Canadian Musician articles from September 2003

Canadian Musician archives from September 2003

Choose the chosen?(Feedback: what's on your mind)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2003... Dear CM, Hey, I love the mag. I think you need to do an interview with the band The Chosen. I have a feeling they are going to go all the way. Their songs are very, very radio worthy. Vocals from Taryn Bugyra and guitars of Rick Styles and...

Wrongfully crediting writers.(Feedback: what's on your mind)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2003... Dear CM, This letter is addressed to Rick Rose, columnist for Canadian Musician. Hi Rick, I always enjoy your songwriting column published in Canadian Musician magazine. Your insights and background on songwriters is always of...

How to raise $25,000 for your CD.(Indie Insider)
September 1, 2003... A few years back, I went back into the recording studio for the first time in 15 years. I felt like an old gunslinger digging in the feed bin for the six-gun he stashed years before. I was none too confident. In fact, confidence seemed...

What to look for in an independent record label: part II.(Indie Insider)
September 1, 2003... Contract and copyright laws aside, there are flags to watch for in even the simplest of record deals. The following are issues that need to he addressed before any deal is signed. Some independent artists and labels like the idea of working...

CIRPA announces formation of Ontario Music Industry Association.(Changes)(Canadian Independent Record Production Association)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The Canadian Independent Record Production Association (CIRPA) is pleased to announce the information of the Ontario Music Industry Association. The Ontario Music Industry Association will create opportunities for Ontario-based companies...

Toronto awards Metronome founder.(Changes)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Founder and President of Metronome Canada Foundation, John Harris, was awarded a Toronto Canada Day Achievement Award at a ceremony in the Council Chamber Of Toronto City Hall on June 11,2003. The annual award was presented to "honour his...

Yamaha, Paiste host 'The Hang'.(Changes)(Yamaha Canada Music Ltd., Paiste Cymbals hold drum gathering for music store dealers, Toronto, Ontario)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Yamaha Canada Music Ltd. and Paiste Cymbals held a drum gathering on August 24, 2003, at Bamhu, a restaurant/club located right on Toronto s scenic waterfront. The event was attended by Canadian music store dealers from across Canada and...

All majors join Puretracks.(Changes)(music download service secures contracts with major recording labels as well as independents)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Canada's leading music download service, Puretracks, has recently secured the involvement of all major Canadian record labels for the launch of the service this fall. BMG Canada, EMI Music Canada, Sony Music Canada, Universal Music Can and...

Cool edit pro rebranded 'audition'.(Changes)(introduction of Adobe Audition software)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Syntrillium Software and Adobe Systems Incorporated "have recently announced the introduction of Adobe Audition software, a tool for professional digital audio recording. Audition is a re branded release of Cool Edit Pro, which is expected to...

Completely certifiable.(Changes)(recordings that have gone diamond, platinum, or gold)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Courtesy of the Canadian Recording Industry Association, www.cria.ca Avril Lavigne Let Go (BMG Canada/Arista)--Diamond Blue Rodeo Palace Of Gold (Warner Music Canada)--Platinum Simple Plan No Pads No Helmet... Fust Balls (Warner...

Events.(Calendar)
September 1, 2003... Canadian Country Music Week Calgary, AB September 5-8, 2003 (905) 850-I 144, FAX (905) 850-1330 country@ccma.org, www.ccma.org Western Canadian Music Awards Regina, SK September 25-28, 2003 (306) 780-9831/, FAX (306) 780-9831...

Don't get scammed by e-mail hoaxes.(music on Line)
September 1, 2003... Most of us are trying to control the amount of spam e-mail we receive in our inbox daily. It seems to be out of control and is frustrating when only 5 out of the 150 e-mail messages in your inbox are not spare. I am willing to bet that at least...

Resources.(for musicians)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... ... Froogle, at www.froogle.goole.com, is a new service from Google that makes it easy to find information about products for sale online. By focusing entirely on a product search, Froogle applies the power of Google's search technology to a...

Garrison G-35 guitar.(Road test)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2003... In the acoustic guitar market it's a challenge to keep up with new manufacturers and even older ones with their newest models and innovations. I still remember playing an Ovation when it first came on the market. Its tone and feel were...

Smart pedal.(Road test)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2003... Flying in the face of convention often leads to innovative ideas. Drumming has been with us since the dawn of time, but the "common" drum kit of today has its origins a mere 100 and some years ago. The drummers of New Orleans (pronounced...

HALion 2.0.(Road test)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2003... Not unlike a certain loveable, large green ogre, HALion 2.0, Steinberg's streaming sample player, has "layers." One might even go as far as saying that HALion is a "parfait" among software samplers. Layer One Upon arrival, I was...

Fretboard frenzy.(guitar)
September 1, 2003... Fretboard knowledge is foundational to the advancing guitarist since understanding all scales and chords requires first knowing where to locate and identify the notes. Due to the great amount of notes that are available on the guitar,...

Finding room in the wall of sound.(keyboards)
September 1, 2003... Trying to find a place in an extremely dense track to insert a meaningful keyboard part can be frustrating. There are times when the best possible approach is to leave well enough alone, go the hell home and take the time you would have burned...

How to be a better bass player.(bass)
September 1, 2003... Every now and then I am asked if I have any advice for bass players Here, I have come up with 10 basic principles to keep in mind while on your journey down the "low-road." Next issue, "Why Bass Players Shouldn't Get a Mic... " 1. Play...

Drum solos and other beasts of burden.(percussion)
September 1, 2003... The dictionary defines solo (n. pl.) as; 1. Music, a composition or passage for an individual voice or instrument, with or without accompaniment. Now I have to say I looked everywhere for the words fast, furious, tricky, polyrhythmic,...

More fun with triads.(woodwinds)
September 1, 2003... In the last article I wrote about soloing using triads as source material for improvised melodies. This is a technique that brings a different sound to your solo. I discussed using triads that are built from your scale choice for the particular...

More is less.(brass)
September 1, 2003... A student once came to a lesson. We put on a play-along CD and I was witness to a relentless torrent of notes. High notes, low notes, fast notes, slow notes (well, not many of those). Were they all great notes? No. Was it musical? No. Did he...

Technology kickin' our asses!(digital music)
September 1, 2003... How many times have you, as a musician or a recording engineer, had to stop the creative process in order to attend to something technical in the studio or at home. Whether it be to reboot the computer, figure out why the new box you have...

Vocal engineering.(vocals)
September 1, 2003... A lot of aspiring singers have no idea of what the recording of their voice entails. It is a completely different experience from anything you have ever done with respect to your voice and the vocal production in general. Now you are wearing...

Nickelback: recording 'the long road'.
September 1, 2003... It's early July and multi-platinum rock band Nickelback is already doing press for the follow-up to 2001's Silver Side Up, which said more than 8.5 million copies worldwide. Due out September 23, the first single, "Someday" is slated to go to...

Delerium: Delerium's Bill Leeb and Rhys Fulber are no strangers to the shifting trends of the music business. In an industry where there's no guarantee that an artist's career will last more than a few records, regardless of their level of success, they've weathered the storm very comfortably.(Interview)
September 1, 2003... From early on, music had always been an important part of Bill Leeb's life. He began studying violin at the age of six and performing in choirs in Vienna, Austria before immigrating to Canada at the age of 12. "The next thing you know." he...

Homegrown tone: how to get the home studio you want.
September 1, 2003... I checked my calendar and, yup, it really has been a year since I last delved into the salutary topic of home recording. Like anything worth doing, to do it well it takes a great deal of learning and a healthy amount of trial and error to...

Woodwinds and their foibles.(Panel Discussion)
September 1, 2003... The great part about doing an article like this is having a reason to talk to so many great artists, On the one hand I talked to Virginia Markson who has just retired from The Toronto Symphony Orchestra after 14 years and then compare her...

Your harmonic fingerprints.(writing)(harmony )
September 1, 2003... Of the three elements of music (rhythm, melody and harmony) harmony that most often gets shorted by contemporary song writers. Maybe that's natural: rhythm is primal, melody is as old as your first performance of "Twinkle Twinkle", but harmony...

Embracing technology.(recording)
September 1, 2003... The great thing about technology is that it can be used to make things better. The problem with technology, is that before you can say, "I forgot the music," it can also pave a direct route right around you and lead you quickly up a tunnel and...

Monitor mixing technology.(live sound)
September 1, 2003... Technological innovation and economic reality have recently come together to create opportunities for touring musicians wanting better control over their stage stored. While all musicians would prefer an onstage monitor engineer to serve up the...

Artist management: when?(business)
September 1, 2003... I. Introduction I am frequently asked by artists: "When should I have a manager?" My Zen-like :response is often: When it is time, the manager will appear." This answer is often insufficient to provide an artist with a sound upon which to...

Yamaha PSR1100/PSR2100.(hot Gear)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2003... Yamaha has recently released the PSR1100 and PSR2100 portable keyboards, featuring USB connectivity, screens capable of displaying sheet music and systems designed to utilize the benefits of the Internet. The new models feature graphic...

Parker Fly Bass.(hot Gear)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2003... As part of the company's 10th anniversary celebrations, Parker Guitars has introduced two updated versions of its Fly Classic and Fly Deluxe models--the first such update-to the Fly line since its initial production a decade ago. The...

Camber C-Saver.(hot Gear)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2003... Camber has introduced a practical, cost-effective means of preventing harmful metal-on-metal wear to cymbals played on stands. The Camber C-Saver is a new concept in cymbal protection that utilizes a grooved rubber grommet that fits snugly into...

Tacoma Papoose 12-string.(hot Gear)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2003... Tacoma Guitars has recently introduced the new 12-string model in their unique Papoose guitar line. The instrument was developed from the current Papoose design, with the addition of its 12-string neck and the complementary bracing under the...

Sony UWP wireless mics.(hot Gear)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2003... Sony has recently expanded its UWP pre packaged UHF wireless microphone systems with the introduction of separate components, allowing users to custom craft their own setup. Designed with the working musician in mind, the UWP systems...

VOX ToneLab.(hot Gear)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2003... VOX has recently unveiled the ToneLab Amp and Effect Modeller, bringing all the modelling power of the company's Valvetronix series to a portable, desktop format suitable for recording and live performance applications. Employing VOX's...

Mountain Rythym tuneable frame drums & bodhrans.(hot Gear)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2003... The Mountain Rythym frame drum and bodhran are made of block laminated butternut wood, forming a solid yet lightweight shell that is more stable than the traditional laminates used. The simple, effective, and invisible tuning system on both...

Tascam FW-1884.(hot Gear)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2003... Tascam and Frontier Design Group have recently teamed to design the new FW-1884 professional DAW control surface and audio/MIDI interface that uses FireWire high-speed data transfer protocol. Features include an 18-channel audio I/O (eight...

Crest CPL-1288.(hot Gear)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2003... As part of their new Performance line of products designed for musicians, Crest Audio has announced the release of the CPL-1288, a compressor/expander/limiter made for live performance and recording applications. A single rack space unit,...

Roland MV-8000.(hot Gear)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2003... Roland has recently released the MV-8000 Production Studio, a complete hardware studio with 16 velocity- and aftertouch-sensitive pads, professional sampling, sequencing, effects processing and CD burning. The unit supports all major audio...

Moog PianoBar.(hot Gear)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2003... Moog Music has recently introduced the PianoBar, a three-piece accessory that enables a musician to play a wide variety of musical sounds from any acoustic piano keyboard. The PianoBar can be used to turn a piano into a MIDI controller,...

Blues Blaster harmonica mic.(hot Gear)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2003... Hohner Inc. has recently re-launched its well-known Blues Blaster harmonica microphone. The microphone was briefly discontinued last year because of the supplier difficulties, and Hohner has worked hard to bring it back to market. The...

Fender 400 Pro combo bass amp.(hot Gear)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2003... Fender has recently released the latest combo bass amplifier, the newly redesigned 400 Pro. A professional level 350 W, 2 x 10 combo (based on the Bassman 400C), the 400 Pro now features Ozite carpet covering, stacking corners, heavy duty cast...

Ernie Ball compact volume pedals.(hot Gear)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2003... Ernie Ball has recently introduced two new volume pedals, called the Volume Pedal Juniors, that come equipped with a 250 K or 25 K potentiometer and feature a compact design. The 250 K model works best with instruments that do not feature a...

M-Audio Ozone.(hot Gear)(new keyboard)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... M-Audio, a leading manufacturer and distributor of hardware and software for computer-centric musicians, have recently released M-Audio Ozone-an all-in one keyboard, MIDI control surface, mic preamp, USB audio interface and USB MIDI interface...

Akira Jimbo percussion DVDs.(hot Gear)(instructional videos from Carl Fischer Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Carl Fischer has recently released two new DVDs offering educational information for drummers. Wasabi and Fujiyama, both by young Japanese drummer Akira Jimbo, offer the jazz/fusion drummer's advice on enhancing the player's abilities in a...

DW 9909 Drum Lifter.(hot Gear)(drum stand equipment from Drum Workshop)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Drum Workshop has recently released the 9909 Drum Lifter, designed for club and coffee house gigs, multi-percussion setups and practice kits where drums and percussion instruments need to be securely supported in a horizontal position so that a...

Vandoren Glass Reed Resurfacer.(hot Gear)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Vandoren has recently released the Glass Reed Resurfacer, a product designed to extend the life of the reeds, or to tweak each reed they use to get the precise feel and response that fits their personal preference. The resurfacer has two...

Bleep.(Show Case)(Sound Recording Review)
September 1, 2003... Who: Bleep Where: Toronto, ON What: Electronic/Techno Duo Contact: bleep@bleeptunes.com, www.bleeptunes.com Possessed of a strange sense of humour, techno duo Bleep peer soberly out of the cover of their debut CD IMM 0008...

Jacob Moon.(Show Case)(Sound Recording Review)
September 1, 2003... Who: Jacob Moon Where: Hamilton, ON What: Spiritual Singer/Songwriter Contract: jacobmoon@sympatico.ca, www.jacobmoon.com After three independently recorded discs, Hamilton's Jacob Moon decided to treat himself for the...

Jeszcze Raz.(Show Case)(Sound Recording Review)
September 1, 2003... Who: Jeszcze Raz Where: Montreal, PQ What: Trans-Atlantic Folk Contact: Heather Kelly, (416) 364-5701, heather@heatherk.ca Led by Polish pianist and vocalist Paul Kunigis, the sounds and influences of Montreal's Jeszcze Raz...