The Euphonic Studio Buzz

Mitch McAndrew, guitarist and NIEBA champ Euphonic is proud of the accomplishments of guitarist Mitch McAndrew, who recently competed in the Northeast Iowa Bandmasters Association Jazz Band Festival with the Lisbon Junior High Jazz Band and came away with an unusual prize; Best Instrumental Solo. I say "unusual" because in stage band competition, the Best Solo award usually goes to a horn player. Congratulations to Mitch and Lisbon Band Director Roger DeYoung, will be taking his Senior High band to state competition in April. Good luck to you, and also to Mitch's brother Matt, who plays guitar in the Senior band!

Mitch started with me last fall and we have been mostly studying theory topics and speed picking for overall technique work. Starting with harmonizing the major/minor scales, working through chord alterations and inversions, we are currently exploring modes and will soon be delving into more detailed improvisation. I am creating a CD of backing tracks with a variety of grooves to play along with; Mitch really likes blues and Irish punk. The blues is no problem, I'll have to bone up on Irish punk. I have found the Hal Leonard Theory for Guitar book to be an excellent guide for learning a wide variety of advanced theory topics. Where appropriate, I supplement with my own material or other guitar books for more detailed study.

If you are an area student or jazz band director with a student who could benefit from private instruction on guitar, piano, or violin (I also teach jazz violin), please give me a call at 319.895.8002.

Banjo Lessons Now Available

After a couple of years of putzing around with banjo, I've finally got my playing on track with a terrific banjo method by Ross Nickerson. Some beginners may be able to teach themselves out of this book, and if so, great! If not, I will be happy to assist you through the book, which upon completion will put you in a very good place with your banjo playing. Please check out my banjo lessons page for more information.

Short Video Series in Development

I'm starting script development for a series of short instructional videos for my teaching studio.

The subjects of these shorts (1 to 3 minutes each) will be common problems that I have encountered with my students at varying levels of development. The goal is to focus deeply on one subject to help the viewer overcome a specific hurdle.

Topics on the list so far include how to organize a practice session, how to use a metronome, how to use an electronic tuner, guitar exercises for left and right hand development, how to use a mirror for bowing exercises, correct right hand position for banjo, a couple of useful beginning piano exercises, and left hand shapes for guitar chords.

One of my advanced students, Scott Myers, has agreed to assist me in shooting this short films. They'll be available for viewing on the website as they get completed.

If you have any topics you think I might be able to do that would be useful to people, please email your suggestions to bill@euphonic.us. Thanks!

Chase Garrett Records 9 More

This July, Chase Garrett came back to Euphonic to record 9 songs for his demo. He has assembled a studio band in Cincinatti with the help of one of his networked boogie festival friends and will be recording with the band there.

I shot video of this session and it's a lot of fun. Chase is always great to work with as he's a low-maintenance musician. Just give him a freshly tuned Mason & Hamlin grand piano and he takes care of the rest!

Look for the cut "Pine Top Boogie" performed by Chase at the end of my video brochure, which will be on this site's home page shortly.

If you're looking for a comfortable, affordable place to do a demo with top shelf keyboards, please give me a call at 895-8002. You'll be glad you did!

Euphonic Video Brochure

I have been working on shooting & scripting a video brochure to advertise the teaching, recording, and piano tuning businesses here. I am EVER so close to finishing it. I've been remixing some of the tunes I've recorded at Euphonic over the last 30 years and portions of those songs will be interspersed into the video transitions.

Going through these remixes has been especially meaningful to me because it's been a reminder of how many great musicians I've worked with and friends I've made through recording in the last 30 years. I have so much material to choose from, it was really hard to make the decision. Actually, that's the part that's got me held up at this writing. I do know that I will be using all original material except for one very nice piece by G. F. Handel sung by my guitar/piano/recording techniques student Scott Myers, and a Bach unaccompianied 'cello piece played by my dad and recorded at our family's home on Rainy Lake in about 1981.

So here's a nod to Chase, Scott, Kaitlinn, Robert Joe, Mike M., Adam, Gino, Charlie, Bobby, Al, Steve, Grover, Sandy, Jimbo, Joe, Debbie, Kenny, Bruce, and the other dozens of I couldn't list here. You sure made my job of picking what to use into a minor nightmare!

Coe College Sinclair Sound and Light Training Video

Another milestone in the Euphonic Educational Video series has been met. Shooting is finished and the script approximately 50% written for Euphonic's newest training video.

This DVD will be used to train Coe work study students and faculty, staff, and guests about how to use the facility. Topics include the house public address system, the many lighting systems (Sinclair Auditorium's lighting has complexities to it that are introduced by a permanent stage extension and an old Strand dimmer system), and safety equipment and procedures.

Sarah Hinds has agreed to do the voiceover for this project. I am looking forward to working with her to bring this to completion.

Doralyn Bigelow DVD Project

Area voice and piano instructor Doralyn Bigelow has chosen Euphonic Studio to create her instructional DVDs. The content will include 3 or 4 complete voice lessons, each emphasizing important elements of vocal production and development. Production will begin soon after Easter.

Ms Bigelow, a private teacher from Mechanicsville, formerly taught strings at the Cedar Rapids public schools. She now is proprietor of Doralyn's Music Teaching Company, with locations in Mechanicsville and Solon, and a future studio planned for Tipton.

This is the first video project we've taken at Euphonic. Preliminary tests proved that we can capture video and synchronize it with audio recordings made simultaneously using Sonar 5 to provide outstanding sound quality. The sound quality is extremely important to Doralyn, and of course it's always a high priority for us here at Euphonic as well. We strive to apply our available technology to each project with the primary goal of creating an end product that you can take away with 100% satisfaction.

This project will be medium complexity. We're planning to use 2 or possibly 3 cameras, with voiceovers, overlays and titles, synched audio, and effects. I have chosen Sony Vegas Pro 8 for my video software and it really does a nice job. I also upgraded my storage, memory, and video card (Matrox Parhelia 128) to accomodate these kinds of projects.

Always a new adventure! As we get further into this, I plan to do a commercial for Euphonic which you can see here soon!

Chase Garrett demo CD - Update

Euphonic was graced by 18 year old Chase Garrett, an up-and-coming piano star hailing from Iowa City. He was here on March 3rd and 4th, finishing 3 songs to use for an upcoming promo for a boogie festival.

Chase is a seemingly endless stream of high-energy blues, boogie, and jazz. The sessions were productive, enjoyable, and Chase & his father Russ left Euphonic with a great acoustic piano CD.

Chase enjoyed the Mason & Hamlin very much. His own piano is a rebuilt Steinway player piano in the grand piano form factor, a piano which I've heard of but never seen. He obtained the instrument from a piano dealer in Cincinatti who organized one of the boogie festivals where Chase performed. He compared my Mason and Hamlin favorably to his Steinway, commenting that the sound is very bright and the bass is commanding and clear.

UPDATE: An email echange with Russ Garrett last week revealed that the CD got off to its intended audience in Ann Arbor. Click HERE for a sample of that session....

At Euphonic, we take pride in providing outstanding value in service. Our atmosphere is relaxed, clean, quiet, and friendly. Artist input to the recording process is welcomed, and 100% customer satisfaction is always our goal. If you are seeking a place to do a demo, audition CD, or even a full-length commercial CD, please call 319.895.8002 to see if Euphonic Studio is the right place for you to work. Our rates are competitive, our keyboards are first class, and you will be happy with your recording!

Chase will be back soon to do a recording focused on integrating bass, drums, and possibly some other instruments as well. We are also discussing the possiblity and logistics of doing a commercial CD.

Associate Membership in PTG approved

I'm happy to report that my application for membership in the Piano Technicians Guild has been approved and I am now an active associate member.

My membership is an Associate membership, which means that I have not yet become a Registered Piano Technician, or RPT. In order to achieve that distinction, I have to pass three exams, which I am preparing to do.

This can work to YOUR ADVANTAGE if you have a piano that needs to be tuned. I am actively seeking pianos to practice on and will tune them at a reduced rate until I become an RPT. Please call me at 895-8002 to schedule a tuning appointment.

The Piano Technicians Guild is a professional association dedicated to providing the customer the highest standards of ethics and quality. Each Guild member benefits from the resources afforded by the Guild; we support each other through training and sharing experience. I consider it an honor, privilege, and responsibility to be an associate member of the Piano Technicians Guild. I am looking forward to becoming a registered technician!

Piano Tuning

I spent several weeks this summer studying piano tuning with the guidance of Harold Marling. I am seeking instruments to practice on so if you would like your piano tuned at a greatly reduced rate please give me a call at 895-8002. I plan to open for business sometime in 2008.

UPDATE: I have an application in to join the Piano Technicians Guild and will update you as my membership is approved.

Lessons, lessons, lessons!

I have opened up more time on my schedule to help you fit your music lesson into your busy schedule. Please call 895-8002 or 329-4527 for availability!

Recording studio news...

I have been busy laying down basic tracks for an album of my jazz favorites as well as revisiting some sketches I made for a concept album two decades back called Brave New World. It's a suite of 3 or 4 pieces of Classical/Rock fusion loosely based on thematic material from Aldous Huxley's dystopian novel of the same name.

Art songs... one of my piano students plans to major in music and has brought in an art song by G. F. Handel to record. This is cool! If you are a singer or chamber musician/group looking for a laid back place to record, please give me a call at 895-8002. I will help you get the sound you're looking for in a relaxing, zero-pressure environment.

For a comprehensive list of current studio projects, please click here which links to the Works In Progress page.

Euphonic All-Stars

We're putting together a list of jazz/funk instrumentals to record for the sheer joy of it. Right now the list is heavily weighted with songs that will feature my Hammond A-100 and Mason & Hamlin grand. This will also be an outlet for me to play guitar and violin, since I'm not doing any of that in my live bands (yet!)

Future material will undoubtedly cover Weather Report, Yellowjackets, Chick Corea, Jimmy Smith, Joey DeFrancesco, Stephan Grapelli and whatever anyone wants to do!

I'm looking for an additional solo musicians... a saxophonist would be great. Any Flora Purim-style vocalists looking for something to do?

Shorty Mountain Ramblers

This bluegrass band is rapidly moving from concept to drawing board.... more later!

Euphonic Studio music lessons, piano tuning, and digital recording services

Mount Vernon, Iowa serving Cedar Rapids, Marion, Solon, Mechanicsville, Ely, Springville, Anamosa, Iowa City and surrounding area

For information about music lessons, piano tuning, and digital recording at Euphonic Studio, call Bill at 319.895.8002 or 319.329.4527