Guitar Lessons #2 - Mike Hayes

For guitar "E" is the Open Chord starting at the end of the neck. Mike Hayes show be the very common 12 bar blues. The type of chords he wrote down for me are called "drop two" which is because the "E" and "A" strings are not played. Learning this new way of 'inverting the chords' gives the guitar a brighter sound and blends better with lower registered piano or accordion.

Mike has been playing for 25 years and has worked for Dave for two years. I hope to gain some insight and knowledge working with him. I expressed to him that my 'intonation' and 'tone' are the areas I need help in. Ok get to work already!!

"RHAPSODY IN BLUE" - George Gershwin

This piano classic was found written for accordion. Seem like a daunting task to perform but I've learned if you only take one step at a time, you can learn it.

"The Bethena Rag" - Scott Joplin

This Rag is almost finally completed, I've been work on it for months. This song really kicked me into learning play complicated rhythms. Many times he very simply throws in a "single repeating note" and it's 'timing' gives it the interesting syncopation.

Scott knows how to piece together sections of music with musical interludes or transitions that change keys. Most rags are in 4/4 and this one being in 3/4 sure opened my eyes. The 1st and 2nd endings on page 4 really give me a head ache!

Madness

Well thought out album cover that shows the well organized

group each doing there completely own thing. Who in the

world would think to take a picture with Primrose Hill the

same size relationship. Well done.

"Complete Madness" and "Rise and Fall" were probably the two most listened to records growing up. They still hold up today. These people took what they may have rememeber from childhood and took it to adulthood for the world to see. Fearlessly.

Abrahamson

Here's a caricature I gave to my piano teacher Eric Abrahams. I luckily make a quick copy before giving to him. I hope he liked it I don't always feel I can capture a likeness.

"Pirate's of the Caribbean"

Here's a new illustration I did for my book "Happiest Music On Earth" (2011). The other one was rushed and I used a Pirate from "Peter Pan". I like the lettering better in this new one and the funny 1960's Animatronic Pirate's.

"FUN ZONE" - Button

New "Fun Zone" buttons will soon be in stock.

"Today at the Park" - Garfield Park

I never usually do this but bringing the ipod ghetto box really can inspire a good mood to create music. The music I select works fine so just keep it playing. During the practice I had a few folk stop by. I kept playing and like usual switching over to playing Disney Music...

Right when I finish a lady who was starting her conversation decides to start talking to me. I turn on the ghetto box and tell her I am going on break! On the way back from the car I see her dancing with her partner.

I did a small puppet show for four people with the horse mask as a huge puppet to the song "Ghost Ryder in the Sky". I had the horse singing but for got I had made the sign with the "Yippy Yi Ho" . . . bummer. But I did get a round of applause and they stuck around for "Mickey Mouse Club".

Song rehearsed were FRENCH MUSIC "Amelie", "Valse D'Amelie" and "La Ven Rose". Sight reading "Bella Notte" and "So This Is Love". Surprisingly sounded halfway decent.

"Charleston" - Day #5

This version has been revised so many times to get the left hand chords correct and comfortable. Hopefully earlier versions are not better. I now hope I finally got it right!

"The Charleston" - Jimmy Johnson

I download a lead sheet of the Charleston with the melody and chords but I could not find sheet music for both left and right hands. I applied the way I'd been seeing how to 'voice' the chords in the left hands on this version here. I tried to steer them out of the way of the right while keeping them centered around middle "C".

After hearing the 'Player Piano Rolls' version, it sounded to me like maybe there were two piano players parts playing at once. My version is much simpler but not as simple at the single note lead sheet I originally downloaded. That didn't have octaves or chords that I was hearing in my head.

The song has words but I don't think of this song sung. It's like a theme song like George Lucus's "Star Wars" or the music in Fishbone's "Party at Ground Zero".