Read Part 1 and Part 2 if you need to. Last time, I introduced the hook that I am using to tie this arrangement together. You might ask how I describe this hook and I am not sure that I know how to answer that question. I would probably say that it is a gentle […]
I really think that if I ever quit doing what I do, I would want to do something in the field of history. I love history. I am also a fan of Dan Carlin, the online history podcast guy (Hardcore History). I just finished listening to his 25-hour podcast series on WWI and I found […]
Last week, I discussed a simple idea behind arranging and today, we are going to start taking a look at it in action. Our example is last month’s arrangement, “Just As I Am,” for the arrangement club. To start, let’s talk about the song itself. When I was young, this song was what we called an “invitation” […]
Here is a dirty secret about arranging: it usually happens fast. One of the biggest surprises I found as I got into the world of professional music is just how fast arranging happens. In the world of jazz, believe it or not, it often happens on the fly as if by magic. In the studio, […]
I just published a new arrangement on my sheet music page. It is a simple but (hopefully) stylized take on “Just As I Am.” If you are in the Monthly Hymn Arrangement Club, don’t buy this one. You should have received it on Saturday. There are various philosophies behind the arranging process. For example, many […]
I deactivated my personal Facebook account a few weeks ago. I have not missed it. In fact, I am really enjoying being disconnected. I doubt I will ever go back to Facebook in a personal way– though I will probably always keep my professional page there. There are many reasons why I quit Facebook. Some […]
I have been giving away a lot of courses lately on my Facebook page but not really as fast as I want to. I like giving away stuff. So last night, I got this idea to give away a course to everyone. Here are the details: Choose between Chord Substitutions Made Easy, The Chord Toolbox […]
This is an intensely personal post today –but before I get into it, I am going to tell you how I prefer that you respond to it. First, my preference is that you don’t write me to tell me you feel sorry for me. Frankly, I don’t feel sorry for myself and when people start […]
Sometime over the weekend, we sold out Reflections on a Journey. Some of you are due a refund or exchange and we are getting to you as fast as we can. While Reflections on a Journey hopefully will exist in the new digital world for decades, today is a bittersweet day so please indulge me […]
I just published a new arrangement on my sheet music page: Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne. This is a lesser-known Christmas carol. I have always loved the refrain, but it sort of feels like it was written at a different time from the rest of the piece. The clue for me is the harmony. Tell […]
Thanks for all the kind comments on my MasterBuilder video. I transcribed what I played over the weekend and you can now purchase the sheet music with the performance track on my sheet music page. Assuming you learn the sheet music, your performance should sound pretty much the same as the one on the video. […]