A few years back Michele and I released a CD entitled "Fade." The songs were good - really good, in most cases - and her vocal performance was absolutely brilliant. But the truth is that the album was not well promoted, much less heard by many, and more importantly, as the producer, I really did her a terrible disservice. The material was great and the vocal performances fantastic, but the arrangements and the production were, at best, flawed; and it has bothered me for quite some time.
I don't say any of that lightly. The fact is that over time, it became very tough for me to be able to listen to the disc because of what I felt were all the unnecessary flaws in the production. I always thought I should go back and rework the material - if only to satisfy the "itch," but by the time I was ready to do so, it appeared that all the original session data had been lost due to a bad hard drive. And so for a very long time I had to simply live with it as it was.
And then, in the Summer of 2010, something very unexpected happened: on a bit of a fluke - and with a lot of dumb luck - I was able to revive the hard drive long enough to transfer the data to a new drive. This meant I could now go in and do what should have been done in the first place, and make the album right.
Beyond some minimal piano and percussion, nothing has been re-tracked. And while a few of the songs from the original "Fade" simply did not make the cut, for any number of reasons, the overall end result is something wonderful, I feel. Something that is worth the time of the listener. I'm hopeful you'll agree and pass along the link to your friends so that they can hear the music as well.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
The "official" explanation of CMAS...for now...maybe...
I would have thought that the Summer would be a time when I got fewer questions about what CMAS is and such. On the other hand, all interest is good interest as far as I am concerned. So for anyone curious about this crazy music program that I am truly blessed to run, here...ya'...go:
The CMAS (Contemporary Music and Sound) program is a 4 year high school program that allows students to work with music industry professional grade equipment while learning how to take their music from the stage to the studio and beyond. Largely funded through Federal grants, in CMAS there are no musical restrictions of any kind, nor is any prior experience or training required. CMAS I is rooted in music fundamentals, emphasizing a comprehensive understanding of instrumental technique and music theory. CMAS I students declare and musical emphasis of guitar, bass, drum kit, piano/keyboards, or lead vocals, and begin the process of learning the fundamentals the recording studio utilizing Pro Tools - industry standard software. CMAS II takes those fundamentals and expands them into the harnessing and refining of musical instincts with the creation of original musical ideas, as well as more advanced aspects of the recording studio process as well as live music technology. CMAS III introduces detailed studio production techniques as well the further refining writing and performance skills. CMAS IV culminates the program with advanced studio production, writing and performance skills, as well as internships and other specialized musical experiences.
Along with frequent guest artists and clinicians, approximately every six weeks of school the CMAS program produces a full 90 minute concert of original student music. These “Songwriter Nights” are fully CMAS student produced, utilizing a massive 20,000 watt PA and full 16 channel ProTools recording rig, all of which is designed, set-up and run by the students. CMAS also offers numerous other performance opportunities, all fully CMAS student produced, at various locations and events both on and off campus throughout the year. All performances are mixed and recorded by CMAS students and many are available as downloads off the program’s website.
Beginning in the 2010-2011 school year CMAS will further change the paradigm of music education by producing CMAS student artist original music performances at all home Varsity football games with productions inspired by recent Superbowl halftime performances. Additionally, students will be eligible to receive as much as 12 credit hours of college credit for their work in the program.
CMAS has been proven to reach many students who would otherwise never be involved in music; and in many cases provides the motivation to not only keep students in school but provides a path for them to achieve at much higher levels academically than might otherwise be expected. With literally hundreds of students involved in the CMAS program, and graduates moving on to work professionally in numerous capacities within the music industry, as well as partnerships with, among others, Arizona State University, Scottsdale Community College, and the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Science, CMAS continues to evolve and break the mold of standard music education.
The CMAS program was designed and is facilitated by Richard Maxwell.
The CMAS (Contemporary Music and Sound) program is a 4 year high school program that allows students to work with music industry professional grade equipment while learning how to take their music from the stage to the studio and beyond. Largely funded through Federal grants, in CMAS there are no musical restrictions of any kind, nor is any prior experience or training required. CMAS I is rooted in music fundamentals, emphasizing a comprehensive understanding of instrumental technique and music theory. CMAS I students declare and musical emphasis of guitar, bass, drum kit, piano/keyboards, or lead vocals, and begin the process of learning the fundamentals the recording studio utilizing Pro Tools - industry standard software. CMAS II takes those fundamentals and expands them into the harnessing and refining of musical instincts with the creation of original musical ideas, as well as more advanced aspects of the recording studio process as well as live music technology. CMAS III introduces detailed studio production techniques as well the further refining writing and performance skills. CMAS IV culminates the program with advanced studio production, writing and performance skills, as well as internships and other specialized musical experiences.
Along with frequent guest artists and clinicians, approximately every six weeks of school the CMAS program produces a full 90 minute concert of original student music. These “Songwriter Nights” are fully CMAS student produced, utilizing a massive 20,000 watt PA and full 16 channel ProTools recording rig, all of which is designed, set-up and run by the students. CMAS also offers numerous other performance opportunities, all fully CMAS student produced, at various locations and events both on and off campus throughout the year. All performances are mixed and recorded by CMAS students and many are available as downloads off the program’s website.
Beginning in the 2010-2011 school year CMAS will further change the paradigm of music education by producing CMAS student artist original music performances at all home Varsity football games with productions inspired by recent Superbowl halftime performances. Additionally, students will be eligible to receive as much as 12 credit hours of college credit for their work in the program.
CMAS has been proven to reach many students who would otherwise never be involved in music; and in many cases provides the motivation to not only keep students in school but provides a path for them to achieve at much higher levels academically than might otherwise be expected. With literally hundreds of students involved in the CMAS program, and graduates moving on to work professionally in numerous capacities within the music industry, as well as partnerships with, among others, Arizona State University, Scottsdale Community College, and the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Science, CMAS continues to evolve and break the mold of standard music education.
The CMAS program was designed and is facilitated by Richard Maxwell.
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