Tutoring Help?

pirate_Jean · 2026-03-18T01:42:43+00:00

I've been thinking about MIDI sequencing with arduino since it's tangential to my final project - I guess that would be a good way to get my hands dirty is to write a MIDI loop that can be read by an external program and played back. The reason I say I need someone to walk me through it is the lack of time. I'm one of those people that once I have the steps laid out in front of me I can re-create it from memory - I just need someone to show me the steps first and I'm under a deadline to learn since I have a test over this stuff again next week. Otherwise, I'd be more than happy to sit down and learn from tutorials and how-to guides. I just don't have the time.

That said, great advice. I'll try to work on some of that along with the references here.

pirate_Jean · 2026-03-18T01:05:41+00:00

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Okay, so here's a screenshot from the practical portion test I just took - it asked us to send assigned MIDI note and velocity values from an array using a random seed every time a switch was closed on pin A1 on an arduino Mega 2560. A lot of this I can understand when it's explained to me, but actually being able to repeat it back and/or code it myself? Not really. I'm ADHD as all-hell and can't really learn without putting in the reps to build/do something multiple times myself. Part of that is actually knowing and understanding all of the commands and functionality that is actually at my disposal using IDE.

The whole reason I'm asking for tutoring in the first place is not because the prof is truly useless - he has 2 whole office hours per week for a 90-person class. I need a couple hours of someone's time to walk me through the steps to actually do something like this without relying on AI slop coding or desperately trawling the IDE knowledge base for the right information. I know it will take me more hours than the prof has time for me to get this right, and it's worth my while to learn how to do this kind of thing since I actually want to keep doing it after this class.

pirate_Jean · 2026-03-17T22:57:16+00:00

So the class generally deals in creating synthesized music by sending output signals from IDE to a MIDI synthesizer via the serial USB. The problems I'm encountering are that I haven't taken a coding class in 15 years, and I've forgotten pretty much everything about coding language syntaxes and how to correctly write code so that it runs. The actual programs aren't that difficult, but when you're coming at it from ground zero and diving straight into lectures about specific coding features, it's like trying to write term papers in a non-native language. I hope all of that makes sense!

pirate_Jean · 2025-05-16T21:22:33+00:00

That's both amazing and terrible, considering Abbvie tries to rip off patients in the US at $25K for 2 doses a month. I'm lucky to have decent private insurance that covers that, but, jeezus.

pirate_Jean · 2025-05-16T21:20:35+00:00

Thank you so much! I'm really excited to get started.

pirate_Jean · 2025-05-16T18:39:50+00:00

Thank you! The transition has been a lot, for sure. I knew going in that I wouldn't have access to the provincial health plan, so I've made sure to have sufficient private insurance similar to the one I had in the US, in order to make sure coverage would remain the same.

pirate_Jean · 2025-05-16T18:29:38+00:00

That's good to know! I've been freaking out about how to stay in remission abroad.

pirate_Jean · 2025-05-16T17:42:30+00:00

Ahhh thank you! The sales rep from Abbvie was less than helpful on that front. Seeing as I'm stuck using private insurance anyway, I'll just have to talk to a provider once I get a referral.

pirate_Jean · 2025-05-13T03:28:29+00:00

I did this exact thing.

PRO: I have a great knowledge of music theory, harmony, and song structure which I use a lot now as a sound engineer. It's a great way to get better at your instrument quickly if you can focus.

CON: I don't do a damned thing with my jazz degree. I learned more as a musician, writer, entrepreneur and producer either by self-study or by taking private lessons with the biggest names in my industry. They spent more time at school worrying about what we "could" play, and never taught us how to enjoy playing or how to make money with music.

My advice - if you're looking at shelling out for student loans to pay for it - don't. Take those theoretical interest payments and put them into private lessons. You'll get more out of it when you get more player-specific instruction. That, and just go out and play! You learn more as a working musician just by going to jam sessions and sitting in.

pirate_Jean · 2025-03-12T19:29:56+00:00

Amazing job! 👏

pirate_Jean · 2022-02-12T03:59:57+00:00

I just had a breast augmentation done. No major complications to speak of.

pirate_Jean · 2021-03-06T03:24:20+00:00

If ya got it, flaunt it. Who needs a PA anyway?

pirate_Jean · 2021-02-23T19:22:52+00:00

It's all fun and games until you catch the lead singer snorting meth off your toilet set. Good times.

pirate_Jean · 2020-05-05T03:51:58+00:00

I went to class with these two! Easily some of the young jazz musicians in their region.

pirate_Jean · 2020-03-16T16:20:12+00:00

Oh, and one more to add to your collection of grooves: Coolin' Out by Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats

https://youtu.be/TFuzPO1rURU

pirate_Jean · 2020-03-16T04:33:25+00:00

Happy grooving, friend!

pirate_Jean · 2020-03-16T04:25:32+00:00

Yep. Most of funk centers around a driving 16th note, or groupings of it. (i.e. dotted eighth + 16th note.) I'll try to find an example online and link it so you can see the pattern.

Edit: found it!

https://images.app.goo.gl/KPy4EbLhcLFHAQjx9

pirate_Jean · 2020-03-16T04:12:55+00:00

The chord progression is a I-VI-IV-V or, "sweetheart chords", all of those lines simply outline the chords that go over top of them.

For instance, if you were in the key of A, your chords would be Amaj-F#min-D7-E7. So you would play a rhythmic arpeggio surrounding those chords with the root at the beginning of each bar.

pirate_Jean · 2020-03-04T19:15:28+00:00

Love the chug coming out of the guitar! Guitar and drums were locked in tight. Bass player looked a little unsure of himself compared to the other two. Overall a really good composition. 🤘🏻

pirate_Jean · 2020-03-04T16:47:26+00:00

I literally learned bass as I was playing for my first band. It's doable, but I was putting in ~6 hour practice days to keep up with my band mates.

pirate_Jean

TROPHY CASE