tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37578504322025473812024-03-12T22:16:13.057-05:00The Songbird Projectsongwriting + art + cultureThe Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.comBlogger406125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-73118837366193465362013-09-12T14:10:00.000-05:002013-09-12T14:10:09.605-05:00BenCooperOnline.com - Version 2.0!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f76d19; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://bencooperonline.com/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE.</a></span></div>
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<br />The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-80380630512247283072013-09-11T14:48:00.002-05:002013-09-11T14:48:49.703-05:00Creativity is like...It's time for a new start.<br />
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Please visit my new blog, <a href="http://creativityislike.com/">Creativity is like...</a><br />
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It is a place to explore creativity through simple metaphors.<br />
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<br />The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-53369103162281512722012-05-23T23:33:00.000-05:002012-05-23T23:33:00.540-05:00Hitting "Pause"<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57514754@N05/7196413444/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" title="Untitled by thesongbirdproject, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8158/7196413444_1d81817e97_z.jpg" width="400" /></a>
This is just a quick message to say thank you to all of you who keep up with The Songbird Project. I am also writing to let you all know that I will be taking a few months to focus on the arrival of our first kid (due in June).<br />
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This is officially the 400th post on this blog, and I've really enjoyed processing the journey with you guys.<br />
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In the meantime, please send any ideas for posts or interesting videos or thoughts on songwriting/art/creativity to <a href="mailto:TheSongbirdProject@gmail.com">TheSongbirdProject@gmail.com</a>.<br />
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Keep writing!<br />
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BenThe Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-9095618821175949072012-05-21T10:33:00.000-05:002012-05-21T10:33:09.386-05:00Auralex to the Rescue!As some of you may know, my wife and I are expecting our first kid in June. It became clear pretty quickly that, as our second bedroom, my writing/recording room was to become the nursery. Thankfully, we had some space in our basement that showed potential for becoming a devoted space for creating music.<br />
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There was really only one main problem: <b>with concrete/plaster walls, the room basically acted as a rectangular reverb chamber.</b> It was obvious that something needed to be done to address the acoustic situation. This is where <b><a href="http://auralex.com/">Auralex</a></b> came in.<br />
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Here are some pictures of the basement room before I brought in my recording equipment:<br />
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We decided to start by repainting the walls a more vibey green color (these pics were taken while the paint was still drying):</div>
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Here's where the Auralex came in, along with my recording setup:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My new man cave!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qiWHWM7JjDLDSKt4MnteM6NQdNlSnOCDdpSPp8V2gxxKG-CjryU86L_QxmXKQo6epsypQsxe6XP9wkCTiPQGVYgpIeexd4h1aZgDB1swWcCZeZwyQs8KXEkS-iYsOjWYplwku1vqRYe7/s1600/IMG_0644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qiWHWM7JjDLDSKt4MnteM6NQdNlSnOCDdpSPp8V2gxxKG-CjryU86L_QxmXKQo6epsypQsxe6XP9wkCTiPQGVYgpIeexd4h1aZgDB1swWcCZeZwyQs8KXEkS-iYsOjWYplwku1vqRYe7/s640/IMG_0644.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My co-writer's seat</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggi6gylBlUprkYhnEvHtpv5do_5lDteXiEV3JLZ89SWphrM2xa28_wVPV9ia7wTuiz_R9bU1vBfg1JeEglcIYh5l4Iwl5B7EGaUZkFp6Rv30WweY0BTyyDMpFVjhS6-zzD_yqjqtKimjPQ/s1600/IMG_0647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggi6gylBlUprkYhnEvHtpv5do_5lDteXiEV3JLZ89SWphrM2xa28_wVPV9ia7wTuiz_R9bU1vBfg1JeEglcIYh5l4Iwl5B7EGaUZkFp6Rv30WweY0BTyyDMpFVjhS6-zzD_yqjqtKimjPQ/s640/IMG_0647.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The vocal booth, enclosed by movable Auralex ProMAX panels</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mopads were the perfect thing to separate the monitors from the stands, isolating the vibrations</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I suspended the foam from the ceilings with these gold hooks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric Smith from <a href="http://auralex.com/">Auralex</a></td></tr>
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Not only does the new setup look cool, it actually encourages creativity. I've been told that it's easier to focus when there are less rogue sound waves bouncing around the room, and I've experienced that to be true. I've never heard the stereo image like I have in the past couple months. My mixes are improving, and I'm enjoying listening to music more now than I have in the past couple years. </div>
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The room's acoustics are so tight now that, one day, I noticed what sounded like a static problem in my left monitor only to discover that <b>I was actually hearing a candle burning on my desk.</b> That's a good sign of an accurate acoustic environment!</div>
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If you have a dedicated space for writing/recording, I highly encourage you to invest in the room's acoustic treatment. If you can't accurately hear what's coming out of the monitors, you'll have trouble competing with those who have a proper setup. Check out <a href="http://Auralex.com/">Auralex.com</a> for ways that you can turn your room into a space that serves your creativity. <b>Treat yourself to proper acoustic treatment!</b></div>
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Keep writing (a treating acoustics), </div>
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Ben</div>
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<br /></div>The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-10508650209110152442012-05-18T10:36:00.002-05:002012-05-18T10:36:45.642-05:00Airplane Music<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FYO8P8P-MVE?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-84657897885976324922012-05-16T21:17:00.001-05:002012-05-16T21:18:10.871-05:00This is Rock and Roll<iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7ujvKQNZOFc?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-83650770552684614192012-05-15T16:15:00.000-05:002012-05-15T16:15:21.921-05:00Makey Makey<iframe frameborder="0" height="360px" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/joylabs/makey-makey-an-invention-kit-for-everyone/widget/video.html" width="480px"></iframe>The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-75082964001422139682012-05-14T08:16:00.002-05:002012-05-14T08:16:44.775-05:00Joy in the Congo<embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" background="#333333" flashvars="si=254&&contentValue=50122868&shareUrl=http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7404678n&tag=contentBody;storyMediaBox" height="279" salign="lt" scale="noscale" src="http://cnettv.cnet.com/av/video/cbsnews/atlantis2/cbsnews_player_embed.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425"></embed>The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-90775995116536155622012-05-11T09:43:00.000-05:002012-05-11T09:43:42.982-05:00Joshua Ledet - When a Man Loves a WomanHere is one of the standout performances from this year's American Idol competition. Hard not to get chills listening to this guy sing!
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HQ4pNlvt0m8?rel=0" width="640"></iframe>The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-43529921533308410072012-05-09T03:30:00.000-05:002012-05-09T03:30:01.361-05:00The King of Instruments<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Zm02UQuxSik?rel=0" width="640"></iframe>The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-49734284603825386352012-05-08T15:47:00.002-05:002012-05-08T15:47:18.251-05:00Music for the Ride<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gww9_S4PNV0?rel=0" width="640"></iframe>The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-82179007306425613102012-05-04T04:30:00.000-05:002012-05-04T04:30:01.689-05:00Spring Sunset<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAb_33JyUmNQwkf3sewMLMpvUcW8_E5UJxmVvBnj1uIaFDgc5N1gd63zds7guXHm4IQoOc32obERWqT9WMWsTNOQsr3ok7BqQ0bEmhVgxK5EOjaa0pOVNIoB4NZwvrPSuj6DFQ_qV9GkE/s640/blogger-image--684264740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAb_33JyUmNQwkf3sewMLMpvUcW8_E5UJxmVvBnj1uIaFDgc5N1gd63zds7guXHm4IQoOc32obERWqT9WMWsTNOQsr3ok7BqQ0bEmhVgxK5EOjaa0pOVNIoB4NZwvrPSuj6DFQ_qV9GkE/s640/blogger-image--684264740.jpg" /></a></div>The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-31077444657624279592012-05-03T06:44:00.000-05:002012-05-03T06:44:00.113-05:00On Avoiding Mistakes<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57514754@N05/6988727486/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" title="Untitled by thesongbirdproject, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="400" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7243/6988727486_14693953d3_z.jpg" width="400" /></a>Don't be afraid to make mistakes. The fear of being imperfect or sounding silly will paralyze your creativity, not allowing you to find the needles of greatness in the haystack.<br />
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I think it's far better to just accept the fact that we will <b>make mistakes</b>. This way, when they happen, we can see it as a learning and growing opportunity. Over the long run, enough mistakes will result in a lot of successes.<br />
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Keep writing (and learning),<br />
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BenThe Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-21012142673613101912012-05-02T06:49:00.000-05:002012-05-02T06:49:10.058-05:00Leading or Following?<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”</b></div>
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- Steve Jobs</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57514754@N05/6908139690/" title="Untitled by thesongbirdproject, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="612" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7242/6908139690_0a50814517_z.jpg" width="612" /></a></div>The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-13219645844762523702012-04-27T08:34:00.000-05:002012-05-01T12:34:04.100-05:00Derek<iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ak2jxmhCH1M?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-80818099068366399962012-04-27T08:33:00.000-05:002012-04-27T08:33:46.152-05:00Walking on Air<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hWz5ltE_I4c?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-76510062844354170192012-04-25T08:19:00.000-05:002012-04-25T08:19:16.494-05:00Alive Inside<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fyZQf0p73QM?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit <a href="http://www.songbirdcamp.com/">SongbirdCamp.com</a> for more details!The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-29894944437629253862012-04-24T06:00:00.000-05:002012-04-24T06:00:11.413-05:0023 Hz<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mODqQvlrgIQ?rel=0" width="640"></iframe>The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-82004794883107370402012-04-23T09:12:00.000-05:002012-04-23T09:12:47.858-05:00Constructing Songs, by Neal Carpenter<i>Here is a guest post written by my friend and co-writer, Neal Carpenter:</i><br />
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Lately, I've thought a lot about the idea of a songwriter essentially being a construction worker or architect. While not an exhaustive metaphor and not an ultimate answer, I still think it's helpful. Obviously, this is not a new idea. We call songwriting a "craft," and we refer to our "tools," etc., but lately I've thought about it in more physical, tangible terms.<br />
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I've imagined the song as a structure I'm building right in front of me, piece by piece. I see the phrasing of a verse like the perfectly spaced beams in a wall. I see the emotional momentum of the chorus and the placement of a hook (if we use that design) as a roof structure. I think maybe I'll add a back porch with this bridge I'm working on. Some songs are revolutionary in their design with many intricate parts and would look very fascinating if we could see them as buildings. Other songs are very simple using large beams and timbers, yet solid and inspiring all the same. So everyday we are showing up, handling the materials, shaping, cutting, fitting them into place. We use our mouths to try out the words, feel their shape. We see it all happening on the page (one reason I like to write on real paper, but that's another discussion.)<br />
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Some days we realize we spent all day building a flimsy structure with poor materials all thrown together. Some days something very solid and fresh happens with little effort and we feel as though the only labor needed is a little sanding and slight re-shaping. Some of us may be lucky enough to find an idea, a design, that we know will change the landscape if we do the work to build it. We are, in a sense, building cities and towns with our work each day.<br />
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Is the structure sound inside and out? Are you wasting all your time watching your neighbors build and simply copying them? Are you taking any risks or trying out new designs? Are throwing things together for some quick recognition or are you trying to build something that will stand the test of time?The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-52053504979401557312012-04-20T06:00:00.000-05:002012-04-20T06:00:01.186-05:00Goodbye, LevonThe drummer from The Band has sadly passed away. Here is one of many moments worth remembering from The Last Waltz:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eOi0tC00Luc?rel=0" width="640"></iframe>The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-88915485362411639742012-04-19T03:30:00.000-05:002012-04-19T03:30:01.927-05:00The Reward of Overcoming Fear<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ebtGRvP3ILg?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit <a href="http://www.songbirdcamp.com/">SongbirdCamp.com</a> for more details!The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-75564974989144846082012-04-18T05:00:00.000-05:002012-04-18T05:00:03.916-05:00"Plasticities" by Andrew Bird<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nZhvJbVfaaI?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-45647018249661932622012-04-16T03:00:00.000-05:002012-04-16T03:00:12.745-05:00Wonder Bubbles<iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lYr5UPHPcOY?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit <a href="http://www.songbirdcamp.com/">SongbirdCamp.com</a> for more details!The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-28409650650934599032012-04-13T03:30:00.000-05:002012-04-13T03:30:02.112-05:00Spring Sunsest<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57514754@N05/6839828164/" title="Untitled by thesongbirdproject, on Flickr"><img alt="" height="612" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7177/6839828164_e400e7888a_z.jpg" width="612" /></a>The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757850432202547381.post-39478173744683885272012-04-12T03:30:00.000-05:002012-04-12T03:30:03.357-05:00Annie Dillard on the Daily Schedule<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57514754@N05/6824297274/" title="Untitled by thesongbirdproject, on Flickr"><img alt="" height="612" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7205/6824297274_5ce3e7cf98_z.jpg" width="612" /></a><br />
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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit <a href="http://www.songbirdcamp.com/">SongbirdCamp.com</a> for more details!The Songbird Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541314051941554899noreply@blogger.com0