Category Archives: Music

Ever Wonder What Tau Sounds Like (for math geeks)

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Gandalfe

The same fellow who presented us with “This is what Pi Sounds Like”, musician Michael Blake  interprets the mathematical constant Tau to 126 decimal places. So you know the rules.  For those geeks among us, here is Wikipedia’s definition of … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers and Internet, Education, Everyday Science, Music, Wikipedia, YouTube | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Musical Offenses, and Corresponding Fines

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Gandalfe

Unabashedly stolen from Contrabass.com who notes this chart was apparently compiled by a trumpet player.

Posted in Band, Band Management, Humor, Music | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Woody Herman, “Four Brothers”

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Gandalfe

The song features four saxes (three tenors and one baritone) in an arrangement that gives each “brother” a solo and culminates in a hard-swinging sax section chorus. The song so typifies the sound of Woody Herman’s second “Herd” that the band … Continue reading →

Posted in Jazz, Music, Sax Quartet, Video, YouTube | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Band Leadership: The Binmore Scale

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Gandalfe

by Peter Greene One of the great challenges of band leadership is concert programming. Many well-meaning directors suffer under the quaint notion that programming is somehow related to informed and intelligent choices based on an understanding of quality music. This … Continue reading →

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Suitcase Drum Kit and other stories

Posted on June 3, 2011 by Gandalfe

I just read about this very inexpensive drum kit and thought I’d share this blog detailing the way one fellow did it: Build a Suitcase Drum Set.   Here is one drummer’s response: Turn the problem on its side: The … Continue reading →

Posted in Band, Culture, Drums, Hobbies, Humor, Man stuff, Music, Music Instruments, Toys | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Wit and Humor of Paul Desmond

Posted on June 1, 2011 by Gandalfe

“I would also like to thank my father who discouraged me from playing the violin at an early age.” ~ Paul Desmond Paul was such a humorous fellow in addition to being one of my fav musicians. I luv’d this … Continue reading →

Posted in Heroes, Hobbies, Humor, Jazz, Music, Saxophone, Vintage | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A Late Bloomer’s Trip in Sax Toyland

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Gandalfe

Taken from the Sax on the Web article I posted in 2004 ish. I wanted to have a copy on my blog. I’ve been toying with flying down to visit Kessler & Son’sshop after a great purchase of an Antigua … Continue reading →

Posted in Band, Music, review, Saxophone | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Swing dance your way to health and happiness

Posted on May 22, 2011 by Gandalfe

With so many bands it’s about their ego. But we’re just servants to the dancers; we wouldn’t be anything without them.” ~ Heather Ellison, of the Savoy Swingers I was looking at some pictures of the dancers at one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Band, Culture, Dancing, Jazz, Music, Style, Swing Dancers, teachers | Tagged , | Leave a comment

YouTube Subscriptions Never Fail to Impress

Posted on May 20, 2011 by Gandalfe

I just got my YouTube Subscription Update which looks like this: I will have a lot to listen to this weekend. My fav this week (so far) is CrazyDaisyDoo’s rendition of “Love is Here to Stay. Tasty stuff. Crazy on … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Jazz, Music, Saxophone, YouTube | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Design: The Hunt for the Perfect Big Band Stand Front

Posted on May 15, 2011 by Gandalfe

In the almost seven years that I have been running a couple of Big Bands, I have been trying to design a stand front that is all things to all people. My wife does the actual fabrication, but I do … Continue reading →

Posted in Band, Band Management, Music | Tagged , , | 4 Comments