Upcoming Prairie Voices concert!
Friday, October 20th at 7:30 pm
Knox United Church (400 Edmonton St.)
Cost: $8 for students/seniors, otherwise $10.
Call me or email me for tickets - this is a fundraiser for me too!
-Matt
10.05.2006
9.17.2006
A Much-Needed Update
Wow. It's been a while since I've posted anything - life has been super busy. I'm taking 11 credit hours of courses at CMU, working 2 jobs, and singing in Prairie Voices - I'm extremely busy, but it's all so good!
Prairie Voices is awesome - the choir sounds fantastic already, and we've had 3 rehearsals! It's so nice to be in a choir where everyone wants to be there, and is a good singer too! We sound like we're 100 people, not 40. We're doing super modern stuff, but most of it is really neat stuff. We're doing some Eric Whitacre pieces, and they're really cool, but really tough.
CMU is pretty cool, too! I'm only taking music courses, so it's good for me, and I'm learning lots. I feel like I'm in over my head in one course - music since 1945, because I don't know anything about atonal music. Otherwise, it's smooth sailing.
And work is still good. I started teaching the jazz band at Prov this week - it was pretty cool, and I have some good players! I still need a rhythm section and trombones, though - I don't have anyone at all. If you want to play, or know someone...hook them up!
Just so you know, if I'm not talking to you right now, I don't hate you - it just means that I'm too busy to talk to anyone!
-Matt
Prairie Voices is awesome - the choir sounds fantastic already, and we've had 3 rehearsals! It's so nice to be in a choir where everyone wants to be there, and is a good singer too! We sound like we're 100 people, not 40. We're doing super modern stuff, but most of it is really neat stuff. We're doing some Eric Whitacre pieces, and they're really cool, but really tough.
CMU is pretty cool, too! I'm only taking music courses, so it's good for me, and I'm learning lots. I feel like I'm in over my head in one course - music since 1945, because I don't know anything about atonal music. Otherwise, it's smooth sailing.
And work is still good. I started teaching the jazz band at Prov this week - it was pretty cool, and I have some good players! I still need a rhythm section and trombones, though - I don't have anyone at all. If you want to play, or know someone...hook them up!
Just so you know, if I'm not talking to you right now, I don't hate you - it just means that I'm too busy to talk to anyone!
-Matt
8.10.2006
Scratch that
So, I'm not working for Starbucks anymore.
Instead, my dream job fell into my lap.
I'm now working at St. John's Music.
Oh yeah!
Instead, my dream job fell into my lap.
I'm now working at St. John's Music.
Oh yeah!
8.02.2006
Yet another new job
Some of you may be sorely disappointed with me for this, but I got a job at Starbucks today. Why Starbucks? It's close to home and I can work two days a week during the day. Plus the people there are around my age. And they play jazz in the store.
So here's my fall schedule:
Monday: Class in the morning, Prairie Voices in the evening
Tuesday: Work in the morning, jazz band in the evening
Wednesday: Class in the morning and evening
Thursday: Work in the morning, Prov jazz band in the evening
Friday: Class in the morning.
Saturday and Sunday: Who knows?
Pretty crazy, huh?
So here's my fall schedule:
Monday: Class in the morning, Prairie Voices in the evening
Tuesday: Work in the morning, jazz band in the evening
Wednesday: Class in the morning and evening
Thursday: Work in the morning, Prov jazz band in the evening
Friday: Class in the morning.
Saturday and Sunday: Who knows?
Pretty crazy, huh?
7.21.2006
A visit with Elroy
Yesterday I went to visit Elroy Friesen at the U of M. Many of you know Elroy, whether from singing with him or by hearing about him (or his choirs, particularly Prairie Voices, which I will be participating in next year, even though Kristel Peters is leading it now).
It was a good time catching up with Elroy - we had lots to talk about. I came away re-inspired to pursue music education, and I might just try again at U of M - who knows? Since Elroy is there, I might be able to give it another chance.
One neat thing that happened - Elroy had a bunch of extra music sitting in his office, and he was like, "Do you want this?" "This" was a box full of choral music - probably 400 or so songs. So now I have the beginnings of my own choral library, and lots of music to peruse and abuse. Yesterday was a good day.
It was a good time catching up with Elroy - we had lots to talk about. I came away re-inspired to pursue music education, and I might just try again at U of M - who knows? Since Elroy is there, I might be able to give it another chance.
One neat thing that happened - Elroy had a bunch of extra music sitting in his office, and he was like, "Do you want this?" "This" was a box full of choral music - probably 400 or so songs. So now I have the beginnings of my own choral library, and lots of music to peruse and abuse. Yesterday was a good day.
7.16.2006
Pet Professional
I found a new webcomic - it's called Pet Professional. It has one of the most original concepts I've seen in a while - a hitman who kills animals. But not just any animal - pets. Household pets. It's hilarious. Apologies to you animal lovers out there, but this is just plain funny. Check it out.
7.07.2006
Pirates! Gyaaarrrr!
So last night I went out with my dad and brothers to see the 12:01 showing of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. Here's my review:
I thoroughly enjoyed Pirates 2. It was full of action, explosions, humour, and more explosions, with an intriguing story to boot. The music was good, but nothing innovative was present - just classic Hans Zimmer. In terms of story: it's good. Some parts are a little hard to follow, but it's pretty straightforward.
So, for a good movie, but nothing really new brought to the table, I award Pirates 2 an 8.5/10.
In short: Go see this movie. You won't be disappointed.
I thoroughly enjoyed Pirates 2. It was full of action, explosions, humour, and more explosions, with an intriguing story to boot. The music was good, but nothing innovative was present - just classic Hans Zimmer. In terms of story: it's good. Some parts are a little hard to follow, but it's pretty straightforward.
So, for a good movie, but nothing really new brought to the table, I award Pirates 2 an 8.5/10.
In short: Go see this movie. You won't be disappointed.
7.06.2006
6.21.2006
Jazz Festival
Hi all,
I've been meaning to post for a while, but unfortunately real life supercedes online life. Once I figure out how, I'll post some tour pictures.
In the meantime, the Winnipeg Jazz Festival has been going on. Last night I went with Steph to go see Michael Kaeshammer. As I told her several times, last night was the best night of my life - or at least pretty close. Michael Kaeshammer is a jazz pianist, in the boogie-woogie and stride tradition, and he absolutely blew me away with his playing. Solid tempo, soulful riffs, and a playing style so hot I thought the piano was going to burst into flames at any moment.
The pieces he played weren't that difficult chord-change-wise - most of them were 12 bar blues, but what made them so special is that he was playing unaccompanied for the first set, and his left hand work is absolutely spectacular. It was so fast that I had no idea how tendonitis didn't immediately set in for him. I guess the songs were dictated mostly by the second set, where he played with Harry Manx - a lap steel guitarist. I don't know what those things are capable of, but he didn't do anything tremendously virtuosic, so I think that's why the songs were kept easier. Easy changes, however, doesn't mean that it was easy. If you ever want to hear Michael Kaeshammer, just find me and I'll loan you one of his CDs - which are spectacular as well, but after hearing him last night, the CDs pale in comparison - although recorded jazz can never beat live.
If you ever get to see Michael Kaeshammer, do it. It'll be a night that you won't forget.
I've been meaning to post for a while, but unfortunately real life supercedes online life. Once I figure out how, I'll post some tour pictures.
In the meantime, the Winnipeg Jazz Festival has been going on. Last night I went with Steph to go see Michael Kaeshammer. As I told her several times, last night was the best night of my life - or at least pretty close. Michael Kaeshammer is a jazz pianist, in the boogie-woogie and stride tradition, and he absolutely blew me away with his playing. Solid tempo, soulful riffs, and a playing style so hot I thought the piano was going to burst into flames at any moment.
The pieces he played weren't that difficult chord-change-wise - most of them were 12 bar blues, but what made them so special is that he was playing unaccompanied for the first set, and his left hand work is absolutely spectacular. It was so fast that I had no idea how tendonitis didn't immediately set in for him. I guess the songs were dictated mostly by the second set, where he played with Harry Manx - a lap steel guitarist. I don't know what those things are capable of, but he didn't do anything tremendously virtuosic, so I think that's why the songs were kept easier. Easy changes, however, doesn't mean that it was easy. If you ever want to hear Michael Kaeshammer, just find me and I'll loan you one of his CDs - which are spectacular as well, but after hearing him last night, the CDs pale in comparison - although recorded jazz can never beat live.
If you ever get to see Michael Kaeshammer, do it. It'll be a night that you won't forget.
5.10.2006
In Scotland!
Hi all,
I'm writing this from a library in bonnie Scotland! I'm in Edinburgh, and it's the last leg of our tour. I will post some pictures when I get home, and I've got lots!
Well, until then, cheers!
I'm writing this from a library in bonnie Scotland! I'm in Edinburgh, and it's the last leg of our tour. I will post some pictures when I get home, and I've got lots!
Well, until then, cheers!
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