ABC Studios Newsletter

Newsletter –March 2011

From The Studio:

	Welcome to the first ABC Studios newsletter of 2011! A special welcome to all new students, and returning students. ABC Studios is the name of our business and people often ask why the business is called ‘ABC Studios’ when there is only one studio. The name was chosen because it sounds good and making good sounds is what are all about. Actually we use three rooms for 'the studio' with the large open-plan space for rehearsals, recording sessions, and waiting area. Studio Upgrade – Music First – That is our slogan. What does that mean? Well it means that a studio devoted to making music needs to make music its first priority. We can get caught up in the details of what we do. Technology, timetables, appointments, work, leisure, exercise, family and numerous other things. The simple fact is the music takes time to do well and if we want music in our life we need to make time for it. Technology helps of course and as part of our goal of creating a world-class teaching and recording facility we need good equipment. In 2010 we upgraded our gear to include two high-definition widescreen LCDs and High-Definition video camera. This technology is in almost constant use for still photographs, video for students to review their performances, and for uploading to YouTube. We have set up a You Tube account for the studio and selected performances from our people are featured on; this page. A word on this topic. When viewing a video please leave a comment, whether it is 'like' or a 'dislike'. The performers really appreciate feedback. Your comments contribute to the evolution of the music. In November 2009 we booked a recording session for a business called GoBananas for fifteen singers wanting to perform three songs [Oasis – Wonderwall Robbie Williams – Angels Gloria Gaynor – I will Survive] as a wedding gift. At least that is what we were told. I was to produce the session and we arranged for an engineer, Torres Chang to assist in the control room. At the designated time we were invaded by at least fifteen happy women replete with sparkling wine. Already it was 3 o'clock in the afternoon they were ready to party! Finding room for the handbags was tricky. We took it all in stride, the engineer set up the mics and the session went off with out a hitch. Or is that with a hitch? For most of 2010 we have also been working on a concept album for Trevor Thwaites. Trevor is a Senior Lecturer in Music Education at the University of Auckland and has written an album of contemporary jazz for lineups from solo to full recordings with a jazz orchestra. Some of the sessions were produced at the University of Auckland Epsom with the Beach Road location used for overdubs and mixdowns. Some of the instruments recorded during these sessions include guitar, saxophones, trumpets and trombones, piano, bass and drums, and vocals. Some of the more exotic instruments have included the bullroarer, slit drums, congas and vibraphone [vibes]. Each instrument has a unique colour and purpose. In the hands of a musician like Trevor they all contribute to an evolving sound. It is jazz and it has a Pacific flavour. It is fascinating to hear this music taking shape from its original ideas to notation, to tracking, mixing and the final stage - mastering. The project is nearing completion and I am sure the music is quite unique and original. Watch this space. At other sessions we have recorded Eva Scherer, Emma Stenbeck, Kory Fagan, David Yu, jazz diva Sarah-Jane Limbrick and voiceovers for ventriloquist David Strassman and Peter Reilly. Other upgrades have included software moving to Cubase 5 [and Cubase 6 in 2011] version as our flagship program. We also use Sing See for vocalists. This program is authored by Dr. William Thorpe a graduate of the University of Auckland. William has been kind enough to assist us with implementing the program and with helping us to set it up and running in the studio. This program is highly recommended and is available in student and Professional versions. You can purchase this software through our online shop. Please click to enter. Other additions to the studio include a fretted-Fender Jazz Bass, a 250 Watt Fender Bassman amplifier, a laptop for portable recording and a USB interface the M-Audio Ultra8R. This 8 track interface is used in conjunction with the laptop computer running Cubase to record live shows and events outside the studio. We have also upgraded our entry-level recording program Sequel to version 2. This program by Steinberg, the makers of Cubase is an affordable recording program perfect for students and has a some advanced professional features as well. Using this program is simple. You can select a short section of music, change the speed and the key. You can record overdubs or create entirely new tracks, all in high-quality crystal-clear digital sound. Again highly recommended. The studio location is also proving popular with its central location, easy access to buses, trains and motorway. University students walk to Beach Road and we have several clients who live and work in the central city area. Then there is the excellent coffee and some affordable cafes and restaurants nearby. More on this in another newsletter.

2011	2011 gigs – We have several gigs planned for 2011 with four confirmed dates at the Russian Club, Broadway Newmarket. The dates are Wednesday 13^th April 2011, Wednesday 13th July 2011, 5^th October and 30^th November. The gigs are held at The Russian Club, Broadway Newmarket. The venue has good parking, an excellent sound system and stage lighting, great bar service, Russian food including caviar and Baltika. The second concert in July is based on a jazz theme and features performances from students and guest musicians. These shows are a must-see and a great night out.
	2010 gigs – 2010 saw a series of fun gigs @ the Russian Club with some memorable moments, thrills and spills. See Photographs of the Summer Gig. Our youngest students, Persia and Katrina performed Introducing Me and Michael Jackson's Heal The World . Persia sang backup to Katrina's song and had to stand on a chair to reach the microphone. The audience loved the music. Talented songwriter and singer Bobby Johnson wrote songs, prepared them for the shows but over the course of the year, for several good reasons, was unable to appear. Some of us were left wondering if he actually existed. He does and he has real musical ability and talent. Wherever you are Bobby, be cool and wishing you all the best.
	Our People – A busy music studio is a hub for many activities with lessons, gigs, recording projects, rehearsals and administration. Like all music-making there is individual time and effort combined with teamwork and co-operation. 2010 saw some fantastic people come and go through the studio. Benedict Hagar graduated with a Diploma in Music Performance from the Rockschool performing items from the band Dream Theatre, Jaco Pastorius, the Chilis and others. Benedict also studied music theory while completing a stage two Commerce course at the University of Auckland. Ben also performed with the Stevie G Band. Ben is an excellent bass player with a high level of technical ability and a natural feel for music. Madison Cooper is well-known to our Russian Club audiences, with brilliant performances in jazz, pop, hip-hop, cabaret, and indie styles. Video of Madison Cooper. In 2010 she also appeared in several performances with the Crystal Silence Jazz trio, the Prohibition Big Band, the Stevie G Band and others. Haylee Maddock won a sponsored enrolment at ABC Studios as part of a promotion from The Breeze radio station and gave several inspired performances at our live shows and in even in rehearsals. Haylee has a powerful expressive voice and a special musical character. She was injured in a car accident and had to overcome obstacles in her personal life to do what she did with last year and impressed us all with her musical energy and life. Video. Haylee has gone to live in Australia and is continuing with her singing in style across the ditch. There are so many people we could name in this newsletter if we only had time. Our recollection of 2010 was of a year of music in so many ways with so many talented people.
	New People – Each year in February we see new people starting tuition. In march University students begin and for many students music is a creative outlet, in some cases a distraction, in others, a passion. a Special welcome to Charlotte Clark, Charles Hartmann, Saleh Falah, Amy Anderson, Slava Kochubey, Amelia Copeland, John Theakston. Amy Song, Keyana, Shane Robertson, Matthew Wynyard, Aidan Starke, Sweta Parma , Gabriela Mercado, Alishka Patel, Elizabeth Dodd, Nerina Howe, Tayla Rae and others - the class of 2011! It is a pleasure and a privilege to work with so many talented singers and musicians and we look forward to making music in the coming months, through our gigs and recordings and videos. Making music and making music first.