I love Christmas. I question the fact that the Christmas season starts November 1st. At that point, there's already Christmas music playing on some radio stations. Also, all the stores are stocked with Christmas decorations galore. I don't understand why this is, though. Advent only starts four weeks before Christmas. I don't usually feel the need to start Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving. I'm a last minute person, what can I say?
Are there other holidays that we start preparing that early before? Am I missing something or is it just me who notices this? Oh well. I feel like this does happen in other aspects of our culture, though.
People who get married usually are engaged for about a year before the actual wedding happens. The preparation that goes into a wedding is amazing. I can't imagine why people need to do that much work for a one to two-hour ceremony. It just seems so silly. I can't imagine what compels people to spend so much money on weddings either. I'd much prefer to spend that kind of money on a house or a nice vacation to Europe. That's just me, though.
I guess it has to do with Americans being very ceremony-oriented. We like to make big splashes when it comes to birthdays and anniversary's also. There are those people who get married twice. That is the most absurd thing to me. I guess it's probably because I'm not married. I feel like once is enough. Well, if we're not including divorce at least. It'd be nice if once were enough, but that doesn't seem to be the case these days.
Anyways. I hope you had a good Christmas. Enjoy the rest of your vacation.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Mi Guitarra
I just wanted to let you know that my guitar now has strings. I know, it's quite amazing. The thing is that I didn't have strings on it for a few weeks now. I was too busy with school to be able to go to the music store and get new strings so it was kinda naked for a little while now.
Now I can practice. Today, my dad asked if I had been performing at all lately. I sadly have not. I don't know what's keeping me. I blame it on the nudity of my guitar, though. Now, all better.
Yayness.
Merry Christmas everyone! And happy New Year!
Now I can practice. Today, my dad asked if I had been performing at all lately. I sadly have not. I don't know what's keeping me. I blame it on the nudity of my guitar, though. Now, all better.
Yayness.
Merry Christmas everyone! And happy New Year!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Finals
Finals make my head hurt. Literally. I've been studying for a couple hours and I now have a headache. I took a study break to make brownies, though. They smell really good and after they get a chance to cool, I will be able to eat some. The rest will inevitably be ingested by my roommates and/or friends at school.
It's the weirdest thing, though. I am somehow unable to listen to music while I study. I don't like it at all. The silence is deafening. The thing is, it's really distracting. I can't concentrate if I have music on. I even tried listening to music in Spanish and with the fact that I am quite fluent these days, I was still distracted by it. Oh well.
Good like with Finals all! Have a great holiday break!
It's the weirdest thing, though. I am somehow unable to listen to music while I study. I don't like it at all. The silence is deafening. The thing is, it's really distracting. I can't concentrate if I have music on. I even tried listening to music in Spanish and with the fact that I am quite fluent these days, I was still distracted by it. Oh well.
Good like with Finals all! Have a great holiday break!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Performance
This will be my last blog for this class. I will continue to blog after the class is over. I hope you guys keep blogging, too. If not, have a great Winter Break!
I have been performing since I was a wee tyke. I actually remember performing a song at my church when I was little. I'm not sure of the name, but I know the melody to it which is kind of impressive.
I have always loved performing. It makes me really nervous, but I also get a thrill out of it. When I start playing my solo or singing during a performance, I will sometimes get so nervous that my lip will quiver and it will give the sound a vibrato of sorts. I usually get over this after the intro thankfully.
I cannot count the amount of times that I have done solos or duets or whathaveyou. It's an amazing thing. I don't even know why I continue to perform. It's not like I get any money from it.
There were a couple times I was paid for performing. I played the flute at someone's wedding. I also played in a flute choir where we were paid for playing at Bordine's and the Dicken's Festival.
I could tell you about so many experiences when it came to performing. Most were good, a couple were bad. During high school, I participated in marching band. It was not my favorite thing to do, let me tell you. Most of the time we were cold, and a lot of the time, the field was muddy. I also didn't like that we had to watch football.
For some reason, one year, our band played in a Christmas parade. I don't know how we got that gig, but by the time were done, my fingers were numb. It was not my most pleasant experience in band.
One of my favorite pieces that we played in the flute choir was the Pink Panther. I always played the bass flute and for once, I actually got the melody. It sounded reaaaalllly good. I loved that song.
As you can see, I have done a lot of performing. I hope to continue. One of these days, I'll get new strings for my guitar. Until then, the stage awaits me.
I have been performing since I was a wee tyke. I actually remember performing a song at my church when I was little. I'm not sure of the name, but I know the melody to it which is kind of impressive.
I have always loved performing. It makes me really nervous, but I also get a thrill out of it. When I start playing my solo or singing during a performance, I will sometimes get so nervous that my lip will quiver and it will give the sound a vibrato of sorts. I usually get over this after the intro thankfully.
I cannot count the amount of times that I have done solos or duets or whathaveyou. It's an amazing thing. I don't even know why I continue to perform. It's not like I get any money from it.
There were a couple times I was paid for performing. I played the flute at someone's wedding. I also played in a flute choir where we were paid for playing at Bordine's and the Dicken's Festival.
I could tell you about so many experiences when it came to performing. Most were good, a couple were bad. During high school, I participated in marching band. It was not my favorite thing to do, let me tell you. Most of the time we were cold, and a lot of the time, the field was muddy. I also didn't like that we had to watch football.
For some reason, one year, our band played in a Christmas parade. I don't know how we got that gig, but by the time were done, my fingers were numb. It was not my most pleasant experience in band.
One of my favorite pieces that we played in the flute choir was the Pink Panther. I always played the bass flute and for once, I actually got the melody. It sounded reaaaalllly good. I loved that song.
As you can see, I have done a lot of performing. I hope to continue. One of these days, I'll get new strings for my guitar. Until then, the stage awaits me.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Coldplay and other stuff
If you don't love this band then it's possible you're not human. Coldplay is AMAZING. That's all I'm going to say about that.
"Fix You" is really kind of a sad song. It's about fixing someone. It's positive in a way though because someone is being guided home. I like the guitar solo also. It sounds really good for some reason. I like the ending, also. It gets more upbeat while the lyrics are a little bit more depressing. It's just a cool idea. Here's the video.
I love, love, love the song, "Viva la Vida." I don't know what it is. I think it has something to do with the introduction. That and the strings. I love it when people use string instruments in unconventional ways (this is a good example of that). The thing is, I have never understood this song. I guess that's okay, though. It's still a good song. Watch the video here.
There are so many good songs by Coldplay, but I chose to share this one with you all because it has a really good piano melody and I also like the vocal melodies. It is arranged well, in general, though.The introduction really pulls the listener in and then they keep listening when we are brought back to that same melody throughout the song.
So I brought up the fact that I like it when strings are used in new and interesting ways. That brings me to the movie "Step Up" which has a last dance number. The song that is featured has Hip Hop influences, but it also uses strings. It sounds really cool. The dance is good, too.
Also, I wanted to let you know that one of the bands that I am a fan of, The Hook, played in Flint. It was really cool to see them in a more familiar setting. I enjoyed it a lot. The disappointing thing was that there weren't that many people there to see them and they are a really good band. So next time, go and see them. They only play covers, but it's of popular music that's really fun to listen to so it's cool.
"Fix You" is really kind of a sad song. It's about fixing someone. It's positive in a way though because someone is being guided home. I like the guitar solo also. It sounds really good for some reason. I like the ending, also. It gets more upbeat while the lyrics are a little bit more depressing. It's just a cool idea. Here's the video.
I love, love, love the song, "Viva la Vida." I don't know what it is. I think it has something to do with the introduction. That and the strings. I love it when people use string instruments in unconventional ways (this is a good example of that). The thing is, I have never understood this song. I guess that's okay, though. It's still a good song. Watch the video here.
There are so many good songs by Coldplay, but I chose to share this one with you all because it has a really good piano melody and I also like the vocal melodies. It is arranged well, in general, though.The introduction really pulls the listener in and then they keep listening when we are brought back to that same melody throughout the song.
So I brought up the fact that I like it when strings are used in new and interesting ways. That brings me to the movie "Step Up" which has a last dance number. The song that is featured has Hip Hop influences, but it also uses strings. It sounds really cool. The dance is good, too.
Also, I wanted to let you know that one of the bands that I am a fan of, The Hook, played in Flint. It was really cool to see them in a more familiar setting. I enjoyed it a lot. The disappointing thing was that there weren't that many people there to see them and they are a really good band. So next time, go and see them. They only play covers, but it's of popular music that's really fun to listen to so it's cool.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Christmas
I wanted to let you know, if you didn't already, that there are 23 shopping days left until Christmas. Don't worry, I haven't gotten all my gifts, either. With the snow, I am feeling Christmasy so I thought I'd post some of my favorite Christmas songs.
I, of course, love "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby. My family and I used to watch the movie, "White Christmas" every Christmas, but then I think we lost the VHS tape. I still will watch it if it comes on TV, though. I love Bing Crosby's voice. It's so soothing. It's got a really good tone to it. I love this song because it evokes the Christmas spirit. I remember one Christmas when we had a green Christmas. It was very disappointing for me.
"O Holy Night" is a really good song, too. I particularly like this version with Josh Groban only because I love Josh Groban's voice. He has a really nice timber to his voice. I could listen to him singing for hours and I probably have.
"Silent Night" is another song that I really like to listen to around Christmas time. I really like Charlotte Church as a singer and she does a really good job on this song. She has a good voice, but I can't listen to it for hours like I can Josh Groban's. She's a good singer, though. It's just very "choir-y" which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it can get annoying after a while.
Another song I love, love, love is "Carol of the Bells." An amazing version of this song is done by Trans-Syberian Orchestra (TSO). The only album of theirs that I have is their Christmas album and it is amazing. Some of their originals are really good along with the classic Christmas music. I just find that TSO is an awesome group because of the musical range that they have. I love the blending of the orchestra with the bass and the electric guitar. It sounds really good.
I, of course, love "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby. My family and I used to watch the movie, "White Christmas" every Christmas, but then I think we lost the VHS tape. I still will watch it if it comes on TV, though. I love Bing Crosby's voice. It's so soothing. It's got a really good tone to it. I love this song because it evokes the Christmas spirit. I remember one Christmas when we had a green Christmas. It was very disappointing for me.
"O Holy Night" is a really good song, too. I particularly like this version with Josh Groban only because I love Josh Groban's voice. He has a really nice timber to his voice. I could listen to him singing for hours and I probably have.
"Silent Night" is another song that I really like to listen to around Christmas time. I really like Charlotte Church as a singer and she does a really good job on this song. She has a good voice, but I can't listen to it for hours like I can Josh Groban's. She's a good singer, though. It's just very "choir-y" which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it can get annoying after a while.
Another song I love, love, love is "Carol of the Bells." An amazing version of this song is done by Trans-Syberian Orchestra (TSO). The only album of theirs that I have is their Christmas album and it is amazing. Some of their originals are really good along with the classic Christmas music. I just find that TSO is an awesome group because of the musical range that they have. I love the blending of the orchestra with the bass and the electric guitar. It sounds really good.
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