date: Sun 14/08/2005

"Basic And Not So Basic Chord Construction:"

The definition of a chord is simply, the simultaneous playing of three or more tones. But obviously there are many variations to this concept. Simplifying the recipes for these basic tools should demystify the harmonic universe.

If we use a C Major scale to base everything on, the math should be a little easier.

CMajor scale (ionian mode) = C D E F G A B C (no sharps or flats)

Major triads (3 note chords) are based on this formula: Start with the root, travel up 2 steps and then again 1 1/2 steps. Starting with C as the root, 2 steps up gives us E, then 1 1/2 up gives us G. CMajor triad therefore is CEG. If you relate this to the CMajor scale you can see that its placement in that line of notes is first, third and fifth or 1,3,5. So we start there:

And we go here:


From: Ron Baggerman [rbaggerman@yahoo.com]
Subject: Dutch Courage
Date: Sun 17/07/2005

For this month's lesson Ron put together a new, original tune. The following is his explanation:

"It's a modal tune based on Am & Dm Triads in the bass. I give 3 alternative basslines to use.

Here are a couple tools I used to create the melody while remaining in 1 position:
-string skipping (creates drama)
-repeating motifs in different octaves
-mirror motifs in different octaves
-scales & arpeggios

It's a great exercise in creating lots of wide interval drama while your hand doesn't move across the neck. It's all about finger coordination/economy of movement."

The accompanying MP3s break the tune down into the specific pieces then rebuilds it with the different bass lines. I like the way the melody gets progressively more intricate as it progressives. Each melodic phrase can be translated very nicely into its own little riff or motif. As always, take what's there, figure it out and turn it into your own.

Here's the full meal deal:

SONGS AND STORIES

From: Don Schiff [donschiff@sbcglobal.net]
Subject: Old strings never die...
Date: Mon 08/08/2005

Hi All,

So about seven months ago (posts starting from Jan. 05 on donschiff.com/blog) I was writing about boiling strings to give them back a little tone until "ya break down" and buy a new set. I got to really enjoy the tone of my dead strings and so kept them on. They were old when I posted then. I'm guessin' about 9 months. So old in fact I don't even now how to describe them. "What do ya call 'em after they are dead" and you still keep 'em goin'? "Beyond Dead" AND THEN ya still keep 'em going. Maybe call them like the movies title sequels "Beyond Dead II" Then "Beyond Dead 3D".etc,.

Read on:


From: John Edmonds [je@johnedmonds.net]
Subject: CD REVIEW: Jim Kam "Jimmy Nobody"
Date: Sun 10/07/2005

Why does so much Stick music sound the same? Don't any of those tappers have an original voice? How many more times do we have to hear a root-5-10 bass figure? Or those melody strings swimming in Boss reverb and chorus?

You can stop complaining now and listen to Jim Kam's short but sweet EP "Jimmy Nobody." The CD's title is a charming irony given that Kam has one of the most distinctive voices in Stickdom. His tapping is fluid, silky, positively legato. Not a sharp attack in the disc's five daydreamy tracks. And with only a touch of reverb and no overdubs, it's clear that his sound is purely in his fingers.

Click here for the rest of the review.


Please send your posts and responses to: sticknews@stick.com.

Copyright 2007 by Jim Reilly, all rights reserved, except where noted. The opinions expressed by subscribers and contributors to this digest are not necessarily those of the publisher. Any business transactions arranged by readers of StickNews are solely their responsibility, and not those of Jim Reilly.

Stick and Chapman Stick are registered trademarks of Stick Enterprises, Inc., and are used in the title of this digest with permission.

Archives of previous Sticknews Digests can be found at sticknews/archives.

End of StickNews #277.