Alexander Grene 4/22/2008
Music
My experiences with music have, thankfully, addressed nearly all the aspects of the way music functions and is created and performed today.
I play classical violin and Irish fiddle, funk, slap, and blues bass, and guitar. The guitar and bass are self taught. I’ve been to the Long Island String Festival and the All County festival orchestras, attended the NYSSMA festival 9 times (scoring perfectly 3 times, and placing in the 90’s on all other occasions), played in the LuHi string quartets and chamber orchestras for as long as they’ve been around, and this year started up with the jazz band. Last year, I played in the first violin section of the pit orchestra for the musical “South Pacific.”
On the other side of the Atlantic, I attended an intensive week-long fiddle camp two separate times, working at the highest available level on both occasions. I won prizes in pub competitions and played in seemingly endless traditional sessions with Irish musicians, including Joe Burke, Sean Ryan, Ben Lennon, and Matt McGranaghan, all prestigious names in Irish music.
I’ve also had the chance to work in music production, and to see the commercial and business applications of music in today’s economy. I worked at The Lodge, a music production and recording studio in Lower Manhattan, for two months, including a brief sojourn at a mastering studio. I got to use and learn about ProTools, Logic, and Reason, and to record my violin playing there, where it was used in a commercial for Spiderman 3 paraphernalia.
My favourite aspect of music has always been its creation. I’ve been improvising and writing for at least 7 years, and possibly longer. I write music of all genres, but predominantly classical music.
I also teach violin, on occasion, to those of my friends who are interested in learning… anything from the basics to more complex techniques. I’ve taught Irish fiddle tunes to classrooms of traditional musicians.
Last but not least (HORSESHIT, IT IS LEAST), I’m now incorporating music theory into my knowledge of music as a whole, using the rules and guidelines to see how adherence to, and deviation from, the traditional structure of harmony, rhythm, and melody creates an allure to musical pieces.
In conclusion, I’ve experienced or seen music of many different genres from the angles of a performer, teacher, creator, producer, sound engineer, and theoretician.