Latch Music's Ezine #33
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* "The Zine" content is contributed by Dave Latchaw and colleagues who use the Internet to promote their musical projects. You can check out previous issues at "The Zine" Archives.
- Article: "Spreading Yourself Too Thin" by Dave Latchaw
- Guest Artist: Joaquin Taboada - Passionate playing and performing.
- Featured Web Site: Getsigned.com
- Featured Web Video: Stanley Clarke
- CD Pick: Mike Keneally "Wooden Smoke"
Spreading Yourself Too Thin
by Dave Latchaw
As a music educator I see many students who are involved in too many various activities. For most this spreads them too thin, which hinders their capability to really excel at any one given activity. Parents often encourage their children to have many various experiences, which is good to a point, but with competition happening at younger ages all the time, streamlining one's interests becomes necessary in order to excel. What I think happens is that when the student is involved with so many activities, they never really learn how to practice and prepare to achieve past the point of being average or mediocre. So often these students go from activity to activity without having ample time for the necessary preparation to do well, which causes a great deal of frustration. Some students get really stressed out, others handle it and figure out how to prioritize and be efficient with their time. The stressed out students definitely need help in learning time management skills, and also advice on how they can cut down on the amount of activities they are involved in.
Students have so many activities because there are so many things available to try. This is great, but there comes a time of overload. Many times parents approve of the student being so busy because they want their child to have the opportunity to try things and see what turns them on. Some may also think it will help keep the student from having too much free time to get into mischief. Parents have over the years have become less sensitive to the amount of activities their children are in, because they themselves have also become too busy with too many things, which makes their own life seem frantic. Being too busy starts to feel like the norm.
There is a fine line between stifling the student's interest and keeping a perspective on just how much time it will take for adequate preparation at any given activity. You want to encourage a student to try things, but also help them to be aware of the time commitment they are making. The student also needs to learn that there is only so much time in the day, and they may have to make choices about what they can participate in. A common giveaway that a student has too much going on is when they are not successful and come up with negative excuses such as, "I got screwed", "The judge had it in for me", or any similar "passing the buck" statements. This happens because it's hard to realize and admit that one wasn't prepared and didn't reach the standard required, or that the competition had worked harder and was more prepared. In some cases parents will support the student's negative response rather than admitting to the student that the competition did better, or they just didn't do well. This will just foster the "I got screwed" mentality. If students have less activities and more guidance on how to practice and prepare for the activities they choose to be involved with, their chance of success will be greater.
The balance of school work and extra-curricular activities is an added challenge. One has to figure out how much they can handle with success. Many times it's easier to say something is "too hard" than to set aside the time it will take to do well. With instant gratification on so many levels in life it becomes more and more of a challenge to deal with any activity that is not instantly achievable. We have become an impatient society.
Because successful education is very often based on the quantity of content covered, the time spent on how to learn or practice is overlooked, due to lack of time in the educational situation. If a student doesn't know how to practice or study they can't be efficient with their time. In these hectic times we all have to learn to be efficient, and understand that things take time. Time management skills and the process of studying and practicing need to be incorporated along with the educational content. It should not be assumed that one innately knows how to study and practice. Learning is team process between educator, student, and parent.
Joaquin Taboada
#1 Where on the Internet can people find out more about you and your music?
Well, I have my songs in several internet sites, Vitaminic, Besonic and others and a small personal page, but I am focusing the whole traffic toward my site in mp3.com, mp3.com/Joaquin Taboada. Although the last changes here have not liked any artist, I believe that it is the most powerful platform and it joins 3 factors that I consider necessary: good presentation, good sound quality in streamings and the possibility of selling CDs with the best sound quality in the net.
#2 Who are some of the artists that have inspired you and your direction in music, and why?
What I will say can sound pretentious, but I believe that each artist that I listen has influenced me in a way or another. I like a lot listening music and it is something I do whenever I can. In any case, is true that there are several artists that have influenced me especially as the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Michael Nyman or George Winston. I cannot explain why his work moves me, but it is this way.
#3 What kind of musical training have you had, and how has that been important to you and your musical development?
It can be said that I´ve had a classical musical formation. From when I was a child I studied accordion and piano. I´m a Piano Professor and Superior Professor of Solfeo and Accompaniment by the Superior Conservatory of Music of Pamplona (Spain). But I´ve also had the luck to be part of several rock and pop bands, and this had enlarged very very much my musical perspective. So I intend to fuse the classic and modern music and I believe this is also reflected in my compositions.
#4 What are some of your favorite moments in your musical career?
I really think my favorite moment is NOW. My music has found, thanks to internet, people that listen to it and these people trust me like a "future project". My songs have been included in many stations in mp3.com; in the Labels PRIVATE COLLECTION MUSIC and WOOD AND WIRE MUSIC that will publish CDs samplers with their artists; in REAL SOUND OF MUSIC where one of my songs will also appear in their next CD "Real Sound of Showcase Hits II", and the last thing is to have been elected artist of the month here in THE ZINE - thank you Dave -
#5 How did your group Stultifera Navis start, and what are your performances like?
Stultifera Navis arises from the necessity of taking to stages the music of "Musica Vespertina". It is necessary to keep in mind that when I recorded it - alone at home with my PC - I didn't imagine the great repercussion that it has had later. The current formation of SN is Victor Castillo (Keyboard and Accordion), Unai Otegi (Flute), Diego Jimenez (Clarinet), Juanjo Ojeta (Bass and Guitar), and Joaquín Taboada (Piano), but I don't conceive a band like something "closed". For me SN will always be a open project to new musicians and new influences. I try that our concerts are always warm and I try to eliminate the distance that separates us from the public. I believe we always achieve it.
#6 What do want the listener to get from your recordings "Musica Vespertina" and "Jardin de Santos"?
I want that the listener could get what he wants. But I believe that it works better if I achieve people to see "images". Those that they want. I´m not a composer obsessed with getting the listener to "feel" or "see" what the author thinks that they "should see". I find it likewise wonderful that somebody listening "Luna de Noviembre" or "Calma" could see the sea and the other sees the desert. The important thing to me is to move the feelings of the receiver.
#7 How has the Internet helped with your projects?
Internet has been basic and primordial in my musical project. It has given me the opportunity to show my music to the entire world and I´ve had the luck to find a lot of support and many listeners that are moved with my music. And another important thing is that it is also liking a lot to some persons that have the power of getting that it reaches places that I had not imagined to arrive. The samplers to those that make mention in the point 4, or this interview, for example ;) Thanks to these things 3 of my songs have become #1 on the global lists of mp3.
#8 What future projects should people look for from you?
Nearest in future is the publication of the PRIVATE COLLECTION MUSIC, WOOD AND WIRE MUSIC and REEL SOUND OF MUSIC CDs. I am also working on the songs of my next CD that I hope to publish in May on mp3.com. I also hope that in Spain, that is where I live, the promoters of concerts are interested in the Stultifera Navis projet and to continue this way with the concerts. Thank you to all those that read this interview and to you Dave for this great opportunity of showing my work and my ideas.
Getsigned.com
In the music business one can waste a lot of time trying to get a foot in the door. As with anything, the more information you have, the more efficient you can be with your time. Getsigned.com provides many useful ideas and information that can help one streamline their music bizz game plan. They break it down into some great topics such as getting signed, music promotion, music law, getting gigs, artist management, recording tips and more. Check out Getsigned.com, it may help you save some time!
Stanley Clarke
Stanley Clarke is definitely one of the great jedi masters of both acoustic and electric bass. As a teenager, Stanley headed off to New York and starting working for the likes of Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson, Pharaoh Saunders, Gil Evans, Stan Getz, and Chick Corea. The development of Jazz Fusion gave Stanley the opportunity to play melodies and to propel the bass to the front of the concert stage. When Clarke and Corea formed the band "Return to Forever" he used the platform to highlight his bass. With "Return to Forever" and his solo efforts he was setting a new standard for bass playing. In the 1970's the only other guy doing this was Jaco Pastorius. They both had their own voice going on, but shared an important role within the world of the bass. It's great fun to check out Stanley playing. At his website he makes several videos available as well as some cool audio tracks. Click here to watch the video.
Mike Keneally
"Wooden Smoke"
"Wooden Smoke" is Mike Keneally's tenth recording effort. Mike is an amazing diverse musician that came into global prominence as Frank Zappa's "stunt guitarist"/keyboardist/vocalist in Frank's last touring band. Besides having his own great band, Mike is well known as a guitarist and right-hand man for Steve Vai. For "Wooden Smoke", Mike had been playing a lot of acoustic guitar sitting on the floor in his living room. This inspired him to create this delightful, mainly acoustic collection of soundscapes. The vocal arrangements are out of this world. "Wooden Smoke" is able to challenge the listener and be accessible at the same time. Check it out, you'll be glad you did.
Musicians for "Wooden Smoke"
Mike Keneally - Guitar, Keys, Singing & Sounds
Marcelo Radulovich - Atmospheres & Sounds
(Tracks 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 & 14),
Melodica (Track 9)
Nathan Hubbard - Drums, Percussion & Sounds
(Tracks 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 & 14)
Rick Musallam - Guitar (Tracks 2 & 10)
Tricia Steel - Vibes (Tracks 1 & 11)
Matt Resnicoff - Vocals (Tracks 2, 4 & 10)
Lee Elderton - Saxes (Track 6)
Chris G - Drums (Tracks 4 & 10)
Bryan Beller - Bass (Track 14)
Tracks for "Wooden Smoke"
- Hello
- Bags
- Haugseth
- 2001
- New England
- Nanny-Ass Crow
- Dee 'n' A
- Boom
- Legs
- Father's Day
- Pantomime
- Machupicchu
- Wooden Smoke
- Thanksgiving
Click here to learn more about "Wooden Smoke"
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