Visualize the music

It is amazing how many choices there are on the internet, but for some reason the choice I'm looking for is not usually there. I don't know what that means. Perhaps it proves that being "Appalachian" really does qualify for the minority position of life.
Take for instance the obstacle of signing up "The Muses" on most internet sites. First of all, what is your genre? "Folk" pretty well sums it up even though it is Appalachian traditional with influences of Celtic and Soulful Blues, it is Celtic with modern Scots, it is singer song writer, it is a cappella (I never can spell that word, but this is right!)
So, we have the choices, Country, World Beat, Blues.......hmmmmm

So for blogging on "MySpace," there is not the choice of teaching! Can you believe that! No "educational" choice. I guess they don't believe that people on Myspace want to learn or want to share what they have learned in an educational way. Here I can label it myself......nice.

To the topic......Visualize the music.

One of the things that makes a performance, no matter what the style of music, is being able to define the layers of sound. I could stop right there. This is really a profound point and if you get it, it will revolutionize your performance.

The layers have to fit together, but each layer should have something to say. This is why Schumann said that all good musicians should spend some time singing in a choir. I know you probably don't want to do that, but singing in a choir makes you become aware of how the voice will create a flow on the bass line, the tenor line, the alto line,etc.

The more each line has it's own message, not a disruptive message but one that makes sense the more the listener becomes enthralled.
For instance, play or listen to Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata. Of course the top melody note is important but it is when you can sing that tenor note with your fingers that the entire work becomes heart rinching!

No matter what kind of music it is, rock, blues, what ever...... you individually have to know how your part connects to the whole.

Besides practice alone and with others, learn to listen. I think that is the biggest challenge among musicians today.........listen and you will be a greater musician. Don't be afraid of the silence.

The Muses have a MySpace Page now

Hi world, well, yesterday was a snow day and what better way to spend it than with my nose pasted to the computer screen making a MySpace page for The Muses? Amazingly, this was done with a minimum of cursing and banging of my head against the desk. I did not even whine pitifully for my more technologically proficient partner to help me. Not once. But I did have a glass of wine or two to help me through the process.

Check it out:

http://www.myspace.com/themusesasheville

Gail Forsyth

NEW CD ready

We are excited to report that our new CD, "Celtic Hillbilly Soul" is finally in our sweaty little hands!
It features a cappella music from Celtic and Appalachian traditions, and some Motown/Soul thrown in for good measure. If you want to find out more about ordering one, drop us a line and check out our website.

www.ashevillemuses.com

The Muses' perform at Carolina Day School

We had fun Jan 19th performing for the sixth graders at Carolina Day School here in Asheville. The kids were studying the history of Western North Carolina and their school kindly paid us to come and present a program of music with a focus on the connection between Celtic and Appalachian music. The kids were incredibly attentive and interested. We had a blast. We also found out that it IS in fact possible to sing at 8:20 am!

Orchids and water color

This morning Victoria Dunkle is going to tape me for three shows on WLOS TV. I've been on live twice before showing scarves that I have made that consist of 5 to 32 different yarns! Today I am going to show a different type of knitting stitch for a "Lenten Scarf" and I am going to attempt to show some water color techniques!
Victoria said they hadn't had anyone do water-colors before. I can see why! Today I am going to attempt to teach the masses something of water-colors in three minute segments! I'm excited about it.
One lesson will be painting snowy mountains using mostly blue, salt and water, simple enough. The second lesson will focus on a technique for flower petals. I grow orchids and I love to draw them and/or paint them. When I paint flowers I never draw them in. It is a good thing to practice drawing the flower you want to paint so that you become very familiar with the depths, curves, shadings, etc. Then, when you paint it, you will be surprised at how the shape will come to life. Flowers become hard in paintings when too many lines are added. You want to keep a softness that looks like the wind could move it at any moment.
I don't have any photos of paintings on line for you to see. But I do have this photo from my orchid at Christmas in front of my piano. (I teach piano. That is what I really do for a living).
If you want to purchase a painting or a wild and colorful scarf send me an e-mail!
Judy

Sneak preview

We wanted to give you a little clip of our rehearsal tonight to generate excitement for what will be in our hands on January 23rd!!!!! The long awaited CD is almost here! This fine photo will have to do. Gail Forsyth took this lovely shot. She put the camera on timer mode and we all jumped in, flew in actually. Can you tell which one is me on that statue?
Judy

Here's a picture I took of an azalea in my mum's garden in Crieff, Scotland on Christmas Day. The frost was magical, even the spider webs were covered. Better than a big snow, even.

Gail back from Scotland

Hi, I am a blog virgin, so please be gentle with me. I just got back from a two week trip home to see my family in Crieff, Scotland. It was a surprise for my mum. We snuck in the back door and hid under the kitchen table to surprise her. Luckily she did not have a stroke or anything! I had forgotten how dark and brooding it can be this time of year in Scotland. This photo of Edinburgh Castle was taken after dark, at about 3:30pm! Needless to say, we spent a lot of time clustered around the coal fire with glass of wine in hand, trying to remember the words to all the Christmas carols we could think of. Happy New Year, all....Gail Forsyth of The Muses

Mary Jane Queen, 1/05/07

Today Don, Sarah and I went to Mary Jane Queen's house near the top of John's Creek in Caney Fork which is in Cullowhee, NC. Caney Fork is a large area of land which once had three stores according to Mary Jane Queen. Now it is beautiful farm land, mountains and woods. Mary Jane Queen is a kind delightful matriarch of the Appalachian region. She shared with us historical vignettes of Caney Fork. I'll be sharing more about her and her legacy in the coming months.

Happy New Year!

Thank you Sarah for helping me learn something about blogging! It's a great way to start the New Year!
I know many of you have been eagerly awaiting our new CD. Hopefully it will be done before the end of this month! We are so excited to have this project finally coming together. Wait till you hear the new sound! Stephen Heller used some super cool mics for the recording that make our voices sound close-up and personal.
soon..............very soon.........
Drop us a line so I can see how this blog works!
Cheers!

Judy