tag:www.seanhully.com,2005:/blogs/journey-through-music-destination-unknown?p=3Journey Through Music: Destination Unknown2020-10-13T22:33:37-04:00Sean Hullyfalsetag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/65437702021-02-09T11:35:00-05:002021-02-09T13:00:27-05:00Covid Reopening - maybe<p>Ontario has been in a provincial lockdown since January 12, 2021. Measures will be partially lifted starting tomorrow, February 10.</p><p>I am waiting to see if I can welcome students back next week after Family Day on February 16 . If Peterborough is designated as a Green or Yellow Zone, I will welcome students back with my <a href="https://birdhousemusic.mymusicstaff.com/COVID-19-Protocols" target="_blank">Covid-19 Protocols</a> in effect at my studio. I'm betting on Yellow at this point.</p><p>Students can opt to remain with online lessons for as long as they wish.</p><p>If Peterborough is designated as an Orange, Red, or Grey Zone, online lessons will continue.</p><p><br></p>Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/64551992020-10-13T22:40:00-04:002020-10-14T02:30:09-04:00Weekly Streams<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RxUoXM9wH0E/X4ZlA8Y2m2I/AAAAAAAABTk/pFWkuHNb9VoMM1BbhVCig3k-L3LW7ZjjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s240/92D40540-CF60-4B1C-9248-ECF9A7E35B44_4_5005_c.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RxUoXM9wH0E/X4ZlA8Y2m2I/AAAAAAAABTk/pFWkuHNb9VoMM1BbhVCig3k-L3LW7ZjjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/92D40540-CF60-4B1C-9248-ECF9A7E35B44_4_5005_c.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a></div> I've been trying to get back into the groove by performing a weekly set of covers and originals. Since I began, I feel my hands and my voice have been gradually finding their way again. It's important for musicians to continue practicing their craft, and for me, having a weekly goal in the form of a performance helps with that. Without performing, it is difficult to have a reason to do anything musical. Streaming isn't the same as performing. I miss the audience, the listeners, and the travel.<p></p><p>Having said that, I have been passively working on my Level 6 guitar material. It's going slow, but it's nice work on something tangible and challenging.</p><p>I went through a two-week period making saxophone duet videos on YouTube as well. They are educational in nature and make use of a common saxophone duet book. Other saxophonists can play along with the video using the book. I'm not sure if it was a good idea or not, but I made 14 videos. If there is demand, I'll make more. My YouTube channel's most popular video so far is one where I play transcriptions of old rock and roll saxophone solos on a live gig. I offer the transcriptions to those who request them. There has been about five requests for the transcriptions so far. I intend to do some more but I'm not sure what kind of a format to use. It was really nice playing the solos along with a live band, but that is impossible right now.</p><p>If you'd like to see my weekly show, come over to my profile on <a contents="Street Jelly" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.streetjelly.com/SeanHully" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.streetjelly.com/SeanHully" target="_blank">Street Jelly</a> on Fridays at 7:30 until Christmas. It's interactive with chat.<br></p>Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/64550992020-10-13T22:33:37-04:002020-10-13T22:35:39-04:00Weekly Streams<p>I've been trying to get back into the groove by performing a weekly set of covers and originals. Since I began, I feel my hands and my voice have been gradually finding their way again. It's important for musicians to continue practicing their craft, and for me, having a weekly goal in the form of a performance helps with that. Without performing, it is difficult to have a reason to do anything musical. Streaming isn't the same as performing. I miss the audience, the listeners, and the travel.</p>
<p>Having said that, I have been passively working on my Level 6 guitar material. It's going slow, but it's nice work on something tangible and challenging.</p>
<p>I went through a two-week period making saxophone duet videos on YouTube as well. They are educational in nature and make use of a common saxophone duet book. Other saxophonists can play along with the video using the book. I'm not sure if it was a good idea or not, but I made 14 videos. If there is demand, I'll make more. My YouTube channel's most popular video so far is one where I play transcriptions of old rock and roll saxophone solos on a live gig. I offer the transcriptions to those who request them. There has been about five requests for the transcriptions so far. I intend to do some more but I'm not sure what kind of a format to use. It was really nice playing the solos along with a live band, but that is impossible right now.</p>
<p>If you'd like to see my weekly show, come over to my profile on <a contents="Street Jelly" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.streetjelly.com/SeanHully" style="" target="_blank">Street Jelly</a> on Fridays at 7:30 until Christmas. It's interactive with chat.</p>Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/64112692020-08-17T12:32:51-04:002020-09-07T02:02:36-04:00Porch Concert<p>On Friday August 14, I was invited to perform the last set of a local porch concert. It was a lovely summer evening. Unfortunately, I have no photos to share. There were three other acts that were very different. The first act was a guitar/bass duo playing country/folk/comedy tunes, followed by a indigenous singer, then a fire twirler. It was difficult to follow such a hot act! (I know, bad joke...boo!)</p>
<p>So, I'm trying to decided where to go from here. I spent most of last week preparing for the porch concert. I have several things to accomplish. I want to get back to my recording studio, make some videos for YouTube, and continue working on my classical guitar. I'm confident to take my Level 5 guitar exam now, as I've begun working on my Level 6 material. However, I think I will wait until live exams are available again. Having an exam by Zoom is not appealing to me. One of my students is taking her Level 4 exam today, so I'm thinking of her. I may end up taking my Level 5 exam at the same time as her. unless things open up for the January exam sessions. I also want to stream some more shows on Street Jelly, but it's difficult for me to do that lately for personal reasons.</p>
<p>Sean</p>Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/63542902020-06-15T17:01:00-04:002020-10-13T21:15:23-04:00Unfocused<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ccr54" data-offset-key="b1aen-0-0" style='caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;'><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="b1aen-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="b1aen-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Hi everyone, I thought I'd check in. I've been quite unfocused for the last three months. It's hard to stay motivated without shows to prepare for, or not playing with other musicians. I played my sax for about 30 minutes today, and found I'm really out of shape. That's to be expected, as I haven't played it much.</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ccr54" data-offset-key="1varo-0-0" style='caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;'><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1varo-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="1varo-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true"></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ccr54" data-offset-key="cqai9-0-0" style='caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;'><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cqai9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="cqai9-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">A while ago, I was trying to record a song but I didn't get far with it. This past week, I've been working on a guitar lesson video to put on my YouTube channel. That's been difficult because of the technical learning curve and script writing. I've also been developing an original set of tunes using only guitar and voice. Outside of music, believe it or not, I've been brushing up on math and physics through an educational website. I'm all over the place. </span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ccr54" data-offset-key="fcrsv-0-0" style='caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;'><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fcrsv-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fcrsv-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true"></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ccr54" data-offset-key="be036-0-0" style='caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;'><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="be036-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="be036-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">I have so many things pulling at me musically, but I don't know what to focus on. I wish I had a manager to keep me on track. I'm not entrepreneurial in disposition and I don't know what people would like from me. I prefer being a "side" musician, but I have to find work for myself to keep working. I miss the days of the bigger bands because there was more work for everyone. With singles and duos being the norm, a full-time musician has to retool just to stay in the market.</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ccr54" data-offset-key="7gk8n-0-0" style='caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;'><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7gk8n-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="7gk8n-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true"></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ccr54" data-offset-key="30nc4-0-0" style='caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;'>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="30nc4-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="30nc4-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">There has to be a way to save my industry, as musicians are prohibited from performing until there is a vaccine, which is likely a year away. In the meantime, I continue to offer lessons and I'm fortunate that some of my students have stayed with me through this. If you have ideas or feedback, let me know.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="30nc4-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="30nc4-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="30nc4-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="30nc4-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Be well-Sean.</span></div>
</div>Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/63353332020-05-29T15:52:00-04:002020-08-26T01:06:03-04:00Covid Reset<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="bqih0" data-offset-key="edgik-0-0" style='caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;'>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vh_QpNPFYeY/XtFnme0AkCI/AAAAAAAABPw/FXD97EYLkp4c1NNd4s0AhvHnGS2OBsy1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/9725646E-7355-42E1-B81F-B57E6712A757_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vh_QpNPFYeY/XtFnme0AkCI/AAAAAAAABPw/FXD97EYLkp4c1NNd4s0AhvHnGS2OBsy1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/9725646E-7355-42E1-B81F-B57E6712A757_1_201_a.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="567" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="edgik-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="edgik-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">I'm focusing on learning my original tunes really well this month. You'd think I'd know them because I wrote them, but that's not the case! I'm developing an original set with guitar and voice.</span></div>
</div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="bqih0" data-offset-key="b9sto-0-0" style='caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;'><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="b9sto-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="b9sto-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Top of mind is good singing. I'm feeling better about my singing, but there is more to do.</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="bqih0" data-offset-key="e38b2-0-0" style='caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;'><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="e38b2-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="e38b2-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true"></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="bqih0" data-offset-key="8li4u-0-0" style='caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;'><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8li4u-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="8li4u-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">My loop pedal has been put away. I feel the looper made me look gimmicky. Ironically, it was a very difficult thing to do. The concept was born as an economic strategy to utilize my guitar, voice, and woodwind skills without needing prerecorded tracks. But I feel it has failed, and I should move on. It may still be useful, as I will always have it. I put countless hours into developing the loop pedal act, so I hope I can use it some more.</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="bqih0" data-offset-key="41jda-0-0" style='caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;'><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="41jda-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="41jda-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true"></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="bqih0" data-offset-key="fu4c8-0-0" style='caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;'><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fu4c8-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fu4c8-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">I've begun writing charts of my songs so I can hire a great band when live performances return. Folks can support my career in various ways (financial and non-financial) through my website.</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="bqih0" data-offset-key="anokc-0-0" style='caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;'><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="anokc-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="anokc-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true"></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="bqih0" data-offset-key="bn3kc-0-0" style='caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;'><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bn3kc-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="bn3kc-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Seems like Covid-19 has inspired a big reset. Thanks for reading, and stay well.</span></div></div>Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/62253022020-02-23T18:52:00-05:002020-02-23T21:45:31-05:00New Role For MeThis afternoon, I hosted the grand opening of the new branch office of the musicians' union. I'm donating my office space to do this. The union local in my city, Peterborough 191, amalgamated with Kingston 518 in 1992. There hasn't really been a presence here since then.<div><br></div><div>Two board members drove up for from Kingston to help me greet local musicians. They brought brochures and other materials for the office, and answered questions and discussed issues with a few local musicians. Good hard discussion were had on career challenges musicians face. Going forward, I will have help and backing of at least one knowledgeable veteran. Members from the local labour council attended so I was able to begin a relationship with those organizations. A young musician was in attendance as well which was encouraging.</div><div><br></div><div>After the event, I felt motivated knowing that I have real support in my new role as the Peterborough representative. I hope to make a difference in my community.<br><div><br></div>
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</div>Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/62225152020-02-20T22:37:00-05:002020-02-21T00:45:30-05:002020 So FarThe first six weeks of 2020 has been surprisingly active for me as a musician. In early January, I gave a one-hour solo concert at a retirement residence using my loop pedal. At the beginning of February, I was saxophonist in the back up band to a local pop choir. For Valentine's Day, I played classical guitar in a chicken restaurant.<div><br></div><div>The Valentine's Day work came up suddenly only a week before. I practiced very hard to gather material together to fill three hours. I repeated some stronger pieces in the third set since I figured the diners would be completely different. Now I have a list of material I can refine for the next opportunity.</div><div><br></div><div>I entered my latest unreleased single in a national songwriting contest. Once again, I didn't make it out of the first round. Disappointment has become the expected, so I've learned not to get emotionally invested in those kind of things. It didn't take a lot of effort or cost any money, but maybe a few people discovered what I do.</div><div><br></div><div>Three gigs in six weeks isn't exactly where I'd like to be, but it is better than most of 2019. I have a couple of Saturdays coming up in March with my looper shows. I've been busy on the home front too, looking after my mom's house and well-being.</div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SI2maOCea6I/Xk9OpSj6ecI/AAAAAAAABNk/Tb532_GnBQUfGdCbgCXvypG-x_fcUG4ewCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/67187359_358259514851142_7244661173155528704_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SI2maOCea6I/Xk9OpSj6ecI/AAAAAAAABNk/Tb532_GnBQUfGdCbgCXvypG-x_fcUG4ewCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/67187359_358259514851142_7244661173155528704_n.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="260" /></a></div><div>This week, I picked up my grandfather's bassoon from the instrument repair shop. It is a Buffet Crampon and is about 100 years old. I inherited it only last summer. I never knew my grandfather; he died about eight years before I arrived. I wish the instrument came to me when I was younger, but it went to a non-musical side of the family. The repair technician told me he hasn't seen anything like this bassoon. The case was literally falling apart, but the restorer did a fabulous job repairing it with all the original handles and latches. The bassoon sat in a basement for 50 years. Fortunately, the case protected the instrument from damage. I'm going to learn to play it for fun. Instruments need to be played. I thought it would be fun to make a YouTube series of me learning to play it to document my progress. As a saxophonist, the bassoon feels completely alien to me. That will be the first challenge...figuring out how he wore it. In the photo, it looks like he's wearing a strap which I don't have.</div><div><br></div><div>It may a while before I get to the bassoon project. I want to start recording my next song, prepare for the March gigs, and do my taxes.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/58383542019-07-26T18:14:00-04:002019-07-26T21:45:31-04:00Another Crossroads<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ckvqr" data-offset-key="6ftp5-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6ftp5-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="6ftp5-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">I feel like my career is once again at a crossroads. Every so many years, I make a major life decision when my wheels are spinning and my life is stagnating. In the past, it has meant returning to school, moving to a different community, or retooling.</span></div></div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ckvqr" data-offset-key="8eatf-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8eatf-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="8eatf-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true"></span></div></div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ckvqr" data-offset-key="e5s1r-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="e5s1r-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="e5s1r-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">My last effort was retooling in 2015. I quit my Toronto bands, as the travelling was taking its toll, and compensation was remaining the same as the cost of living increased. As a saxophonist, it is about 10 times harder to work than a rhythm player or vocalist. A trumpet player I know once said that horns are "the last to hire and the first to fire." Sums it up perfectly.</span></div></div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ckvqr" data-offset-key="5dgmm-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5dgmm-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="5dgmm-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true"></span></div></div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ckvqr" data-offset-key="c1j8r-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c1j8r-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="c1j8r-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">So, I created a solo act that combined my guitar, vocal, and woodwind skills into one thing using a piece of technology I bought. Four years later, it seems to be a wasted effort. I need a paid weekly gig to properly develop the act, but I soon learned that I'm not allowed to make mistakes. I practice my material hard, trying to memorize everything, but it's not the same as performing. I'm sure many musicians will agree with me. It doesn't help that I battle stage fright either. However, the more I perform, the more it becomes normalized, and the more confidence I have. Without a regular gig, this is impossible.</span></div></div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ckvqr" data-offset-key="6i4g3-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6i4g3-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="6i4g3-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true"></span></div></div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ckvqr" data-offset-key="4tm68-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4tm68-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="4tm68-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">That brings me to my next challenge. I'm not good at talking to strangers. I’m not a salesman. I get nervous making a 30-second pitch, and people pick up on that. I mean, how can you entertain if you can't get your point across? Sometimes I just leave a card if the owner isn't in, but that never results in anything. I need help in this area, but can't find it. I want to be fair, offering a 10% commission on a booked gig. Every musician or band needs a team. I believe I have something to offer, but I can’t convince anyone to give me a real chance. </span></div></div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ckvqr" data-offset-key="aei15-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="aei15-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="aei15-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true"></span></div></div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ckvqr" data-offset-key="e4vdn-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="e4vdn-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="e4vdn-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">I'm disconnected from the local musical community. Perhaps it's my own fault. I have attended local events, but being an introvert, I end up sitting by myself. I've attended open stages, jazz jams, and blues jams to sit in, but it never results in decent paid work. I know where I stand: I'm not a great saxophonist, but I don't suck either. After a while, open stages feel like exploitation, especially when I see money go into a tip jar while I'm on stage, with the money going to the house band. After that happened a couple of times, I stopped attending. On top of my formal music education, I worked for cruise lines, toured with tribute bands, and played in community musical theatre pit orchestras. I would be happy playing in pit orchestras for my career, but I can't work for $30 per show.</span></div></div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ckvqr" data-offset-key="491t1-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="491t1-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="491t1-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true"></span></div></div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ckvqr" data-offset-key="abime-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="abime-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="abime-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">I see some of my music friends doing really well while others are bowing out. I'm wondering if it's time for me to bow out too. However, I have so much invested that I can't see myself doing anything else. In my 20s in the early 90s, I tried getting a regular job but failed, perhaps because of the recession. I applied to a new Tim Horton franchise but there were 300 applicants. I think employers looked at my resume with a music degree and wrote me off. So, I decided to stick with music, especially when I saw my friends in other disciplines having difficulty finding work. Gen X had a hard time coming of age.</span></div></div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ckvqr" data-offset-key="8mdbe-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8mdbe-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="8mdbe-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true"></span></div></div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ckvqr" data-offset-key="ftn1a-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ftn1a-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="ftn1a-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">I have my teaching business, covering my expenses and giving me spending money. I live with my elderly mother, so I have a safe living environment, and I am grateful for that. However, I could not live on only my teaching income if I was on my own. I must have performance income to support myself along with my teaching practice. That has always been a constant.</span></div></div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ckvqr" data-offset-key="26m2d-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="26m2d-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="26m2d-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true"></span></div></div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ckvqr" data-offset-key="46p7b-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="46p7b-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="46p7b-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Right now, I am focused on recording and releasing original songs that have been in my mind for over a decade. I can't afford pro engineers, so I've been learning to engineer myself. I released one song last month with little fanfare. Yet I'm working towards releasing another song before the end of the summer. My sound and style is different, which I’m finding to be more of a curse than a blessing. I'm hopeful that a small group of people will enjoy my work and support what I do. I want to go out and tour while I still can, while I'm in my prime. Otherwise, my life has been a great waste. I sit in a bar during happy hour while I write this, listening to cheerful talk, and wonder how others can be so “happy."</span></div></div>
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</div>Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/58134262019-07-03T22:29:00-04:002019-07-03T22:37:53-04:00Long Day In The StudioMy goal is to release at least one song this summer. Today I managed to record the guitar part, although it was with great difficulty. The part has a sixteenth-note funk rhythm, but I could not get it locked into the groove. It sounded fine to me while I was recording it, but when I listened back, it wasn't in the pocket. So, thinking it was my own inadequacy, I started to record it in smaller segments with the metronome on sixteenth note sub-divisions. This worked better, but there were still problems with the groove. Finally, after many hours, I began wondering if my computer was having latency issues with some of the plug-ins I had running. I turned off all the effects, but this didn't solve anything. After more frustration, I re-discovered the low-latency mode in the software's preferences. After I turned on low-latency mode, everything was easy. I actually recorded the entire guitar track in one take.<br><br>Hopefully it will be smoother from here on out. Next will be the bass part.<br><br><br>Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/57510992019-05-11T10:08:00-04:002019-05-11T12:45:19-04:00New Song Recording FinishedThis week, I completed my first polished recording since I released <i><a href="https://seanhully.com/sean-s-music" target="_blank">Interaction</a></i> in 2002. Seventeen years. That's a long time. I've done so much since then.<br><br>I have another album's worth of material in me, but I've decided to release songs as singles for now. The idea of recording an album is simply too daunting because this time, I am doing the engineering as well as writing and performing. By releasing a series of singles, I hope to feel more accomplished and less stressed.<br><br>I would love to go back into the studio with a pro engineer, and even a producer, but for now, I should do as much as I can on my own. I have been learning audio engineering and my software with a tutorial series on YouTube by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC21BwBKSKiPFbNvzl3-eh_A" target="_blank">MusicTechHelpGuy</a>, which has been awesome. My new song <i>Go About Your Business </i>was mixed and mastered using his methods and advice. I still have a lot to learn about audio engineering, but my skills will solidify with more experience.<br><br>I did a live video recording of <i>Go About Your Business</i> in 2017. I used a loop pedal on the guitar for percussive effects and guitar layering.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Uirpuhgd_5E/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Uirpuhgd_5E?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><br>The studio version sounds fuller with additional drums, bass, acoustic guitar, electric piano, and flute. I'm still mulling a release date as I get the other pieces in place.<br><br>I believe my new genre going forward is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamber_pop" target="_blank">chamber pop</a>. My music is melodic, has defined arrangements, and uses elements of classical music. I also add jazz elements, so perhaps that is my contribution to the genre.Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/57184382019-04-13T10:58:00-04:002019-11-16T01:15:24-05:00Changing FocusMy last gig two weeks ago was playing solo with my guitar, looper, voice, sax, and flute. Since then, I've put my energies back into my tenor sax so I can get in form for a jazz quartet gig tomorrow. I've hired some great players for this one and I want to be able to 1) have endurance for a 3-hour gig and 2) be able to keep up with the rhythm section. I tried to choose interesting tunes while keeping it as simple as possible.<div><br></div><div>It feels good to focus on my horn again, It made me remember how much simpler my life could be with only a saxophone to play. I took my horn in for a check-up this week and now it's it in top condition, This morning, I pulled out my book <i>Top Tones For The Saxophone </i>to revisit my sound concept. It's amazing how deep of a rabbit hole you can go down just paying attention to tone. If only I had been patient enough 30 years ago to go through those exercises. If only, if only.... The past is done, and all that matters is tomorrow.</div><div><br></div><div>I've enjoyed this diversion back to playing jazz, but I'm looking forward to getting back to my recording process on Monday. Here is the poster for tomorrow.</div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bI-B42YKFCM/XLH45X9VViI/AAAAAAAAA-o/v1iqoLIEs3UFUWG57U671371Zsh-rbnygCLcBGAs/s1600/SHJD%2BPoster%2BApril%2B14%2B2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bI-B42YKFCM/XLH45X9VViI/AAAAAAAAA-o/v1iqoLIEs3UFUWG57U671371Zsh-rbnygCLcBGAs/s640/SHJD%2BPoster%2BApril%2B14%2B2019.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="640" width="480" /></a></div><div><br></div>Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/56966822019-03-27T11:40:00-04:002019-03-27T13:45:19-04:00Split BrainEven after my attempts to focus on one area of music, jazz keeps pulling me back in. Last night, I played one last jazz gig at the venue where my old band The Sean Hully Jazz Group played once a month. After I wrapped that band up, it continued under the name Jazzmania, and they continued with the monthly performances there. However, the venue (under new ownership), effectively fired the band because they weren't selling enough drinks. Age-old reaction: blame the band! The band had competent players and was only playing for tips anyway. I am predicting the venue will either change hands, stop having live music, or go out of business in a year with that kind of policy.<br><br>I played two days solo at <a href="http://mcleanberryfarm.com/events/maplefest/" target="_blank">Maplefest</a> in mid-March, and I am back again this Saturday. I also have a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/468319237038468/" target="_blank">jazz quartet show</a> on April 14 and a <a href="http://markethall.org/rockin-the-true-north/" target="_blank">production show</a> on April 27 where I'm back on saxophone. I initially put my saxophone on the back burner so I could focus on one musical thing and try to do it well. However, I keep being pulled back to the saxophone with one situation or another. The jazz I played last night wasn't financially beneficial, but it was socially and spiritually gratifying. The other two shows have acceptable compensation, but again, they take up time with preparation. It splits my brain. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or if it is holding me back.<br><br>I'm self-learning how to engineer recordings too. I'm working on a studio version of my song Go About Your Business. This is a live version with my looper.<br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Uirpuhgd_5E/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Uirpuhgd_5E?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>I have all the instruments recorded, but I may add another rhythm guitar track to beef it up a bit. I've learned about EQ and compression on rhythm section instruments so far. I still have a ways to go before it is ready.<br><br>At least my personal energy is rebounding again after a disappointing week off I had from my teaching practice in March. I think I was simply exhausted. I will get this recording out there by the summer.Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/56351272019-02-09T10:02:00-05:002019-02-09T10:45:24-05:00My Completed RenovationI'm still settling back in to my renovated studio, but it's been complete for a couple of weeks. It's 10 am, and I have to leave for sound check soon for my matinee gig with the Peterborough Pop Ensemble. I'm playing tenor saxophone in the support band for the choir.<br><br>Here are a few photos of the reno. It such a warmer, yet energetic space now.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PEA7Oo0L_qs/XF7rRDXqIWI/AAAAAAAAA6A/fhgCIqpYjOcmqI42pHvjB0K5LHGmCTNoACLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_22f.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PEA7Oo0L_qs/XF7rRDXqIWI/AAAAAAAAA6A/fhgCIqpYjOcmqI42pHvjB0K5LHGmCTNoACLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_22f.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ssQv689WyQc/XF7rQ0WFb3I/AAAAAAAAA54/BQn7ary9BJ09MudL3K3R8gc9j4T_jjVbwCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_231.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ssQv689WyQc/XF7rQ0WFb3I/AAAAAAAAA54/BQn7ary9BJ09MudL3K3R8gc9j4T_jjVbwCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_231.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jPgMQY8LplI/XF7rRObJSUI/AAAAAAAAA58/Z9dRafp2rgQEEwKSiwwkYeZDRj8pM6l9wCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_232.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jPgMQY8LplI/XF7rRObJSUI/AAAAAAAAA58/Z9dRafp2rgQEEwKSiwwkYeZDRj8pM6l9wCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_232.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uq6n2JRzL7E/XF7rR6iDGeI/AAAAAAAAA6E/u6MNEEbTIyARhKaX6Gthg9DQ1_tcCOwrwCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_233.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uq6n2JRzL7E/XF7rR6iDGeI/AAAAAAAAA6E/u6MNEEbTIyARhKaX6Gthg9DQ1_tcCOwrwCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_233.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6WezE7W3u4A/XF7rTHX39CI/AAAAAAAAA6I/2hncgp6ib-oUs3us1yqxaIbUyZNKvmvOwCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_234.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6WezE7W3u4A/XF7rTHX39CI/AAAAAAAAA6I/2hncgp6ib-oUs3us1yqxaIbUyZNKvmvOwCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_234.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fNLW8_YtdXg/XF7rTTwU9lI/AAAAAAAAA6M/2PwuE2EaV000KprrowQcwLC7VIl6XbE9QCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_235.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fNLW8_YtdXg/XF7rTTwU9lI/AAAAAAAAA6M/2PwuE2EaV000KprrowQcwLC7VIl6XbE9QCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_235.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-syJZTlzTIFg/XF7rTmPgRXI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/9crus1I0gJg_yN7JBeJ0NwIp7pWfBll2wCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_236.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-syJZTlzTIFg/XF7rTmPgRXI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/9crus1I0gJg_yN7JBeJ0NwIp7pWfBll2wCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_236.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br>Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/55805762019-01-03T23:41:00-05:002019-01-04T05:17:22-05:00Getting Through The Holidays<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large" style="font-size: 1.4em;">I have had no serious performances for a couple of months, so I've been turning my attention to recording songs and renovating my studio <a contents="Bird House Music" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://seanhully.com/campaigns/533677/d5fd0ea4cf6ebd568f6d/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5iaXJkaG91c2VtdXNpYy5jYQ==" style="color: #00015c;" target="_blank">Bird House Music</a>.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large" style="font-size: 1.4em;"><br></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large" style="font-size: 1.4em;">My "office" is currently in the cold basement of an old house, and most of my music equipment is in storage while my studio is painted. Painting started today with the ceiling, and I expect all will be completed by Monday. If the plan goes well, new carpet will be installed next Wednesday. I installed track lighting last month which replaced the harsh fluorescents that burned my retinas for 10 years. My studio should be ready for January 14 when music lessons resume.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large" style="font-size: 1.4em;"><br></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large" style="font-size: 1.4em;">I attended an annual winter solstice party hosted by the bass player in my old jazz band <em>The Sean Hully Jazz Group</em>. Being an introvert, I ended up tending the solstice fire alone outside for part of the evening until the party came out to join me. We burned old cedar that represented the old year, and new cedar that represented the new year. Here's my fire.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/252745/2393f64208fc2447b175e1f532c1b14db92d5c4d/original/img-0780.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_none border_" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%; width: 600px;" /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large" style="font-size: 1.4em;">On New Year's Day, I went to a low-key party called "Hair Of The Dog." I hadn't heard of that crazy term before, so I did an online search. "Hair of The Dog" is an English expression meaning a cure for a hangover. That may have been the last fun thing I learned in 2018.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large" style="font-size: 1.4em;"><br></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large" style="font-size: 1.4em;">"Hair Of The Dog" was a nice gathering during the late afternoon. I knew only a few people there by only remote acquaintance, including the host. He graciously extended the invitation when we met at a local jazz performance.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large" style="font-size: 1.4em;"><br></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large" style="font-size: 1.4em;">During the party, a lady who I just met encouraged me to start a YouTube channel instructing music. I have mused about doing that before (it was in my brain for perhaps five seconds), but I didn't think that I could contribute anything that isn't already out there. She encouraged me further, saying that I spoke well, and that I only have to dive in under a catchy name that reflects what I'm doing. I have an inactive YouTube channel called BirdHouseMusicCanada, so I think I will try posting a couple of video lessons and see what happens. It will be great to make videos in my renovated space too.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large" style="font-size: 1.4em;"><br></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large" style="font-size: 1.4em;">Speaking of which, I am hosting a <strong>Renovation Reveal Party</strong> on January 18 from 5-8. I'll be giving short looping demonstrations too. Here is the <a contents="Facebook link" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://seanhully.com/campaigns/533677/d5fd0ea4cf6ebd568f6d/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL2V2ZW50cy8yMDM2NTM1MTA1NzYxNzQv" style="color: #00015c;" target="_blank">Facebook link</a> with all the info. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large" style="font-size: 1.4em;"><br></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large" style="font-size: 1.4em;">Finally, below is a selfie taken after I finished clearing out the studio. The space looks tired, I'm in torn jeans, and my hands are hurting after removing carpet trim. However, I was excited about finally being able to put my mark on this space. When I first rented it, I started working right away because the space was perfect for music lessons. I had just withdrawn from a Ph.d programme (long story) so I had to get up and running quickly. I have a supportive landlord with a great roster of students each year to keep me afloat. At this time of year, it's important to be thankful for what we have, even though life throws us curve balls every so often. May you hit those curve balls out of the park this year.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large" style="font-size: 1.4em;"><br></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large" style="font-size: 1.4em;">Happy 2019.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large" style="font-size: 1.4em;"><br></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="font_large" style="font-size: 1.4em;">Sean</span><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/252745/fe7909284fce4a1fca45f1fe0dc214bc276bd333/original/img-0809.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_none border_" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%; width: 600px;" />
</div>Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/55269322018-11-25T09:49:00-05:002018-11-25T12:30:18-05:00Struggling With A Descriptive TermA well-know term that quickly and accurately describes my music act has been bothering me. It's a term that rolls off the tongue beautifully and has been around for perhaps a century. The term is "one-man band."<br><br>What bothers me is that "one-man band" is not inclusive. Yet I hate the sound of "one-person band," because that sounds forced to my ears.<br><br>As I wrote this post, the term "one-up band" popped into my head. When I checked the meaning of "one-up" it said "having an advantage over someone." So that meaning isn't suitable. I was thinking of a situation in baseball of someone being "up to the plate" or in video games, player 1-up. I like the phonetic sound of "one-up band."<br><br>Any other solutions or comments?<br><div><br></div>Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/54303372018-09-15T19:40:00-04:002020-01-22T03:03:23-05:00TransitionsMy career is in a state of flux. I now have a full night of covers after tweaking and adding tunes over the summer. There is still more refining to do for sure, but my show is more or less in my back pocket.<br><br>No more gigs for a while, save for one next weekend at <a href="https://celebrationofthearts.ca/cota/trail-mix/" target="_blank">Trail Mix 2018</a>. It will be an opportunity to present some of my original music as well as the covers I play. I plan to give away my CDs at this festival with a PWYC tip jar concept. I need to declutter, as I have plenty of CDs that I have been holding onto for too long. I will also try out my new banner, which should be good advertising for people walking by. It will be my first foray out of my home area.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2kmmgt2g9BY/W52T5Df6zwI/AAAAAAAAA1c/nASAUoPXpbwQh9MFtPplDFp8XJFUEbEyACLcBGAs/s1600/Banner%2BSample%2B3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2kmmgt2g9BY/W52T5Df6zwI/AAAAAAAAA1c/nASAUoPXpbwQh9MFtPplDFp8XJFUEbEyACLcBGAs/s400/Banner%2BSample%2B3.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="341" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I will be renovating my studio in January, and I'm already thinking about moving my stuff into storage in December. I'm trying to declutter now, but that is difficult because I use pretty much everything I own. I think my main strategy will be looking for better and more attractive storage options.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am craving the renovation now as my studio is looking tired and worn. I have an energetic and grounding colour scheme in mind, inspired by a local Thai restaurant that has Feng Shui decor. The painter is lined up and the carpeting is chosen. The rest is up to me. I'd like to figure out how to hide cables that are running everywhere too. The hydro outlet locations are never convenient.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div>Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/53385212018-07-09T18:53:00-04:002018-07-10T01:01:56-04:00Creativity Strikes At Unexpected TimesIt's a quiet time for me with nothing on the horizon until the end of July. I've noticed many of my musician friends have been quite busy. I said aloud, "everyone is gigging but me."<div><br></div><div>My mind went to the jazz standard "It Could Happen To You" and I found I could replace that title with "Everyone Is Gigging But Me." So, I wrote new lyrics to the song and sang them in a video in my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1550104478429119/?source_id=1104066042960663" target="_blank">Insider Facebook Group</a> to test it with listeners.</div><div><br></div><div>I'd appreciate feedback, positive and negative.</div><div><br></div>Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/53380732018-06-03T21:39:00-04:002018-07-09T18:34:36-04:00Incremental Discovery Tonight<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GjY78tjeXUo/W0PiRPAVIQI/AAAAAAAAAq0/mY1GWVAZGngkfh3Usf9i2yIgEgn0fDcRwCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1b7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GjY78tjeXUo/W0PiRPAVIQI/AAAAAAAAAq0/mY1GWVAZGngkfh3Usf9i2yIgEgn0fDcRwCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_1b7.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="240" /></a><span class="font_large">Practicing music is a little like doing science. You must experiment, repeat, experiment, repeat...until something goes right and a breakthrough is made, even if it is miniscule. Every realization makes a performer better. Sometimes, the breakthrough happens when not searching for it.</span><br><span class="font_large"><br></span><span class="font_large">I've had a long-standing problem positioning my headset microphone, and the problem was compounded by the use of a flute. If the microphone was not in a good position, the flute would hit the microphone or be too loud, causing a performance difficulty. Also I had issues with a popping sound made by the consonant "P" and "S" (a phenomenon called sibilance). I have a gig on Friday, so tonight, I thought I should practice with the microphone. The solution revealed itself to me.</span><br><span class="font_large"><br></span><span class="font_large">I first tried to place the microphone above my lips but I discovered the sibilance was worse there. I moved the microphone farther from my face but the signal decreased. Finally, I tried placing the microphone below my lips and eureka! The sibilance disappeared, and the microphone still picked up the flute without interfering with it. I may have to increase some gain to compensate but I hope the issue is resolved now.</span><br><span class="font_large"><br></span><span class="font_large">One less distraction from equipment means more attention to the performance. Hopefully this adjustment will do the trick on Friday!</span><br><br data-cke-eol="1">Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/53380742018-05-01T12:17:00-04:002018-07-09T18:34:36-04:00Getting Back At It After Three WeeksApril was a crazy-busy month between my own lesson studio, giving lessons at two high schools, coaching saxophone at a community band, and being on a committee for organizing a mini-jazz festival honouring International Jazz Day. My own contribution to the festival was organizing a jazz combo workshop. Between all of that, I had no time or energy for practicing or doing anything concerning my solo act. I was stressed because I was worried I would be set back from being out of shape and not prepared for my next gig on May 11.<br><br>Well, I just finished my first serious practice session in about a month, and I was surprised that it went quite well. I think the long diversion actually helped to cement the songs in my head.<br><br>I believe another thing that helped was my effort to seek out better nutrition starting about two weeks ago. I found I had gained some weight over the winter, was feeling tired throughout the day, needing afternoon naps. I weighed more than I had ever before, so I resolved to get back to my normal. I am close to my normal weight again with a few more pounds to go. I replaced breakfast with a healthy shake that has lots of good stuff in it and I cut down on carbs and sugar (I can post the recipe if anyone wants it). My sugar intake was already low, but because manufacturers and restaurants put sugar in just about everything, I was even more vigilant. Lately, I have had more energy and I don't need to nap anymore. I rest up, but I don't fall asleep.<br><br>So my schedule has lightened up a lot now that the jazz festival is over . My time teaching lessons at the high schools is finished, and my coaching contract ends in two weeks. I won't be renewing either one next year so I have time for performance work. I have also decided not to play slow pitch this summer to free up my Sundays. My studio seems to have a good footing with enough students. Next year, I will be restricting lesson times between the hours of 3 and 8 pm weekdays. That should give me good blocks of time to work and take care of day-to-day things.<br><br>Now that I have some balance back, I hope to perform more and improve my act. I feel good going forward.<br><br><br>Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/53380752018-04-18T10:00:00-04:002018-07-09T18:34:36-04:00Entering Phase Two of The Plan<u>Phase One</u><br><br>At the beginning of 2015, I started my retooling effort to become a soloist. I quit all my steady bands as a saxophonist, including my own jazz band <a href="https://www.facebook.com/shjazzgroup/" target="_blank">The Sean Hully Jazz Group</a>. I needed to focus my energies to undergo training that would take a great investment of time and money. It was in 2015 that I bought my Boomerang 3 loop pedal to be the centre of my journey. My concept was to incorporate most of my instrumental skills into one musical entity.<br><br>I put the saxophone aside in favour of the guitar to memorize some favourite cover songs and to create interesting accompaniments. Where appropriate, I learned to insert saxophone, flute, or guitar leads using live looping. From that effort, I recognized how physically coordinated I needed to be, and how well I had to know the songs to perform without mental struggle.<br><br>I took voice lessons in the summer of 2017 to improve vocally. The lessons helped a lot, but I am still not quite where I'd like to be. However, I am more comfortable singing now.<br><br>My breakthrough happened last month, when I was suddenly booked for a weekend at <a href="http://mcleanberryfarm.com/events/maplefest/" target="_blank">Maplefest</a>, followed by a local pub debut the next weekend. The pub gig went well, and was booked three more times, once in April, May, and June.<br><br>I now feel more confident playing solo in this style, as people seemed accepting of what I was doing. It is certainly a different concept, and I have been complemented on the variety of my repertoire. My repertoire will be adjusted over time I am sure.<br><br><br><u>Phase Two</u><br><u><br></u>Now that I can fill a three-hour cover gig, I can go out and get working! I can turn my attention to adapting my original music to the solo concept, as ultimately, I want to play original music live. I need to record another album too. I want to record in my own studio, but that is big learning curve to put out a great sounding album. I've been so focused on being a musician that I haven't had time to invest in learning about my gear. My album <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/4abGln741JgYQAObUcMkA7" target="_blank">Interaction</a> was recorded and engineered by professionals, but I'm not sure if I can risk that kind of money this time around.<br><br>I'm happy that I am finally moving forward with my performance career. I feel more in control now than I ever have. I hope I can bring more people onboard as opportunities arise.Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/53380762017-10-29T17:48:00-04:002020-08-26T02:05:40-04:00A Small, Meaningful Act Can Lead to Great ThingsI haven't done anything great that has had any kind of impact, except for one time. I did something small and easy, yet important. Several years ago, city council was going to cut funding to local transit. I was opposed to this, and I innocuously started a community Facebook event called Stand Up for Local Transit (I substituted Local for the name of my city). At the next council meeting, hundreds of people showed up to protest the cuts and council backed down on the measure. All I did was start a Facebook event, and I was shocked by the result of my small anonymous action.<br><br>Today, I did something similar, but I don't yet know if my action will have an impact. There was a meeting today about the state of the local music scene. Ideas were being sought on how to make the music scene great which would lead to making my city a tourist destination for music. Being a full-time musician who often works outside of my own community, I had a serious personal stake.<br><br>As well intentioned as this grassroots initiative was, I couldn't take it seriously without the involvement of the <b>Canadian Federation of Musicians </b>of which I am a member. Therefore I invited representatives from the CFM to the meeting, and they came. Several musicians really appreciated the attendance of CFM reps. One older musician even gave me a hug to thank me.<br><br>My community lost it's CFM local in the 1990s, and since then, it has become increasing difficult to receive fair compensation for work here. However, musicians are dealing with this reality all across Canada and the U.S.A. Since my town doesn't have its own local anymore, we now fall under the jurisdiction of another city. As a result of my invitation, I will become the informal (or perhaps formal) liaison between my town and our CFM local.<br><br>I truly hope that this grassroots initiative gains traction and that it makes a difference in the long run. There were many great ideas generated today from stakeholders of every age. Hopefully, the collective mind will find a way to invigorate my community's music scene.<br><br>I firmly believe that when musicians can earn a living wage, they can invest time into their craft so they can compete for paid gigs. This leads to higher quality music, leading to more patrons coming out to listen, leading to a thriving music scene. There are many more facets involved, but I maintain that fair compensation for musicians' work is fundamental to the effort.Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/53380772017-09-04T09:27:00-04:002018-07-09T18:34:36-04:00A New YearI woke up thinking about new beginnings this Labour Day. For me, the first Tuesday in September has always been a new year. School resumes, I'm refreshed after the summer, and ready to get back into a routine.<br><br>I then thought of the calendar New Year and realized how unmeaningful it is to me. I can't get excited at the stroke of midnight when a four-digit number increases by 1. I've worked as a musician on many New Year's Eves and I have to fake being excited at midnight, but at least I'm playing Auld Lang Syne to cover it up. I wonder how many other people fake it too, or just go to bed early that night. When you think about it, January 1st is in the middle of the dark, cold, Canadian winter. It is after the Christmas season, people are tired, have less money, and don't go out much. It's a dark, cold month and a continuation of what I stopped doing in December. Maybe I'm just thinking like a jaded Gen-Xer again.<br><br>September has so many things starting or changing, and this year I am genuinely optimistic going forward. I'm a little sad that summer is finished, but there are new beginnings ahead. Perhaps it's because my life is linked with the education system. For those people who love the January 1st New Year, you still have your big party in less than four months. I'll be busy playing Auld Lang Syne in a small town in Quebec. Quebecers know how to party though.Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/53380782017-05-13T13:16:00-04:002018-07-09T18:34:36-04:00The "Simon" Method of Practising a LickI was working on a melodic phrase on the guitar today. I was getting a bit frustrated because I could play the phrase intuitively on the saxophone but not on guitar. Intellectually I knew it, but the guitar mechanics were not there for me yet.<br><br>Then I remembered to try the "Simon" method of practising that I use with my students occasionally. I call it the Simon method after the electronic game that plays a sequence of colours and tones which you memorise and play back to the machine. Each turn, the machine adds one more colour/tone. I've adapted the premise of this game to music practising.<br><br>Let's say the music phrase that you need to practise has 10 notes in it. Play it as far as you can and notice how far you can play it perfectly. Pretend you can go as far as 5 notes. Practice those 5 notes until you can play them easily. Then add note number 6. Once you can play the first 6 notes easily, add note 7. Keep adding notes until you can play the whole phrase.<br><br>It's another approach if you are getting bogged down. Let me know if it works for you!Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/53380792017-01-19T09:24:00-05:002018-07-09T18:34:36-04:00Observing Basic Stress In Time Signatures Can Lead To Better MusicalityIn music notation, time signatures really do mean something. Time signatures present the notation in a way that is more visually clear and they convey how the music should be <u>felt</u>. In the process of learning the technical aspects of a piece, it is easy to overlook the feel of the piece. This is okay when you're first learning the pitches and rhythms on your instrument.<br><br>Eventually, musicality needs to be incorporated. I've discovered that the first step is observing the time signature and playing the piece with a stress on beat 1. Doing this will start the process of flow of the music. However, be careful with this guideline when approaching jazz music.<br><br>Each time signature has its own unique stress with <u>beat one being the strongest stress in the measure</u>.<br><br> > ><br>4/4 1 2 3 4 <br><br> ><br>3/4 1 2 3<br><br> ><br>2/4 1 2<br><br> > ><br>6/8 1 2 3 4 5 6<br><br>There are many other time signatures but incorporating the natural stresses in the music early on in the learning process helps to internalize musicality.<br><br><br>Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/53380802016-12-14T11:24:00-05:002018-07-09T18:34:37-04:00Lack Of Good Music?I've seen the occasional post or meme about the lack of "good" music these days. As a GenXer musician and teacher, I know enough not to judge the taste of younger generations. I remember a time when my own generation's musical tastes were being judged and questioned. However, I would like to address one point about the music industry that has changed for the worse and may have a role in the supposed decline of "good" music.<br><br>Today, there are limited opportunities for working musicians to earn a decent living by playing live. The consequences are that musicians have limited opportunity to improve, create, and compete between themselves. As a result, the general quality of music suffers. The more incentives there are through work, the greater the chance that "good" music (and good musicians) will be developed.<br><br>Many of the highest-skilled musicians today are attached to educational institutions. However, without a strong live music scene, the general public has limited opportunity to listen to them play.<br><br>I wish I had the time and energy to contribute to a local scene where musicians are paid fairly. Some inroads have been maid in Portland Oregon with the Fair Trade Music movement. However, it's been slow to be used as a model in other cities.<br><br>Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/53380812016-10-21T15:28:00-04:002018-07-09T18:34:37-04:00Songwriting ContestI entered a songwriting contest today, something I haven't tried in a long time. I had a couple of songs in the archives, so I decided to try it again with a labour song I wrote and recorded in 2009. It will likely be my only labour song, as my experience with organized labour was short lived. However, my experience was intense enough to inspire writing about it. To listen, follow the link below:<br><br><a href="https://seanhully.bandcamp.com/track/i-will-hold-the-line">I Will Hold The Line</a><br><br><br>Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/53380822016-10-15T14:51:00-04:002018-07-09T18:34:37-04:00Your Practice AreaAs a music teacher, one thing I cannot control is the student's practicing environment, and the issue seldom comes up in a lesson. Therefore, I decided to make a video about it.<br><br><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8RtAZ3RPo6g" width="480"></iframe>Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/53380832016-10-08T12:37:00-04:002018-07-09T18:34:37-04:00PreparationToday is the first day of a long weekend with three days of nothing on my schedule! This is gold, because today I was able to do a vocal workout, run through my set for next week's concert, and do some music business stuff.<br><br>Yesterday, I made a video to demonstrate a reworking of an old song of mine.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NWK-UU_mDRQ/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NWK-UU_mDRQ?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><br>I've been keeping up with the morning jog this week too. Major win.Sean Hullytag:www.seanhully.com,2005:Post/53380842016-10-03T15:40:00-04:002018-07-09T18:34:37-04:00Making A Come BackSo, I am back at this again, after a long hiatus, trying to reboot the real music career that has eluded me. It's not that I have been inactive; au contraire, I've been very active but pulled in many directions by the different genres and instruments I play. I thought I had found my voice in 2002 when I released my first CD but alas, it was not to be. Teaching lessons is a necessity, and I've become comfortable with that. But being an artist is not about being comfortable. We all must grow, change, and adapt or we become irrelevant quickly. My career goal with music is modest yet ambitious; to provide for myself through playing music only.<br><br>Most of my peers know me as a jazz saxophone player, but I have a soft spot for guitar and rock and roll and folk music. It's been difficult for me to hook up with a serious band mostly because I am a saxophone player going from gig to gig. So I've always played guitar on the side and recently have been going to town on improving my vocals.<br><br>I did what I hope will be my last saxophone gig on the weekend. It was fun, well worth it, but it was another distraction from what I've been trying to do.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G7nqBek-C4c/V_KyJ3sUZCI/AAAAAAAAAiI/pMSxLfvMw4MA5UGpGJffikyoGL7jngrvACLcB/s1600/Sean%2BHully%2Bsolo%2Bsax%2B2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G7nqBek-C4c/V_KyJ3sUZCI/AAAAAAAAAiI/pMSxLfvMw4MA5UGpGJffikyoGL7jngrvACLcB/s320/Sean%2BHully%2Bsolo%2Bsax%2B2016.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br>In two weeks I make my debut at a local charity concert solo with equipment I've been learning to incorporate. This is my set up.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ly9La00FgOo/V_KzNnkMl7I/AAAAAAAAAiQ/tgFESud2xdcqxGsDO42HuBD0BPZZ692tACLcB/s1600/IMG_0543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ly9La00FgOo/V_KzNnkMl7I/AAAAAAAAAiQ/tgFESud2xdcqxGsDO42HuBD0BPZZ692tACLcB/s320/IMG_0543.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since this picture was taken, I've replace the standard microphone with a headset microphone so I can have more freedom to move my head while singing.</div>Sean Hully