tag:danielblairlive.com,2005:/blogs/latest-news?p=2Latest News2018-07-09T04:34:57-05:00Daniel Blair LIVEfalsetag:danielblairlive.com,2005:Post/48238302017-08-23T23:52:32-05:002024-03-12T07:49:50-05:00Romancing your Instrument<p>I am currently eyeballs deep in <a contents="Ivan Galamian's Violin Pedagogy Book&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Violin-Playing-Teaching-Dover/dp/0486498646/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1503549798&sr=1-1&keywords=galamian" target="_blank">Ivan Galamian's Violin Pedagogy Book</a>. It is not a new book (He passed away in 1981), or even new to me (I read it in college) but something about it currently has me captivated.</p>
<p>Let's get something straight - I HATE to practice violin...until I am actually doing it. Have you ever experienced that feeling of total dread, knowing the level of focus you are going to need to apply? I do it on a daily basis. However, once I have practiced for about 10 minutes the endorphins kick in, the productivity wheel has been turned, the switch flipped....you get the picture. I then develop this profound sense of pride in my accomplishment of practicing.</p>
<p>I have learned to make a deal with myself. I say "Daniel, just get it out and play for 15 minutes, then you can put it away." Inevitably that snowballs into a massively productive session. I will often practice for 3+ hours at a time and the last time I missed a day of practice was several months ago. So often, I believe that people simply need to give themselves a chance to succeed. PULL OUT YOUR INSTRUMENT - You don't need to set aside crazy amounts of time, just give yourself room to fall in love with your craft. It WILL happen and when it does, you will say to your instrument "Wow, this was <em>really</em> nice, we should do this again soon."</p>
<p>That's it: Give yourself a chance.</p>
<p>Now go practice :)</p>Daniel Blair LIVEtag:danielblairlive.com,2005:Post/38287862015-08-21T23:19:51-05:002023-12-10T11:06:12-06:00Why do all my neighbors hate me?This is a very simple question. I am LOUD! <br>Even with the new studio I am constantly aware of the ridiculous decibels I emit. When we began to move into the building I warned the landlord (his office backs up to mine) to periodically expect insane levels of sound. He took it like a champ! While I am working to improve the acoustics of the room I now would love to find a way to improve his situation as well. He hasn't put up a fuss but I would like to build relationships that last for a long time - not have a lease with someone why "tolerates" my favorite (income producing) pastime. <br><br>This is not a new scenario. The last condo we lived in must have driven the neighbors insane! 4 hours of broken thirds and fingered octaves? That could drive anyone to the brink of insanity. Lets face it people, practice shouldn't sound good. Practice is the music equivalent of working out in the gym - your hair looks bad, you smell terrible and you make funny noises. Yet, we do it for the results all the working out (practicing) produces.<br><br>So fear not about the noise, try to be courteous whenever possible and become the artist you know is hiding under hours and hours of practice.Daniel Blair LIVEtag:danielblairlive.com,2005:Post/37718522015-07-09T14:50:22-05:002023-12-10T11:25:31-06:00More Music, Less SleepOur Academy has upgraded to a new location in Johnson City, TN. That pretty much keeps me busy beyond belief. Perhaps the best news is that I get to build out an audio/video recording studio! I have 400 square ft to work with for the studio. There will be an 18' x 10' green screen curtain, 5 hard points for mounting cameras. Audio-wise I have a 10' x 10' recording studio where I have MUCH more experience performing in studio than building one. <br><br>I have found out you can make your own sound panels to audio treat a space.<br>According to my friends who are smarter than me it all starts with <a contents="Corning 703 fiberglass panels" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.amazon.com/Owens-Corning-703-Fiberglass-Boards/dp/B005V3L834/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436471107&sr=8-1&keywords=corning+703&pebp=1436471117229&perid=1NM6Y1X7HD5EDXF7SCVJ" target="_blank">Corning 703 fiberglass panels</a>, you build frames for them and then staple burlap across the front.<br>I will post updates the to process but so far I have 30 panels waiting to be constructed.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/162387/9bcedb550d875ab4216e70b436deab6d63814edf/original/corning.jpg?1436471321" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br>We are producing my sister's wedding next weekend so the bar of expectations is high for me. Life is fun!Daniel Blair LIVEtag:danielblairlive.com,2005:Post/36833562015-04-29T21:20:29-05:002023-12-10T10:33:16-06:00April 25 concert was a success!<span class="font_large">So much fun at Milligan College.</span><br>We had a beautiful set we pieced together in less than 2 hours and put on a well-received performance.<br>Check out our photos in the <a contents="media section" data-link-label="Photos" data-link-type="page" href="/photos">media section</a>. <br>Big thanks to James Ross (cello) Margo Crowder (keys) and Mary Nerren (Violin/Piano).<br><br>Putting humor with music is something that Victor Borge pioneered in the mid 1900s and I could have no better role model in the world of classical music.<br>If we do another public show this year it will be late in the fall but I would like to thank you all for the kind words.<br><br>-Daniel<br><br>BTW<br>We sold out of several styles and colors of shirts but never fear, more are on the way!<br> <div class="captioned justify_center"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/162387/f35804ddef8ad372cda2673e8f56053ddb0d0c2e/medium/04-25-2015-1172.jpg?1430359576" class="size_orig justify_center border_" /><p class="caption">Daniel Blair</p></div>
<div class="captioned justify_center"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/162387/0b2a1d56d54654c5e65132e8cadb0d9257e5d827/medium/04-25-2015-1143.jpg?1430360041" class="size_orig justify_center border_" /><p class="caption">DB Live Stage</p></div>Daniel Blair LIVEtag:danielblairlive.com,2005:Post/36731122015-04-23T10:31:14-05:002024-03-15T01:18:01-05:00Curtain Up in 2 days!In two days we (myself, Margo Crowder and James Ross) will take the stage for our first performance produced by yours truly.<br>It is a wildly different experience setting up box offices, promoting, set design and STILL finding time to build a great setlist and rehearse.<br><br>I love it.<br><br>We will have classical music, Bluegrass, Uptown Funkiness, and even a gameshow for the audience.<br>T-shirts have been printed (check out the design below) fingernails have been gnawed upon and I have never been more excited to perform.<br>Saturday will be an experience to remember (for me anyway)<br><br>Doors open at 6:30 at Lower Seeger (Walker Auditorium) at Milligan College<br><a contents="http://buytickets.at/danielblairlive/25321" data-link-label="" data-link-type="" href="http://buytickets.at/danielblairlive/25321" target="_blank">http://buytickets.at/<wbr></wbr>danielblairlive/25321</a><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/162387/4b6bc454870809d8ffb017d5b7ff1f0b13aa4f67/small/violinshirt.jpg?1429802206" class="size_s justify_center border_" />Daniel Blair LIVEtag:danielblairlive.com,2005:Post/36292432015-03-28T10:50:28-05:002024-03-15T01:16:34-05:00Daniel Blair to perform at Alan Bracken's "WOW Factor" EventThis is exciting!<br>I have been following Alan's leadership coaching for almost 3 years. Top notch stuff and business has grown dramatically.<br>This particular 4 hour event is probably going to be my favorite and here is why:<ol> <li>I get to play music (big plus)</li> <li>I get to make theme songs for different personalities (DISC profiles)</li> <li>I get to share about my experience on stage with Eddie Money</li> <li>I get to meet other local business owners and make new friends.</li>
</ol>So I realize those are all very selfish reasons but if you have goals in business or your personal life that could use an extra boost then you can make a selfish list as well.<br>Tickets are $100 and can be found <a contents="HERE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="" href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-wow-factor-tickets-14761641467" target="_blank">HERE</a><br><br><span class="font_large">I am hosting a contest for the next 5 days </span><br><strong><span class="font_regular">If you opt in to my email list (It will include free stuff too) you will be registered to win a FREE ticket to <a contents="The WOW Factor" data-link-label="" data-link-type="" href="http://www.alanbracken.com/the-wow-factor/" target="_blank">The WOW Factor</a> on Friday April 3.<br>Yes. Free tickets to great music and even better personal growth and business training.<br><br>See you there!</span></strong><br><br>-Daniel<div class="captioned justify_left"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/162387/e1503c5a6763ba66c4a5fb372d004a405e254a27/original/disc-square.png?1427557779" class="size_orig justify_left border_" /><p class="caption">How do people see you?</p></div>Daniel Blair LIVEtag:danielblairlive.com,2005:Post/35581052015-02-25T19:17:55-06:002024-03-15T01:15:21-05:00Not much can beat NEW GEAR!It true!<p> </p>
<p>SO much snow in Tennessee right now (read ‘a little bit of snow’) and most businesses are shut down. My Music School is closed due to weather and it seems like a great time to record some music right? RIGHT.</p>
<p>But wait, I have had some conversations with NS Design and am taking a look at their fancy shmancy electric violin. They kindly shipped me one and It is seriously sweet (video to come). It is my first time trying a 5 string and it definitely feels different. There is much less room in between strings so I have to pay attention to really keep things clean. It is a passive pickup using new technology I haven’t learned to understand yet but here is the important part – IT SOUNDS AMAZING WITHOUT BATTERIES.</p>
<p>WHAT??!?</p>
<p>That is correct, no batteries and I am very happy to have one less thing to pack on the road. Here is a stock photo of the one I received. It shreds for real and I worked out some Kirk Hammett (Metallica) and Matthias Jabs (Scorpions) solos. Sounds really good on in the mid range but it is important to take measures to tame the brightness in high registers – Violins tend to get squeaky when amplified anyway.</p>
<p>SUMMARY:</p>
<p>It Screams. I love it and plan to be playing NS Design Instruments for a good long while.</p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/162387/9e462943c4d198aaa8d6243bc25a16f00cbb2dab/medium/ns-design.jpg?1424913425" class="size_m justify_center border_" />Daniel Blair LIVE