UHHHHHH FREAK OUT!

When I first heard about this Research I was freaking out. Now the terror is only half as bad, but I am still a little nervous. My original thesis was Musical therapy is a useful tool in the retirement community due to the fact it reduces depression, helps with recalling memory, and increases hand eye coordination skills. Now I must change it to Musical therapy should be used more in nursing homes because it has been proven in other aspects to help with memory recall, reduce depression, and handai coordination skills. The main problem I am having right now is setting up meetings with the director of White Oak; since I have to drive at least 15 minutes to arrive there. I also need to make more of a effort to contact Mrs. Ward at the Hospice House, so I can get all of the necessary requirements to play there. Another problem I am having trouble with is organizing my homework,Senior Project, and free time to complete everything as well as relax. The main problem is that drive to Hospice House takes at least 30 minutes from Oakbrook. Then after I arrive there I spend at least an hour discussing different dates arranging and replanning my schedule which takes at least an hour. Finally I get home and it is already 6 o' clock and I spend at least 3 to 4 hours doing my homework. After this is all done I finally sleep,but I need to practice my guitar. I am not complaining about the project itself, but if you are just giving us abstracts to keep us busy. We are already swamped.

It's a Long Way to the Top if You want to Rock n Roll!

When I first heard this song by the great band AC DC I only heard the music. Later on when I matured in my knowledge in the music industry and personal experience I finally had a epiphany. It is a Long way to the top if you want to Rock n Roll! It is said that at least one teenager/ young adult plays in a band at least once in their lifetime. The hard part is not only organizing practices it is also a challenge to create your own sound. I would like to think of each different band as a brand what makes them more unique than the others. Some great unique that I personally feel sets the bar are the Ramones and Lincoln Park. It does not matter how hard you try nobody will be able to copy Joey Ramone's voice. Also Lincoln Park combines a perfect combination of New Age Metal screaming as well as some sick techno and turn table beats, plus the lead guitarist is the best rapper ever! I also think that everybody who says everything has been done and why bother; whoever believes that will never make it. Whenever I here this I think of Howard Schultz the underdog from Brooklyn, who had to sell his own blood for college tuission. Now this man is fronting a multi million dollar company whose product has even been used in tv shows as well as movies. This proves that you do not need to be born into a rich family or have all the right equipment I mean the misfits did not have any high quality recording equipment. The moral of this story is all you need is optimism and hard work and you can do anything, if your willing to take risks.

Timeless

Sweet Home Alabama!

Have you ever rolled down the window and bopped your head or danced to a favorite song on the radio. Most people would say yes. The question is though what makes us want to bob our heads or get up and jump. The answer is familiar beats as well as easy lyrics. How many of you out there know the band Lynrd Skynrd. Alot of the more experienced folks would say yes. Even today you play free bird and most everybody knows the song and the lyrics, though not the band. Its like American Pie once that is played everybody, even the gangsters will be singing along with it. The point of this segment is the timeless classics that have lived on even today. Such favorites include brown eyed girl, which has been covered by almost every band including Reel Big Fish, a famous SKA band. As well as Build Me Up Buttercup but why have these songs survived while in today's culture number one hits come and go and bands become broke. The main reason is they lack timeless charisma maybe a rap song called I got shot would last for about a week but Shout and by Ray Charles will be forever. The difference one is a party song that you can get up and dance to and it is for all ages. The Rappers only appeal to teens never the parents or even the children. I'm not out there to bash rappers even some hard rock and metal groups get violent. All I want to do in my free time is play and sing but I have to appeal to everyone. That's probably the hardest part about being a musician playing and singing more complicated and diverse lyrics. In the end it can go two ways you can either become a hit like the Beatles or become wannabes that only appear to preteen girls or just guys. What I am trying to say is that the ingredients for a great and timeless band are clean lyrics, versatility in sound and song choice ex: do not just play music that pertains to one group(Jonas Brothers), and easy lyrics to sing along with. I am beyond thrilled to play timeless classics by the greats such as Leyla, Take it Easy, and many others( I think Waiting on the World has ways to go).

Coming together

At first I was going to title this segment Come together, after one of the lyrics in a Beatles songs. Unfortunately I did not have the permission from Paul McCartney to use the title so this will have to do. Anyway I want to update all of my followers on my progress so far. I met with Mrs. Kimberly Ward on Monday at the Hospice house to pitch my idea and plans for my project. Before we really started getting into the details  she asked me if I knew what went on at this establishment. I said it is a place for terminally ill patients to rest and recover. Apparently I was wrong the majority of the patients that check in don’t check out. She said that the average life span for a patient was about a week! Right then and there I asked myself if I can actually make a connection with these people in such a short period of time. Then I had this feeling that someone wanted me to press on it was like God himself came down and wiped all my doubts and fears. He has placed this heavy task on my shoulders, and I will succeed. As I answered Mrs. Kimberly that I would do it despite the hardships I never wavered and was completely sincere. After this she explained to me that I would have to take a volunteer training course and a tb test, hopefully proof of my vaccination will suffice. My next accomplishment I completed this week was meeting with Mrs. Lillian Brown, the director at White Oak and discussing my plans with her. Unfortunately I had a guitar lesson and had to keep our meeting short, but I plan on visiting with her and setting specific times to come in to visit and play.

Is Retirement really Paradise?

This topic has been going on for a while, but is it really true? Well what do you think  about when you visit a retirement community: wheel chairs, bingo night, tapioca pudding, how about all of the above! That is right every stereotypical retirement scenario known to man has come true, and it is sad.  In the commercials the nursing and retirement  “companies” advertise that there facility is like heaven. Unfortunately even though they all  have good intentions and provide the most comfort there is still something missing. It is called fun! If I ever live in a retirement community I don’t want the most exciting part of the day to be lunch or dinner and I am pretty sure you don’t want that either. I hate that retirement has just become lay back ,rest and take it easy. I am not saying that I don’t like to relax every now and then ,all I’m saying is that retirees should not be retired from life! It is scientifically  proven that exercise and playing reduces the negative toxins in your brain that causes depression.  No wonder the retirees are so depressed no exercise, always confined to a wheel chair, for some, and no entertainment! If young mobile Americans can go to a coffee shop or a local club to see a band play why cant we bring the band to the immobile. I hope to really connect with my audience by visiting them one on one and just be a friend. Most people don’t know how many retirees have no family at all. Another scenario is that they have family ,but they never visit. As asked before in my Senior Project proposal what will be the proof that this project actual succeeded. I pondered this for a very long time and came to the conclusion that if I can get these people to sing along with me and smile, then I did my job.

Discovering new and different inspirations

Everybody has had inspirations from musicians such as Jimmy Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and  even the Who. It is said that  the Ramones, a late seventies punk rock band, was mostly inspired by the beach boys! I know its crazy but if you listen to rock n roll high school it is pretty obvious. Another artist zacky vengeance from Avenged Sevenfold said that one of his inspirations for his solo compilations is Jazz! I discussed this with Mr. Tucker who says that most guitarists who want to master all components of the guitar dive into different genres such as John 5, lead guitarist for Marilyn Manson, playing country! I almost hit the floor, one of the greats of metal might be playing licks used in Taylor Swift songs! I have nothing against country it is just not my thing,but I am into Lyrnd Skynrd which I count as classic rock. The point of me telling you this information is because I have experienced this at first hand.
When I first learned that I was going to learn leyla from my guitar teacher at thirteen I would be lying if I said I was not disappointed. I mean really the whole reason I got into guitar was to play and learn some of my favoite songs by Good Charlotte, Greenday, and Blink 182. Then I realized how hard it was to play in time and keep up with the chords as well as solo the correct way. As time went on I progressed into deeper study, but it was not always songs I did not care for. Mostly Mr. Foster and I would compromise by learning a song I liked and then a classic that would help me grow. My favorite song Mr. Foster taught me would have to be enter sandman. I have been in love with them since I watched this metal oriented documentary on Vh1, I could not only just play metal. It is almost that of having too much of something, after a while you just get sick of it! I know understand how to become a more creative and unique guitarist by learning and experimenting with different genres.

Diving in!

On my last post I discussed my influences in music as well as my ideas for my senior project. When you read my last post you saw that I decided on performing 10 songs acoustically for the elderly in assisted living communities. Now I have been talking with my parents and they have provided me some names of some of the people who work in that industry. One being a old friend of my father's who happens to be on the board of The Hospice House Mr. Chris Harricus who provided me with Mrs Kimberely Ward's, head attendant at the hospice house, phone number . The second connection my father gave to me was Mr. George Harricus who is a employee of White Oak Estates. He also provided me with another head attendant ,Mrs. Lillian Brown, to discuss my project with.
 I have also spoken to My guitar teacher, Mr. Foster, who has agreed to be my mentor,but I have not provided him with the mentor apprentice agreement form. I plan to have this done before my oral proposal presentation which is the 13th of September. Also a couple of days ago I asked Mr. Tucker,who is a Oakbrook U.S. teacher, if there was a way that I could reduce the feedback of my guitar and microphone amps. He then gave me a remarkable solution I had been playing with my amps toward my microphone and guitar when I really should have been setting them parallel to or in front of my instruments. I then followed his advice and the high pitched feedback is gone.
Another detail I would like to change in my project is the variety of audience I would be playing for.Not only would I play for the elderly but also the terminally ill as well. I have been talking about this with Mrs. Zion and she says that it is a busy and changing place, changing as is in on how many people pass away. I know that it will be hard  and I may see things that most people do not see everyday,but I hope with the help of God that I can go provide these people with a little bit of joy before they are deceased.To make preparations I have called Mrs. Ward when she was out of town and we agreed to have her call me on Monday during 7th period. I was shure to have Mrs. Zion's permission before agreeing to these terms. Unfortunately she never called back,but I plan on calling her back when I am feeling better on account it is difficult for me to speak clearly,since I have been sick. I also called Mrs. Brown at White Oak but was transfered to her answering machine, and I will make more attempts to get in contact with her before my present deadlines. All in all my project is going well I am researching different ways music therapy has helped veterans as well as assisted living inhabitants. I have also been thinking about the comments Mrs. Rosemary and Mrs. Zion have given me on the song choices, and I will take their advice and research more 30's an 40's music to play.