Recording Studio

Okay, so this was written in December of 2012.  Not that long ago, so I'm putting it up.  I'll get you caught up on what's been happening in 2013 in the next one.  Thanks for you patience:

I had a great time this morning with Ed Blanton of Encore Music in Mt. Pleasant.  I had stopped into his shop a couple weeks ago to check it out and purchase my nephew, Conner Fersner's, Christmas present.  When I got there, I noticed there was a recording studio associated with the shop, but when I got in there, I got too busy talking to him, the other clerk, checking out the stuff they had, etc. to remember to ask about the studio.  But I went back the next week and we made an appointment for me to take the tour.

What fun.  I felt like if there was going to be a recording studio in The Guitarist, I should probably have stepped foot in one in my lifetime, eh? 

Anyway, the Encore studio is not a big place, but it's big enough to get a good idea of what goes on and how it works.  They do strictly digital recording there with a computer but as Ed and I talked, he was able to tell me quite a bit about the history of guitars and recording.  I evidently know what an analog sound board looks like, so I'm good. 

I had several questions and came up with more as we talked which he answered willingly and with a smile.  He didn't act like I was bothering him too much, so I'll take it.  And he said I could call anytime with other questions that might come up.  I'm sure they will.

So if you're looking for anything in the musical instrument or performing departments check out Encore Music.  Also, my guitar teacher, John Smith, Jr. who has been mentioned in this blog before is teaching there now.  So that's a plus, obviously.

From China Grove to Bristol Shore

Yeah, I didn't post last week.  I was a little discouraged, trying to make "Sunshine" fluid.  John gave me the rest of the song so I could play the whole thing, but I wasn't confident I was getting it. 

He also gave me a choice on what new song to learn.  He said, "Eric Johnson or Van Halen?"  Just hearing EJ's name makes me smile and I think I said, "Whaddaya mean?" but who the heck knows?  Anyway, he picked out the intro to "Bristol Shore" and I was grinning like a lunatic.  I told him I definitely wanted to learn that kind of thing--that it was one of the original goals I set for myself. 

And what about Van Halen?  He played VH's cover of "You Really Got Me" which looked more like what I'd been practicing, with the power chords and all, so I chose that.  It looked like I could do it, with enough practice, and he tried to show me how to palm-mute.  He makes it look so easy.

Nephew Conner Fersner
showing off the wah-wah
we bought him

Then on Sunday, we had the opportunity to hear our nephew, Conner, play.  Oh my God!  He is so good!  He made all those songs just . . . flow.  And he made it all look so effortless.  He said, "Here, get Dad's guitar Aunt Mary O.  We can play together."  I was like, "Are you out of your mind?!"  I'm nowhere near his level, and now I can understand why his dad, Joe, is somewhat discouraged with his own lessons.  Man!  That kid's good.

So I was a little down walking into my lesson on Monday.  But as has been the case after all of my lessons, I was grinnin' like crazy upon leaving.  John said I wasn't doing too badly--I was actually doing pretty well.  He reminded me that Conner's been taking lessons from him for a long time--four or five years.  'Course then, I had to laugh--how good did I expect to be in a month and a half?  Hahaha!!

For this next lesson, I'll have two weeks of practice because I'm not going to make it next week.  On top of practicing the songs I've been doing, and the techniques involved, John also gave me the Doobie Brother's "China Grove."  I'm having a lot of fun with that. It's got that string-dulling, chunka-chunka sound I like so much.  I saw Conner do it on Sunday and I was envious of his skill.  (I shouldn't be envious.  I'll never catch up to him, but I sure am proud of him!)

With the extra practice time I'll have before my next lesson, I asked John about "Bristol Shore" and he showed me.  I was so psyched!  I came home and listened to the song and then started to work.  Gosh, I can't believe it, but I'm really doing it!  Not only that, but you can even recognize "China Grove."  That makes me happy!  Chunka-chunka!