SDML students and Lexington, KY native Julia Knight is on the new LIFETIME Channel series, "Chasing Nashville". Get a quick look here as she performs one of her songs:
http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/chasing-nashville/video/full-performances/season-1/episode-1/enough-for-me-to-be
Friday, October 25, 2013
New Articles SOON
Just a quick note that we're ramping things back up and will have new articles and interviews (and much more) soon.
Thanx for hanging out with us!
Thanx for hanging out with us!
Monday, February 25, 2013
Scales the New Way
-- Tim Fowler
timfowlerguitar.com
In this lesson we are going to breakdown some scales and help you learn some new tricks to help you gain mastery of the fretboard.
Most people learn scales in positions(see reference). This is a convenient way to learn scales, and they are relatively easy to memorize and move around. The drawback of playing scales in positions is that it is easy to get stuck in a position or a scale form, they all different shapes, and it can limit your playing, whether you are reading or improvising. In the following examples I am going to show you some ways to get out of standard positions and give you a system of building scales that will open your eyes. This will help you gain fretboard mastery, open your ears to new possibilities, and can lead to becoming a significantly better sight-reader.
timfowlerguitar.com
In this lesson we are going to breakdown some scales and help you learn some new tricks to help you gain mastery of the fretboard.
Most people learn scales in positions(see reference). This is a convenient way to learn scales, and they are relatively easy to memorize and move around. The drawback of playing scales in positions is that it is easy to get stuck in a position or a scale form, they all different shapes, and it can limit your playing, whether you are reading or improvising. In the following examples I am going to show you some ways to get out of standard positions and give you a system of building scales that will open your eyes. This will help you gain fretboard mastery, open your ears to new possibilities, and can lead to becoming a significantly better sight-reader.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Cultural Icons
-- David "Skinny Devil" McLean
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Friday, 26 June 2009 13:00
I'm old enough to remember....
I remember the day Elvis died. I was playing at a friend's house. Paul R. Living in DC at the time. We were in the basement and his mom came down stairs in tears. "It's the End of an Era. The King is dead." was all she said. I didn't know what king she was talking about, I was just bummed because she sent me home - it was time to mourn. I walked home and my mom explained...
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Friday, 26 June 2009 13:00
I'm old enough to remember....
I remember the day Elvis died. I was playing at a friend's house. Paul R. Living in DC at the time. We were in the basement and his mom came down stairs in tears. "It's the End of an Era. The King is dead." was all she said. I didn't know what king she was talking about, I was just bummed because she sent me home - it was time to mourn. I walked home and my mom explained...
5 Tips for Being a Better Live Musician
5 Tips for Being a Better Live
Musician
- Paul Felice
There are many facets to being a
professional musician, and wise folks quickly realize that having
multiple revenue streams, skill-building and promotional
opportunities is key to being successful in the business. Among the
most important of these is live performance.
Live shows promote your band image,
create connections, have a relatively high hourly rate of pay, hone
your skills and... well they're a heck of a lot of fun!
As with any endeavor, some approaches
are clearly better than others when making a foray into your local
coffee shop, bar, club or concert hall. Every situation is different,
and as you gain experience you'll begin to gain a feel for what works
best at a particular time and place.
That being said, there are a few basic
guidelines that artists should really keep in mind at all times. Your
best live shows will be the ones where your audience wants to know
more about you, feels comfortable approaching you, and shows their
appreciation for your performance.
Friday, February 1, 2013
"Artists at the Edge: Tonya Kay (part 1)
-- David "Skinny Devil" McLean
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Friday, 08 February 2008 06:47
It's probably fair to say that Tonya Kay is currently best known for her appearance as "Creature" on the TV show "Who Wants to be a Super Hero" (Sci-Fi Network) or NBC's "America's Got Talent". Or perhaps it's due to 3 years with STOMP or touring as a dancer with Panic at the Disco. Or maybe it's the recent appearance in the Trace Adkins music video for his song "I Got My Game On" or in the Progressive Auto Insurance TV commercials as a gremlin.
Or perhaps you've not heard of Tonya at all, but suddenly realize that you've seen her everywhere.
Tonya Kay is a fascinating woman. Dancer, musician, stunt-woman, actress, writer, director, producer, environmental activist...the list goes on. To sum it up, she is a one-woman cyclone of creativity, always at the brink and always in motion, boldly dancing at the chaotic but cutting edge of art.
It begins years ago when this 4 year old little girl from southern Michigan started taking tap dance. She spent a few years doing local musical theater and then, at the ripe old age of 15, snagged her first professional gig in Detroit, performing in "The Music Man" (and still managed to be valedictorian of her class). She hasn't stopped moving since. In addition to the above-listed credits, Tonya toured with country music legend Kenny Rogers, danced with the Broadway production of the Rugrats, wrote & directed Xtreme Rhythm Theatre to rave reviews, Mark Goodman's Tap Company (LA), played "NitroGrl" in the CBS show "NUMB3RS", a stint with Deca Dance Hip-Hop Theatre (NYC), the favorite "target" of knife-thrower Jack Dagger, internet-TV host, popped up in a Rob Zombie video, has been seen across the country cracking whips, flag dancing, & stilt-walking, produced an instructional video "How to Spin Poi with Tonya Kay", and much, much more.
A vegan since her teens and now well-known in raw foodist circles, Ms. Kay is a practicing pagan (& Chaote) and environmental activist who drives a modified car (2001 Jetta) that runs on waste vegetable oil. A prolific writer, Tonya has written almost as many articles/essays as she has been the subject of, on topics ranging from raw food to spirituality to environmental concerns to dance to health to teenage obesity to marketing.
She carved out a bit of time to chat. Below is part one of our 2-part interview. Afterwards, be sure to check out her official home on the web: www.TonyaKay.Com !
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Friday, 08 February 2008 06:47
It's probably fair to say that Tonya Kay is currently best known for her appearance as "Creature" on the TV show "Who Wants to be a Super Hero" (Sci-Fi Network) or NBC's "America's Got Talent". Or perhaps it's due to 3 years with STOMP or touring as a dancer with Panic at the Disco. Or maybe it's the recent appearance in the Trace Adkins music video for his song "I Got My Game On" or in the Progressive Auto Insurance TV commercials as a gremlin.
Or perhaps you've not heard of Tonya at all, but suddenly realize that you've seen her everywhere.
Tonya Kay is a fascinating woman. Dancer, musician, stunt-woman, actress, writer, director, producer, environmental activist...the list goes on. To sum it up, she is a one-woman cyclone of creativity, always at the brink and always in motion, boldly dancing at the chaotic but cutting edge of art.
It begins years ago when this 4 year old little girl from southern Michigan started taking tap dance. She spent a few years doing local musical theater and then, at the ripe old age of 15, snagged her first professional gig in Detroit, performing in "The Music Man" (and still managed to be valedictorian of her class). She hasn't stopped moving since. In addition to the above-listed credits, Tonya toured with country music legend Kenny Rogers, danced with the Broadway production of the Rugrats, wrote & directed Xtreme Rhythm Theatre to rave reviews, Mark Goodman's Tap Company (LA), played "NitroGrl" in the CBS show "NUMB3RS", a stint with Deca Dance Hip-Hop Theatre (NYC), the favorite "target" of knife-thrower Jack Dagger, internet-TV host, popped up in a Rob Zombie video, has been seen across the country cracking whips, flag dancing, & stilt-walking, produced an instructional video "How to Spin Poi with Tonya Kay", and much, much more.
A vegan since her teens and now well-known in raw foodist circles, Ms. Kay is a practicing pagan (& Chaote) and environmental activist who drives a modified car (2001 Jetta) that runs on waste vegetable oil. A prolific writer, Tonya has written almost as many articles/essays as she has been the subject of, on topics ranging from raw food to spirituality to environmental concerns to dance to health to teenage obesity to marketing.
She carved out a bit of time to chat. Below is part one of our 2-part interview. Afterwards, be sure to check out her official home on the web: www.TonyaKay.Com !
Monday, January 21, 2013
P.O.M. - ''Lost Contact''
--David "Skinny Devil" McLean
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Date: Tuesday, March 15 2005 @ 15:03:27 GMT
"Lost Contact" is the new full-length feature film by writer & director Andrew Crawford - a dark, brooding film that is an "...Absurdly comic and totally unpredictable...tour de force in 'no budget' filmmaking. Having all the looks of classic cult film noir, its photography is complemented by the witty, dry humor of its dialogue and the twisting plot lines...". The soundtrack for this film is equally unpredictable, and absolutely astonishing.
The music for "Lost Contact" was written, performed, & recorded by P.O.M., an intense and extremely gifted guitarist & composer who also tackles percussion and vocal duties for the soundtrack.
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Date: Tuesday, March 15 2005 @ 15:03:27 GMT
"Lost Contact" is the new full-length feature film by writer & director Andrew Crawford - a dark, brooding film that is an "...Absurdly comic and totally unpredictable...tour de force in 'no budget' filmmaking. Having all the looks of classic cult film noir, its photography is complemented by the witty, dry humor of its dialogue and the twisting plot lines...". The soundtrack for this film is equally unpredictable, and absolutely astonishing.
The music for "Lost Contact" was written, performed, & recorded by P.O.M., an intense and extremely gifted guitarist & composer who also tackles percussion and vocal duties for the soundtrack.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
'GUITAR GODS: P.O.M.''
-- David "Skinny Devil" McLeanoriginally published at Tinfoil Music
Date: Tuesday, March 29 2005 @ 14:42:13 BST
"Every child is an artist... the problem is how to remain an artist when he grows up." (Pablo Picasso).
There is a man called P.O.M., and he must of been quite a child.......he is also among the most articulate, outlandish, & wondrous guitarists to spring onto the scene in a long time. Check this guy out - I guarantee you will be amazed.
Though the general public has yet to hear of him, he is already gathering the most lavish praise from critics. "...P O M thrashes his guitar into submission with more style, flair, and musical taste than is strictly fair for one person to possess...." (Guitarist Magazine); "...The inventiveness with which he played his Flamenco guitar using a double-handed technique more associated with electric guitarist Eddie Van Halen captivated an audience receiving him with vociferous appreciation..." (Classical Guitar Magazine); "..Sure us electric leadsters like to think we're hot but what this fleet fingered London lad can do on a nylon strung acoustic guitar...Sheesh getouddahea!!!" (Guitar Magazine).
Starting out in London as a bluegrass flatpicker, P.O.M. switched to nylon string Flamenco after hearing Paco deLucia, John MacLaughlin, & Al DiMeola play together on the album "Friday Night in San Francisco", which features brisk rhythms, complex harmony, lightning fast runs...all performed on classical flamenco guitars. He has traveled across Europe and Australia learning and perfecting his craft, and has now put it all together for his debut solo collection. Said collection, which was composed & performed for the full-length feature film "Lost Contact", is available independently via the "Lost Contact" web-site....until someone from the majors takes notice, anyway! This guy is destined for big things.
Learn more about the film HERE, and learn more about P.O.M. HERE, which features a live performance video of P.O.M. If you're interested in the "tapping" or "touchstyle" guitar techniques, a great resource is Tappistry.Org, an educational site focusing specifically on touchstyle techniques. You can also check out "New Acoustic Concepts" (parts 1 & 2), which features lots of musical examples, plus brief interviews with both P.O.M. and steel-string wizard (and "Guitar God' interviewee) Justin King.
I had a chance to speak to P.O.M. recently - check it out!
Friday, January 18, 2013
''GUITAR GODS: Paolo Giordano''
-- David "Skinny Devil" McLean
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Date: Friday, March 18 2005 @ 15:10:57 GMT
Among the wizards of the acoustic fingerstyle movement is a man name Paolo Giordano - a guitarist of exceptional talents as player, composer, & instructor. His willingness to share his knowledge of arcane techniques is beyond cool; to fuse his talents with collaborations with other fabulous artists inspiring.
He has worked with bass legend Michael Manring, vocalist Pattie Cathcart (of Tuck & Patti fame), and others; performed at Muriel Anderson's "All Star Guitar Night" in 2001; received rave reviews for both his solo releases as well as all 4 of his other audio releases; shared the stage with such luminaries (and "Guitar Gods" interviewees) Preston Reed and Tommy Emmanuel; has appeared on the concert stage as well as television & radio; and much more.
Learn more about Paolo on his web-site, where you'll find audio, video, free lessons, schedule, and more!
I had a chance to speak to Paolo recently (whose English is not quite as good as his Italian, but much better than my Italian!) - check it out!
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Date: Friday, March 18 2005 @ 15:10:57 GMTAmong the wizards of the acoustic fingerstyle movement is a man name Paolo Giordano - a guitarist of exceptional talents as player, composer, & instructor. His willingness to share his knowledge of arcane techniques is beyond cool; to fuse his talents with collaborations with other fabulous artists inspiring.
He has worked with bass legend Michael Manring, vocalist Pattie Cathcart (of Tuck & Patti fame), and others; performed at Muriel Anderson's "All Star Guitar Night" in 2001; received rave reviews for both his solo releases as well as all 4 of his other audio releases; shared the stage with such luminaries (and "Guitar Gods" interviewees) Preston Reed and Tommy Emmanuel; has appeared on the concert stage as well as television & radio; and much more.
Learn more about Paolo on his web-site, where you'll find audio, video, free lessons, schedule, and more!
I had a chance to speak to Paolo recently (whose English is not quite as good as his Italian, but much better than my Italian!) - check it out!
Sunday, January 13, 2013
''GUITAR GODS'': Mikhal Caldwell''
-- David "Skinny Devil" McLean
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Date: Tuesday, September 19 2006 @ 18:36:41 BST
(editor's note: Unfortunately, Mikhal passed away from a heart attack September 7 of 2011).
Mikhal Cadwell. Say it with me, now: Mikhal Caldwell. If you haven't heard this name...well, you've heard it now, and after hearing his music, you'll never forget it.
Caldwell is among the most impressive fusion guitarists I've ever heard, with encyclopedic knowledge of music theory, composition, & history (traditional & esoteric); command of multiple styles; and technique so amazing that it's difficult to believe he's from planet Earth! His music is at once funky & visceral & downright bestial yet intelligent & discerning & witty. Not in a "he has a good balance between..." sort of way, but in a "extremely cerebral AND extremely passionate..." sort of way. Whether it's his solo works or his Chop Shop Project or ensemble projects, Mikhal's music - the composition and execution - is gutsy, brilliant, and inspired.
Jamaican-born, Detroit-raised Mikhal Caldwell has an impressive history, too. From garage bands in the early days to a stint at Berkelee College of Music, graduating from Renguard Conservatory and playing guest spots on several major label releases (from jazz to heavy metal), hosted the award-winning top-rated TV show "Fretboard Frolics" (whose special guests list is a veritable who's who of the world's top guitarists...including Al DiMeola and "Guitar Gods" interviewee Greg Howe), released several solo & duo CDs, and instructional DVD, and a concert video. He has recently been touring as both a performer and instructor, doing clinics for Morley, Jagmin Pick-ups, Thomastik-Infeld strings, and others, and has a new CD hitting the market: "Para Vision" (which features the wicked instrumental track, "X-Man").
Mikhal, who attended Berkelee from 1978-1981 and holds a masters in music, was first inspired to play guitar when he heard the song "Secret Agent Man" as a kid. In his words, "...a week or so later I heard Hendrix and that was it!". In addition to the CDs & video releases, Caldwell has penned the book, "Language of the Kind" which covers some heavy topics.
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Date: Tuesday, September 19 2006 @ 18:36:41 BST
(editor's note: Unfortunately, Mikhal passed away from a heart attack September 7 of 2011).
Mikhal Cadwell. Say it with me, now: Mikhal Caldwell. If you haven't heard this name...well, you've heard it now, and after hearing his music, you'll never forget it.
Caldwell is among the most impressive fusion guitarists I've ever heard, with encyclopedic knowledge of music theory, composition, & history (traditional & esoteric); command of multiple styles; and technique so amazing that it's difficult to believe he's from planet Earth! His music is at once funky & visceral & downright bestial yet intelligent & discerning & witty. Not in a "he has a good balance between..." sort of way, but in a "extremely cerebral AND extremely passionate..." sort of way. Whether it's his solo works or his Chop Shop Project or ensemble projects, Mikhal's music - the composition and execution - is gutsy, brilliant, and inspired.
Jamaican-born, Detroit-raised Mikhal Caldwell has an impressive history, too. From garage bands in the early days to a stint at Berkelee College of Music, graduating from Renguard Conservatory and playing guest spots on several major label releases (from jazz to heavy metal), hosted the award-winning top-rated TV show "Fretboard Frolics" (whose special guests list is a veritable who's who of the world's top guitarists...including Al DiMeola and "Guitar Gods" interviewee Greg Howe), released several solo & duo CDs, and instructional DVD, and a concert video. He has recently been touring as both a performer and instructor, doing clinics for Morley, Jagmin Pick-ups, Thomastik-Infeld strings, and others, and has a new CD hitting the market: "Para Vision" (which features the wicked instrumental track, "X-Man").
Mikhal, who attended Berkelee from 1978-1981 and holds a masters in music, was first inspired to play guitar when he heard the song "Secret Agent Man" as a kid. In his words, "...a week or so later I heard Hendrix and that was it!". In addition to the CDs & video releases, Caldwell has penned the book, "Language of the Kind" which covers some heavy topics.
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