"Khaing"

Khaing

http://schicksville.com/Music/Khaing.mp3

A lovely, unaffected musical piece.

That's not, like, your wife or anything is it?

Thanks Blue!

That's not, like, your wife or anything is it?

I wish you wouldn't have said that Blue. I can't get it out of my mind now.

I named this piano solo after my sponsor child in Southeast Asia. No, that's not her either.

Best, John

John, there is no question that you write musically "sound" pieces, but I really am waiting for you to grow out of the "music box" feel and into something more elaborate; more profound. Until then, all I hear is your ability to write within a certain key. Surely you are capable of greater things!

This is in no way an insult. It's just every time I click on one of your links, I pretty much know what it is going to sound like. What do you guys say, "variety is the spice of life?"

Ah... I figured it was a stock shot or something. But I caught myself about to think out loud (in print... er, I mean, on the screen) -- I thought, maybe she's someone's wife or GF.

She's attractive -- but there's something really scary about that heavily Europeanized look that some women in Japan (and elsewhere, no doubt) are into. And it's scary how far they'll go. But then, it's scary how far some of our good ol' American girls are going these days. Maybe I'm old fashioned...

Maybe it's because I grew up around a bunch of Euro-Americans, but I was always attracted to pretty Asian girls because they were exotic and different.

Of course -- those girls aren't having eye, nose, and, ahem, other plastic surgeries to please old American guys but rather... well... I've never been exactly sure what kind of Japanese guys those girls are trying to impress. I would think the office man would be too boring, even if he was successful --but then, in heavily patriarchal countries, sex and romance are not usually much on women's minds... while it would be easy to imagine a girl who looked like the girl above might get really passionate about shopping.

I hear you Blue. I love the exotic look also. It's difficult to find authentic Asian. Even though she's not pure Asian, I fell in love with Nancy Kwan in my high school days.

Don't be fooled Devery ... The hardest music for a pianist to play is the simple pieces. When I was studying piano, my teacher, who happened to be a concert pianist, told me this: "if you want to judge a pianist's ability, have him/her play a simple piece of music". For instance, "To A Wild Rose" by Edward MacDowell

It's difficult to put in words, but there's no "faking it" with a simple piece of music. It's like standing naked in a crowd.

Flashy, grandiose piano solos are impressive sounding, but to me not as challenging. To express a complete musical concept in a delicate, simple way, is much more interesting and challenging to me. However, I have done many "heavier" piano solos. Here's a clip of one: http://schicksville.com/Music/Wounds.mp3

I understand what you're saying Devery. But everything doesn't have to blow a person out of his seat.

BTW, my music is composed in many different keys.

John

Very nice John, pleasant.

KAC

Don't be fooled Devery ... The hardest music for a pianist to play is the simple pieces. When I was studying piano, my teacher, who happened to be a concert pianist, told me this: "if you want to judge a pianist's ability, have him/her play a simple piece of music". For instance, "To A Wild Rose" by Edward MacDowell It's difficult to put in words, but there's no "faking it" with a simple piece of music. It's like standing naked in a crowd. Flashy, grandiose piano solos are impressive sounding, but to me not as challenging. To express a complete musical concept in a delicate, simple way, is much more interesting and challenging to me. However, I have done many "heavier" piano solos. Here's a clip of one: http://schicksville.com/Music/Wounds.mp3 I understand what you're saying Devery. But everything doesn't have to blow a person out of his seat. BTW, my music is composed in many different keys. John

I'm not talking about simple music or hard music, Johnny. I am not talking about flashy music. I am talking about music where the melody is lost within the scales/arps being played by the left hand. It is a personal pet peeve of mine and I am not fond of that style. It seems like everyone in the 20th and 21st century plays like this. Outside of writing hymns, it is the easiest way to write music. Writing good piano music is a lost art nowadays. (I never said I am contributing to it either )

Now, the piece you linked to, that was nice. A distinctive melody. It wasn't lost through your left hand. Change. Fluctuations. Soft. Hard. Different.

I don't need to be blown out of my seat. I just want to hear something different from John Schick. And, of course I did with your other link!

Do you not agree that this is the easiest way to write a song? Sit down. Induce a (introverted) mood. Pick a key. Start playing an arp with the left hand and write tidbits for the right hand. To me it is just like writing a hymn. You just add some scales/arps for the left hand instead of playing with the melody.

Beh!

I hope so!

Again, I trust you realize that this is in no way a knock on your music or your skills. When I say I want something more profound from you I don't mean something like this. I just have heard a handful of songs from you in which there is little or no deviation in feel and presentation (aside from your rag). You know that I am brutally honest. I am the more so with you because you are good.

You completely lost me on that hymn analysis Devery. I basically compose from the heart these days. The music you hear of mine is me

I can't explain un cazzo in English! Sorry. . .

This style reminds me of hymns. Hymns are easy to write. You have a melody, and 3 parts harmony. When I first started playing the piano, because I taught myself, I practiced all the time with hymns. The better I got, I began to improvise with my left hand. Instead of playing the harmony (bass and tenor lines), which plays simultaniously with the melody, I began to add arpeggios. This style reminds me of what I used to do with hymns. Hymns by themselves can be pretty, but they are much better with overlapping arps and scales, it just adds more color.

I want to make sure that I am explaining myself right here. When I mentioned something "more profound," I wasn't talking about writing something difficult, or something triumphant, etc. What I meant was that I am looking for a stronger motif out of your music. As the others have so justly said, this song is beautiful. There is no doubt about that. But for me, I not only look for music that is beautiful, I look for music that is memorable. I want to be able to remember something from any song I listen to, even if it is just one section. This does not do that for me. I know you said you write background music, maybe I need to let up (shut up ) because really it is perfect for background music. Because it is beautiful. So when I say more profound I guess that's my way of saying more memorable.

For example, I have come across this lady in my internet searches, http://pianoline.net/?111430

Her music reminds me of yours. Everything she touches is beautiful, but none of it "sticks" with me. Her melodies are descent, but because of the endless arps and scales, the motif is lost in the shuffle.

Does that make sense?? Forgive me if I come across as an asshole critic. I just know you are capable of good things. . .

You're hearing my music different than I am. My music is in no way related to the "hymn" form. I'm very much in touch with all forms of music. I've studied them extensively.

Look, I think this discussion should just be dropped - because we're not on the same page. As a matter of fact we're not even in the same book. Oh wait a minute: we're not even in the same library.

Sorry, but I doubt your noble intentions. End of discussion...

John:rolleyes:

P.S. No need to PM me anymore. You

What do you guys say? "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." This is fitting.

If you come to a public forum, post your songs there, you are opening yourself to critique. I have the feeling you are only seeking a pat on the back instead of an honest opinion. This is sad. Very sad. Very sad indeed. Look, when you write wonderfully, I will tell you so. When it is average, I will tell you so. When it sucks, I will let you know also.

Also, I never said your songs sound like hymns. I said:

If you haven't figured it out by now, I am trying to be an honest critic of your music, your production, your playing, all for the sake of making you a better songwriter and all around musician. But, I have only gotten the impression that you think everything is perfect with yourself already and that I am a fool for thinking otherwise. You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

If you noticed, I have never posted any of my stuff on this site. I do not want to subject myself to other peoples opinions. You on the other hand post a new song seemingly every other day. If I was posting my songs on this forum, I would be willing to hear other peoples opinions and not say asinine things like:

I will say it again, your stuff is above average, but some of it does not resonate with me. I have tried in the past to tell you why. If you do not want to hear this, then you can click on my user name, click "view profile," choose the "ignore this user" option, or, stop posting your songs.

Well I'm not gonna get in the middle of it cause I don't necessarily understand the differences either. I'll just say I like both of your styles of music.

KAC

Actually, I'm just here to kick start all of his threads! It really is a clever marketing tool.

Well I'm not gonna get in the middle of it cause I don't necessarily understand the differences either. I'll just say I like both of your styles of music. KAC

I will try to summarize what I am trying to get at:

John is an exceptional composer of music, he has an exceptional understanding of composition, however, the last several songs he has posted have sounded pretty much the same to me (even though they were in different keys). I then began to point out why the "music box" style of piano playing (left hand doing arps, right hand doing melody with arps) does nothing for me. I also tried to point out that (for me anyways), aside from writing hymns, this is a most simple way of writing music. I am simply pointing out to him that I would like to see more from him and not more of the same. He is surely capable of that. I am simply trying to help him become better, to let him know of how others see his music besides "oh, that is beautiful" blah blah blah. Forgive me if this wrong.

Screw it.

Io ci rinuncio

Thanks Kenny! Glad you like it.

Best, John

Well I'm not gonna get in the middle of it cause I don't necessarily understand the differences either. I'll just say I like both of your styles of music. KAC

Yeah, it's best to just let it run its course Kenny.

I think our personalities just clash (or maybe it

I just got into a clash of sorts myself on another forum over, of all things whether a refrain and chorus were the same thing or not.

Keep up the great work John.

KAC

Kenny,

Yeah, then after the clashing I start thinking I could have handled things better. Oh well, nothing like a good clashing to make a thread more interesting. How interesting would a movie be without a conflict - boring...

Best, John

Yep, that one of the things it took me a bit to learn to apply to my writing.

KAC

Oh, this isn't a clash, I don't think.

I mean, no one has threatened to jump on a plane and come have a talk with anyone, or anything!

If there's a clash, it's more a clash of ideas and approaches and the discussion of that -- even if passionate -- is a good thing, I think.

FWIW (and I may regret getting into this, myself ) I kind of know where Devery is coming from here, on some level. There is, in some of John's more subtly appealing works, a formal integrity and logical movement that makes some of John's works seem 'instantly familiar' and that might strike some as a sort of predictability. That's not to say those works don't have real charms -- but they're not the sort of riveting, eye-opening exploration/innovation that will quickly grab the attention of folks weaned on aggressive, texture and juxtaposition based pop and rock.

And, all that said, I can think of some of my favorites of John's compositions (specifically, the ones I've liked enough to add to my permanent collection -- heady praise from me) that really did captivate and engage me from the git go.

But my tastes were honed on everything from 20s and 30s tin pan alley (and a lot of it) to aggro speed-punk from the early 80s... so, I'm far from typical of my own age group or any likely to follow...

Anyhow, I've felt this was a productive discussion (I've been keeping an eye on it) and since I like everyone involved I've been hoping it would stay pretty collegial... and, by and large, I think we're fine, here. People are passionate about music and if they get a little passionate or frustrated at times trying to communicate the fullness -- and the subtlety -- of what they're trying to say, it's my thinking that's part of the territory.

If we were discussing things that didn't matter at all to any of us -- I'm sure we could get by without any controversies at all.

And wouldn't that be boring? And probably none too productive either. If you wanna make omelets...

I will add one note here Blue.

One difference in my composing today (as opposed to a decade ago), is that everything I compose is geared towards TV background music (and what my publishers are looking for). Yes, I've commercialized to a large degree (but I still try to keep my musical integrity in everything I write).

BTW, this track my publisher liked and wanted. So I must have been focused in the usefulness of my composition.

Do I compose anything these days strictly for art? I'm afraid not. I'm trying to build up my TV placements for my retirement in three years.

I guess the "hymn" remark is the one that pushed me past my usual good-humored personality.

I believe Devery is the only person that has ever ruffled my feathers online. Which makes him unique (if not annoying).

Best, John

Well, I think at the same time he was trying to get his point across, he was also taking pains to acknowledge the high level of your skills... I'm thinkin' no one's ever gonna call me an "exceptional composer."

Like I said, it's natural to be passionate about one's passions.

One of the dangers of cyber-dialog is that it lacks a lot of the preter-verbal cues that keep a couple of buddies in a pub or coffeehouse passionately arguing politics -- or sports -- out of trouble. Which is why, in this focused forum, the moderation is a little more proactive than it might be in, say, oh, Open Jam...

But it's my thinking that this is just lively, passionate dialog from two people with very different professional perspectives. Neither perspective is 'right' or 'wrong' -- it's more like looking at the same landscape from two different vantage points -- you see it different from over here than the other guy sees it from over there. If both parties report accurately what they see, their reports will be different -- and might well be inferred to be contradictory in a superficial analysis -- but both will actually be correct.

Okay, I'm sorry Devery. But don't ever mention that four letter word again.

Best, John:cool:

Four letter word?

Hymn?

Of course, I dedicated myself to the pursuit of 4 chord wonders way back in the 70s, after an immersion in various forms of acid, early metal, and progressive rock... I found Hank Williams and thought, no... this talks to me.

So, I guess I see it from yet another perspective. They all have their place, I think. And I think we can all learn from each others' perspectives.

But ultimately we've got to be, you know, who we as individuals are...

(And I'm apparently the guy who strings together self-help manual cliches. )

____________

BTW, no one in this thread should feel chastised in any way. I may not have expressed it well, but my take here is that a lively discussion of points of view, approach, and priorities is a good thing and, if, occasionally, passionate discussion gets a little over-heated, it's natural. It's my thinking that people of broad mind and good will will see past minor dust-ups to a great future when we can all make music together as one. Which I'm thinking will feature solo spots by Jimi, Trane, Joplin, Parker...