Author: bandskool

I have often wondered what Frank Zappa would have been doing now, had he still been alive. Of course, he died almost exactly thirty years ago, at the age of 52 (in this 53rd year) from prostate cancer. By then, Read More …

My own history with playing slide/steel guitar goes back a long way; in fact, all the way back to when I first started playing guitar (self taught at the age of around 11). For some odd reason, I purchased a Read More …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQgOcuqoQGM link to Vanguard Jazz  Orchestra website https://www.vanguardjazzorchestra.com/music

I love chord melody; and I may have said that before…but I’m saying it again. So what is it? Well, you could always go look it up elsewhere; but let’s just say that it is the idea of supporting a Read More …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5fE12zmqHs Cruising (or surfing) around on youtube, looking for a video to…watch…I came upon this one. The title drew me in. Well, in fact, it did and it didn’t – my first response was, ‘ oh no…not another video reporting Read More …

This is rather topical with me at the moment; as I am immersed in arranging for small and large ensembles…and expect to be doing so indefinitely! As I have said many times before – because I believe it to be Read More …

I am referring to bandskool’s fledgling band musicanship course which is aimed at musicians who already ‘play a bit’ but would like to develop further…in a few different areas of musicianship; namely, the ability to improvise with reference to different Read More …

Soloing or playing solos is not to be confused with ‘solo-style’. The former is a form of lead playing where one is in the foreground and becomes the focus of attention; no matter how brief a period that may be. Read More …

I hear that in Scotland, all local authority music services will now waive their tuition fees to address perhaps the main reason there isn’t as much take up as there might be in having instrumental lessons at school. Whilst it Read More …