What's on your mind now?

[j_menz]

You don't, I guess; on the other hand, doing it doesn't automatically presume the ability to teach it.

Those who can, do; those who can't, teach, I was always taught.

Though given the number of teachers around here I would like to go on the record as saying that I don't necessarily hold with that view. 

[oxy60]

Once you learn (lots of education courses) to teach you can teach almost any subject. Some areas will be difficult, like foreign languages and music, because they depend on discerning hearing (flat from sharp).

Some performers can't teach because they don't know how they got to where they are. They can't break their progress into steps so that their student can follow the same path.

[perprocrastinate]

Well, today came the realization that I need a piano teacher. Even though I have an above average learning skill, it's going to blow when I see my technique develop into something horrible in a few years, possibly with carpal tunnel/tendonitis. I can't be lucky enough to catch every bad habit that arises, let alone fix it effectively before it becomes something detrimental.

I think I'll go fire myself as my own teacher now.

[Bob]

Might be rabid.

[birba]

I'm hoping he's just having fun scratching his back...

[slane]

Sometimes happy animals look mad

[Bob]

[jollisg]

Hehe, that's cute at least it cheered me up. I'm in the computer science classroom at my school. It has been fixed during the winter break, but they haven't installed any compiler. What a waste of time, having to install it now... But my life is good enough to not complain:)

[Bob]

Good youtube documentary.  Joyce Hatto.

https://www.pianostreet.com/blog/video-picks/the-great-piano-scam-5733/

[Bob]

I hear birds outside.  They sound angry....

[oxy60]

I hear birds outside.  They sound angry....

Really? How do you know?

[chopin2015]

My cat is sleeping peacefully while i am in same room playing digital piano. They cant sleep when i practice on the baby grand, it drives all of us nuts...the sound of a piano breaking is really disturbing...

Imagine a spring being wound really tight and every time u play on it, it stretches and u can hear it stretching, tighter, metal screeching, and it can snap any moment you apply force to it...responding with a big explosion...

[rachmaninoff_forever]

OH MY FREAKING GOD YES!!!



Artist: Salvador Dali.

Title: Ecsttatic Visions.

Suite: The Divine Comedy.

Medium: Woodblock print in colors.

Year: 1964

Signature: Signed in the plate.

Condition: Mint.



Atrist: Salvador Dali.

Title: John.

Medium: Lithograph of original gouaches.

Suite: The Twelve Apostles/Knights of the Round Table.

Edition: From the edition 126 of 350.

Signature: Hand Signed in Pencil.

Condition: Mint.

[chopin2015]

Wow! U have these?

[Bob]

Really? How do you know?

That's what the pigs said.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Wow! U have these?

Yeah, there's two more that I didn't open though.

[outin]

Yeah, there's two more that I didn't open though.

Are you going to be filthy rich now? 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Are you going to be filthy rich now? 

Nah, I wouldn't even sell these to Valentina Lisitsa!

[chopin2015]

Nah, I wouldn't even sell these to Valentina Lisitsa!

Straight up!

[rachmaninoff_forever]

So I had another audition today, and I legit think that I didn't get in anywhere.

Everyone's sooooooooooooooooo good!!!  They all freaking auditioned to the same schools as I did what the heck?!  

Everyone was sharing their audition repertoire and I was embarrassed to share mine, what the heck?!

I should've lied and said that I was playing Hammerklavier, and a Rachmaninoff sonata or something.

[patrickd]

Holt-Winter's three-Parameter Triple Exponential Smoothing for my forecasting class which is infinitely more entertaining than the piano.

[Bob]

I nominate Bernhard for Pope.

[oxy60]

I nominate Bernhard for Pope.

So, who do think they will choose? I tend to bet on another Italian.

[Bob]

Ok. For PS then.  Or Pedagogue.  P-Dog.  Haha.  Bernhard PDog I. 

[Bob]

https://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/moms-death-linked-coke-coroners-report-164723213--abc-news-health.html

How do you drink 2.6 gallons of anything per day?

[Bob]

Amusing.

https://www.wired.com/underwire/2013/02/kessel-run-12-parsecs/

[Bob]

What would you do if you were attacked by a knot of Namaquan rainfrogs?

[Bob]

Good point... That cruise ship that broke down and the bathrooms were filling up.... Why didn't they just throw the waste overboard?  They know which way the water is flowing so the waste would move away from the ship.  It's not like it's dangerous toxic waste or an oil spill.

[Bob]

https://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-ER125-MP9-15-B-A-High-Fidelity-Electronic-Musicians/dp/B0091DPYC6/ref=sr_1_3?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1361165808&sr=1-3

Yeah, the price, but... It doesn't sound like a good idea to reproduce and electronically level the sound.  If I hear something live, I want to hear that sound, not something reproducing it.  I would think there must be lag too, at least some amount.  $400 so you can hear a concert with crappier headphone sound.  Although you've got your ears protected a bit and might hear more of the soft if this actually amp's up the sound. 

[chopin2015]

Screw that. I only use fitted pro -25 dB attenuation plugs, or even better HEROES. -33dB top attenuation.

[Bob]

Where do you get those? Mine just broke.  The non-fitted ones are all 20dB I'm seeing.

[Bob]

I see Hearos foam ones that do 33dB.  They're not musician ear plugs though.  Are there 33dB musician ear plugs?

[chopin2015]

I see Hearos foam ones that do 33dB.  They're not musician ear plugs though.  Are there 33dB musician ear plugs?

No, but the point is to protect your hearing. The fitted cost about 150 dollars at the local nose and ear doctor. The attenuation is even across the board, according to the fletcher-munson curve. Those come with a 10 or a 25 -dB filter, equal attenuation. Mine are green glitter gel! But for concerts, you want the heroes. The spl is so high, you want the highs cut out and the bass gone, so you dont damage your ears. Theyre also great for outdoors, cars, machinery, etc.

[oxy60]

If the band you're playing is so loud that you need ear plugs then you will be playing to an empty bar. When it is that loud, the servers won't hear the orders and the customers won't be able to chat up a new squeeze. Your fee depends on the gross. I know one band that can't get a booking because they are too loud and won't turn it down. I know potential bookings for bands that will cooperate but no bands to book.

[chopin2015]

Nono, i dont play in bands but agree with you. Still, you should always have protection with you.

[oxy60]

So what are you listening to that you need that kind of protection? In the mosh pit at a punk bank concert? 

[chopin2015]

Ive had those days. Actually, my hearing is very sensitive, and i need protection from traffic noise, music other people play, construction if i run into any, those are just some of the things i hate.

[oxy60]

Ive had those days. Actually, my hearing is very sensitive, and i need protection from traffic noise, music other people play, construction if i run into any, those are just some of the things i hate.

That brings to mind tons of jobs you shouldn't accept. Be careful!

[chopin2015]

I havent even listed my phobias!

[Bob]

Hearos "Extreme Protection Series" 33dB. $5.

I'm impressed just popping them in.  I can tell a difference between the 25dB and these 33dB ones.  

The foam fills the ear canal.  Ditto with the generic earbud style ones.  The fitted ones I got don't fit as well anymore, but those are solid and don't adjust at all.  I'm wondering if the generic earbud style ones are "better" if they fit the ear better.  Cheaper.  But less dB's, at only 20dB.  25 or 20dB is the most I've seen for musician ear plugs.

Foam isn't as good for sound, but they don't plug up your ears like the rubber ring earbud style or the fitted ones.  The foam ones do have a little more pressure out than the fitted ones but that make sense.



About five minutes later.... Less than ten minutes for sure... The foam pressure is a little comfortable.  I remember experimenting with these a long time ago.  Same thing.  I don't think I could stand to have the foam in for too long.  Dang.

[chopin2015]

Yeah, theres a huge difference between the 25 and 33. My fav. Plugs.

[Bob]

I wonder if you can shave or cut these Hearos 33's a bit to make them a little more narrow so the pressure isn't there.

[chopin2015]

Nah....lol

[outin]

I have sensitive ears as well, but I cannot wear earplugs...I've tried when my cats were on heat, but it's impossible because immediately when I put the plugs in I start hearing my blood pumping into my head...it's very unpleasant really...

[chopin2015]

I understand!

[j_menz]

I've tried when my cats were on heat

The vet will be more useful than the earplugs

[outin]

The vet will be more useful than the earplugs

Yeah, but can't do that when they have dates coming...

It's pieceful now...thanks to the Australians who invented this thing called Suprelorin...Chemical castration implant

[chris_goslow]

Like the "What are you listening to right now" thread...

What's the most pressing concern on your mind at the moment?

Things you are working on now, things you "must remember to do today or this week,"  etc.  not necessarily piano.

My most pressing concern right now is how to continually improve in managing and growing my two primary businesses, those being teaching and my artist career.  Teaching has day to day things that require attention, as well as a lot of thought and planning that goes into building the business.  So does my artist career.  There's working IN the business (things like practicing, teaching, preparing materials, performing, recording, writing music, etc) and there's working ON the business (things like phone calls, promotion, creating new programs, booking new shows, etc).  Needless to say, there's a lot to do.

[Bob]

Is it every three months now that the political representatives have some dire financial crisis to resolve in US now?  Wasn't it last fall, "fiscal crisis," Jan 1, "fiscal cliff," and now there's something else March 1st?

[kakeithewolf]

Right now? Probably getting myself back into shape so I don't have a heart attack before 25. Exercise and eating right... two important things I threw out the window for a good decade or so.