Music Jams for the Modern-Day Troubadour: A blog about different music styles and how you can learn to play them.
Troubadours were medieval singers who traveled from town to town, performing songs wherever they went. They were a big hit during the 1100s and 1200s. These days, if you play music on the street it’s called “busking,” which sounds to me like something you do with your tongue, so I’m sticking with “troubadour.”
Let’s say you’re at a party and someone asks you what kind of music you play. Maybe you say “blues” or “jazz” or “funk.” If that’s true, that’s great! But let’s face it: Most of us aren’t limited to just one style. You might be a folkie who wants to learn a little rock, or a jazzhead who wants to write some tunes, or a bluesman (or woman) who wants to pick up some funk chops for the occasional jam session. This site is here for people like that-it has lots of lessons on all types of music, designed for the average musician with basic skills but little experience in any given genre.
If you’ve got any questions, please
For the modern day troubadour, one of the most exciting tools available is the loop pedal. As a street musician, this device allows you to jam along with yourself in real time, creating complex sounds and rhythms layer over layer.
The hardware for a typical loop pedal consists of an audio interface (a 1/4″ input that accepts an instrument cable or microphone), a switch to record, play back, and stop the recording, and often some knobs to control volume or other characteristics of the playback. The software within the loop pedal records your signal, stores it in an audio buffer while you continue playing, then repeats that buffer back to your amplifier. If you set down your instrument and press record again, it will continue to repeat what was originally recorded while layering new material on top. This process can be repeated indefinitely until you are satisfied with the result.
The first thing you will want to do is experiment with timing. It can be tricky at first to get your recording to line up perfectly with what’s already been played back by the loop pedal; this is especially true with acoustic instruments like guitar or piano…
It’s a great time to be a musician. Thanks to the internet, today’s musicians have access to a wealth of resources that can help you learn how to play the instrument of your choice, and reach new heights in your musical aspirations.
I thought I’d share some of my favorite sites that I’ve come across when learning how to play music. These sites are geared more towards modern instruments that are popular right now, like guitar and drums. But there’s good stuff for other instruments as well!
If there’s one thing that every modern-day troubadour needs, it’s a good guitar. Not only is this instrument easy to lug around from gig to gig, but it also has a wide range of sounds and styles you can play with it.
Whether you’re interested in playing folk or rock music on the guitar, the best way to learn is by finding someone who knows what they’re doing and having them teach you some good techniques for playing. This way you’ll get an actual human being that can hear what you’re doing wrong and show you how to fix it.
I took lessons at a local music store for a few months when I first started out but honestly I think all those lessons did was give me bad habits. It wasn’t until
Although the name ‘troubadour’ sounds like something from the middle ages, it’s actually a term used for a musician that can play multiple instruments and is capable of doing so in street performances or jams. A troubadour may also have a deep knowledge of music theory, which can make them valuable members of any band.
If you like the idea of being able to play multiple instruments and jam with other musicians, then this blog is definitely for you. I will give you tips on how to learn different styles quickly and easily, so that you can impress your friends with your new-found talent.
Do you know how to play more than one instrument? Are you a singer and guitarist, or a drummer and bassist? Do you play the violin and piano, or any other combination of instruments? Street musicians are often associated with one particular instrument, but every once in a while you come across a musician who can play multiple instruments. The harmonica that goes with the guitar, or the kazoo that’s played along with the tambourine.
What are some advantages of playing multiple instruments? How can it help you as a musician? Check out our top 5 reasons why you should learn to play more than one instrument.
1. You’ll be able to write better songs
If you’re writing your own songs, you are probably already aware of how important it is for each individual part to work together in harmony and flow smoothly from one part to another. Playing more than one instrument will help you understand exactly how each part fits into the whole. When you understand all the different components of your band, it will be easier for you to envision where each part fits in to make a song great.
2. You’ll have an easier time finding band members
If you can already fill more than one role in your band, it will be much easier for
Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, our music school has easy access to a variety of venues and studios. Here is where your journey starts.
The Toronto School of Music (TSOM) has been a dream in the making for over 20 years now. We value our students and their musical aspirations as much as we value music. We believe that bringing people together through music, is what music is all about!
With this belief in mind, TSOM opened its doors to the public in January 2017. Our instructors have many years of experience teaching and performing, so we are able to offer a wide array of options for you or your child.
At TSOM we offer both private lessons and group classes for children and adults. No matter your age or skill level we will find an option that fits your needs. From beginner to advanced, or just for fun or professional training, you will find what you are looking for here at TSOM!
We also have rental spaces available for those who need a place to rehearse or record.
If you are interested in signing up, please contact us and we will be happy to help you get started along the path towards a more fulfilling life through music!
While travelling through Europe as a street musician, I’ve had the opportunity to explore a wide variety of different music scenes. The highs and lows of life on the road are often directly proportional to the liveliness of the music scene in each city.
In cities where many street musicians perform, there is usually a lot of interaction between musicians. You get to meet other musicians and learn new songs and tricks-of-the-trade. In cities with few musicians, you feel isolated and alone. It’s not much fun playing to an empty street for hours on end.
