Here is my arrangement of the classic song from the Wizard of Oz. The music was composed by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Yip Harburg. This arrangement is available from Sheet Music Plus (Click on the picture).
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Improv with Vocalization
Here is something I haven’t posted before: an improvisation with some vocalizing. I certainly wouldn’t call it singing. At some point I would really like to learn how to overtone sing. I can get it a little but it certainly isn’t something I can control. If you are unfamiliar with this type of singing check out this video:
I also love the singing style of Manuel Molina. He just belts it out:
I also love the all-white suit!! I need one of those!
-Rob
Fun Jazzy Piece
Happy Friday!! Or Friyay!! I actually hate that phrase. I have a friend who says, “I don’t hate.” I’m not above a little hate. OMG what am I talking about???? Is it even OK for a 45-year-old man to use the phrase, “OMG?”
This is the end of my piece, Fun Jazzy Piece. I composed this piece around 4 or 5 years ago. I wrote the original bass line 25 (??) years ago. Maybe 20. I wrote it on the piano but could never really do much with it. About 5 years ago I decided to try the bass line on the guitar and I ended up writing the entire piece in a few days. I recorded it on my “There’s a New Sheriff In Town” album which for whatever reason my bandcamp page is down so I can add a link. Not cool.
I have been making a lot of arrangements lately and I plan on recording a new album next week. The album will be all arrangements and will include:
Nothing Else Matters (Metallica)
Hurt (NIN/Johnny Cash)
The Godfather Theme
Schindler’s List Theme
and about 7 other arrangements.
-Rob
Schindler’s List arr. for Guitar
Here is my arrangement of the (BEAUTIFUL) theme from the movie, Schindler’s List. Score/tab available at Sheet Music Plus (Click on the picture below).
Gabriel’s Oboe
One of those pieces I wish I had written. Beautiful melody. The score/tab is available at Sheet Music Plus. (Click on the picture)
New Video, Finished Piece and More…
I just uploaded a video I recorded back in December. I recorded myself playing for about a 1/2 hour and then cut it down to this. The order of songs is:
Texting and Improvisation
A Little Waltz for a Little Girl 1:28
Improvisation 5:02
Grey Skies 5:28
Fur Elise 7:17
Amazing Grace 8:18
Fantasia (Red Guitar Suite) 10:47
I finally finished the Piano Trio piece I was working on:
The piece is going to be performed in April. It’s going to be on a program of Beethoven pieces so I incorporated a few of my favorite Beethoven melodies and themes into this piece. Some are obvious and some are not so obvious. You can download and listen to the full score here:
On a side note I got booties for my dog which he hates. Here is a picture of him being like, “if I don’t see him, he’s not there.”
I teach at Lake Michigan College. I have taught there on and off since 1997 and last week I taught in a place in the building that I have never taught before and saw this:
I have taught in this building for over 20 years and just now seeing this!!! My wife does tell me I am not the most observant person but DANG. Very cool. Looking down in this picture.
I hope everyone is doing well.
-Rob
Hallelujah arranged for guitar
Here is my arrangement of the Leonard Cohen classic, Hallelujah. Score/tab is available at Sheet Music Plus. (Click on the picture for more information).
Nothing Else Matters arranged for Guitar
I have always loved this song. I have played the opening for a long time (even played it at a wedding). I finally decided to arrange the full song for solo guitar. Score/tab is available at Sheet Music Plus. (Click on the picture).
Hurt (Nine Inch Nails/Johnny Cash) arranged for Guitar
New arrangement of Hurt by Nine Inch Nails. The Downward Spiral album came out when I was in college and I wore that tape out! Love that album and listened to it a lot. Still listen to it. I have always loved the song, Hurt, and I thought it might work well on the guitar. Johnny Cash did an amazing cover of the song and this arrangement is based more on that version than the original.
Sheet music/tabs are available from Sheet Music Plus. You can click on the picture to get there.
Passion
Passion is everything to me. When I am completely absorbed in playing music I feel it throughout my body. It’s like explosions going off in my body. When I listen to music I love, the hair on my arm still stands up. Even if it is a song I have heard thousands of times. When I was in middle school I heard Sweet Child O’ Mine for the first time and the solo was a hair raising experience for me. Still is. I was listening to it in the car the other day and almost crashed my car because I was focusing on the solo.
That is why I hate hearing people argue about music. This band sucks, this guitarists sucks and so on. Maybe that band or artist creates a hair raising experience for somebody. That artist/band is important to that person. That is a great thing.
Music is a beautiful thing. This world needs beautiful things.
I took the picture a few years ago. I was playing guitar outside which is something I love doing.
