I guess Folk Music is just where my heart lies. And so, for the first time in Toronto in 2013, I attended the International Folk Alliance. An annual conference that draws together music industry professionals from throughout the world to share ideas, network, amid showcase upon showcase upon showcase. It is an event of celebration, education, and entertainment. I am never sure why I go to these things, besides the amazing opportunities to experience such great music, so up close and personal, in such a grand party atmosphere.
I got a lot of good hugs, and inspiration and opportunity to meet people, although I admit to keeping a low profile, ha. I wish I read my horoscope about speaking up with the whole story instead of hiding feelings ha. My song topic was "nature deficit" and I may try and work with it yet. I saw a great Ken Whiteley set with Treassa Lavessuer and some of the boys from New Country Rehab. I loved catching Jonathan Byrd again. Dar Williams made me cry, Sheesham and Lotus made me laugh, and I finally got to see Jimmy LaFave. I have a nice pile of new CD's taunting by broken cd drive. So far Grayden James and the young novelists feel like my best new find. I am thinking a lot about being a Folk Music DJ, and what kind of Roots Music Canada show I wish I had.
Some of the other highlights for me included:
Gurf Morlix's "GUITAR FOR SONGWRITERS" SESSION
- demos to help up think: iconic riffs/musical hook
- different rhthym demo
- alternate chords
(straight on pic angle, hold tight)
- learning the degrees of a scale
- sing a melody, then learn to play it
- play another instrument
- alternate tunings:
1) tune E-string down to a D or even C
2) take E string off, lower A string to G
- fingerpicking took Gurf about 3 years, recently, after a life of thinking he couldn't do it
ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE
- leave beats out, leave out more and more
Also, the ukulele workshop by Ben and Tony
At the Beginner's workshop, I liked the phrase "re-entrant tuning" about the high G unique to the uke
1) To tune, he had everyone play their G string out. Etc.
2) Then we learned the Z chord
3) C chord
4) strum technique
5) Row Row Row Your Boat (just in C)
6) F chord, explaining steps to move fingers and then we practiced the change
7) The More We Get Together
8) G chord
9) This Land is Your Land
10) This Land is Your Land with C7 + Am
Playing music together is like reviving good medicine, and improving the health of our passive, listening society
other thoughts:
- demos to help up think: iconic riffs/musical hook
- different rhthym demo
- alternate chords
(straight on pic angle, hold tight)
- learning the degrees of a scale
- sing a melody, then learn to play it
- play another instrument
- alternate tunings:
1) tune E-string down to a D or even C
2) take E string off, lower A string to G
- fingerpicking took Gurf about 3 years, recently, after a life of thinking he couldn't do it
ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE
- leave beats out, leave out more and more
Also, the ukulele workshop by Ben and Tony
At the Beginner's workshop, I liked the phrase "re-entrant tuning" about the high G unique to the uke
1) To tune, he had everyone play their G string out. Etc.
2) Then we learned the Z chord
3) C chord
4) strum technique
5) Row Row Row Your Boat (just in C)
6) F chord, explaining steps to move fingers and then we practiced the change
7) The More We Get Together
8) G chord
9) This Land is Your Land
10) This Land is Your Land with C7 + Am
Playing music together is like reviving good medicine, and improving the health of our passive, listening society
other thoughts:
>i wonder if i could get a projector
> i like the idea of open mics during the meeting
> get input on the songs
> what about a google doc for song pages?
> aim for 10 songs in 2 hours
> i like the idea of open mics during the meeting
> get input on the songs
> what about a google doc for song pages?
> aim for 10 songs in 2 hours
Other Workshop Notes:
check out Next Big Sound
> talking to a webcam once a week
every minute 72 hours is uploaded on youtube
every minute 72 hours is uploaded on youtube
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