Learning to Use SoundCloud

Sometimes I reluctantly learn things.....and other times I jump into learning with excitement.  I think learning to use SoundCloud has come by both avenues in this musical road trip I am undertaking down under.  Here's the result of what I have learned about using the free bits of SoundCloud:



It's not pretty....the artwork might not make sense, the song selection might be a bit random, and the recordings are homemade with a digital voice recorder, but it's just a learning exercise.....and I'm okay with that.

Pinterest

I'm experimenting with Pinterest.  I have hesitated entering Pinterest world, because I did not see a need for it.  I'm still not sure I "need" pinterest, but I see that it is a GOOD thing.  It is basically a virtual, visual, collection space.  A place to pin-up what one wants to see again and to share those things with the world while keeping the original photo's credit/copyright, location, etc.

Although I am not (at this time) collecting the way many others collect photos on Pinterest -- collecting recipes, dream-vacation spot photographs, or pictures of high-heeled-dream-shoes and wedding dresses -- I do see Pinterest as an excellent place to place advertisements and promotions of things that are good.

My experimentation with Pinterest has mostly been in sharing things I love about Tasma House.  Without SELLING Tasma House, I am able to use Pinterest to show why Tasma House is a lovely place for families and friends to gather.

On the link below, I have used an RSS feed of my Pinterest account to share here what I have shared there.

 Pinterest

Click here for a link to my Pinterest pin-board/profile page.

Pinterest

I'm experimenting with Pinterest.  I have hesitated entering Pinterest world, because I did not see a need for it.  I'm still not sure I "need" pinterest, but I see that it is a GOOD thing.  It is basically a virtual, visual, collection space.  A place to pin-up what one wants to see again and to share those things with the world while keeping the original photo's credit/copyright, location, etc.

Although I am not (at this time) collecting the way many others collect photos on Pinterest -- collecting recipes, dream-vacation spot photographs, or pictures of high-heeled-dream-shoes and wedding dresses -- I do see Pinterest as an excellent place to place advertisements and promotions of things that are good.

My experimentation with Pinterest has mostly been in sharing things I love about Tasma House.  Without SELLING Tasma House, I am able to use Pinterest to show why Tasma House is a lovely place for families and friends to gather.

On the link below, I have used an RSS feed of my Pinterest account to share here what I have shared there.

 Pinterest

Click here for a link to my Pinterest pin-board/profile page.

Old School Art -- Learning to Watercolor

For the past few weeks I have been reintroducing myself to hands-on art.....painting on paper.  Painting with water colors is new to me.

Years ago I took a few painting classes (workshop-style) in the stockrooms of stores that sold craft supplies.  Tole painting, oil painting, I remember, but I don't remember ever studying watercolor techniques.  So, I'm learning as I go.   I'm learning old-school-style.....by taking a brush and putting it to the paper and teaching myself what I like and don't like about my skills.  I am enjoying this!

After taking thousands of photographs of birds in my backyard, I decided to start painting the ducks I have been watching.  These ducks have become little friends.....and I can see by the photographs that they are not imaginary.....sometimes they seem to be asking if they can sit in my lap when I am watching them near the pond, though we have not become that friendly!  I love to see their water-play when several of them are on the pond, and I watch their expressions as much as their feathers.  All of this duck-observation has made me less critical of my own artwork.  I know my basic painting skills need work; but when I get a sense that a painted duck is looking up from the paper, like the ducks in the backyard, I'm satisfied and can move on to another painting.

Here's a photograph I used as a reference for a recent painting:

And here's my watercolor painting:

I'm enjoying the process of learning from authentic experiences: feeding, observing and photographing ducks in my backyard; organizing and sharing photographs via the internet; using my computer for referencing and enlarging duck photos whilst painting; photographing the various stages of my paintings; digitally enhancing and cropping photographs of my paintings; and, now, sharing these experiences and paintings via facebook, Picasa, Twitter, Youtube, and Blogger. 

Here's a short slideshow of the stages of my painting:

Click here for a link to the slideshow.

I'm not sure where my mind would be, if it were not for the blessings of ducks and digitalization in Daylesford....down under. 

Old School Art -- Learning to Watercolor

For the past few weeks I have been reintroducing myself to hands-on art.....painting on paper.  Painting with water colors is new to me.

Years ago I took a few painting classes (workshop-style) in the stockrooms of stores that sold craft supplies.  Tole painting, oil painting, I remember, but I don't remember ever studying watercolor techniques.  So, I'm learning as I go.   I'm learning old-school-style.....by taking a brush and putting it to the paper and teaching myself what I like and don't like about my skills.  I am enjoying this!

After taking thousands of photographs of birds in my backyard, I decided to start painting the ducks I have been watching.  These ducks have become little friends.....and I can see by the photographs that they are not imaginary.....sometimes they seem to be asking if they can sit in my lap when I am watching them near the pond, though we have not become that friendly!  I love to see their water-play when several of them are on the pond, and I watch their expressions as much as their feathers.  All of this duck-observation has made me less critical of my own artwork.  I know my basic painting skills need work; but when I get a sense that a painted duck is looking up from the paper, like the ducks in the backyard, I'm satisfied and can move on to another painting.

Here's a photograph I used as a reference for a recent painting:

And here's my watercolor painting:

I'm enjoying the process of learning from authentic experiences: feeding, observing and photographing ducks in my backyard; organizing and sharing photographs via the internet; using my computer for referencing and enlarging duck photos whilst painting; photographing the various stages of my paintings; digitally enhancing and cropping photographs of my paintings; and, now, sharing these experiences and paintings via facebook, Picasa, Twitter, Youtube, and Blogger. 

Here's a short slideshow of the stages of my painting:

Click here for a link to the slideshow.

I'm not sure where my mind would be, if it were not for the blessings of ducks and digitalization in Daylesford....down under. 

New News About Table Hill in Lyonville!

Table Hill played earlier today at the Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville, Victoria, Australia.  There was a full-house!  All ages included.  I always appreciate the chance to play music, and sometimes sing, with a mountain dulcimer.  I like it when people like the music of Table Hill, of course.  Although, at times, I am surprised by kind comments when the music critic in my head is giving me grief.  That happened today, as I had some internal conflict about what I wanted to play and what I was actually playing.  Nevertheless, people seemed to and said that they did enjoy the music.

I only recorded two tunes today.  My recording reflexes were not working well.  So I gave up and tried to enjoy the music of the moment without capturing it for my blog.  As I am writing this entry, I am uploading the two tunes to share.  The first is Midnight Special, and I did not get to the record button fast enough....so the recording sounds like it has a rushed start.  I guess this recording indicates the actual timing of when I realized what we were about to play and when  I decided that I might want to put the recorder on.  To tell the truth, sometimes I have a hard time keeping up with the moment-to-moment happenings during a gig.  This is my confession.  I am capable of reading music, but Table Hill is not about all that, and I think that's OK.  It's that internal music critic I mentioned earlier who has trouble with no notation.......or set list......or rehearsals.

Click here to hear Bob Dylan's song, "Tomorrow is a Long Time," performed by Table Hill in Lyonville.

In that recording, I hear myself hesitating as I listen to how I tried to decide on what to play, when not to play, when to play a full strum, when to flat-pick, when to play a bit of melody, when to just keep the beat.....not trying to play on top of anyone else's place in the performance.......or maybe try to play in unison with Adrian and/or Phil.  It was all decided on the spot, while we played.....and most-likely decided differently than the last time we played that tune together.  In today's performance I had moments when I was swept away with the playing and moments when I cringed and kept chording.....hoping that my cringe was not captured on a camera.

Click here to hear the traditional song, "Midnight Special," performed by Table Hill in Lyonville.

Same as above goes for this song.....I enjoyed the bits I got right and cringed and kept chording the parts I could figure out.

However the music is made, I consider that I am very blessed to have friends who let me keep coming back to make more of it.  And after all the music-making.....Adrian, Phil, and I were served delicious steaks with mushroom sauce. MMMMMmmmmmMMMMMmmmmmm!  So saucy and good.  With music, friends, and food.....Yes! I am blessed.

Here's a pic of what we looked like on the chalkboard today!

And here's a picture of the poster that was outside announcing the New Year's Eve party that includes the music of Table Hill.  This, of course, gave me a thrill.

For more about Table Hill, visit our website at www.TableHill.com.

For more about the Radio Springs Hotel, visit their website at www.RadioSpringsHotel.com.au.

To listen to more of my personal recordings of Table Hill in Lyonville, visit my other blog:  Carla Maxwell's Music Blog

New News About Table Hill in Lyonville!

Table Hill played earlier today at the Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville, Victoria, Australia.  There was a full-house!  All ages included.  I always appreciate the chance to play music, and sometimes sing, with a mountain dulcimer.  I like it when people like the music of Table Hill, of course.  Although, at times, I am surprised by kind comments when the music critic in my head is giving me grief.  That happened today, as I had some internal conflict about what I wanted to play and what I was actually playing.  Nevertheless, people seemed to and said that they did enjoy the music.

I only recorded two tunes today.  My recording reflexes were not working well.  So I gave up and tried to enjoy the music of the moment without capturing it for my blog.  As I am writing this entry, I am uploading the two tunes to share.  The first is Midnight Special, and I did not get to the record button fast enough....so the recording sounds like it has a rushed start.  I guess this recording indicates the actual timing of when I realized what we were about to play and when  I decided that I might want to put the recorder on.  To tell the truth, sometimes I have a hard time keeping up with the moment-to-moment happenings during a gig.  This is my confession.  I am capable of reading music, but Table Hill is not about all that, and I think that's OK.  It's that internal music critic I mentioned earlier who has trouble with no notation.......or set list......or rehearsals.

Click here to hear Bob Dylan's song, "Tomorrow is a Long Time," performed by Table Hill in Lyonville.

In that recording, I hear myself hesitating as I listen to how I tried to decide on what to play, when not to play, when to play a full strum, when to flat-pick, when to play a bit of melody, when to just keep the beat.....not trying to play on top of anyone else's place in the performance.......or maybe try to play in unison with Adrian and/or Phil.  It was all decided on the spot, while we played.....and most-likely decided differently than the last time we played that tune together.  In today's performance I had moments when I was swept away with the playing and moments when I cringed and kept chording.....hoping that my cringe was not captured on a camera.

Click here to hear the traditional song, "Midnight Special," performed by Table Hill in Lyonville.

Same as above goes for this song.....I enjoyed the bits I got right and cringed and kept chording the parts I could figure out.

However the music is made, I consider that I am very blessed to have friends who let me keep coming back to make more of it.  And after all the music-making.....Adrian, Phil, and I were served delicious steaks with mushroom sauce. MMMMMmmmmmMMMMMmmmmmm!  So saucy and good.  With music, friends, and food.....Yes! I am blessed.

Here's a pic of what we looked like on the chalkboard today!

And here's a picture of the poster that was outside announcing the New Year's Eve party that includes the music of Table Hill.  This, of course, gave me a thrill.

For more about Table Hill, visit our website at www.TableHill.com.

For more about the Radio Springs Hotel, visit their website at www.RadioSpringsHotel.com.au.

To listen to more of my personal recordings of Table Hill in Lyonville, visit my other blog:  Carla Maxwell's Music Blog