tag:jamesstewartrock.com,2005:/blogs/blog-2?p=2BLog #22020-01-24T09:12:03-05:00James Stewart / Musician / Piano Lessonsfalsetag:jamesstewartrock.com,2005:Post/60661442013-03-26T20:00:00-04:002013-03-27T08:36:04-04:00Saw The Sunrise Today
<p>I saw the sunrise this morning. Don't get to see that too often! As always, what a sight – you can see the fiery orangish ball as it comes up over the horizon in distinct detail. Just after it is completely clear of the horizon line, it rapidly turns from deep orange to blinding yellow/white with all the rays shooting off.Very nice... </p>
<p>I forget how fast the earth is moving, even though it looks like it is the sun in motion. This whole event took place in just a few minutes. Wow. Most of you probably don't get to see this much, if at all. If you ever have the chance, take the time to watch this on a clear day – just watch out for the blinding light when it hits...</p>
<p>Send me an email and give me your description of a sunrise. I'd like to hear how you saw it!<br></p>
James Stewart / Musician / Piano Lessonstag:jamesstewartrock.com,2005:Post/60661432013-02-01T19:00:00-05:002013-02-02T08:14:28-05:00The Return of Punxsutawney Phil!
<p>Yes folks, today we see the return of Punxsutawney Phil, that most famous of groundhogs and his handlers. Gadzooks mon, try typing that name real fast! I gotta tell ya, I had to look that name up for spelling. Anybody out there in internet land got that spelling down cold? Shoot me an email and let me know – be honest! </p>
<p>Word is, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, so we'll get six more weeks of winter. Ya Hoo buddy! Can't wait. The picture of Phil I saw didn't make him look to happy about this and my feet are still freezing from a walk outside this morning. Don't get me wrong, nothing wrong with winter, sometimes it's even very scenic but the cold just keeps on going and going and going...</p>
<p>I think I'll go and try to warm up a bit with an ice cold, refreshing beverage in an ice cold glass?!??!?.......<br></p>
James Stewart / Musician / Piano Lessonstag:jamesstewartrock.com,2005:Post/60661422012-12-29T19:00:00-05:002012-12-31T06:58:42-05:00And A Happy New Year To All!
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393721/4ca2f1a8008a70bbbaaa1356c8342a83c1d65137/original/happyholidays-jamesstewart-12.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjQweDM2MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Happy Holidays-James Stewart 2012" height="360" width="640" /></p>
<p>As the year winds down and the numbers turn over, it's time to keep moving forward. What a year, and by the way, where did it go? The days just seem to fly by – I know you've heard this before, but geez mon! </p>
<p>I finally got the album Sky Blue wrapped up. Thanks everyone for all your support! And there's always more stuff in the works, so here's to a new and exciting year for all! Wishing everyone out there the best of the New Year and many happy, fantastic times ahead!<br></p>
James Stewart / Musician / Piano Lessonstag:jamesstewartrock.com,2005:Post/60661412012-12-09T19:00:00-05:002012-12-10T00:46:10-05:00Been A Bit Foggy...
<p>The past couple of days have been dark, grey and foggy. Maybe even longer, at least it seems like it anyway. Good for hanging low and doing more behind the scenes stuff like converting files, reformatting files, uploading files and writing more descriptions – geez...., it's a good thing I payed attention in English class!!</p>
<p>You know, I just though I would be able to play music but this new music business has me doing more English class stuff and computer data stuff than ever before. I 'm really surprised how most of the work is at the computer keyboard and not the music keyboard – fascinating!</p>
<p>On the sunny side of things, and that should be coming out in the next day or so, the new album, Sky Blue, is slowly making it's way through the system. Early results are looking good folks. Thanks everyone for listening! Don't forget to listen for it on the net radio. Send me an email and let me know when you hear it on Spotify or Last.fm or where ever.</p>
<p>Happy Listening...<br></p>
James Stewart / Musician / Piano Lessonstag:jamesstewartrock.com,2005:Post/60661402012-11-21T19:00:00-05:002012-11-22T00:55:14-05:00Happy Thanksgiving 2012!
<p>And a Happy Thanksgiving to ALL! I hope everyone gets a chance to spend some quality time with friends and family on this special day and give thanks for everything. I know I will. Have a great Turkey Day feast everyone! – James</p>
James Stewart / Musician / Piano Lessonstag:jamesstewartrock.com,2005:Post/60661392012-11-20T19:00:00-05:002012-11-21T07:17:33-05:00Tweedlydee And Tweedlydum!
<p>Tweedlydee and tweedlydum, I'm ah typin' and editing as fast as I can, (ho, ho,) so pardon any typos you many find. If you do catch me in a mess up, just email me and tell me to fix the booger! Thanks much...</p>
<p>And as we go, the new CD, "Sky Blue," is almost here, you may have heard: Street Date: Tuesday, November 27, 2012. It's being released on a Tuesday, can ya believe it?<br></p>
James Stewart / Musician / Piano Lessonstag:jamesstewartrock.com,2005:Post/60661382012-11-08T19:00:00-05:002012-11-09T09:13:08-05:00In The Pipeline!
<p>It's in the pipeline everyone! As it progresses through, I'll keep you up to date and soon announce the Official release date. Yeah mon!</p>
James Stewart / Musician / Piano Lessonstag:jamesstewartrock.com,2005:Post/60661372012-10-18T20:00:00-04:002012-10-19T03:09:12-04:00Real Quick...
<p>Hi everyone! Just a quick note here – I've been working hard on the new album cover and I think I've finally nailed down what I want! Amazing isn't it?! Because I didn't know what I wanted in the first place. Like my music, you just jump in and things start to go where they're gonna go. No business plan, no plan! Ha Ha. I'll bet there are those out there that are laughing all the way to Wall Street when they hear this!!</p>
<p>Yep, that's the way I work. No plan! I think I get better results with this approach than trying to do something that doesn't go any where. Plans may work for some but usually not for me. And, I'm a musician. This is my job. To be and let be. So, along the way I come up with stuff that others can look at, listen to and enjoy. Share this with others and they can share with even more people. Now that's ART!</p>
<p>Anyway, back to working on the album artwork. I think you'll like this one...</p>
<p>Coming real soon to your favorite music buying place, my new CD for YOU...<br></p>
James Stewart / Musician / Piano Lessonstag:jamesstewartrock.com,2005:Post/60661362012-09-07T20:00:00-04:002012-09-08T07:43:58-04:00Behind The Curtain
<p>As it has been awhile since my last blog, I just wanted to let everyone know things are moving forward with the new CD release. There is always lots of boring and very time consuming paper work and registering to do with a new release, and so who wants to be bothered with the details! This has been chewing up time like you would not believe, so it looks like I've been hanging lo and not around, but not to fret!! I'm still here working hard on this project and trying to figure out when to actually release the CD!?!? </p>
<p>Ya know, it's not as easy as it sounds to just release the thing. To do it right, lots of things need to be in place at the same time and with all the steps involved that ALL take different amounts of time, it can be be a bit overwhelming. And sometimes I feel overwhelmed! So..., I just have to step back, take a deep breath, look out the window, and try and pick up the ball again. </p>
<p>So there you have it. All the stuff behind the curtain is in motion and moving forward. If anyone has any questions or would like to lend a hand, ear or what ever, just shoot me any email – you can find the <a title="Send James an email!" href="/contact" target="_blank" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">address on the contact page</a> of the site.</p>
<p><br></p>
James Stewart / Musician / Piano Lessonstag:jamesstewartrock.com,2005:Post/60661352012-08-05T20:00:00-04:002012-08-06T01:41:35-04:00All Systems Go!
<p>Hello everyone and all you web surfers out there!</p>
<p>There have been some reports that some of my contact links and email addresses weren't working and behaving strangely. Sit back, relax and don't touch that dial folks. Everything's A OK and a go over here. Just make sure your mouse is hovering over a link or email link, (you'll know you're there 'cause you'll get a little pop up telling you what you're hovering over). This has all been carefully set up and tested to make sure it is VERY easy to use, very safe, and helps keep pirates and spammers from making a mess of things.</p>
<p>So go ahead, don't be shy, send me an email about anything – ask a question, make a comment, say something funny. Just don't be shy, you'll have more fun and maybe find something you like!</p>
<p>'Till next time.....<br></p>
<p><br></p>
James Stewart / Musician / Piano Lessonstag:jamesstewartrock.com,2005:Post/60661342012-07-24T20:00:00-04:002012-07-25T01:55:45-04:00Been Very Very Hot!
<p>Wow. This month's been really hot so far. I've had to run the house AC just about every day this month. No breaks. That's unusual because in the summer around here, I only have to run the house AC from time to time with a few heat burst weeks scattered around. Now, it seems like it really is getting hotter and I'm not the only one noticing. Except of course for the idiots in DC who sit around in posh, cool, exquisitely decorated rooms and talk about where their next private jet ride at tax payers expense will take them to dinner – Oh, sorry about that, I digress.... :-)</p>
<p>I did get a chance to listen to a copy of the possibly finished and mixed CD and just about everything sounds good! So I'm letting that settle a bit and now I'm back to working on the CD cover. Perfect timing for a change because the weather has been so hot – with low power, it's not great to run the studio unless I have to. Gets too hot in there even with AC and really wears on the equipment. </p>
<p>So, I'm plodding along making progress and hoping that someone in DC can see there's trouble in River City and somebody needs to STOP wasting OUR MONEY and DO something about this pending train wreck headed our way.</p>
<p>And now I need to go jump in a pool........<br></p>
James Stewart / Musician / Piano Lessonstag:jamesstewartrock.com,2005:Post/60661332012-07-03T20:00:00-04:002012-07-04T01:42:19-04:00Happy 4th of July!
<p>Happy 4th of July everyone! Gonna be another scorcher. Don't ya just love it! I'll be drinking lots of water today and looking for someones pool to jump into. Hope everyone has a sparkling day!</p>
James Stewart / Musician / Piano Lessonstag:jamesstewartrock.com,2005:Post/60661322012-06-28T20:00:00-04:002012-06-29T01:39:45-04:00Here Comes The Heat!
<p>Yes sireeeee! It's gonna be a hot one. Suppose to reach 100 degrees and continue for a few more days. I probably won't run the studio because it just gets too hot in here – even with the AC running high!</p>
<p>But as you know, there's always something to do. So, maybe I'll get a chance to do some critical listening to some of the test CD burns that I've managed to do and see where everything is at this point. The setup for the test burns sounded really good but we'll see how it actually translates down to the 44.1k/16bit format. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good – and that's always the trick.</p>
<p>In the mean time, I'm gonna be hanging low. Way tooooo hot fer me........<br></p>
James Stewart / Musician / Piano Lessonstag:jamesstewartrock.com,2005:Post/60661312012-06-09T20:00:00-04:002012-06-10T07:25:11-04:00Quick Update...
<p>There just doesn't seem to be enough time! So real quick, this week I got a hair cut, the four little baby robins successfully flew out of their nest by the front door step and I got more work done on the new album project. (Trying to catch my breath here.)</p>
<p>I may have gotten two more pieces finished, but if you've been following along, I have to give them some listening time on a consumer system to see if they hold up. And as usual, I have to set up and burn another test CD – just takes more time! So I'll leave you now and see if I can get this burn worked on today. Just doesn't seem to be enough time...<br></p>
James Stewart / Musician / Piano Lessonstag:jamesstewartrock.com,2005:Post/60661302012-05-29T20:00:00-04:002012-06-10T06:58:14-04:00Working On The Mix
<p>Just back from a few days off over the holiday weekend, even got to take a dip in a swimming pool! Been VERY hot mon! Almost feel like I'm melting 'cause I'm not use to this really hot weather yet.<br></p>
<p>Anyway, did get more time in on the new album project. Some of these pieces may even be, wait – finished?? Yep, did I just say finished? Yessiiireee, I did. I still have to do some final listening on these pieces to give the thumbs up. Maybe they will make the cut, we'll see...</p>
<p>Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend and got some sun and fun and cool music! Send me an email and tell me how the weekend went and what great music you're listening to these days. 'Till next time, ta ta! <br></p>
James Stewart / Musician / Piano Lessonstag:jamesstewartrock.com,2005:Post/60661292012-05-15T20:00:00-04:002012-06-10T06:59:16-04:00Why are CD's released on Tuesdays?
<p>Why are CD's released on Tuesdays? Well, as it turns out, no one really knows. There are, of course, some explanations that people say have to do with shipping product on the weekend, not having time to correct messed up orders, or having a week to rack up numbers with Billboard. But it still comes back to, not really sure!??!</p>
<p>I was wondering this myself just the other day when I was thinking about a release date for my new CD. Maybe I would be different this time and release the CD on another day, just to see if it got noticed more. Not as much competition to deal with, maybe people would have a few nickles left over from launch or maybe, just maybe, there was nothing left to do and people would just go to the computer and order up a copy of my new CD to hear what all the hub bub was all about. NOT!!</p>
<p>So, I guess I'll be releasing my new CD on a Tuesday sometime soon. Why, no one really knows...</p>
<p>If you're interested in a few more words of wisdom from more informed people, click this link below for a fun little read! It's a blip from NPR.org – they're cool!</p>
<p><a title="NPR's Release CD's on a Tuesday??" href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2010/09/08/129725205/why-albums-are-released-on-tuesdays" target="_blank" data-imported="1">Why are CD's released on Tuesdays? Just because...</a></p>
<p>Talk to ya...<br></p>
<p> </p>
<p><br></p>
James Stewart / Musician / Piano Lessonstag:jamesstewartrock.com,2005:Post/60661282012-05-08T20:00:00-04:002012-06-10T07:00:03-04:00What Does Music Do For You?
<p>What does music do for you? It does lots of things. First, it entertains you and makes you feel something, probably something good. Then perhaps, it makes you think about something, good times, bad times and anything in between. Maybe even makes you want to dance. And on and on and on...</p>
<p>It does different things to different people, even the same piece of music! Fascinating. </p>
<p>This, and a lot more, is what you get from music. Over and over again. You could even say this is what's in it for you. This is what makes you come back and keep listening because it does good things for YOU! Everybody! Yeah...</p>
<p>So..., it's OK to keep listening, over and over again. Even tell a friend, and they tell a friend , and they tell a friend...</p>
<p>Now, go and listen to some music and be taken off somewhere into your imagination. There are no limits to where you can go!</p>
<p>(P.S. – You can start by clicking on the play button at the bottom of your screen here.)</p>
<p>Have fun, good luck, be swept away and don't forget to email me and tell me where you went – if you dare!!!<br></p>
James Stewart / Musician / Piano Lessonstag:jamesstewartrock.com,2005:Post/60661272012-04-30T20:00:00-04:002012-06-10T07:00:29-04:00Sometimes...
<p>I heard it said once, "Sometimes I get to do what I want to do, the rest of the time, I do what I have to do." That really seems true lately. And by the way, Happy May Day!</p>
<p>It all of a sudden got vary warm today, could it be because it's May. I hope so. Time for a change into warmer weather, sunny days, and green grass. Sit back and enjoy an ice cold refreshing beverage of your choice – sometimes...<br></p>
James Stewart / Musician / Piano Lessonstag:jamesstewartrock.com,2005:Post/60661262012-04-21T20:00:00-04:002012-06-10T07:01:16-04:00Another Tune Finishing Up!
<p>Got a little more time in the studio to work on another tune. I can't say anything is finished until I make the final disc burn. That's just the way it is and I like it that way. These days you can tweak and tweak all you want – the real trick is to know when to stop. And just when is that? Darn good question you ask! It's just a sound, a gut feeling no meter or machine can tell you. Take that, all you software programs out there! Still a need for REAL humans and creative musicians!!</p>
<p>Here's a screen shot from one of my finishing setups – I sure do like those Motu Levelers, smooth man:</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393721/230ac2adbbd30a81850536de320ec62635a6d7d2/original/jamesstewartmixingcd4.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjQweDM2MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="JamesStewartMixingCD4" height="360" width="640" /></p>
<p>I hope to do another test burn soon so I can check the latest tune out on a consumer system. I'll let you know how it turns out. </p>
<p>Don't forget to send me an email if you have any questions of comments. Later...<br></p>
James Stewart / Musician / Piano Lessonstag:jamesstewartrock.com,2005:Post/60661252012-04-09T20:00:00-04:002012-06-10T07:01:47-04:00Another Free MP3!
<p>Another FREE MP3 for ya folks! Don't forget to drop by the home page of my site to pick up your free MP3 of "Get It Right!" from my third CD, <em><strong>Under The Pyramid</strong></em>. Send me an email and let me know what you think of the music. Hope you enjoy it and don't forget to tell a friend too!</p>
<p>Still making progress on the new album – slowly but surely. The over all feel and flow of the music has changed again but it IS fun experiencing the morphing of this album. One of these days real soon I think it will finally solidify and there you will have it – done, fine, complete! Can't wait!!!</p>
<p>Oh, and uh, if you didn't notice, I've moved on to another blog page – Blog #2. The first series of blogs will be left online just in case ya want to quote me on something, but don't quote me on that! Well, OK then...talk to ya...</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393721/ef250ed98edefd44d98a2eb6ee5eafb595806684/original/jamesstewart-4-10-12.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjQweDQyNyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="James Stewart 4-10-12" height="427" style="vertical-align: baseline;" width="640" /><br></p>
James Stewart / Musician / Piano Lessons