Brendan Finucane/Rockthecello/Soapbox Music featured on By Measure! 

http://bymeasure.blogspot.com/2011/04/brendan-finucane-cellist.html

audio is done, finished up this morning at soapbox!  video to come.  we’ll set a deadline.  how bouts… may 3rd.

http://www.archive.org/details/HarderBetterFasterStrongerCello

i realize i was overly optimistic in my personal deadline of the 21st for the daft punk cover.   i forgot that i have a workshop taking up the next three days, and then then soapbox’s studio is booked out saturday, monday, tuesday and late wednesday.  meh.   i should be able to get in a little friday night and then early wednesday to finish up the audio portion at least.   video will have to wait til after my trip to dc! 

I was napping (and possibly lucid dreaming?) this weekend when I realized it was time to revamp my private teaching style.   I debuted the new format this afternoon to generally positive reviews from the guinea pigs.

Basically, I’m trying to formalize lesson structure to ensure a balanced use of time.   I noticed I often get caught in a rut and end up overlooking things I definitely want to touch on every lesson.  For example I’ll go into a trance and work on shifting for 20 minutes (boring!) instead of playing fun stuff and doing improv.   The new format builds in time for playing fun review pieces together, focusing on new technique, AND doing some improv.  Also included in the new lesson format is a shout-out to Dr. Suzuki and the Japanese language:  we open and close with a bow showing mutual respect and we use traditional Japanese aisatsu.

30 minute lessons are pretty jam-packed boom-boom.

I’m working on a multitracked cello version of daft punk’s “harder, better, faster stronger”, with video.   Doing this has been on the backburner  for at least two years .  I started work again last week but had two frustrating setbacks:  first, the recording done at home with the electric cello didn’t sound rich, and it didn’t lock in and groove enough.  Second, when  I tried it on my laptop at soapbox with better mics  it locked in but…my laptop couldn’t handle more than 8 simultaneous tracks and i had to scrap that version too.   Now I’m just gonna go ahead and use soapbox’s computational resources (dunno why I didn’t go this route the first time).   So yes, coming up soon!  I’ma go ahead and set a deadline for myself. (audible internal gasps!)  Look for it Thursday April 21.

On account of a workshop and spring break trip to DC, lessons and activities are cancelled between Sat 4/16 and Sun 4/24.

The rocking of the cello will resume on Monday 4/25!

I don’t know what these are called but the sustain is to die for.   I need a set.   They’d go awesome with some cello.

Mark O’Connor is hosting workshops on string playing and his new method book this afternoon at 4:00pm and 6:00pm at DePaul University Concert Hall.   I’m going for sure!

can’t get enough of this jamie xx remix of the new gil scott-heron release

both versions here.

“Me And Lazarus” is awesome