When I was around 10 or 11 years old I made a trip to the local record store (remember those?) with my family knowing that that I wanted to expand my music horizons with “cool” music. I had to buy the record myself so instead of CD section I headed straight for the tapes (remember those ) I picked up Nirvana’s Nevermind and Metallica’s ReLoad because they were “cool” but not too “cool” for my own good (it was the late 90′s). With both tapes in hand I went up to my older brother, stuck them in his face and said, “Which one should I get?” His exact words were, “Get Metallica, everyone has Nirvana.” Those are the words that changed my life forever.

I took the tape home and couldn’t stop listening to it. It spawned my love for Metallica (I started playing guitar because of Kirk Hammett) which opened my eyes to heavy metal and hard rock music which shaped my junior high and high school years. Diving deeper into the origins of hard rock led me to blues music which led me to early country and bluegrass.

I tend to have a little ADD when it comes to music and can never stay on one type of music very long. Maybe that helped me explore and like many different genres of music along the way. However, I consider that one fateful conversation with my older brother to be the beginning of my musical journey that has and will always effect my life for the better.

Where did your music journey begin? Who turned you on to the wonders music had to offer?

To light the fuse

Something to use

To enjoy the views

Find the colors and hues

‘Cause if you have the clues

You cannot lose

Don’t forget to amuse

And bring on the woo hoo’s!

Without relying on booze

How do you find the muse?

A couple of Sundays ago, another voice was added to our usual weekend soundscape – that of a beginning violinist, practicing hard on one particular piece. I couldn’t tell where it was coming for certain but what I could tell was that they have not been playing for long. It was obvious that they were limping through Minuet in G Major, a fairly well known tune generally attributed to J.S. Bach.

Not every bystander can withstand this level of music-making for extended periods of time. The late comedian Jack Benny made the most of this fact. However, this was – literally and figuratively – music to my ears. I believe that learning to play a musical instrument is a sure-fire way for any person to enrich their own life. I am convinced that learning music is especially helpful to young people in their formative years, on so many levels that we may not yet have identified them all.

I try to encourage anyone who is first learning a musical instrument to keep at it, because I know from experience that eventually they will be rewarded with a sense of personal satisfaction by their accomplishment. Besides that, once a person has practiced enough to play confidently so that the tune really comes across, other people will enjoy it too. I guarantee there is no other high that compares to receiving the sincere applause of an audience.

Hearing this creaky version of Minuet in G Major took me back to my own childhood, when I’d be hard at work practicing scales and basic tunes on my trumpet at home. My stepfather, Charlie, always let me know how I was coming along.  Whenever he’d pass the closed door of my bedroom on his way down the hall, he’d say“Hey, give it a rest why don’t you!?” Or “I thought I told you to knock that off!!” Ah, the sweet memories of my youth!

Seriously though, this sort of critique can really stifle the muse for someone just starting a musical path. If a beginner is “on the fence” about whether to keep working on tone and timing or throw in the towel and start Tae Kwon Do lessons instead, advice from guys like my stepfather can send a young player straight to the Dojo… after returning the violin to the music store on the way there.  Knowing this, I tried to think of how to send a message of encouragement to this unseen novice serenading us from somewhere across the street, however unintentional and tentative that serenade may have been.

I remembered a pop hit from back in the ‘60s (I confess that I am old enough to remember when it was getting lots of airplay on AM radio) which was based on Minuet in G Major. The melody is about all I could remember of it, but thankfully this is the 21st century and in a few short minutes I found a YouTube video of The Toys performing A Lover’s Concerto from a 1965 TV episode of Hullabaloo. Pay dirt!

This pop tune is in 4/4 time, whereas Minuet in G Major is in 3/4 . It’s performed by a vocal trio, so it has lyrics – the original is strictly instrumental. The pop version changes key several times, probably arranged that way an attempt to keep it interesting enough for pop consumers used to three minute dance numbers with a hook of some kind.  But the tune is indelible. You can speed it up or slow it down, change the key or the meter, add lyrics or take them away.  Regardless, that unmistakable melody shines through.

About the time I had confirmed that this video was what I was looking for, I noticed the change in the background sounds. My novice violinist had gone quiet. Was he/ she finished with practicing for the day? Were they feeling too timid to keep it up? Was some counterpart of Charlie intervening on behalf of annoyed parents everywhere? I cranked the volume on the ‘puter and hit “play.”

How gentle is the rain
That falls softly on the meadow,
Birds high up the trees
Serenade the clouds with their melodies…

…And so on.  It’s a pretty lightweight number, to be honest. But that melody is just so catchy! It has been catching people’s fancy for at least 285 years, at this point. A good tune will do that. This is what is meant by “timeless.” I’m sure that some of my neighbors were just as annoyed by my blasting A Lover’s Concerto as they were about having to listen to creaky violin playing. But they were far from my thoughts. I was hoping that my beginner had heard, and noticed that melody. I wanted to say “check it out – I heard you, and I know the song you’re playing. Good work, you’re getting it! Don’t stop!” But not knowing who to say it to, or where to find them, I could think of no way to accomplish this. No way, that is, other than to send a musical message out toward their general direction, and hope for the best. Maybe it worked. I can’t really say. I can report that about five minutes after the video ended, that voice began Minuet in G Major once again. I thought it sounded less “limpy,” and a little bit more confident that time. In fact I’m sure of it.

Share your stories of learning to play an instrument. Did you have words of encouragement all the way through? Or, did you have someone like Charlie keeping you down? Let us know!

Photo Credit: garryknight

What do you get when combining a golden voice, clever songwriting, incredible musicianship, lush harmonies and a love of music? You get Phil Angotti’s new CD release “People and Places”.

Phil draws from American and British power pop influences from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s but he has crafted his own style. Phil wrote all the songs, and if you like melody, you will like this release. You also get some great grooves and all the extras. I suggest that you get the whole CD (don’t just download a song or two). None of the songs sound the same and they each help build a total work of art. And with the Lazy Apple Orchestra you get a lot of different instruments on each song that you don’t want to miss.

As song # 6 says, “What happened to the songs with the grooves?” Well, I think he answered his own question. Click HERE.

What’s YOUR favorite album cover? Let’s make our own list and see how it compares.

BestCovers

In my opinion, this gent is one of the most creative people in the history of mankind.

Go EJ!

Laurence Juber, now and then!

He has his own Laurence Juber signature model C.F. Martin Acoustic guitar OMC-LJ. He is a world renowned fingerpicking expert, composer, arranger and all around guitar virtuoso.  He composed and performed music for Ken Burn’s follow up baseball documentary film The Tenth Inning.  And he has recently completed LJ Plays The Beatles Vol. 2. These are just a few of his achievements and accomplishments in a hugely successful career.

And who does Laurence turn to for gig bags and cases for his prized guitars? Reunion Blues, of course! When I asked him about his squadron of Reunion Blues gig bags, he commented:

“I am indeed well-equipped with your bags, with my first purchased at Manny’s Music on 48th St in NYC in 1978.”

The Juber Squadron

Laurence sent us this photo of his Reunion Blues gig bags and cases titled: En Route to a Session (I bet that was one heck of a session!  He added:

“As a traveling musician, I appreciate the value of a well-designed and functional gig bag. There are certainly some competitive alternative products in the marketplace, but none have the consistency of style, ‘fit’ and ‘finish’ that I associate with Reunion Blues.”

When asked about traveling with his guitars, he offered this comment which may be even more impressive than our famous drop test from the top of a 3-story building:

“I’ve been happy with the Reunion Blues Continental for my Les Paul and have checked it as baggage with no concerns.”

Laurence was one of the first people we showed our new RB prototypes to at the 2011 NAMM show. Here is what he had to say:

“The suede finish prototype bag at NAMM was cool – I particularly liked the zippered flap over the outside pocket.”

We are obviously thrilled to have Laurence as an official Reunion Blues artist endorser. To learn more about one of the most exciting guitar players of our time, just go to laurencejuber.com. Enjoy with amazement!

For instance, how about The Beatles playing on top of Apple Studios in 1969, or The Band’s Last Waltz at Winterland Theatre? I want to pick up my guitar and jam alongside of John Lennon or Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm. I mean stand right beside them, or behind them, or in front of them (or their hologram image). Use computer imagery to add those extra dimensions. Talk about being in the moment, being in the zone. That would get me there! How about the Rolling Stones at Altamont? Not only could you jam with Mick and Keith, you could feel their fear as Hells Angels roamed the stage and crowd…I’m getting sidetracked and, well, you know the story. Or you could swing with Duke Ellington or even croon with Bing Crosby. The possibilities are endless. Whatever your style of music, join the band!

Talk about a great tool to inspire musicians and allow for an out of body experience, this is it, all in one. If someone is working on this please let me know, I’ll be the first to buy it. I’ve never been an “early adopter” when it comes to technology, but for this, sign me up! Come on you computer programmers. Let’s get on it. I even have a name for it: Holojams!

As an example of the fun stuff you can do on an individual level, I recorded an original song in my simple basement studio with a rhythm guitar track, bass, drums, harmonica and vocals. I downloaded in the MP3 format and emailed it to my former college roommate 2000 miles away. He uploaded it, added a lead guitar track and backing vocal and emailed it back to me. How cool is that!? We haven’t seen each other in a few years but it was like being together again.

You should also record others. In the project “Playing For Change-Peace Through Music”, 2 guys traveled around the world with only a laptop computer and 2 microphones (and probably a change of clothes and a toothbrush). They recorded street musicians and then mixed the tracks to produce an incredibly moving project, showing that we all have a lot in common when it comes to music. Many of us have seen and heard “Stand By Me”. It starts with a street performer in Santa Monica CA and then goes to distant parts of the earth to add other street musicians into this incredibly linked version of people, voices and instruments that will make you feel good. To check it out, just go to www.playingforchange.com . Technology bringing people together through music…Heavenly!