Got a Match? - My personal tribute to TCCEB!!!

Someone in NTGC posted this. This guy is blessed with talent. Enjoy!

Rockbox Theater's Doehemian Rhapsody

Enjoy! Check their youtube page for more...

Star Wars Maidstone - Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre

Very funny act. Check out their many videos.

The Quintessential Zombie ♫ ♪

Dave and I had an interesting discussion about leads and melody tonight. A composition is a multifaceted creation that lives and breathes. It is a whole that is greater than the sum of it's parts. And speaking of parts, there are many parts to a composition. Some have more than others. There are elements such as rhythm, harmony, counterpoint, introductions, endings, etc... However, the most important element of any composition is undoubtedly the melody. With out a melody, compositions would be a cacophony of noise and beat. Interesting-maybe...for a bit..., but eventually pretty dull and not very enjoyable. The melody is the identity, the DNA or life of a composition. With out melody, a comp(...OK, I am going to start using the word song instead of composition. Too much typing...) a song would be a mere shell of art. An empty plastic mold of musical interest on a cardboard backing.

The quintessential zombie of the grand staff, it is song bereft of life. -nuff said.

Melody breathes life, color and character into a song and should not be taken for granted.

The most basic, freely obtainable and emminently relevant trait of music and song is melody.

The melody should be reflected or referenced throughout the song. Other elements exist and have roles, but none so important or primary. From the melody, all other elements thrive. The rythmn embelishes and accents. The harmony lifts and complements. The bass drives and supports. All theses are important, but secondary and left listing without melody. Then there is the 'solo' or feature element that adds flair and gives musicians a chance to flex their creativity. Of course, different styles demand different technique and approach, but one vital element is already on hand.

The melody of the song is a primary and perfectly elegible theme for the soloist. As a matter of fact, any soloist worth their salt should be able to play leads using the song's melody.

It is not only relevant to the song, but reasonable as a choice and has been shown time and time again to be the perfect choice for the theme of the solo. Of course, as an improvisition, a soloist should take liberties and excercise the muse for a few bars. But I think you will find that starting, revisiting and/or returning to the melody throughout the solo is a perfect use of the element and makes for a very satisfying jaunt.

It's A Sin To Tell A Lie

Smokin' swing!

Doctor Who 2009 first fan film is finally finished!

After much to-do and a few delays, Doctor Who 2009 - Fire and Ice is now available for your enjoyment! You can download via torrent from their own website. Have a look and enjoy!
Remember, this is a fan made video and not affiliated with the BBC in any way, shape or form. See the disclaimer at the DW 2009 website.
That said, this is to be the first of an ambitious 13 part series! Maybe a bit overly ambitious, but we'll see. Only 12 more installments to go! They also boast a Facebook Fan Page, a forum of their very own and a thread at the Gallifrey Base website. There are also trailers and other goodies, so hop over to www.doctorwho2009.com and enjoy.

Great work, Aron, Kenneth, Jennifer and the rest of the cast and crew. Brilliant!

North Texas Guitar Club

For those of you who don't know, I am a member of the North Texas Guitar Club, which is a member group of the Collin County Music Cooperative. NTGC is organized and maintained by Dave Lewis. To quote the website, Dave's vision for the group:

The club's members consist of a wide variety of players; ranging from
absolute beginners to seasoned professionals, acoustic to electric, and many
different musical styles from Jazz, Rock, Blues, Fingerstyle, Classical, Country
and beyond. The intention of the club is to provide the following:

Help guitarists meet other guitarists.

Make it possible for advanced guitarists to mentor beginners.

Allow guitarists to share resources, such as books, tabs, software, CDs, etc.

Share experience with various makes of guitars, amps, and effects.

Provide an opportunity to jam with other guitarists.

There are no dues to join the club, only a willingness to interact with
other guitarists.

NTGC currently meets 2-3 nights a week. There are plenty of opportunities to meet up and jam. It's a lot of strumming, with lead breaks thrown in for whoever wants to noodle a bit. Song choices vary and are selected in a 'round the circle' order. Be prepared to have extra copies or better yet, post your songs to the message board early. It's much appreciated. NTGC offers a chance for growth, education and am outlet for your guitar bug. It's a nurturing environment with a lot of friendly and helpful folks. Be careful, you might actually learn something.