Eric Stefani Music Blog

2010/11/02

2010/10/30

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

2010/10/19

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.

2010/10/18

"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.

2010/10/14

"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.

2010/10/11

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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2010/10/10

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.

2010/10/09

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

2010/10/08

"This Is Halloween" - Danny Elfman

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

2010/10/06

"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 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.

2010/10/04

"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".