Rock Band Ruled!

Rock Band Beginners and Rock Band Experienced all impressed me this week.  Everyone took what I instructed to heart and practiced up.  It was so nice to hear all the songs coming together.  I can't wait for the show.. More details to come..

:) What's different? Shane graciously posed for this mind bender. There are 11 differences.

:) Is This Boy Too Young to ROCK?

This question has been pondered countless times.  How young is too young, to ROCK?  Meet Hunter.  He's defying the critics at the insanely tender age of 8.  "This is an outrage!!!!," screamed onlookers in the audience at a recent show.  Poor Hunter was only trying to showcase his ability to ROCK as he played such classics as Iron Man, Smoke on the Water, and We're Not Gonna Take It.  "This boy should be out playing with trucks or marbles, not rocking out to hair metal," shouted an irate grandmother.  "  Hunter silenced the crowd when he nailed the famous solo Eruption by Van Halen.  "What can I say?" said the grandmother.  "The kid won me over, I now realize that you're never too young to ROCK."  She then ran on stage tackling Hunter as she stole his guitar and kicked into her own blazing version of the song.  "And you're never too old either....ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!"  The audience was stunned.  Then pleased. Then stunned again.

:)For Nick S, Metallica vs. Megadeth Debate Not Over!!!

We overheard an argument involving Nick Stager and his former 'friend.'  

Nick: Megadeth is way better than Metallica.  

Friend:  Na ahh!   

Nick:  Ya haa!

Friend: Na ahh!

This went on for ten minutes before the principal threw them both in detention.

Nick Stager, recently ill due to strep throat and a double ear infection is shown here proudly wearing his old school Pitchfever shirt.  He still wears it even though he is repeatedly harassed and teased at school because the shirt is so......... boring.  "Don't worry.... I know that Mike is hard at work on the next tee shirt."  I wanted to tell him the truth but I just couldn't break it to him.  I'll let him dream for a while and perhaps he'll forget about it. -Mike

:) Instructor Tim T. Goes For The Record!!

Steve Vai can play 20.8 notes per second?  HA, exclaims Tim Torreson, guitar instructor at Pitchfever.  I can do that with two hands tied behind my back.  Tim has been going mad practicing sometimes 24 hours a day on his licks.  I don't have a social life anymore but I know it will pay off in the end.  His mother is worried and has recently hooked Tim up to an iv to keep him nourished.  What about sleep?  He has actually trained himself to play in his sleep.  "It's funny, I'll just start playing a ballad and doze off.  A few hours later, I'll wake up and my fingers are still playing."  With this kind of 'can do' attitude, Tim will soon find himself in the record books next to heros like Steve Vai, Michael Angelo, and Yngwie Malmsteen.  Tim allowed me a brief visit to take this picture but he soon screamed, "GET OUT..... MUST LEARN EIGHT FINGER TAPPING."  He then dozed off but amazingly I saw it with my own two eyes, his fingers kept shredding.

:) Kris Buys New Bass For Practical Reasons

Kris L. recently bought himself a new axe.  Well, it's about as lethal as an axe.  This new Dean bass can double as a weapon as well as play sweet sweet music.  "I got sick of my brother stealing my ipod," stated Kris.  Brent now knows to ask politely before removing objects from Kris' room.  As Brent puts it, "There's nothing more frightening than having an enraged brother chasing you up the stairs with his 'death bass' in hand."  Needless to say, Kris sleeps with his bass close by.  "You never know when you're going to have to use it," Kris exclaimed with a menacing grin.

:) Employee of the Month

Eric Andersen is Pitchfever's Employee of the month.  He has found a way to keep us from running out of paper towels in the bathroom.  His idea was to drive to the store once in a while and buy some new supply's 'before' the old ones run out.  With this groundbreaking way of thinking, Pitchfever is sure to blast it's way ahead of the competition.  He even brought up a cure for excessively loud guitar playing..... turn down the amp.  His slogan is "if it's too loud, turn it down."  I have to admit, Eric has saved my life in a few situations.  One time I was getting shocked every time I touched the microphone.  I yelled, "I KEEP GETTING SHOCKED EVERYTIME I TOUCH THIS THING." Eric promptly replied in his zen manner, 'then stop touching it.'

The Fine Art of Inspiring Others

Inspiration is the best feeling.  It really seems to snowball when you're around the right people.  What I mean is if you're feeling energized it makes you magnetized.  This seems to attract others who are like minded.  With these people, you can create a Mastermind and have tremendous momentum.  This is the feeling I get at Pitchfever.  With all the amazing teachers around, I learn something new everyday and I know the well will never run dry.  We just seem to inspire each other to be the best we can possibly be.  I guess this is one of the best parts of starting a business.  Watching both the students and teachers grow while passing on the amazing gift of music.  What a life..

Band Classes are running full ON!!!

Mark and Ben's Groove School, Beginner Rock Band, and Rock Band Experience 7 are all happening right now...  All the classes are doing quite well and I'm proud to see all the students and teachers having a good time.  There's just something about 4 or 5 people all striving for the same goal that makes this music thing so magical.  Sure most of the time we are all searching form the right note and the correct time to play it, but when we all hit a groove there is nothing like it.  Not a bad way to spend your time, jamming with everyone.

If You Won $10,000,000!!!

Here's a fun question to ask yourself.  What would you do if you woke up to ten million dollars.  Funny how it used to be just a million but now that's not even considered being totally rich.  Anyhow, what would you do?  Where would you go?  What would you buy?  I asked myself this after watching the movie It Could Happen To You.  This question will also help you decide what path to take in life.  After you've travelled the world, bought a few houses, drove some fast cars, sailed across an ocean, and bought your favorite sports team, then what?  What would you do with all the free time in the world?  Whatever you come up with is what you should do in life.  

The Mystery Card is about to be unleashed...

In as little as a week you will see these cards everywhere.  They are a quick and easy way for new students to take a free lesson at Pitchfever.  If you hand these out with your name written on the back and someone signs up for lessons, you get a big bonus.  Talk to Mike for details.  Long live The Mystery Card.

August Rush

This movie really connected with me.  I know it's an obvious statement but I really believe everyone should experience this film.  Robin Williams does a great job being a bit of an antagonist.  I'm so used to him being on the good side.  The music was incredible and the guitar playing inspired me to stay up till 4am with my guitar jamming through the night.  I'll post my tribute to August Rush as soon as I compose it.  Best line of the movie was Williams saying, "Music is God's way of letting us know that there's more out there than just us."  Beautiful..

Fruits Of Your 'Labor'

I put labor in quotations because if you're doing something you love, it doesn't feel like work at all.  I was just thinking of how cool it is that many of my students have gone on to do great things in life and music.  Speaking of just bands, many of my students have gone on to form bands and they're doing very well.  I keep up with most of them through myspace and you can also go to my Pitchfever myspace and read about a few of them. (www.myspace.com/pitchfever)

It's also very cool that they are all willing to help me out now that they are established.  I'm planning a big Pitchfever showcase concert this spring/summer that's going to blow you away.  I'll update as soon as a date is confirmed.  I just feel so blessed right now and it really keeps me motivated to show even more students the wonderful path of music.

Osseo Fire

I stopped at Subway on the way to Pitchfever today and saw billowing black smoke rising down the road.  I looked out and saw a small building that I pass everyday engulfed in an inferno.  There was one cop there but no fire trucks yet.  I couldn't believe the heat and intensity of this blaze and I was across the street in my car.  I could feel the hot air through my window.  This made me respect firemen so much more.  I mean I always have but to feel that kind of heat and still go inside takes a certain kind of human.  I pray everyone got out safely and that insurance will cover the damage.  I'll never forget that sight.

Something Big is Coming.....

That's all I'll say.. Okay it also involves some bands, a venue, and lots of people. :)  More to come..

Rediscovering Guitar playing

I realized lately that I've been taking guitar playing for granted.  I lost a bit of the excitement that I used to feel when I was a teenager.  Last night at the Rock Band Experience I got that feeling back.  We were playing Four Horsemen by Metallica and I got a little chill during the bridge.  Sometimes you have to step away from something and see it from a different vantage point to truly appreciate it..  

Rock Band Experience 7 First Practice..

As always, the first practice was a doozy.  Lots of fun.. I'm doing my best singing (screaming) some Metallica.  We're doing One and The Four Horsemen.  Chris H. and Luke did a great job on Iron Man.  Tereza and Katie are doing a few cool acoustic numbers, and then we're going to try to do an Avenged Sevenfold song but I'm not 100 percent on it yet.. It's going to be the most work. 

Earplugs were needed.  We were rockin'!!!

Got On Talk Radio Today!

It was the Matt McNeil show on am1500.  He was doing a bit about his son wanting to take dance lessons.  He asked the public if a parent should curb what their kids get into so that they won't be teased in high school.  I was pretty nervous to call in but at the same time I was very passionate about the topic.  I called and got through right away.  I told him that you should never try to stop a passion in life just to avoid being ridiculed.  Some of the greatest things ever created were first laughed at and then accepted.  What if all the artists in the world decided not to follow their dreams because some football player thinks it's lame.  I also told him that kids should not make decisions based on what the 'popular' crowd thinks because popularity is just an illusion and once you're out of school, the tables are turned.  He totally agreed with that.  I started out on violin.  I didn't care what anyone said.  I liked it.  Then I found guitar.  But if guitar hadn't come along, you'd better believe I'd be the best violinist I could be regardless of what the hockey team said. :)

The Strongest Girl I've Ever Known

My student Julianna is a miracle.  She's 11 and has already gone through surgery twice to remove a brain tumor.  I went to teach her piano today and she was in a great mood.  That's the thing, you can't bring this girl down.  She's always so excited about playing music and she does have a natural ability to hear notes, play piano, and sing.  Today she told me about her chemotherapy sessions.  I had no idea she had to do them 5 days a week.  She also said she's starting to go deaf in one ear because of it.  I had to hold back my emotions when she told me that.  I then joked with her and told her that I've gone a bit deaf in both ears from playing rock music for so long.  She laughed.  She always laughs at the things I say.  I told her that she's truly an inspiration to me and that whenever something bad happens to me in life I just think about what she's had to endure.  Perspective is the key I guess.  

Playing Songs

Playing songs is a great way to pick up on other peoples techniques.  I'm going to start learning a new song per week.  Perhaps more.  It's amazing how even if you pick up 1 percent of someone's technique, you can add it to yours and totally change your sound.. ;)

Marketing Pitchfever

Marketing your own business is a lot of fun yet it is very time consuming.  We have a great academy but not enough people know we exist.  It would be a great honor to me if all current students would help spread the word.  I have printed off a zillion Free Lesson cards and if you write your name on the back of some and hand them out, you may make some good $$$ in return.  Ask me how at our next lesson.  Thanks again for your help and as our student poster says, "Our students make us great!"

Guitar Heroes?

Many people ask me who my guitar hero's are.  I'll just give you a short list for now and I'll even include an album or two to check out of their work.

Joe Satriani- Surfing with an Alien, Flying in a Blue Dream

Steve Vai- Passion and Warfare

Kirk Hammett- Master of Puppets, Ride the Lightning, And Justice For All

Eric Johnson- Ah Via Musicom

Stevie Ray Vaughan

John Petrucci- Images and Words, Awake

Brent Mason

Hendrix

Jerry Cantrell

George Harrison... the list goes on and on :)

Social Lives vs. Cultivating Your Talents

Don't get me wrong, I know how important it is to have a great social life when you're a teenager.  I was once one myself :)  I ended up taking a different route.  This could be because I grew up in the stone ages before there was even internet let alone myspace and facebook.  I still remember though many of my schoolmates still being caught up in being popular and having a large social circle of friends.  What happened to me?  Here's the story.  I decided that instead of spending every night 'hanging out' with people, I would instead spend my valuable time getting good at something that I loved.  In my case it was guitar.  I would spend 8 to 10 hours a night playing anything and everything I could.  My fingers would almost bleed by the time I was ready to go to bed.  Did I have many friends?  Not really.  I had about 2 good friends and everyone else just kind of faded into the background in my life.  Did I care?  Not at all.  I had found a friend that was always there, my guitar.  This may sound sad to you but keep reading.  As I grew older I ended up joining a band, getting signed, and playing hundreds and hundreds of shows.  I met countless people and experienced amazing situations.  I got to play at the Target Center in front of a sell out crowd and I even opened for some bands whom I grew up idolizing.  Later I opened my own music school and I now produce music for myself and other artists.  Do I sound like a guy who has a lack of friends?  Not at all.  Why?  Because I cultivated my talents.  What happened to all the popular people in school?  They soon realized that when college came around that many of their friends whom they had identified with were moving away.  Many of them were left with very few people to hang out with.  They soon learned that friends come and go and that in order to retain that feeling of worth, they had to replace lost friends right away.  However, when you cultivate your talents and get really good at something, people always come to you.  You always feel complete because you will always be with 'you'.  Having said that, I'm now 32 years old and feel completely blessed for the path I chose.  I am now going to go play guitar all night until my fingers bleed. :)-MG

Guitar Bass Drums Lessons at Pitchfever

Guitar lessons here at Pitchfever in Maple Grove have been going very well.  I've noticed that guitar keeps getting more and more popular.  Now, thanks to Guitar Hero and Rock Band, I have students coming in and wanting to learn how to play the real thing.  I get so excited for my students.  I remember how amazing a time it was when I was first starting out.  This is what keeps me excited about teaching.  I get to help someone else discover the true blessing of music.  It's almost like starting over myself when I teach them their first chord.  I am amazed each day at how many people love and appreciate learning music at Pitchfever.  I just wanted to take this time to thanks each and every student and parent for helping me realize my dream.

Sincerely,

Mike

Rock Band Experience7 LineUp is:

Tereza: vocals, keyboard

Katie Harris: guitar, drums

Luke McGovern: guitar

Dan Petras: guitar

Clark Anderson: guitar

Nick Stager: guitar

and introducing

Chris Hollowell: guitar

We'll be starting the class Monday April 14th.  I'll be announcing the concert date very soon.

What's Happening?

I just got off the phone with Justin from Quietdrive.  They are hard at work recording tracks for their new album.  He just told me he'd be up for doing an interview for the first ever Pitchfever E-Zine.  I'll be sure to announce when that issue is completed.  We are also starting up the 7th annual Rock Band Experience.  I'll start a whole new blog about that soon.  I'm off to Kinko's now to produce a billion Free Lesson cards to give away to everyone in the world.  If you'd like to help out, please email me now: mike@pitchfever.com  As you know, if you write your name on the back of a card and someone brings it in and signs up, you get $25.00!!!  What a deal.  I'll be posting more later.

-Mike G