Canadian Musician articles from September 2006

Canadian Musician archives from September 2006

The debate continues ...(FeedBack)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... Dear CM, Regarding "Computers Have Killed Music?" On the one side we have "live musicians good, computers bad," and the other side the opposite, but in reality I think a balanced approach is what is working today. I do play real...

Do flyers work?(FeedBack)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... Dear CM, Not so much a comment as a question. I have been reading your CM magazine for about two years now. I have a close friend, the lead singer with her band. The articles in your magazine have helped me help her with launching her...

Applying to showcases.(IndieInsider)
September 1, 2006... There are hundreds of festivals and events that take place throughout the year where musicians can showcase their talent and meet other artists, network with music industry professionals and in some cases win some great prizes. But what's all...

2nd Annual TMX draws near.(Changes)
September 1, 2006... "Everything Music Under One Roof" is the phrase used by show organizers to describe the 2nd Annual Toronto Music Expo (TMX), set to be held on September 30-October 1, at the International Centre. TMX will feature live performances, seminars...

Prairie Oyster signs to Open Road Recordings.(Changes)(releases album One Kiss)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Open Road Recordings has recently singing the Canadian roots rockers, Prairie Oyster to their roster of artists. With 20 years under their belt, Prairie Oyster has recently released their new album One Kiss with "Sweet Sweet Girl" as the...

PASIC 2006.(Changes)
September 1, 2006... The 30th Annual Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) is coming up on Nov. 8-11, and will be held for the first time in Austin, TX. Confirmed artists, competitions and scholarships have been announced. More than 150...

KoSA Eleven International Percussion & Cuba Workshop & Festival.(Changes)
September 1, 2006... The 11th KoSA International Percussion Workshop & Festival was held from Aug. 7-13, at Johnson State College in Johnson, VT. Hundreds of people from many nations, ages and skill levels enjoyed the festival as they "rediscovered their soul". ...

Will Calhoun performs clinics in Canada.(Changes)
September 1, 2006... The drummer for Living Colour, Will Calhoun, will be holding four clinics across Canada where attendees can watch him perform. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In addition to the educational value of these clinics, Calhoun will present his...

Events.
September 1, 2006... * 2nd Annual Toronto Music Expo (TMX) Toronto, ON September 30-October 1, 2006 (416) 782-4072, FAX (416) 782-2266 info@torontomusicexpo.com, www.torontomusicexpo.com * Celtic Colours International Festival Cape...

Godin A8 mandolin.(RoadTest)(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2006... As a full-time guitar player and teacher I find that I can only realistically devote so much time and energy to the mandolin, considering it a wonderful secondary instrument I sometimes play. This secondary status is slowly and steadily...

Ashdown ABM EVO II 500.(RoadTest)
September 1, 2006... This is an awesome amp! Taking it on tour with The Salads, I quickly learned that this amp can rock any size club. It is a beautiful looking, and sounding, amp when indoors. Every single sound guy in clubs from Vancouver to Toronto has been...

Schecter export series.(RoadTest)(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2006... Tempest Extreme and Omen Extra The History of Schecter began in 1976 as a "replacement part" company. The company is now under ownership, since 1989, which was when the company moved back to California from Dallas, TX. Crafted with...

Technique versus inspiration.(GUITAR)
September 1, 2006... Last Summer I went down with a few musician buddies to one of the local watering holes to see this great guitarist perform. We all watched in awe as this guy ripped up and down the fretboard like he was the one who had actually invented the...

Focusing on the negative.(KEYBOARDS)
September 1, 2006... I once had a teacher tear a chart away from me in the middle of an improv class. To be fair I wasn't really using it that effectively anyway. I'd known the song would be part of the class for just under a week, had plenty of time to run through...

First time buyer.(BASS)(guitars)
September 1, 2006... What do you look for when you buy or are looking to buy your first bass guitar? Should it be new and possibly expensive? Used and possibly cheap? Is the bass in question the one your favourite musician uses? Did you read about a particular...

Sub please! With the works baby!(PERCUSSION)
September 1, 2006... Nothing is more satisfying than sinking your teeth into a delicious submarine sandwich loaded with all your favourite toppings when you crave a sub sandwich. I guess a bandleader can look at requiring a sub drummer in the same fashion. They...

A Brazilian primer.(WOODWINDS)(Brazilian music)
September 1, 2006... I have been meaning to do this for a while... but I have always required a little time and effort to pull it together... so here t'is... As most of you probably recognize, Latin music plays a very important role in jazz. Accordingly, it...

Artistry.(BRASS)(relationship between a musician and a musical instrument company)
September 1, 2006... Many musical instrument companies maintain a roster of "artists" to promote their products. An effective artist is someone who has established a reputation as a performer and/or a teacher, who chooses to play the company's instruments and who...

How to get a record deal--guaranteed!(DIGITAL MUSIC)
September 1, 2006... Having just been informed, by phone, that I am "off the hook" for writing a techie article in this issue, as I am writing the "Home Recording" feature, I thought I would take the chance to write about one of the questions I get asked the most...

Hoarseness: the top causes & how to avoid it.(VOCALS)
September 1, 2006... Maybe you are like many singers who have experienced a dry, gravelly voice the morning after a hard night of singing. You may not be too concerned about this vocal roughness if you are able to rest your voice for a few days, but what if you...

Alexisonfire.(George Pettit and Julius Butty )(Interview)
September 1, 2006... before we get started, I want to tell Alexisonfire's lead screamer, George Pettit how much I like the new record. "I heard the record the other day..." "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm going to have to stop you. It sounds like... It sounds...

Chantal Kreviazuk: how ghosts appeared.
September 1, 2006... It's a bright May afternoon and Chantal Kreviazuk is in the early stages of preparing for the August release of her fourth solo album, Ghost Stories. There's mixing and mastering left to do, the artwork and liner notes, and video shoot for the...

Home recording: make your home recordings sound expensive ... without spending too much money.(Column)
September 1, 2006... The last one to leave, the first one to arrive, not only did I have to check the alignment on the 2-inch 24-track, but I would clean, make coffee, run errands and don't forget walk to work, uphill both ways, in knee deep snow; such was my...

Keyboards.(Discussion)
September 1, 2006... Out of all the responses from for this year's featured keyboardists, one that strikes home with the most immediacy is from Bobby Wiseman. His full answer appears later in this article, but the main point he made is this, "It isn't about the...

Premise? What premise?(WRITING)(lyrics)
September 1, 2006... I had a hard time learning the lesson... that all of my writing has an underlying premise. Sadly, it was a lesson I learned from many mistakes rather than a lesson I learned from learning. Now that I've fully, yet painfully, learned it, I...

Developing good mixing habits.(RECORDING)(Excerpt)
September 1, 2006... Writing on mixing is a difficult task. Try explaining to someone, without actually being there, how to paint a picture, how to play the blues, or how to remove a spleen. These basic few points just scratch the surface of good mixing habits....

Before the lights go out.(LIVESOUND)(pre-show tips)
September 1, 2006... If your Front of House area right before show time resembles Cape Canaveral (i.e. extremely organized) just prior to a shuttle launch then you're going to feel like I'm preaching to the choir in this article. If you're the kind that kicks...

How to know if your band has a shot.(BUSINESS)
September 1, 2006... Life isn't fair. We all know this. The music business is even less fair than life itself. Okay, that sounds a bit dramatic, but if you've stuck it out as a musician for any number of years then you also know this statement to be true. Why is it...

Ludwig Free Floater & Challenger percussion.(HotGear)
September 1, 2006... Ludwig has recently released a new line of marching percussion, the Free Floater snares and Challenger tenor and bass drums. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Ludwig Free Floater snare drum features a new finish on its cross-laminated Birch...

Fender California Series.(HotGear)
September 1, 2006... Manufacture of guitars, amplifiers and related equipment, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC), has recently released a new line of acoustic guitars, the California Series. There are three models in this series, the Sonoran, Malibu and...

RKS The Wave.(HotGear)
September 1, 2006... Guitar manufacturer, RKS has recently released a new electric guitar that features an interchangeable body shell and pickguard, The Wave. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Wave allows musicians to personalize their guitar to suit their mood...

Pro-Mark Autograph Series drumsticks.(HotGear)
September 1, 2006... Manufacturer of drumsticks, mallets and percussion accessories, Pro-Mark Corporation, has recently released two new Autograph Series models from Jason Bittner and Jimmy DeGrasso. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jason Bittner is the drummer for...

TerraTec Producer Area 61 keyboard.(HotGear)
September 1, 2006... Manufacturer of soundcards and PC audio systems, TerraTec Producer, has recently released a new expandable keyboard system for studio and stage use, the Area 61. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Area 61 keyboard is the first keyboard that...

Guitar Pro 5.1.(HotGear)
September 1, 2006... The latest version of Guitar Pro, 5.1, has recently been released. It features all of the same great characteristics as 5.0, but is now available for both Mac and PC systems. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Guitar Pro 5.1 is a workshop for...

Mapex QR Drum Series.(HotGear)
September 1, 2006... Mapex has recently released a new drumset that is ideal for first-time drum buyers or for teaching studio environments, the QR Drum Series. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The QR features 9-ply, 7.2 mm basswood shells with low-density lugs and...

Planet Waves polish Express Packs.(HotGear)
September 1, 2006... Planet Waves has recently released a new set of single-use packets of the premium three-step polishing/detailing system, the Express Packs. The Express Packs include the Restore deep-cleaning cream polish, Protect liquid carnauba wax and...

Disc Makers ReflexAuto3 & ReflexAuto8.(HotGear)
September 1, 2006... Manufacturer of CD and DVD duplicators, Disc Makers, has recently released its first-ever automated tower duplicators, ReflexAuto3 and ReflexAuto8. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Both duplicators are ideal for...

Famous Discoveries 'My Sheet Music & Roll Up Piano'.(HotGear)
September 1, 2006... Florida-based Famous Discoveries, creates and distributes many products, including the new My Sheet Music CD-ROM and Roll Up Piano. My Sheet Music CD-ROM comes with 28 interactive lessons for keyboard and piano, sheet music for hundreds of...

The Focal Easy Guide To Adobe Audition 2.0.(HotGear)
September 1, 2006... Focal Press, an imprint of Elsevier, has recently released a new easy guide, The Focal Easy Guide To Adobe Audition 2.0. Musicians, producers, music programmers and editors, recording engineers, music technology students and serious...

Tacoma Redd.(ShowCase)
September 1, 2006... Who: Tacoma Redd Where: Toronto What: redd rock Contact: Management--Diane Foy, Skylar Entertainment, 45 Markham St., Toronto, ON M6J 2G4 (416) 413-9672, diane@skylarentertainment.ca, www.tacomaredd.com. [ILLUSTRATION...

Verbal Deception.(ShowCase)
September 1, 2006... Who: Verbal Deception Where: Calgary, AB What: aye matey metal Contact: Scarab Metal Productions; #22, 2526 Battleford Ave. SW, Calgary AB T3E 7J4 (403) 240-7843, info@verbaldeception.com, www.myspace.com/verbaldeception.com,...

Chantal Chamandy.(ShowCase)(Love Needs You)(Sound recording review)
September 1, 2006... Who: Chantal Chamandy Where: Montreal, PQ What: exotic pop Contact: Steve Levesque or Jennifer Malazarte at Luck Media & Marketing Inc. 8900 Olympic Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211 (310) 860-9170, FAX (310) 860-9171,...