Songs from Tropical Shores

Finally got all the Tropical Shores songs done and soon they will all be in the folder, ready to download. also now working on an arrangment of "trini 2 d bone" for a group in sedona, AZ. will post score soon.
Still working on teh "copacabana" tune but got side tracked on some other things for the school band.

hoping to shoot another video soon on a subject to be decided later.

d minor video

Finally got time to post a new video dealing with the d minor scale over the tune "reggae blues"
The download is available at tropicalshores.net/downloads/steeldrumcentral it is in the tsp folder.
You are welcome to download and try the tunes.

Got three or four more new tunes done and they are available at www.tropicalshores.net/downloads/steeldrumcentral I believe they are in the tsp folder, help yourself.

I have also added a Poll to the sight on the right hand side. Please tell me your instrument if you like...more questions later on, keep checking.

More videos

I am planning on shooting a couple of videos this weekend. I will probably do one on improving and maybe another one on a topic that someone might suggest (again, a blantant hint for help).

I have also been working on a concert band piece called "legacy" for my high school concert band. It is very time consuming but having the band play the tune and actually appear to enjoy it (although maybe they were sucking up for a good greade)...it a thrill to say the least.

Great weather the last couple of days. Golfed 9 holes today. Driving still weak, but the short game is seeing some improvement...which i believe is from hours (and I DO mean hours of watching the golf channel). still a lousy player but i am excited to play more this summer.

rags to riches

It seems that Haven High school is without a golf coach and the administration has spoken to me about serving as the coach. "Sponsor" is a better term for me as a golfer of only 6 months and very limiting experience on a golf course. I have though discovered thar our tv has the golf channel and i was not aware of it. BUT NOW...i watch it constantly and try to pick up tips. Our school also teams up with another small school to form the team and their coach is very good. Met him today.
so, maybe just "van driver" would be most appropriate for me. but it comes with a $2400 additional pay. i figure it this way...any day where a guy can teach music, steel drum, guitar, AND get paid to play golf is a good day.

on the steel drum front, i have not been able to get my busy son to put all the new tunes in the zip file...but he will soon.

My full band original piece called "legacy" is mostly done, but needs many proofing and such. The hs band will have their first of many readings of the piece tommorrow.

more tunes

There are now about 5 new tunes on the TSP zip file. mango mambo, party of 7, reggae blues,
island on my mind, and early at the market. hopefully they are available for download. if you have questions let me know. this is address for the downloads
http://tropicalshores.net/downloads/steeldrumcentral/
i plan to have all ten done by next weekend.

No school on monday, BUT i have to do an inservice. i would much rather just teach school becuase the inservices rarely have anything to do with music...

ALMOST warm enough for golf today, but maybe wednesday....(65 degress?)

back into it

Back into school now (2nd week)..Seems like this time of year moves particularly quick for me with a lot of differnet projects coming due... trying to start kids on solos and ensembles. Lots of composing and rerecording also. right now I am redoing a book called "songs from tropical shores" which has 10 original tunes on it. however, like the other book i recently redid, it is not currently avaiable in "play along version" where the melody is deleted on the second track.

Soo, i am working on those. they will be available as i get them finished at tropicalshores.net/downloads . the songs will be in a zip file called "TSP" and i will add them as i get them done and as my son can put them in the file for me. 3 are currently done.

i am also working on a full steel drum band arrangement of "copacabana" since it iseems to work well for steel drums.

I will start on a video next week after i consider what topic to discuss.. several viewers have commented that the videos are very helpful so i will keep them coming when i can.

pans on ice

We are performing for a Wichita Thunder hockey game tonight, it is the first gig of the year. apparently we are performing in honor of the mascot's birthday, which will have a tropical night theme.

I am working on a play along to "Shaker song" by spyro gyra circa 1980. it is a great little tune that i have known for years. kind of a challenge to play up to tempo but it should be fun...wwill post the downloadable file when i get done.

also still working on a collection of classical pan solos for people to play. like pan and piano for instance. got 3 done. jaimie is helping me write some.

gotta go for now...break a puck?

comments?