Entries Tagged 'Music' ↓

We are working on getting a performance together.  For the past few years, I have performed at my kid’s preschool (Church of the Good Shepherd in Burke, VA) and it has always been rewarding to see the kids smile and clap with the music.  In the performance I introduce the banjo, ukelele, guitar and stand-up bass.  I play a song with each one of them and talk about the instrument and how much fun it is to play music.  At the end, they all line -up and get a chance to say hello to the instruments up close, strum the strings, hear the sounds.  They love it!

Whoa – cool shoes, this one has got to be my favorite.  The first time I heard Lee play it for me – I was hooked.  The call and response backups, the perspective on choosing shoes for different things – when it comes down to it, it doesn’t matter much does it… just pick some shoes you like and run with it.

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This one’s a gem to be sure. Lee wrote this one, I tried to sing, and eventually, we got Cecy Snyder (a great singer from our old band Help Wanted) to come in and really show us how to sing.

Her silky voice is perfect for this song as it rolls along with a driving rhythm and banjo. Enjoy this weeks song, and please give a comment to let us know you’re listening ! [display_podcast]

Thanks,

Scott

Ah yes, creepy crawlies. Who wouldn’t find some on Safari ? A nice spooky sound and some critters falling on your head – and mud between your toes (oh no!). I hear Ben Joe loves the bugs.

Check out this song of the week. While you’re at it – order your copy of the new CD: Soundzania On Safari for only $6 (limited time).

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Until next time –

Ben Joe

Howdy. I’m Duke Ulaylee and I get to post the song of the week this week, yeah!

I told Ben Joe I want to be a reporter when I grow-up. He said “I can help you practice. Will you write a story about new music we make here in Soundzania?”

I said “Certainly!” I hope you like my first attempt:

I walked through town the other day. I heard Ace Guitar playing something new. “Ace,” I said “please tell me about the song you’re playing.”

“Well,” Ace said “this is a song about a father and a son. The son really likes cottage cheese because he can eat it with any meal. The father doesn’t like cottage cheese because it it spills and is so difficult to clean.”

Ace will share his new song with his friends. If they like it, they will help him make a recording. If the recording is good, maybe Ben Joe and Mandy Lynn will play it on their radio show.

I’ll keep you posted. For now, give it a listen and let us know what you think. As usual, the full song can be heard at the top of the page at soundzania.com this week.

Duke

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Uniquely individual. Lee wrote the lyrics on this one. It makes me think about the numerous ways we are different and the equally numerous ways we are the same. Makes me wanna say “one love”. Peace Lee

Ben Joe

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We have a winner! A few days ago we posted the question in our newsletter asking if anyone could tell us what a schisma is. Some good internet searchers turned up the right answers and we’re going to recognize 2 winners – Mike Sherman and Mike Benton. The web has a lot of articles discussing the musical term “schisma”. It is something I understood about tuning musical instruments for long time, but never knew it had a name.

Simply speaking, it is the difference between tuning the D above a G so the two sound great, and tuning that D to sound good across all scales and keys. In other words, today’s instruments tune every note an equal distance from each other and that even distance is slightly smaller than the distance your ear wants to hear a perfect fifth. This distance is a SCHISMA.

Want to try it ?? Want to hear a schisma ?

You’ll need a tuner, and a guitar (or any other tunable instrument). Play a G and verify it is in tune with your tuner. Now play the D above that G at the same time and tune the D to sound perfect to your ear. This is a perfect fifth and it ought to sound good to the ear. Now check that D against your tuner. It will be sharp – by just a schisma ! What? Crazy.

Congratulations Mike and Mike ! You will be one of the first to recieve the new Safari CD once it is available !

Ben Joe

Hello again – Ben Joe here, bringing you another newsletter from Soundzania. We’ve got songs, a sale and maybe even a new instrument!

Songs
We’re working hard on the new CD we plan on releasing in December – in fact – we’re posting a new song every week to give everyone a sneak listen to the album ! You heard it – we post a full copy of a song every week at Soundzania.com. Just check out the link at the top of the page when you visit Soundzania.com.

A Sale
Mandy Lynn has made some fabulous tie-dye Soundzania shirts for you all, and guess what – they’re on a huge sale just for October! Yup, every shirt is $5 off. So, instead of the usual $12.95 – now they’re just $7.95 – a very nice price for a t-shirt! Order yours today – just enter “OCTOBER” as a coupon code during checkout.

A New Instrument?
Well, maybe not completely new… but definitely fun. We are making a fun new instrument in Soundzania. Its a super-controllable-highly-interactive-sound-making-apparatus – and we affectionately refer to it as the SCHISMA. The name is actually a musical term, and if you’re the first person to explain it to me, you’ll score yourself a free copy of the upcoming CD !

Well, thats it for now, hopefully we’ll get to see the SCHISMA in action this weekend at a block party in Del Ray. Drop us a line if you want to come by.

Until next time….

Ben Joe

My Crazy Uncle… don’t we all have one? or are one? I was one for a long time for my 6 nieces and nephews. I’m sure this song will ring true with them. Its always fun for kids to know an adult or two that are just a little “different” than the others.

The lyrics were written by Andy Berry and this is another installment of the song of the week. I hope you enjoy the sample below. If you want the full version, it is at the top of the page on soundzania.com.

Until next time….

Ben

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This week’s installment highlights “Pancakes are Impatient”, a silly tune about a very serious issue – pancakes left on the plate. As you may know, pancakes are indeed impatient and they very much do not like to wait. So, without further ado, I bring you the song of the week: Pancakes are Impatient !
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The full song can be played at Soundzania.com at the top of the page this week only !