Sound Collage

So remember how I told you the other day I've been scavenger hunting for composition ideas? Yesterday the Muse visited and I had so much fun. Here is what I did. I had been working on three pieces of music: two of them classical and one a blues song.  I wrote down favorite measures from each of these pieces on index cards and scrambled them up. Next, I randomly put them in order like a composition and viola! A new piece was born!  I also changed the melodic flow and rhythm so I was not playing the original melody (or stealing it :) I did shuffle the index cards around a bit more and added in two more chords and a bridge part today.

It really was like creating a collage. Remember those times cutting out pictures and quotes and pasting on trinkets to make a collage? It may seem like a hodgepodge of a collection but because you picked all the images out, you are the common thread throughout that holds it together.

My new piece I have been playing all day, adding chords or taking them out.  Speeding up the tempo or slowing it down. Changing the ending.. it is like a puzzle shifting around the pieces until they snap together and you say, "yes".  It is quite a satisfying experience!

Have you done any collage lately? Literally or metaphorically?

Scavenger hunting for the muse

Many years ago I went on my first scavenger hunt.  I couldn't believe people would put things they no longer wanted out near the curb in their yard for others to come take. I don't recall taking anything but I did very much enjoy looking through other people's discarded things.

I like to do the same kind of thing with music by going through books and songs I have and looking at how I can use some chords and ideas in new ways. It is one of my favorite things to do but I don't often have the time to just have fun with music. Often times I am more goal oriented and practicing for a performance of some kind.

So the last few days I have really enjoyed going through music I downloaded and set aside. I like to read through the pieces and write down the chord structures and see what I can learn from them. Then I like to see if I can make up something new of my own that would fit in the middle of a piece as a bridge or intro. Quite often, it leads me to compose something entirely new of my own.

It is also like scrap booking. Cutting out pieces and pictures, pasting quotes and old jewelry or something found to make something new.  It is a lot of fun.

In my pile I have Celtic and Bossa Nova music, old folk songs, intervallic fretboard improvisational techniques, preludes written by a friend, classical guitar works.  So far I did come up with a piece of a piece but I need more parts to make it a whole composition. The hunt continues....I suspect if I come up with something I like, you will be hearing it soon!

Adventures of a bionic woman

 

Something interesting about me: I have a cochlear implant. So what is it? Do you know?  It is a medical device that allows people with severe to profound hearing loss to hear again. They work wonderfully!  They are still so poorly understood though. All over the internet are videos of what is called, "activations"  showing people of all ages hearing for the first time. It is often a dramatic depiction that gives the impression that the cochlear implant (CI) is a "magic wand" and instantly restores hearing. This is not true. At least it was not for me!

Stories of activation vary widely because of the type of hearing loss one has. For example, for someone like myself who experience hearing loss over many years,  it meant I had to undergo months of auditory rehabilitation in order to improve speech recognition and music perception.  It makes sense when you think about it. Supposing you cannot hear a wide spectrum of frequencies and then suddenly they are available to you? Your brain would not know how to interpret these sounds.  

Some of the rehab, though challenging, was fun. I listened to books on tape while following along with the written book. I listened to NPR stories ("This I Believe" is a good one because they are short and have transcripts on the website). I went to a "Listening Gym" online and ESL websites to practice listening to all kinds of conversations and other sounds. 

Music was altogether another story! I worked with a music teacher for months doing ear training exercises like they do in music conservatories to gain perfect pitch. I was not trying to learn perfect pitch but to improve pitch recognition. Here is an article I wrote about my music rehab that was published in The Hearing Journal and ALDA News. 

The article was originally from in a book published by the Association of Adult Musicians with Hearing Loss (AAMHL) titled, "Making Music with a Hearing Loss: Stories and Strategies".

I recently completed a soundtrack for a video by Rachel Chaikof for Cochlearimplantsonline

The video is to create awareness about cochlear implants. I had a great time coming up with the sounds and music for it. You can see this video here!

Some words from Blue's guitar

Hello everyone,  I am pleased that technology now allows me to say hello to Blue's friends and to introduce myself to you. I am Blue's guitar. I don't have a name that she calls me but I know I am her favorite instrument. I live with 3 other guitars, four mountain dulcimers, 6 Native American flutes, a bodhran, djembe, doumbek, tambourine, and a electric keyboard. (our newest addition)  Of all of the instruments in our family, I am the one most used.  I was made right here in Ivy, VA 14 years ago. I came to live with Blue in 2001 and these have been the happiest years of my life.

This week I was quite busy! Wednesday I played and sang for some nursing home residents.  So many of them tell me they love me.  Some of them even touch me while Blue frets the strings, they strum.  It kind of tickles me to be honest but no one can hear me laughing. Then Wednesday night I played for the monthly Taize service at the local Mennonite church. Some of this music is so beautiful and haunting, I have to say I can really produce some flattering sounds for this!

Yesterday I soothed some weary patients in the ICU at the hospital.  I could see how my sounds helped them to feel better and that is very gratifying.

This morning I played at the gym where Blue goes and many people came up and thanked me.  Often people came to sit near me and close their eyes as rest & listen a bit.

All in all, it is a good life. I am resting up now before going to play for another nursing home soon, then we have the night off! Happy weekend to all!


P.S. Hi from Jasper!!  Ha ha! I sneaked in the picture when Blue was not looking! :)

The Art of Boldness

 

I have been so lucky to have such creative and vibrant friends over the years. The above painting was done by my friend Barbara using a new artistic technique she created called, "Core Energy Art".  It involves using a spinning table and applying the paint with spatulas and other utensils. The results bring works of bold and bright colors. I am reminded of a conversation I had with Barbara many years ago about being bold. She asked me what I thought it meant to be bold. I said, "to be out with your inness" --and I'd say she did this with her art! Above is just one painting but there are several of hers now on display at the TJ Unitarian Church in Charlottesville. The show also features art therapist Phyllis Frame whose work is astonishing as well!

Yesterday was their art opening and I got to play some music as people came and gazed upon these beautiful works.  There were old friends who were visiting town after years of being away and new friends there too. It was actually kind overwhelming (as in over realm!) but in a good way.

I came away feeling such gratitude for being part of such a thriving community where we support each others' creative endeavors.  The paintings are so inspiring to me, this morning I began a song about them.  I suspect you'll be hearing that down the road sometime.

Here's to creative and bold friendships and living life like a work of art!

BFF shoes

Today when I was getting ready to sing at a nursing home, one of the residents there waved me over to talk to her. She seemed very excited about something.  As she cannot speak (she has a disability), she showed me what she wanted by pointing to her feet. There I saw some shiny new white tennis shoes with the letters "BFF" on each one.  One shoe had one name on it, the other shoe another name. BFF,  I know means "best friends forever".  I said,  "you got new shoes and your best friend gave them to you?" and she lit up and nodded that I got it.  I told her that was such a nice thing for her friend to have given her.  I wish now I would have taken a picture of them (if she agreed to) but you'll just have to take my word for how cute they were.

In a world so full of trouble, I bask in these simple gestures of kindness. It is something that I love about my work. I see so much kindness each day. It is a good thing.

Have you received a gift from your best friend recently? Or have you given a gift to them?

You call that "music"? by Jasper the cat

Hi it is me, Jasper--Blue's cat.   I have to talk to someone about what happened today.  Blue was making the craziest music I have ever heard in my life today! She is working on a soundtrack for a video that requires dramatic music sounds.  Anyway, get this. She recorded today sounds of an air raid siren with her drums! I was out of there! (had to hide upstairs under the bed)  If that is not enough, she used a thunderstorm sound effects behind her playing the harmonica! As if a real thunderstorm is not enough!

What do you make of this music?  Have humans gone crazy? Am I expected to pretend this stuff is pretty?   Are there any other cats out there who feel they might be forced to listen to awful sounds like this?

Ut oh, she is coming so I gotta go!! HELP!

-Jasper

PS that is me above in the picture and you can see I do not look happy. Do you also notice my empty  bowl in the left corner? Hello??? time to EAT!!!

ok bye!