In this episode I explore the music of "The Dark Knight" soundtrack by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard. I focus on the many ostinato patterns (continually repeated musical phrase or rhythm) that are woven into the beautiful and moody action packed cues. The churning percussion that moves in synchronous orbit with the ostinato string patterns of all different tempos. I will be doing a Hans Zimmer solo episode coming up soon.
In this episode I take a great "lick" from Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto and make it my own. I will show you how to play Beethoven's and then how I change it into a modern 21st century lick.
In this episode we explore the how to develop a musical idea. I will take you step-by-step through the creative process of how I come up with, develop and arrange ideas for a film scoring cue or just the musical examples for my videos
In the spring of 1980 something happened that was to alter the course of my life forever. I have told only a couple of my closest friends about this and no one in my family has ever heard this. I thought i would share it with you. Thank you for being here for me!
This a story that like the one in "Fortunes of Hard Work" most people even my close friends don't know about me. It is the story of how I rediscovered Rock Music in my late 20's and how the journey took me to creating this channel. This is my 24 year overnight success story.
In this episode of Everything Music we will explore what Bach and Charlie Parker had in common which was octave displacement. It is a way for you to make your melodies more interesting and more intervallic. It will also give your lines much more interesting shapes.
The is the premiere of my new show called Sounding Off with Special Guest guitar legend Steve Vai. Today's show features Steve discussing topics ranging from the Music Industry to Frank Zappa to Polyrhythms and Nested Tuplets! Steve was hired by Frank Zappa at age 18 to transcribe everything from lead sheets to orchestral scores. The bulk of the work Steve explains was guitar solos and their accompanying drum parts. Frank played all the guitar and Vinnie Colaiuta was the drummer.
Here is the story my major label recording career. I got signed for the first time at age 36 and it was a disaster of epic proportions. Be careful what you wish for.
This weeks Sounding Off features Turkish Pianist/ Composer Aydin Esen. Today's show features Aydin discussing his concepts of melodic and harmonic language, the importance of flow in improvisation and how his concept has evolved over the past 30 years of performing. Check out the video called Aydin Esen and the Art of Improvisation - A Musical Gift • Aydin Esen and the Art of Improvisati...
In this episode of Sounding Off we are talking with Film Composer Mark Isham. Mark will tell you everything you need to know about the job of being a Film Composer. From the ideas to all the technology associated with it DAW, Temp Music, Orchestration and the Recording and Mixing process.
This episode features legendary drummer Dennis Chambers who sounds off about his Polyrhythms, Feel, Drum Tuning, Set Up, Gear and tells some hilarious stories about his fabled career. I even played him one of his own drum solos where he explains how he conceptualizes Metric Modulations and Polyrhythms.
In this episode of Sounding Off I talk with Music Theory YouTube Sensation Adam Neely. Adam is a bass guitarist and composer working in New York City. He runs a popular educational YouTube channel where he explores unusual and interesting topics in music and bass playing that might not normally be explored.
In this episode Snarky Puppy Guitarist Mark Lettieri Sounds Off about his Playing, Guitars and Gear.
Victor Wooten is here with us today to Sound Off on being a musician, songwriter, author and educator.
In this episode of SOUNDING OFF we talk to Dream Theater's Guitarist John Petrucci. Here is a bio of John:
In today's episode of Sounding Off Bassist Jeff Berlin!
Voted “Best Keyboardist of All Time” by Music Radar Magazine, Jordan Rudess is best known as the keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire for platinum-selling Grammy- nominated prog rock band, Dream Theater.
Rudy Sarzo is a professional recording and performing artist worldwide for over 35 years with such groups as Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot, Whitesnake, DIO, BOC and many more. In addition, Rudy is the author of the book "Off the Rails" which chronicles his time with Randy Rhoads during their Quiet Riot and Ozzy years.
This is a video of my podcast with Tribal Tech founder and guitarist Scott Henderson.
My guest on today's SOUNDING OFF is American jazz pianist and composer Steve Hunt. From 1987 to 2003, Steve performed, toured, and recorded as a member of Allan Holdsworth's band. Several of his compositions appear on Holdsworth's albums. On Secrets (1989), Hunt is credited with composing "Maid Marion", and "Joshua". On Wardenclyffe Tower (1992), he did "Dodgy Boat". On Hard Hat Area, he helped to write "Prelude" and "Postlude". On the album Then!, which was recorded live in Japan, he helped with "Zone I", "Zone II", and "Zone III". Tracks from these albums are included in the compilation The Best of Allan Holdsworth: Against the Clock.
How I come up with my videos - What I do all day
In this video I'll teach you how to program and read basic drum grooves.
In this video I interviewed Jake Ottmann, who is Senior Vice President of A&R at RCA Records about the state of the record business and what he looks for in new talent.
This video is the first in my Basics of Music Theory Series. In this episode I discuss intervals, triads and keys.
In this video I talk about and demonstrate why Radiohead is one of the greatest bands of all times. I teach how to play excerpts from "Airbag", "Just", "Let Down", "Everything In Its Right Place" and "Daydreaming".
In this video I share my philosophy on music and life in general and talk about why its important to not have any regrets.
In this video we learn how to play "Norwegian Wood", "Here comes the Sun", "Strawberry Fields Forever" and decipher the opening chord to "A Hard Day's Night".
My good friend Aimee Nolte and I sat down last week to discuss our journey that eventually led us into the world of YouTube Music Channels.
In this video we discuss an old arrangement, I did of the tune "When you wish upon a star" with a special focus on voice-leading.
In this episode I interview English Jazz and Rock Drummer and Keyboardist Gary Husband. Gary is best known for his work with two of the greatest guitarists of all-time Allan Holdsworth and John McLaughlin. He is one of the few musicians that is true virtuoso on two instruments.

