A little bit of my taste....

I love to hear what other people are listening to, it's always great to find new artists, especially from people you know. Peoples taste is a funny ol' thing, two totally different people could have exactly the same taste as much as two very similar people could have totally different tastes. So, lets start something, here's the first ten videos from YouTube that sprung to mind when I was asked....

http://www.mlc-academy.com/media/mlc_yt_tv.htm

Esperanza Spalding - I Know You Know

A true musician in every sense of the word with an incredible story, yes it's jazz, yes its' got heavy latin influences, but this is a shining example of beautiful songwriting from one of the most talented bass player/singer/songwriter in recent history.

Michel Camilo - From Within

Jaw dropping..... Anthony Jackson, a bass playing legend plays a substantial part in this exhibition of musical excess, don't try this at home...

George Benson - Lately

This is a beautiful interpretation of a classic Stevie Wonder ballad that genuinely captures the essence of the song and presents it in a unique format that is entirely valid in it's own right. Christian McBride display a perfect balance of taste and proficiency; one of those bass performances that sounds like anyone could have played, but they didn't, he did.

Jamiroquai - Space Cowboy (Stoned Again)

Think back, 1994..... Honestly, I would have been 10 years old with little awareness of the London acid jazz scene, thankfully I was later to discover what a 17 year old Stuart Zender was able to create with a band now synonymous with UK pop/funk band (although little remains of that particular band, the story paints an unfamiliar picture of Jason Kay). This song never fails to put a smile on my face.

Incubus - New Born

Cali Pop Rock anyone? OK so this particular track unearths the bands earlier, somewhat heavier roots, this one's for me more than you guys/gals, an early musical influences both as a bass player and vocally. The bands hyper polished, nothing left to chance approach saw the end of an era for original bass player Alex Katunich (aka Dirk Lance), Incubus always reminds me of the time I started really appreciating music.

Damian Rice - 9 Crimes

No need to say too much here... Lisa Hannigan's voice still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

Amos Lee - Keep It Loose

This one song kept me sane for three whole months in a Mediterranean holiday resort with nothing but 2009's RnB anthems to be heard. Amos displays a tender and sensitive outlook on life that could warm the coldest of hearts.

Melody Gardot - Worrisome Heart

So there's definitely a theme forming within this playlist, beautiful songs. Melody actually used music as part of her recovery following a terrible cycling accident. As if Ken Pendergast' playing isn't enough to impress, the guys rocking a beard that can't fail to impress.

Herbie Hancock and Corrine Bailey Rae - River

This choice was more of an example of Corrine Bailey Rae and everything she has ever done. You've got to love her honesty as a performer. As if Corrine' astounding vocal wasn't enough, this particular performance showcases some of the worlds most talented musicians, funk and jazz legend Herbie Hancock, jazz legend Wayne Shorter, every drummers wet dream Vinnie Colaiuta and Tal Wilkenfeld who needs no introductions to bass players, if you've not heard her work, find it....

John Mayer - Who Did You Think I Was

Just brilliant, in every way, enjoy....

So get your own playlists together and get them posted....

Take it easy,

Scott

Going all the way back...

As I prepare a small collection of beginner bass video lessons for D'Addario that will be available in the new year, I find myself looking at some very fundamental aspects of playing the bass guitar, and if I'm honest, it's been a long while since I've looked at these parts of my playing. As we all progress with any learning curve, including learning a musical instrument, it's very easy to leave the fundamentals behind. If we all sat down and were brutally honest with ourselves, we would all probably find there's still room for improvement. Bring that honest about your own abilities is not easy, but very rewarding. Give it a go, find those old chromatic finger exercises and major scale studies, be brutal...

If you haven't heard of them, or if you already have, check out Deck D'Arcy super tasteful playing with Phoenix, great band great indie, here's the link for SPOTIFY users...

Take it easy,

Scott

Musicians Encouraged to Rock Again as ‘Weekend Warriors’ Hits Birmingham!

Saturday 28th November – 1pm
Professional Music Technology, Birmingham

On 28th November 2009, Birmingham’s ex-musicians are invited to Professional Music Technology, Lawley Middleway, and encouraged to return to their forgotten instruments to show their passion for rock music has lost none of its enthusiasm – or its potential to fill local venues – since its origins back in the sixties.

The Weekend Warriors programme, gives 35-60 year old lapsed musicians the unique opportunity to re-join a band and re-live their musical youth. MLC-Academy, a nationally recognised music school, and Professional Music Technology will group enthusiasts into bands, and provide them with equipment, rehearsal space and mentors as they become Birmingham’s Weekend Warriors. The bands will jam together, decide upon a set, rehearse and then perform in a concert to a live audience of family and friends on stage at Professional Music Technology, Birmingham.

Tim McLoughlin, Primary School Head teacher and Back to the Future band member agrees; “This has been a fantastic experience for all of us. Firemen, sales directors and medical reps have all been united by the common goal of getting back on stage and performing once more.

Craig Glover, Professional Music Technology, said: “We can’t wait to get Weekend Warriors underway. We’re convinced there are people in Birmingham that are desperate to fulfil an ambition to perform live in a band but have never had the opportunity. We’re going to help them get there…”

Paul Hose (CEO of MLC-Academy) said; “Weekend Warriors gives those guys who have had to shelve their instruments to bring up their kids, pay their mortgage or focus on their jobs, a chance to get back to the music they once loved. The sheer enthusiasm already generated from our schemes all over the country confirms there’s a very real demand from middle aged rockers to be able to take up their instruments and form bands again. We’re thrilled to be helping more people play music again.”

For more information about how to become a Weekend Warrior contact Paul Hose on 0121 288 3745 or visit www.mlc-academy.com.


For further information please contact MLC-Academy 0115 941 7493 or email office@mlc-academy.com.

ENDS

About MLC-Academy

MLC Academy is the brainchild of internationally recognised teacher, Paul Hose and in August 2007 MLC opened the doors of its first Academy. MLC Academy emphasizes the needs of the individual music student – be they a hobbyist or aspiring professional. As a result the MLC Academy Nottingham, Northampton and Birmingham has a number of unique syllabi that are thorough and stimulating yet flexible and fun.

MLC-Academy LIVE at the Central - November line up released!

Building on the success on "Live at Shaw's", MLC-Academy now bring you a second monthly night of live music! "Live at The Central" will feature MLC-Academy students and renowned professionals on stage. The music will be fresh and raw!

8:30 pm, Wednesday 25th November 2009
The Central
Huntingdon Street
Nottingham


View Larger Map

*** NEW CASSETTES ***

"One of the country's most exciting new bands" – Channel 4
“Cleverly constructed, carefree indie, which delights as well as inspires.” – Digital Encore

2005 brought us many things: Live 8, the birth of YouTube, Lance’s Armstrong’s record 7th straight Tour De France victory, but more importantly, the birth of the energetic, melody filled indie pop by the Northampton natives, New Cassettes.

New Cassettes you say? Aren’t they MiniDiscs? Not in this case! They are a 5 piece collective consisting of Tom Stubbs on vocals, Nik Gray on guitar/vocals, Owen Reed on guitar/vocals, Tommy Francis on drums, and Dan Battison on bass. One could argue that they have already reached their initial goal of forming the band with the purpose of “having a good time”, judging by their plethora of high profile gigs, such as playing Glastonbury 2007, BBC’s Electric Proms, Lattitude, Witness, Summer Sundae, and also supporting the likes of The Strokes and Adam Green.

Their first single, Young Won’t Stop, was released on Fantastic Plastic Records, home to The Guillemots and iLikeTrains. It instantly became a favourite of Radio 1 DJs and tastemakers Huw Stephens and Steve Lamacq, and was also featured on Channel 4’s popular comedy The Inbetweeners. The follow-up single, Recover/Retreat, was released at the end of 2007 on Last Space Recording, the label of Mercury Music Prize nominees and fellow Northampton band Maps. That’s not all - they also reached the final few in Channel 4’s Road to V competition, whose past winners include The Young Knives and Bombay Bicycle Club.

After spending the last year crafting their sound, they are now ready to unleash their debut album The Art Of… to the general public. The album is packed full of ten of the most upbeat, cheery and contagiously catchy anthems that you will hear all year. In addition to featuring their previous singles and last years download-only single, Hearts Don’t Beat Right, other stand-outs include the gang-vocal led Lighthouse, and the dancing shoes requiring, driving rhythms of Carnivals, which is possibly a nod to Northampton’s shoemaking ‘Cobbler’ roots! Plus there are also odes to their heroes (if their myspace page is to go by!) on the rifftastic Huey Lewis and the frenetic Lucille. Some would say the perfect mixtape.

With the album ready and a Japan release date planned, it’s all hands on deck for the band! So press play, as New Cassettes are all wound up and ready to go!

*** THE MONEY ***

The Money are a four piece pop rock band Based in Nottingham.
They formed a year and half ago and within 8 months had written, recorded and produced there debut album ‘A Secret Shared’. There next step was to create a fan base and they have done this in a very Unique manor.

They have been gigging out in Rhodes 5 nights a week for the past 3 months and in there time there have sold over 700 of there albums, bring our total to well over 1000 sales.

Not only this but they have added over 1500 friends to there social networking sites, people that they have met face to face. There mailing list has over 600 new contacts, waiting to see them live around the country and Europe



Ends.

Further information available from MLC-Academy.

Free drum lessons in Birmingham this Christmas!

If you're planning on gifting a musical instrument this Christmas be sure to visit Professional Music Technology and claim your free 30 minute music lesson at Birmingham's MLC-Academy!

Ends.

For further information please visit the MLC-Academy website.

Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.

Free drum lessons in Northampton this Christmas!

If you're planning on gifting a musical instrument this Christmas be sure to visit Professional Music Technology and claim your free 30 minute music lesson at Northampton's MLC-Academy!

Ends.

For further information please visit the MLC-Academy website.

Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.

Free music lessons this Christmas courtesy of MLC-Academy

If you're planning on gifting a musical instrument this Christmas be sure to visit Nottingham Drum & Guitar Centre and claim your free 30 minute music lesson at Nottingham's MLC-Academy!

Ends.

For further information please visit the MLC-Academy website.

Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.

My first post...

So here's a thought about being busy.... Which, thankfully I am at the moment. I wouldn't be able to keep on top of it all without a few lists, Set Lists, To Do Lists, Playlists, Diary etc.

I am trying something with all of this, I'm literally crossing things off my lists and for the first time in years I feel like I'm actually achieving things. After spending a wonderful summer with a much less complicated work load (I still protest that I was working hard!!) it's been touch to see the forest for the trees never mind actually get anything done. Thank you lists.

So things to do...

Make a cup of tea

Scales

Tempo Exercises

Reading practice

Rehears set lists

Wish me luck...

PS here's a Spotify playlist, I'm gonna keep these coming. This ones some classic nineties Hip Hop from my youth...

90's Hip Hop

Scott

Thomas Leeb Master Class

- Fingerstyle acoustic guitar master class

Nottingham music school, MLC-Academy in conjunction with city centre venue, The Central present an amazing master class with Thomas Leeb.

Sunday 15th November 1-4pm at the CENTRAL, Nottingham, £20 per person


Austrian born Thomas Leeb plays a style he calls 'the bastard child of acoustic fingerstyle'. This style owes as much to percussive techniques as traditional fingerstyle guitar as his tunes are usually punctuated by slaps, pops and beats. Adding to the overall effect is his frequent use of ringing harmonics. The resulting blur of busy hands and fingers has to be seen to be believed.

His repertoire consists of self-penned numbers, traditional tunes and occasional covers of Guns 'n' Roses, Bjork and Bob Marley songs..

Leeb released his first album, the now out of print Reveller, as a precocious 17 year old. However, his unique style didn't come into full force until his 1999 album Riddle. He has since released four further albums and toured Asia, North and South America and Europe.

Along the way he has picked up a number of influential fans such as Eric Roche who was his guitar teacher, "for about five minutes and then I heard him play" and Guthrie Govan who thinks that "what Thomas does on an acoustic guitar probably shouldn't be legal."



Reviews and Comments


"20-Finger-Guitarist"
"Guitar Magician"
"Guitar Acrobat"
"Leeb regularly takes his audiences by storm."
Various Newspapers
(Austria)

" Every last fibre of his guitar is wrung dry to produce either rhythm, bass, chords or melody and very inspiring it is, too. Upside Down is indeed an album full of joy and spirit."
Acoustic Magazine
(UK)

Thomas' technique and compositions have certainly put him into the 'world's greatest unknown guitarists' category. He has to be seen to be believed.
Guitar Techniques Magazine (UK)
"I was his teacher for about five minutes and then I heard him play."
Eric Roche
(IRL)

He is one of the most original and captivating guitarists we know.
Nammusic
(Brasil)
"Moving music - movingly played."
Parnass
(GER)

Thomas showcased all the skills and abilities of the top-flight fingerstylists on the scene today years ago.
Bridge Guitar Reviews (Holland)
Melodic and tasteful Fingerstyle CD's like this one have unfortunately become rare.
Concerto Magazin
(Austria)
NOBODY LIKES A SHOW-OFF!
Un-f***ing-real!
Good stuff.

Buy your ticket here: MLC-Academy

Christmas gift vouchers now available!

MLC-Academy offers a wide range of music lessons that suit the needs of the individual. Bass, drum, guitar and piano - all lessons given on a 1-2-1 basis! Why not gift a course of music lessons this christmas? Click on the voucher above and browse through our range of gifts on offer.

MLC-Academy: located in Birmingham, Northampton and Nottingham. Call the main booking number 0115 941 7493 for further information.

MLC-Academy LIVE at The Central: Success!

Last night saw Nottingham’s leading music school, MLC-Academy, launch the second of its popular LIVE evenings at The Central in Nottingham.

 

Unlike LIVE AT SHAW’S, LIVE at THE CENTRAL will feature MLC-Academy students on stage. The music will be fresh and raw!

 

Further details can be found on the MLC-Academy events calendar.

 

"Unlocking Technique" CANCELLED

Due to Jack being ill this event has had to be cancelled. We shall however re-arrange the event for late November.

If you require any further information please contact MLC-Academy directly.

3 more videos added to iTunes

MLC-Academy have today added three more short videos to the "School's Out for Summer" podcast feed. The videos are free and can be downloaded to your computer or portable device to be enjoyed time and time again.

For further information about MLC-Academy please visit www.mlc-academy.com.

Rob and Paul hit the Jam Cafe

MLC-Academy teachers Robert Upton and Paul Hose will perform an evening of jazz at Nottingham's most exclusive jazz bar, the Jam Cafe.

The line up will be completed by Carl Bingham and other musicians are expected to guest throughout the evening.

Further information can be found here.

More media added to iTunes

That's right folks, more podcasts have been added to the SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER feed which can be found on iTunes!

Simply launch iTunes and search "MLC" and there it is! The pods are free and please feel free to share them with friends and family.

---ENDS---

School's out for summer is MLC- Academy's week long "Summer School", A week long performance programme culminating with the attendees performing a concert in front of hundreds of people making it a summer to remember!

Activities include:

Form a band and make new friends - Playing music brings people together; it breaks down social and personal barriers and almost always makes for a good time.

Select a set – Choose from a vast list of modern and classic tunes making your School’s Out experience a blast this summer.

Refine your skills – There is no substitute for playing in a band! Use School’s Out to refine and indeed enhance your skills as a musician.

Record your band: make videos and podcasts – A part of this year’s programme is to create promotional material for your band. You will be interviewed and indeed interview our clinicians, special guests and tutors. The results will be edited and posted on many popular portals on the internet.

Attend clinics – Receive an insight in to what it takes to survive in the modern music industry.

Special guests – Be inspired by this year’s special guests. Chat with them, learn from them and why not jam with them!

Perform at a show in front of family and friends – Invite family and friends to come along to a concert and join in with the summertime fun!

Win some fantastic prizes – This year’s School’s Out concert will be a winner-takes-all battle of the bands competition! Prizes on offer: a drumset, bass and an electric guitar, so make sure your School’s Out band is on top form and you bring as many people as possible to support you at the finale concert.

Further information can be found at the MLC-Academy website.

MLC Academy rock at the Runner

Adding to the success of MLC-Academy LIVE, MLC-Academy now brings you a monthly rock, blues and funk night and Nottingham's famed venue, the Running Horse!

The first month's line up is as you'd expect from MLC - a collective a professional musicians coupled with a MLC student support slot.

HEADLINE ACT - LOTUS

Gavin White - Guitar
Richard Setchfield - Keys
Paul Lewin - Bass
Jack Atherton - Drums

GUESTS - ADARNA

The event is FREE so bring friends! Click here and here for event details.

Wednesday 28th October 2009 from 8pm!

Unlocking technique

Unlocking technique - A group class with Jack Atherton

Friday 30th October 11am – 1pm*

£20 limited places

MLC-Academy, Nottingham

* Class starts at 11am though the time is suggestive as the class may run over. Attendees should therefore allow more time.

Areas of study include

Moeller Technique
Application of Technique
Answering of any related questions/study topics

Buy your ticket here.

MLC-Academy media on iTunes

Films made from week one of the MLC-Academy School’s out for summer programme have been made available on iTunes! The films will also be available to watch for free on forthcoming MLC-Academy TV! Simply launch iTunes and search “MLC Academy”. Films from week two shall be added to the series on a weekly basis.

School's out for summer week 1

Day one, week one: Thirty minutes until the annual MLC summer school becomes a hive of activity!