July 23, 2018
The Value of Going Camping.
I am not really an avid outdoors person, but I do value Nature in its many forms: the human contoured backyard gardens that my wife and I have created for our own daily enjoyment, the common spaces further afield such as Provincial Parks where we can all have access to places and geography that are not in our own backyards, and the great spaces set aside by Federal governments for the enjoyment and good of us all on grander scales preserved by visionaries who also appreciated what Nature can bring to the health and enjoyment of all of us.
Although we have daily access to the space we have in our own backyard, and it is a space of calm and beauty for our spirits and minds, there is something worthwhile in the process of planning and managing a camping excursion. Each summer we have planned and enjoyed several excursions to our Provincial Parks in Ontario. Our first forays were to pretty civilized campgrounds with a lot of amenities. It was a good start for us as we learned what we needed to manage a few days away from the comforts of home. We became a little bolder last year and went to a site that was a little more off the beaten path of mainstream campers. We even tried a trek into the wilderness, to see what it might be like to venture even farther into Nature. This year, we returned to a Park with more amenities ;)
July 23, 2018
The Value of Going Camping.
I am not really an avid outdoors person, but I do value Nature in its many forms: the human contoured backyard gardens that my wife and I have created for our own daily enjoyment, the common spaces further afield such as Provincial Parks where we can all have access to places and geography that are not in our own backyards, and the great spaces set aside by Federal governments for the enjoyment and good of us all on grander scales preserved by visionaries who also appreciated what Nature can bring to the health and enjoyment of all of us.
Although we have daily access to the space we have in our own backyard, and it is a space of calm and beauty for our spirits and minds, there is something worthwhile in the process of planning and managing a camping excursion. Each summer we have planned and enjoyed several excursions to our Provincial Parks in Ontario. Our first forays were to pretty civilized campgrounds with a lot of amenities. It was a good start for us as we learned what we needed to manage a few days away from the comforts of home. We became a little bolder last year and went to a site that was a little more off the beaten path of mainstream campers. We even tried a trek into the wilderness, to see what it might be like to venture even farther into Nature. This year, we returned to a Park with more amenities ;)
July 23, 2018
The Value of Going Camping.
I am not really an avid outdoors person, but I do value Nature in its many forms: the human contoured backyard gardens that my wife and I have created for our own daily enjoyment, the common spaces further afield such as Provincial Parks where we can all have access to places and geography that are not in our own backyards, and the great spaces set aside by Federal governments for the enjoyment and good of us all on grander scales preserved by visionaries who also appreciated what Nature can bring to the health and enjoyment of all of us.
Although we have daily access to the space we have in our own backyard, and it is a space of calm and beauty for our spirits and minds, there is something worthwhile in the process of planning and managing a camping excursion. Each summer we have planned and enjoyed several excursions to our Provincial Parks in Ontario. Our first forays were to pretty civilized campgrounds with a lot of amenities. It was a good start for us as we learned what we needed to manage a few days away from the comforts of home. We became a little bolder last year and went to a site that was a little more off the beaten path of mainstream campers. We even tried a trek into the wilderness, to see what it might be like to venture even farther into Nature. This year, we returned to a Park with more amenities ;)
"New Thinking
For A New Year" Audio Messages
A Musical Collaboration Anyone?
by Kevin Gibbons
I think the first point that should be made about a collaboration is: Don't be hard and fast about the way you want a song to develop.
The reason for a collaboration is for your musical partners to be inspired by your ideas and for you to be inspired by theirs. If you're unwilling or unable to "let go" it might just mean a collaboration is not for you... And you won't feel the elation when someone adds a certain something that will take the song to another level, a place you would never thought of taking it.
So assuming you have a vague idea for a song, a chord progression that sounds nice or even a complete song that needs filling out, give the project away then to your collaborators, allow them to run with their ideas and see what happens. It doesn't mean you have to accept something really hate but before you dismiss anything, listen and I mean really listen to the idea and hear what the other was trying to achieve and chances are you will get the wake up call and "don't like" will become "Wow!"
Now you receive a partial idea from your collaborator. Hear what has been done up to this moment. It's not a good thing just blast away, playing or singing without listening to to the subtleties of what is already there. Say there are some nice piano notes quite low in the mix, whatever you add has to compliment, not obliterate them. Having consideration for the efforts of your co-writers is essential.
And basically, collaborating is just great fun! It will take you out of your musical comfort zone and make you think outside the box. It will improve your musical abilities, you'll work with and make friends with some very talented people, what could be better?
Kevin Gibbons- Wales - August 2018
click here for A Tuesday Paradox and some very satisfying collaborations!
