Embracing Technology
Dear Friends of the Guitar,
2021 has finally arrived. Instead of creating a New Year's resolution list, I have decided to simply keep an eye out for things that will enrich my musical life personally and communally. Looking back at 2020, I realize that, for me, it was a year of learning and catching up with the times. 2020 really forced me to become more open minded and positive about technology, and I think that optimistic spirit is what I hope to carry into the New Year and share with you.
Due to the ongoing Covid pandemic, I had to cave in to technology and it's ever more relevant role in our lives. The time spent on my iPhone, Zoom or Skype in connection with guitar and music related activities skyrocketed exponentially, and I feel it compelled me to finally embrace the numerous benefits of the digital world. Instead of clinging on to my previous opinions of that world as a threat that causes more isolation from society, I am now looking forward to using it to reconnect with musicians, friends and family both locally and all over the world and to aide me in my growth as a musician personally. In this month's newsletter I would like to share the technology that I have found most beneficial to these ends along with a playlist that comes solely from friends and family.
There are several apps that I would like to highlight beginning with Drum Beats. This is a solid drum machine app that serves as a wonderful metronome replacement and will help you hone your rhythm skills. It can also serve as a simple drum backing-track for recording purposes.
If you want to practice soloing over jazz chord progressions and sharpen your improvisation skills, irealpro is my next go-to app for you. This app contains a fantastic assortment of play-along tracks that even let you customize your own charts. irealpro can even adjust to different key signatures, tempos and genres on the fly. Amazing!
The Spire Studio logged in the most hours of use for me in 2020. I have mentioned this small box and app before, and I am still amazed at how easy it is to use and what results it offers for folks interested in home recording. It is the perfect choice for anybody interested in old school 4-track simplicity in an easy to use digital format on your smartphone. You can even instantly share your recordings through the web.
Although Zoom and Skype are well known at this point, I want to recommend their use for musical purposes. In addition to teaching online, I also use Zoom to meet weekly with a singer originally from Bengali in order to learn more about her rich heritage of Indian music. What a treat is has been for me to engage in further musical education! A student of mine is also using Zoom to meet with a musician friend to share musical ideas and to work on ear training. These two video conferencing apps provide opportunities to throw musical ideas around, play a live concert for friends or start a regular virtual singer-songwriter night. Why not use Zoom or Skype for a family recital night?
In the same vein, social media and email are great tools for sharing creativity in a workshop manner. I am fortunate to be part of a small circle of musician friends who regularly share their musical creativity back and forth by exchanging home recordings with each other. Over the years, it has become a habit to exchange songs and pieces on a regular basis and has forced me to remain in a consistent creative flow. I recommend this process so why not reach out to fellow musicians within your circle of friends to see if they would be interested in such a creative group?
In the spirit of musical community through technology, this month's playlist is an assortment of artists that came to me, mostly digitally, from friends and family around the world. One resolution I do have for 2021 is to make time to regularly listen to music that does not stem solely from my own musical familiarity. There is nothing wrong with falling back on old favorites, but I am making a conscious effort to expand my listening palette and see what joys, insights and knowledge might come as a side product. January's playlist accomplishes this with gusto. Click below on the album images for links to Spotify playlists.
My sister, having worked with the U.N. for many years and thus lived all over the world, recently introduced me to the Portugese guitar. What beautiful and uplifting sounds this instrument produces! I was delighted to finally be exposed to this surprisingly, lesser-known guitar tradition, and now, I look forward to further exploring it. Listen to Carlos Paredes first album simply titled Guitarra Portuguesa, and be prepared to be swallowed by his hauntingly beautiful and intensely passionate guitar playing. There are interesting background circumstances behind this recording to keep in mind while listening.
My wife Hannah pointed me to a very interesting contemporary rock band out of poverty and violence stricken Mali named Songhoy Blues.
British, European and American blues, rock and heavy metal bands have clearly influenced this band, but they go further by creating their own sound using West African musical elements. I love coming across a band that has an unmistakable sound of their own. The high risks involved in performing their uncompromising music in that region of the world have them featured in December's Premier Guitar magazine.
Over the past few months I feel very fortunate to be gradually learning more about Indian classical and folk music from a mother of a guitar student of mine who is from Bengali. What endless musical treasures there are to be discovered in this most ancient music! Check out the ragas played on the unique guitar like instrument called the Sarod. Ali Akbar Khan is an excellent place to start. Put yourself into the right mindset, though. These are not 3-minute "make me feel good" pop songs. I challenge you to actually sit down and closely listen to one entire piece, which usually are over 20 minutes long! This is definelty not quickly fabricated "fast-food" music.
I also enjoyed being exposed to the Indian pop band Bhoomi. This band became mainstream in India in 1999. Interesting how, with a childlike and carefree attitude, they effortlessly blend together many different genres and sounds of much earlier decades into a new, unique and refreshingly fun format. My children really liked these guys too, and I got a kick out of their attempts in singing along to the catchy choruses in Bengalese.
Here's to 2021. May your curiosity be sparked, your practice time enhanced and your playing skills heightened. May you have open ears to embrace music and artists that enrich your life and inspire your creativity,
Chris
