GarageSpin Media

Hello world!

mbouteneff — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 23:37:34 +0000

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!

My new music project: Phonic BOOM

Mike — Wed, 19 May 2021 19:11:05 +0000

Phonic BOOM. I’m working on my first song, to be part of an eventual EP, and can’t wait to share it. Stay tuned!]]>

Tinnitus: The unwanted music in your ears…

Tara Meddaugh — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 04:18:42 +0000

Soundcheck aired a program called Ear Wars, and in one episode, they feature Dr. Neil Sperling of the New York Otolaryngology Group, who gives us a little more insight into Tinnitus. Tinnitus is the perception of internal sound that usually only the individual can hear. In this way, it’s tricky because it doesn’t have a single causal relation with the body. It’s sound (ear), but it’s also the perception of sound (brain). Most likely, it has been caused by some damage to the ear, but it’s the brain that is trying to make sense of this by sending out a sound of some sort. And this sound can vary greatly. It can be the typical sound we think of when we hear of Tinnitus– a ringing in the ear (and even ringing can vary a lot), but it can be the literal sound of crickets, it might sound like traffic, it might even be a musical song itself (Ally McBeal anyone?). You can hear a sample of various common Tinnitus sounds at the American Tinnitus website here. The causes of Tinnitus are not entirely known at this point, although it is something that tends to happen in the older population with the natural decline of hearing. Some medications and chemotherapy can cause Tinnitus too. People who have jobs where they are exposed to loud sounds for a long period of time are more at risk (think factory workers), but as for musicians, or people who love listening to music…? The rise of headphones, earbuds, very loud concerts and sound systems–none of these things are exactly good for the ear. It can vary, but the volume, proximity and duration all play a factor. Easy obvious preventions? Turn the volume down. Use speakers when you can. Give yourself breaks. But all of these tips don’t matter much if you already have Tinnitus, and again, you may have it even though you don’t have any known risks toward developing it. Many people suffer from it thinking there is no treatment, and while there may not be a simple fix, there are some therapies that have been shown to help. First of all, Dr. Sperling recommends that anyone with symptoms see a professional, as Tinnitus is really just that–a symptom–and it could be a symptom of something larger that is treatable (for instance, a tumor, which is rare, but again, is often treatable). If everything else checks out, then know that there are things which can be done to ease Tinnitus. From medications, electrical stimulation, and TMJ treatment, there are options. There are even therapies which are designed to retrain the way your brain perceives the sounds. In any case, if you suffer from Tinnitus, don’t assume that this will always be your fate. And if you don’t suffer from it now…well…much is out of our hands, but if you have any power to protect your precious ears even a little bit while you can…I would seriously consider doing it. Because to hear the roaring sound of a subway when you’re trying to record an album (or have dinner with a friend or read a book to your child or have a good night’s sleep–for that matter!) is far from ideal. Share your thoughts: Do you suffer from Tinnitus? Have you found anything helps relieve the sound you hear? How has it affected you in your musical career (or otherwise)? Do you have any advice or tips? ]]>

Oreo Cookie Jingle, AKA "Dare to Wonder" Song

Tara Meddaugh — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 03:11:37 +0000

Project Runway online, because this is my Friday highlight (never can I watch live tv these days, even though, yes, I’m still paying Cablevision 14 some dollars a month to have 2 cold cable boxes)-when what to my wondering laptop should appear? But a wonder-filled jingle, a boon to my ear! Yes, this is when I first heard that super catchy “Oreo Cookie Song.” Okay, I guess it’s really called “Dare to Wonder,” and it’s really the subtle voices of Tegan and Sara (identical twins from Canada who have been creating together for 2 decades). And it’s really trying to sell me on trying new limited-time flavors of oreo cookies…but man…it is one inspiring jingle. Apparently, I’m not alone, as the youtube video alone has over 14 million views (well, the jingle has been out for over a year–how did I miss it until now?). Check it out:

So well done, Oreo. You might not get me to try one of your new flavors, because, well, the last time I bought Oreo cookies was probably when Tegan and Sara formed their band. But you will get me to actually listen to your ad and not mute the laptop when Lifetime makes me watch an extra 3 minutes of ads just because I had to refresh my page since the connection stopped working. And you’ll probably get me to dance a little bit too. And maybe crave cookies. Oreo cookies. Okay, so maybe it’s not impossible for this ad to have actually worked on me…Perhaps…But luckily I mostly shop at Trader Joe’s and they don’t have oreos there. Although it is only a few stores down from the Stop and Shop…so… Lesson: Don’t shop when you’re hungry and have just seen Project Runway… And for all of you who are wondering what those beautiful words of this beautiful jingle are–here are the lyrics to “Dare to Wonder,” or, “The Oreo Cookie Song.” Dare to Wonder/The Oreo Cookie Song Lyrics: Wonder if we tried a new thing, looked inside, see what we can bring Forget who you’re supposed to be, take all your crazy flavors, show them all to me If we dare to wonder about what holds us down, the fears, the doubts, Could we spark something, watch it grow? Be more wonder-filled than we know. Share your thoughts: What commercial jingle makes you put down your cell phone and watch/listen to it? Where were you when you first heard the ever-famous Oreo Cookie Song? Does having a good song make you more likely to take notice and buy the product? How do you feel about the musicians using their talent for advertisements?]]>

Female Composers: Vastly under-represented

Tara Meddaugh — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 00:17:39 +0000

Today’s post is from Tara Meddaugh, playwright extraordinaire whose work is sought by tens of thousands of actors and directors every month, and who is also the voice behind the band Girl Crusade. Welcome, Tara! We all know there are fields of work where the 50% of the population known as “female” are under-represented versus their male counterparts. We tend to think of fields such as technology and sales, but this gap can be found in the arts, as well. In particular, female composers are greatly under-represented. The top 20 music schools only have 18% of their Composition faculty filled by women for the 2015-2016 year (and hey, this is up 3% from last year. Small victories, right?). Only 11% of composers who have premiered their work in the last 20 years have been female, and the Performing Rights Society of Composers, songwriters and music publishers is only made up of 14% women.

So why this disparity? Well, like many fields, it’s not quite clear. But it is clear that girls, like in the other male-dominated fields, tend to drop off in this area as they get older. Girls and boys may start with equal interest in music and composition, but by the time students reach college level, the field has very few female participants. One obvious chicken-and-egg answer is that there are not many female role models in Composition to look up to, so girls tend not to see it as a viable career path. Of course, you also have another side. Damian Thompson writes “There’s a good reason why there are no great female composers,” and while I was not able to read the whole article without subscribing to The Spectator, it appears his stance is this: It’s extremely rare to be a great composer for men or women. There were more male composers than female composers throughout history (presumably because there were more males in most careers throughout history in most developed countries). There is a greater chance of finding a great male composer when you have thousands to choose from. If you only have a hundred (say) female composers to choose from, most likely you’re not going to find a great one. Statistics just don’t go that way. So there are not many great female composers because there were simply not enough female composers to pull from (he also goes on to criticize many known female composers, not because they are particularly bad, but because they are really not particularly good. But just female, so therefore, praised, because, hey, at least here were some women composers). If you subscribe to The Spectator and read the whole article, please, correct me if I’m wrong, or elaborate further.

Still, if that is Thompson’s opinion, it still stands to reason that if you allow for more female composers, you allow for the chance to find that select few of actually great composers.

Whatever the reason for this disparity, there are many organizations who see these statistics and are offering ways to draw in more female composers. After all, females make up half of our world, and without that voice in music, we are missing out. The PRS for Music Foundation in the UK initiated 28 new projects supporting women creators of music over the past few years. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and OPERA America have all offered programs to seek and encourage more female composers. And currently, on September 24, Q2 Music will offer its 2nd year of their “24 on the 24th series with a 24-hour marathon stream celebrating the ceiling-shattering achievements of female composers in the 20th and 21st centuries.” So if you’re curious about what female composers are actually putting out there, check out their station/site on the 24th this month. And who knows. Maybe if we allow for more female composers to hone their craft, we will find a few more of those very select (male or female) great composers out there. Share your thoughts! Are you a female composer who has succeeded in this male-dominated field? What tips or advice do you have for others who are starting out? Do you think there are particular hurdles as a female composer, or is the field more even than the statistics lead us to believe? What is our responsibility (if any), as music lovers and preservers, toward encouraging the under-represented female composer? If you’re a male composer, what has your experience been working with female composers? ]]>

"What Do You Mean" Chords for your Justin Bieber Cover

Mike — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 01:08:04 +0000

Basic “What Do You Mean” Chords (by TheLukeMann) Here’s a pretty simple set of basic chords for What Do You Mean to get started. [caption id="attachment_1658" align="aligncenter" width="602"] What Do You Mean chords for cover[/caption]

“What Do You Mean” Chords and Cover Video

This video isn’t all that helpful for learning how to play What Do You Mean chords, but I was impressed by its production value and thoroughness.

Random “What Do You Mean” Acoustic Covers

Hey, if these musicians can do it, so can you, right? Promote yourself! Okay, that’s enough Justin Bieber-induced pain to last a long, long time. * Image at the top modified from one created by Luigi Severus at Deviant Art. Thanks for making me laugh, Luigi! ]]>

I may be coming back to this blog…

Mike — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 14:53:04 +0000

Kompoz.com, and thought it might be an easy way to get back into the groove — i.e. I can go and help other people finish their songs, which relieves myself of the self-induced pressure I experience when I work on my own stuff. The hope is, I’ll “learn” how to crank material out, and not overthink things, like I usually do. (My song avalanche is now on version 18!) We’ll see what happens. If it works, I’ll start posting progress updates here on the ol’ blog. Wish me luck — I’ll need it!]]>

3-Yr old cover of "awakening" by awitchfoot

Mike — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 04:25:08 +0000

I am this kid’s biggest fan.
Look at that rock star gaze, the powerful pipes, and the axe-wielding bravado. It’s 22 seconds of liquified gold.

You can take your “Mm Bop” and eat it, Hanson Brothers…]]>

How to advertise on youtube, pandora, MTV, pitchfork, and rolling stone

Mike — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 04:03:39 +0000

ReverbNation has consistently broken the mold in offering tools that empower independent artists. Their most recent ad creation platform, Promote It on Top Sites, is pretty incredible. Anyone with $25 can launch an ad on Youtube, Pandora, MTV, Pitchfork, and a whole slew of other sites. I’ll regurgitate the full details here, but will shamelessly slap their intro video below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=USwPLP2crAM The platform is awesome. But please, please, if you give it a try, start CONSERVATIVELY. Be as narrow and specific with your targeting as you can, to make sure your precious ad dollars are spend efficiently. This can be a great way to burn through savings fast. :)]]>

Starting a band

Mike — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 03:43:52 +0000

More random thoughts on a late night, this time thinking back to the days when I was in a band (or two)… If you’re reading this blog, surely you’ve thought about starting a band at some point in your life. Whether you dreamed of playing to sold-out stadiums, or simply to hacking a few local gigs to wow the local scene, it’s all about sharing (and showing off) talent. Actually starting a band can be both hugely exciting and incredibly painful. Here are some pitfalls many of us have faced when starting a band.

Band Member Goals

Are all the band members’ goals aligned? It’s important to ensure that all members of the band are on the same page. How often will the band practice? What kind of music will the band play? How will the band split songwriting credits? Who plays what? Bands require compromise, but if everyone has different goals, the band’s toast.

Band Member Chops ‘n’ Skills

Playing music requires expertise. Of some kind anyway. (There are a ton of stories of unimpressive musicianship achieving success, but in reality, most successful bands are made up o f incredibly talented and/or charismatic musicians.) Performance experience helps as well. Some people are naturally charismatic. Hopefully, if a band member is stage shy, it’s the keyboard player, and not the lead singer. And hopefully, if a musician is “faking” skill on stage, it’s your percussionist, and not your lead guitarist. (No offence to any Wooden Spoon players out there.)

Band Gear

Unless you’re in an a capella group, you’ll need gear. Most musicians over time develop a portfolio of stuff to help create their desired sound. I’m a guitarist and singer. Thus far, I’ve generally invested in fairly inexpensive gear, but my mid life crisis goal is to get a really sweet, Gold Top Gibson guitar some day. (The price ranges for Gibson guitars are reason enough to hold off on achieving that dream.) If you haven’t figured out your sound or setup yet, hit a Guitar Center, or better yet, a Mom ‘n’ Pop music shop near you, and strike up a chat with the folks there to get a feel for the different sounds different brands/builds/types are available. You can learn an incredible amount about gear, as well as your own tastes.

Playing Out and Recording In

If you actually launch a band, congrats! You’re in for a treat. I haven’t been in a band for years, and miss it in a huge way. My one quick recommendation – it’s incredibly easy to underestimate the value of having solid sound help at gigs, as well as understanding basic home recording technology for song development. In my opinion, every musician owes it to themselves to become at least an amateur recording engineer. All you need is GarageBand or some other cheap multi track recording software. Doing so will step up your game above the vast majority of band-wannabes. So, if you’re one of the aspiring musicians forming bands in this digital and social world, enjoy. At the very least, you’ll create lasting friendships, as well as everlasting souvenirs (i.e. mp3 recordings) that you’ll be able to reminisce with for years.]]>