Ok so we are one week away from arts week. I look forward to seeing some performances and I am looking forward to our full class improvisation deal. I'm a little curious to see what tomorrow has to offer. I'm assuming we're still going to try a complete class improvisation deal. I'm not sure but if we will, but if we get to play in our groups that should be good too. Music has been good lately. Me and Drew (Gauthier and Chase www.myspace.com/gauthierandchase check it out) recorded Knocking on Heaven's Door last Wednesday. We'd never played it together before and we just went at a completley improvised recording. I knew the chords and sang, and Drew played his lead guitar on reverb and just tried to play with the chords and after only two takes we had an amazing recording; nothing was set in stone so for improv it was great. Also, the first one we had was awesome, but the damn pipes of Merril decided to start making noises and picked up on the recording. Also, I play at jam night now and I just start playing whatever comes to mind when we start playing a song. I'm not great but my Improvisation skill has greatly improved and I think this cclass has helped me quite a lot. I'm glad I'm taking this class, it continues to help me and now I can hold a little bit of my own playing with random musicians... It's been a great semester with music so far. That's all I have for now.
Have a goodnight.
Sean
Monday, April 7, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
Chaos on its edge... Chapter 5
There are a few comments that stick out to me on page 85 of Sync or Swarm. I am going to lend my analysis.
1) "Chaos does not mean disorder... It represents an abstract cosmic principle referring to the source of all creation." ~Ralph Abraham
This is quite a difficult quote to analyze. The first part is obvious, chaos is not just a bunch of noise and disorder. I believe he means it represents a more challenging principle. As far as referring to the source of all creation, I think he means everything that's created in music. Generally when bands come up with songs, someone brings something to the table and the others jam on it for a little while until a song is created. Before a song is finalizd and finished it really is more or less chaos, as well as improvisation. So, the abstract (cosmic) principle referring to the source of all creation probably means that chaos is the difficult process of piecing music together in order to create a new song or a new piece of finished music.
2) "I accept chaos, I'm not sure whether it accepts me." ~Bob Dylan
This quote surprised me that it was in the book, mainly because I am in a class studying Bob Dylan's career right now and I didn't know Bob Dylan quoted something about chaos. The only reason I'm not really sure what Dylan means by this quote is because I'm not sure what Bob Dylan was defining chaos as in this quote. But this leads me to an interesting point. The chaos Dylan meant might not have even been music, it could have been just in life. In blogs I've read from people in class, they connect improv to other things in their life other than music, such as basketball, art etc. The same seems to go for chaos. I define chaos as something that does not at first make logical sense, but then pieces itself together at the end. This could be defined for life chaos and musical chaos. I don't know, I like the quotes... Something to think about. Until next Monday, have a good one.
Sean Chase
1) "Chaos does not mean disorder... It represents an abstract cosmic principle referring to the source of all creation." ~Ralph Abraham
This is quite a difficult quote to analyze. The first part is obvious, chaos is not just a bunch of noise and disorder. I believe he means it represents a more challenging principle. As far as referring to the source of all creation, I think he means everything that's created in music. Generally when bands come up with songs, someone brings something to the table and the others jam on it for a little while until a song is created. Before a song is finalizd and finished it really is more or less chaos, as well as improvisation. So, the abstract (cosmic) principle referring to the source of all creation probably means that chaos is the difficult process of piecing music together in order to create a new song or a new piece of finished music.
2) "I accept chaos, I'm not sure whether it accepts me." ~Bob Dylan
This quote surprised me that it was in the book, mainly because I am in a class studying Bob Dylan's career right now and I didn't know Bob Dylan quoted something about chaos. The only reason I'm not really sure what Dylan means by this quote is because I'm not sure what Bob Dylan was defining chaos as in this quote. But this leads me to an interesting point. The chaos Dylan meant might not have even been music, it could have been just in life. In blogs I've read from people in class, they connect improv to other things in their life other than music, such as basketball, art etc. The same seems to go for chaos. I define chaos as something that does not at first make logical sense, but then pieces itself together at the end. This could be defined for life chaos and musical chaos. I don't know, I like the quotes... Something to think about. Until next Monday, have a good one.
Sean Chase
Monday, March 24, 2008
Play that Funky Music
So tomorrow, we are going to explore the art of funk music. We did not have a good turnout for the practice and only one had an electric guitar, and no it was not me. I'm not a hundred percent sure how well we will do. We'll see how it goes anyway. To be honest I have no idea why I wanted to do funk. A fregin corps has more soul and funk in them than I've got. I have not the slightest clue how to play funk, random chords.
So here's my thoughts on groups. I don't know about anyone else but I, much like Bob Dylan in the mid 1960's am getting a little tired of the acoustic scene. I think it's time to change from Pane's Double El Acoustic Raid Supported by Dunkin D's (My own name for last weeks group) and go electric. Last week was a good time and me and my group members worked well together on a nice quiet piece. I like the music we've done, but I'm beginning to hate the quiet. The John Fox Company plays some amazing stuff on the stage and they blast us out of our seats instrument wise. Before the end of the semseter, I want to form the electric group and play a hard rock blues mix jam and likewise blast us out of the seats with the volume. At some point along with some people in class, I'd like to pull in my duo partner in our own band Gauthier and Chase and we can perhaps play another blues number with some people in class. Tomorrow I'm going to bring in the Ibanez but I dont know if I will play it. We will have to see what instrumentation we have for the Funk group. I might play a little organ. Anyway, it could be interesting, but I am planning on going electric much like the John Fox Company anytime soon.
Anyway I think that's really all I have for this blog, next week I will probably expand a lot on something I read in Sync or Swarm... Until next week, have a good one.
Sean Chase
So here's my thoughts on groups. I don't know about anyone else but I, much like Bob Dylan in the mid 1960's am getting a little tired of the acoustic scene. I think it's time to change from Pane's Double El Acoustic Raid Supported by Dunkin D's (My own name for last weeks group) and go electric. Last week was a good time and me and my group members worked well together on a nice quiet piece. I like the music we've done, but I'm beginning to hate the quiet. The John Fox Company plays some amazing stuff on the stage and they blast us out of our seats instrument wise. Before the end of the semseter, I want to form the electric group and play a hard rock blues mix jam and likewise blast us out of the seats with the volume. At some point along with some people in class, I'd like to pull in my duo partner in our own band Gauthier and Chase and we can perhaps play another blues number with some people in class. Tomorrow I'm going to bring in the Ibanez but I dont know if I will play it. We will have to see what instrumentation we have for the Funk group. I might play a little organ. Anyway, it could be interesting, but I am planning on going electric much like the John Fox Company anytime soon.
Anyway I think that's really all I have for this blog, next week I will probably expand a lot on something I read in Sync or Swarm... Until next week, have a good one.
Sean Chase
Monday, March 17, 2008
The New Group
Hey gang.
Two topics today: The new group and my thoughts of recording improvisation.
1) The new group: I think it is going to work out okay tomorrow. We don't have a set genre but I crissoned it freestyle jazz slow. The great thing about having a saxophone player in the group is that she can be the lead solo player. The piano and acoustic guitar will be good background and she can do whatever she wants on the saxophone. It should be good stuff.
2) Recording Improv. A quote from "Sync or Swarm" states that improvisation should be recorded, listened to once, and discarded. I originally disagreed thinking it is interesting to hear otehrs improv. However, as I thought about it more over the week, I decided that it should be discarded. I haven't seen too much live improv but on that same note, I haven't been to many live shows. Improv on a CD does not capture the connection and greatness of the notes that everybody feels when at a live show. Listening to Trans-Siberian Orchestra live and then recorded is unbelievably different. TSO live is very powerful and the music is fantastic. So therefore, I do not believe we should record actual improv because we can't connect to the music I guess as much as if it is listened to live, especially since improv is supposedly on the spot thinking.
I think we should possibly look into trying to see a concert before the end of the semester that would have a lot of improv.
Also, one more thing: The card game with the notes being matched and then the performers playing the note was amazing. However, I think it would be more amazing if the entire class got to play their instrument with the game. It could sound awesome.
Anyway, that's all until next week.
Sean Chase
Two topics today: The new group and my thoughts of recording improvisation.
1) The new group: I think it is going to work out okay tomorrow. We don't have a set genre but I crissoned it freestyle jazz slow. The great thing about having a saxophone player in the group is that she can be the lead solo player. The piano and acoustic guitar will be good background and she can do whatever she wants on the saxophone. It should be good stuff.
2) Recording Improv. A quote from "Sync or Swarm" states that improvisation should be recorded, listened to once, and discarded. I originally disagreed thinking it is interesting to hear otehrs improv. However, as I thought about it more over the week, I decided that it should be discarded. I haven't seen too much live improv but on that same note, I haven't been to many live shows. Improv on a CD does not capture the connection and greatness of the notes that everybody feels when at a live show. Listening to Trans-Siberian Orchestra live and then recorded is unbelievably different. TSO live is very powerful and the music is fantastic. So therefore, I do not believe we should record actual improv because we can't connect to the music I guess as much as if it is listened to live, especially since improv is supposedly on the spot thinking.
I think we should possibly look into trying to see a concert before the end of the semester that would have a lot of improv.
Also, one more thing: The card game with the notes being matched and then the performers playing the note was amazing. However, I think it would be more amazing if the entire class got to play their instrument with the game. It could sound awesome.
Anyway, that's all until next week.
Sean Chase
Monday, March 10, 2008
Out of the Crossroads, into the Acoustic Guitar
There are a few topics I would like to tackle in the blog. 1) Robert Johnson and the Delta Blues and 2) Improving at Improv
1) So last week I presented Robert Johnson and the Delta Blues. I think the presentation went alright, but I wasn't fully impressed with myself at how I presented it. After my presentation I kept listening to Robert Johnson's music compared to others and came up with one solid conclusion: Johnson's music is much more abstract, emotional, and colorful than others of the time. I would argue that Johnson was ahead of his time. From what I understand, (and this is a stab in the dark hypothesis), Johnson played guitar licks that did not before make sense. It wasn't until recently I was talking to a friend of mine. He said, "in a class we were talking about the blues. The professor said that in the blues, the rules are meant to be broken." This got me thinking, and I believe that for the time, Johnson broke the rules. In 2008, we've heard many styles of music and everything from the 4 string guitar to the laptop creating a sound. The blues from the 20's sound rather simple, such as easy 12 bar blues songs. Johnson played abstract chords that no one had attempted before. Basically, my conclusion is that Robert Johnson, unlike all the other blues players of his time, played the different style. Could a guy who goes from playing like absolute crap to being the king of the Delta Blues players could quite possibly have sold his soul to the devil?
2) Group change: I enjoyed the blues, good stuff guys. The new group is good too. I think we're still figuring out exactly what we want to do, so perhaps a few weeks in the new groups would be pretty cool. I think I'm coming along as an improviser. I'm extremley glad I took this class because it has increased my playing skill a lot. Before the class I'd call myself just another kid who can play guitar. Now that I've taken this class, I'd still call myself just another kid who can play guitar, but my skill has most definitley increased. Since taking the class so far I've learned what notes or chords to play with certain other things and I can generally hold my own to a degree. I still have a lot to learn obviously, but so far it's been pretty fun and it should be great through the rest of the semester.
Feel free to comment on whatever, good things.
Sean
1) So last week I presented Robert Johnson and the Delta Blues. I think the presentation went alright, but I wasn't fully impressed with myself at how I presented it. After my presentation I kept listening to Robert Johnson's music compared to others and came up with one solid conclusion: Johnson's music is much more abstract, emotional, and colorful than others of the time. I would argue that Johnson was ahead of his time. From what I understand, (and this is a stab in the dark hypothesis), Johnson played guitar licks that did not before make sense. It wasn't until recently I was talking to a friend of mine. He said, "in a class we were talking about the blues. The professor said that in the blues, the rules are meant to be broken." This got me thinking, and I believe that for the time, Johnson broke the rules. In 2008, we've heard many styles of music and everything from the 4 string guitar to the laptop creating a sound. The blues from the 20's sound rather simple, such as easy 12 bar blues songs. Johnson played abstract chords that no one had attempted before. Basically, my conclusion is that Robert Johnson, unlike all the other blues players of his time, played the different style. Could a guy who goes from playing like absolute crap to being the king of the Delta Blues players could quite possibly have sold his soul to the devil?
2) Group change: I enjoyed the blues, good stuff guys. The new group is good too. I think we're still figuring out exactly what we want to do, so perhaps a few weeks in the new groups would be pretty cool. I think I'm coming along as an improviser. I'm extremley glad I took this class because it has increased my playing skill a lot. Before the class I'd call myself just another kid who can play guitar. Now that I've taken this class, I'd still call myself just another kid who can play guitar, but my skill has most definitley increased. Since taking the class so far I've learned what notes or chords to play with certain other things and I can generally hold my own to a degree. I still have a lot to learn obviously, but so far it's been pretty fun and it should be great through the rest of the semester.
Feel free to comment on whatever, good things.
Sean
Monday, March 3, 2008
Presentation
I actually figured this would be a good time to catch up how I think I'm doing. I'm feeling pretty good about my Blues presentation tomorrow. I bascially focused on Robert Johnson because of the era he was from. He has always been a interest to me musically because he seemed to be ahead of his time. What with the myth that he sold his soul to the devil to play the guitar and the skill he had on guitar in a short amount of time is quite interesting. In all my research I have been unable to find good information about his skill. All that I can come up with is simply that he played abstract chords and note changes. Some say it's because he sold his soul and some say it's because he had big hands. As far as playing, I'm a little nervous about tomorrow. Everyone is tired of playing the blues. I have not been feeling well at all the last couple of weeks and my playing and practicing has been cut down greatly until I feel better. Nobody was in class last week and we never met up to play, so tomorrow will bring a whole new meaning to improvisation for our group. We will truly have to wing it, so hopefully we do okay. Two weeks ago, last time we met, one member did not make his appearence and our group fell apart in a horrible way. I'm still frustrated over that, not really because we had a missing member, but because we should have been able to improvise better with what he ended up with, but it turned out rather horrible. Tomorrow, despite the fact that we have not practiced anything, I hope we overcome the last couple of weeks and play something more interesting. Other than that, I think everything is okay. I hope that we change groups completley next. I like the people in my group and we play well together, but I think it would be nice to get a feel for a totally different subject; as I said before, nobody really wants to play blues anymore. I believe that's all for now.
Sean W. Chase
Sean W. Chase
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Music Improvisation
Okay, so as far as class goes, I am very impressed with how it has been going. Me and a buddy of mine have recorded a My Sweet Lord cover on myspace in which I incorporate my own lead guitar (and unfortunatley sing). We are only a month or so into the semester, but I have learned so much already about improvisation. In my upcoming blues presentation, I will probably talk about the history of improvisation.
The book Sync or Swarm is quite interesting but at the same time boring, mainly because it is hard to follow. I have a hard time focusing on some things, but it is much more interesting at the same time because it forces me to really break down what the reading is saying.
As far as other improvisation ideas at this point, I have two things, I think we should switch groups next time. Next time instead of blues maybe we can mix it up and do rock or jazz or anything, but if desired stay in the same groups? I think we have gotten used to each other and play music well together, but as said before, we won't be able to get to know others. It's a toss up about keeping or changing groups. I think we could do both throughout the semester. I hope that at some point, money providing, we get to see a concert of any kind where improv is going to be incorporated for sure. I think a concert anywhere from Maine to Boston would be great. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.
The book Sync or Swarm is quite interesting but at the same time boring, mainly because it is hard to follow. I have a hard time focusing on some things, but it is much more interesting at the same time because it forces me to really break down what the reading is saying.
As far as other improvisation ideas at this point, I have two things, I think we should switch groups next time. Next time instead of blues maybe we can mix it up and do rock or jazz or anything, but if desired stay in the same groups? I think we have gotten used to each other and play music well together, but as said before, we won't be able to get to know others. It's a toss up about keeping or changing groups. I think we could do both throughout the semester. I hope that at some point, money providing, we get to see a concert of any kind where improv is going to be incorporated for sure. I think a concert anywhere from Maine to Boston would be great. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.
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