Another year ends

Christmas and the holidays are times during which many people take stock of their lives, the past year and the family and friends who have been such an important part of their lives. Music2Work 2 has had a great year and we have made many new friends through MySpace, other music websites and communities, and people discovering our music and registering on our website. We are pleased that so many new friends are enjoying Music2Work2.

We have great plans for 2008 and are looking forward to making changes to our website, adding new music, and exploring new avenues for sharing our music with more and more people.

We wish you all happiness, success and peace during the holidays and the new year.

Andrew and Charlotte
Music2Work2

John Frusciante - A Review

Some people may recognize the name, John Frusciante, as being a member of Red Hot Chili Peppers. He played a 4 year stint with them and then after several years away, rejoined the group. But he also is a solo singer and songwriter and a MySpace friend of Music2Work2.

There are four sample songs on Frusciante's MySpace page, unfortunately only three of the songs will play. My favorite of the three is "The Past Recedes." The lyrics and John's clear, pleasant voice are great, but I especially like the melody and the sound of the different instruments in this one. "The Mirror" and "Goals" are great songs, as well; I wish I could also hear the fourth song, "666."

John Frusciante has apparently had quite a life - parts of it very difficult. But, his music continues to be fantastic and his guitar-playing never better.

Feelin' Alright Coverin' Joe Cocker

Feelin' Alright - the Joe Cocker version - is an awesome track - I first heard it when playing with Stirling Brig - we were thinking of covering it back then.  I was going to link to the versions of the track on YouTube - but I wouldn't recommend them - get the studio version - it's in a different league.  It just has this killer groove - driven by that bongo percussion and insanely simple piano lick.  I'm sitting here trying to work it out on the table - and it's nuts!  The left hand / right hand relationship is just - well - to me - it' just cool!

I'm putting it forward as possible cover song for Kelli - along with:

Gimme Some Lovin -Spencer Davis Group
We Are the Champions - Queen
Me & Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin

I love the fact that we're going to be adding covers to the set - it makes huge sense - and of course, it means we get to play some great songs.  It also means that the pressure's on - the performance has to be unique - has to be Kelli's - has to be as good if not better than the original - and when you're taking on tracks like these - well - I don't think you can ever be "better" - but you can make them you're own if you have big enough balls!

So - how about doing the Joe Cocker track on a B3 organ - give the piano groove to the Bass and just see where it goes from there...?  Instead of having the organ on the Spencer Davis track - have that as piano driven - Me & Bobby McGee would need to be sexed up - instead of the acoustic approach - putting this with the instrumentation from Can't and popping the tempo a bit - Kelli and I did an acoustic version back in 02 that's got an interesting groove to it - we could "Jeff" that up and turn it into an out and out rocker - as for we are the Champions - I have no idea how to approach that!  Of course - there's 4 other players in the room who will all have their own ideas - it's going to be a fantastic experience putting these together.

Blogged with Flock

A Review of Revolutionary Side Effects

Do you like the cool sounds of progressive rock? If so, check out Revolutionary Side Effects, one of the MySpace friends of Music2Work2. Revolutionary Side Effects out of North Hollywood is made up of band members Mike Blumberg (Guitars, Vocals & Sampling), and Josh Baldwin (Drums, Vocals, Slidewhistle), with help on Bass from a variety of great players.

There are six sample songs on their MySpace page, all of them great. It would be difficult for me to chose a favorite. I like "Hey Western Union Man" and also "Fearless Jam" in particular, but they all provide a pleasant listening experience.

Since their first live performance in 2005, they have entertained audiences with their live improvisations at over 85 shows. Check out this jam band; I think you'll like them.

Keane - A Review

Keane is a fantastic alternative band from the U.K. The band members are Tom Chaplin, Tim Rice-Oxley and Richard Hughes.

Their music is melodic, upbeat tempo, with lyrics sung by a clear, pleasant voice and nice harmony. It seems to be piano/keyboard driven.

Three of the four songs available to hear on their MySpace page are recordings from live performances. I enjoyed listening to all four songs but my favorite is "This is the Last Time" with "A Bad Dream" as a close second.

Keane is one of Music2Work2's MySpace friends and a friend I would recommend checking out. Their band website won People's Choice Award for Best Official Music Site in the 2007 BT Digital Music Awards. Keane are currently working on their third album.

Let the Sunshine in

Apollo Sunshine, a MySpace friend of Music2Work2, can brighten any day with their upbeat, melodic sounds. The band is made up of members Jeremy, Jesse, Sam, Quentin, Oli, etc. Their music is classified as Idol/Religious/Salsa but realistically I would call it Pop, Rock, Electronica...

The songs available to hear on their MySpace page are instrumental except for one, "Magnolia." The vocals, harmony, and melodies performed by these musicians are all enjoyable. My favorite of the songs on their MySpace page is "Gnarls." However, all the songs give you a happy, uplifted feeling.

I recommend checking out their MySpace page and website and letting some Apollo Sunshine into your life.

Sophie Serafino - A Review

Sophie Serafino, a MySpace friend of Music 2 Work 2, is a violinist, singer and songwriter from Sydney, Australia. She began playing the violin at age 3.

Her music seems to be a mix of several genres - pop, rap, funk, rock, classical; these are evident just in the sample music on her MySpace page. Of the four songs available to hear on her page, my favorite is "Liquid Crystal." It is an upbeat, melodic piece with touches of classical and rock.

In addition to her solo performances, Sophie also plays with The String Angels and The String Selection.

I recommend checking out the sounds of this very talented musician.

Yiksiuchit - A Review

One of Music 2 Work 2's MySpace friends is Yiksiuchit from Hong Kong. His music is classified as Pop/Trip Hop. Yiksiuchit "does it all" as far as his music goes - composing, arranging, recording, synthesizer, mixing.

His MySpace page contains 5 very short samples of his music; I wish the samples were a bit longer. All five songs sound like beautiful, melodic pieces. I enjoyed listening to all of them, however, I think "Shadow of the light" is my favorite. This may have something to do with the fact that it is also the longest sample of the five - about one minute in length.

From these short demos, it is clear that Yiksiuchit is a talented musician. I am looking forward to hearing more of his music.

What color do you hear?

I was reading about an interesting phenomenon called synesthesia, in which “stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway.” This cross-over of senses often allows individuals to see letters, numbers, even days of the week in color; regardless of the color the letter is written in, individuals with this ability see a distinct color – “L” may be blue, “M” may be red. Some people with synesthesia also “hear” colors – sounds or music have a distinct color.

When I listen to music, it often evokes an emotion or feeling in me but definitely not colors. The emotion is usually tied to a past experience the music or song reminds me of. Research has shown that synesthesia is not the result of memories. There are several tests on a web site from the U.K., BBC - Science & Nature - Human Body and Mind, that one can take to determine if they have this blending of the senses. I definitely do not have it; I scored poorly on every one of them.

This entire web site is interesting and fun. It examines functions of the mind, personality, etc. in short surveys and psychology tests. And, the best part is that it actually gives you the results.

It's Not Easy Being Green...

At least, according to Kermit the Frog, it isn't. But, if you asked Music 2 Work 2's MySpace friend, Green Man Music, he may tell you differently. Green Man Music is Doug Peters, vocalist, playing guitar and occasional percussion, joined by a variety of other musicians on some of the sessions. Green Man Music is classified as Acoustic/Progressive/Folk.

The four songs available to hear on Green Man Music's MySpace page are guitar driven, folk stories, sung by Peters, whose voice is Dylan-like. My favorite of the four is "Eighteen Miles" because of the change in tempo that occurs several times during this piece.

Green Man Music has 2 albums to his credit - Sacred Water and La Vaquera, and is included on a compilation double cd, Dark Britannica, along with 29 other dark folk music tracks. Another cd, Gingerwitch Green, is planned for Fall '07.

If you are a fan of folk music, I think you will enjoy checking out the songs of Green Man Music.

Burger, fries and a download

According to Digital Music News' Daily Snapshot, November 13, 2007, it seems that the question at Wendy's will no longer be "do you want fries with that?" but rather "want a Rhapsody download with that?"

Participating Wendys will begin giving a code that opens access to the Rhapsody collection for free downloads with the purchase of medium and large-sized combo meals. According to Ian Rowden, chief marketing officer at Rhapsody, the purpose is to "connect with consumers on more occasions through the things they feel passionate about." I can't think of any two things human beings feel more passionate about than food (fast food, in particular) and music.

As Music 2 Work 2 grows and ventures out into other life activities for which music can be beneficial, perhaps we should think about "Music 2 Munch 2?"

Not Crying Wolf

Peter Wolf, one of Music 2 Work 2's MySpace friends, is vocalist, guitarist and pianist in the band Supernatural. He is joined by Thomas Kraemer: acoustic & electric guitars, bass, keyboards, computers, production, and Noel White: drums, bass, computers, production.

Their music is classified as Pop/Rock/Alternative. Personally, I classify it as "good music." The songs are melodic, and upbeat; Wolf's voice is soft and pleasant.

All four songs available to hear on their MySpace page are from their 2007 released, "Never Give Up." The songs follow a theme of perseverance through life's difficulties and success in overcoming them. The melodies are lovely and beautifully performed; the lyrics gentle and touching.

I really like all four songs; it is impossible for me to chose a favorite. This is the kind of music that lifts your spirits and makes you feel good.

Supernatural is currently working on another album, "Open Arms." Two tracks from this new album have been included in Germany's "NewPop2007" sampler.

I absolutely recommend checking out the music of this talented group; it's terrific music.......and I'm not just crying wolf.

Music can speak louder than words

A new Music 2 Work 2 session has been posted on the front page of the web site and on our MySpace page. The piece, "Irene," was composed in honor and appreciation to Andrew's aunt who lives in Paris. Having recently visited her, it is an expression of his caring and thanks for her hospitality. It is a beautiful piece, one of my favorites.

At the pianologist blog,"Love for Music, Music for Love," he was questioning the significance of a "musical gift." Anyone who has read the text accompanying quite a few of the Music 2 Work 2 sessions on our web site, knows that many of the pieces have been composed as birthday gifts, a gift in recognition of a memorable occasion, or as a gift of caring during a difficult time in someone's life. Music is wonderful, powerful and can express deep emotions.

The saying is "Actions speak louder than words." But, I think also music can often speak louder than words.

SINAJ

One of Music 2 Work 2's MySpace friends is SINAJ (Igor Stankovic) from Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. There is little information about him except his training, which was extensive. I don't know what musical instrument he plays.

I do know that his music is beautiful. It is instrumental music, with an almost ethereal feel. Three of the four samples available to hear on his MySpace page are slow/moderately slow tempo, melodic pieces. "178" is different from the other three in that it is faster tempo and has a less somber tone. There is such emotion and feeling associated with each piece.

My favorite of the four pieces is "Posledno Blagodaram." It is a very slow, mystical feeling piece, very solemn in tone but very beautiful. It brings to my mind an image of oppression and struggle but the bell tone at the end of the piece seems to ring of hope.

This is one of our MySpace friends whose music I would like to hear more of. I recommend checking it out.

Dave Kilminster

Dave Kilminster's solo rock album, Scarlet, was written, sung and performed by Dave himself. He was joined by some other musicians and vocal backup. A well-known guitarist, Dave was named
Guitarist Magazine's 1991 Guitarist of the Year.

Of the four songs available to hear on Dave Kilminster's MySpace page, my favorite is "Aragon." It clearly demonstrates his skill and expertise in playing the guitar. It is an instrumental piece; the other three are vocals. They are really great songs also; Dave's voice is clear and pleasant and the melodies are lovely. The harmony on the vocals is terrific also. I particularly like "Rain" out of the other three songs.

Dave Kilminster is from the U.K. and receives rave reviews for his enthusiasm, technical mastery, and unusual techniques.

Laura Sullivan

A relatively new MySpace friend of Music 2 Work 2 is Laura Sullivan. Laura Sullivan is a pianist and composer of Classical/Acoustic/Ambient music. She began to play the piano at age 4 and began composing her own music at age 8. By 18 years of age, she had composed 6 feature length musicals, along with other works.

All the songs available to hear on her MySpace page are beautifully performed, relaxing and soothing melodies. I particularly like "The Serpent Mound" which I believe is one of Ms. Sullivan's own compositions. And, Pachelbel's Canon in D being my very favorite piece of classical music, I also really enjoy her arrangement of "Pachelbel for the Potomac."

Laura Sullivan's music is beautiful. It reminds me very much of the Music 2 Work 2 sessions and could be used as background music or for a calming and relaxing listening experience. I recommend checking out the music of this talented musician.

Tom Palminteri

Tom Palminteri, a friend from MySpace, is a singer/songwriter and plays piano and guitar. He is out of West Islip, NY. His music is classified as Indie/Acoustic/Alternative.

Tom Palminteri started the band Eric's In Oregon in the late '80s but has more recently gone solo.
The 4 songs available to hear on Palminteri's MySpace page are upbeat with a sort of folk music sound. Of the four, I think my favorite is "On a Barbwire" followed by "Strong" as a close second.

Check out this artist's music for a pleasant and enjoyable listening experience.

Halloween

Happy Halloween!

Center for Music Medicine

Music 2 Work 2 is based on the premise that music is good for you - it is beneficial in many ways. In fact, we have sited a list of articles that deal with studies and reports supporting the benefit of music on our website.

One of our newer MySpace friends believes in the benefits of music also. The Center for Music Medicine, located in West Sacremento, California is an education and music project offering opportunities for accessing information about music as a medicine. It is the Center's intent "to bring human health and wellness through the power of music."

David Tralle, keyboardist, performs "original keyboard soundscapes" - improvisational compositions. Barbara Tralle is manager/presenter of the project.

The music, four pieces of which are available to hear on their MySpace page, is beautiful, calming, and soothing. It is classified as Healing & Easy Listening. There is no way I can choose a favorite from the four selections. They are all equally lovely and, I'm sure, beneficial pieces.

Pacific Motion Trio

According to the Essentials of Music - Online Glossary, fusion music is defined as a "style that combines jazz improvisation with amplified instruments of rock." Pacific Motion Trio, one of Music 2 Work 2's MySpace friends, falls into that category.


The trio, from Portugal, is composed of Miguel Amorim - keyboards; Armando Mendes - bass; Nelson Silva - drum/percussion.

There are only two pieces of music available to hear on their MySpace page. "End of Summer" which is over 9 minutes long, demonstrates the talent of each of these three young musicians.

Time to breathe...

It's amazing how much music is "out there" - it's even more amazing when you look at the diversity of the music - not just the music itself but the words, the performances, the performers, their visions...it's amazing! ;-)

I'm sitting here listening to Phil's fro by the inflatable orchestra - and it is cracking me up. The rest of this week's artists were pretty cool too, if you didn't get a chance - scroll down and check out Charlotte's picks.

It's the weekend and for the first time in ages it feels like there's a chance to just sit and breathe - which is wonderful. Have a good weekend y'all

Zwerg

Though joined by various musicians, the band Zwerg is primarily Eldon Thiele - composer/piano, vocals, keyboards, programing, and bass. His third and newest album is Into the 4th Dimension. Zwerg's music is classified as Psychedelic/Alternative/Ambient.

The music available to hear on Zwerg's MySpace page is all from the new album. The songs are melodic, lovely music combined with the lyrics sung in a pleasant, clear voice. My favorite of the four songs is "Unwavering" although all are very enjoyable.

Another Music 2 Work 2 MySpace friend whose music I would recommend checking out.

Maestro Alex Gregory

Maestro Alex Gregory is a composer, multi-instrumentalist performer, and inventor. Gregory was given the title of "Maestro" by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II Government in 1983, following his graduation from the University of Milan as a Classical Composer.

Finding himself drawn to electric guitars and Rock and Roll music rather than the music of his studies, he invented the 7 STRING STRATOCASTER guitar, which led to a deal with Fender Musical Instruments in 1987. He went on further to invent the "Heavy Metal Mandolin" and the "Piano Guitar." Maestro Alex Gregory spent 5 more years, under the endorsement of Gibson Guitars, creating the instruments and the concept of the "XXI CENTURY ELECTRIC ORCHESTRA," followed by his invention of the PENTASYSTEM and new methodology, a radically new family of 5 string instruments all tuned in fifths. In 2004 Gregory sold all the PENTASYSTEM technology to PEN 5 Guitars, LLC.

Althought he had played and recorded during those years, once free of the distraction of "inventing" he undertook the task of orchestrating and recording what some termed "the impossible dream," "Bach on Steroids!" All four of the songs available to hear on his MySpace page are from this album. "Bach on Steroids!" is the recording of 15 of the most popular Bach pieces performed by some of the world's most respected musicians.

The sound is interesting; Gregory's skill and that of the other musicians greatly apparent. I really enjoyed listening to all four of the pieces. However, my favorite is "Double Vivace BWV 1."

This is one of Music 2 Work 2's MySpace friends that I think you will certainly want to check out.

Victor Rice

Victor Rice is a Music 2 Work 2 MySpace friend from Sao Paulo, Brazil. His music is classified as Raggae/Dub/Ska.

The music available to listen to on Victor Rice's MySpace page is all upbeat, lively and fun. I especially like "Context."

He is apparently touring in the US at this time. Check out his music - you might want to catch a live show.

Dan Wilson

Dan Wilson is a relatively new Music 2 Work 2 MySpace friend. Out of Minneapolis, MN, he composes and performs Rock/Folk Rock. He recently released his first solo album, Free Life.

Dan Wilson writes music with lovely melodies, and lyrics that tell a story. Performed by Dan in a clear, pleasant voice, the music has a laid-back, mellow feel to it.

I enjoy listening to all four of the available songs, my favorite being "Cry."

Wilson is a celebrated artist and songwriter. He received a Song of the Year Grammy Award in 2007 with the Dixie Chicks for 'Not Ready to Make Nice,' and co-wrote 5 other songs on their award winning Album of the Year, 'Taking the Long Way.'

The Inflatable Orchestra

One of Music 2 Work 2's MySpace friends is The Inflatable Orchestra. The Inflatable Orchestra (Jay Gonzalez) is in Athens, GA and plays Experimental/Psychedelic/Pop instrumentals.

The music has a very interesting sound. The melodies of all four of the pieces of music available to hear on his MySpace page are harmonious and quite lovely. There is a variety of sounds and instruments in these pieces which adds to their interest and enjoyment.

I like all four of the pieces; it is hard to pick a favorite, but I think it would have to be "Phil'sfro" followed closely by "Max." I recommend giving The Inflatable Orchestra a listen.

6 Twenty

6 Twenty is a latin pop band out of Long Beach, CA. It is made up of brothers Richie and Joey Sanchez-Arrieta, with friends Bobby Cerda and Tito Figueroa.

If you like groups such as Boyz II Men, you will enjoy the music of this band. Their great voices and fantastic, smooth harmony result in music that is pleasant and enjoyable.

They recently signed with award winning producers George Tobin and Mike Piccirillo with Headliner Records, so watch for big things to happen with this group.

Dereck Higgins

Dereck Higgins, from Omaha, Nebraska, was one of our earliest MySpace friends. Dereck's music is classified as Psychedelic/Alternative/Ambient.

Dereck Higgins is from a musical family - his father a known and respected jazz musician and his brothers musicians as well. It seems that Dereck has been a part of several bands and still plays with some of them.

Of the four pieces available to hear on his MySpace page, two are very melodic, beautiful pieces of music. The other two pieces have more of the psychedelic/alternative sound but are interesting. My favorite of the four is "Termination revisited."

I hope you will visit Dereck Higgins' MySpace page and experience his musical talent for yourself.

Jim Price

Jim Price of Midland, Texas has many talents; he composes, sings, plays piano, brass, arranges and produces Rock/Jazz/Experimental music.

He has worked with many well-known artists and groups. The band members with him on the music on his MySpace page include Bobby Keys: Sax, Jim Keltner: Drums, Nicky Hopkins: Keyboards, Klaus Voormann: Bass, John Uribe: Guitar, David Farrell: Bass, and Don Poncher: Drums.

Jim Price has a pleasant voice, the music is harmonious but the unique feature in these songs are the brass instruments. I liked all four pieces of music on his MySpace page, but my favorites are "Pick a Prize" and "You Got the Power." Jim Price's music is fun; it makes you feel good. It is not your average rock/jazz music. I recommend that you check out the music of Music 2 Work 2's friend, Jim Price!

Todd Marston

Todd Marston, from Massachusetts, composes and plays instrumental music that I would find hard to classify to a particular genre. His MySpace page says "Big Beat/Big Beat/Big Beat" but I guess I would say a combination of jazz, rock, pop, classical....

However you classify it, it is good music. Marston plays piano, keyboard and accordion.

I like all four of the pieces on his MySpace page. The music is melodic, ranging from mellow and soothing to fun and lively. I especially like "Song for Elizabeth" and "Find Yourself Awake."

Todd Marston has played with several bands, including Choose To Find.

Wendi at 40

Saturday having been Wendi's 40th birthday, Andrew developed further the session he was working on to celebrate her big day. It is a lovely and loving piece.

The piano and strings combine in sweet harmony, with the tempo varying as with the changes in the pace of life's phases. The feeling is sometimes of joy and happiness and also of mellowness and sadness. This piece evokes for me, the thoughts of relationships, caring, growth and changing. I think it is a wonderful gift for a lovely, special lady.

Tobias Tinker

Tobias Tinker, one of Music 2 Work 2's MySpace friends, is a composer and solo pianist. He lives in Berlin, Germany; his music is classified as Ambient/Experimental/Acoustic.

His background includes playing a variety of music types including Irish, Balkan, Egyptian, etc. which I think comes through in some of the music he composes. He is the principal composer for the Broken Saints online series and DVD.

I enjoyed listening to all four of the pieces available on his MySpace page. "Lucid" has a unique and interesting sound, but I think my favorite of the four is "Taliesin." Check out his work and see what you think!

Leroy Justice

If you like soulful rock, you might want to check out our MySpace friend Leroy Justice. They are out of New York; their music is classified as Rock/Alternative/Jam Band.

The band is made up of Jason Gallagher-Guitar/Vocals; Claaaaams-Drumkit; Sloan Marshall-Keys; Bradley Wegner-Bass; Brendan Cavanaugh-Guitar. They perform regularly in NY.

I think they have an interesting sound. My favorite of their four sample pieces on their MySpace page is Hey Baby It's Me. Give them a listen!

Catherine Duc

A relatively new friend of Music 2 Work 2 is Catherine Duc from Melbourne, Australia. Her music is classified as Ambient/Celtic/Healing & Easy Listening, which I think is a pretty accurate description.

Catherine Duc composes, arranges, produces and does the background vocals on her music.

All four samples of her music available to listen to on her MySpace page are very beautiful pieces. It is soothing and relaxing music. I like all four pieces but my favorite is One Autumn Day.

Catherine won the LA Music Awards Instrumental Artist of the Year for 2006; listening to her music, it is easy to understand why.

Blackmore's Night

Blackmore's Night, one of Music 2 Work 2's MySpace friends, is a band with a unique sound - sort of a mix of rock, Renaissance, ballad, folk. The band, from Port Jefferson, NY, consists of Ritchie Blackmore, Candice Night - hence the name - Malcolm, Barry and David.

Candice performs the vocals on the songs; she has a lovely voice. The melody of each song available to hear on their MySpace page is beautiful, and the lyrics of each song tell a story. I am reminded of Music 2 Work 2's close friends, Kelli and the Shadowmen, listening to the music of Blackmore's Night.

I liked all of the songs on their MySpace page, especially All For One and Hanging Tree, the latter being my favorite. I find the pieces by Blackmore's Night equally lovely in the music and the singing - - definitely a band I would recommend checking out!

New ways to communicate

There is so much I don't know about all the technology and latest trends of today. It could become quite mind-boggling for someone like me. I'm lucky to have Andrew, who is up on it all, to introduce me to the latest in online communication and networking.

I have been registering on sites that are sort of like "mini blogs," such as Blabbr, Twitter, Pownce, Tumblr and Jaiku. The difference is that you communicate in one statement, more or less, rather than through a longer post like a blog. I don't understand it all completely, but hopefully this is a way to get the name "Music 2 Work 2" out to the public and, of course, with it later on, our music.

Speaking of our music, if you haven't listened to Irene - Development, be sure to check it out. It is a really lovely piece that Andrew is currently working on for his Aunt Irene.

Seabright

Seabright is one of Music 2 Work 2's MySpace friends from San Jose, California. The music, classified as Ambient/Surf/Pop, is made by one person apparently using his computer and guitar.

The songs on Seabright's MySpace page are soothing, with a calming quality. Some have lyrics; some are instrumental. The songs all have pretty melodies and an interesting sound.

I enjoyed all four pieces by Seabright but I think Summer Two is my favorite. I would recommend checking out the music of this MySpace friend.

New music posted

A lovely new piece of music has just been posted on the Music 2 Work 2 web site. Irene, is a development piece Andrew is composing for his aunt. It is solely piano now; I don't know if he plans to add other voices as this session is developed. We will have to wait and see.

I like the mix of moods in this piece - parts are sweet, parts more dramatic. But, it is all beautiful!

InfiniteGlitches

One of our newer MySpace friends is InfiniteGlitches (Onglee). She is in California and apparently composes most of her music, as well as performing it.

The music on her MySpace page is lovely, mostly piano based music. Of the four songs available to hear, my favorite is "Remember Me;" it has sort of an Oriental sound to me - very soothing. "Clouds" and "Leaving Perdition" are very pretty piano-driven pieces with a faster tempo than "Remember Me." "Midnight Bossa Nova" is, as the name implies, a Latin- flavored piece remixed by InfiniteGlitches; the composer is unknown.

I would like to know more about this musician, but no information is available. Check out the music, though; I think you might enjoy it.

Changes coming to Music 2 Work 2

Well, the trips are over and it's back to work. We have some really exciting plans for Music 2 Work 2 and our web site. I am anxious to have all the changes made and the new projects started. It's going to be great!

As with everything, changes take time. But, the plans have all been made - we know what needs to be done - now it is just a matter of doing it. Hope you will check back often to see the progress!

Taking a break

Before we begin to move on to the next level with Music 2 Work 2, we will be taking some time away. One half of Music 2 Work 2 is off to Paris; the other half is off to the other side of the country for a meeting.

We have some really exciting things planned for the web site and Music 2 Work 2, in general. We will be back around the first of October, so check back to see the changes and additions. Until then, peace!

Steven Belong

Steve Belong, one of our MySpace friends, is a guitarist, songwriter and singer from Canada. He says that he is mostly self-taught, but his guitar playing is amazing.

My favorite of the songs on his MySpace page is Ode to Paganini but the others are also great. I am always fascinated to watch people play instruments; I would love to be able to see him play the guitar. Can you imagine the dexterity and skill for his fingers to move that quickly?

He is another of our friends that I would definitely recommend checking out.

Ron Davis

If you like Jazz, you'll want to check out Ron Davis, one of our MySpace friends. Ron Davis, from Canada, plays the piano; he is joined by other musicians on drums, bass, sax/clarinet, and alto sax.

His great talent is apparent in all four of the songs available on his MySpace page. I enjoyed listening to all of them but my favorite is Pawpwalk c2005 Ron Davis, followed by D'Hora c2004 Ron Davis as a close second.

Ron Davis is described on his MySpace page as "One of Canada's hottest acts in bop and pop. -CNET"

Ash Tree

Ash Tree (Henry Baum) of Los Angeles has an interesting sound. The music is classified as Indie/Alternative/Rock. Baum says that he plays everything himself with a drum machine. He also composes music and writes fiction - his second novel is out now.

I like the music of the four songs on Ash Tree's MySpace page. I find the mix of different musical sounds interesting. The vocalization is pleasant, but the melodies draw my attention to them. I especially like the music of Dear World.

Check out Ash Tree, one of our MySpace friends.

Megahertz

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 19th century American poet, is credited with saying, "Music is the universal language of mankind." I have to say I agree with him.

One of our MySpace friends is Megahertz from Italy. The information on the MySpace page is in Italian, and so are the lyrics to the songs that are available to hear. So, I don't know anything about Megahertz except that I really enjoyed listening to their music. It is classified as Electronica/ Expermental/Ambient.

All four songs have pretty melodies. The tempo of the first three songs is lively - the beat is catchy - the kind that makes you want to move to the music; they make you feel good. The fourth song, Fine, is a beautiful piece, of slower tempo and a more somber mood.

I don't know that this is exactly what Longfellow had in mind, but even though I could not understand the lyrics and all I can tell you about them is that Daniele Dupuis is the musician, or one of them, I liked the music; I felt better after listening to it, and I would very much recommend checking out Megahertz.

After months of no significant rainfall, the rains came to NC today, bringing with them severe thunderstorms, tornadoes and, of course, the weather related migraine. Things have been so terribly dry I really can't complain about it. It would have been nice though to have the rain without the storms and headache. But, as they say.....you have to take the bad with the good, so I'll just be thankful for the rain and take medication (which I'm also thankful for) for my migraine!

Luis Carlino

As I have said before, one of the fun parts of looking for MySpace friends for Music 2 Work 2 is having the opportunity to hear so many different musicians and types of music. Many of our MySpace friends are pianists and composers of music in the classical genre.

Luis Carlino, one of our MySpace friends living in Madrid, Spain, composes and performs Pop/Rock/Indie music. He writes the music and words, sings lead vocal, plays bass, keyboards, and guitars, but is joined by other musicians helping with the vocals and playing additional instruments.

I really enjoy listening to the songs available on Luis Carlino's MySpace page. The music is upbeat and quite lovely. Luis's voice is striking and pleasant. I especially like the music in Loneliness but I think my favorite song overall is Emotional Exile.

In addition to composing and performing great music, Luis Carlino has had a very interesting life, including being a teenage rocker, philosophy graduate, trained classical musician, foreign correspondent, and media executive.

Joe Odea

One of Music 2 Work 2's MySpace friends is Joe Odea, from Tucson, Arizona. He is a solo pianist; his music is classified as Classical/Acoustic/Other.

His music is melodic, of a moderate /slow tempo and very calming. The four samples available to hear on his MySpace page are all lovely pieces. I like August a lot, but my favorite is Rain. Unfortunately, it is the shortest of the four pieces; I wanted to hear more of it.

This is another composer/pianist I recommend you check out.

What is there to say...?

September 11th

Remembering the victims and the heroes

Glenn Hardy

Glenn Hardy, one of our MySpace friends, is a solo pianist and composer. He now lives in Connecticut but was born in California and grew up there in a musically diverse home. His music is classified as Classical/Rock/Jazz.

Glenn Hardy has recorded ten CDs of solo piano music and collaborates with his wife, a poet, on vocal and choral works.

My favorite piece from the four available to hear on his MySpace page is The New Day, a beautiful, melodic piano piece which reminds me of the Music 2 Work 2 sessions in which the piano is the sole voice, such as Boy's Bedtime or Emma's Numbers.

Check out the work of Glenn Hardy.

The Weepies

Our MySpace friend, The Weepies, out of Topanga, California, is made up of two band members, Deb Talan and Steve Tannen. They have a unique and very pleasant sound.

Each of them had successful solo singer/songwriter careers, and was a fan of the other, prior to meeting in a bar in Boston and later forming The Weepies. The Weepies first CD, "Happiness," was released in 2003; their second CD, "Say I am You," was released in 2006.

Their music is classified as Pop/Rock/Acoustic. The music is upbeat, melodious, and their voices combine harmoniously together. Three of the pieces available to hear on their MySpace page are from the "Say I am You" CD. Somebody Loved, the fourth track, is from the first CD.

I enjoyed listening to all four pieces; I really could not pick a favorite. I would definitely recommend listening to their music. It is pleasant, the tunes catchy - - all in all a very enjoyable experience.

Starr Parodi

Starr Parodi is one of Music 2 Work 2's MySpace friends from Los Angeles. She is a composer and pianist, and has several film scores and film trailers to her credit. She may be best known and recognized as the keyboardist on the late night Arsenio Hall Show several years ago.

Her newest CD, "Common Places," is a collection of improvisations on a variety of themes. The four pieces available to listen to on her MySpace page are from this CD. I especially like the title piece, Common Places, but I believe my favorite of the four is Albinoni's Adagio I...

Starr Parodi's great talent is apparent in her beautiful and creative music.

What's new?

Notice anything different about the Music 2 Work 2 MySpace page?

Thanks to Anatoly for adding the new tag line!

Another new development piece

There is another new development piece up on the Music 2 Work 2 web site. Lally 90th is a piece Andrew is developing for his grandmother's 90th birthday.

I think the piano track just as it is has a lovely melody and I can imagine how fantastic it will be with strings or other voices added. I love this way of experiencing the development of new sessions. But sure and check back for additional development on this and the other pieces in progress.

The end of summer

This is Labor Day weekend, the holiday signifying the end of summer. It certainly doesn't feel like the end of summer - the heat and humidity are still unbearable.

It has been a busy summer for Music 2 Work 2 and an exciting one. We haven't gotten the changes for the new look to the web site made yet, but we are getting more and more registrations on our web site, getting more MySpace friends, getting loads of positive feedback, and individuals are playing our music on their MySpace page.

It's all good..........even if it is the end of summer!

Have a safe and happy holiday.

Giancarlo Scalia

Giancarlo Scalia from Montreal, Quebec, Canada is one of Music 2 Work 2's MySpace friends. He composes and performs classical music. His compositions number over 90, and although most are written for solo piano, they are also written for a variety of instruments.

There are three sample pieces available to listen to on Giancarlo Scalia's MySpace page. They are all beautiful compositions. My favorite is "Ripples Main Theme" written for Ripples in Time a documentary - his first film score.

Cecilia Chailly

One of Music 2 Work 2's MySpace friends is Cecilia Chailly from Italy. Cecilia Chailly is a multi-talented individual. She plays the harp and is the "pioneer of electric harp." She had an important classical career before beginning to write, play and sing her own music. She has recorded several albums.

Three of the four samples of her music available to listen to on her MySpace page, are from her 2006 released album 'Alone,' dedicated to her father, a composer. On this album she sings, plays acoustic harp, violin, piano, percussions and flutes. I find these three pieces especially beautiful and sweet. The melodies are lovely and her voice is soft and pleasant. "Kiss From Heaven" is an instrumental piece and one of my favorites, along with Solamente tu."

Not only is Cecilia Chailly an outstanding musician, she is also a writer - working on her second novel, a painter, a film-maker, and a photographer. Check out examples of her many talents on her MySpace page.

Ilkka Saari

One of Music 2 Work 2's friends has a very interesting sound but no information is given about the musician/band on their MySpace page. Ilkka Saari is from Finland; the music is classified as Classical/Electro.

All four samples of music available to hear on Ilkka Saari's MySpace page are very pleasant to listen to. They have an interesting and unique sound. I especially like the lovely, sweet sounding Berenikes Hair, but my favorite of the four is Remous which is a lively, upbeat piece. It has an almost "fantasy" feel to it.

I enjoy the work of Ilkka Saari; I wish I knew more about who is playing this lovely music and the instrument(s) on which it is being played.

The Reunion

The Reunion is an instrumental acoustic band out of Las Vegas. They began in 1991 as a blues band but changed courses and in 1996 released The Reunion, their first instrumental all-acoustic recording.

The group has grown from the original 2 musicians to a variety of guitarist and percussionists. They have enjoyed success over the years with several albums and are currently working on a new album, Consequences, to be released, I believe, this summer.

I really like their music. Three of the sample pieces on their MySpace page are from Consequences. All the songs have a nice feel - lovely, melodic, some with a Spanish sound. It would be hard to choose which of the four songs available to listen to is my favorite. "Last Flight Home," one of their earlier pieces is very pleasant listening; I also very much enjoy the beautiful newer piece "Waiting."

I recommend checking out the music of The Reunion. I'll be looking forward to hearing more from The Reunion soon.

KY Philosopher

KY Philosopher, Kevin J. Brown, is located in Louisville, KY and teaches philosophy online, as well as being a practicing philosophical counselor. But, in addition to this, he is also a composer and performer of solo piano music.

Kevin Brown's music is peaceful and relaxing. This lovely music reminds me a great deal of some Music 2 Work 2 sessions, for example, Emma's Numbers. In fact, Mr. Brown suggests that his music can be used as "background music for other activities like meditation or yoga."

There are three samples of KY Philosopher's music available to hear on his MySpace page. All are very pretty solo piano pieces. My favorite of the three, however, is Q.

Check out the music of our MySpace friend Kevin J. Brown, KY Philosopher; you might also want to catch him on Radio Free Philosophy on myspace.com

New music

There is another new music piece on Music 2 Work 2. "Shut Up and Play" is a session just beginning to be developed by Andrew. The sole voice now is the organ; others will probably be added later. As Andrew says, "This is real music2work2." I like it as it is now but I am also anxious to hear it as he develops it further.

Unusual combinations

Andrew had a brilliant idea a while back to seach for MySpace friends based on the musicians/bands that are influences on Music 2 Work 2. The first search was for people who also liked Michael Nyman and Pink Floyd. Would you believe the search resulted in over 900 matches?

This second round is an even more unusual combination - Paganini and Keith Richards. Less than 50 matches there.

This is a very interesting way of finding people who might like our music. And, apparently his idea was right on!

Variety is the spice of life...

The music of The Muckrakers is about as different from Music 2 Work 2 as it can possibly be. The Muckrakers are one of our MySpace friends. They are a band of 5 members from Louisville, Kentucky who compose and play Rock/Acoustic/Pop music.

Their music is melodic; their voices combine harmoniously. In a word, their music is "fun." It's almost impossible to listen to it and not move to the music.

All four songs on their MySpace page are enjoyable to listen to. I particularly like Through My Door but liked the others also.

Music 2 Work 2 sessions are music to have playing when you are involved in a task or concentrating, as background that doesn't distract you from what you are doing but makes it more pleasant. The music of The Muckrakers is music "to" distract you, to make you feel good, to move and to dance.

Antonio Benetto

Antonio Benetto, from Italy, is our newest MySpace friend. He is a composer and pianist. He classifies his music as Progressive/Ambient/Electroacoustic.

Antonio Benetto's music has a unique and interesting sound. All four samples of his music on his MySpace page are enjoyable to listen to. Filastrocca and Nuovofiore are my favorites of the four. They are both lovely, upbeat, happy music. Time Contracts is a medium tempo instrumental & vocal piece. Il giardino is the most dramatic of the four pieces.

If you like electroacoustic music, take a few minutes to give Antonio Benetto's music a listen. You're in for a very pleasant experience.

Music 2 Work 2 Update

When we spoke over the phone today, Andrew and I got back to some of the paperwork, the licensing, etc. that we began a while back. Looks like we will finally be able to get the Music 2 Work 2 sessions licensed, and hopefully very soon be able to start our own radio station.

Looking at the list of Music 2 Work 2 sessions, it became really apparent how much new music has been produced this year. Five new sessions have been composed so far this year, and even more than that have been completed this year and posted on the web site. That is in addition to the develoment pieces that Andrew has recently been working on.

I think the music gets better and better, if that's possible - - it's hard to improve on something that is already so good. I really love the Music 2 Work 2 sessions, to actually work to, and also just to listen to. I am so pleased and honored to be a part of this music endeavor. It is all very exciting!

Nathaniel L. Murphy

Nathaniel L. Murphy is one of Music 2 Work 2's MySpace friends. He is from West Chester,
Pennsylvania. He composes and plays music classified as Alternative/Minimalist/Classical.

Nathaniel L. Murphy plays piano, keyboard, saxaphone and bassoon; he says that the bassoon was the only instrument he did not teach himself to play.

Two of the four sample pieces on Nathaniel's MySpace page are vocals. My favorites of the four are Realization and Resignation. Both are instrumental pieces consisting of piano and strings. They are beautiful, relaxing pieces that remind me very much of some Music 2 Work 2 sessions, such as Sexercise and The Duel.

I recommend checking out the music of Nathaniel L. Murphy.

New Clip on Music 2 Work 2 MySpace Page

I posted a clip of the new music session, Marsha, on our MySpace page today. A while back I downloaded the program to edit the sessions and cut out sections short enough to be used on other web sites where uploading music is allowed. It is not technically difficult to do, but I have such a hard time deciding what section to use for the clip. I think a lot of the problem has to do with the fact that I think all the sessions are so beautiful. I want everyone to be able to hear them in their entirety. Thank goodness Andrew helped me with the decision as to what section to use as the clip on Marsha.

Decision-making has never been easy for me. I usually end up second-guessing my decisions. I know the clips are necessary due to the length of most of the Music 2 Work 2 sessions. But, the longer length is one of the things that makes them the perfect background music that is not distracting. It seems such a shame to have to "cut them up." The entire sessions, such as Marsha, can always be heard on the Music 2 Work 2 web site. I just have to keep reminding myself of that fact when I am cutting sections from these beautiful pieces of music. Hopefully the clips will just make the listener want to hear more!

Rob Costlow

Our MySpace friend, Rob Costlow, composes and performs piano music in the Healing & Easy Listening/Ambient/Down-Tempo genre. Rob is located in the United States. He founded his own record label, Tourist Records, in 2004.

I enjoy listening to all four samples of Rob Costlow's music available on his MySpace page; the music is relaxing and beautiful. His piece, Not Alone, makes me think of Music 2 Work 2's Emma's Numbers from two aspects - the music and also its title. Not Alone and Emma's Numbers are both piano solos that create a similar mood - one of calm and peacefulness. The title, Not Alone, also makes me think of Emma's Numbers in that it was composed for one of Andrew's friends who was dealing with a difficult time in her life. I can't think of any better way to convey to a friend that they are "not alone" during a stressful, difficult time than to compose a beautiful, soothing music session especially for them.

I don't know what the motivation was for Rob Costlow's compositions, but his music is very pleasant and enjoyable listening. Check out all four pieces by Rob Costlow on his MySpace page.

New Music Session on Web Site

There is a great new music session on Music 2 Work 2. Marsha was composed in honor of Andrew's mother-in-law's birthday.

It is a beautiful, three-voice piece - piano, organ and strings. I love the description Andrew has written about the process used in composing this piece. Be sure to listen to this new music and to also read the accompanying text.

Traci Toguchi

Our MySpace friend, Traci Toguchi, has a lot of talents to her credit in addition to singer/songwriter. She is an actress, speaker, publisher, model, humanitarian, and entrepreneur. According to her MySpace information, "her mission is to help people live their potential through her music, words, and actions."

Traci's music is melodic; her voice is clear and pleasant. There is a message in each of the four songs available to listen to on her MySpace page. Her music is classified as Healing & EasyListening/Pop/Hawaiian. Traci Toguchi is from Honolulu, Hawaii and won the title of Miss Hawaii in 1995.

My favorite of the samples of her music is Feel the Breeze. It is an upbeat, feel-good song with an inspirational message and a touch of the Hawaiian music influence.

Benny Woo

Like Music 2 Work 2 composer/performer Andrew, our MySpace friend Benny Woo is also a Scotsman. His music is categorized as Classical/Acoustic/Folk.

There are only two sample music pieces to hear on his MySpace page. Both are lovely, melodic pieces. I especially like Love is a Wild and Untamed Bird which is relaxing and calming. Eggshell is nice, as well, but faster tempo and more dramatic.

According to the information on Benny Woo's MySpace page, new music will be available soon. I'll be looking forward to hearing it.

erix piano

erix piano is another of Music 2 Work 2's MySpace friends that I know little about. Erix piano is apparently Eric Silva who does vocals in another band Capulet. He lives in West Covina, CA.

Two of the sample pieces on erix piano's MySpace page especially remind me of Music 2 Work 2 sessions. They are The End 717 and The Flame. Both are relaxing piano pieces. Erix piano is classified as Other/Other/Other but I think it could fall into the category of Easy Listening or Ambient. Check out erix piano and see what you think.

Another sad day

Once again, one of our friends (not a MySpace friend but a personal friend) has suffered the loss of a pet. There seems to have been one loss after another of pets recently among the people I know and care about. Having experienced such a loss only 7 months ago myself, each time it brings back the pain of losing a loyal, loving animal.

I know some people consider the loss of a pet to be "nothing," after all "it was just an animal." Anyone who can say or feel that has never been a true pet lover and known the joy, love, and companionship an animal can bring to one's life.

My sympathy goes out to our friend for her loss. I know the pain she is feeling and wish I could lessen it somehow. Unfortunately, I know that is not possible, so all I can do is keep her in my thoughts.

Seth Bedford Music

Music 2 Work 2's MySpace friends are an interesting mixture of individuals, some artists, some not. Among the artists are musicians who play music from all genres and musical instruments of all types.

Seth Bedford Music/Seth Bedford is a violist, composer, singer/songwriter, and arranger. He has his own band, Huxley Vertical, and has performed with other artists and bands. He lives in New York City.

His music is classified as Other/Classical/Jazz. The four selections available to hear on his MySpace page are an interesting assortment. I particularly like Anticipacion, which looks like it may be by The Elastic Wasteband, one of the bands with which he performed. It is a lively, feel good kind of piece. The other piece I especially like is Two Girls Mall Scene, a fast tempo, piano and strings piece; I just wish there was more of it - the 49 seconds available leaves you wanting to hear more.

Yaron Daffan

Yaron Daffan is one of our MySpace friends from Jerusalem, Israel. He has experience in composing, performance and production.

His music is classified as New Wave/Healing & Easy Listening/Ambient, so like the premise of Music 2 Work 2, Yaron Daffan believes that music is helpful and beneficial. His music has been performed by a variety of musical groups in Israel and Australia, in many different styles.

I really like Yaron Daffan's music, especially The Return of the C... and Humble Serenity. Check out these and the other two samples of his music on his MySpace page.

Mark Heimonen

Our MySpace friend, Mark Heimonen, describes his "band" as consisting of "little more than me, my guitar, a 15 year Roland D-20, a Radio Shack mike, and my computer." Whatever he uses to produce his music, I think it is lovely, relaxing, and very enjoyable listening.

Mark Heimonen is from Ann Arbor, Michigan. He classifies his music as Acoustic/Indie/Classical.

The four pieces available to listen to on his MySpace page, are Anxiety First, Second and Third Movements, and Hopes and Dreams. All are piano driven and rhythmic, melodic pieces. It would be difficult for me to choose a favorite from the four; I like them all. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that my state of mind is so often one of anxiety that I am a little more drawn to those three samples of Mark's music. But, Hopes and Dreams forms a nice combination with them.

Yoshiki

Sometimes it is hard to know much about an artist just from their MySpace page. Samples of their music are available to hear, but unless you are already familiar with the musician, if the information is not included on the MySpace page, you don't know whether they are doing the performing, the composing, or exactly what.

This is the case with one of the friends of Music 2 Work 2, Yoshiki. The pieces of music are very beautiful; piano driven, very melodic. My favorite is "Without You Piano ver." "Tears" is also a very lovely piece; it has lyrics in English and Japanese, I believe, and is available on the MySpace page in an unreleased version, as well as a recording done live at the Tokyo Dome.

In an attempt to find out more about the person responsible for this beautiful music, I read the blogs by Yoshiki. Apparently Yoshiki has lived in Japan and Los Angeles, is a composer/pianist, and has several movie scores and songs used in movies to his credit. The most interesting fact I found out is that Yoshiki is doing research into the relationship between music and the human brain. Of course, since Music 2 Work 2 is based on the premise that music is good for you, and beneficial to human beings in many ways, I was intrigued by this.

Yoshiki is a musician I would be interested in learning more about and whose music I would also like to hear more of.

More Thunderstorms

I am really going to have to start writing this blog earlier in the day! Once again we are into our pattern of thunderstorms every evening. The thunder is rumbling and I am beginning to see flashes of lightning, so it's time for me to shut down the computer. Not knowing how long this one will last, I wanted to just write a quick note; if it is possible to write more later, I will.

I love summer and the warm weather - - thunderstorms are a part of summer I could do without!

Jeff Oster

One of the MySpace friends of Music 2 Work 2 is Jeff Oster from California. Jeff Oster plays Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Synthesizer, Loops, and Percussion. Other musicians collaborate with him on some pieces. His music is classified as Lounge/Ambient/Acoustic.

The four samples of Jeff's music on his MySpace page are mellow and relaxing. In that sense, they remind me of some Music 2 Work 2 sessions. I especially like "At Last," on which Jeff says he is joined by Will Ackerman, guitarist, and "As I Live and Breathe."

Jeff Oster has a new CD, True, coming out this summer. I'm looking forward to hearing more of his beautiful music.

Change in focus

At the beginning of this week, we decided to switch our emphasis from getting other bands as Music 2 Work 2 MySpace friends to focusing on individuals. I have to admit that while it is interesting to read about individuals and what they are doing in their lives, I miss listening to all the different types and sounds of the music of other bands.

It is much slower going finding individuals for MySpace friends. For one thing, many individuals have made their profiles private, or some will not accept a friend request from a band. But, I'll continue the search - - individual friends are as important as other musicians and bands. Of course, I continue to try to find bands to be MySpace friends also. I am just dividing the way I spend my time on this a little differently now.

It's all good!

Jamie Bonk

One of our MySpace friends whose music you might really enjoy is Jamie Bonk. His music is categorized as Jazz/Acoustic/Rock. Jamie Bonk is from Toronto, Ontario Canada, and is a guitarist/composer.

Jamie Bonk has three albums to his credit and his work has been recognized with several awards and award nominations.

I particularly like Wiggle and This Is It of the sample pieces on his MySpace page. They are both fast tempo, upbeat, "make you feel good" pieces. I like the prominence of the sound of the guitar.

dan lo.fi

One of the really fun things about trying to find new friends on MySpace is getting to hear so many different kinds of music. While some are very similar to the type of music of the sessions of Music 2 Work 2, some are very different and unique.

Dan lo.fi is one of our friends whose sound is unique and enjoyable; it is classified as Electronica/Electro/Indie. Dan lo.fi (Daniel Pugh) is from London and is a classically trained violinist and composer.

Elastic Tension and Chamber Electronica 51 are the songs from the samples on dan lo.fi's MySpace page that I like the most. Check out dan lo.fi and see what you think!

Peppe Arezzo

Peppe Arezzo is one of our MySpace friends. He is a pianist and composer from Italy. Since his MySpace page is written mostly in Italian, I don't know much about him, except that I like his music.

His music is classified as Acoustic/Other; it is piano driven but other instruments are used as well.
Three of the four sample pieces on his MySpace page are fast tempo, upbeat, happy songs. One of these, Colapesce, has lyrics.

My favorite songs of Peppe Arezzo from his page are La Citt delle Merav..., which is one of the fast tempo pieces that begins with an almost "carnival" sound, and La Leggende di Dafni, which is slower tempo and has a more dramatic feel. I think both these pieces are not only interesting but also lovely.

Storms and Migraines

Rain and storm systems, go away; Charlotte needs a migraine-free day!!

We have had so many thunderstorms over the past several weeks, some really severe. The change in weather conditions - barometric pressure or something - causes me to have migraines, so there haven't been many days lately that I haven't had one.

This is just a quick note, as another storm is starting, to let you know that things are moving on with Music 2 Work 2. Watch for additional changes to our website - - it's gonna be so cool - - and check back here to find out about some of our other MySpace friends.

Gotta go - the thunder and pounding in my head are both getting stronger.

New Development Piece on Website

There is a new development piece on the Music 2 Work 2 website. Wendi's 40th is a session Andrew is in the process of developing for his wife's 40th birthday.

I think it is very beautiful already, with two voices. As he develops it further, other voices may be added. And, you will be able to follow the development and hear the changes as the session progresses and takes its final form.

I am very excited about the plans for making the stages of development of new sessions available on the website. When I was visiting in Los Angeles last February, I observed Andrew composing some new sessions; it was fascinating!

Miranda Quammie

Miranda Quammie is a MySpace friend of Music 2 Work2 who is a singer/songwriter. She performs her songs at the piano. Miranda grew up and resides in London.

She writes and sings ballads, pop songs and meditative melodies based on themes such as memories, childhood, and identity. Her voice is clear and pleasing to listen to.

There are two of her songs on her MySpace page that I particularly like, The Snow Goose and Midnight Garden Live. They both have lovely melodies and stories told through the lyrics.

Ron S.

Our MySpace friend, Ron S. is originally from NY, now located in Virginia. His Progressive/Ambient/Experimental type of music is described as "Guitar Driven Synthesis."

Ron plays bass and guitar and has been a part of a couple of groups, and associated in some way with a variety of other musicians. Now, apparently on his own, I find his sound interesting and pleasant to listen to.

My favorite musical piece from Ron's MySpace page is Hot Dust. I like the mixture of instrumental sounds and the changes in tempo and mood reflected in this piece.

For an enjoyable and unique listening experience, spend a few minutes on Ron's MySpace page.

Pianistic Tendencies

Pianistic Tendencies (Ian Hudson) composes and performs New Wave/Classical/Ambient piano music. Ian is located in Massachusetts where he is majoring in music at Bridgewater State College.

There are three selections on his MySpace page to listen to; all very beautiful, relaxing music. Listening to Pianistic Tendencies I am reminded of sessions by Music 2 Work 2 such as Vincent and Boys Bedtime.

This is one of our MySpace friends that I definitely think you should check out!

John Tussey

John Tussey is one of our MySpace friends who believes, as we do, that music is good for you and can benefit human beings in many ways. He is from Mililani, Hawaii and categorizes his music as
Ambient/Healing & Easy Listening/Jazz.

The samples of John Tussey's music on his MySpace page are piano pieces mostly calming, relaxing music. Healing Flow and Living Water Flowing are my favorite of the four pieces available to listen to. They remind me of several of the Music 2 Work 2 sessions. Jazzy Joy, as the name indicates, is a faster tempo, upbeat, jazzy tune, very different from the others. It is "feel good music" in its own way.

Check out John Tussey's music.

Nothing happens fast........but it happens!

You will notice some more changes on the Music 2 Work 2 website. There is now music to hear on the front page and players are being added to each session page.

I really like the way Andrew is now explaining his reasoning, his thought process in composing some of the music, such as the National Identity Card. I think you will find more of that with the newer sessions and the posting of the steps of their development.

Things are falling into place as we have planned. Nothing ever happens quite as fast as we would like, but things are happening………….and we are very excited about that.

July 4th

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

The Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776

Happy Independence Day!

Simon Daum

Simon Daum is a MySpace friend of Music 2 Work 2 who composes Classical/Healing and Easy Listening music. He is from Germany.

His music is relaxing and very lovely. It is mostly piano driven. I really enjoyed listening to all four musical pieces on his MySpace page, but I think my favorite is "Be Still." "Be Still" reminds me a great deal of Music 2 Work 2's "Victoria." Both are calming, beautiful pieces.

Piero Baldan

One of the really fun parts of finding other musicians to be MySpace friends to Music 2 Work 2 is getting to hear so many different types of music, instruments, etc.

Piero Baldan, one of our MySpace friends, is a cellist; he plays cello, guitar and bass guitar. Piero Baldan is from Venezia, Italy. His music is classified as Classical/Minimalist/Experimental.

Four musical pieces are available to listen to on his MySpace page. I especially like Giorgia and Cavalli Metafisici. Both of these pieces are harmonious and have an upbeat tempo. For a musical experience that is pleasant and somewhat different, I recommend listening to these pieces by Piero Baldan.

Jo Blankenburg

I like to bring the music of some of the MySpace friends of Music 2 Work 2, that I have found interesting and enjoyable, to your attention. After all, isn't that part of what this community of friends is about?

One such MySpace friend is Jo Blankenburg, a composer, pianist and producer, living in New Zealand. His music is described as Classical/Ambient/Electronica. Jo Blankenburg's emphasis is in cinematic music; he has several film scores to his credit. But, with all his music, his intention is "to evoke visualizations in the mind of the listener."

Of the music accessible on his MySpace page, I particularly like "Awakening" and "No Bliss Without Grief." Listen to the music of Jo Blankenburg and see what you think.

New plan for website

There is a new piece of music posted on Music 2 Work 2. Angst - Development 1 is the first track of a session that is being composed.

We will be changing the Music 2 Work 2 website, as Andrew tells about in the description accompanying the track, so you will be able to follow the process as sessions are being composed. I think it is a great idea; I know I like to read about his thoughts and the process used to give life to a new composition. It still amazes me that he can start by listening to a beat, the clicking of a metronome - begin playing - - and beautiful music flows from his fingers. Some sessions grow and take life as he adds the other voices, one at a time. Some are complete in the one voice of the piano.

So, watch the Music 2 Work 2 website for some changes, including being able to witness the process and have an inside view of the development of new sessions.

Zenima

Zenima is one of our MySpace friends from Czech Republic, Switzerland and Italy. Her music is categorized as Alternative/Classical/Minimalist. Zenima is a songwriter-singer-composer. She has a clear, sweet voice and sings with feeling and passion.

Of the four examples of her music available to hear on her MySpace page, my favorite is Butterfly ft Bocelli. The voices of Zenima and Andrea Bocelli combine beautifully in this piece.

Most of the MySpace friends of Music2Work2 play musical instruments and compose. Zenima is one of the few vocalist/composers among our friends so far.

Still no Store

I can't believe the week has ended and still there are no tracks available on our Snocap MyStore. Still have not had a response to my question about the problem from Snocap customer support. It is very frustrating to me; luckily Andrew is a more patient human being than I am, so he has helped convince me to give them a while longer. I was about ready to remove the whole thing and start from scratch - - of course, there is no assurance that all this won't happen again.

This weekend will hold a big event for my family - my niece is getting married. I can't believe it! There just seems no way that she should be old enough to be getting married. Of course, it means that I am much older also, which isn't a pleasant thought. I have spent so much time with her - playing with her when she was little, watching her after school until her parents got home, picking her up from school, taking her to after-school activities - - it almost seems that she is my own child. I will always treasure the time I got to spend with her; when my nephew was growing up I lived in a different state. I know the wedding will be beautiful and she will be happy. That won't mean that I'll be able to hold back the tears; I cry at the smallest things and this is a major event.

There will be out-of-town guests staying in my home, so if I don't get to write a blog every day next week, that is the reason why. But, I'll try my best to be able to post one.

New Music 2 Work 2 Session

There is a new session on the Music 2 Work 2 web site. 211 Train is a lovely piece consisting of piano and strings.

The tempo and the voices in this session do indeed evoke the image of a train, moving rapidly along the tracks until finally reaching its destination and pulling slowly into the station. I can imagine that it is going someplace new and exciting - someplace where new adventures will unfold.

Geigertek

Geigertek Music is another of our MySpace friends who has an interesting sound and whose music reminds me of many of the Music 2 Work 2 sessions. Geigertek is from East Norwich, United Kingdom. It consists of two members, Neil Fellowes and Conrad Geiger.

Their music is described as Electronica/Ambient/Experimental. The synthesizers give their music a unique sound; the pieces available to listen to on their MySpace page are relaxing and beautiful music. Check them out!


Oh, yeah, and just a side note - Happy One Year Anniversary to the Kelli.com's blog, On the Big Black Bus. Kelli - An American Singer is one of our favorite MySpace friends.

This Harmony

This Harmony is one of our MySpace friends whose music you might want to check out. This Harmony is from Italy; the group is made up of four members, playing indie/ambient music.

Since their web page is written entirely in Italian, and I cannot translate it, I don't know anything about the group itself. I believe their music consists of guitar, bass, drums and violin.

Their music is lovely, pleasing to listen to and well performed. Of the three pieces available to hear on their MySpace page, Improvvisazione 11 is my favorite.

Another week......another problem

It's the beginning of a new week, and unfortunately the problems with the Snocap MyStore continue. I have successfully uploaded 7 tracks for the catalogue, they have been registered by Snocap, but they are not showing up on the MyStore on our MySpace page. Snocap has responded to the emails I have sent asking for help with this, saying that the signup and questions have been so numerous recently that they are behind in answering emails. If other individuals are having as much trouble as I am having, no wonder they are behind in answering emails. I am anxious to get this straightened out and have our music available for purchase. In the meantime, Music 2 Work 2 sessions can be purchased from our web site through My Song Store.

Breath of Life Tribe

I want to bring to your attention one of our MySpace friends who has a unique sound, Breath of Life Tribe (B.O.L.T.). Their music is said to be a new genre, "Dream Rock."

B.O.L.T. is made up of 5 members, playing guitars, violin, keys, bass, drums and three members performing the vocals. They are located in Los Angeles, California.

The music is harmonious and very pretty. The lyrics of their songs are meaningful and have a message about life, such as "Nothing Ever Comes" and "Everyone's the Same."

Someone suggests on their MySpace page that their music has almost a classical feel. I agree and at the same time it is unmistakably rock. Their music is quite good, very enjoyable to listen to. I would recommend checking them out!

Progress - - just a little

A little more successful day than yesterday. I finally got three tracks uploaded on our MySpace Store. I still don't know what the problem is because it is a matter of hit or miss. I might try to upload a track one time and get an error message saying it doesn't accept that type of file and to use an MP3. I will try to upload the very same file a few minutes later and it accepts it???

Andrew introduced me to a new software program today that "should" have made life easier with the Snocap project. I'm sure it will with projects to come, but so far it hasn't made a whole lot of difference in uploading the tracks. I think it is probably still a technical problem on their end, but who knows. At this rate it is going to be a slow process, but eventually I'll get all the music up, I hope, and it will be available to everyone on MySpace.com.

Problem with Snocap

We had the visitor's map taken off our MySpace page and replaced with the Snocap MyStore. For two days now, I have been trying to upload our music on the Snocap MyStore and I haven't been able to do it.

Since updating my computer a few months back, I have had trouble getting the security setting right. I don't know if this could have anything to do with my problem, but I get error messages like "there was a problem, try again later" and "incorrect file type." I know the tracks I am trying to upload are MP3 files. I wrote to the contact at the web site about the problem I am having, but have not received a response.

Maybe it is just that I don't know what I am doing. They claim that it is easy upload of your tracks. Unfortunately, I have found it frustrating and irritating.

Mario Raposo

Another of our MySpace friends whose music I particularly like is Mario Raposo. His music is classified as Electronica/Classical. Mario Raposo is from Portugal and is said to be a self-taught musician. His music is created on keyboards and synthesisers.

My favorite piece of the four available on his MySpace page is Heartland. It is a lovely, melodic piece that makes you feel good to listen to it. This piece reminds me a great deal of Victoria, a beautiful Music 2 Work 2 session. Victoria is one of my Music 2 Work 2 favorites also.

A frustrating Monday

Today has been a frustrating day. I spent some time trying to check out another of the web sites that Music 2 Work 2 has music available on. Each of these sites is different and to be able to do more than one or two justice, you would have to work on them practically non-stop.

We had two waves of terrible thunderstorms come through this afternoon. That messes up being able to do much as far as the computer goes. So, I haven't been able to spend much time on MySpace.com at all today. Too much to do and not enough time to do it. Guess it has just been a typical Monday.

Charles-Henri Avelange

I want to let you know about one of our MySpace friends who decided to help make a difference for a group of local citizens who serve their community. Charles-Henri Avelange, from France now located in Seattle, Washington, says that when he came to the United States in 2005, he discovered what the word "hero" actually means. He produced an album, The Age of Heroes, to honor all those individuals who risk their lives daily for our safety and our freedom.

More specifically, his album, The Age of Heroes, became the official fundraiser for the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters. The four pieces of music available to hear on his MySpace page are from The Age of Heroes. The music is beautiful, inspiring and moving. It is especially appropriate in a time when we have heroes risking their lives in foreign countries, and heroes here at home serving their fellow citizens not just daily but during the disasters that continue to plague our country. I would recommend you check it out.

Piano Man John

One of our newer friends on MySpace.com is Piano Man John. John Pederson is from California and is a pianist-keyboardist. His music reminds me a lot of Music 2 Work 2 sessions, and in fact, is referred to as "Healing and Easy Listening."

John Pederson's Themes of Love, which is one of my favorites on his MySpace page (along with First Anniversary) reminds me of Music 2 Work 2's Boys Bedtime Music. Both are piano pieces which are relaxing and calming. As with Music 2 Work 2, Piano Man John often combines other voices with the piano, but the four examples of his music on his MySpace page are the piano alone.

Michael Roth - rothmusik

Michael Roth - rothmusik, one of our MySpace friends, is based in Los Angeles, California. The music you can hear on his MySpace page is different from that of most of our other friends in that all the pieces except one are vocals; Michael Roth composed the music for each of them.

Michael Roth has an impressive list of credits - projects he has worked on and artists he has worked with. He is a composer, musician, sound designer, and pianist.

Of the four songs on his MySpace page, Then They Move On is my favorite. The music is really lovely. I do not know who the vocalist is, but she has a very pleasant voice also. It is a song from the soundtrack of a motion picture, Holy Days. I like the music so well that I think I'll have to try to find the movie and watch it.

Today's news

There are several pieces of news today - - a new clip has been posted on our MySpace.com page. Kelli Development is a brand new musical piece of piano and strings. It is not even up on the Music 2 Work 2 website yet, but you can hear it on MySpace.

There is a new session on the website, however. Emma's Numbers is a companion piece to Emma. Check out both of them!

And, finally, congratulations to Kelli.com; they now have their shopping cart up. This entire website looks fantastic. If you haven't seen it, be sure to go by and have a look around...............purchase a couple of their great songs while you are there!

A while back, I spent a great deal of time finding websites on which I could upload Music 2 Work 2 clips so that others could hear our music. Each website of course had its own rules and regulations about how many pieces of music you could upload and how the website operates - whether listeners could rate your music, if you could form a network of friends, etc. All these websites and their uses were new to me; I hadn't exactly spent time on music download sites prior to becoming involved in Music 2 Work 2.

One of the sites on which we registered Music 2 Work 2 and uploaded our music was FIQL.com; it is known as the "playlist sharing community." We have a couple of playlists set up there. Today we received an email saying that someone had bumped one of our playlists. When I read that, I immediately thought that it was something bad - - like bumped our playlist off. But, when I went to the website, I found out that it is actually good, a compliment - - it means that someone especially liked our playlist Background Music.

With everything else that has been going on lately, I haven't had time to check back with the other websites very often, certainly not often enough that I remember how each one functions. I see that it is something that I definitely need to do!

New clips on MySpace.com

There are two new clips on our MySpace page - Identification and Cassie. I spent today trying to cut the sessions down to clips short enough to post. I love the music so much, it is definitely hard to pick out just one part of it to be the clip.

Identification and Cassie are both wonderful pieces of music. You can hear the whole sessions on the Music 2 Work 2 web site. Just register, which is easy and free, and then enjoy!