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Tag: Personal Update

Gettin’ Good Vol. 3

Published by otto on August 1, 2016

Ok, so I’m a little bit late, but I spent this weekend up in Traverse City where my band Old Empire played at the 12th annual Traverse City Film Festival. This was great for a myriad of reasons. One is that I had never been to Traverse City before and it is absolutely beautiful up there. The only other times that I’ve been in that area were more than ten years ago and in the middle of winter.

Grand Traverse Bay

It was really great to play a festival again. It’s been a while and there’s something inherently fun about playing in an open air environment. I’m normally a pretty loud player with this band, which makes sense for the kind of music we play. I didn’t play any louder because we were outdoors, but it felt as though there were no barriers to the sound. I wasn’t getting echo off a wall a few feet from me. Actually, I wasn’t getting echo at all since there were no buildings for a few hundred yards. It was very freeing. I know we’ve got a few more festival dates coming up around the end of summer and I am looking forward to those.

Here’s a video of one of my cymbals being played with by the wind in the setup area on Grand Traverse Bay.

 

Ok, now down to the nuts and bolts of it. I’m done with the school year, which as I mentioned in the last post was keeping me from practicing as much as I want. It has gotten a bit better, but there are other things, sone of which being creating posts for The Musician’s Notepad, and believe it or not responsibilities for the band, that are keeping me from full daily practice. That being said it is getting better. As far as playing with the band goes, I feel as though I’ve reached the ‘initial lull’ and I just need to work through it.

Initial lull, you ask? I’m sure there is a real name for the phenomenon I am about to profess about, but I don’t know what that name is. When one learns a new skill or in this case wins a new position they tend to come into that position or that skill with all pistons firing. They really nail it, … for a while. Then there is an ‘Initial Lull’ where that person’s skills seem to take a slight step back and they have to build back up to that highest level. That’s where I am right now. I’m over thinking my parts and feel and messing a bit of it up. I don’t think anyone has really noticed, but I have. I just need to really get back in the woodshed and go for it.

I’m keeping this one short for now so I can get it out on time…ish. For now just enjoy this pic taken after our set at The Open Space. I’m the goofball with the hat on.

The Bell Isles, I mean Old Empire

 

’Till Next Time
Otto

Gettin’ Good, Vol 2.

Published by otto on May 31, 2016
Some years back I was called into a lesson being taught by a colleague because the student had questions about recording. As we talked I found that the student was really looking to decide between spending money on a better set of cymbals or a nice set of drum mics. He wanted the mics because he planned to make high quality YouTube videos to get  a gig. I quite honestly thought this absurd and the longest of shots at best. The student’s teacher and I told him that the cymbals would lead to a better sound which would also sound better when he got those mics to record with.  The student went with our recommendation, though soon after also found the money to buy the mics.
About two months ago I got contacted by the leader of a local original band. He was looking for a drummer and was looking to see if I was interested in playing in his band. Where did he see me play? On YouTube, of course. Specifically the Look Back In Anger Groove Of The Month. I find it incredibly ironic and still honestly surprising that this happened even though I know that the videos I produce for The Musician’s Notepad have gotten me more recognition than I have had since I was a hot shot sixteen year old rookie professional.
Playing in a band has been very beneficial. It’s been a long time since I’ve played permanently in a group, where it wasn’t a one off gig, which has really allowed me to focus on playing with and in the band. I’m able to sit back and really listen to the bass and how we should lock together. I have other musicians to push and pull against to manipulate the feel. It’s been an extremely positive and necessary step.
The rigors of daily practice have really paid off. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but I feel as though I am in the best playing shape of my life. That being said, I still have a long way to go to be where I want to be. We should all be that lucky, right? I am a little worried as, I’ve picked up a long term substitute teaching position through the end of the school year and finding the time to practice has been very hard. Since starting two weeks ago I’ve only found the time for a full practice session on the weekends. During the week I am limited to about a half hour between teaching school and teaching lessons, and the odd half hour that a student cancels and another one doesn’t slip in for a make up.
Overall though, these are problems one wants to have. Boo hoo, I don’t have time to practice because I’m working too much. Woe is me.
‘Till next time,
otto