Cover songs...

Anybody got experience with releasing covers?   I had a brilliant idea, but I want to do it right... I don't want to be a cover freak unless I can get it right... Really right... You know?

Tell Me Your Method?

There are many ways to write a song, but there is only one way to get it on paper... Would you improvise until you got a final version or write everything down and splice together a final version???   The process can be fast, but which do you prefer?

First Video Coming Sunday...

My educational video series for kids playing low clarinets is coming.  I'm literally going to start from scratch.  So, you could in the 6th grade, barely able to hold the thing or take it out of the case, or you could in high school or college just trying to survive the instrument.  It's going to be mostly bass clarinet, but there is A LOT to talk about.  Not the least of which is how you should sound if you want to make a difference.  I could literally write a dissertation on this, so, I hope the videos are helpful.  I'll try to ramble as little as possible, and I'll try to make it fun and engaging.

Video links to come soon...

How Does One Shred When One Does Not Have A Studio In Which To Shred?

How do you record in your home,  shred , and not blowout the mic you're using... Any thoughts?

Instinctual Lyrics?

I wrote almost all my songs as the music first and the words second.  The music just come naturally, and I can edit it to fit in words that work well, but I have not written a whole song and then tried to write music to fit it.  There is something about instinctually putting words to the music I already have that I find oddly satisfying.  I know that people edit their songs all the time, but how often do they edit them?  I feel like the music happens and then some lyrics happen when I am ready...anyone else want to share their process?

From A Distance...I Record My Music

The idea of recording in a garage or some other kind of rustic environment is very appealing, but I want to make sure I record in a way that actually makes sense.  I have a recording device on my phone and tablet.  I have the computer software I need to cut together whatever I want, but I have to record at the right distance.  It is hard to record so close to a microphone with an acoustic instrument, but I don't want to create something that sounds like I'm in a tunnel...

Do I record intimately and reduce all the volumes I use?  I could do that, and I think that it would sound great...I'm just wondering if that actually makes sense.

All Songs Written

Well, I technically did not write two of them, but I have decided how I'm going to play them since they were over 200 years ago.  The other songs are totally written, and I need to decide on the setting for record straight solo much, that is in the pop format, that feels like something smooth and indieish.  Yes, I know.  That's some serious shit.  I'm tempted to record them on my phone or tablet from across the room.

Anyways, I want it to sound like it was recorded in a garage because those are some of the roots of indie music.  Things that do not fit the mold (like Bass Clarinet pop songs that have no sung words) and things that are not going to hit the Billboard 100 on their first release.  I much prefer to be on the outside of the box...now to make it sound that way.