Music Is Not for Insects

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lXh2n0aPyw&feature=player_embedded

It’s not reality but augmented reality with my wife and I participating in a music video with my “buddy” John Mayer:

Here is John talking about augmented reality and the first music video to use the new technology:

The L.A. Philharmonic has a new music director: Gustavo Dudamel. And to celebrate the new maestro’s first season, you can try a clever little conducting game on their website. It’s kind of like Guitar Hero meets Berlioz on your computer keyboard. You can even download the game as a free app on your iPhone. Who knows…this might actually spawn a whole set of classically based “Guitar Hero” like games.  Hmmm…what would be the classical equivalent of “Through the Fire and Flames” the most difficult song on the first version of Guitar Hero? Webern? Schoenberg?

Inspired by the Flickr group pool “What’s in your bag?”, I decided to take a shot of all the stuff in my backpack I take with me to work since I am transferring all my gear into a new bigger satchel. (Note: I have what you would call a “bag” addiction; messenger bags, backpacks, briefcases, I have several and can’t get enough of them. My wife claims I have a serious problem, but we have an understanding since I tend to bring up her shoe collection when I’m being admonished…)

I’ll highlight some of the things in my bag and why I have them, how I use them and then list what I wish I had in my bag. I’m hoping you’ll comment with some items in common or tell us what’s in your bag.

HIGHLIGHTED CONTENTS:

*13.3″ black MacBook. Not the latest one, but after having to give up a school MacBook at my previous job, I decided to bite the bullet and get my own. The list is endless on how I use this laptop and it’s many apps. You can get some ideas from my previous posts here.

*Flip Video Camera. I have this camera with me for instant digital video shooting. I also have a nifty mini tripod to go with the camera. From camera, to MacBook, to iMovie, to YouTube, the flip is so easy to use for digital video. I have reviewed this at length in the past.

*Sharpies. I currently have three and I am missing one…more thoughts here.

*Metro bus pass provided by my employer. Ask if your school has an employee discount for your local bus or metro system. I did not know this was an option with my school until someone told me about it…

*Cables, cables, cables. Firewire, ethernet, ipod, 1/8″ to RCA, etc., etc. You never know what kind of hook-ups you’ll need.

*USB drives- three of them in various sizes.

*250 GB external drive. More storage and back-up.

*Custom Westone Hearing Protectors. Custom ear plugs; they reduce the sound by about 15db and save my eardrums from constant bombardment. You need these if you teach in a room that is really live or have students blaring instruments at you day after day. I’ll bet your school health plan will pay for them. At first, they will bug you, but then at the end of the day when you are not suffering with a headache, you’ll get used to them and be grateful for some piece of mind and PROTECTION FOR YOUR HEARING.

*Rhodia Staple Bound Graph Pad. I’m a big fan of technology, but nothing beats a good little note pad and pencil to jot down ideas.

*Targus TG-CRD25 Universal 32-in-1 Memory Card Reader. Ok, you may not have to ever read 32 different memory cards, but this adapter works great for SD cards, memory sticks, compact flash, XD- almost any kind of memory card you or your friends digital camera or other digital device uses. Plug it into a USB port, and you are ready to transfer.

*Fish shaped bottle opener (for a refreshing beverage…after work of course), two ipods, Sony earbuds, guitar pick, headphone splitter, Kensington laptop lock and extra cell phone battery.

THINGS NOT PICTURED BUT WORTH MENTIONING

*Scores. Music scores for band, choir and piano classes I teach.

*Daily Lesson Planner. The paper kind.

*Blank CD’s. A couple for playlists that need to be burned.

*Paper calendar. I still use one of these even though I’m a Google Calendar user…

THINGS I WISH I HAD

*Zoom H2 Digital Recorder. I used to have a digital recorder like this at my last school…I would like another one so I can record rehearsals on the fly.

* A digital camera. Crazy, I know, but my wife has the digital camera in her bag!

Ok- you have to stop what you are doing right now and head on over to The Berliner Philharmoniker Cello Challenge (after you read my post)…

When you get there you will see the following directions as you get ready to hear The Swan in a whole new light:

YOU VS. CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS
There are one million possibilities to get tones from a Cello. Will you manage to get the right ones?
Take the bow and lead it with your mouse.

Move the mouse in the rhythm of the music and be sure to keep the small ring in the centre of the large ring.
When you do it wrong, you’ll hear it.
Do it correct and you’ll get points.

Here is a screen shot to give you an idea:

And thus begins the latest diversion for me in the past hour…here’s my high score:

Not bad for a knuckle-dragging-trombonist….

ME BLOGGER CHALLENGE-

Let’s see which ME blogger can get the highest score. Send me your scores in a comment to this post and the instrument you play in real life…all for fun. No need to take a screen shot-we’ll trust you (unless you want to show off a bit). Have fun!

Click on the picture below to see a cool flashed based web-site (you’ll only be able to see the fun flash animation if you follow the link):

Discovered this post over at engadget:

Guitar Hero Caribiner hands on