31 January 2012
by Bill Parsons
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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
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(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
3 January 2012
by Bill Parsons
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Portrait Photography The phenomenon of genius discovery after the fact is Mike Disfarmer’s story. From a small town in Arkansas he was a curious man who photographed his community. His portraits remind me of Diane Arbus. There’s an odd story … Continue reading
31 December 2011
by Bill Parsons
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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
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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
12 December 2011
by Bill Parsons
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Creativity Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man In my early twenties I read Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce. When I finished the “artist’s coming of age story” I had a strong impulse … Continue reading
7 December 2011
by Bill Parsons
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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
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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
23 October 2011
by Bill Parsons
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Fusio One of my Fusio students suggested we try Moliendo Cafe. It was a lot of fun to play. I am not sure where I know the song from but it’s been a part of me for many years. Creative … Continue reading
17 October 2011
by Bill Parsons
2 Comments