Les Paul - Inventor, Guitarist, Legend

We say farewell to an icon of American music. Les Paul, 94, died on August 13, 2009. It is hard to imagine what our music would sound like today without his innovations. The best-known is the electric guitar. Elvis, Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Dave Matthews, and other rock stars would have had very different effects on society, if they would have been noticed at all. Besides the guitar, Mr. Paul constantly looked for ways to manipulate the sound. Amplifiers and effects were very important interests as well. He would look for places with different reverberation. He even told of a story when he and Mary Ford were traveling. He wanted her to come into the bathroom of a hotel to hear what it sounded like.

I am so glad I had the opportunity to see Les Paul live. In fall of 2006, I traveled to New York City.y daughter, Katie who was 14 at the time, and I went to the Iridium Jazz Club for his show. I will never forget how we were waiting outside, first in line along Broadway, and Katie was listening to her iPod. The music of choice? Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. The man we were about to see was responsible for that classic work. The show itself was outstanding partly because our table was right at his feet, but also because of the musicians around him. At 91, he could entertain like few others of any age. That was an unforgettable experience.

Most of us have heard of Les Paul, but few take the time to imagine what his life was like. We look back on reverb and delay effects and they seem so obvious and common, but he had the vision of what these things could do for music. We hear of the Les Paul guitar, but not everyone knows how much of a musician he was.

He was a true living legend in the 20th and into the 21st century. Les Paul will be a permanent fixture in any respectable history book. He not only affected music, he affected our society. Debate may rage on as to whether the music was positive or negative to our culture, but there is no doubt Mr. Paul had an impact. I encourage your thoughts and memories.

Jim Meck

www.jimmeck.com

Facebook group: "Jim Meck - official group"
Twitter: www.twitter.com/JimMeck
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Jim earned his B.S. in Music Ed from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. He is also a gigging local musician. He will be appearing in Eastern PA nearly every weekend. Check his website for more info.

"Music Man" comes to Brandywine Heights

Even as budget cuts are ripping through school districts, school musicals are becoming more popular than ever. There are even awards for high school actors and productions. I'm not sure I like when competition comes into play with the arts, but it is the reality we all witness. I realize they can encourage participants to do their best; it can raise the bar on the quality of the production. There is also a dark side of competitions - it can exclude those who do not thrive on the fierce battles for greatness. Blame can be placed on mediocre actors or musicians if a certain award is not won. Many students may not partake in the experience because of the pressure and some of them might be the ones who need the arts the most.

With that said, Brandywine Heights is not involved in such competitions (at this point) and children of varying abilities are enjoying theatre for what it is - art. They learn about acting and all the elements of a production without fear of "ruining" the show. All are welcome. The Topton Arts Alliance began the latest surge in local theatre and has now teamed with the school district to continue the program. It's nice to see how many people work together to make it all happen.

Unfortunately, the local community has not fully embraced the productions lately. Ticket sales are not what they could be, though many come to the door at the time of the show. It is a shame when the kids and parents work so hard and the house is not full.

I saw the preview last night. The kids did a great job and the show is well worth the time and money. "Music Man" begins Friday, June 12th at 7:30. Shows are also presented on Saturday, June 13th at 7:30 and a matinee on Sunday, June 14th at 2:00. All shows are held in the auditorium at Brandywine Heights Area High School in Topton, PA. Visit http://www.toptonarts.com/ for more details.

A Day in the Life - Substitute Teacher

Woke up, crawled out of bed, dragged a comb…well, you know the song. Some of you who teach music in public schools are well aware how the rest of the song goes. My experience was a new one for me. Sure, I did all the observation hours, completed my student teaching experiences, graduated, passed my Praxis tests for certification, but this is different. And I knew it would be. During my time at Kutztown University I was seriously interested in being a music teacher. After a few setbacks with my vision, I put it aside wondering how that could happen. Almost three years later, I became active in my pursuit of finding a way to make it work.

I received a lot of encouragement from family and friends and decided to at least become a substitute for now to see how it goes. I even took some classes at our county’s intermediate unit in order to receive my emergency certification in various subjects other than music. Since my certification is only in the music area, I cannot sub in other classrooms. It was a little strange that people who had a Bachelor’s degree in any major could simply go to a two-day session and be qualified to sub, but that is the way the system works.

Last Thursday and Friday were my first days in the classroom. The first day was nice since there was a student teacher who taught most of the time with some help from me. On the second day, I was on my own. For the most part it went well. Most of the students were actually excited that I was there since I knew several of them as friends or acquaintances of my own children. It was fun to share what I know about music with them. Unfortunately, there were a few who took away from that experience by behaving in ways inconsistent with effective learning. Did I mention I was in a middle school with 5th through 8th graders? There is a natural restlessness in this age group and knowing that fact goes a long way in dealing with them. They are also very compassionate and willing to help. For one class, I needed to cover for another teacher instead of enjoying a prep period. Two students helped me find the room. Other students helped me take role in some of the classes. Then there was a problem.

One student was very rude and did not seem to even care if he was written up for disciplinary action. I can’t help but wonder what goes on in the life of a child like that. At the same time I am frustrated that other students do not get the full benefits of the instruction. As a teacher, your hands are often tied with situations like this. As a sub, it’s even worse so you try your best to get through the class.

It was quite an experience complete with service lunch duty (Ugh) and bus duty. The schedule is very tight so everything has to be ready for the next class before you can catch your breath. I led guitar classes, general music classes, and some student instrumental lessons. It was mentally exhausting with some of the behavior issues, but also very rewarding with so many more kids who were truly interested in learning.

If you ever question a day in the life of a teacher, please sign up for subbing and do it. Live it for a few days. You get a whole new perspective of the challenges and hard work involved. It’s true there are some who may not put forth as much effort as others, but with more regulations, requirements, and expectations, it is no wonder that many do not survive the profession more than a few years. Take care of the good teachers. We need them.

Jim Meck
www.jimmeck.com
Facebook group: "Jim Meck - official group"

Jim earned his B.S. in Music Ed from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. He is also a gigging local musician. He will be appearing at the White Palm Tavern on April 23, 2009; Valentino’s on April 24, 2009; and Market Café on April 25, 2009. Check his website for more details.

Keys and Drums

Berks Jazz Fest at Cousin’s Pub last Friday (April 3, 2009) was a blast. I play so many solo gigs so it is always a lot of fun to have a drummer with me. I have worked with many drummers in the past and to avoid leaving anyone out, I won't mention names. No matter who it is, the percussion adds an extra element to any performance. Each drummer has a different style which keeps the music fresh.

I am not a fan of pre-recorded tracks, using a sequencer, or other pre-arranged accompaniment. I feel that music is about the emotions and excitement of real human beings. I don’t mind if the sounds are synthesized. I use an electronic piano and I add bass, strings, sax, or guitar, but I play each instrument live. The closest I have gotten to pre-recorded drums is using an arpeggiator, which automatically plays notes in one of many orders – by notes held, by pre-determined interval, or likewise. This is different from pre-recorded drums in that there is no specific drum pattern or track. I set the arpeggiator on an auxiliary percussion set so the sounds are seemingly random, but they follow my playing, not the other way around. The advantage is I don’t need to stick to the same arrangement; I am free to improvise. I can extend the song or shorten it if desired.

A live drummer gives me a similar ability to change the performance in the middle of a song. There are several advantages. First, the drummer is a real person with whom to interact. This cannot be underestimated. It is much more fun to have an ally on the stage. Unlike a guitarist or bass player, we don’t need to worry about what key the song is in, or the chord progression. Much of my music is too difficult for many local musicians to play unless an enormous amount of time is spent in rehearsal. The song list becomes very limited. Even if they know the song, there’s a good chance it is not in the same key that I use; I drop a lot of songs down a whole step. One of the biggest reasons to use a live drummer is just the sound. It is amazing how full the sound can be with two people. The fact that I have learned to play intricate bass lines while chording and adding solos certainly is key. There have been so many instances where guests/customers have commented that they never would have believed two guys could sound like a band.

I remember a groom’s parents being very upset at the bride’s parents when they saw only two people as “the band” in an outdoor reception tent. After the festivities, the groom’s parents could hardly apologize enough for underestimating us. That was one of the biggest compliments we could have received.

So…Jazz Fest with a drummer was a blast. The benefit of having a full sound with the ultimate in flexibility with limited rehearsal time makes the Keys and Drums combination a very desirable combo. I’m sure you would agree if you heard it live.

Jim Meck
www.jimmeck.com
Facebook group: "Jim Meck - official group"

Jim will be appearing at Market Café on Saturday, April 11th at 11am; Bear Creek Mountain Resort on Thursday, April 16th at 7pm; Inn at Moselem Springs on April 17th at 7pm; Conway’s Pub @ Conway’s BBQ on April 18th at 8pm. See website for more info.

Berks Jazz Fest at Cousin's Pub

The 19th Annual Berks Jazz Fest continues this week with many big ticket performers. There are also many venues throughout the county which are on the schedule for non-ticketed events. One of these places is Cousin’s Pub in Shoemakersville, right on Pottsville Pike (Rt. 61). I will be there this Friday, April 3rd beginning at 8PM.

I played there last year for Jazz Fest and it was a blast. I was joined by drummer Keith Hohl, formerly of bands Cheyenne and Common Dream. Cousin’s is a sports bar with plenty of TVs to see the latest action, but transforms well for music. There are many tables and booths for those who want to be closer to the music, but the bar is also in the same room at the back. I’ve eaten there a few times and the food is excellent. For those who like German beer, they have Spaten Optimator on tap. Alfredo and Sue are great hosts even though Alfredo is a NY Rangers fan and I am a Flyers fan.

While this is part of jazz fest, be prepared to enjoy a wider range of styles. Last year I had a plan to stick with more jazz and blues, but as the party started rolling, all bets were off. I sense this year will be similar to that experience. It’s great to have drums with me as a change to so many solo gigs. The sound is incredibly full and we’ve often had comments such as, “I can’t believe it’s only two guys. You sound like a full band, unbelievable.” It’s great to hear that since I think it also sounds full, but that is from where I am sitting.

Many of the gigs I play with a drummer are private functions. This is a great time to come out and hear it for yourself. Call Cousin’s at 610-562-5202 for more information or to make reservations. Last year, tables filled up rather quickly.

I look forward to seeing you there this Friday.

Jim Meck
www.jimmeck.com

Jim will be appearing at Bear Creek Mountain Resort in the Grille on Thursday, April 2nd at 7PM and at Cousin’s Pub on April 3rd at 8PM. See website for more info.

Hockey Organists - End of the Period?

I love music. I love hockey. The two have been partners for years. It may go back to old skating rinks where people would rent figure skates and go in circles like a slow-paced NASCAR caution for hours while the organist would play the theatre-style music like “The Skater’s Waltz” or some Tchaikovsky from Sleeping Beauty – “Once upon a Dream”.

Hockey embraced the rink organist who stuck around after the open skate to provide music between stoppages of play. The music changed over the years, but the style still reflected the old theatre sound. Even “Smoke on the Water” was used, but with a twist. One of the largest organs was the pipe organ in the old Chicago Stadium. When the Blackhawks and Bulls built a new home, The United Center, they used a much smaller electronic organ which was miked. True, it wasn’t the grand multi-manual console, but it still provided organ music (as it does today) for the games. It is more protected than the puck-damaged King of Instruments of the old place.

Last week I attended an ECHL Reading Royals' game and thought how over the years I've noticed the organ music is disappearing. I enjoy pop music and classic rock and it can fit well into the energy of a good hockey game, but we seem to be losing the personal touch of a real live musician. It happens at baseball games as well. I’ll never forget the commentary made when a call was made against the home team and the three referees (technically one ref and two linesmen) were subjected to a rendition of the politically incorrect “Three Blind Mice”. I think of that when I hear Aron "Paperboy" Papernick doing the same thing with audio clips on NHL Home Ice's "Hockey This Morning" show (XM204/Sirius208). Music can be quite entertaining, but it goes beyond that. I remember my Mom’s Aunt Beulah, a former Kentucky missionary, remarking how she loved to watch hockey because it seemed so graceful. It seems to me that the music from the theatre organ enhances the grace of these athletes who are often mis-portrayed as fighting goons , but can direct a puck from their skate to their stick and ease it toward the net while a teammate re-directs it between the sliding goalie’s pads for a goal – all while on skates. Graceful, for sure and the music begins as a punctuation on the action.

I would love to see a more personal accompaniment in my favorite sporting event. The pre-programmed same-ol’-same-ol’ gets annoying, especially now that rinks look the same, the horn sounds the same, and the mini-games between periods follow a pattern. Sure, go ahead and use some pop tunes and other audio clips, but don’t lose the tradition of the customizable soundtrack of the sport.

Jim Meck
Staff Musician - Meck Music Inc.
http://www.meckmusic.com/

Jim will be appearing at Bear Creek Ski Resort on March 26, 2009 and Market
Café on March 28, 2009. Check www.jimmeck.com for details.

Brandywine Heights Indoor Classic

In my column “Meck’s Music Mix” which appeared in last week’s Kutztown Patriot, I wrote about the phenomenon of Indoor shows. Basically, these shows are competitions between various schools and private organizations involving drum lines, color guard units, dance teams, and twirlers. While there are many groups who compete and many shows, I have more interaction with the Brandywine group.

This year is special, not only because my children are all involved in the drum line and my daughters are part of the color guard group, but this is the first year for a home show at Brandywine’s new high school. It has been several years since a show was hosted by Brandywine and held at Kutztown University. It was a few years before that when the show was held at what was then the high school. This year also marks the return of the color guard unit. This particular event is billed as the Brandywine Heights Indoor Classic and is already causing quite a buzz in the community as there is a lot of effort being made to make people aware of this terrific program.

The drum line’s performance is based on music from The Who including two songs which are signature tunes for this classic rock band. As the battery (those who provide movement around the floor a la field show) provides much of the rhythmic and interpretive elements, the pit (stationary instruments such as keyboard percussion and drum set) add melody and additional rhythms to the show. The music is live and not pre-recorded so each performer has to learn their instrument well. Many of this year’s group have not participated in drum line before, but they are doing extremely well.

The color guard is using the Guns and Roses version of “Live and Let Die” for their routine. This is accomplished by employing several items such as flags, rifles, and sabers as they move to the recording of this song. Not only is the ability to spin and throw the objects important, but so is the overall effect of the show. Uniforms/costumes as well as make-up and the unbelievable BIG 80’s hair play an important role in the scoring of this competition.

The Brandywine Indoor Classic will be held this Saturday, March 21st beginning at noon in the high school gym. The high school is located near Topton PA. Please visit www.biggetybop.com for more details about the show. There will be food available as well as opportunities to buy items for the individual performers as a momento of the historic show.

The Brandywine Heights Drum Line and Color Guard are proud to host this event and hope you will be able to attend and support the performing arts. There will be many groups performing that afternoon including your hosts. The Brandywine Twirlers will also take the floor in competition during the Majorette portion of the show.

Thanks to all the parents and students involved in the planning and work which make this event possible. Special thanks goes to Bill and Amy Snook for their tireless and selfless dedication to see that the indoor program continues to be successful and grow.

See you there!

Jim

Jim is appearing this week at Conway’s BBQ on Saturday, March 21 (after the Indoor Classic) beginning at 8PM. Check www.jimmeck.com for more info.