Canadian Musician articles from May 1 2009

Canadian Musician archives from May 1 2009

Dear Canadian musician.(Feed Back)
May 1, 2009... Congratulations on 30 great years! I read Pat Leyland's column on where The Money Goes, and a couple of things jumped out at me. First was Chris Taylor's breakdown that stated that about 10 years ago, the manufacturing cost of an album was a...

Playing the campus circuit.(IndieInsider)
May 1, 2009... John Mullane, singer and guitarist for Halifax indie outfit In-Flight Safety, is being thrashed around in the back of the tour van enroute to the band's home city. The following night, he and IFS are playing a gig at Dalhousie University's...

Canadian industry unites for CMW 2009.(Changes)
May 1, 2009... Celebrities, indies, icons, industry executives, and music enthusiasts came together from across the country and the globe this year for the canadian Music Week festivities. Running from March 11-14,2009, the festivities included awards...

Copyright creators debuts online copyright protection service.(Changes)
May 1, 2009... Copyright Creators has launched its online copyright registration service for artist. The launch of the site's copyright registry is meant to encourage artists to continue producing their work. "We've come across thousands of artists who...

Bring the band home.(Changes)
May 1, 2009... House concerts are a means for musicians to get extra gigs in an intimate, comfortable environment that offers benefits for all involved. Musician Shawn Trotter recently hosted a seminar on holding house concerts at the Burlington, ON Long...

St. John's to host 2010 JUNO Awards.(Changes)
May 1, 2009... The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) along with broadcast partner CTV has named St, John's as the host city for the 2010 JUNO Awards, to be held April 15-18, 2010. This will mark the second time St, John's has hosted the...

Virtual-Vancouver.com helps artists grow online.(Changes)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Utherverse's Virtual-Vancouver is a unique website that presents a real-time, 3D venue for artists to connect with other artists, fans, and industry contacts through showcases, galleries, live concerts, and other events. [ILLUSTRATION...

Canada Council deadlines for 2009-2010.(Changes)
May 1, 2009... The Canada Council for the Arts has published its calendar of application deadlines for its year from April 1, 2009-March 21, 2010. The Council has several funding programs for musicians, composers, organizations, and more. Visit...

Astral Media is donating $700,000.(Changes)
May 1, 2009... Astral Media is donating $700,000 over the next seven years to MusiCounts, the music education charity handled by the Canadian Academy of Arts and Science. Over 70 schools are set to receive grants of $10,000 for new music instruments and...

Groove Essentials YouTube channel for drummers.(Changes)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... To further the education of drummers while bringing attention to the Groove Essentials series of DVDs and books from Hudson Music, a group of drum and percussion companies have joined together to promote the launch of a dedicated Groove...

Cirque MySpace offers opportunities for musicians.(Changes)(Cirque du Soleil )(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Cirque du Soleil has put together a MySpace page for singers and musicians, listing current opportunities for employment and collaboration with its various productions. The site also features Cirque's Artist of the Month, songs from the Cirque...

New CIRAA website goes live for Indie artists.(Changes)
May 1, 2009... The Canadian Independent Recording Artists' Association (CIRAA) has redesigned its homepage for easier user navigation. CIRAA's mandate is built around education and advocacy for independent recording artists. The Association launched The New...

Be your own publicist.(Changes)
May 1, 2009... IAmThePublicist.com is a new website for musicians, bands, artists, and companies involved with the music industry. The site offers a contact database for music insiders, which includes tips, a commission calculator, profiles, and contacts for...

We all need love.(Changes)(We All Need Love: A Tribute To Domenic Troiano )(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... We All Need Love: A Tribute To Domenic Troiano has been released after months of preparation. The album was recorded live at a fundraiser of the same name in 2008. Funds from the recorded event and CD sales are being directed to Toronto East...

East coasters don't keep quiet for MIMEFest.(Changes)
May 1, 2009... Members of the independent music scene from the Maritimes connected in Moncton, NB for MIMEFest 2009. Held from April 2-5, 2009, the event featured artist showcases and gave musicians the chance to take in educational seminars from industry...

It all starts with a song ...(Changes)
May 1, 2009... Astral Media Radio has launched a new website, accessible at www.itallstartswithasong.ca, listing its initiatives to develop and assist Canadian musical talent. The site features areas for songwriters, emerging artists, music industry members,...

FACTOR program changes & 2009-2010 program deadlines.(Changes)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... On an annual basis, FACTOR and its Board of Directors meet with a group of industry professionals and review all of its funding programs. FACTOR President and CEO Heather Ostertag says that there have been many changes to the 2009-2010...

Create your own band with Sennheiser.(Changes)
May 1, 2009... Sennheiser is giving musicians the chance to connect, make music, and vie for an assortment of prizes from Adidas gear to the company's own product offerings. The initiative is the brainchild of Sennheiser Canada, but is open to musicians in...

East coast music amazes in Corner Brook.(Changes)
May 1, 2009... The east coast music industry came together in Corner Brook, NL for the annual East Coast Music Awards, Festival, and Conference. The festivities ran from February 26-March 1, 2009, and featured plenty of music showcases, industry seminars, and...

Luminato Guitar Festival illuminates Toronto.(Changes)
May 1, 2009... The Luminato Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity has announced its 2009 program. The festival honours the art of the guitar and power of music, running from June 5-14, 2009. The Luminato's Guitar Festival was co-founded by the New York...

A year of Roland contests.(Changes)
May 1, 2009... Roland Canada has launched a series of contests to give aspiring musicians the chance to pick up a range of prize packages. Four contests are running this year: the BOSS Loop Station 2009 Championship, the Roland V-Drums Contest, the Roland...

Canadian entries welcome for U.S.A. Songwriting Competition.(Changes)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... The U.S.A. Songwriting Competition has launched for 2009, with the deadline for submissions being May 29, 2009. The contest offers up a $50,000 (USD) grand prize, along with several other prizes for individual categories. The contest aims to...

Events.(Calendar)
May 1, 2009... * Rogers Spring Music Festival 2009 Hamilton. ON May 7-9, 2009 www.springmusicfestival.com * New York Amp Show 2009 New York, NY May 9, 2009 818-992-0745 loni@ampshow.com, www.ampshow.com * 2009...

Electro-Harmonix Voice Box.(RoadTest)
May 1, 2009... If you're wondering why Canadian Musician would ask me to Road Test a vocal processor, there's a valid reason. Although these days I'm primarily known as a guitar player, I have spent many years singing jingles and making my own records, and...

SABIAN: Vault Artisan crashes & hats, HHX Raw Bell Dry Ride.(RoadTest)
May 1, 2009... SABIAN continues to evolve "traditional" cymbal craftsmanship with modern characteristics to accommodate the expectations of today's drummer with its HHX series and Artisan range. When the Vault collection was introduced a couple of years...

Versatility & your own style part I.(GUITAR)
May 1, 2009... Regardless of whether you ask people or not, when you're a young musician there are always people around you giving you advice, whether it's solicited or not. The advice would range from "Don't learn anybody else's guitar parts because then...

Memo from the bassist: get out of my way!(KEY BOARDS)
May 1, 2009... You're on stage. You're laying down a killer keyboard solo. Wow. Every note's got game. Imagine your bass player starts playing exactly what you're playing. Note for note. Same thing. That's not right. You want to yell out: "Get out of my...

Writing a memorable bass line: what is it that makes a bass line both memorable as well as supportive to the song in which it was created? What are the things that can inspire the creation of a bass part that gives a song forward momentum? What types of bass lines can stand alone?(BASS)
May 1, 2009... Like most musicians, you can probably often be found sitting around absentmindedly noodling away at seemingly nothing on your instrument. This is when inspiration can strike! The previous nonsensical noodle session can quickly become the...

Clave.(PERCUSSION)
May 1, 2009... Clave, which literally translates as "key" in Spanish, is one of the most important musical figures, phrases, and structures in music. It could take up volumes to cover the topic in depth, so for the purpose of this article, I will look at the...

Introduction to graphic scores.(WOODWINDS)
May 1, 2009... In 1968, the legendary composer John Cage published an anthology of music called Notations. In it, he gathered scores by many famous composers of the day. They were randomly arranged, with guidance from the Chinese work the I-Ching, with a...

The modal continuum part II.(BRASS)(musical chords for brass instruments)
May 1, 2009... In our last installment, we took a look at major modes and chord-scale relationships. In this episode, we'll continue to examine modes, specifically the melodic minor modes. But before we forge forward, let's summarize quickly the major mode...

The DNA of audio.(DIGITAL MUSIC)
May 1, 2009... One of the milestones of MIDI was the ability to groove-quantize the feel factor of a MIDI sequence. Using software, it was rather cool to be able to just go to the note and adjust to the corrected note, and slide it back and forth for timing...

Expanding your range.(VOCALS)
May 1, 2009... In learning to sing with increased range, the best approach is a slow and steady one. The last thing you want to do is to try to force your way up. In fact, I touched on this in previous issues of CM; the best approach to singing higher comes...

The Road Hammers: taking a second swing.
May 1, 2009... When Jason McCoy started The Road Hammers, he saw it as a bit of a bridging project-something to do between solo records, an expansion on an already extremely successful career in country music, and a nod to a genre of music that had helped...

Moneen: studiophiles.
May 1, 2009... With three records and three EPs under its belt, Brampton-born, Toronto-based Moneen can now add Juno-nominated to its credentials for the DVD it all Started With a Red Stripe. 2008 proved to be a productive year for the members of Moneen as...

Crystal Shawanda.
May 1, 2009... Crystal Shawanda stares at the massive dreamcatcher hanging from the Rogers Centre's rafters. The 15th annual Canadian Aboriginal Festival is in full swing. From our table in the Toronto Renaissance Hotel's lobby lounge, we have a bird's-eye...

Staying out late with the Waking Eyes.
May 1, 2009... A mild night finds me hiking around the back of convenient venue to met up with the four members. of Winnipeg's The Waking Eyes, whom I eventually find unloading gear from their trailer onto the pavement. Greeted by drummer Steve Senkiw, I'm...

Guitar 2009: what it takes to succeed.(Television program review)
May 1, 2009... Legendary racecar driver Mario Andretti once said, "Desire is the key to motivation, but it's the determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you...

Murphy's laws of songwriting part I.(WRITING)
May 1, 2009... "May you live in interesting times" is an old Chinese curse. As a songwriter, every day is an "interesting time" for us. As an effort to demystify what may be coming our way in the future, the best place to start is what just happened in the...

10 tips for a great mix part I.(RECORDING)
May 1, 2009... 1 Try to start with a faders-up mix. Just push the faders up - don't worry about EQ and pans. Just push the faders up and get familiar with the track. Don't just dig into the mix. I like to really get comfortable with what I'm listening to and...

Having fun with axes!(LIVE SOUND)
May 1, 2009... When asked to write a column on miking guitars for live sound in smaller venues, churches, clubs, etc, my initial thought was "This will be easy - guitar mics optional!" Likely not what the editor had in mind so, cue Plan B. Let's start...

Will you play my charity event?(BUSINESS)
May 1, 2009... Introduction Every week or so, I am approached by an individual or an organization inquiring whether or not a client of mine would be interested in performing or appearing at a charitable event. Most of these events assist great causes,...

Levy's Platinum Collection guitar straps.(HotGear)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... * Levy's Leathers has expanded its comfortable and fashion-oriented Platinum Collection guitar strap line for 2009. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] One of this year's updated offerings from the strap manufacturer, the line is fashioned with a...

EMG X Series active pickups.(HotGear)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... * EMG has released the X Series, a new line of high-output guitar and bass pickups for all styles of playing. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The pickups feature a more organic nature to their sound due to a newlydesigned internal preamp from...

Marshall MB Series bass amps.(HotGear)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... * Marshall Amplification is now shipping its entire range of MB Series bass amps, including eight featured models: four combos, one head, and three extension cabinets. These units join the MB15 and MB30 as Marshall's offerings to bass players....

Peavey JSX 50 guitar amp.(HotGear)
May 1, 2009... * Peavey and Joe Satriani have collaborated to create the new Peavey JSX 50 guitar amplifier head, the latest project in the Peavey JSX Series of signature amplifiers and enclosures designed with the guitarist. Like the 3-channel Peavey...

Mackie U.Series Production Mixers.(HotGear)
May 1, 2009... * Mackie has released its new U.Series Production Mixers - the U.420 and the U.420d. Designed for the needs of musicians, DJs, and producers, the series provides flexible connections and a centralized user interface to ease workflow. Each...

SABIAN HHX Raw Bell Dry Ride.(HotGear)(SABIAN's new HHX Raw Bell Dry Ride)
May 1, 2009... * SABIAN has introduced the 21" HHX Raw Bell Dry Ride, making the Raw Bell Dry Ride available in all four primary SABIAN cymbal series: AA, HH, AAX, and HHX. With its hot, simmering sound and Tone Projection design, the HHX Raw Bell Dry...

Numark ARC 3 CD player.(HotGear)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... * Numark recently released its latest tabletop CD player for DJs: the ARC 3. The unit is an advanced tabletop CD player that plays standard CDs and MP3 CDs, enabling DJs to fit several hours' worth of music on a single disc. ARC 3 offers easy...

MXL US-made V6 condenser microphone.(HotGear)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... * Engineered with pure FET circuitry and hand-selected components, the V6 US-made, large diaphragm condenser mic from MXL is now available. Designed and built in MXL's southern California facility, the MXL V6 uses silicon valve technology...

Roland AX-Synth shoulder keyboard.(HotGear)
May 1, 2009... * Roland is now offering a return of the shoulder synth with the announcement of its new AX-Synth, the first AX-Series product to offer an onboard sound engine that includes a collection of Roland's synth sounds. Offering keyboardists...

Waves Silver collection plug-in bundle.(HotGear)
May 1, 2009... * Waves Audio is currently offering its Silver plug-in bundle, which gathers 16 of the company's plug-ins in one discounted package. Designed specifically with personal production studios and recording musicians in mind, Silver includes...

Schecter Solo-6 Hellraiser.(HotGear)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... * Schecter Guitar Research has introduced the newest member of its Hellraiser Collection of electric guitars: the Solo-6 Hellraiser. Based on an offset solo-cut design, the instrument boasts all of the same features as the other Hellraiser...

Dunlop 1976 Vintage Dyna Comp reissue.(HotGear)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... * Dunlop and MXR Custom Shop have brought back the '76 Vintage Dyna Comp as a reissue, designed to tighten up guitar signals to raise the volume of quiet notes and level off peaks for rich sustain. Carefully researched and crafted, it...

ShowCase.(Dalannah Gail Bowen, Jennifer Meade, Najuah, )
May 1, 2009... DALANNAH GAIL BOWEN [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For bookings contact: Kristie Schneider, kristie@paulmercsconcerts.com, Paul Mercs Concerts, 604-683-8763. She's opened for B.B.King, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, and Taj Mahal, and she's...