http://psft001.blog.co.uk/en-EUMokoFeed10http://psft001.blog.co.uk/http://data5.blog.de/design/preview/db/0ad772f6a57d6e94749066e29d5cd4_160x200.jpghttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/09/07/new-non-musical-toys-6916704/tag:psft001.blog.co.uk,2009-09-07:/2009/09/07/new-non-musical-toys-6916704/Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:33:20 +0200 <p>It's been a while since I posted anything - been too bust trying to keep the wee ones entertained over the school summer holidays! Still managed to get quite a bit of music bits done and have managed to keep up the practice on my new musical toy - the bassoon.</p> <p>Non-musical new toys are my new digital SLR - a gorgeous Olympus Evolt E-410 complete with the ED 14-42mm 1:3, 5-5.6 Zoom Lens and ED 40-150mm 1:4.0-5.6 Zoom Lens, plus a stack of accessories to go with it all. Never really got on with my Fuji digital camera and have been eyeing up the Olympus range as I used their 35mm OM series for many years and really got on well with them. Very much looking forward to getting some slightly more serious photography done over the coming months.</p> <p>Back to music - and I've almost completed my latest album - as soon as I've finished off the last couple of tracks (just overdubbing of guitar to be done) and sorted out the final mix I'll post a couple of tracks here for people to review.</p> <p>Cheers </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/09/07/new-non-musical-toys-6916704/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>musicmusicalhttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/09/07/new-non-musical-toys-6916704/#commentshttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/07/23/play-things-etc-6573619/tag:psft001.blog.co.uk,2009-07-23:/2009/07/23/play-things-etc-6573619/Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:13:41 +0200 <p>well my bassoon has finally arrived and it's even better than I anticipated - considering that I haven't played one since 1980 I was surprised at how much I remembered - even managed to reel off most of the 1st movement of Mozarts bassoon Concerto!</p> <p>Looking forward to getting back up to speed and hopefully getting some gigs. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/07/23/play-things-etc-6573619/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>musicalmusichttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/07/23/play-things-etc-6573619/#commentshttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/07/18/new-instrument-6540775/tag:psft001.blog.co.uk,2009-07-18:/2009/07/18/new-instrument-6540775/Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:02:04 +0200 <p>Just bought a s/h bassoon off Ebay - wierdly enough off my old bassoon teacher from the 70's who I haven't been in touch with since '79! It's an early 60's Schreiber and I can't wait to get my hands on it - just hoping it lives up to expectation. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/07/18/new-instrument-6540775/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/07/18/new-instrument-6540775/#commentshttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/06/02/first-week-6223997/tag:psft001.blog.co.uk,2009-06-02:/2009/06/02/first-week-6223997/Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:33:23 +0200 <p>Well the first week of redundancy went really well as it was half term so was doing lots of silly things with the wee ones.</p> <p>It was really good to just chill and not have to worry about anything for a short time. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/06/02/first-week-6223997/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>musicalmusichttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/06/02/first-week-6223997/#commentshttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/05/21/finito-6154664/tag:psft001.blog.co.uk,2009-05-21:/2009/05/21/finito-6154664/Thu, 21 May 2009 22:00:09 +0200 <p>Bit of a strange day today - spent most of it sorting out my redundacy package from ELDC and tomorrow will be my last day employed by them. </p> <p>Mixed feelings - made some fine friends there so will obviously miss them but I have to admit will not miss the place one bit.</p> <p>Already putting together my plans for much music making - can't wait </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/05/21/finito-6154664/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>musicmusicalhttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/05/21/finito-6154664/#commentshttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/05/13/extremely-frustrated-6111001/tag:psft001.blog.co.uk,2009-05-13:/2009/05/13/extremely-frustrated-6111001/Wed, 13 May 2009 21:37:21 +0200 <p>Just about to get settled in for an evening of recording and re-mixing some tracks and my damn laptop won't work off the mains adapter - feels like the input socket on the laptop is very loose (hope that's all it is anyway) pretty sure it's not the mains adapter as tried two and they both work on another laptop (daughters) OK.</p> <p>Instead been working on layouts and arrangements for some other tracks that are in their infancy at the moment. But I can't really try out the sound layering I want as I need my midi sequencer set-up which is on the laptop - really, really bloody annoying.</p> <p>Venting my frustration on the digital piano with heavy handed scales & excercise's! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/05/13/extremely-frustrated-6111001/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>musicalmusichttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/05/13/extremely-frustrated-6111001/#commentshttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/05/03/inspired-6052583/tag:psft001.blog.co.uk,2009-05-03:/2009/05/03/inspired-6052583/Sun, 03 May 2009 21:12:38 +0200 <p>Well, this new synth' module (Yamaha MU80) has rejuvinated my desire to write new material. Adding this little beauty to my midi set-up has opened up all sorts of possibilities - I can now do some work on my ideas for more orchestral based compositions as well as the more synth' based 'New Age' type of works. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/05/03/inspired-6052583/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/05/03/inspired-6052583/#commentshttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/04/29/new-toys-6031029/tag:psft001.blog.co.uk,2009-04-29:/2009/04/29/new-toys-6031029/Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:01:29 +0200 <p>Just got a new synth' module - yamaha mu80 - hooked it up to my midi set-up straight away and been playing around with it most of the afternoon - bloody gorgeous piece of kit - looking forward to doing some serious work with it over the coming weeks/months. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/04/29/new-toys-6031029/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>musichttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/04/29/new-toys-6031029/#commentshttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/04/12/frazzeled-5929756/tag:psft001.blog.co.uk,2009-04-12:/2009/04/12/frazzeled-5929756/Sun, 12 Apr 2009 10:32:34 +0200 <p>Been a hectic week as trying to get lots done around the house/garden plus rehearse with my daughter Hannah as we have relatives descending upon us today and she is doing a mini-concert for them.<br> She has worked really hard and has five songs prepared that she will be performing with a recorded backing track that I've produced for her over the last couple of weeks.<br> Had a little accident the other week (tripped and smacked my head against the front door frame) and ended up with concussion so my practice time took a bit of a back seat as wasn't exactly 'with-it' for awhile!<br> Hope you all have a really good Easter break<br> Cheers<br> psft </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/04/12/frazzeled-5929756/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>musicmusicalhttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/04/12/frazzeled-5929756/#commentshttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/03/28/frustration-5845283/tag:psft001.blog.co.uk,2009-03-28:/2009/03/28/frustration-5845283/Sat, 28 Mar 2009 03:18:31 +0100 <p>Trying to do the artwork for my CD and getting very frustrated as I can't get the look I want. I can see it in my minds eye very clearly but my artistic talents are not quite good enough to interpret those visions. May have to switch to plan B and get the camera out as I've a few other ideas that may work.</p> <p>Practice has been a bit lax lately and it shows - did a spot of playing on the piano this evening (mainly Bach 48) and was struggling a little on some pieces that a few weeks ago I was blasting through without problems! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/03/28/frustration-5845283/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>musichttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/03/28/frustration-5845283/#commentshttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/03/08/inspired-5714550/tag:psft001.blog.co.uk,2009-03-08:/2009/03/08/inspired-5714550/Sun, 08 Mar 2009 10:32:28 +0100 <p>Spent most of the night laying down the basic tracks for a new instrumental piece written in memory of a friend who died very recently - he was a very kind, gentle giant of a man and will be missed by many.</p> <p>I hope this piece will be a fitting memorial - I'll post here when completed. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/03/08/inspired-5714550/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>musicmusicalhttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/03/08/inspired-5714550/#commentshttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/03/07/such-a-long-time-5711217/tag:psft001.blog.co.uk,2009-03-07:/2009/03/07/such-a-long-time-5711217/Sat, 07 Mar 2009 17:03:46 +0100 <p>My apologies for the lack of writing - been in a bit of a musical wilderness due to many things including stress at work and a terrible bout of depression.</p> <p>It's taken the sad news of an old friend dying very recently that's got me off my backside and doing music again properly - just finished writing the outline of an instrumental piece and have just started recording it this weekend and have just been looking at re-recording a piece I did about a decade ago - we'll see how things progress.</p> <p>Hope all out there are OK </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/03/07/such-a-long-time-5711217/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>musicmusicalhttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2009/03/07/such-a-long-time-5711217/#commentshttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2008/09/14/been-awhile-4725175/tag:psft001.blog.co.uk,2008-09-14:/2008/09/14/been-awhile-4725175/Sun, 14 Sep 2008 10:30:29 +0200 <p>I know it's been a little while since I last jotted anything here - life's been so hectic of late thanks to the Lincolnshire Police!!!<br> No, I haven't been a naughty boy - in my day job, working for East Lindsey District Council, I work in the IT section and one of the pieces of software I look after is Academy which is the application that generates Council Tax (Booo...) Thanks to Lincolnshire Police being absolute twats and trying to extract an increase of 78% in their charges to the good people of ELDC it means we are in the process of having to go though re-billing 70,000 residents - just a little bit of work for me then!!!!!!!!!!</p> <p>Anyway - Music</p> <p>Been working on the final mix of a cover version of 'Numb' by Linkin Park with my daughter Hannah (age 9) - she's doing the vocals and I'm doing the rest!!</p> <p>Utilising Midi to it's full for keyboards/synths/strings/effects etc with real bass & guitar plus maybe some additional Soprano Sax - haven't decided yet. Getting to grips with my Akai DPS12 has been fun but I'm really enjoying it and the potential of this little beast is just awesome.</p> <p>When it's done I'll post here so you can judge for yourselves as to quality, content etc.</p> <p>Hannah wants to do a few more tracks, basically as an Xmas pressie CD for friends/family, but she can't decide on which ones to do at the moment - I'm trying to steer her away from Britney's Toxic at the mo! Although I quite fancy having a go at her 'Everything' track - love the piano part to that.</p> <p>She's also considering 'Rule the World' by Take That - which sadly I have to admit I quite like - now I never in a million years thought I would say that about a Take That track, but it is bloody good.</p> <p>As for me - practice hasn't been as productive as I would have liked of late (see Lincolnshire Police above) but I have been managing get at least an hour everyday, predominantly on the Piano - as it's a digital one and I can pay late at night with headphones, bit difficult to do with a sax/flute/clarinet etc, etc! Although still doing plenty on guitar and bass too. At least now my fingers aren't red raw and sliced to pieces when playing guitar/bass so I can manage decent lengths of practice time at last.</p> <p>Hoping in the not too distant future to quit at ELDC and get back into music full time after a 25 year stint away!! But more of that later.</p> <p>chow</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2008/09/14/been-awhile-4725175/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2008/09/14/been-awhile-4725175/#commentshttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2008/08/16/just-for-fun-4595224/tag:psft001.blog.co.uk,2008-08-16:/2008/08/16/just-for-fun-4595224/Sat, 16 Aug 2008 08:31:04 +0200 <p>1. Who was the last person to call you?<br> Jayne, my wife</p> <p>2. Where was your default picture taken?<br> My wedding</p> <p>3. What's your middle name?<br> Steven</p> <p>4. Your current relationship status?<br> Happily married</p> <p>5. Does your crush like you back?<br> Oh yes</p> <p>6. What is your current mood?<br> Very happy - it's my birthday</p> <p>7. What are you doing this weekend?<br> Celebrating my birthday</p> <p>8. What color shirt are you wearing?<br> Navy blue</p> <p>9. Ever been in love?<br> Many times</p> <p>10. If you could go back in time and change something, would you?<br> Probably not</p> <p>11. Have a crazy side?<br> I dunno ask him! Why ask me ask him! Can't answer that he told me not too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p> <p>12. Ever had a near death experience?<br> Yes</p> <p>13. Something you do a lot?<br> Play music</p> <p>14. Angry at anyone?<br> Frequently</p> <p>15. Who can you tell anything to?<br> Me</p> <p>16. Name someone with the same birthday as you?<br> Madonna</p> <p>17. When was the last time you cried?<br> This morning</p> <p>18. Who would you do anything for?<br> My family</p> <p>19. If you could have one super power what would it be?<br> Power to heal</p> <p>20. What's the first thing you notice about the opposite/same sex?<br> Usually eyes & smile closely followed by tits & ass!!</p> <p>21. What do you usually order from Starbucks?<br> Never been</p> <p>22. What's your biggest secret?<br> Sssshhhh - don't tell anyone else but...............</p> <p>23. Favorite colour?<br> All of them</p> <p>24. Favorite TV show?<br> At the moment Mock The Week</p> <p>25. Do you still watch kiddy movies or tv shows?<br> Often</p> <p>26. What are you eating or drinking at the moment?<br> Coffee & toast</p> <p>27. Do you speak any other language?<br> Crap & Bullshit!!</p> <p>28. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?<br> Getting all stressed out over my children's exams</p> <p>29. Describe your life in one word, what would it be?<br> Fantastic!</p> <p>30. Have you ever kissed in the rain?<br> Oh yes.</p> <p>31. Ever kissed on the beach?<br> Oh yes.</p> <p>32. What are you thinking about right now?<br> kissing.</p> <p>33. What should you be doing?<br> kissing.</p> <p>34. What was the last film you saw?<br> Braveheart on the TV</p> <p>35. What are you listening to?<br> Linkin Park</p> <p>36. Do you like working in the garden?<br> No</p> <p>37. Are you on facebook or myspace?<br> Both</p> <p>38. Do you act differently around the person you like?<br> No</p> <p>39.What is your natural hair color?<br> Fair/blonde</p> <p>40. Who was the last person you kissed?<br> My wife</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2008/08/16/just-for-fun-4595224/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2008/08/16/just-for-fun-4595224/#commentshttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2008/08/16/feeling-old-4595021/tag:psft001.blog.co.uk,2008-08-16:/2008/08/16/feeling-old-4595021/Sat, 16 Aug 2008 07:08:53 +0200 <p>Well another day, another year - today is my birthday, last of the 40's, next year we hit the half century and boy am I feeling old.</p> <p>Looking forward to a day with the family and the wee ones getting all excited at opening cards and pressies - don't expect that I'll be doing too much music wise today except for an interesting rendition of happy birthday by the clan!</p> <p>Any one else who has a birthday today or close by - many happy returns.</p> <p>Catch you all later</p> <p>psft </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2008/08/16/feeling-old-4595021/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2008/08/16/feeling-old-4595021/#commentshttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2008/08/10/apologies-4565927/tag:psft001.blog.co.uk,2008-08-10:/2008/08/10/apologies-4565927/Sun, 10 Aug 2008 09:57:05 +0200 <p>Humble apologies for not having posted anything recently - just been too busy.</p> <p>Bought some more music goodies of late including a s/h Soprano sax - supposedly bought so the wee ones can learn as my tenors too big for them (they are Thomas 5, Freya 8 & Hannah 9) but I suppose secretly I've always wanted a baby one! Anyway they are having a good time trying to blow the thing and I'm having fun trying to teach them and remembering back to when I first started trying to learn woodwind (clarinet) all those years ago.</p> <p>Now also have my new little bass combo, micro mixer, various mics and a diddy Yamaha Q10 - great little synth/Sequencer which I'm using as a music notepad because I keep coming up with ideas, don't write things down and then have tremendous difficulty in recalling them - sign of age I suppose.</p> <p>Anyway, all my music stuff is bounding along brilliantly - practicing schedules are good (now managing to squeeze in a couple of hours on average daily) and just started doing some arrangements/recordings for my daughter Hannah as she wants to produce a CD as xmas pressie's for friends/family (move over Hannah Montana here comes'Ice Queen'!)</p> <p>More later</p> <p>Have fun</p> <p>psft </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2008/08/10/apologies-4565927/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2008/08/10/apologies-4565927/#commentshttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2008/06/23/hard-work-4350640/tag:psft001.blog.co.uk,2008-06-23:/2008/06/23/hard-work-4350640/Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:39:13 +0200 <p>Well, another hectic weekend trying to get some practice shoehorned in between taking wee ones to theater club & church choir, weekend shopping, visiting relatives, placating a PMT wife(!)etc.</p> <p>Didn't manage to get any time to play with my new toy - an Akai 12 Track Digital Portastudio (got it off Ebay for a very good price). Have only managed a couple of sessions trying it out since I got it, but I think it will be more than capable for my needs. Also got a couple of mics & stands and a sack full of various leads for connecting everything up. May have to book a few days off work so I can have a really good session getting things sorted.</p> <p>Will have to now start checking Ebay out for effects units & processors etc to add to my kit list! Just don't tell the wife!!</p> <p>Fingers not aching quite so badly after this weekends piano practice sessions, however an hour on the 6 string elctro-acoustic has torn my fingers to shreds - can't wait until the skins toughened up again.</p> <p>Planning on doing some woodwind work tonight (probably Sax) - at least until my lips fail!!!</p> <p>Chow</p> <p>psft</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2008/06/23/hard-work-4350640/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>musicalmusichttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2008/06/23/hard-work-4350640/#commentshttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2008/06/19/lets-get-started-4337921/tag:psft001.blog.co.uk,2008-06-19:/2008/06/19/lets-get-started-4337921/Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:29:13 +0200 <p>Well - I haven't taken my music seriously in a very long time (something in the region of 25 years!!) and after much soul searching etc I've now finally decided to get off my big fat arse and do something about it!!</p> <p>Over the last ten years or so I've been slowly collecting a group of instruments (guitars, flute, sax, acoustic bass, digital piano etc) and have pretended to do practice in one form or another but haven't really got very far.</p> <p>Main problem is having decided to finally get down to some serious work the old brain and fingers don't quite move as quick as they used to! Also found that following a pretty intensive hour or so at the piano the following day my fingers and wrists bloody ached like hell.</p> <p>Just keep telling myself that the hard work will pay off and I'll be able to play somewhere like the standard I used to all those years ago (grade 8/Diploma). </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://psft001.blog.co.uk/2008/06/19/lets-get-started-4337921/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>musicmusicalhttp://psft001.blog.co.uk/2008/06/19/lets-get-started-4337921/#comments