In the book 'This is Your Brain on Music', I'm reading about what it means to be an expert. Many scientists use the 10,000 hour theory. That is generally speaking to become an expert at anything you have to spend 10,000 hours working on it. That translates to 3 hours a day for about 10 years.

I thought this was interesting because at least this gives us an idea about practicing in a general sense. He brings up things like Mozart writing a symphony at age eight and argues that you don't have to be an expert to write a symphony.

Vibraman found this vid and did a web link to it. I wanted to get the vid right here and put it in our vibe players section.

Check out Lars Erstrand. He sounds so good, I think.

Great find Vibraman!

Oh man… It finally happened: no more need to practice, any technique, in any key. No more pain in wristles, or bleeding fingers. No more white nights in your basement...

You can all sleep in peace: here is the real future of all percussionists… :o)

- M

HELLO EVERYBODY.I RECENTLY PLAYED IN A JAZZ FESTIVAL IN GREECE AND I THOUGHT IT'S GOOD TO POST 3 PIECES.I KNOW THERE ARE MISTAKES AND WE LOST THE TIMING BETWEEN THE SAX PLAYER AND ME AND THE DRUMMER.ANYWAY IT IS NOT PERFECT...THE CONCERT WAS DUET VIBES-SAX AND THE DRUMS JAMS WITH US.I AM WAITING YOUR COMMENTS.

Tarik just posted a cool video of Benny Goodman playing with Swedish vibist Lars Erstrand. Here are a few links in his memory:

- Wikipedia bio: I just realised he died this year in March at 72 :o\ : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lars_Erstrand
- What a sweet pic!:
http://swingjazzblues.blogspot.com/2009/03/lars-erstrand-has-passed-awa…
- Very last video, one month before he passed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njjkggc83qc
- Tarik Youtube's link with Benny Goodman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUAY-oQ2jmg

I spent the night playing through the first chorus of his solo. This is a very serious etude that would challenge most of us on the site, I think!

QDV stands for quick and dirty video. That usually means I'm swamped but I'm trying to get a lesson up!!!

Here it is and it's on dampening. Just some general ideas. As I mention I don't even think about dampening at all. So I must have it tied in with some part of my playing, most likely the lines. But you'll see as you watch. The main screen is the pedal and my feet.

Hello Everyone,

The tune for this week will be Woody n You. Maybe it would be nice if we would try to do a version in a latin feel.

For those of you who are able to, try to make a duet yourself. So record one part and then add a second part all on your own.

I can also make a play along version, but let's first all study the tune a little and if someone needs help or wants a play along, I can make one during the week, ok?

Hope you guys will join in!

TJ

P.S. At the moment I'm doing these

So I just bought a cool new recorder that plugs right into my iPhone and the quality is really awesome. It is called the Belkin TuneTalk Stereo. It cost me about $70. I thought I would turn it on and play a tune that my lessons teacher has me working on. This is my attempt at playing Giant Steps as a bossa. I am also trying to do it from memory, so sometimes my memory fails me.

Any suggestion or tips on how to weave through the changes better would be nice. Also any tips in general are greatly appreciated.