We played a sick game of laser tag, which I'll you know I got MVP in. (Note: in the picture below they should be shooting each other because they are all on different teams, just sayin'.) ↓(That's me.)
We then played some b-ball in which I can confidently destroyed in (my friends and I).
Anyways, I am now in olderness and thought it only appropriate we start this MUSIC blog post with some birthday music..
The Beatles:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glNjsOHiBYs
Alvin and the Chipmunks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFh-rX_Sfhs
Yeah, I think birthday music gets old fast too. Today, I would like to share with you about what I think about classical music. This means that half, or more, of you are groaning and the other half are fist pumping. Well, for all you musicians who hate it, I'm not the biggest of classical fans either. However, classical music is valuable to us in so many ways. I write more pop, rock, acoustic whatever songs, so it doesn't seem like it would apply to me, but it does! Classical music has used ever single melody you can ever think of somehow at some point. It is rich in orchestration, and holds secrets that you can't even imagine. A lot of times, classical music tends to be based upon scales. I can tell you now, I wish I knew the secrets of scales much earlier. When playing improv, or playing period, the ability to change the fingering on a piano is highly invaluable. WAKE UP! I know there are a bunch of you who have fallen asleep by now, especially at the mention of the word "Piano", and there are three reasons I choose the piano as my example.
1. The piano is AWESOME. (That one is a bit biased)
2. The piano is the instrument I play.
3. The piano is based in C and is the center of music!
Let me explain that last one a little further, when I mean, the center of music, I mean it based in the most logical and simplistic of all keys, C. I can't tell you how many times I've wished the guitar worked the same way. However, for the sake of saving the snotty, uppity guitar players, scales are just as important. Building chords is all about what strings you play, and so, knowing how the frets work, and moving up and down with chords are the most full proof way of building those chords usually! Score one more for classical music.
However, there is something lacking in classical music these days, the reflection of todays society. Part of the reason that we dislike classical music as a younger generation is because of it's distance from ourselves. We love songs like Bittersweet Symphony by the Verve. Listen to it! Classical orchestration in many ways. This is modern classical music. The sound of "classical music" will be forced to change in some ways, but that doesn't mean we let it die off completely. This band was a one hit wonder, for the simple reason that they re-incorporated that sound into their song, while maintaining some of the sounds of today's culture. The value of classical music doesn't end their though, try listening to some classical music, I personally love Bach's fugue in g minor. Here's two versions, one more traditional and one more modern! So people people like one, some people like the other, I gotta say, I love both! Check it out.
Bach's Fugue in G Minor Traditional on the Organ
Bach's Fugue in G Minor Modern on Electric Guitar with drums
These videos are both super freaky incredible, and I love both. This should strike you all as a reminder, don't eat fish on Wednesdays. Oh wait, wrong phrase. My bad. This should strike you all as a reminder of what can be done when a traditional piece is orchestrated with modern culture's instruments. I love it, you love it, we all love it. Let's get groovy, go write yourself some classical/modern music and post it up here for all to hear. Also, in case you hadn't noticed Grooveshark got a makeover.
We'll end with some GREAT ORCHESTRATION, my sister's band Reilly preforming Too Long Without You.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHqUCr2GytI
Thanks and don't get hit by a car.
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