Recently me and my friends talk about a classic Hong Kong movie "From Beijing with Love" (國產凌凌漆), it is actually a comedy by Stephen Chow that borrows the image of 007, but the music in that movie is actually quite serious and dark, as the movie itself is very full of black humor regarding to the mainland Chinese culture and civilization.
The name of the song I recorded is called 徘徊 (wandering). I personally think the song really portraits the situation in China. It is true that China's situation is getting much better and stronger compare to the past, but there are still a lot of critical problems going on, as if the country is still wandering around, not realizing what it needs to be done to make it a better place. As a Chinese myself, I really hope that there will be less and less problems as time goes by. Listening to this song always remind me that I have to always keep thinking and doing something that makes the world a better place as well. For my case, music education and performance are the things I can give my very best to make the world a better place, and this field needs me the most compare to other fields.
There are mainly two versions of it in the movie, one is for piano, one is for saxophone. I arranged two versions as well, one is for melodica solo, one is for ukulele solo, in one video. The melodica version sounds very close to the original saxophone version (as they are both wind instruments), except I put BOTH the melody and accompaniment in one instrument, which you can't do that by a saxophone. Ukulele is also one of the many instruments that I play, and I made some Chinese Pipa like technique on this ukulele version of the song, hence it sounds quite different from all the two original versions and my melodica version.
Anyway, enjoy and see you next week :)
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Saturday, October 24, 2015
GREAT melodica player - Pianonymous
As I mentioned before, you can find EVERYTHING that you won't expect from melodica playing from this site, and that also means this site would feature some of the very best melodica players I have ever heard (and probably YOU have ever heard as well). This time I would introduce a young female melodica player - Pianonymous.
I remember I discovered her youtube channel by hearing her playing a song composed by a Japanese violinist Taro Hakase. For those who don't know who Taro Hakase is, he is the featured violinist in Celine Dion's song "To Love You More", you guys can go watch Celine Dion live video then you know who he is. Pianonymous' playing of his song is just SPLENDID. You could click the video I post this time and YOU will be the judge to decide if I am telling you the truth or bragging :) (P.S. Plus she is cute isn't she?)
She also has a website which talks about melodica techniques, music styles, maintenance, accessories, etc. What a pity is that I almost have no idea what she is talking about as I don't know Japanese except the 50 characters LOL (that's why I could sing in Japanese but not speak in Japanese). I saw one of her post talked about installing a strap on Suzuki M-37 melodica, as I really need to install one so I can play that melodica standing up and double-handed for better breath control. I once asked her more detail about that in facebook, but again what a pity is that there is no English version of that post available. So maybe in future I successfully learn Japanese then I could understand what she means haha. By the way, she is a member of Tokyo Melodica Orchestra.
Anyway this is her site: http://www.pianonymous.com/
And her facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pianonymous?fref=ts
I "liked" her page already, if you don't do what I do, you are an idiot LOL.
She also has a website which talks about melodica techniques, music styles, maintenance, accessories, etc. What a pity is that I almost have no idea what she is talking about as I don't know Japanese except the 50 characters LOL (that's why I could sing in Japanese but not speak in Japanese). I saw one of her post talked about installing a strap on Suzuki M-37 melodica, as I really need to install one so I can play that melodica standing up and double-handed for better breath control. I once asked her more detail about that in facebook, but again what a pity is that there is no English version of that post available. So maybe in future I successfully learn Japanese then I could understand what she means haha. By the way, she is a member of Tokyo Melodica Orchestra.
Anyway this is her site: http://www.pianonymous.com/
And her facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pianonymous?fref=ts
I "liked" her page already, if you don't do what I do, you are an idiot LOL.
Saturday, October 17, 2015
I got a "like" from the manufacturer of Wood "Mylodica"!!
Well this happens last week when I posted my video of playing a song from the anime "Naruto" on Wood "Mylodica" on my melodica facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/billyAndHisMelodica
You can see I got "16 people reached" within a really short time, and a "like" from somebody. That's the manufacturer of "Mylodica" - Mr. David Hegman!! I remembered when I first try out the melodica, I bought a $25 toy sounding one. At that moment I was like, "hmmm...yeah I could play it well, but the sound was just not good, if there is one melodica that uses wood as the resonator instead of plastic, it would sound MUCH better." Then I found out there is one wood melodica called "Mylodica" available. That was when I decided to get the wood melodica and I am glad I got one. The "Mylodica" is definitely hands down the BEST melodica I have ever heard. Anyway here is the video of playing the Naruto song, you can tell how good it sounds :)
Again BIG THANKS to the manufacturer of the "Mylodica" - Mr. David Hegman. Without your hard work and creativity, there is no way I would enjoy playing melodica so much.
https://www.facebook.com/billyAndHisMelodica
You can see I got "16 people reached" within a really short time, and a "like" from somebody. That's the manufacturer of "Mylodica" - Mr. David Hegman!! I remembered when I first try out the melodica, I bought a $25 toy sounding one. At that moment I was like, "hmmm...yeah I could play it well, but the sound was just not good, if there is one melodica that uses wood as the resonator instead of plastic, it would sound MUCH better." Then I found out there is one wood melodica called "Mylodica" available. That was when I decided to get the wood melodica and I am glad I got one. The "Mylodica" is definitely hands down the BEST melodica I have ever heard. Anyway here is the video of playing the Naruto song, you can tell how good it sounds :)
Again BIG THANKS to the manufacturer of the "Mylodica" - Mr. David Hegman. Without your hard work and creativity, there is no way I would enjoy playing melodica so much.
Saturday, October 10, 2015
More about Suzuki M-37 Melodica
It is important to get a good quality instrument if you want to learn playing an instrument well. But you know, good quality can be really expensive. Today I would show you a decent quality melodica that costs very cheap (I got a used one for around $30 US), but you can actually do a lot of great stuff on this melodica, and it is good enough for long term usage.
First, this melodica is made in Japan, hence it sounds WAY better (a.k.a. the tone has way more richness and depth) than those cheaply made ones that are made in China. It also takes very little air to produce the sound, that makes the playing a lot easier (while those bad quality ones take significantly more air to play). And it has a moisture extraction button that helps protecting the reeds so that it does not get out of tune easily.
In fact I had a post talked about this melodica before. But this time I have a video that shows more songs featured on this melodica. As always, action speaks more the words :)
Song List:
1. Dragon Ball Z "Cha-La Head Cha-La".
2. Final Fantasy X Battle Theme Complete version.
3. Rockman 2 "Dr. Wily Theme".
First, this melodica is made in Japan, hence it sounds WAY better (a.k.a. the tone has way more richness and depth) than those cheaply made ones that are made in China. It also takes very little air to produce the sound, that makes the playing a lot easier (while those bad quality ones take significantly more air to play). And it has a moisture extraction button that helps protecting the reeds so that it does not get out of tune easily.
In fact I had a post talked about this melodica before. But this time I have a video that shows more songs featured on this melodica. As always, action speaks more the words :)
Song List:
1. Dragon Ball Z "Cha-La Head Cha-La".
2. Final Fantasy X Battle Theme Complete version.
3. Rockman 2 "Dr. Wily Theme".
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Tokyo Melodica Orchestra
Today I would introduce a music group - Tokyo Melodica Orchestra.
As you may know, the "piano keyboard" design of the melodica nowadays is actually from Japan. Hence quite a lot of the very best melodica players are from Japan.
Tokyo Melodica Orchestra is definitely one of the very best melodica group I have ever heard.
I would actually call this group as "Melodica Barbershop" rather than "Melodica Orchestra" though, as they are not a group that has like 30 to 50 members, they are actually 4 players, two playing the alto, one plays the bass and one plays the lead. So it is basically the same as "barbershop music".
Anyway here is a video of them playing Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue", enjoy!!
As you may know, the "piano keyboard" design of the melodica nowadays is actually from Japan. Hence quite a lot of the very best melodica players are from Japan.
Tokyo Melodica Orchestra is definitely one of the very best melodica group I have ever heard.
I would actually call this group as "Melodica Barbershop" rather than "Melodica Orchestra" though, as they are not a group that has like 30 to 50 members, they are actually 4 players, two playing the alto, one plays the bass and one plays the lead. So it is basically the same as "barbershop music".
Anyway here is a video of them playing Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue", enjoy!!
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Harmonium
Today let's talk about an instrument that I played oher than melodica: Harmonium.
What is an Harmonium? First of all, the word looks like "Harmonica" but it looks nothing like Harmonica. In fact, it looks more like an accordion.
Harmonium originally is a free-reed organ instrument, a substitute of the church pipe organ. (P.S. Melodica, Harmonica, and Accordion are also free-reed instruments, that's why they all sound a bit similar). When it was introduced into India, they change the design of it to make it portable, and fits the need of the Indian Classical Music. You play it by sitting on the ground, which fits the Indian culture.
The Indian Classical Music works a bit different than Western Classical Music. They don't have any chord progressions at all, most of the songs have a "drone" bass line goes forever, then you improvise the melody in different kinds of scales on top of the drone, and/or add some beats on it (mostly you use Tabla, an Indian drum). Hence playing harmonium well actually means you improvise music well. In other words, learning to play harmonium in fact does not require a lot of techincal skill like playing violin or trumpet, but you need to THINK and FEEL a lot in the learning process, and that could be a lot of fun and very rewarding.
Anyway the video above is my playing of it. I just got a new harmonium, trying to test it by improvising some Indian style melodies. Hope you guys like it.
What is an Harmonium? First of all, the word looks like "Harmonica" but it looks nothing like Harmonica. In fact, it looks more like an accordion.
Harmonium originally is a free-reed organ instrument, a substitute of the church pipe organ. (P.S. Melodica, Harmonica, and Accordion are also free-reed instruments, that's why they all sound a bit similar). When it was introduced into India, they change the design of it to make it portable, and fits the need of the Indian Classical Music. You play it by sitting on the ground, which fits the Indian culture.
The Indian Classical Music works a bit different than Western Classical Music. They don't have any chord progressions at all, most of the songs have a "drone" bass line goes forever, then you improvise the melody in different kinds of scales on top of the drone, and/or add some beats on it (mostly you use Tabla, an Indian drum). Hence playing harmonium well actually means you improvise music well. In other words, learning to play harmonium in fact does not require a lot of techincal skill like playing violin or trumpet, but you need to THINK and FEEL a lot in the learning process, and that could be a lot of fun and very rewarding.
Anyway the video above is my playing of it. I just got a new harmonium, trying to test it by improvising some Indian style melodies. Hope you guys like it.
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Rockman 2 (Mega Man 2) Dr. Wily Theme!!
Well last week I mentioned that I made a piano arrangement for the song "Dr. Wily's Theme" from the classic NES game "Rockman 2" (also known as Mega Man 2). Now I also made a melodica arrangement for the song!! Here I post both versions in one video, hope you guys like it and see you guys next week :)
P.S. This time I used Suzuki M-37 instead of Mylodica to record this song.
P.S. This time I used Suzuki M-37 instead of Mylodica to record this song.
Saturday, August 22, 2015
The art of melodica playing
Well actually today I am going to post three songs that I have recorded before, but I combine them into one video. Here is the song list:
1. Street Fighter 2 Vega's Theme variation.
2. Dragon Ball Z battle music (Japanese version of anime, and featuring Suzuki-24 Bass Melodica).
3. Dragon Ball GT theme song.
The recording quality of these three songs are better than my other videos as I used a condenser mic to record them instead of using computer mic. Here is the description I wrote in this video:
"I made this video because many people regard the melodica as merely a toy instrument, or don't even know what that is. Therefore, I post three songs here to show what a melodica can actually do.
First, the melodica I am using is a wood one called Mylodica, which is custom made by sound electra, hence it sounds WAY better than those plastic ones out there. Another thing is that the reason people think the sound of a melodica is not that great is because most people DO NOT know how to manage breath control. Melodica sounds flat, dull, boring without vibrato. You HAVE TO play it with vibrato to make it sound expressive and beautiful, just like how people play violin or sing. The strap I put on allows me to play it with two hands so that it is capable of playing in the style similar to accordion, and play it standing up in order to maximize the breath control. "
Anyway Enjoy and LISTEN what a melodica can do!!
P.S. Recently I made a piano arrangement of "Rockman 2 Dr. Wily Castle" theme, I am thinking of arranging a melodica version too. Maybe would record it within these several weeks :)
1. Street Fighter 2 Vega's Theme variation.
2. Dragon Ball Z battle music (Japanese version of anime, and featuring Suzuki-24 Bass Melodica).
3. Dragon Ball GT theme song.
The recording quality of these three songs are better than my other videos as I used a condenser mic to record them instead of using computer mic. Here is the description I wrote in this video:
"I made this video because many people regard the melodica as merely a toy instrument, or don't even know what that is. Therefore, I post three songs here to show what a melodica can actually do.
First, the melodica I am using is a wood one called Mylodica, which is custom made by sound electra, hence it sounds WAY better than those plastic ones out there. Another thing is that the reason people think the sound of a melodica is not that great is because most people DO NOT know how to manage breath control. Melodica sounds flat, dull, boring without vibrato. You HAVE TO play it with vibrato to make it sound expressive and beautiful, just like how people play violin or sing. The strap I put on allows me to play it with two hands so that it is capable of playing in the style similar to accordion, and play it standing up in order to maximize the breath control. "
Anyway Enjoy and LISTEN what a melodica can do!!
P.S. Recently I made a piano arrangement of "Rockman 2 Dr. Wily Castle" theme, I am thinking of arranging a melodica version too. Maybe would record it within these several weeks :)
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