The idea I mentioned yesterday is an experiment in merging two radically different, perhaps even diametrically opposed music genres: Djent and Hymns.
Djent is a subgenre of progressive metal known for distorted staccato palm-muted guitar riffs. Djent may or may not include screaming and growling, low-tuned guitars and blistering high-pitched solos, but it's sure to have beats that punctuate the guitar's chugs and riffs.
Hymns are religious songs. They are written for the purpose of praise and worship to God the Father and God the Son. Hymns may or may not include choirs or instrumental accompaniment.
My experiment is to combine some characteristics of Djent to sacred hymns played on a keyboard/piano. I call this new music genre Dhymn (sounds like dim). Because I'm only beginning to learn piano and music notation, my arrangement (first one ever) will be a simple hymn.
As for learning So What by Miles Davis and mastering the blues scale, it's on hold. Getting a proof of concept for Dhymn is my top priority now. And you, dear reader, will be first to hear it when it's finished.
Meditation
Time meditating today: 12
Quality of meditation (out of 10): 3
Practice
Minutes on the keyboard today (out of 40): 0 minutes
Quality of practice (out of 10): 0
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I remember the first Sunday I went back to church after 15 plus years of being away. It was odd to hear people address each other as brother and sister, usually followed by their last name. What was even more odd to me was the hymns. The congregation sang to the accompaniment of a Hammond organ played by a frail old woman in high heels. There were no string instruments, horns or even a choir that clapped and swayed.
It seemed minimalist, but not in a good way. At the time I thought it sounded so... uncool.
I chuckle when I think back at that time. I was judging the music by worldly standards. In contrast, God listens to our hearts and how earnestly we sing the words. There’s great power in these sacred hymns, and the Lord revealed:
For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.
So hymns are important to me, more so than any other kind of music. They are essential to my faith and part of my daily life. I love to see new hybrids of hymn like those discussed yesterday, and want to contribute creatively to this genre.
Along that line, I have an idea but will sleep on it first. You’ll probably hear about it tomorrow.
Meditation
Time meditating today: 0
Quality of meditation (out of 10): 0
Practice
Minutes on the keyboard today (out of 40): 10 minutes
Quality of practice (out of 10): 3
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Today I had the idea to learn a simple church hymn and add fills and licks to that. I'd call it a “jhymn” (sounds like jim) or even better, an “hymnprovisation”. Unfortunately for me the idea isn't new (neither are the names) but I still think it's an exercise worth trying.
For a sampling of a hymn with an improvisational solo, here is Sweet Hour of Prayer by Peter Vantine. His album Prayerful Improvisations seems like excellent background music for a peaceful Sunday afternoon.
Meditation
Time bookstanding today: 23
Quality of meditation (out of 10): 4
Practice
Minutes on the keyboard today (out of 40): 25 minutes
Quality of practice (out of 10): 3 ... again... looking forward to getting better sleep tonight.
When watching piano lessons on video, I'm not above taking screenshots of the notes and chords played. Then I insert the screenshots sequentially into a word doc and save the file as a pdf. From there I can print it out and reference it like sheet music, but with the images I can see the hand positions and fingering.
But don't tell anyone. It'll be our little secret.
Mythical creature dragon (1806) by Friedrich Johann Justin Bertuch
Playing chords and keeping a steady rhythm with my left hand while simultaneously soloing with my right is beyond my current capabilities.
I think I'll avoid that dragon for now and start simple with the “call and response” style of soloing. How it works is my left hand plays something (i.e. a sparse Bud Powell shell chord) and my right hand replies with a lick. Here's an instructional video on how to play a call and response solo.
Another method of soloing (without each hand playing separate notes and harmonies at the same time) is adding little licks and fills to a simple song or musical pattern. Check out this video by Piano Pig to see what I mean.
Either method seems like good training before I try and take on the dragon.
Meditation
Time meditating today: 25
Quality of meditation (out of 10): 5
Practice
Minutes on the keyboard today (out of 40): 25 minutes
Quality of practice (out of 10): 6
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I'm embarrassed to admit my understanding of chords and chord construction is still wobbly. I think the answers lie in key signatures (“memorize ACOCA!” my friend says emphatically) and the pattern of major and minor scales. They are foundational concepts in music theory and I've only glossed over them.
Note: Write.as doesn't allow comments, but if you'd like to communicate with me there is my Twitter account @posertocomposer. You'll also find links and thoughts on my twitter stream that aren't mentioned here.
Meditation
Time meditating today: nil
Quality of meditation (out of 10): 0
Practice
Minutes on the keyboard today (out of 40): 20 minutes
Quality of practice (out of 10): 6
The scruffy old man came back to the thrift store today, wearing the same clothes he wore on Tuesday and Wednesday... and he had the trumpet! He saw my surprised expression and said “I got it back”.
He was there to return the trumpet for a refund. Normally our store doesn't do refunds or even exchanges on special items like the trumpet, but we made an exception here.
On to today's practice: I was busy running errands after work, so I didn't do any improvisation tonight. It's a shame because I've learned a lot from Youtube channels like New Jazz, Walk That Bass and Piano Pig but have so little time to really experiment with it.
A big thank you to those content creators as well.
Here's another cool Miles Davis video with a far out solo by Keith Jarrett.
Meditation
Time bookstanding today: 25 minutes
Quality of meditation (out of 10): 5
Practice
Minutes on the keyboard today (out of 40): 22 minutes
Quality of practice (out of 10): 5
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A few days ago a scruffy old man bought a trumpet at the thrift store where I work. I asked him if he played and he said he didn't. He wanted to learn though. Yesterday I saw him again, wearing the same scruffy clothes. I asked about his trumpet and if he started practicing yet. He replied it was stolen. He is homeless and it was taken from him while he slept.
Today was my day off, and while I tidied around the apartment and practiced piano I thought of him. He doesn't have the stability that I enjoy. Like so many other homeless people, he has dreams and aspirations. By purchasing the trumpet with what little money he had, he tried to jump up Maslow's hierarchy of needs from basic survival to self-actualization. Unfortunately the harsh reality of the streets will keep him down at the bottom.
On a lighter side, I did something approximate to a jazz improvisation. It was definitely fun, noodling about with my right hand. Flow-inducing too. I probably did this for a half hour before pain in my left elbow forced me to stop.
Meditation
Time bookstanding today: 40 minutes
Quality of meditation (out of 10): 5
Practice
Minutes on the keyboard today (out of 40): 55 minutes ...Exceeded time needed to practice
Quality of practice (out of 10): 7
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I can't seem to replicate the jazzy seventh chords I see on tutorials. My triads sound fine, but when I add the fourth note it often sounds muddy. Could it be my keyboard? My (lack of) technique? A bit of both?
The fact I can't play seventh chords is slightly worrying. Jazz is all about the sevens, the nuanced melodies, the diffused harmonies. Maybe I'm better suited for playing simple two-note stadium rock power chords.
Reminds me of an interview long ago with J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr when he said he couldn't get really tight-sounding riffs out of his guitar (unlike a band such as Helmet, although I don't recall him mentioning anyone in particular). J's sound is messier, and totally his own. You can tell a J Mascis riff from a mile a way.
And that's what it comes down to for musicians: finding your own sound.
Meditation
Time meditating today: 0 minutes
Quality of meditation (out of 10): 0
Practice
Minutes on the keyboard today (out of 40): 32 minutes
Quality of practice (out of 10): 5
After work I was spent, but this new practice regiment made it easy for me to get into. There's no thought of what I should play. I just follow the plan.
I'm seriously reconsidering the improvisation component of it though. It may be too early. I should be collecting ingredients for this improvisation soup, like jazz licks and cycled patterns.
I'm listening to Herbie Hancock: Possibilities on audiobook, and there are some great stories of Miles Davis here. Herbie narrates the book too.
In closing, check out Herbie's improvisation soup in “Gingerbread Boy”, by The Miles Davis Quintet (it starts at 2:25). Hopefully as I go along I'll be able to identify the ingredients that make this soup so hot and tasty.
Meditation
Time doing zazen today: 23 minutes
Quality of meditation (out of 10): 6
Practice
Minutes on the keyboard today (out of 40): 23 minutes
Quality of practice (out of 10): 5
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Mythical creature dragon (1806) by Friedrich Johann Justin Bertuch