Do you have many friends that are musical? I think it’s a great way to grow musically, because you will spend a certain amount of your time together getting into musical situations and conversations (not to mention many musical experiences of various types such as going to concerts, listening to all kinds of music, et al.). So, today’s blog is just a quick thank you to those two friends, and to let them know how much it means to me — having spent time with them, and all the things we did together and talked about over the years! I am grateful and the better for it!

I hope you too will find these kinds of friends to grow with, and enjoy all kinds of music! Until the next time…

PW

The musical aspect to this is the military loves a parade. There’s always music at the parade right? So there! Now, we’ve gotten past that, so let’s get on to what’s new with FACTS OF MUSIC®!

Something NEW is about to happen on this site: inclusion of data from the FOM vault!!!

I have been in meetings with several key people over the past month or two, and there seems to be a consensus that NOW is as good a time as ever to post some of the details that make Facts Of Music® a unique and beneficial approach, maybe even a better approach to learning musical concepts than most other methods extant. Everyone interested in learning as much as possible, as quickly as possible and as thoroughly as possible about music needs to “hang on to their hats.”

For years (even decades), there have been those who swear by the approach and presentation of the Facts Of Music® system. Unfortunately, the word has not been getting out that the system is “from” Facts Of Music®. That’s not so much the problem. The real problem is the word just isn’t getting out — that means most people are working “harder” not “smarter” at learning all the “facts” as we have come to know them in the FOM system.

I have decided to start posting much of the information, in a necessary “order” a little bit at the time, so that more people can start seeing the FOM system (and eventually seeing how FOM is a faster, easier and RICHER way to approach the material of music and instruments). Doing this will not be too difficult, but it still stands to reason that most interested students would be better served by having a certified FOM instructor to help them with the learning of these materials (you learn better and quicker with the help of a mentor who KNOWS the material!).

So, get ready to start seeing some of this fantastic approach to learning music and instruments (especially guitar and piano) in the coming weeks and months. I hope you will take advantage of this information, and if you need help — contact me either by sending a note to this website, or calling me directly (in the CONUS) on our toll-free number: (888) 244-6312.

If you get voice-mail, just leave your contact info, and someone will return your call within 2-3 business days.

This is just the beginning, but I hope you will soon see what a great beginning it is! Watch for the upcoming details and data/information!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Musically,

Philippe

It’s important to keep producing, while in the midst of learning new things, but it’s not always possible to do a lot of both AT THE SAME TIME. So, what’s being learned? And for that matter, what else is…UP?

Glad you asked (again April Fool’s – a day late, of course). Seriously, the new MacBook Pro 17″ is in the air. You say, “hey, wait a minute, you already have one of those!” TRUE. This is another one, a new one (yes, the 3rd!), and it’s in Anchorage, AK right now – going through customs. It should arrive at my doorstep on Monday morning (a bit of a late PRESENT from the Easter Bunny!).

There have been some repeated technical issues, and as a result, APPLE keeps sending me a new one (usually bigger, better and faster!) every month, lately. This is one reason for the slowdown in productivity. Never fear, the projects keep on being “cranked out” with the 8-core studio computer. So, as soon as I can get the new machine loaded with over 160 GBs of software…the real productivity will continue – at the screaming pace of…all things “APPLE FAST!”

Back to the question…”What’s being learned?”

Speaking of APPLE, on top of the other activities, FOM Productions is adding APPLE’s LOGIC PRO to the roster of offerings, and Philippe is hands-full/hands-on at the computer getting the feet wet with all the plug-ins and parameters of the highly acclaimed music recording Monster APP. The new Logic Pro is really something, and yes, DP (Digital Performer, by MOTU) is still in full swing at the studio. Now, we’ll be offering the best of both worlds…and that will be an advantage to all who care to partake!

That’s all for now (back to work)…remember to keep on playing, plugging, and plodding. To be continued…

Musically, Philippe Willems

I hope life has been similarly good to you in those ways, and I encourage you to keep on attempting/attacking toward that end. CARPE DIEM is the catch phrase most often used to describe that effort.

HOW CAN WE DO OR ACHIEVE THIS? I’ve noticed that by rotating my interests (switching back and forth from one type of activity to another…), I have been able to integrate various disciplines and continue to GROW in more areas.

We are in this “intense information age” of everything coming at us at once…and it can be so overwhelming, so we need to get a GOOD PERSPECTIVE on it! Let me illustrate my idea:

In a sentence…I’ve got musical instruments to play, computers and programs to work on and figure out, magazines and books to read…and music and videos to listen and watch. Then, …what (…I need to get a part for my car?!!!)…

TRY THIS…write down 5 things you want to do in the next 8 hours…allot time-frames for each, and then ATTACK! It’s amazing how much you can accomplish (thanks to that “little plan!”). AMERICA can become great again…maybe. But, it will take this kind of efficiency and efficacious attention to detail to get us there…and most definitely the GRACE OF GOD!

Check it out, and GO FOR IT (I always encourage you – knowing you CAN!)… All the best to you until…….

Neil Slater & Philippe Willems

Even if neither he nor the band “takes one home tonight” (each is nominated for best jazz composition, and best large jazz ensemble, respectively) – the awesomeness of the nominations are as UNT’s President Bataille stated – (paraphrased) “it puts them in the enviable position held by UNT alone, of being the only Music College in America (and the world!) to have ANY Grammy nominations” – they have 6 – COUNT ‘EM…that’s 1975, 1976…then again in 1989 and 1991…and now 2 in one year!!! CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER TO EVERYONE INVOLVED!

It was pleasure this morning to re-connect with several people I’ve known and played with over the years, and make some new friends…and share the excitement with everyone – of hearing the band live in the intimate Gold Room at the Biltmore Millennium Hotel. It was quite a spectacle to behold. WOW! The band was on fire, and they’re off to the races (I hope you win one this time…now that would be a singularly spectacular highlight of it all – and if not, well…back to what Steve said!).

You guys are all going to have incredible careers…and already do! KUDOS, again, and thanks for having me be a part of it! Cheers to everyone at UNT!

Anyone who believes in their project(s) should be reassured that 2010 is going to present some great opportunities. Also, if you wonder what you can do to make it a great year…something I saw over and over again, and had the occasion to hear from others…is that we have more going for us now than ever before. The reality that technology has brought us to a new independent “know-how” and “capability” is already a done-deal. JUST DO IT. If you don’t have a “rig” yet, put one together, and GET IT TOGETHER. Produce to your heart’s content, and get the content out there! There is no excuse (not to), just apathy (laziness)! Let’s GO (or as was said on 9-11…let’s roll) – and to borrow and further that idea, in our case: LET’S ROCK ‘N ROLL – and all other styles, of course

Hope to cross paths with you soon, …and keep modulating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, what about shopping and gifts…everything is on sale. WHO CARES (?) …most everything is on sale all of the time! Well, that’s true – EXCEPT FOR ALL THE COOLEST STUFF YOU WANT…it’s NEVER on sale. What’s up with that? I’m “allergic to retail” – so, whatever I buy (all year round) is on sale anyway! Beyond that…what really matters, and from me and the Facts Of Music® folks to you…is…

“We wish you a Merry Christmas…We wish you a Merry Christmas…We wish you a Merry Christmas, – and a Happy New Year!”

It might sound “dated,” but IT’S TRUE! And, it’s the reason for the season (well, New Year’s is another, more “secondary reason,” but…)! Hey, I’m not even going to get into the discussion about Christmas music….and “what’s legit and what isn’t!!!

ANYWAY, I sincerely hope you get what you NEED…and need what you get. I have for years (decades, even) the most important thing I could want…and that has been my FAITH in the Lord Jesus Christ (it’s a Christian and Jewish thing…remember, the Messiah?). Before Christianity (proper), there was the “old story” – and that is what my faith is predicated on. THAT old story is what happened before all the history leading to our “Christmas and New Year’s holidays” (that just about everyone alive today knows (and so many of us celebrate)!

Everything else in my life seems related to what I know and think ABOUT THAT. Most my close friends are “hip” to my thoughts in that area (not that they know a whole lot about some of the details about what I think in my theology – it depends on HOW WELL they know me…and HOW LONG!!!).

One more thing…most of you who frequent this site play and/or sing. I hope you will do so with gusto during this FANTASTIC SEASON and time of celebration and reflection. It’s “year end” and I hope you will look back at all the things you’ve hopefully accomplished, and all the things you didn’t that are important to you – that you’ll put that/those HIGH on your list and LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING THOSE GOALS SOON! Plan and DO! Have a great one, and until the next time…KEEP ON LEARNING AND PLAYING… PW

Well, have any of you seen 2012 yet? As long as you don’t mind losing your “willful suspension of disbelief” at times during a movie…it’s fairly entertaining – especially if you like suspense/action-type drama with lots of “first class” special effects. The production values are quite good, actually. The writing seems “pretty good” (again, as long as you can be gracious about details that were somehow missed – like the fact that freezing water is not something you can avoid hypothermia in after very few, precious minutes). If I’m a bit too “intense about this,” it might be because my Navy training immediately kicks in when confronted with a “survival situation” (instinctively – now that’s good training!).

The story pace moves along at a good clip, so you don’t get bored – at least I didn’t. The only issue to consider is the movie’s length – 2 hrs 38 mins. – which means you might want to see it at the right time of day, I guess. Anyway, if you believe the Mayan calendar…this movie might be a cause of concern about the near future for you. Of course, I put my faith in the only place I know to be reliable…historically and exegetically.

I have put a considerable investment of time and money (as well as my faith – before I had any empirical or rational experience with “the facts,” AND SINCE) in the Holy Scriptures. The entire body of OT and NT (or Tanak and Berit Hadashah – for those who would prefer their “older designations”) explicitly refute the Mayan “account” – again, if you go by that calendar and the “date” set forthwith!

That is NOT possible according to all Scriptural accounts. SO, don’t sweat it, know that Dec. 21, 2012 is DEFINITELY WRONG (if you don’t believe me…let me know, and let’s plan a “date” to meet/talk about it on Dec. 22, 2012!!!). If you want specific documentation from me (i.e. citing chapter and verse), just ASK and I will be more than happy to accommodate such a request!!!  Are you REALLY interested?

So…go ahead and enjoy the movie, anyway. I DID. It had some very “fun” parts, and I will even see it again – there’s plenty of “good stuff” to watch and study (forget all the erroneous details – IT’S JUST A MOVIE!!!)

NOW, onto one thing of musical import (the real purpose for this blog/site!)…

I hope you are getting plenty of practice these days – even if we are in the throes of “The Holidays.” It’s also hard for me to stay on track with the normal priorities at this time, and it always seems to take longer to do the normal things during this season – with traffic and all. But I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU WITH THE FOLLOWING THOUGHTS…

I DO still manage to get many things done despite the holiday mania. HOW? I rearrange my “hours” to later in the evening, so I can concentrate on things I can’t do during the day while all the “interruptions” occur. My friend, Earl Buffington mentioned (as we were having a very philosophical and “down to earth” discussion about the important things in life), that Michael Jackson commented in an interview…when asked, “If you had a chance to do it all over again…what would you do differently?”

Michael’s answer: “I would practice more.”

How’s that for “professional attitude” and unfortunately… “hind-sight?” One of the greatest entertainers of modern history (and maybe even all of history…definitely one of the greats…) had the “big picture” right…the thought that makes anyone GREAT…What matters, at all times and all seasons? “KEEP ON KEEPING ON.”

And with those sage words, I will now leave you to do the same as I am suggesting and following…it’s back to work for me…from the blog to the drawing board. It’s 1:30AM, and I will accomplish another thing or two before catching a good night’s REST!

I look forward to any comments from you and hope this finds you in PRIME CONDITION – making the most of another GREAT DAY in this whacky season, though maybe the “coolest” season (literally AND figuratively!). CARPE DIEM. Make the most of it and ENJOY!!! We’ll be in touch…PW

Even though there are lots of “issues” to deal with at this time (the holidays are HERE, AGAIN, ALREADY!!!)…it is also still the time to reflect on all the things we have been given – and how to responsibly manage our many blessings. I have been very stretched these past 3 weeks or so (another “reason/excuse” why I haven’t blogged since right after the TAXI Road Rally!). During that 3-week period, I did try to constantly review my assets and resources. WHY? I’ve been trying to keep them all at the forefront of my thoughts in order to manage and prioritize all the tasks, as well as APPRECIATE HOW MANY INCREDIBLE THINGS THERE ARE TO DO, AND HOW WONDERFUL IT IS TO BE ABLE TO DO/WORK ON THEM!

Do you ever get to the point where you have so many “plans” (or “coals on the fire”) that you don’t remember them all? Do you write lists, and then it seems like there are piles of paper or notes with lists on them…AND YOU FORGET HOW MANY TASKS YOU HAVE PUT ON THESE LISTS?

That’s how it seems to be for me. If ever someone wished they could have clones of themselves to run around and accomplish all the errands and tasks…that’s been me FOR YEARS. So, what am I doing to balance it all? I am learning to organize my “goals and priorities” on a 3-tier roster.

The top tier is the immediate list – by chronological order/necessity (= DUE IMMEDIATELY) – also translates to “DO IMMEDIATELY!!!”

The #2 tier is “Do ASAP.”

The #3 tier is the “Wish List” (aka – how soon can I get to this?!!!).

Of course, what happens in between is LIFE, and that usually modifies everything!!!

But, at least for now, I keep having a cool “listing” of all the things I am interested in, and approximately when and how I can get to them! TRY IT, or ask me more about how it looks…if you still aren’t sure about how to make it happen.

I’m just finishing a couple projects that have been brewing in the past 3 weeks, one of which is basically done as of yesterday – one song in particular. On this one, I’m featured on what has been a pretty new instrument for me…the pedal steel guitar. Actually, I have played it a couple of times on some of my television background cues for Telepictures/WB – for use on shows like “TMZ,” “EXTRA,” and such (cues that called for “Country”). Those were usually just “snippets” (60 sec. cues, and by the time the editors got to them…).

But on this song, the pedal steel is really much more of a central role because of its character for this “country/crossover power ballad.” I also played electric and acoustic guitars, electric bass, and the string pads. Check out the track (below), and if you have a minute – drop me a note and let me know how you like it, PLEASE!

Until next time, remember to be grateful for all the freedom and blessings you have (and have had) until now! Musically, PW God’s Little Plan (H. Richman/A. Scott)

Lead Vocal: Rick Jarrett

Piano: Howard Richman

Drums: Henry Newmark

All other instruments (Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Electric 6-string Bass, Pedal Steel Guitar, String Pads): Philippe Willems

Recorded at: Facts Of Music® Productions, Woodland Hills, CA; and Henry’s Studio, West Hills, CA., November 23-28, 2009.

Produced and engineered by Philippe Willems

Facts Of Music® Productions wishes to thank the following companies associated with these instruments: DP6, Mac Pro 8-core, Mackie 624 powered, near-reference monitors, Korg Triton Studio – 88, Goodrich Volume pedal, Hoehner B-six Professional Bass, Fender/Schecter Telecaster, Fender Princeton Reverb amplifier, Ovation Legend Deluxe, MOTU 896 and MidiExpress XT interfaces, MXL microphones, Monster and Core X2 cables.