Lets play a game. Here's a simple melody you probably all know (see my video). I'd love you to post your own variation of it in the comments. Then, based only on what you hear, have a guess at the musical background or influences of the person who posted above you, and the person below you. Classical? Folk? Blues? Something else? Do more than two if you're enjoying it. The idea is to show how everyone has a unique voice, and how even the simplest melody comes out differently depending on the music we each know best. Your version says something about you, whether you mean it to or not. Have fun with it!

Learn this line and post below in either of these formats… 1. Exactly as I play it 2. In a few different keys 3. inside an improvisation over a tune you are working on right now Transcription in the Classroom

I’m off to play two gigs today. First one is a background jazz gig in a hotel. Second is a listening gig in a pub in south east London (the Royal Albert Pub 8.30) I had 20 minutes to collect some charts for my own tunes and some arrangements before I left today. Most of the band have never rehearsed these ideas with me before so will be fun to see how it works out. I’d like to find some time to practise in the middle of the two gigs but it’s not likely. What are you up to?

Hey all! I’m new here- hi! 👋 1. On Monday I went to the gorgeous Met exhibit Musical Bodies. It was so cool! I thought some of y’all might like to see the Violino Harpo Forma Maxima (1874) by Austrian luthier Thomas Zach. “This extravagantly curved, larger than life experimental Violin was built to test a Bucharest prince’s unorthodox theories about acoustics. While the instrument’s sound production was originally deemed disappointing, its striking organic and anatomical design perfectly embodies the theme of the exhibit, which explores the historical relationship between musical instruments and the human form.” 2. I‘ve been lucky to see and try out a Strad or 2 before, but I never saw one with a fingerboard this short! 😜