What's cool is check out the backdrop. He's got huge a wharehouse.

Here's a clip from when I was at Mike's factory. I thought I posted this here but I can't find it.

If you're interested we have:

Bob Leatherbarrow's cd Polychrome
http://micelimusic.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=24_33&pro…
and
Behn Gillece's cd Full View
http://micelimusic.com/index.php?main_page=product_music_info&cPath=24_…

for sale in the store now. Just click on shop in the top menu.

Ed Saindon will be playing this coming Sunday, May 17th at 75 Chestnut's Brunch from 11-3 along with the great upright bassist Thomas Hebb. It's back to school for me on Sunday... yey!

http://www.75chestnut.com

Here's a snipet of stella. memorize it and play through all the keys. it's just a piece. think of it unravelling in front of you.

I asking talking with Barry about what an opening or break lick is. I thought maybe other people might be confused so here's an example. You play the head and when you get to the end, it's usuall the last 2 bars the band goes whack and stops and you play into the top of the tune. Get the music out for 'Groovin High' and check this out.

didn't i give you a bunch of things to work on? i don't see them.

friedman dampening and pedaling.

and lets do this. pick a tune that you know really well. memorized. play it for a few days and then let's do a skype lesson and talk about the tune. i'll show you how i think of the harmony.

cool? get the friedman book.

I had this idea today. Just trying to figure out how to implement it as well see if there's interest.

I want to start a tune club for the summer. I would like it to be very disciplined. The idea is we learn 2-3 tunes a week.

I got it... we could do it like this. Week Challenges. I'll post the tunes say on a Wednesday. We all study the tunes all week and then post by the the following 7th day your version. I (or maybe Phillipe!) will make play along tracks. Just rough for you guys to learn the tunes. Everyone has to submit the tune by the 7th day.

I'm fasinated by lines so today I studied opening licks. I put them down in a Finale doc and thought I'd post them.

I sat and listened to them until I could pretty much play them, then I went over to the hunk of metal and tried to slowly play the lick without messing up. Then I sped it up and put it through all the keys.

You guys should try it. Licks are attached.

Mike Balter is a member now of vibesworkshop.com!

If you don't know Mike he's just the most fun, easy going, coolest guy and knows more about mallets then probably anyone on the planet. He's a real stick meister.

He has done SO much for the mallet world. We're lucky to have him!!

He said he'll answer any mallet questions he can, so if you have any questions feel free to post here.

WELCOME MIKE!! YOU DA MAN!