The Archies vs. Josie & the Pussycats

I'm voting for The Archies over the Pussycats because Veronica has a keyboard in The Archies.

Stronger Every Day

Pop songs effectively used in Youtube documentary about flat earth.

I like well produced Youtube documentaries on selected topics... in this case, the flat earth-- or at least the debunking there of. Wear headphones, maximize screen size, sit and and enjoy this well produced 16 minute piece. Note the pop songs used. What fun!

Evangelists dictated politics in Iowa and SC? At least they play piano

I got tired of hearing how the Evangelists were voting in Iowa and SC-- and dug a bit into who they are. I'm not a fan but at least the famous Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart plays the piano-- and since we're about mainly piano playing here, I thought I'd take a look at this style.

Elvis Karaoke songs I'll use to practise my set.

These karaoke versions of several Elvis tunes have been added to the playist of originals that Dor and me will cover in upcoming concerts at retirement centers. It's my way to rehearse and it can be a general way for anyone to rehearse. These free karaokes on Youtube span all genres of music.

Songified Trump-- funny stuff.

Clicheed TV music interval of a Perfect 4th

As I was creating a lesson for today's students-- as an add-on to the routine-- I played with going up the keyboard in Perfect 4ths... and voila! I discovered a common "theme" used in TV dramas-- the serial Perfect 4th. Amazing. Play the mp3 below and see if it doesn't sound familiar.
[Play sample]
http://ajisabaki.com/beyond/04/p4stretto.mp3

Interestingly, to run that series requires you know the key signature of each note, as if it were the tonic of that scale, as you go up. Either that, or you have to be good at seeing 5 half tones each time-- which is tricky. It's much easier to see the interval from the point of view of the scale.

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In that same line of thought, it occurred to me to google 'dramatic tv music' and sure enough there are soundtracks of dramatic for sale. Here's the search.
dramatic tv music - Google Search

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Here are some videos I sampled this morning (and others that I did not listen to yet but will soon)that you can follow me out on. We'll try producing something like these in upcoming lessons, in an improvised fashion. Note how there IS a musical standard to hold to. We're not simply dealing with sound effects, although there is a good use of synthesized as well as familiar instruments.

Production Music - Reality TV Montage (Drama & Mischief) - YouTube

Reality TV Production Music: A Compilation 00:16:55 - Duration: 16:55. BBRealityTV07 12,232 views

79 Instrumental songs everyone knows, but no one knows the name of (TV Show & Advertising Music) - Duration: 11:01. Carl Mahnke 2,791,541 views

Dramatic Music for Film, TV, and Video Game Soundtracks - YouTube

Reality TV Drama Music - Highlight Montage - YouTube

Background Music, Dramatic Music, Cinematic Music - "Live Forever ...

Epic Orchestral Dramatic Symphony Music for ...

Dramatic Soap Opera Tv Theme Music - YouTube

Royalty Free Background Music - Cinematic ...

Royalty Free Music - Game Show Theme Suspense ...

dramatic tv music - Google Search

Was "The Sound of Music" an ALLEGORY for Tantric Chakra Energy?

7 points of energy in the human body are said to be emanating
from the 7 glands. The spine is the base, the pineal gland at the
top is the 3rd eye. Each level CAN be stimulated by a
note on the MUSICAL SCALE....?

I'm currently looking into an astonishing discovery I might have made-- that The Sound of Music is an allegory ASCENDENCE and energetic unification of CHAKRAS.

I didn't realize until today that the "nun" character played by Julie Andrews can be understood as "energy blocked"-- as well as the "captain". There are 7 CHILDREN-- correpsonding to 7 ENERGY CENTERS... and there ARE 7 tones in DO RE ME FA SO LA and TI... which brings us BACK TO DO! ...another way of saying that completion of the Chakra energy levels is a loop.

I became interested in Chakras for the first time through understanding by Gerald Clark who is an expert on Zach. Sitchen who translated ancient Sumerian tablets & cylinder seals-- Sumeria being the origin of ALL CIVILIZATION we have today-- ignored by "controlled school system".



I'll investigate this connection between chakras and The Sound of Music in coming weeks and report back to this page which you'll find in the INDEX below under SOUND OF MUSIC and CHAKRAS.

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Hillary won't be singing opera.

This shocking footage is anti-musical and might have nothing to do with piano lessons-- but I thought it might be relevent to the voice. Is she losing her voice after her shouting at speeches? Did she wreck her voice? It's shocking to hear her try to continue-- sad actually. She should have stopped and taken a break. I notice that when I sing, my voice quality and tone changes through the day and over the week as well as with how long its been since I sang. This video is a warning to everyone to not shout beyond your vocal ability... that the voice is an instrument too-- to be kept "in tune" and "in good shape"-- and that vocal "chords" and the voice "box" can be fit or unfit. Here's a shocking example of lack-of-fitness.

Soundtrack for Vendee Race - does it work?

I've been more interested in how soundtracks are put together for documentaries on Youtube over the past few years. This is an application of music that seems to have more value and traction than, say, ads or movies or sitcoms on TV. After all, Youtube is the new TV. Pay attention to the background music on the following 5 video playlist documenting the Vendee Race.

CBS Radio Mystery Theatre - The Black Room

Rick & Dorothy's February 2016 Show will include the following sets.

Here's a video playlist of songs we'll be performing at retirement centers later this month of February 2016. If I can capture our own performance, I'll add it when available. Youtube is still not accepting uploads for some reason so I'll upload our performance to Blogger.com's video hosting. It won't be playlisted but it's better than nothing given Youtube's malfunction.


Sets

ELVIS
Viva Las Vegas
Treat Me Nice
Bosa Nova Baby
Hound Dog, Teddy Bear, Don't Be Cruel Medley

VALENTINE ROMANCE (for Feb. 14)
My Own True Love
Eternally
The Way You Look Tonight
All the Way

CHINESE (For Chinese New Year, Feb 12-14)
Gong Xi Gong Xi
Ballad Pour Adelaide
Arirang
Love Story (Tibet)
Grandma's Song

LATIN SET
Tico Tico
Cumana
El Cambachero
Brazil

BROADWAY
Sound of Music
Rhapsody in Blue

British documentary about a piano recording scam.

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Understanding Spyrogyra songs from modal harmony point of view.

Spyrogyra use modes in their compositions. This is an update of a playlist about modes.  See if you can understand the chords, chord changes and scales. If not-- it's likely due to modes. After the 1 hr concert, I've included videos that I've watched and considered to be a bit helpful in understanding modes-- although some are better than others. None of them hit it quite right yet so I might make my own. Until then, simply enjoy listening to Spyrogyra, preferably with headphones for full stereo separation.

Modes playlist of videos watched by me

I'm going to watch every video on the following playlist about modes. Join me and comment below.


1.

How to apply the modes - Part one (How to play any mode, in any key, with any scale shape)
Rick says.... I don't normally start with a guitar explanation but today I was playing guitar at Guitar Center so I'm interested in how "they" (guitar players) explain modes. The first video has Rob Chapman describe scale "shapes"-- in one key-- G-- which is similar to what I've been doing in terms of describing the "shape" of a C scale on the piano--- THEN transferring to other keys. Traditional explanations describe modes changing keys for all 7 modes and that's a horrible way to explain them 
2. Second video--- coming up in coming hours of Sunday 7 Feb.

Watch the score as Chopin's Polonaise in F# minor is played

Watch the score!

Trump generic rock music by RightSide Broadcasting

I don't know what to make of the generic rock backtracks used by RSB in their Trump videos. I'll be playing it at home over a few days to come to terms with it. The chord changes sound like familiar songs but the lead lines are not recognizable. There is a version of Duelling Banjos later in the track. Trump has had problems with artists complaints about using their songs at his events-- maybe this generic rock wallpaper music is his solution. It sort of works. I've never listened to anything quite like it before this. It's likely created by known studio musicians. Later in the track, favorite Trump one-liners are overlaid which makes for an interesting overall effect.

Downtown covered by Madeleine in 1975

Enlargement from family
photo just below. 

A young Petulia Clark looks like 17 yr old
Madeline...same hair style.

Joe, 15, on drums. Rick, 17 on piano. Madeline 16, 

vocals. Phil - recording engineer. Photo by Reg.

Youtube not allowing me to upload lately-- 

company wide problem it seems so I post song here

using Blogger single upload only.

Madeline's current facebook
 pic with shocking gray hair... 
when did we all grow 
old? It all goes too fast for me. 

Petulia Clark's recent
photo-- very 
similarhair/appearance to 
current Madeline! 

How Madeline looked to me at the
time in 1977-- porcelein white doll-like skin.

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LYRICS & chords from Downtown - Petula Clark http://bettylou.zzruss.com/downtown.htm

Downtown    (video)    (clip)    (midi)

    C - F - G (2x)

        C                                            F               G

1. When you`re alone and life is making you lonely, 

                   C             - F            G

    you can always go        downtown.

         C                                               F                    G

    When you`ve got worries, all the noise and the hurry

                      C                 - F           G

    seems to help, I know,        downtown.

             C                                     Am

    Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city,

      C                                                 Am

    linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty,

    Em                         - F

    how can you lose,         the lights are much brighter there,

                      Am                D              Am               D

    you can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares, so go...

   C   Em       F                     G

Downtown, things will be great when you’re,

  C    Em     F            G

downtown, no finer place for sure,

  C    Em     F                   G               C   - F - C - F

downtown, everything`s waiting for you.

      C     F       - C - F

+  Downtown.

      C                Em                           F                 G

2. Don`t hang around and let your problems surround you,

                      C        Em    - F           G

    there are movie shows,       downtown.

       C               Em                      F                G

    Maybe you know some little places to go to,

                        C        Em    - F           G

    where they never close,         downtown.

            C                                       Am

    Just listen to the rhythm of the gentle Bossanova,

      C                                                    Am

    you`ll be dancing with them, too, before the night is over,

     Em               - F

    happy again.       The lights are much brighter there,

                      Am               D               Am              D

    you can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares, so go ...

   C   Em          F              G

Downtown, where all the lights are bright,

  C   Em        F               G

downtown, waiting for you tonight,

   C   Em       F                 G               C     F        - C - F

downtown, you’re gonna be alright, downtown.

                                                                                C     F       - C - F

(orig. moves up half a note to capo 5th here)   +  Downtown.

      C - Em - F - G   - C - Em - F            G

3.                                                 Downtown !   (2x)

             C                                               Am

    And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you,

      C                                                  Am

    someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand to

     Em                       - F

    guide them along.       So maybe I`ll see you there,

                     Am              D              Am             D

    we can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares. So go ...

   C    Em      F                     G

Downtown, things will be great when you`re

  C    Em      F                  G

downtown, don`t wait a minute more,

  C    Em      F                   G              C   - F - C - F

downtown, everything’s waiting for you.

      C      F        C    F

+  Downtown (downtown) ! (4x)   ....

(orig. = capo 4th)    (Petula Clark)

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Ancient Downtown was the Silk Road
[Ancient Silk Road as Downtown] (Advance the playlist above ahead to see the video lessson on Ancient Downtown Silkroad)

Old fashioned Heart 'n Soul Piano Duets playlist

Questionable music education methods.

Does the following classroom really work? I'd be surprised if it did. It's quite frightening in my view. Why can't children sing a song around a piano as was done in decades gone by?

No tips in the past 90 days

The Paypal tipjar I added below has produced nothing. No tips.  At least I have a baseline to start with-- and what better baseline than zero? It reminds me of the quote that we're born into the world with nothing and die with nothing. I'm not sure that that's the exact phrase but it's close enough. In this case, I play and upload Youtube videos for nothing. I'm going to have to reconsider the entire approach I guess. And I don't think that involves becoming a ukelele player either. 

Honda ad with drumming girl "works"

Earlier I was critical of Cadillac's ad (see Cadillac in index below). Now I had to point to this great 30 second ad from Honda on the power of dreams using a drumming girl growing up before our eyes over  30 years. Well done, Honda. They might have had a better song running in the background-- although the little piano ditty might be useful to me in a "name that ad" game.

The Piano Guys isn't really the way piano should be treated.

I should be interested, as a piano guy, in The Piano Guys-- but I'm not. The following is a playlist on their website. I'll explore it and try to figure out what I reject.... or whether my thinking on it is justified. The first problem, without even thinking, is that they're attempting to play 3 pianos. Piano isn't to be treated like that-- as part of a piano ensemble. That's complete utter piano sacriledge (?). And where does the money come from for this massive effort? Who is behind it? A lot of things here are unexplained. It all seems contrived to me.

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FIELD RECORDING IS NOT POSSIBLE
Recording this complex piece out in the middle of a field as pictured is not possible. The video might be green screened-- in fact there are indications of this. I won't go into that analysis here other than to see the entire thing is fake. The quality of the recording can only be done in a studio. It's insulting to viewer/listeners to create a video like this. They should simply take scenes from the studio recording sessions and splice them together from real scenes from Scotland if that's the impression they're attempting to create. Interestingly, I see an American flag in the distance on the upper right corner. Many of the rock and roll videos on youtube from all the decades going back involve accepted millie-vanilli-type of music fraud lipsynching when there was no need for it. Apparently bands who lyp synch their own song is accepted in the music industry. I prefer live as much as possible. The Piano Guys might not even be the same guys in all videos-- I'll look into it.

A computer chose the Iowa caucus winners.

Modes explained

[Click here for youtube video] about modes. Embedding was disabled. I'll be covering modes in February for those students who are ready.