Dave Binney/Lists

Finally picked up the newest record by alto saxist/composer David Binney today. The disc...record... (what do you call it when you download the album but there's no physical product... I guess the album works) is called "Aliso" and carries on a tradition of great Binney discs on the Criss Cross label.

I've only listened to the album twice today, but the playing is consistently fresh and surprising, and the original tunes are phenomenal. Dave's writing has always caught my ear because of his willingness to work with unashamedly pop-like, but deceptively quirky, melodies. Dave also has a great website, http://www.davidbinney.com where you can download audio from gigs as well as all of his original charts for cheap.

I've been suffering some amateur writer's block in trying to work on new Quintopus tunes, so I'm going to be playing through a lot of the Binney charts I have for inspiration.

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The organizational tip for this post will be to recommend keeping lists of what you want to accomplish. I know, it sounds obvious. I've taken to writing out a plan at the beginning of each week and saving it as a Google document (all you need is a Gmail or Google account, totally easy). Relating it to a bigger-picture monthly or project-plan list helps to keep me motivated to get through all of the little tedious stuff that goes into accomplishing bigger plans. Do it now!

Getting Organized - a few steps...

I'm still figuring out a daily routine that works on ongoing projects (recording an album with Quintopus, booking gigs, general practice) as well as accommodating for tasks that come up on the fly (practice for a specific gig, listening to gig recordings, meetings, rehearsals).

I took a few hours last week and organized my filing cabinet (thrilling!) to make my teaching materials readily available, as well as get a lot of other junk out of the way.

Additionally, after filing my taxes last week (a post that features 2 separate mentions of filing, I think I'll subscribe to this blog!) I treated myself to a new computer chair, a personal rotary trimmer (for making new business cards), and a garbage can:




Tools for comfort and organization!!!! I think this is really going to enable me to buckle down and making everything more efficient when it comes to practicing and teaching in my little space.

All of these items plus a printer ink cartridge cost $79.98. An exciting and worthwhile investment.

I gaurantee that the next post will contain less mention of filing, and even contain some music.

CT

Additional Material

Hello reader, and welcome to the first installment of "5 Tentacles", (in reference to the band Quintopus, which of course has six members).

These entries will cover the process of music making, the practice/rehearsal process, teaching, and the business of getting the information you make to people who aren't you.

Comments are welcome. Feel free to link to my page, I'll link to yours if it has similar or otherwise exciting content.