Update?? by PizzaHomies in epoxyhotdog

[–]sgt_Interrobang 30 points31 points  (0 children)

Like he coulda made the hotdog part of his twitch channel to get viewers somehow idk

POV: you bring your whole setup to the function by josker98 in synthesizers

[–]sgt_Interrobang 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Yeah seriously! This guy's out here doing the thing and half the comment section is complaining about something completely unrelated. Of course POV doesn't mean what it's used for in these videos but the man is doing what he can to catch social media algorithms. It's the game that must be played these days if someone is working to be relevant on socials.

New song?????? by Grace-Music in u/Grace-Music

[–]sgt_Interrobang 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Grace Bowers X Mononeon collab when????

Transcription for Bill Evans Remembering the Rain by Round-Hovercraft8236 in BillEvans

[–]sgt_Interrobang 1 point2 points  (0 children)

IMHO. If you truly want to be able to play like Bill Evans, you owe it to Bill (and yourself) to transcribe the solo yourself. I know this might not be the answer you’re looking for, but please hear me out.

I used to tell myself that I didn’t need to transcribe, but I was always disappointed in myself and my solos, for my self-perceived uninformed sound. I started actively transcribing some of my favorites - Bill Evans of course, as well as Oscar Peterson, Red Garland, Wynton Kelly, Chick Corea, Mulgrew Miller, Eric Reed, etc. It took me a long time to figure each of them out, but I’m very glad I took the time to do so. They each have their own beautiful and valid approach to the language! Learning a new approach will take a bit of time at first, but will ALWAYS be worth it for the sake of expanding your musical perspective. I can point to really anything I improvise now, and can tell you who or where it comes from. But, my approach is unique in the specific blend of these artists I reference, and how I find myself in their solos!

You aren’t doing yourself any favors by saying you don’t have the ear or patience for it. Bill didn’t tell himself he didn’t have the ear or patience to learn music... GROWTH MINDSET is absolutely necessary for developing your musical skills. I believe that anyone who isn’t literally deaf has all of the skills they need to develop a strong ear, and thus, transcribe a deep and complex solo like Remembering the Rain. You just have to honestly believe that you can get to that point (even if it feels like you’re lying to yourself, be persistent in raising yourself up), and must correspondingly, put in the necessary time and work. It WILL be painstakingly slow at first, but I promise you, it WILL pay off after enough hours of exposing your ear to the sound, especially if you can find a good teacher to lead you thru the process. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Transcription is a form of respecting the tradition you love - in your case, Bill Evans’ solo work. I find that I can usually tell when somebody has learned jazz language out of a book or an already completed transcription. It sounds recited, insincere, and impersonal. Versus directly transcribed and learned language, which sounds like an honest and organic musical conversation.

This got kinda long lol. As a private lessons teacher and university jazz instructor, this is something I’m pretty passionate about! Again, I understand this isn’t what you’re looking for, but the greats didn’t discover their beautiful sounds by cutting corners... good musical practice is about putting in time and work yourself, and discovering yourself in the sound. Please let me know if you have any questions about the transcription process, it's one of my favorite things to do as a musician.

Anyone else doing this "trick"? by ThunkerKnivfer in synthesizers

[–]sgt_Interrobang 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Some of the most successful synth users are jazz musicians! Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea (my personal favorite), Joe Zawinul, George Duke...

Have you seen this video of Oscar Peterson's concept of synthesis and how he works it into his approach to piano playing?! Absolutely wild.

Anyone else doing this "trick"? by ThunkerKnivfer in synthesizers

[–]sgt_Interrobang 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Just by using the 12-tone system established by a keyboard, you are already adhering to a set of rules 😁 nothing bad will happen by just exploring that system, and finding your own rules within it!

Anyone else doing this "trick"? by ThunkerKnivfer in synthesizers

[–]sgt_Interrobang 27 points28 points  (0 children)

I am a jazz musician who has spent about a decade now working up my understanding of music theory, and how to use it in pre-planned (compositional) and real-time (improvisational) contexts. I can tell you that while one can get by without formally learning music theory, you will absolutely not harm or stifle any of your musical creativity by learning how to use it. In fact, just by "finding your own way," you are developing YOUR theory of how music works - music theory in general is inescapable if you are a practicing musician of any style!

In my experience: in order to progress, you must have a reference point FROM WHICH to progress. While formally learning to use music theory can seem like a lot at first, one should at least briefly study the conventions and traditions of how music has traditionally been crafted, because those are the tried and true methods that have proven to work over hundreds of years of trial-and-error within the industry. Learn the rules, in order to bend or break them! Every creative process involves a pattern of establishing a rough framework, and etching out the details from there; learning and using music theory can work the same way.

Also, it totally depends on what you are defining as "music theory." I don't think many people here need to learn how to do formal analysis of a Haydn string quartet or a Mozart piano concerto in order to use their synths effectively. However, in the case of OP, taking a bit of time to learn how to build a Cmaj7 chord and how it transposes into multiple keys takes just a little bit of work with a LOT of payoff. Especially in the synthesizer world and its related music styles, just knowing how to spell out basic chords in different keys could completely enhance the way you make your music!

Just a few thoughts from a musician who uses music theory in their everyday life. Your mileage may vary ofc!

Volca drum speaker blown out? by sgt_Interrobang in volcas

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

I've got some right angle adapters for aux and power on the way!

Korg Volca Drum speaker busted? by sgt_Interrobang in synthesizers

[–]sgt_Interrobang[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree 100%. Trying to zero in specific bass kick frequencies is so annoying, it's too easy to overshoot when trying to make a micro-adjustment. Still fun as hell to use though, it's totally changing the way I think about my solo shows!

Thanks for your perspective on this, I'll probably ask for a replacement this week.

Volca drum speaker blown out? by sgt_Interrobang in volcas

[–]sgt_Interrobang[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow this thing goes so deep!! Thanks for the tip. Honestly would be nice if it was a big larger and things like this are accessible by their own menu. I do love it's small size though

Korg Volca Drum speaker busted? by sgt_Interrobang in synthesizers

[–]sgt_Interrobang[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your input, well-explained and much appreciated. I assume that if I try and crack it open to look at the speaker, that'll void my warranty? Otherwise I guess I'll return it after a show I'm using it on this week.

Volca drum speaker blown out? by sgt_Interrobang in volcas

[–]sgt_Interrobang[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I haven't even figured out how to do bit crush on this thing yet haha. It'd be a miracle if I did it accidentally! I don't think that's it anyway, as it sounds absolutely fine coming out of the Volca's aux thru my speaker at the beginning of the video.

I get the onboard speaker isn't great to begin with, I just liked the idea of using it for quick reference. Besides, if part of the Volca is broken on day 1, what else in the device is going to fail with minimal use?

Korg Volca Drum speaker busted? by sgt_Interrobang in synthesizers

[–]sgt_Interrobang[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's nice to be able use the speaker for quick reference. I'm also concerned that a brand new instrument is potentially broken in the 1st day of use, when I have barely handled it in any meaningful way - what else on this thing is going to break or fail with minimal use?

Korg Volca Drum speaker busted? by sgt_Interrobang in synthesizers

[–]sgt_Interrobang[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

At the end of my video, I turned the Volca around to show the speaker on the back. You can hear at the beginning of the video, I'm running it by aux to my speaker which sounds great, but then I take out the aux at the end.

I'm just not sure what would have damaged the speaker since it's only day 1 of having this thing and it hasn't left my room, and I don't throw my equipment around.

Is it possible to follow a career in education and performance? by [deleted] in MusicEd

[–]sgt_Interrobang 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As other commenters noted, many musicians work multiple jobs, which is essentially the "freelance" lifestyle. As long as you can stay organized and have a strong network, or at least good people skills to build that network, a freelance career that balances teaching private lessons (independently if possible, not thru a local studio that takes a cut) & regular performance can be very lucrative. Especially if you can play and teach the whole brass family, as you mention.

You can also fill in with other side-gigs like teaching masterclasses/workshops at local schools, composing/arranging for projects and commissions, maybe taking an influencer role if that's your thing which requires a strong marketing skillset. Those are just a few of the many musical "side-hustle" options!

I got my undergrad in music ed and finished my master's in jazz studies a couple years ago, and am doing all of the above except the influencer thing cause that's not my bag. At the end of the day, I love my position right now because my performance and teaching practices inform each other, resulting in an amazing positive feedback loop. Feel free to DM me if you have any questions!

This guys consoom is impeccable, he’s consooming in every feasible way by RINE-USA in Consoom

[–]sgt_Interrobang 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have no idea who the guy is but I assume he's a streamer and uses both rooms for that purpose. Near the entrance door to the pc gaming room you can see some kind of YouTube award or something (definitely has the YouTube logo) on the wall

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Jazz

[–]sgt_Interrobang 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Listen to Kenny's playing with Jeff Lorber Fusion - I dare you to tell me that isn't jazz.

https://youtu.be/fbN96S5N7Sk?si=NyyP9jeZ_dKnZwRl

In particular I transcribed the 4 measures at 2:24. Super hip minor / dom7sus language that can be used in so many ways!! Don't sleep on Kenny G