Speaking Up, Speaking Out

We need more of this activity and support in the music community. We might not have the same membership size as other industries, but we can certainly do better for ourselves if we work toward the same goals.
-Justin

JANITA :: The Official Blog

Last week was life-transforming for me. In two days in Washington DC I experienced things that my younger self would never have predicted would be part of my life. For a girl who was always afraid to speak her mind, whether it was at home, at school, or at hobbies, it would have been unthinkable to her that her adult version would ever feel comfortable enough to voice her opinions and story on frickin’ Capitol Hill (!). But that is exactly what happened.

On April 8th, Blake Morgan (founder of ECR Music Group), Tommy Merrill (booking agent extraordinaire at The Press House) and I took the train to the nation’s capital, armed with a book of signatures from over 10,000 musicians and music-lovers. These are people who have heard the message of I Respect Music loud and clear, and want to finally see artists paid for their performances on the radio…

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Waiting for the Muse – Guitar Lessons Lynchburg

The Muse: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muse

One of my ‘Behavioral Modification Pacts’ this year (formerly known as New Year’s Resolutions) is to become more aware of ‘tail-chasing’ and immediately stop all activity and just sit. No TV, no reading, no internet, no mindless practicing; just sitting.

As a Type-A, production-at-all-costs sort of a fellow, there is a need for me to stop frequently and seriously consider what I am doing and why. It’s OK to do absolutely nothing sometimes.

The greatest effects of this pause are a decrease in mental scrambling, a relaxed attitude, and, funny enough, BETTER productivity.  There has not been much of an increase in productivity, but less wasted time and fewer mistakes that require more time and effort to correct. Plus, I am enjoying what I am doing instead of just ‘Completing a Task’.

There is also a more meaningful connection to the activity in which I am engaging. No matter if it’s practicing music, teaching, watching TV, research, time with family, or just eating; I am more ‘In The Moment’ with my chosen activity.

-Justin

http://guitarlessonslynchburg.com/

 

The Mount Rushmore of American Music

Someone told me a story today about a radio show discussing the Mount Rushmore of American Music. She was taken aback that one of the personalities didn’t see the validity of having Johnny Cash as one of the people represented.

She and I were definitely in agreement that someone was clueless.

My friend then gave me the challenge of offering my suggestions of the other three on the Mount Rushmore of American Music.

My choices are:

Louis Armstrong

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Armstrong

 

Jimi Hendrix

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimi_Hendrix

 

Michael Jackson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson

 

http://guitarlessonslynchburg.com/

4 Triads Linear Arrangement Inversions – Guitar Lessons Lynchburg

Triad inversions are: Root position, 1st Inversion, and 2nd Inversion.
The root position for D Major is D, F#, and A.
1st Inversion is: F#, A, D
2nd Inversion is: A, D, F#

The point here is to learn them moving up the neck as they change arrangements.

http://guitarlessonslynchburg.com/

3 Triads String Arrangements – Guitar Lessons Lynchburg

Playing single-note arpeggios with the D Major triad. I am only using the root position order of the notes.

http://guitarlessonslynchburg.com/

2 Triads Arpeggiated – Guitar Lessons Lynchburg

Playing single-note arpeggios with the D Major triad. I am only using the root position order of the notes.

http://guitarlessonslynchburg.com/

1 Triads Introduction – Guitar Lessons Lynchburg

Triads are three note chords. There are four types: Major, Minor, Augmented, and Diminished.

Most people only know of two; Major and Minor. In this video and the other related videos I am using D Major with is composed of D, F#, and A.

http://guitarlessonslynchburg.com/