Wow, I started playing Stick 2 years ago. I have probably made as much progress as a busy husband, father, teacher, and musical hobbyist could make. I know I would not be as far along as I am if it were not for this forum. I have had seminars with Greg Howard and Steve Adelson. I now have a new bamboo grand. I have posted one video and gotten good comments. I hope to do more soon. I am playing pieces that I would not have dreamed possible 2 years ago. Other pieces that I thought would be easy still elude me. I have not played in front of an audience yet, that is a goal.

All in all, I am making good progress and enjoying myself. Music is my great relaxation and I'm better off with it. I should never have stopped playing those many years ago. I'm glad I started again. And I'm really glad to have found this forum and gotten encouragement from all of you. It has made a huge difference.

Thanks,

-Eric

I'm glad you're here, Eric. I value your presence here among us and think you're well on your way as a Stickist. Your expertise in all things electronic is also a great help to this community! May your Stick journey continue to enrich your life.

Thanks! It's great to be here and bump elbows with real musicians.

-Eric

Now that sounds just like a seminar

Hi Eric,

This community is about instruments and gear, etc, but mostly, it's about making music, thanks in large part to the desire of the members to focus on that aspect of the Stick and Emmett's method (especially when compared to other music forums out there).

You're one of those who has really concentrated on the "making music" angle, though you bring a lot of other things to the table (preamps, apps, etc), and you've shared your progress with all of us in a really open way. Thanks for helping make stickist.com such a supportive and helpful place to be.

Mate!!!!

Congratulations. You had me going to find my original Stick shipping receipt to see how long it's been for yours truly, (Nov 07), so I'll be able to share my second birthday with you soon.

This Stick world really is amazing is'nt it. I think the instrument itself helps us keep a focus on the creative & musical aspects. In a general way I think us human-mammals are hardwired to be creative a find something new & want to communicate in different ways... to create NEW instrument interfaces to sustain the JOY of discovery. Is'nt that what keeps us alive!

Hey Eric, let me give you a special Birthday inspiration. Have you tried transcribing any songs yet. I'm sure you've got a good enough ear to pick things up.

You know I've been transcribing about 4 songs at once over the last 5 weeks and each of them are way beyond my present abilities. So after that, anything feels easy to play, each time I've gotten the next section down for one of these pieces. Sting's Childrens Crusade from the "Bring on the Night" band- Branford etc..Live in Paris is a ripper with great parts and beautiful movement in the bass. I've made it a point to transcribe Branfords solo as well, you can imagine how I feel after slapping the MAC for about 2 hours just to get one arpeggio. I curse the PC enthusiastically and say GOT YOU you Sucker!

Just make a new project on your tracking programme- Cubase, Nuendo etc.. import the song, set a channel for midi piano, transcribe it to that first so you have a record and finally play it on zee Stick!! Just listen for one part at a time and zero in on it and be careful not to let your ears become fooled by the wonderful clash of notes. Sometimes the simplest of voicings can sound more rich than the notes would suggest. OR middle parts might be burried away and played more quietly...esp with orchestral scores!

The point is pick out something that you really want to transcribe, that you feel is relatively Stick friendly & conceptually/harmonically cool. I have been trying to convert different piano voicings and crossing my hands over to different registers on the touchboard, that is LH playing both melody & bass side, just to accommodate the voicing.

The other really important thing is that it's made me search out and get to know the Touchboard more thoroughly; where the doubling of notes are (for easier choices/movement) or where the preferred timbre for any note might be.

Have a ripper time, Happy Birthday(month) and Catch Ya!

Radkon

Eric,
You are able to balance so many "irons in the fire" and still do well at all. You are a good guy.

Congrats Eric for making this work for you! 2 years is just the start ... Keep it up pal! Who knows ... maybe that 1st live "gig" is just around the corner for you?

Happy Stickiversary!

Hey Radkon, got my stick Nov. 07 too.

Hi Jeff.

Happy Stickiversary right back at Ya..! LOL

Thanks for those education posts re pedagogy etc, they've been great for the teaching headspace & processes.

Radkon-Regards