Just passing on some info on what I've been up to for the last few months..
My main focus for the last year has been getting StecRecords.com into shape. In addition to a total overhaul on the look of the site, we've been working on web based tools and links to help musicians and sound engineers do their work better. We've got quite a lot of articles on the site already but have some really great tools waiting in the wings. Stay tuned.
On the music front, I've been continuing my self-training keyboard course: the student - me, the teacher - me (yikes). It's really been a great experience that has been bearing fruit in both music and in new tools for musicians which will eventually be available publically.
For my so called "self-training" program, I've been alternating between original material and cover songs. Many of the tunes were written on/for the piano but many (especially the originals) were not so I've been translating guitar parts to keyboard. Tricky stuff but providing some great exercises.
To keep things interesting, I like to learn 2 or 3 new cover songs at a time. Most recently, I've been working on Mister Blue Sky and Sweet Talking Woman by ELO, and Yellow Brick Road by Elton John. Wonderful pieces that are teaching me a lot about working with multiple keys in an approachable way. I've posted lead sheets for many of these songs on www.TuneWorkshop.com.
On the original front, I've mainly been working on keyboard parts for my new "Play-age" project. Some great musical ideas are emerging but I've, effectively, been getting piano lessons from my old friend Brian Templeton, trying to learn the piano parts he played on Pay and Brain Seizer. Great stuff. Thanks Brian.
A little few of the tunes from Play-age are currently posted on my myspace page but remaining tunes are pretty far along and will start appearing soon.
For those of you who are familiar with my Sing For Your Stew CD, I've also been working up keyboard versions of Fourth of July, Come Out To Play and Cool This Summer which I'll be performing in live appearance in the coming year. Pretty much all of the the keyboard parts I played on that project required extensive editing (my playing was pretty pitiful back then), and many were created using a Roland guitar synth so I've had my work cut out for me.
I'm also still scouting out locations for some live interactive workshop events we're planning for Stec Records on recording music. I'll be hosting, doing an interactive presentation on recording using computers.
The second half of the night will be dedicated to trying out new toys/instruments and actually playing some music. Musician's who contact be before or during the event will be invited to join in. We'll also capture video and audio of the event which we'll post on the StecWorkshops.com page.
We're hoping to find a venue close to the center of Billerica, MA in the USA which is where I live. If you live in or around Billerica and know of a decent place to do this kind of event, please let me know. This is what we're looking for:
- Plenty of free parking
- Capacity for approximately 100 people
- An open floor area surrounded by the audience on 3 sides.
- Space for a projection screen (on the fourth side)
- Easy access for load-in
- Has a seperate area where people can network out of the direct line of the sound
- A liquor license (we do want people to be able relax and have fun).
