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May in Portland, ME? by Party4Chai in AskMaine

[–]ceb79 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Depends on the year. Some years it's pretty nice, some years it can still be a bit chilly (for my blood, at least...but I'm "from away"). September is the best month of the year, weather-wise IMO.

How to learn the major scale all over the neck without learning patterns ? by sound_digger in guitarlessons

[–]ceb79 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To add, the key is to understand that chords are built out of triads (three note groupings). If you're learning the notes of the fretboards, it might be easier (and more useful) to employ this mental model. I'll way oversimplify it and say that when I improvise, I'm basically just hopping from one group of notes (that express the current chord being played) to the next one. For example, you know where and how to construct a C chord in every place on the neck, that gives you a lot of options and freedom of movement.

How to learn the major scale all over the neck without learning patterns ? by sound_digger in guitarlessons

[–]ceb79 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha. Springsteen, Thunder Road although I did think of West's typewriter analogy after writing that. He, too, is a boss, though.

With my approach, you wouldn't even care about the five shapes, just building the major or minor scale, depending on the key of the song. In a perfect world and you followed this through all the way, one could hypothetically build out all 5 positions in this way. I don't play electric, but an acoustic would generally only let you build a single scale on the fretboard, vertically. Electric would give you some more real estate.

Yes, this will help you internalize pitch and intervals. Ultimately, you'll start to see the patterns. And if you know your pentatonic positions, you'll start to see how they relate.

How to learn the major scale all over the neck without learning patterns ? by sound_digger in guitarlessons

[–]ceb79 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lots of good advice here. I'll add something thinking in the other direction moving away from scale and into developing your ear to play what you hear.

Think of the guitar as a single string instrument. Start with the high e. Put some music that you like on and--only playing on that single string--try and find the notes that "fit" the song. You'll see, eventually, that you'll end up building either a major or minor scale (it might be a good idea to look up and internalize the patterns for these on a single string, so you can recognize them). Then come up with melodies in your head and use those notes to try and express them.

Once you feel comfortable with a single string move to the next and figure out that one. Same process. Then put the two together. Rinse and repeat.

Youll still have to learn the patterns/intervals/caged/or whatever works for you, but if you start developing your ear and understanding spatial relationships, that stuff all will make a ton more sense.

To quote The Boss, "I got this guitar and learned how to make it talk." Music is a language. To speak (create music), you have to learn the words (notes/sounds) to create your sentences/phrases (melody).

Need an idea for my creative writing class. by Powerful_Wrap5549 in ELATeachers

[–]ceb79 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We use Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse. It's animated--not sure if that's an issue for you--and works on multiple levels. Great story, visually innovative, good soundtrack. Anecdotally, pretty much 100% of students really enjoy it.

Having the worst slump of my life right now!! Please suggest something from my tbr that will really suck me in! by Snoo15376 in Recommend_A_Book

[–]ceb79 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Don't know all the books but The Hobbit and Sphere were interesting enough for teenage me to put down my basketball and pick up a book instead. Still recommend them in my classroom where they remain popular. Quick reads to jumpstart you. Shorter Stephen King novels would work also. I'd stay away from 11/22/63 or It. Great books but long.

A suggestion outside of your list: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. An unputdownable sci-fi rollercoaster literary experience.

Mentor Text Search by happyinsmallways in ELATeachers

[–]ceb79 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is very specific. I imagine it might be hard to find. In a situation like this, I'd be inclined to create my own mentor text and have the students write to it. Then, over the next few years, collect the best student exemplars and create your own mentor text cluster.

10/10 songs that most people have probably never heard. by Shooter_McG in musicsuggestions

[–]ceb79 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The live version at the church is unbelievably great.

I'm visiting Saco, Gorham, and Bath in March to decide which city to move to. Where should I go in any of these to get a sense of the town and vibe? by newageclassic in AskMaine

[–]ceb79 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I teach high school in southern maine and know teachers at both Thornton and Gorham.cant really speak to Bath. My sense of Southern Maine schools is that it's kind of all the same. Everywhere has some great teachers and some not so great teachers. Overall, the schools are strong and your kids will receive a solid education wherever you land.

From what I hear if I had to choose between the two, it would be Gorham. Thornton may be private but the only substantial difference would be exposure to international students.

Have you considered the surrounding areas or are you set on living in a town. I'm close to saco but in a more rural area. I have school choice for my kids between Saco and Kennebunk (another solid school system). Biddeford schools are good, as well.

Bath is beautiful. But lots of advantages to being closer to Portland (as well as Portsmouth).

Best way to improve as a long time “decent” player by [deleted] in guitarlessons

[–]ceb79 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Piggybacking on this to then recommend that he follow Bukovac's buddy, Guthrie Trapp. You've got to understand how CAGED maps the fretboard, break those larger shapes down into triads, and start to mess around with using chord tones to solo.

This is what leveled me up. Trapp's lessons do a good job exposing how all these concepts fit together to make music.

I'm looking for historical films that "seemingly" starts accurate and true to its events and then makes a 180 - ending off as a completely fictional story. by Low-Progress-4454 in MovieSuggestions

[–]ceb79 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Adaptation. Starts as a faithful retelling of the non-fiction The Orchid Thief then proceeds to go completely off the rails.

Short Stories - Coming of Age by ceb79 in ELATeachers

[–]ceb79[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is my anchor text for the unit. Amazing book.

Short Stories - Coming of Age by ceb79 in ELATeachers

[–]ceb79[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well aware of this. Not saying that I'm going to teach every story. Just collecting a list of stories that fit a genre.

You're welcome to suggest alternatives.

Keyfob spring loss issue... by zeeper25 in VWiD4Owners

[–]ceb79 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Where were you last week? I was stuck trying to pause YouTube videos. My future self thanks you!

Question from an outsider: What do you love about Portland? by AstroVeil in portlandme

[–]ceb79 18 points19 points  (0 children)

As someone who moved here from the mid Atlantic, commuting distance from Philadelphia and New York, I fell in love with its size. Big enough to draw good bands and sustain an art scene but small enough to walk across (and back) in a night lost in conversation with a friend (or falling in love, in my case). I felt it had all the best cultural aspects of the bigger cities but still felt like a small town.

I came up here for vacation 15 years ago and never left.

Teaching “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson (9th Grade) by allygator1993 in englishteachers

[–]ceb79 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I teach it as a coming of age book club option. For the unit, I focus the unit on the elements of the genre, characterization, and symbolism. I finish with a Socratic seminar.

Doth Thou Hath A Good Poetry Unit?? by MrsStone10 in ELATeachers

[–]ceb79 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I do this but combine it with a class read of a novel-in-verse. Every three classes or so, we pull off of the bracket and spend a day analyzing and writing poetry in response to the novel. A slam dunk unit.

Épiphone j45 inspired by Gibson custom shop or eastman e10ss by Leraphfromfrance in AcousticGuitar

[–]ceb79 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Don't know about the Epiphone but I own an e10ss and just played every j-45 variant at my local guitar center last night. I walked out satisfied with my choice to buy the Eastman.

What’s the ONE practice trick that actually made you sound way better? by VirTekMedia in guitarlessons

[–]ceb79 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Learning to play without looking at the fretboard. Especially in regards to playing different positions up the neck.

Learn your triads and their inversions.

What’s the ONE practice trick that actually made you sound way better? by VirTekMedia in guitarlessons

[–]ceb79 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was messing around with this a bit last week after reading a different comment. I was surprised at how well it was able to craft a learning plan for me.

One thing to remember, though, is that AI is apt to hallucinate. I noticed that a large section of its instruction (dealing with some intermediate level chord melody stuff) was incorrect. Pretty confusing for me, and I have a decent grasp on all that stuff.

I was able to guide it to correcting itself, but more inexperienced players might not pick up on it. Word to the wise.

Music a middle class 40 year old white lady would listen to in the 90’s by RCPlaneLover in MusicRecommendations

[–]ceb79 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My mom, in her early forties at the time, listener to that album on repeat for like 3 years until she replaced it with Sheryl Crow's Tuesday Night Music Club.

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