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

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

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

7 December 2011
by Bill Parsons
3 Comments

Four Large Projects: The CD

Active Life “If you’re not having fun, you’re doing something wrong.” – Groucho Marx I am creating four large projects: a lessons website, a dvd, a cd, and a novel. All of them are progressing well but it makes for … Continue reading

28 October 2011
by Bill Parsons
0 comments

Creative Improvisers Festival

Timar/Parsons An upcoming performance I am doing with Andrew Timar is a part of the 416 Toronto Creative Improvisers Festival. Here is a sample of what we sound like.   To hear us in a recent performance at Electric Eclectic … Continue reading

7 June 2011
by Bill Parsons
0 comments

Café Noisette

Many cafés boast but few deliver. In Paris, the coffee is fine, generally okay. A café noisette is espresso with enough hot milk to give it an almond color. When in Paris, this is how I take it. I have … Continue reading