Mosaicland

Guitar Blog. Toronto Guitar Lessons. Musicianship. Creativity

8 February 2012
by Bill Parsons
2 Comments

Finding Your Voice

How to find your voice What draws a person to express themselves through music is a mystery. Usually a recording or a particular performance just at the right moment sparks the desire. And then it can take years before the … Continue reading

31 January 2012
by Bill Parsons
0 comments

Everywhere Rain

HARMONY Playing chords is a big part of what a guitar players do, whether they know the rules of tertian harmony or not. Knowing basic theory can help take your playing to the next level. Create a Chord Progression Chord … Continue reading

23 January 2012
by Bill Parsons
0 comments

Drum Solo

The Maples Inn I first met Blair at the Maples Inn in Montreal somewhere in the mid to late 1970s. The “Mapes” was a local watering hole on the north shore of Lac St. Louis. It was the place to … Continue reading

21 January 2012
by Bill Parsons
0 comments

Four Large Projects: The other CD

 (still image: Chuck Samuels) Translating Grace The fourth large project I am involved with is Grace, a soon to be released CD by Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan. Back in 2005 I was commissioned to compose a piece for the Sundanese … Continue reading

17 January 2012
by Bill Parsons
2 Comments

I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry, Hank Williams

Hurting Tune The first time I heard I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry by Hank Williams I thought it sounded like a movie that was made during the Great Depression. Some guy on the road with a guitar, singing songs … Continue reading

31 December 2011
by Bill Parsons
1 Comment

Aquarium, by Mosaic

LOOPING Looping is a technique I have often used when composing. It involves repeating or “looping” musical materials, such as a melodic phrase, a texture, or a chord progression. The term “loop” comes from early electronic composition where a piece … Continue reading

23 December 2011
by Bill Parsons
0 comments

Four Large Projects: The DVD

Grammy Award Winners In September 2010 I shot sixty-four lessons for the Creative Guitar Ensemble DVD project, Grammy Award Winners. The idea for the DVD was to create multi-guitar arrangements for eight classic songs for Beginner to Semi-professional guitarists to … Continue reading