Rollin' on the River...
Rehearsal was short and sweet this week. Preparation of the unique musical selection for a wedding ceremony was mostly smooth sailing. A shout goes out to Casey for "keeping us honest" and making sure we look at things outside of rehearsal. I love it. Oh, and since Jason made his weekly journey north past the Mason-Dixon Line to visit us, we humored him and learned an entirely new arrangement as well.
I am absolutely thrilled at the song selection for this wedding. It is fun, fresh, and original. Keeping a ceremony light and fun tells a lot about the couple. I have no doubt they will be able to face any challenge life throws at them. Congrats you two!!
Jennie and I, along with some friends, went to a preview showing of "The Count of Monte Cristo" on the U of M Showboat this past weekend. FYI, the boat does NOT go out on the river while you watch the performance; please stop calling my wife and complaining, she is unable to detach the boat from its concrete moorings. The whole vibe given off at the showboat is an "olde tyme" riverboat experience, with Vaudevillian numbers spaced in between acts. These Olios, as with other songs in that style, are especially cute in that the true subject matter of the song is covertly delivered. Think of the lovely game, "If you know what I mean." Two people have a topic to discuss, but must say the phrase, "if you know what I mean" at the end of every exchange. It gives a suggestive double meaning to even the most innocent of phrases. Explicit lyrics did not exist back then, and one had to divulge their true feelings through clever wordplay. I appreciate the shrewdness of their lyrics, and hope to fashion some songs in honor of their ingenuity....if you know what I mean.
Dono
Lovin' Every Minute of It....
Oh what a difference a day makes!! This saying rang true for Up 'til 2 this past weekend at the Flint Hills Festival. Our performance on Saturday left us... unsatisfied. Picture yourself about to dive into a giant chocolate malt; upon indulging on said chocolate malt, you are in love at the beginning, but realize by the end that there just wasn't enough...malt. You just had a chocolate shake. Hey, you like chocolate shakes well enough, but it wasn't quite what you were looking for.
Sunday's performance was pure chocolate malt. Hopefully you were there to take a listen; that was some of the best singing this 5-man version of Up 'til 2 has ever done. That inflatable roof had no chance this weekend. If the storm Saturday night had not of gotten hold of it and ripped it down, we would have taken care of that on Sunday. We had an absolute blast on stage; at one point Casey and I exchanged a look in between songs that said it all: exhausted glee, mixed with confidence and satisfaction.
Comments from members of the Up 'til 2 fan club(read: family/relatives) reaffirmed my faith in the vision of the seven-man group. They loved us, but missed the depth and unique sound 7 voices bring, especially on the songs they had heard originally with seven. I feel with five we are more your typical "a cappella group" than a "vocal band" right now. I can almost hear you thinking, "Why does that matter?" To this I will only say, it's chocolate shake vs. chocolate malt.
Dono
Video Killed the Radio Star...
Wealth. Beauty. Celebrity Status. As showtime drew near, my head spun as I was surrounded by Powerball Winners, Belly Dancers, and Wally the Beer Man. Bricks surrounding the hallway were signed by the likes of Candice Bergen, Desi Arnaz, and The Beastie Boys. Sure, I played it "cool", but being a musical guest on a live network TV talk show made me downright giddy. Vocal groups and TV are not often mixed together; however, I think this musical media concoction went down nice and smooth. Thanks to Christian for having us on the show.
They say the camera adds 10 pounds; I was hoping for me it would 10 inches. Alas, I once again looked like a fledgling Oak amidst giant Redwoods. I have received a nice 50/50 balance between comments of my singing versus my height/size on screen. I guess it could have been worse; I am suddenly recollecting the disturbing tragedy of my only childhood TV "appearance". My sister and I were filmed eating ice cream cones at a summer festival for the local six o' clock news. Family and friends were gathered 'round the televsion to see our 15 seconds of fame. What transpired, and the feeling of complete emptiness and worthlessness that followed, cannot be understood unless you are many inches under the average height and have experienced something similar. As the credits begin: A heart-warming shot of a young girl and her ice cream cone, smiling at the camera. And lo! Who could that mystery boy be with only the very top of his hair visible at the bottom of the screen? Poor thing! Surely they could have given him a stool? Or a box, perhaps? Kudos to my mom. I am sure consoling a 7 year old boy who had just been completely mortified and reduced to nothing in front of everyone wasn't too easy. Now that I think of it, I haven't yet watched the video of our performance from Friday. I think I will watch it with my mom, just in case.
Dono
Sounds of Silence...
Our rehearsal this week marked the first time we(read: Jason)hooked up our sound system in its entirety. Upon lugging our massive speakers and subwoofer up flights(plural!) of stairs and down mirror-filled hallways of doom (for which I was very fortunately absent), we were greeted by the sounds of silence....and static. I am sure Casey and I constantly asking Jason the questions, "What does this mean?" or "What does this thing do?" sped the process along quite nicely. Glad we could help.
Once we had Michael Rowfones up and running, it was time to prep for our TV gig. 1 time on our system + 20 second clips of songs= 2 much to account for. We definitely had some frustrating moments, but I think the 15 minute "effects" session we had in between allowed us to blow off some steam. Hearing Casey sing tenor and bass simultaneously is something one must experience to believe.
Singing on Mike Rowfones is an interesting thing. The main difficulty I have is the issue of "volume wars". For example, you are watching TV and your sibling/roomate/spouse(I hope not all of the above) is watching or listening to something in the next room. You begin to have trouble hearing your own, so you turn up your volume a little. Nice, right? Well, they in turn do the same thing. This goes back and forth, little by little, until you neighbor calls and says "they can hear it fine on their TV and don't need surround sound." The same thing happens when singing on a system; everyone must constantly be checking their volume and be listening for balance. It adds a very different set of challenges in addition to the regular musical ones. From what I understand, Jason has some mystical knobs and buttons that can limit the volume at a pre-determined level; I do believe eyes glazed and drool flowed when he tried explaining it to me. I don't really remember.
Dono
Forever Young...
Sunday's rehearsal took an interesting turn: After playing frisbee, the rehearsal involved Kermit the Frog, the Muppets, and Casey buying all of us cookies afterwards. It truly was a youthful experience. Learning "Rainbow Connection" and "Muhna Muhna" only strengthens our grip on our 5-10 year old core audience. I assume our other core audience, 70-80 year olds, will find them cute as well.
While our 5-man sound is limited, I am constantly knocked around by the amount of material we have been eating through the past month or so. Our vibe within the group is strong; our confidence and motivation are higher than I have ever seen it. I definitely attribute most of it to the fun and enjoyment we are having. This group is keeping me sane while I apply for numerous(hooray!)teaching jobs. Yes, folks, it is that time of year again. In what has become an annual tradition four years running, I have begun the process of finding a music education position. Let us take a journey into the mysterious, hidden realm of our educational employment process. Do you have your torch? Your broad sword? There is evil here that makes skin crawl and reduces grown men to crying, gibbering crazies.
Before you venture out into the darkness, your inventory must be fully stocked with the following: the Scroll of Interest, the Resume of Glory, 3 Scrolls of Recommendation, your Transcripts of Knowledge, and the License of Authority. You will use these invaluable items upon every encounter; do not expect to get past any of these foes without them.
What are these creatures, you ask? They come in many forms; some seem innocent and harmless. Others rear up and show you they are formidable straight away. They are: the Guild of District Applications! Be afraid; there is good reason, but show no fear. They use subterfuge, confusion, and fearmongering to scare away all but the most devoted(desparate?) of teachers. Some may require your Resume of Glory here also, even though you included it in the Holy Packet of Power.... oh, your counter-atttack is to cut and paste from your word document? Haha, you lose all of the formatting and spacing from the original! Diabolical!! Upon fixing these problems, you then encounter required questions that are answered by the information on the Resume. Sorry, my young padawan, but you must answer these questions still.
And now we come to crux of it; the Heart of the Beast. If, by now, you have prepared your inventory, ran the gauntlet of repetitive questions and requirements, and are still not discouraged, they have a final fiend newly found. Within the last couple years, all of the Guild members have added: Essay Questions of Despair! Six to ten mind-wrenching, thought-twisting, skull-rattling brain busters that question your very being. Would you like to hear some? Stop me if your ears begin to bleed.
WHAT ARE SOME REASONS YOU SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION OVER OTHERS?
HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR STUDENTS IN ORDER TO BE MOST HELPFUL TO THEM?
HOW DO YOU DESIGN AN OVERALL LESSON FOR YOUR CLASS?
WHAT FOUR KEY COMPONENTS DO YOU BELIEVE YOU MUST INCLUDE IN YOUR PLAN?
WHAT TWO CORE TEACHING STRATEGIES DO YOU MOST USE TO ACHIEVE THIS RESULT?
I have at least 30 more that I have answered over the years, but I see you shivering in a fetal position underneath your desk, so I will refrain.
I assume you realize that all this is necessary before you even speak to a single person? It is very possible that you never will. You will devote many hours to a single application, and not even get a first interview. I have also found many of these positions are only posted publicly for one week. What this means to me is: A. They already have someone in mind and are just going through the motions, B. There is such an excess of teachers for the position that they only need to post for a week to get a good number of candidates. The thought of throwing a juicy steak to a pack of wild, ravenous dogs suddenly comes to mind.
Am I complaining? Actually, no. I am simply telling my experience. I am sure there are many others that have had an even tougher time of it than I. Am I frustrated? I think the parable above answers that question just fine.
Dono
Jazz Man
Subjecting people to the music of your choice (when they themselves have no choice but to listen) is not something I subscribe to. However, I do appreciate the situation when it arises, since it:
A. makes you appreciate the music you do enjoy; perhaps even the reasons why?
B. makes you listen to music outside of your "comfort" zone and forces you to analyze it; ultimately forcing a decision as to its merit.
One thing I do enjoy about the twin cities is the amount of interesting people I am exposed to. You know, the ones you can only find in the big city. I am lucky enough to often ride home on what I have dubbed, the "Bebop Bus." The cool cat behind the wheel is straight out of the Beat generation, with lingo, goatee, and shades in tow. Strapped down next to him, amidst a bed of foam and bungee cords, is his CD player. Upon entering said bus, the rider is engulfed by his daily selection of Jazz.
I personally adore Jazz music, and every time I stumble upon the sound of it I often ask myself, "Why don't I listen to this more often?" I will assume that not all of the other passengers feel the same way. I attribute this music appreciation to my past experience in Jazz band and Vocal Jazz. This led me to answer that question: I believe I don't listen to Jazz more often because it is more fun to play it than listen to it. I also believe this is the reason for its lack of popularity. Noodling over different progressions and finding that groove is an absolute blast. Listening to it is highly enjoyable, trying to guess where the soloist is headed is fun, but it ultimately saddens me being a passive listener. Not only this, but I believe one truly appreciates this music only when they have attempted to learn how to play it and realize how difficult it can be. You may think me to be elitist; so be it. I have instant respect for anyone who can play Jazz and improvise.
I bring all of this up, of course, to compare it to a cappella music. I feel a cappella has this same inherent flaw. It is not necessarily in the same boat as Jazz; I would say swimming in the same waters. A cappella can have a bit more grip on the casual listener by relying on covers of songs that were already popular to begin with. It is also more easily accessible to become involved with; the learning curve is much better and less music theory is needed. Still, I believe it is similar in that it is a type of music you only truly appreciate when you have experienced it yourself. Look at who buys and/or listens to a cappella music. It is the same as Jazz: people who are performing the music themselves or have done so in the past.
Solution? Simple: Make band or choir mandatory throughout school. This would solve many more problems than just this one. :)
Dono
Stayin' Alive
We are down to five, but we're still alive!! Oh, the peaks and valleys of the Up 'til 2 terrain! On a high note, through much toil and sacrifice, we have finally secured a sound system to call our own. I feel it deserves a name: shall we name it Michael Rowfones? I certainly think so! Thanks to Jason and the late member Jon for all of their effort securing us an incredible system.
On a low note, we are back down to five members again. Ultimately it will allow the group to continue, but dang if it isn't the saddest thing to see the group take 3 steps forward and then 2 steps back. It is like Up 'til 2 is an eligible, attractive single:
"Looking for a long-term relationship. Very needy with high and specific standards. No financial stability, but can offer periods of intense satisfaction coupled with frustration and longing. Call me!!"
Not that any of this is a bad thing, mind you; it is just difficult finding the right men. Yeah, yeah... I can almost hear the cheers erupting from the ladies' camp. I feel your pain.
Dono
Rockin' into the night....
Friday night saw us playing our regular venue; the Dunn Bros on Grand Ave. Thanks to them for inviting us back once again. Many of us were out of coffee, so it was a welcome performance. I missed informing you of our fantastic holiday function in Wisconsin this past December. All I need to tell you is that it was lucrative. And that we need to expand our setlist to appeal to a wider demographic. A song about Brett Favre would have indeed brought the house down.
"Rock Band" weekend occurred the past two days for Jennie and I. After rescheduling twice, we were finally able to get together with friends and Rock! out. If you are unaware, Rock Band is a video game were you emulate the experience of creating a band and rising to stardom. It is an amalgamation of karaoke, drumming, and Guitar Hero. I found the virtual experience of moving a band foward much easier and hassle-free than in real life. "Mr. Pants and the Corps de Roys" were more popular in 5 hours than in the 3 years of Up 'til 2's existence. It is quite a proud feeling to be trying it in real life, however.
Anyone else notice that the recent popularity of music rhythm games such as Rock Band and Guitar Hero coincided with the decline of music in our schools? Extracurricular music groups (Jazz band,quartets, etc) are the first programs looked at to be cut; even entire music programs are axed in the elementary and middle school settings. I find it quite humorous that "video games" are now our surrogate music teachers. I know for a fact that many middle school children would not otherwise be exposed to something that rates your "musical" performance. The guitars have a long way to go in emulating the real instrument, but you learn actual rhythm patterns by playing the drums. For singing, you have a constant arrow that is your "pitch-finder", telling you if you are flat or sharp. Obviously these games are not a replacement for a music teacher and music program, but if they get someone interested enough to pick up a real instrument or join a choir, I would be absolutely thrilled. I really don't want our nation's children to grow up tone-deaf and rhythmically challenged. The Karaoke bars are bad enough already.
Dono
Galileo
Last night saw the new fish teaching the old dogs a new trick. It is the song "Galileo" by the Indigo Girls, and I have not been able to get it out of my head since we worked on it. This is a good thing, as my part is cementing a spot in my brain as we speak. Expect to hear this one from us soon at your local coffee shop/festival. As a general rule I shy away from crossing gender lines when choosing songs to arrange, as female melodies often fall in higher ranges and cause a necessary lowering of the key, changing the original feel of the song. This song is a fantastic exception; thanks to the noobs for opening my eyes a bit wider.
The motivation of the group is definitely kicking in, and everyone is focused on getting this group on its feet. I look forward to rehearsals now more than I ever have, and I attribute that to the strides we have made thus far. I actually feel a little guilty when I choose to do other thing besides work on arrangements; I love it.
Dono
Give me somethin' to believe in...
I was able to witness history this past weekend. No, not Barry... he is old, but not historical. I am talking about being at the Viking's game, seeing Adrian Peterson in person running for 296 yards and setting the NFL record. Witnessing people perform amazing feats is awe-inspiring, and makes you dream about doing something awe-inspiring yourself. I suppose my chances for that are relegated to the music realm and not the gridiron, so I ought to focus my energies on that. Is it possible to do something awe-insipiring in the arts if it is not original? With football, you are confined to the parameters of the sport, and inpiring awe comes with outperforming all others at the same skill. Adrian Peterson is doing things that are awe-inspiring, yet he is using the same physical mechanics running the football as everyone else. He is not skipping every third step, or flapping his arms to gain extra speed. One way to compare this to the music realm is someone covering an already known song. How many covers of popular tunes are "awe-inspiring"? Originality is borderline necessary in art, as its audience expects it to be new and fresh.
Why am I rambling about this? Well, to get back to my main point, would I need to come up with something original to do the same? Vocal groups seem to thrive on souped-up versions of familiar songs...and could I write an original song on par with the others I have arranged? I guess, as the old saying goes, all I can do is try. I have no doubt the guys will let me know what they think about it.
Dono