Empowering The Musician In Your Classroom Thomas Amoriello & Mathhew S. Ablan tamoriel@frsd.k12.nj.us matthewablan.com that’s not a word, it is now) software - I wish every musician was born with it. The reason I included this in the seminar is due to decades of playing with musicians from all levels who fail to learn tunes properly, and ultimately I find it frustrating to play with them. They may get close or claim the proverbial “just fake it”, but for me it’s not good enough. “Transcribe!” is the tool that removes virtually all excuses from “not hearing it properly”. That segment is also integrated into a segment of how the brain learns and how it memorizes. I’ve learned a lot about the subject and it’s dramatically changed how I learn, so my time spent is more efficient than in the past. That segment goes into all aspects of learning, not just music.
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ou may not know the name, but you probably know the hair! In the 1980’s and 90’s Jennifer Batten came to prominence as the touring guitarist for none other than Michael Jackson and in the late 90’s/2000’s was one quarter of guitar legend Jeff Beck’s band. Since that time she has worn many hats including player, performer, teacher, author and clinician. In recent years films such as Twenty Feet from Stardom, The Wrecking Crew, Muscle Shoals and Standing in the Shadows of Motown have shined the spotlight on backup musicians (or “hired guns” as they are commonly referred to) who are finally getting the respect and credit that they deserve for providing the soundtrack of our lives. Although, like many of the musicians featured in these films Jennifer Batten may not be a “household name” she is a highly respected musician to those “in the know”. This past summer Batten hosted a new seminar entitled SelfEmpowerment for the Modern Musician which she developed to offer valuable information to the professional, amateur and aspiring musician alike - the authors of this article separately attended the workshop in Charlotte, NC and King of Prussia, PA. We thought an interview with an artist of her caliber would be a wonderful coda to our January 2015 TEMPO article Mo’ Money: Entrepreneurship for the Classroom Musician where we discussed strategies and concepts for earning income outside of the classroom. Enjoy! What Inspired Your New Seminar Self-Empowerment For The Modern Musician Experience? The inspiration came from a number of different places. For instance, I do a segment on software called “Transcribe!” which is a looper, slow downer, pitch changer, EQ-able, and karaoke-able (if
In A Nutshell, How Would You Describe “Self-Empowerment For The Modern Musician” To Our Readers? Honestly it’s a holistic approach to being a musician. I didn’t use that specific term in advertising because it could easily get confused with a goofy new age thing. But in saying holistic I mean all aspects of being a creative human including self-confidence, brain science, digital age multi income streams, travel, creativity enhancing tools and habits, plus a section on “fuel” which to me is not only creating an awareness of what foods can either break you down or build you up but controlling negative vs positive mental input as well.
It wasn’t until we became empowered via the internet to take charge of our own destinies… that I took a big interest in taking the reins.
How Did Some Of Ideas You Are Talking About In Your Seminar Searching Come About? I’ve been on a path to research all those elements for myself for many years plus some of it is just what I’ve lived through and learned. I find pretty consistently that people I speak with around the world are very unaware of the modern tools available to them. Plus the internet is so overwhelming it’s difficult to filter out the worthless and the valuable without wasting a lot of time. So in a sense I become the filter and share the best of what I’ve learned and morph it with my own experience.
TEMPO 46
MARCH 2016