Drumming / Music — Comments Off on Busy is as Busy Does
25
Jun 19

Busy is as Busy Does

The past year has been busy with several musical projects which have broadened my playing, added to what few chops I have, and got me back to the woodshed to up my game, including scratching the surface with that Chaffee book (yes, THAT one). Here’s some of what I’ve been doing over the past year.

In September 2018, I was offered the drum chair in a workshop jazz orchestra, which was I’d never done before. I didn’t play in stage bands in high school, as I was already playing clubs in hardcore bands and wasn’t interested in reading or jazz at the time, so this was a fun experience. I also got to “sit in” on my first-ever symphonic gig this past spring on snare drum.

The noise/punk/jazz group, Tetsuo, that I’ve played with for the past couple of years played some gigs over the past year. Sadly, the band has stopped for the time being as our guitarist has moved back home to Japan.

The purveyors of power-pop, Clockwise, did some recording last summer, and a few gigs since then. We’re slated to play at the new location of Relish Bar and Grill in July 2019.

The blues/rock trio, Jube Jar, have been rehearsing semi-regularly and should be getting the ya-yas out this summer.

The Escola de Samba de Toronto wrapped up the 2018/19 season at the RCM and have already started summer gigs. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for the power and the beauty of Samba this summer.

Speaking of Samba, Batucatronica played its first gig last summer, played a number of subsequent gigs around town, and recently filmed a promo video that you can find on the YouTubes.

Beefheart Project Toronto recorded the last of the tunes for its project a couple of weekends ago, so my brain hasn’t been hurting TOO too much as of late. Hats off to Tony Malone.

I’ve also fired up this website again, having had some repairs done to my outdated laptop, and not consuming all of my online media via the iPhone.

With a working laptop, I’m going to give Max/MSP another whirl, whilst also dusting off my piano and getting back to learnin’ stuff and things music theory-related.

Oh, I also started on the Pimsleur method for learning Brazilian Portuguese, and am hoping to get back at it to see if I can speak more than just basic touristy stuff by my next birthday (which will be a milestone).

What’s new with you?

March of Time — Comments Off on Here We Go Again
12
Jun 19

Here We Go Again

And by we, I mean me. I’m doing some digital housekeeping and getting stuff organized like it’s 2007 for me again.

Hello, if you’re seeing this via RSS.

Blogging — Leave a comment
21
Oct 16

I’m Still Here. Sometimes.

Hi. How are you doing today?

March of Time — Leave a comment
10
Aug 15

Tiny Habits: Push-ups

A couple of years ago, I’d heard an interview with Tim Ferriss where he made referrence to Stanford behavioral scientist BJ Fogg. At the time, I jotted down the name in Things under “Interesting” (also like my “Someday” folder) and forgot all about it until mid-late June 2015, at which time I looked him up on YouTube and watched one of his TED Talks. I’m simplifying this for my own understanding: Dr. Fogg had devised a system called Tiny Habits, whereby we gradually acquire new habits by initially attaching them to a different action already being done. He gave one of many examples as doing a couple of push-ups after each time you have a pee. No big deal. I decided to try that particular example out, only doing five push-ups after each bathroom visit (Note: not actually doing push-ups IN the bathroom). Having spent some time going over the book Convict Conditioning, my push-up form was already pretty decent.

Throughout the month of July 2015, I increased my push-ups each week by one for each visit until, as of this week, I hit ten push-ups for each bathroom visit (no plans to go beyond ten). I hadn’t completely nerded out by keeping count of them all, but, at a conservative 30 bathroom visits per week, by my estimates, I’ve done over 1,000 push-ups (!) since the last week of June/first week of July 2015. 

It’s safe to say that, for me, it worked.

If you’re up for making small, positive changes to your daily routine, Dr. Fogg is a great resource. He even has a Tiny Habits app as a starting point.

Now, how’s about me flossing daily at bedtime?

(Spoiler Alert: there is a Tiny Habit for flossing).

March of Time / Music — Leave a comment
25
May 15

Musical Chairs

In addition to monthly drum and piano lessons, I have been busy with several musical projects this year. The kind of busy that keeps me out of the house most weekday evenings.

This post serves as a placeholder until I can write a proper one.

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