Canadian Musician articles from September 2011

Canadian Musician archives from September 2011

Rooting for roots.(Feed Back)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2011... I've been meaning to write in since reading your article on Old Man Luedecke in the July/ August 2011 issue. It was a very pleasant surprise I seeing his name on the cover, and the article was even more of a treat. I very much like Old Man...

UPloading from down under.(Feed Back)
September 1, 2011... PEI folk/rock artist Tim Chaisson (second from right) of Tim Chaisson and Morning Fold is heading down under for his first Australian tour in October and will be checking in with regular video blogs for CM, Tim's just signed with Bumstead...

Join the fun on Facebook.(Feed Back)
September 1, 2011... There's lots to "Like" about the CM Facebook page, as we've just surpassed 8,000 fans and counting. Not only will you be connected with other musicians and readers from across the country (and the globe), but you'll also be kept in the loop...

Grants for musicians: helping you develop your career.(IndieInsider)
September 1, 2011... Canada is a nation with a longstanding tradition of supporting its cultural assets. A part of this is providing funding to help support and develop cultural industries. There are several private and public organizations that offer grants and...

Economic impact of east coast music week totals nearly $2.5 million.(Changes)(Brief article)
September 1, 2011... Attendees of the 2011 East Coast Music Week in Charlottetown injected more than $2.4 million into the PEI economy, according to an economic impact study commissioned by the East Coast Music Association (ECMA), with assistance from the Province...

Montreal violinist wins inaugural Michael measures prize.(Changes)
September 1, 2011... Benedicte Lauziere, a 21-year-old violinist from Montreal, is the first-ever winner of the Canada Council Michael Measures Prize. Launched in September 2010, the prize awards Lauziere with $15,000 to help build her career. "We are delighted...

SXSW 2012 accepting showcase applications.(Changes)
September 1, 2011... The 2012 edition of the SXSW Music and Media Conference and Festival is now accepting showcase applications. Taking place March 13-18, 2012 in Austin, TX, the 26th edition of SXSW will feature a keynote address, panels, interviews, workshops,...

CRTC approves CRFC structural & operational plan.(Changes)
September 1, 2011... * Nearly one year ago, the CRTC announced that the campus and community radio sector would begin receiving mandatory Canadian Content Development (CCD) contributions. It was the first decision of its kind for the sector, as, until then, there...

JUNO awards to return to Canada's capital in 2012.(Changes)
September 1, 2011... * The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), along with broadcast partner CTV, have announced that Ottawa will host the 2012 JUNO Awards and JUNO Week events and festivities, happening March 26-April 1, 2012. "We're very...

POP Montreal announces programming for 10th edition.(Changes)(Brief article)
September 1, 2011... POP Montreal, an international music festival taking place this year from September 21-25, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Since 2001, POP Montreal has provided a place for music-oriented discussions in its programming, bringing together...

East coast artists thrive with the 2011 ECMA international program.(Changes)
September 1, 2011... The East Coast Music Association (ECMA) has announced surpassed levels of confirmed business for east coast artists resulting from the 2011 ECMA International Program. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Early reports from members and program delegates...

KoSA wraps 16th annual international percussion workshop, drum camp & festival.(Changes)
September 1, 2011... The 16th Annual KoSA International Percussion Workshop, Drum Camp, and Festival wrapped its annual week of intensive study and interaction with international drum and percussion masters, including a special surprise guest. Participants and...

Lucky uke sets new world record.(Changes)(Lucky Uke)(Brief article)
September 1, 2011... As part of Montreal's Just For Laughs Festival, the band Lucky Uke played for 45 minutes and successfully managed to beat the world record for most people playing a ukulele in unison. 1,288 people gathered on the festival square and played in...

Halifax pop explosion confirms full 2011 lineup.(Changes)
September 1, 2011... The Halifax Pop Explosion (HPX), an international music festival and conference that presents 150 bands in 20 venues to more than 17,000 fans and industry delegates, has confirmed its complete 2011 artist lineup. Taking place October 18-22 in...

Meet you at triumph lane.(Changes)
September 1, 2011... The city of Mississauga, ON honoured a few of its best-known sons with the naming of a new street after the iconic Canadian rockers Triumph. Drummer Gil Moore, guitarist Rik Emmett, and bassist Mike Levine were joined by family, friends, and...

Sweet 16 honeyjam showcase a success.(Changes)
September 1, 2011... The HoneyJam Showcase, the annual all-female, multi-genre, multi-cultural artist showcase, celebrated its 16th anniversary on August 11, 2011 at Toronto's MOD Club. Over the past 16 years, HoneyJam has been the jump-off for such performers as...

SOCAN members receive highest-ever royalties in August 2011.(Changes)
September 1, 2011... Eric Baptiste, CEO of SOCAN, has announced that the recent quarterly payment of royalties to SOCAN members, which occurred in August 2011, reached a record high at $75 million, including $47 million based on established tariffs plus a special...

"Gonna buy five copies for my mother" ... the sheepdogs featured on rolling stone cover.(Changes)(Brief article)
September 1, 2011... Saskatoon, SK's The Sheepdogs have been named the winners of the first-ever "Do You Wanna Be A Rock & Roll Star?" competition, which has the band featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. The rock band was selected by consumer votes...

Hopscotch brings the beat back.(Changes)(I Hopscotch Halifax)(Brief article)
September 1, 2011... I Hopscotch Halifax, a hip-hop festival that celebrates urban and hip-hop culture, recently returned for its second year of showcasing international and local artists representing various art forms. "With a focus on urban art and hip-hop...

CCMIA & MROC announce strategic partnership.(Changes)
September 1, 2011... The Canadian Council of Music Industry Associations (CCMIA) and Musicians' Rights Organization Canada (MROC) have announced the formation of a strategic partnership. MROC is a federally-incorporated, not-for-profit collective society whose...

18th Annual NXNE now open for submissions.(Changes)(Brief article)
September 1, 2011... Submissions for the 18th annual edition of the NXNE Music and Film Festival, taking place June 11-17, 2012 in Toronto, are now open. Submissions will be accepted online only at www.nxne.com until January 31, 2012. Artists can visit...

Events.(Calendar)
September 1, 2011... CCMA Country Music Week 2011 Hamilton, ON September 9-12, 2011 416-947-1331, FAX 416-947-5924 country@ccma.org, www.ccma.org The Totally Huge New Music Conference Perth, Australia September 16-19, 2011 ?9228-3711, FAX 08-9228-1808...

Arturia spark drum machine.(Road Test)(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2011... Arturia's Spark is a creative beat production centre that combines analog synthesis, great sounding samples, physical modeling, a hardware drum machine control surface, and intuitive software. As soon as I took Spark out the box, I fell in love...

Fretlight FG-421 electric guitar.(Road Test)(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2011... The Fretlight Guitar by Optek Systems Inc. looks and sounds like a normal electric guitar, but hiding in its neck is a modern, high-tech approach to learning to play music, By connecting the Fretlight to a computer's USB port and running the...

Stanton scratch DJ academy MIX!(Road Test)
September 1, 2011... MIX! is a new piece of DJ software, created by the Scratch DJ Academy and Stanton. Targeted towards the beginner DJ, Scratch DJ allows you to add and analyze your track collection, mix tracks, add in scratch FX, and record your mixes. I...

Open string voicings for the guitar: part 1.(GUITAR)
September 1, 2011... Open string voicings have a pianistic, chime-like quality to them; they can be very effective when used in a solo guitar arrangement or to accompany. In my experience, these chords work best in pieces with slower tempos, the exception being a...

Achieving hand independence Part 1.(KEYBOARDS)
September 1, 2011... Achieving hand independence is one of a pianist's top priorities and a common pursuit among students. It's also one of the easiest to attain; hand independence reguires only two things: structured exercises and practice. [ILLUSTRATION...

Improvising in 3/4 time using 2, 4 & 8 against 3.(BASS)
September 1, 2011... When learning to improvise, most bassists focus on harmony. We practice soloing like our functional bass-selves by working on which notes define which chords. While there is nothing wrong with a harmonic approach, the rhythmic element of...

The slide bass drum technique.(PERCUSSION)
September 1, 2011... So you wanna go fast, eh? Whether it's fast hands, feet, twirls, grooves, or fills, all drummers want to be able to play quickly. After hearing Led Zeppelin's "Good Times, Bad Times," I asked my drum teacher how John Bonham executed the...

The art of accompanying modern dance: Part 1.(WOODWINDS)
September 1, 2011... One of the many ways the improvising woodwind player can improve their playing, both technically and conceptually, is through accompanying dancers in modern dance classes. Though pianists usually end up doing types of dance work that require...

Mute use & intonation tendencies: Part 1.(BRASS)
September 1, 2011... The use of mutes in brass instruments gives us a large variety of tonal variation. The Big Band and Swing-era bands used a lot of different mutes and mute combinations for wonderful tonal effects that are still commonly used today. The five most...

In the box, looking out.(DIGITAL MUSIC)(Acustica Nebula3 and Sonimus Satson)
September 1, 2011... Mixing completely "in the box" is a bit akin to alchemy: we've all heard of one hit track or another that they swear was mixed that way, yet the vast majority of people struggle to get past that digital "in the box" sound and wonder what pricey...

Singing.(VOCALS)
September 1, 2011... I think it was a writer for a newspaper in Sudbury, ON who reviewed one of my albums thusly: "Kyp Harness and I have something in common - we both can't sing." Not surprisingly, I begged (and do beg) to differ - though I did get a laugh from the...

Jully black.(Passion, Power & Perseverance)
September 1, 2011... Jully Black should be an international celebrity. Throughout her 16 years of navigating the odd landscape that is the Canadian music industry, the Toronto-born R&B soulstress has collaborated on tracks with the likes of Nas, Missy...

Sponsor me: the pairing of artist & brand.
September 1, 2011... It takes more than a swipe of your debit card to send that million-dollar hit to the masses. After all of the recording sessions, promotional expenses, and pit stops on tour, the only break you get to look forward to is that guitar malfunction....

Mic check. 1-2, 1-2.(sound technicians in concerts)(Column)
September 1, 2011... Live Sound 2011 I remember reading music and sound magazines as a kid, picking them apart with a fine-toothed comb trying to find that one trick that would turn my career around - that one bit that I could use on my next tour to impress the...

Producer engineer: two sides of a valuable coin.
September 1, 2011... HOME RECORDING 2011 Thanks to reputable music magazines or the liner notes of widely-adored albums (on various formats), the title of producer/engineer is one with which even the most casual of music listeners is likely familiar; however, to...

The danger of possibility.(WRITING)
September 1, 2011... As a musician and an avid music fan, I find that the recordings and performances I enjoy most are those that capture the raw energy of surprise and possibility. Possibility, to me, is the essence of rock and roll music; it represents the danger...

Producing with intent.(RECORDING)
September 1, 2011... It's unwise to talk about production without first talking about songwriting, which is at the heart of what we do. Music is essentially a communication of ideas and emotions. Artists express themselves and the listener relates to, and is moved...

You, your band & wireless gear.(LIVESOUND)
September 1, 2011... In today's growing competitive markets for pro and semi-pro audio, there is a growing accessibility to affordable wireless equipment. My suggestion for this investment and progression is to be "realistic." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I've seen...

Building a credible audience.(BUSINESS)
September 1, 2011... In a business undergoing such radical changes, it is a rather difficult task to establish any blueprints for success. The Internet has had a considerable effect on how we seek out new music. Downloading, both legally and illegally, has utterly...

Voltage Guitar Cabinets VB112CL & S212D cabs.(HotGear)(Brief article)
September 1, 2011... Voltage Guitar Cabinets has expanded its VB and S lines with the announcement of two new cabinets, the VB112CL and the 3212D. The VB112CL is a slightly oversized cab and features a slant baffle and variable back. A classic valence is also...

Reunion Blues Continental ukulele case.(HotGear)
September 1, 2011... Reunion Blues has announced the release of its Continental ukulele case, available in both concert and tenor sizes. The case features a l" thick shock-absorbing Flexoskeleton exterior lined with reinforced impact panels and an exterior...

Big bends nut sack guitar care kit.(HotGear)(Brief article)
September 1, 2011... Big Bends has unveiled the Nut Sack, a complete fretted instrument care kit that includes five of Big Bends' maintenance products. The kit includes Fret Board Juice, a dressing that is made with 100 per cent white mineral oil to help clean...

TC-Helicon voicetone H1.(HotGear)(Brief article)
September 1, 2011... TC-Helicon has announced its VoiceTone HI, a two-part vocal harmony processor combining NaturalPlay guitar control and key/scale operation designed to allow vocalists of any musical background to get lush-sounding background vocals. Featuring...

Levy's brass grommet guitar straps.(HotGear)(Brief article)
September 1, 2011... Levy's Leathers Limited has announced the release of its new Brass Grommet line of guitar straps. Each strap features 2" cotton webbing with printed designs, complemented with antique brass eyelets or grommets. Pictured is model MC8PG available...

Roland TD-4KX2 & TD-4K2 V-Drums.(HotGear)(Brief article)
September 1, 2011... * Roland has announced two new additions to its line of V-Compact Series V-Drums, the TD-4KX2 and TD-4K2. Both the TD-4KX2 and TD-4K2 include the TD-4 Percussion Sound Module, featuring drum and percussion sounds that can be easily edited,...

Traynor QuarterHorse micro guitar amp.(HotGear)(Brief article)
September 1, 2011... Traynor has announced the release of its 25-watt micro guitar amp, the QuarterHorse. This amp is a solid-state two-channel "head" with effects in a compact stompbox format. Designed for rehearsals, small gigs, recording, and practice, the...

Lulu press integrated drumkit.(HotGear)(Integrated Drumkit)(Brief article)
September 1, 2011... Lulu Press has announced the availability of Integrated Drumkit by Jack Litster. Integrated Drumkit focuses on practical concepts that are necessary for learning to play drumkit in a band. This book reveals how to play 25 common drum grooves,...

Eagle mountain lock-it guitar strap.(HotGear)(Brief article)
September 1, 2011... * Eagle Mountain has introduced its Lock-It Guitar Strap, a strap designed to prevent guitar slips. The EMLI1BK Eagle Mountain Lock-It strap features a strap lock mechanism called Lock-It built into each end piece. To fit it, the Lock-It tab...

Di Marzio Angel acoustic guitar pickup system.(HotGear)(Brief article)
September 1, 2011... * Di Marzio Pickups has unveiled its Angel acoustic guitar pickup system, consisting of a magnetic sound hole pickup, a Shadow Nanoflex under-the-saddle pickup, and a circuit built into the endpin jack which incorporates the Angel's active...

Olympus I.S-20M Linear PCM video/audio recorder.(HotGear)
September 1, 2011... Olympus has announced the availability of its LS-20M Linear PCM recorder, capable of capturing high-definition video. The LS-20M captures and edits 1080p HD video while recording 24-bit/96 kHz Linear PCM stereo sound and offers four different...

IK multimedia iKlip MINI.(HotGear)(Brief article)
September 1, 2011... * IK Multimedia has introduced the iKlip MINI, a universal microphone stand adapter for all versions of Apple's iPhone and iPod touch. The iKlip MINI allows easy mounting of the iOS device on a mic stand, pole, or tripod. The iKlip is...

Alfred's Foo fighters: guitar TAB anthology.(HotGear)(Brief article)
September 1, 2011... * Alfred Music Publishing has released Foo Fighters: Guitar TAB Anthology, a commemorative songbook of some of the band's greatest hits. The collection contains 17 of the alternative rock band's songs in full music notation and tab, including...

Godin guitars 5th avenue jazz guitar.(HotGear)
September 1, 2011... Godin Guitars has recently released its new 5th Avenue Jazz archtop guitar. Featuring an arched back as well as an arched top, the 5th Avenue comes in two high-gloss custom polished finishes, including piano black and natural flame. The...

Korg microPIANO.(HotGear)(Brief article)
September 1, 2011... Korg has introduced the microPIANO, a compact and portable piano featuring 61 keys. The microPIANO borrows many design elements from a grand piano, including an adjustable lid. The microPIANO gets its piano sound and stereo piano samples from...

Fender blacktop basses.(HotGear)(Fender Musical Instruments' Blacktop Jazz Bass and the Blacktop Precision Bass)(Brief article)
September 1, 2011... * Fender has introduced the first two basses in its new Blacktop line, the Blacktop Precision Bass and Blacktop Jazz Bass guitars. The Blacktop Precision Bass guitar features two Blacktop Bass humbucking pickups, three Jazz Bass control knobs...

Showcase.
September 1, 2011... Welland, ON's Sikadime isn't your typical hip-hop artist. The 27-year-old has been releasing music independently and through various record labels for the past seven years. In that time he's released 12 solo albums of his tweaked version of '90s...