I know, I know.
You’ve all been waking up, every morning, wondering, “Where, oh where, has GarageSpin disappeared to?”
That’s too long — and not nearly interesting enough — a story to tell.
BUT, I can share that I’m in the process of launching my new music project and/or “producer/band” identity: Phonic BOOM.
I’m working on my first song, to be part of an eventual EP, and can’t wait to share it. Stay tuned!
No one wants to have their ability to hear compromised, but if you are musician, this fear is compounded by the fact that your daily pleasure, and perhaps monetary living, depend strongly on this sense. Yes, Beethoven managed, but if we have the choice, let’s keep our hearing intact, right?
And do we have the choice? Obviously, there are some factors outside of our control, but when it comes to the very irritating (and sometimes out-of-your-mind-infuriating) problem of Tinnitus, is it possible there are things musicians can do to prevent it?
For a brief stint in 2011, Soundcheck aired a program called Ear Wars, and in one episode, they feature Dr. Neil Sperling of the New York Otolaryngology Group, who gives us a little more insight into Tinnitus. Tinnitus is the perception of internal sound that usually only the individual can hear. In this way, it’s tricky because it doesn’t have a single causal relation with the body. It’s sound (ear), but it’s also the perception of sound (brain). Most likely, it has been caused by some damage to the ear, but it’s the brain that is trying to make sense of this by sending out a sound of some sort. And this sound can vary greatly. It can be the typical sound we think of when we hear of Tinnitus– a ringing in the ear (and even ringing can vary a lot), but it can be the literal sound of crickets, it might sound like traffic, it might even be a musical song itself (Ally McBeal anyone?). You can hear a sample of various common Tinnitus sounds at the American Tinnitus website here.
The causes of Tinnitus are not entirely known at this point, although it is something that tends to happen in the older population with the natural decline of hearing. Some medications and chemotherapy can cause Tinnitus too. People who have jobs where they are exposed to loud sounds for a long period of time are more at risk (think factory workers), but as for musicians, or people who love listening to music…? The rise of headphones, earbuds, very loud concerts and sound systems–none of these things are exactly good for the ear. It can vary, but the volume, proximity and duration all play a factor. Easy obvious preventions? Turn the volume down. Use speakers when you can. Give yourself breaks.
But all of these tips don’t matter much if you already have Tinnitus, and again, you may have it even though you don’t have any known risks toward developing it. Many people suffer from it thinking there is no treatment, and while there may not be a simple fix, there are some therapies that have been shown to help. First of all, Dr. Sperling recommends that anyone with symptoms see a professional, as Tinnitus is really just that–a symptom–and it could be a symptom of something larger that is treatable (for instance, a tumor, which is rare, but again, is often treatable). If everything else checks out, then know that there are things which can be done to ease Tinnitus. From medications, electrical stimulation, and TMJ treatment, there are options. There are even therapies which are designed to retrain the way your brain perceives the sounds.
In any case, if you suffer from Tinnitus, don’t assume that this will always be your fate. And if you don’t suffer from it now…well…much is out of our hands, but if you have any power to protect your precious ears even a little bit while you can…I would seriously consider doing it. Because to hear the roaring sound of a subway when you’re trying to record an album (or have dinner with a friend or read a book to your child or have a good night’s sleep–for that matter!) is far from ideal.
Share your thoughts: Do you suffer from Tinnitus? Have you found anything helps relieve the sound you hear? How has it affected you in your musical career (or otherwise)? Do you have any advice or tips?
Okay, so I’m being a dutiful fan, watching Project Runway online, because this is my Friday highlight (never can I watch live tv these days, even though, yes, I’m still paying Cablevision 14 some dollars a month to have 2 cold cable boxes)-when what to my wondering laptop should appear? But a wonder-filled jingle, a boon to my ear!
Yes, this is when I first heard that super catchy “Oreo Cookie Song.” Okay, I guess it’s really called “Dare to Wonder,” and it’s really the subtle voices of Tegan and Sara (identical twins from Canada who have been creating together for 2 decades). And it’s really trying to sell me on trying new limited-time flavors of oreo cookies…but man…it is one inspiring jingle. Apparently, I’m not alone, as the youtube video alone has over 14 million views (well, the jingle has been out for over a year–how did I miss it until now?). Check it out:
So well done, Oreo. You might not get me to try one of your new flavors, because, well, the last time I bought Oreo cookies was probably when Tegan and Sara formed their band. But you will get me to actually listen to your ad and not mute the laptop when Lifetime makes me watch an extra 3 minutes of ads just because I had to refresh my page since the connection stopped working.
And you’ll probably get me to dance a little bit too.
And maybe crave cookies.
Oreo cookies.
Okay, so maybe it’s not impossible for this ad to have actually worked on me…Perhaps…But luckily I mostly shop at Trader Joe’s and they don’t have oreos there. Although it is only a few stores down from the Stop and Shop…so…
Lesson: Don’t shop when you’re hungry and have just seen Project Runway…
And for all of you who are wondering what those beautiful words of this beautiful jingle are–here are the lyrics to “Dare to Wonder,” or, “The Oreo Cookie Song.”
Dare to Wonder/The Oreo Cookie Song Lyrics:
Wonder if we tried a new thing, looked inside, see what we can bring
Forget who you’re supposed to be, take all your crazy flavors, show them all to me
If we dare to wonder about what holds us down, the fears, the doubts,
Could we spark something, watch it grow? Be more wonder-filled than we know.
Share your thoughts: What commercial jingle makes you put down your cell phone and watch/listen to it? Where were you when you first heard the ever-famous Oreo Cookie Song? Does having a good song make you more likely to take notice and buy the product? How do you feel about the musicians using their talent for advertisements?
Today’s post is from Tara Meddaugh, playwright extraordinaire whose work is sought by tens of thousands of actors and directors every month, and who is also the voice behind the band Girl Crusade. Welcome, Tara!
We all know there are fields of work where the 50% of the population known as “female” are under-represented versus their male counterparts. We tend to think of fields such as technology and sales, but this gap can be found in the arts, as well. In particular, female composers are greatly under-represented. The top 20 music schools only have 18% of their Composition faculty filled by women for the 2015-2016 year (and hey, this is up 3% from last year. Small victories, right?). Only 11% of composers who have premiered their work in the last 20 years have been female, and the Performing Rights Society of Composers, songwriters and music publishers is only made up of 14% women.
So why this disparity? Well, like many fields, it’s not quite clear. But it is clear that girls, like in the other male-dominated fields, tend to drop off in this area as they get older. Girls and boys may start with equal interest in music and composition, but by the time students reach college level, the field has very few female participants. One obvious chicken-and-egg answer is that there are not many female role models in Composition to look up to, so girls tend not to see it as a viable career path. Of course, you also have another side. Damian Thompson writes “There’s a good reason why there are no great female composers,” and while I was not able to read the whole article without subscribing to The Spectator, it appears his stance is this: It’s extremely rare to be a great composer for men or women. There were more male composers than female composers throughout history (presumably because there were more males in most careers throughout history in most developed countries). There is a greater chance of finding a great male composer when you have thousands to choose from. If you only have a hundred (say) female composers to choose from, most likely you’re not going to find a great one. Statistics just don’t go that way. So there are not many great female composers because there were simply not enough female composers to pull from (he also goes on to criticize many known female composers, not because they are particularly bad, but because they are really not particularly good. But just female, so therefore, praised, because, hey, at least here were some women composers). If you subscribe to The Spectator and read the whole article, please, correct me if I’m wrong, or elaborate further.
Whatever the reason for this disparity, there are many organizations who see these statistics and are offering ways to draw in more female composers. After all, females make up half of our world, and without that voice in music, we are missing out. The PRS for Music Foundation in the UK initiated 28 new projects supporting women creators of music over the past few years. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and OPERA America have all offered programs to seek and encourage more female composers. And currently, on September 24, Q2 Music will offer its 2nd year of their “24 on the 24th series with a 24-hour marathon stream celebrating the ceiling-shattering achievements of female composers in the 20th and 21st centuries.” So if you’re curious about what female composers are actually putting out there, check out their station/site on the 24th this month. And who knows. Maybe if we allow for more female composers to hone their craft, we will find a few more of those very select (male or female) great composers out there.
Share your thoughts! Are you a female composer who has succeeded in this male-dominated field? What tips or advice do you have for others who are starting out? Do you think there are particular hurdles as a female composer, or is the field more even than the statistics lead us to believe? What is our responsibility (if any), as music lovers and preservers, toward encouraging the under-represented female composer? If you’re a male composer, what has your experience been working with female composers?
Cover song marketing is still one of the best ways to promote your band on Youtube. And hey, Justin Bieber’s new song, “What Do You Mean”, has already garnered 70+ million hits in only two weeks. Google search volumes for the track’s lyrics, mp3 download, video and acoustic version are skyrocketing.
This post is your own personal “What Do You Mean” chords and cover kit. Learn the song, record yourself playing it, customize your video title with strategically placed keywords and publish it on Youtube. See what happens. Maybe nothing. Maybe something. You won’t know unless you try.
Here’s a pretty simple set of basic chords for What Do You Mean to get started.
This video isn’t all that helpful for learning how to play What Do You Mean chords, but I was impressed by its production value and thoroughness.
Hey, if these musicians can do it, so can you, right? Promote yourself!
Okay, that’s enough Justin Bieber-induced pain to last a long, long time.
* Image at the top modified from one created by Luigi Severus at Deviant Art. Thanks for making me laugh, Luigi!
It’s been quite a while since I’ve actively posted here. And I can’t really say that won’t continue. But I can say that musically, at least, I may actually hit a stride this year.
As my friends and family know, I have yet to finish an album…the same one I started almost a decade ago..! But this year I’m turning 40, and that’s ignited a growing desperate desire to get something finished. Anything. Whatever it takes. Getting help, over simplifying, etc. Maybe even launching a combination album release party and birthday party, or something crazy like that.
It’s an idea that’s constantly floating in my head.
In either case, I want to actively create again.
I recently visited the songwriting collaboration site, Kompoz.com, and thought it might be an easy way to get back into the groove — i.e. I can go and help other people finish their songs, which relieves myself of the self-induced pressure I experience when I work on my own stuff. The hope is, I’ll “learn” how to crank material out, and not overthink things, like I usually do. (My song avalanche is now on version 18!)
We’ll see what happens. If it works, I’ll start posting progress updates here on the ol’ blog. Wish me luck — I’ll need it!