 |
{ click to visit myspace music page }
i'm very slowly getting things started. very primitively.
at the end of january 2009, i was determined to teach myself how to play the guitar. i bought a $30 made-in-china piece on ebay...then scoured the internet on what to do with it. i've since updgraded to a real guitar. i make these rudimentary, uncoordinated videos to document my progress in snippets (so i can view the ridiculous clumsiness diminish). still very amateur, but coming along. not bad for small hands, a few jam sessions with kind friends, and only mindless hours on the internet of trying to put it all together.
after over a year hiatus...i've posted a few new piano videos. life seems to have gotten in the way of music (you know...falling in love, getting engaged, rescuing a bunch of animals,etc ;) i haven't had much time for the guitar these days, but after over a decade of going without a keyboard, i now have one again thanks to my lovely fiancé :)
{ music progress }
12.21.10 - 'i will follow you into the dark' {piano cover} - death cab for cutie
one of my favorite songs. ever. from the very first time i heard it through every time after, it makes me think of my sister christine. today i wrote this piano arrangement since i can’t seem to quite nail it on the guitar. probably my biggest music fan…i know she’d like it ;)
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
12.13.10 - für elise - beethoven
my favorite part of this piece is the lesser known second half.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
12.13.10 - bach's minuet in g major
one of the first classical pieces i learned as a tot. sometimes the simple ones can be great too :)
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
12.12.10 - minuet in g - beethoven
one of my favorite pieces.enjoying my brief break from courses by getting back to my roots. it's been so very long since i've had a piano (over a decade), but what they say is true...it's a lot like riding a bike.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
10.8.09 - 'such great heights' - iron & wine
verbal life diarrhoea + a song to unwind.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
9.21.09 - 'i'm yours' - jason mraz
good god. i owe jason mraz a major apology for this video. i SWEAR it sounds pretty damn great when i sing along to it on pandora. not so much on the clumsy guitar + solo route. oopsies. perhaps i should try karaoke instead?
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
9.13.09 - 'verdi prati' - handel
yikes. evidenced by the poor timing and notes out of tune...this song needed more practice. 8 years of zero vocal exercises = me desperately grasping for notes *eep*
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
9.13.09 - 'in my life' - beatles
my voice is weird in the mornings. or sometimes just whenever.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
9.12.09 - 'i saw her standing there' - the beatles
no idea. pure adrenaline. no other explanation.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
9.6.09 - 'i will survive' - cake
after being clock-blocked on the first 3 cake songs i wanted to teach myself (due to level of difficulty), this is what i ended up with.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
9.5.09 - 'hey jude' - do you really need to ask who?
cory...welcome back to the states. i think you're in iowa right now...which means you're either 1) ecstatic to not be surrounded by a bunch of chongers who no speak engrish, or 2) so bored out of your gourd...that you want to blow your f*ing brains out. regardless, it's good to have you back in america.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
9.3.09 - 'muddy hymnal' - iron & wine
i'm drowning in procrastination. why the fuck am i not getting to work right now? amandes...this is for you.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
8.29.09 - 'i want you' - elvis costello
it appears i've returned to the routine of clumsily teaching myself a new song in 5 minutes or less...than playing it before i know how to play it. awesome.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
8.25.09 - two very sloppy quickies
it's like watching a crippled bird re-learn how to walk...after kathy bates sledge hammered its legs.
i'm trying to rebuild those calluses and get back into teaching myself guitar. (...and, let's be honest. i simply love fucking around with my new iMac.)
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
8.23.09 new(er) iMac + updates
fuckin' A right! i'm just testing out the quality of the webcam built into this used iMac that my friend sold me for super cheap. (i love you tricia!) is it sad that i get more excited in the pants over techie shit than anything else? whatever. it's cool.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
7.20.09 - 'jesus, etc.' - wilco
alright. the guitar is going to be stored at the back of the closet for awhile. writing & comedy are surging to the forefront of my ventures...and i'm finally (attempting) unpacking the remaining boxes in my studio to get settled in.
also trying to work odd jobs to make ends meet, so not much time left for music these days :(
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
7.12.09 - 'new soul' - yael naim
i think i'm going to nix this "getting-good-at-guitar" venture. i should put the musician aspiration on hold, wait 'til i'm rich & famous, and just pay good musicians to let me sing with them from time to time.
in terms of open mic, i'd actually be ridiculously more comfortable (and much better at) performing my shamelessly x-rated stand-up comedy routine than trying out my most well-perfected cover song.
yeah. good plan.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
6.21.09 - 'shelter' - ray lamontagne
(you might need to turn up the volume? i had to play quietly since it was 6-something in the a.m.). i woke up this morning to ray lamontagne singing in my ear. it's been a bit since i've taught myself a new song, so i thought i'd give it a whirl.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
5.17.09 - 'hello'- schuyler fisk
i'm about 27 minutes into a food induced coma, so i don't have much to write about this one.
but i did notice that the audio/video timing is somehow terribly off. however, i'm too tired to figure it out...much less record this song again. deal with it.
p.s. how many times can i say the word "awesome" while describing this weekend's show? apparently 3 million. whatever. i'm tired. leave me alone.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
5.14.09
*progress video: picking* - jesus, etc.
so if you're expecting music, don't watch this. this one is just of me being stupidly excited about my major breakthrough in overcoming my fear of picking strings (thanks to my oh so wonderful guitar instructor). doron...i can't say it enough. you fucking rock.
i mainly wanted to take a quick snapshot of progress one day into my newfound obsession. my fingers are torn to hell and may start bleeding soon. but i can only get better from here. and that is exciting.
next up. those damn barred chords. stupid sausage fingers.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
5.7.09 - 'bird stealing bread' - iron & wine
procrastination is wonderful and wretched in the same stroke. still not unpacking...i quickly became annoyed + aggrieved about the poor choice in my last post (for compatibility and preparedness...yes, even for me).
this post is a cold/blind run of a lovely song...but much better fitting for my range. and super duper easy chords. i ♥ iron & wine.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
5.7.09 - 'gravity' - sara bareilles
holy yikes! both my guitar and vocal skills are violently regressing. i suppose that’s what i get when the cumulative total that i've had my hands on a guitar (or sang) in the past 2 weeks equals less than 20 minutes. this is probably one of the worst ones i've posted…for real this time.
so apparently when i sing songs that are out of my range…and i desperately grasp for notes that are too high for my voice…and i attempt selections of which i don’t even know the tune or tempo…my brows furrow, rendering my forehead to look weird. how unflattering.
but right now i have zero time for take two. i must unpack! and clean. and unpack. damn it! i totally forgot about catching up on ‘30 rock’ and ‘the office’ online. mother f. maybe unpacking can wait. i know the cleaning can.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
4.21.09 - 'scenic world' - beirut
last video while living in vegas. t-minus 2.25 days and counting...
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
4.18.09 - 'otherside' - red hot chili peppers
i need to clean. and pack. instead i play. clumsily.
i've always wanted to try singing this song at karaoke. of course it would sound much better than this mess of strumming. i'm so tired that i just decided to record this after tinkering around with the tab for about 10 minutes. lazy.
i'm sooooo ready for the real lessons. after nearly 3 months of amateurishly looking up online random tabs and where to put my fingers...and faking chords for these little hands to eke out...i'm dying for the lessons. maybe after i get the 3rd job. blurg.
i know i don't hit all the chords, but at least i don't have to look at my fingers every single second anymore. that's nice.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
4.17.09 - 'no need to argue' - the cranberries
and....of course. leave it to me to make a 8.5 minute recording of a song...with less than 2 minutes of music on it. damn. i love to prattle on and on. (and also fidget, i'm noticing).
whatever. i'm the master procrastinator. and if this is what keeps me from doing what i need to do...i can happily live with that.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
4.10.09 - 'gone to the dogs' - kt tunstall
hey weird funk? how does it feel to get kicked in the face?! good. 'cause i'm done with you.
so yeah. i snapped out of it. and have lots o' energy + motivation again. i made this one late last night. i swear someone keeps slipping me little blue forget-me-nots after i record. (that's 'roofie' to all of you weirdo non 'arrested development' fans).
so yeah. the usual. gk playing clumsily. but no more apologies. because i rock again. suck it.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
4.9.09 - 'volcano' - damien rice
so…
i instantaneously passed out last night after recording this one. i debated on whether or not to post it at all (since it’s clumsier than usual). something is still off these days. actually, many things. i need to snap out of it. soon.
but i suppose that’s what these miniature video documentaries are all about. to track progress in myself. both forward and back. maybe this will bring a smile to my face when i do finally get going in the other direction once again. and hopefully take a big leap in it. i can’t wait until i’m out of this weird little funk of mine.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
4.4.09 - 'iowa' - dar williams
i've been feeling a bit off these days. i haven't practiced the guitar with consistency in awhile...or learned new songs in even longer. i can't quite seem to get motivated to do much of anything creative lately. not really certain what this is, but feel as though i can't shake it. lethargic. gross. lazy. i just got back from a (slow) run, but it did seem to help a little. i tried to play this old song with the new guitar, but it fittingly seemed a bit off as well.
i'm beginning to become claustrophobic in these tight walls. i think a lot of it has to do with mentally being done with vegas. being ready to move on. i know things will start looking up when i land in l.a. in a few weeks.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
3.21.09 - 'jesus, etc' - wilco
i'm running on 3 hours of sleep after some bachelorette festivities with old, old friends. and while i should have been taking a nap today to prepare for round 2 (only a few hours away)...instead i learned a new song. my fingers are blistering!
this is a very, very cool song by wilco. i can't believe i had never heard it before. many thanks to my new pandora (and guitar teacher) who has amazing taste in music...like me ;)
this is the quick and abridged version since the video kept cutting off on me mid-shoot. i think my computer is running out of space. i wish i had more time to practice, since this song is my new obsession...but i've got to get ready for another night out at the clubs. yikes. (i'm getting too old for this shit).
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
3.19.09 - 'a falling through' - ray lamontagne
very pretty song. needs work. but don't they all...
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
3.15.09 - 'save me' - aimee mann
just got back from l.a. today...and this was the song i learned at my first lesson. super excited about the lessons.
so i didn't get a chance to do that open mic while i was there. but will reserve time after i make the big move next month. i'm still shocked at how nervous i get (even in these videos). i was practicing for a few minutes before recording and played at least 3 times better...and my voice didn't crack with my throat closing up on me like it does when i'm recording. oh well.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
march 2009 - 'promising light' (wrought with mistakes) - iron & wine
this one is pretty painful to sit through. i played a few hours too many today...sadly, the videos came at the end of. but i had to utilize the short window of no roommates home to capture what i could.
i'm actually not even sure why i'm posting this one...this video has about 200% more missed chords than correct ones. don't say i didn't warn you.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
march 2009 - 'i will follow you into the dark' - death cab for cutie
new (real) guitar! new (still cheap) webcam! fingers that are about to fall off!
and a few songs that are nowhere near ready for a video of them to be made...yet i proceeded to do so anyway.
i'll replace this video with a better go at this song once my fingers heal a bit. i couldn't resist. i love this song.
it makes me think of christine.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
march 2009 - 'deathly' - aimee mann
notice how the quality of my voice gets worse in various spots...directly related to how much i spin my head back and forth to try and look at the chords on screen. distractions, distractions. this song should get better once i have it memorized.
blurg. i'm not sure why these videos are uploading so funky...they sound ok when i play them on my computer. i'm too tired to mess with it now.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
january 2009 - 'painting by chagall' - the weepies
yikes! this one was nowhere near ready for a video. but it's the last one i'll be able to make for awhile.
there's a funny and meaningful story behind my discovery of this song. miss you teeny k. you little devil.
maybe i'll pick it up in may after i move to l.a? hopefully i'll be much better by then. even more hopefully...inclusive of new guitar and capo.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
january 2009 - 'lady in spain' - ingrid michaelson
my very rudimentary rendition of yet another ingrid michaelson song. i love her.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
january 2009 - 'iowa' - dar williams
a song i've loved for many, many years. i taught myself how to play it about a week ago. many thanks to my friend alexis for introducing me to this song.
p.s. my cat milo f*ing loves starring in my cheap videos. he really is such an attention whore...i shouldn't be surprised.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
january 2009 - updates and 'breathe' - anna nalick
i've been derelict in the video uploads. i look up tabs to new songs daily and just can't keep up. the damn batteries in my camera keep dying before i can record an entire video. batteries are expensive.
plus, i still just have my crappy digital camera for recording. i'll try and get a slightly better (yet still terribly cheap) webcam of sorts...soon.
double plus, my crappy guitar is really starting to annoy me. i think i'll buy a real one...soon.
ah well. the trials and tribulations of giving it all up to recklessly become an artist. it'll be even worse when i'm literally broke in l.a. i'll try to keep up the video documentary process...if nothing else but for my own future amusement.
{ --------------------------------------------------- }
january 2009 - first night learning guitar
earlier this month i bought a student guitar on ebay for like $30. life has been so crazy these past few weeks that i didn't have a chance to open it until a week and a half ago. this video was recorded after spending an hour and a half trying to figure out this utterly foreign instrument.
this is an early attempt at the first song i vowed to learn. bear with me as i have absolutely no clue what i'm doing. literally. i just started turning the knobby thing at the end until the note sounded right. i've always been better at learning songs by ear than reading music...
p.s. you can attribute the really crappy video/audio quality to my really crappy cheap digital camera from a million years ago. i'm so low tech.