Personal development has been the focus in the last month.
- Attended the Loose Acoustic Winterbreak workshop at Mt Tamborine;
- Attended a Master Songwriting workshop with Graeme Connors at Coolum Beach;
- Busked in the street and, to top it all off, played on the main stage at Snowflakes in Stanthorpe.
Loose Acoustic Winterbreak
This is my 7th year at Winterbreak - the one time of the year to collaborate and join with kindred spirits to talk songs and music for 4 solid days.
Winterbreak is set in a beautiful setting conducive to creativity and interaction with other like-minded souls - gets me buzzing and in the zone and afterwards I take the week off from work and hopefully my investment pays off with a new song or two.
I went back this year to continue where I left off last year with songwriting tutor Jon Brooks, Canadian singer-songwriter. Jon was fantastic and from his inspiration I came up with two songs last year - "You are my dream" (based upon the poetry of Samuel Taylor Coleridge) & "The place we call home" (playing on an environmental message).
The quality of tutors that Steve Seaton keeps bringing to the table is amazing and they are second to none. The songwriting tutor this year was Shane Nicholson, Australian singer-songwriter. Shane is a great tutor, challenging and productive. Learned some great creative methods for generating new ideas. Came home and I have two new songs to add to the bunch - "Earth & Soul" and "The Real World".
Vocal tutor this year was Sarah Collyer and I learned a great deal in a short time. Sarah has a great ability to zero in on what you are doing with your voice, explain in simple terms and suggest practical solutions that you can work with.
Guitar tutor this year was Richard Gilewitz. I have experienced working with Richard before and I am blown away every time with Richard's ability.
Every evening at Winterbreak the main meeting room becomes the Mad-hatters Cafe for a walk-up performance from all including the tutors. The performances by the tutors add value for money and allow a glimpse of magical excellence to inspire. It's not often you get a performance headlined by Richard Gillewitz, Sarah Collyer and Shane Nicholson - that in itself is something you get from Loose Acoustic that isn't in the asking price.
Working in groups - trios, duos, ensembles - is another valuable aspect of Winterbreak. This year I enjoyed working closely with Lawrie White and Naomi McCoy and on the final night we performed a set of 3 songs together - "Four Strong Winds", "Me & Bobby McGee" and "Midnight Special". For this is most likely my greatest challenge - to play with other musos and count my time. So thank you all for your encouragement, compassion and tolerance. It is truly good for the soul.
Vocal tutor this year was Sarah Collyer and I learned a great deal in a short time. Sarah has a great ability to zero in on what you are doing with your voice, explain in simple terms and suggest practical solutions that you can work with.
Guitar tutor this year was Richard Gilewitz. I have experienced working with Richard before and I am blown away every time with Richard's ability.
Every evening at Winterbreak the main meeting room becomes the Mad-hatters Cafe for a walk-up performance from all including the tutors. The performances by the tutors add value for money and allow a glimpse of magical excellence to inspire. It's not often you get a performance headlined by Richard Gillewitz, Sarah Collyer and Shane Nicholson - that in itself is something you get from Loose Acoustic that isn't in the asking price.
Working in groups - trios, duos, ensembles - is another valuable aspect of Winterbreak. This year I enjoyed working closely with Lawrie White and Naomi McCoy and on the final night we performed a set of 3 songs together - "Four Strong Winds", "Me & Bobby McGee" and "Midnight Special". For this is most likely my greatest challenge - to play with other musos and count my time. So thank you all for your encouragement, compassion and tolerance. It is truly good for the soul.
Master Songwriting with Graeme Connors
This was not on my radar. I had my musical outing for the year in the form of Winterbreak but two weeks later I find myself at The Lakes Resort, Coolum Beach with Steve Seaton and 8 other kindred souls working with & enjoying the company of Graeme & Lyn Connors. This was a truly life developing experience.
I particularly thank Lyn for being a wonderful companion for my wife Donna. Experiences like this enhance my chances of going to others and having Donna's company also.
Graeme Connors is a lovely, intense tutor who seriously listens and takes in every word and note. His lyrical advice and musical direction is instinctively incisive, instructive and on the money. I am thrilled to walk away with another bag of wisdom, collaborative experience, enthusiasm, self-confidence and confirmation of my own process. Another two songs came out of the weekend - "One day Soon" and "That's what I do". In particular I am so pleased with "That's what I do" that it made it onto the main performance stage at Snowflakes in Stanthorpe this weekend.
It was a magical 3 days in an inspirational environment. Well done Steve Seaton & Loose Acoustic.
I particularly thank Lyn for being a wonderful companion for my wife Donna. Experiences like this enhance my chances of going to others and having Donna's company also.
Graeme Connors is a lovely, intense tutor who seriously listens and takes in every word and note. His lyrical advice and musical direction is instinctively incisive, instructive and on the money. I am thrilled to walk away with another bag of wisdom, collaborative experience, enthusiasm, self-confidence and confirmation of my own process. Another two songs came out of the weekend - "One day Soon" and "That's what I do". In particular I am so pleased with "That's what I do" that it made it onto the main performance stage at Snowflakes in Stanthorpe this weekend.
It was a magical 3 days in an inspirational environment. Well done Steve Seaton & Loose Acoustic.
Snowflakes in Stanthorpe
To come out of two great workshops and then have the opportunity once again to play some of my own material and some interpretations (covers) down the street in Stanthorpe was great. As well as Busking in the street in front of Cafe 77 (thanks Tammy & Toby), then to have an hour on the main stage was a challenge and a highlight (thanks Maddie & the Snowflakes group). Dreams do come true. I can now say I have been the warm-up act for James Blundell.
To come out of two great workshops and then have the opportunity once again to play some of my own material and some interpretations (covers) down the street in Stanthorpe was great. As well as Busking in the street in front of Cafe 77 (thanks Tammy & Toby), then to have an hour on the main stage was a challenge and a highlight (thanks Maddie & the Snowflakes group). Dreams do come true. I can now say I have been the warm-up act for James Blundell.
Snowflakes down the main street of Stanthorpe on Friday was a buzz. A great day, well organised and supported, with an ambience that showcased the community and culture of Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt. Great to be a part of - thank you!
Where to from here
Back to the real world? Only enough as I have to in order to finance and fulfill our dreams.
The last Sunday in July (31 July 2017) is shaping up as House Concert day. I am looking forward to exploring the phenomenon of a Sunday Afternoon Singalong Session in our rammed earth home on our property, Earth & Soul, at Cannon Creek 12 kms outside of the town of Stanthorpe on the Granite Belt of Queensland. Please get in touch if you would like to attend!
With 11 new songs to put before you, as well as favourites from my other CDs and perhaps some interpretations (covers) of some well known tunes.
In the meantime - take care - regards.... Mark
Back to the real world? Only enough as I have to in order to finance and fulfill our dreams.
The last Sunday in July (31 July 2017) is shaping up as House Concert day. I am looking forward to exploring the phenomenon of a Sunday Afternoon Singalong Session in our rammed earth home on our property, Earth & Soul, at Cannon Creek 12 kms outside of the town of Stanthorpe on the Granite Belt of Queensland. Please get in touch if you would like to attend!
With 11 new songs to put before you, as well as favourites from my other CDs and perhaps some interpretations (covers) of some well known tunes.
In the meantime - take care - regards.... Mark