Christian Howes - Latest Comments

Re: Roar Like a Violin Monster

Jason Hurwitz — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:58:11 -0000

Chris,

Indeed you did :-) You actually played with my bluegrass band that summer -- we had been hired by Walt to work an amusement park nearby, and he had us come down for part of a day to jam with you so the students at the Strolling Strings camp could see a blending of styles.

I'll be sure to look you up in Columbus, and if you make it down to Cincinnati anytime soon, please let me know. Also, I think you know my friend Peter Harris -- we grew up playing Suzuki together.

Re: Amplifying your acoustic violin with acoustic violin pickups

Chris — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:39:12 -0000

the pedal probably helps because it acts as a preamp.

Re: Amplifying your acoustic violin with acoustic violin pickups

Chris — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:38:38 -0000

i know what you mean, but i think the Yamaha is the best to enable what you;re seeking. it also has to be used in conjunction with the right amp/preamp, not to mention any other settings such as eq, reverb, etc... sometimes I get frustrated with the thing you mention if it's going direct to the p.a. or phones, but through a gtr amp I don;t have that problem.

Re: Amplifying your acoustic violin with acoustic violin pickups

Chris — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:36:54 -0000

You will need some kind of adapter to go into the computer. I'm not exactly sure, but my friend Dana Leong works this way w his cello. the Gage pickup is good for cello and bass, although I think the Yamaha is better for violin. Preamps are definitely important. I use my effects pedal as a preamp- my boss me-50 (a guitar multi-effects pedal) it gives the sound warmth for sure. sorry for the delayed reply

Re: Roar Like a Violin Monster

Chris — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:28:51 -0000

That's great to hear that this met with your approval! I think as long as it's (your current career path) making you happy, and it sounds like it is, then it's the right path (until something changes!). No doubt you are enriching others through what you do. I'm really glad I got to meet you briefly in Ann Arbor and hope we cross paths again Mr. Monster!

Re: Roar Like a Violin Monster

Chris — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:26:05 -0000

Thanks Oliver- I will put these suggestions on my list for sure. I actually did do a lesson on "Hotel California" which is available to all members/subscribers of the Creative Strings Academy. Yeah Boise-tht's one place I need to get to one of these days...!

Re: Roar Like a Violin Monster

violinmonster — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 02:37:22 -0000

I am utterly astonished! Thank you for your kind words and wisdom. It helps me feel like I'm on the right path. I never know who's watching/listening/talking to me - I'm pretty blind and hard of hearing while I'm wearing the mask. (I wear thick glasses when I'm not playing) I'm ecstatic that I caught the attention of such an amazing strings player such as yourself. I just listened to your version of Amazing Grace; beautiful! After high school, I didn't play violin at all for 7 years. When I picked it up again after some other things in my life fell apart I instantly realized how much I missed it. To take the risk and go for it all the way, quitting my t-shirt factory job and committing myself as a full time street performer, has probably been the best decision of my life. My travels have been wonderful. I've been to Boston, New York, Charlotte, Atlanta, New Orleans, San Antonio, and Austin so far. I have lots of stories, and I've met a lot of cool musicians and performers along the way. Thanks again for this big piece of affirmation! I like to think of every new day as my new starting point, and try to build from there. I'm looking forward to a lifetime of violin-ing, and learning and getting better all the while. I'll be checking out your video lessons and your Creative Strings program.

Always Fiddlin',
Violin Monster

Re: Roar Like a Violin Monster

Chris — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:10:51 -0000

thanks Walter- very cool. The more examples we see of artists finding their own path the more it confirms we should be doing the same I guess..hope to see you on the ustream thursday. thanks again

Re: Roar Like a Violin Monster

Chris — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:09:48 -0000

very cool, jason, great story! I worked with the strolling strings about 10 years ago and am friends w Walt- small world. Look me up if you come up to Columbus!

Re: Roar Like a Violin Monster

Christian Howes — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:08:39 -0000

right on Bobbi. No doubt you've got all the talent AND hustle power...!

Re: Roar Like a Violin Monster

Christian Howes — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:07:21 -0000

Thanks Phil. I actually plan to be in Asia next December and a trip down under is definitely in order! sounds like there's plenty of action over there! my friend and former student, Luke Moller is doing quite a bit of fiddling out there and we also had Roger Young, a symphony player from Sydney, in last year for the Creative Strings Workshop. great to connect/

Re: Roar Like a Violin Monster

Othompson — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:51:22 -0000

Hi Christian: I've been following for a couple years. I like your approach, energy, passion and ability to continue to re-invent the violin. Your cover of Black Keys, tighten up is cool. There was a bubble that popped up about what tune to cover next. I've got about a dozen tunes I try to practice regulary on Octave Mando and play violin over. One is my favorite beatles tune While My guitar Gently Weeps, the other is Hotel California. Finaly, I'd love to see you do any kind of homage to ELO, my aboslute favorite super group that featured violin and cello prominitly. P.S. I play a Barbera Acoustic electric 6-string. Its my only axe but I love it for all music styles and settings. Happy New Year! Oliver Thompson (the one in Boise)

Re: Roar Like a Violin Monster

Phil — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:20:16 -0000

That's a great blog Christian. I work as a teacher educator across a system of 78 schools in Sydney, Australia and I'd love to get you 'down under' for some creative strings workshops one day - especially after reading this blog. Strings is only one aspect of my workflow but it's a passion for me to drive a strings program in our schools in places where kids would never have known the opportunity otherwise.. and we had Bob Phillips out for a clinic/workshop back in 2009 when the program had only been running for a few weeks and yes... Bob is just great at motivating HUGE groups of string players at any stage. We now have 10 elementary schools (in some fairly rough neighbourhoods in Western Sydney) implementing the strings program in the classroom as well as small groups and ensembles, taught by a team of 8 specialist teachers and 5 very talented class teachers - nearly 1300 kids who did not know what a violin or cello looked like 2 years ago, now playing in ensembles and orchestras.

It concerns me though, that SOME string players - well.... Classical musicians generally - well.. for that matter Jazz musicians as well do have the view that if they are top of their game, then the gigs will just flow. But in contrast, I can name a few composers and string groups here in Oz that are approaching things differently - one that comes to mind is The String Contingent http://www.thestringcontingent... This trio is very innovative and talented and when Christopher approached me 12 months ago and asked my advice on how to approach schools to do workshops, they were only aiming at secondary schools but I suggested they put together a concert/workshop for elementary schools and they did a BRILLIANT concert and workshop that had the kids on the edge of their seats - many kids decided to take up a stringed instrument that day :D go to: http://www.fiddlinphil.com/pag... and scroll down to The String Contingent film clip.

Now..... to save my holiday pay and persuade my boss to send me to your Creative Strings Camp - it sounds like a week of very innovative and exciting improvisation and performance, practicing the "Art of the Possible"

Re: Roar Like a Violin Monster

Bobbi Townes — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:37:43 -0000

I really like this! It speaks so much needed truth to musicians with unrealistic expectations. Thanks for confirmation on some questions that I had, regarding my own approach to the music industry!

I love this part, especially: "What’s the difference between these Ann Arborites and everyone other musician complaining how the world hasn’t caught up to their vision? They took a chance. They acted boldly. They had the courage to act on what probably seemed like a CRAZY idea. Now they are powerful brands succeeding at their art on their own terms."

#Truth

Re: Roar Like a Violin Monster

Jason Hurwitz — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 01:00:20 -0000

Thanks for this post, Christian.

"It’s not enough to be good at playing music. Most artists believe that if they’re good enough, success will fall in their lap." I've been saying this exact thing in nearly the exact words for many years now, and it's the reason I'd like to someday (soon) begin teaching a class to performance majors on how to do "promotion, sales, marketing, networking, etc…" for themselves. So many of the musicians I know or have worked with seem to think that "If I win this competition, the calls will start coming to hire me as a soloist. All I need to do is win this competition." Sure, that helps, but really, winning simply isn't enough. There is a lot of blood, sweat, and tears (in other words, effort) that has to go into creating a successful career beyond what happens in the practice room and on stage. Self-promotion (the effort to be heard by promoters and producers over the clamoring of all the other thousands of voices trying to be heard) is an extreme challenge, one that takes practice, training, and dedication.

As a former Strolling Strings member under Walt Straiton in Williamsport, PA, a Music Education major at the University of Miami (Miami, FL), a former Barrage and Cirque Dreams violinist, and now a dual MBA/MA in Arts Administrator student at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, my successes have come only because I took chances. My Barrage audition, the Cirque Dreams audition, applying for an MBA program when my last math class had been during junior year of high school ... all of these things took guts and an acknowledgment that disappointment was a real possibility.

So you're right---so, so right. "What’s the difference between [successful musicians] and everyone other musician complaining how the world hasn’t caught up to their vision? They took a chance. They acted boldly. They had the courage to act on what probably seemed like a CRAZY idea. Now they are powerful brands succeeding at their art on their own terms." Just like you, Christian, and like Jeremy Kittel, Corinna Smith, and, it turns out, Violin Monster.

Re: Roar Like a Violin Monster

Wsmack — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 22:58:18 -0000

Wow great article Chris. Thanks for the inspiration. Check out the "MichaelFraserViolin" channel on youtube. This guy is a great example of the article above. He started out playing swing jazz violin and is now mixing techno and house music with live violin. He is the DJ and the player at the same time. Amazing.

Re: “Perfect Practice” – for jazz violinists, cellists, and more

Leonorcitafp — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 19:23:23 -0000

fantastic article...yes, the truth!

Re: Amplifying your acoustic violin with acoustic violin pickups

Shimmy — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:40:49 -0000

@bb9fa2356043fe698683b38c5579f2df I was talking about when you want to play 'clean' - no effects (excluding eq, reverb, delay etc.).
The voice, the tone-color is not violinish enough. it has a zzzzzz element, that makes it sound like a kazoo, I want a PU that sounds like a microphone, trust me, regarding the effects, I'll take it from there...

Re: Amplifying your acoustic violin with acoustic violin pickups

Elyse — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 07:18:32 -0000

I personally haven't had any problems with bad sound on the lower strings. I do also have a pedal to alter my sound. I have the zoom chorus, and can't wait to get more. I've been using it for 2 yrs now. Eventually, I'm going to also get a loop pedal and distortion pedal.

Re: Amplifying your acoustic violin with acoustic violin pickups

Shimmy — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 04:46:45 -0000

I am also looking for a pickup, but to me, the acoustic tone matters the most. I don't want a sound of a nylon-like trombone violin (see G string, or C string), unfortunately the Yamaha PU didn't manageto get over this problem and acoustifying the violin lows, it does sound ZETAish, much (let's say a bit better than other's but still).
I think the right solution would be a PU that has a chip that bodilizes the sound (really, today no one really cares about purity, but ppl still care about sound), IMHO engineers and manufacturers should look towards recreation and bodilization of sound rather then pickuping the true sound, this will surely beat the market if there will be a pickup that makes your PU or even your solid-body sound like a strad.
I'm looking for a woody tone, while clean feedback resistant. Is there such a pick up in the world yet???

Re: The #1 thing you can do to become a better musician

Peter — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:01:41 -0000

Really good stuff Chris. Thanks so much.

Re: Getting your SOUND

Simon — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 05:10:02 -0000

Will you reveal us what you used to make this awesome sound at "Ode to Billie Joe"? How did u make that amazing wahwah sound?

Re: My Editorial in Strings Magazine – Let’s Rebrand “Alternative Styles” Strings

SouthHillStringStudio — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 23:49:19 -0000

One thing that has really helped me learn to listen to chords has been learning the guitar, as well as the piano. After over a decade of competence on the violin, learning new instruments has really broadened my horizons, and I believe, made me a better violinist!

Re: Amplifying your acoustic violin with acoustic violin pickups

SouthHillStringStudio — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 23:37:27 -0000

what about the David Gage Realist? I listened to some clips online, and I think I really like it. I have a 5-string acoustic that I want to electrify, and am looking at pickups now. I was also wondering what preamp you'd recommend, and how to go about plugging my violin directly into my computer (I'm also about to upgrade my computer, so perfect timing to figure all this out). Thanks!

Re: “out of the blue” makes it into “best of 2010″ jazz blog

ken cook — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 15:55:25 -0000

Chris: I am a friend of Dwayne Dolphin and have seen you in Pittsburgh at James Street Tavern a few years afo. I have your latest CD and have seen your You Tube performances. I see that you are performiung in Columbus in September. Please let me know about the performance as I would like to see you again.. I have followed your career over the internet and have read the AAJ article that you wrote and I was in complete agreement with what you have said. ken cook cookken3@gmail.comk 412-279-3563