Our org, Music Industry just had its culminating activity--an all-Beatles concert!
We had a bit of money for a sound system but chose to spend it on a drum set (the school doesn't have one yet!) and just bring our own stuff and use the school's own audio equipment.
We had 3 weeks to prepare, long tests, projects, and social life included. We pulled off 8 numbers, three of those with guests from the faculty and maintenance. Just 8.
When I think of all the talent we have in the 50+ members of our org, 8 numbers sounds just plain pathetic. Like a guitar with one good string.
Now I realize that in music, just as it is in school, EFFORT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ABILITY. All that talent was wasted because some people didn't work hard enough to pull off their numbers.
A fan once approached the great cellist, Pablo Casals, after a performance. "I'd give my life to play the way you did tonight," the man said. "I did," Casals replied.
As we say in Filipino,
Kung gusto, maraming paraan;
kung ayaw, maraming dahilan.
(You find ways for things you want
and excuses for things you don't.)
Now we know what to audition for next year.
How badly do you want to play?
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Saturday, February 10, 2007
my favorite guitar albums
Andres Segovia. The Legendary Andres Segovia in an All-Bach Program. The Segovia
I read somewhere about someone saying toSegovia Segovia
Whether or not it was close to Christmas when that happened, it shows how serious this man is with understanding the music and how to bring it out--which string to play a note on, which notes to stress, to use nails or fingertips and nails when plucking, aside from all the tempo and color changes he applies to even the simplest of passages.
Savor each note as much asSegovia
Tuck and Patti. The Best of Tuck and Patti. Windham Hill Records, 1994.
There was a time when you could tell which ones were the best guitarists in my school by asking who could play "Man in the Mirror." This referred to Tuck Andress' solo guitar rendition of the Michael Jackson classic, found in his Reckless Precision album.
But my admiration for Tuck Andress' solo guitar ability is only surpassed by my admiration of him as an accompanist. He and Patti go together like mangga't suman (mangoes and suman)--both bringing out each other's ability and musicianship.
This album is just a sampler. But if I could choose the songs, I'd include their version of "Cantador (Like a Lover)." It's "better than anything...except being in love."
The Pat Metheny Group. Letter From Home. Geffen Records, 1989.
One of the albums I used to play over and over and never got tired of. It's a mood album--each song sweeping you away in a different current of sound and feeling. Of course, you also have to listen to Bright Size Life--Pat Metheny in a trio with the legendary bassist, Jaco Pastorius!
Charlie Byrd. The Charlie Byrd Christmas Album. Concord Records, 1994.
The legendary classical/jazz/blues player, Charlie Byrd, caroling with his nylon-string guitar. A record you can listen to whatever your mood and wherever you are, but especially suited to December dinners with the family.
Juan Silos, Jr. Hating-gabi. Villar Records, year?.
Papa and I bought this tape when there was still a Villar store near Raon in Quiapo. Kundimans on guitar. It's up there with paella and stone cathedrals as one of the benefits of 333 years of Spanish colonization and cultural influence. Makes you wonder what happened to music these days. To think this was on the radio during Papa's time...wow.
This still has the best guitar rendition of the title track that I know of.
Andy McKee. Art of Motion. Candyrat Records, 2005.
One of the recent additions to my short list of guitarists who play with true musicianship and feeling. Andy McKee is one of the artists I just have to tell others about. I hope his popularity and his earnings become almost as big as his genius.
I read somewhere about someone saying to
Whether or not it was close to Christmas when that happened, it shows how serious this man is with understanding the music and how to bring it out--which string to play a note on, which notes to stress, to use nails or fingertips and nails when plucking, aside from all the tempo and color changes he applies to even the simplest of passages.
Savor each note as much as
Tuck and Patti. The Best of Tuck and Patti. Windham Hill Records, 1994.
There was a time when you could tell which ones were the best guitarists in my school by asking who could play "Man in the Mirror." This referred to Tuck Andress' solo guitar rendition of the Michael Jackson classic, found in his Reckless Precision album.
But my admiration for Tuck Andress' solo guitar ability is only surpassed by my admiration of him as an accompanist. He and Patti go together like mangga't suman (mangoes and suman)--both bringing out each other's ability and musicianship.
This album is just a sampler. But if I could choose the songs, I'd include their version of "Cantador (Like a Lover)." It's "better than anything...except being in love."
The Pat Metheny Group. Letter From Home. Geffen Records, 1989.
One of the albums I used to play over and over and never got tired of. It's a mood album--each song sweeping you away in a different current of sound and feeling. Of course, you also have to listen to Bright Size Life--Pat Metheny in a trio with the legendary bassist, Jaco Pastorius!
Charlie Byrd. The Charlie Byrd Christmas Album. Concord Records, 1994.
The legendary classical/jazz/blues player, Charlie Byrd, caroling with his nylon-string guitar. A record you can listen to whatever your mood and wherever you are, but especially suited to December dinners with the family.
Juan Silos, Jr. Hating-gabi. Villar Records, year?.
Papa and I bought this tape when there was still a Villar store near Raon in Quiapo. Kundimans on guitar. It's up there with paella and stone cathedrals as one of the benefits of 333 years of Spanish colonization and cultural influence. Makes you wonder what happened to music these days. To think this was on the radio during Papa's time...wow.
This still has the best guitar rendition of the title track that I know of.
Andy McKee. Art of Motion. Candyrat Records, 2005.
One of the recent additions to my short list of guitarists who play with true musicianship and feeling. Andy McKee is one of the artists I just have to tell others about. I hope his popularity and his earnings become almost as big as his genius.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Tuning Up
Q: How should I tune my guitar?
don't let a tuner do it for you
Some people suggest using a digital tuner.
And I admit that these come in handy when you need to tune in a hurry.
But I feel that tuners leave out the most important part of tuning--listening.
do it by ear
Kuya Gab, my cousin and first guitar teacher taught me to tune to the piano.
But he himself tuned by ear!
I mean wihout even pressing on the fretboard and just listening to the open strings!
For a long time I used this method while playing for our choir.
But I noticed that singers had a tendency to sing flat
when I didn't use the piano/organ for at least one string.
But I wouldn't always have a piano around
so I had to find a way to tune my guitar to standard pitch even without it.
so now i...
use a tuning fork
I use A440 because it's the exact frequency of A on all instruments
(other pitches are just mathematical estimates, which I might explain sometime else)
and because it corresponds to the harmonic of the 5th fret on the 5th string.
(see how to produce harmonics, if/when I post it)
So what I do is:
1. I play the harmonic on the 5th string 5th fret and let it ring out.
2. While it's still ringing, I tap my tuning fork on my knee and place the ball end on the sounding board.
3. I then adjust the 5th string tuning key until I don't hear any more beats.
(This is better seen and heard than explained.)
(I might also do a little post on beats and other guitar physics stuff.)
4. Then I repeat step 3 with string harmonics. I match:
I still use it every Sunday and for almost every gig I play.
I read somewhere that tuning with harmonics also leads to imperfect tuning
in terms of exact frequencies. But do tuners do better? I don't think so.
Especially since strings detune while you play.
And only your ears can tell you as soon as this happens.
One last piece of advice, always end by tuning a string up.
This prevents the string from loosening/detuning too quickly.
This is usually forgotten by those who tune using electronics.
don't let a tuner do it for you
Some people suggest using a digital tuner.
And I admit that these come in handy when you need to tune in a hurry.
But I feel that tuners leave out the most important part of tuning--listening.
do it by ear
Kuya Gab, my cousin and first guitar teacher taught me to tune to the piano.
But he himself tuned by ear!
I mean wihout even pressing on the fretboard and just listening to the open strings!
For a long time I used this method while playing for our choir.
But I noticed that singers had a tendency to sing flat
when I didn't use the piano/organ for at least one string.
But I wouldn't always have a piano around
so I had to find a way to tune my guitar to standard pitch even without it.
so now i...
use a tuning fork
I use A440 because it's the exact frequency of A on all instruments
(other pitches are just mathematical estimates, which I might explain sometime else)
and because it corresponds to the harmonic of the 5th fret on the 5th string.
(see how to produce harmonics, if/when I post it)
So what I do is:
1. I play the harmonic on the 5th string 5th fret and let it ring out.
2. While it's still ringing, I tap my tuning fork on my knee and place the ball end on the sounding board.
3. I then adjust the 5th string tuning key until I don't hear any more beats.
(This is better seen and heard than explained.)
(I might also do a little post on beats and other guitar physics stuff.)
4. Then I repeat step 3 with string harmonics. I match:
- string 5 fret 5 with string 4 fret 7
- s4 f5 with s3 f7
- s6 f5 with s5 f7
- s5 f7 with s1 f12 or open s1 (no harmonic)
- s6 f7 with s2 f12 or open s2
I still use it every Sunday and for almost every gig I play.
I read somewhere that tuning with harmonics also leads to imperfect tuning
in terms of exact frequencies. But do tuners do better? I don't think so.
Especially since strings detune while you play.
And only your ears can tell you as soon as this happens.
One last piece of advice, always end by tuning a string up.
This prevents the string from loosening/detuning too quickly.
This is usually forgotten by those who tune using electronics.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Filipino Tuning
Nothing says amateur more than an untuned instrument.
Tuning is one of the few things that sets apart those who are really out to make music
from those who just want to play around.
Sadly, I've noticed that imperfect tuning is quite common among many Filipino musicians.
1
I once worked with a brass quintet when I was conductor of the parish grand choir.
I couldn't help it and had to point out that they sounded slightly off key to me.
The band leader said, "Hindi ka pa lang sanay. (which can be translated either as 'You're just not used to it' OR 'You're just inexperienced.')" Being the humble college student that I was, I kept my mouth shut and tried to get used to it. We played. They were paid. And that was it.
But then I listened to a recording by the Ludwig Guttler Brass Ensemble.*
They sounded perfect. So now I am more experienced. And know that I should always trust my ears no matter what the instrument.
*Ludwig Guttler Brass Ensemble. "Trumpet Tune and Air." from Baroque Highlights. LA, California: Delta Music, 1990.
2
I was once with Louie Ocampo at his studio in Makati for an alternative class.
He said he used to work with live musicians.
But some musicians resented it when he pointed out that they were off key.
So now he just works with synthesizers.
Sayang naman!
3
The great percussionist and sitar player Joey Valenciano
once told a story in class about a famous young Filipino band
that he had the chance to work with.
During one performance he told them--your guitars are out of tune.
They said--Ok lang, lagi namang ganyan e. (It's ok, they're always like that.)
4
I once attended a show featuring what might be considered the Philippines' best orchestral ensemble. Despite being conducted by a Filipino legend in a tribute concert to the same, they still played off key. Not a lot, but more than they should have.
5
When I record my own playing and singing, I realize that the disease is also mine.
WHY CAN FILIPINOS STAND BEING OFF KEY?
Maybe it's because we make do with instruments we can afford.
Maybe because we spend our time doing things which are more practical than practicing.
But I fear it's mostly because we are used to mediocrity.
Or because our history has made us too humble to admit that our music can be perfect.
E ikaw, sintunado ka rin bang tumugtog?
Tuning is one of the few things that sets apart those who are really out to make music
from those who just want to play around.
Sadly, I've noticed that imperfect tuning is quite common among many Filipino musicians.
1
I once worked with a brass quintet when I was conductor of the parish grand choir.
I couldn't help it and had to point out that they sounded slightly off key to me.
The band leader said, "Hindi ka pa lang sanay. (which can be translated either as 'You're just not used to it' OR 'You're just inexperienced.')" Being the humble college student that I was, I kept my mouth shut and tried to get used to it. We played. They were paid. And that was it.
But then I listened to a recording by the Ludwig Guttler Brass Ensemble.*
They sounded perfect. So now I am more experienced. And know that I should always trust my ears no matter what the instrument.
*Ludwig Guttler Brass Ensemble. "Trumpet Tune and Air." from Baroque Highlights. LA, California: Delta Music, 1990.
2
I was once with Louie Ocampo at his studio in Makati for an alternative class.
He said he used to work with live musicians.
But some musicians resented it when he pointed out that they were off key.
So now he just works with synthesizers.
Sayang naman!
3
The great percussionist and sitar player Joey Valenciano
once told a story in class about a famous young Filipino band
that he had the chance to work with.
During one performance he told them--your guitars are out of tune.
They said--Ok lang, lagi namang ganyan e. (It's ok, they're always like that.)
4
I once attended a show featuring what might be considered the Philippines' best orchestral ensemble. Despite being conducted by a Filipino legend in a tribute concert to the same, they still played off key. Not a lot, but more than they should have.
5
When I record my own playing and singing, I realize that the disease is also mine.
WHY CAN FILIPINOS STAND BEING OFF KEY?
Maybe it's because we make do with instruments we can afford.
Maybe because we spend our time doing things which are more practical than practicing.
But I fear it's mostly because we are used to mediocrity.
Or because our history has made us too humble to admit that our music can be perfect.
E ikaw, sintunado ka rin bang tumugtog?
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
buying an acoustic guitar in the philippines
Q: Where can I buy a good guitar in the Philippines?
1. Cebu
Tita Wilma once brought me to a street in Cebu with guitar shops in a row. They sold mostly steel-stringed guitars but I bought Ma-an one with nylon strings. I noticed some buzzing problems, and the intonation was less than perfect, but the tone is something I've only heard in Cebu guitars. Even cheap strings sound nice on that guitar. It has since passed away due to loose nuts in the head.
2. Sta. Mesa (along Aurora Blvd. near UERM and SM)
I bought my first guitar with a langka sounding board in one of the Lumanog stores in Sta. Mesa.
O. C. Bandilla always has consistent-looking and -sounding instruments from guitars to double basses.
Recently Don-Jon has also been gaining popularity. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, the guitars are of very good quality, though a bit more pricey than those of its neighbors.
But if you're after value-for-money, go to Zeny Bandilla, literally. She's usually there. I bought an acoustic bass for the school and went back with my brother who bought a plug-in classical guitar. Both were less than perfect, but they were definitely worth the price.
3. Yamaha
My only guitar as of now is a CG-80 A I bought from the main Yupangco store along Reposo St. in Bel-air, Makati. I haven't needed another one. It's hard to find a guitar in the same price range with the same durability, intonation, and tone.
I'm still eyeing the one with pickups and a microphone just inside the soundhole.
4. Other Stores
JB Music offers a wide selection of guitars to suit your need and budget limitations. I always visit their stores if only to look (ogle) and maybe pick up some strings.
Lazer also has some reasonably-priced stuff. I think they have the cheapest good egg shakers and tambourines.
5. Tell me if you spot some other good ones.
choosing a guitar
Q: How do I choose a guitar?
1. Choose from guitars which fit your budget.
- Ask about price at the outset and admit being on a budget that's a bit lower than what you're actually willing to pay.
- Ask about what makes a guitar cheaper or more expensive, especially if they're from the same manufacturer.
2. Choose a guitar that looks good to you.
- Choose a color and shape that suits your personality and playing style.
3. Check for intonation.
- Tune it perfectly. See Tuning.
- Play scales. See Scales. They should sound perfect.
- Play an open string and then play it while pressing at the 12th fret. They should sound exactly one octave apart.
4. Check for buzzing.
- Play each string at each fret.
- The string should not buzz against the next fret.
- Some shops file the frets if you tell them about buzzing problems. But this sometimes causes the frets to have sharp edges which may damage your strings and injure your fingers.
5. Check for sound and response.
- Play the guitar as loud and as soft as you can.
- Strum a chord. Play some notes.
- Play vibrato. Play harmonics.
- They should sound like your CDs and MP3s or better.
- Don't be deceived by the shop's acoustics. Your guitar may sound deafening in an enclosed room but puny in any other place.
- My co-teacher Mr. Pavia told me that his friend told him that sounding boards with fine wood grain sound good. I heard it for myself on the mid-priced guitar he bought his sons, my students, MJ and Tito.
6. Choose the one with the 'magic'.
My Yamaha CG-80 A was actually the display guitar. It has a small scar on the fretboard which it already had when I bought it. The store people brought me a new guitar but it just didn't sound or feel as good. So I went for imperfect but 'magical'.
Right now, it still looks almost as good as new. I've used it on the Hangad recordings and still use it every Sunday when I play at Mass. There might be something to that 'the wand chooses the wizard' thing in Harry Potter.
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