On Time (2011) - update

I got alot done today on "On Time". I was able to extend and edit songs, get artwork together and gather lyrics and print. And the few lines the needed to be rewritten came together but how am suppose to rerecord them?

There are several songs that are instrumentals, I could write words and sing but do not have time, can always up date later after I get the product line moving along.

I hope you're making time to do what you want to do on your holiday, but also make time for friends and family.

- Eric

"Copper Nickel"

I've been working on finishing up "Copper Nickel", it's coming out better but man it's eating all my time and Christmas is right around the corner. Stress and I've been having trouble sleeping. Good Night!

On Time (2010) is not in time for Christmas but tried my best. I guess it could be but no time for production and can remix. Deadlines . . . need to get more organized!

Piano Recital- Not The End of the World

My piano recital in this Sunday at a church in Burbank. I have been practicing "Peacherine Rag" and "Sonatina" (Beethoven) for months. It is at 2pm so maybe I should be anticipating playing (practicing) during the afternoon instead of during the morning and night? I do play during the afternoon and I usually practice on Sundays.

I am aware of the difficult parts that do arise when playing these songs. I know where I need to really concentrate. The repeats are not comfortable playing in front of the teacher so I usually skip playing them. The endings of both of these songs I blow about 40 percent of the time but I know where the problem lie so I just need to "Think!".

"Bb" then "Bbm"

then the second time "Eb"

I played "Sonatina" today and they said it was perfect! Copper Nickel bass line was simplified to two notes in he chorus. Wow, severe change from the "Night Club" bass line.

Bookcase

Today I got this great bookcase from my friend Paul Sunich. I was going to use it in my animation room but decided to use it to put all my music books in one location. It matches my house and I put my a big window near my bedroom. The bookcase is a vintage school shelf and is in great shape. The top is the perfect height for putting stuff on too.

Bunte Music

I visited a new second-hand bookstore. They have a music section that I straightened up as I was thumbing through there selection when I came across this book. It think is German, I really like the colorful cover, super weird children friendly colors for adults.

The other weird thing is that it says it's for accordion but the left hand is written for piano. Also my accordion teacher gave me a piano book and is telling me to read the piano music for accordion. Meanwhile my other teacher, the Disneyland Ragtime Piano Player/Teacher tells me NOT to try and read accordion music for piano!

Seems to me theses instruments are very closely related but I don't want to conflict with any voice of authority, so I keep my mouth closed and listen. The other weird thing is I didn't pay for this book, when I got home it was in my bag. I didn't mean to steal this book.

This music is meant to be played for drinking at a German October Festival.

"Sonatina" - Beethoven

Here is "Sonatina" by Beethoven that I have been working on to play at at December recital.

The fingering was figured out by Eric Abraham and I've type it into the score using Photoshop.

"Mystery Theme" by C. Gounod

"Funeral March of a Marionette" is used in the 1960's Television Show "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour". There is a third part that holds and leaves a 'drone' harmonizing the music. Sounds like three things going on at once making the music more interesting and enjoyable.

"Reap the Wild Wind" (12'' Version) by Ultravox

Lately when ever I feel down about my own music, I can usually pick myself up by listening to others. One particular 80's track "Reap the Wild Wind" (12'' Version) by Ultravox has such a perfect beat and groove that it puts me in a dance mood that melts all my cares away. The bass line has nothing going on but the same notes in same area and it's repetition really works.

". . . you take me hand and give me your friendship . . ."

then a minor section which has the line

" . . . Take my hand . . . . . . Take my hand . . ."

you can not help but sing along

Then the two chord chorus sheds light on everything you didn't know.

" . . . Reap the Wild Wind . . ."

There's a keyboard that comes in perfect near the end which makes you know there's an extended ending. This part tells everyone to keep dancing. The keyboard sound reminds me of the band "Sparks".

Great drum track, the drummer can really play the drums.

May the sound of the irreplaceable 80's always keep us young and dancing.

Beethoven - "Sontina'

Here is a new song I am yo learn.

Copper Nickel

"In the United States, the term "nickel" or "nick" was originally applied to the copper-nickel Indian cent coin introduced in 1859. Later, the name designated the three-cent coin introduced in 1865, and the following year the five-cent sheild nickel appropriated the designation, which has remained ever since. Coins of pure nickel were first used in 1881 in Switzerland and the use of nickel is ancient, and can be traced back as far as 3500 BC."

http://kkouyate.blogspot.com/

Copper Nickel

ERIC STEFANI 11.14.2010

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Oo o o o Copper Nickel

You seldom find them on the floor

and once you find one, you'll want more

Oo o o o Copper Nickel, Oo o o o five cent

Soft and fickle and they can get bent!

Flip it for HEADS or TAILS I bet you . . . heads!!

They're not like others you collect

but just as unexpected when they're flipped

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Oo o o o Copper Nickel

You seldom find them on the ground

and once you get one you want a mound

Oo o o o Copper Nickel, Oo o o o five cent

Soft and fickle and they can get bent!

They're not like others you collect

but just as unexpected when they're flipped

You seldom find them on the floor

Oo o o o Copper Nickel Oo o o o five cent

Soft and fickle and they can get bent!

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Oo o o o Copper Nickel

You seldom find them on the floor

and once you find one, you'll want more

Oo o o o Copper Nickel, Oo o o o five cent

Soft and fickle and they can get bent!

Flip it for HEADS or TAILS I bet you . . . heads!!

They're not like others you collect

but just as unexpected when they're flipped

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Eric Stefani - ON TIME (2011)

Here is a cover design of my album. Purple and orange colors seem to express pretty well. I had done a few others and this one seems special.

The Grinch (1966)

Auld Lang Syne

Jazz Circus (2005) - Day 4

Here is Lulu upload a few days ago . . . there was a problem uploading to their templates. Problem was I just used the generic format, it didn't download the templates!
So I was very frustrated and then found another one "CreateSpace". I downloaded their templates and followed their specs. I think/hope this is coming out much better. Below is 1.5 hours of upload process as I was working on this. It really helps to see the progress.

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10.30.2010 - Saturday

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10:49 Complete J Card Back after adjusting the sides and fill to green lines!!!!!!

10:42 Painstakingly aline the back J Card not fun at all

10:25 Upload

10:24 Change the dimension to the exact size of 1417 x 1417

10:20 Save to the Desktop

10:17 Read the warning on the sticker Template.

10:15 They want to put a Barcode over my artwork!

10:14 Painstakingly trim using the circle and clearing awe the unwanted portion.

10:07 Save it to the desktop as a Photoshop, painstaking

10:06 Scroll all the way down to the very bottom to find it, maintain anger.

10:02 Ready to put Jazz Circus picture on template, but it's not in the folder!

Go to disk open Search for Past Week

10:00 Converted PDF into Photoshop Documents

9:53 Download Templates to Create Artwork

9:30 Jazz Circus on "CreateSpace"

Create. Collaborate. Distribute.

Upload my CD at Lulu but it looks terrible, I tried to find a way to help me solve the

problem but to no avail, the

Peacherine Rag (page4)

I've been keeping track of the time put into this song and this last section is taking forever to learn. I've worked through it and know what to do but can not play up to tempo and break time to figure chords and fingering. Each part is very simple but putting them together and knowing how they connect is what is throwing me for a loop.

I must find out how to connect these parts and complete learning the song.

"Peacherine Rag" (page3)

The measure I've been having trouble with got resolved this morning. Last lesson it was explained to me but didn't sink in until now. In measure 5, the two 32nd-notes lead into the "Bb" which is on the down beat (2nd beat).

Knowing this simplifies the measure for me. It's like two grace notes attached to the Bb. The real melody comes out in the syncopation on the (+) following the Bb.

"Valse D'Amelie" - Amelie

Tonight I was actually performing the passage I thought I'd never be able to play. I guess it helps to put a piece away for a few days then come back to it fresh. The "String" sound is essential to the tone of the tune. Have to keep practicing slow and steady.

Have to keep practicing slow and steady. This measure the fingering of the last note makes all the difference is playing this passage smoothly.

"Peacherine Rag" (page1)

I've been diligently calculating my hours to see just how long it takes to learn a Scott Joplin Rag. Thought my reading has greatly improved I still am counting ledger lines in order to learn a new chord.

One way you'd think would make it easier is to know what chords the group of notes are would be to go through the entire piece and write the chords on every measure! This wouldn't be necessarily if the "group of notes" were standard 1-3-5, but they are not. There are "Inversions" and they throw me off!

Three out of four times the music has "backwards" bass notes. They start on the "5" of the chord and that can throw you off. Other times there are odd bass notes outside of the chord working a melody in or doing some kind of run.

Another problem with my reading is "Remembering" the key signature. If I know what key the song is in it is easier to find the notes. But if they are sharp and flat it's easier for me just to mark all of the sharps and flats in colored pencil.

Sometimes I think being a singer would just be easier.

Notes from Teacher 10/9

"Sunrise" p 24 - good!

6/8 is felt in 2 (groups of three)

Beat "1" is stronger than "4"

• Correct third measure from end
• Crescendo at measure 5
• Work for faster tempo

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"Musette" J.S. Bach

• Work to master the piece
• Play without mistakes
• Practice slow
• play more Legato

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"Peacherine Rag"

• mark fingering lightly
• practice slow and deliberate
• relax your shoulder

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Learn Last Section

A - Adim - Bb - C7 - F7 - Bb - Eb.

"PEACHERINE RAG" - End of last section.

Knowing the chords really help make a difference rather than depending on ledger lines.

Wow Thank GOD I've continued scanning music into this Blog. Sure is easier to keep active and know what songs were recently worked on.

10) "Peacherine Rag" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . learn page 2

9) "Mussette" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . except for that one part

8) "Sontatina" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . good by practice

7) "Tick Tock Rag". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . good

6) "Snow Flake Rag". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . good

5) "Dark Eyes". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . learn Page 3 and 4

4) "So This Is Love" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . need music notation

3) "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes" . . notate this song!

2) "Mickey Mouse Club March". . . . . . . . . . . . . learn the bass line going down!

1) "Valse D'Amelie". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . tremendous amount of work

0) "This Is Halloween". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . make shorter and more comprehensive

"This Is Halloween" - Danny Elfman

This song isn't THAT hard, once you practice it over and over!

"Kangaroo Hop" -

"Kangaroo Hop" (1:30)

(When you do the H.O.P.)

Come on and Hop! Hop!

Come And Do The Kangaroo Hop! Hop!

that's the dance for me and you

If your over eighty you can waltz a little while

but hoppin' about the parlor is the very latest style!

Come on and Hop! Hop!

Hear the music going Pop?

You'll never never want to stop!

There's no other kind of dance at all

So come along my honey, make the others look small

Come and do the kangaroo

(if you know what's good for you)

Come and do the kangaroo hop

(Key Change)

Hop! Hop!

Come And Do The Kangaroo Hop! Hop!

that's the dance for me and you

If your over 80 you can waltz a little while

but hoppin' about the parlor is the very latest style!

Come on and Hop! Hop!

Hear the music going Pop?

You'll never never want to stop!

There's no other kind of dance at all

So come along my honey, make the others look small

Come and do the kangaroo

Come and do the kangaroo

Come and do the kangaroo Hop!

Hop! Hop!

Come And Do The Kangaroo Hop! Hop!

that's the dance for me and you

Valse D'Amelie - "Amelie"

This second half of the middle section is tricky . . . . . see

See the last note on the second measure is a "D" which is played like "E" and "F"

I keep playing something up an octave like the first part.

This song uses two minor chords "D" minor and "A" minor.

They repeat back and forth over and over with a simple melody.

Then does something similar with "F" and "C" major.

It starts off in "minor" then resolves in "major".

Many songs use major and minor together but this like singing,

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"It is raining, it is raining, it is raining, it is raining"

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. . . then

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"It is sunny, it is sunny, it is sunny, it is sunny."

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This is a poor analogy but this is probably what makes the song so haunting and happy.

"Peacherine Rag" (page1)- Scott Joplin (2)

This particular measure was giving me trouble today!

That is a "C" natural, not "B" in the left hand (3 third finger!)

"Musette" - J.S. Bach

This song may have already been upload. Need to practice, it was written on an organ.

"Always" - ERIC STEFANI

A song I found today written in 2008 and added to it, updated it, wrote it out, revised it, wrote it on bar lines, typed it into program, then scanned it and upload.

"Living Thing" Electric Light Orchestra

This was done a few months ago and need to back it up here.

"Le Moulin" - from the Soundtrack of "Amelie" (2001)

While these pages are in order, and do "OPEN LARGE"

they are sized too big when you go to print! I think it's the DPI

"Peacherine Rag" - Scott Joplin (2)

When you go to "PRINT" click on each page to open larger, then once it's ope click again to make full size, then they will print correctly!!!

These were "All Upload Together" in backward order!! They were not converted in "Preview" and they are "documents" not "jpegs". Only one minute to upload!

AND THEY ALL "OPEN LARGER" WHEN YOU CLICK ON THEM!!!!!!!!!!

Le Moulin -"Amelie" (2001)

I think I've figured it out. Once you've uploaded a file then it will "OPEN LARGER". But if you want to put the pages in order and move them around and "Republish", that is when Blogger can not find page and will not "OPEN LARGER".
PAGE 1

PAGE 4

PAGE 2PAGE 3

This song is written for piano not accordion, the song it played very slow on the c.d.

Only problem now is when you print, it prints "Small".

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1) Drag to desk top from BLOGGER

2) "Open" in "Preview" application, then resize by taking a "Screenshot" from "File" Menu

"Selection Window".

3) Print!!

Drag to desktop, Open in Preview"

"Peacherine Rag" - Scott Joplin

Got to remember that the scanner is se to 300 fro the scan and you need to shrink to 72 dpi in order to see larger when you click on image!

Here is one at "150 pdi" and it prints good - and opens to "larger size".

Is good too.

These pages don't open and when you got to print they are mouse size. :(

They use to open fine until after I moved them to put them in order. Hmm . . . stay in faith.