// Blog //
Time for another little rant video. I know this one will probably cause some viewer to get a bit angry, but maybe that is the point. Maybe sometimes it is good to self reflect. In this video I will be looking at the internet phenomena of people always wanting the 'next upgrade' or the 'next piece of gear' without fully exploring or LEARNING about what they already have, LEARNING IS HARD SOMETIMES and the more effort you put in, the greater the returns (and the less gear you need!)Delve in to my argument here, and of course....I’d love to hear your thoughts!Enjoy!PeaceNeil
A message not to all millennials who may be watching this but to all of us, young and old. Following on from my recent video on the Hans Zimmer Masterclass (https://youtu.be/udvc2K_A5EY) and the comments, I thought it time to address the issue further.I am so YOUTUBE generation, but learning and EDUCATION is hard.EnjoyPeaceNeil
Some #mondayhappiness, so happy to achieved my goal of 1 Million+ Youtube views! It’s been a long journey, and thanks so much to you guys who read my blog for helping to make it happen!! Especially those who have been in for the long haul!! It means so much to me!!Not the biggest amount by any stretch, but I am pretty chuffed (and it is more viewers than Danny Dyer’s 'Run for your wife' #smallgoals)...onwards to the next million (and hitting 2000 subscribers).Thanks to everyone who has watched, shared, asked questions and subscribed....more to come!EnjoyPeaceNeil
Whilst listening to the fantastic, No Guitar Is Safe Podcast interview with Carl Verheyen, Carl mentioned what I think is probably the best piece of advice ever for a guitar student ever......”If you like it learn it”But this is not just for guitar, but for ANYTHING you are learning!!What this short video as I explain in more detail.EnjoyPeaceNeil
So it is that time of year again!! Doesn't come around so quickly there days?? The NAMM show in January 2018. is a time to start thinking and dreaming of what might be coming out in this year. It seems like quite a few companies like Korg, Supro and various pedal companies (to name the two that I have seen) have done pre-release press releases, so we already know what is coming. A bit of a shame, as I love the excitement.So what am I hoping for this year? Well, I think I am going to be disappointed (as always it would seem), but one can dream. TC Electronic (now part of Music group i.e Behringer) seem to only be concentrating on single stomp boxes now, which is a real shame. My other wish is for Spectrsonics to update Stylus RMX, but given keyscape only just came out I doubt that they will. NAMM used to be big for them, but they seem to have gone very quite of late.Like most years, (if you have read any of my blog previously), really I am only looking for a couple of companies to do a couple of things (which are actually pretty much the same from year to year!!!), so I am guessing there must be a gap in the market, and one thing in particular, the TC Electronic Nova System is right up there. Given by just how popular my review and videos on the unit are, it would seem I am not alone. So for the fifth year running, this is what I am hoping for.But, otherwise here are my NAMM 2018 wishesUnless you don’t fancy the video! (And very similar to last year!!)1) (This is the big one!) A new Nova System from TC Electronic. Well to be honest, I love the Nova System, I have been gigging mine for over five years now, but there are a few omissions and small things that would make it totally perfect. These are, a filter section (Autowah, envelope filter perhaps, I would have these over the pitch if I had to), and improved tuner (insert a polytune please!!!) and perhaps another way to access patch v presets. I would also love for it to be Toneprintable, how incredible would it be to be able to download Toneprints to the Nova System. Oh okay maybe one more, to make it the most perfect object of all time, perhaps adding in a few basic amp models (Fender, Marshall, Vox perhaps?), so that it could be used direct into a PA or as a basic modeller. That would make it perfection!! Particular on the last point that the TC Halicon Voice Channel can do this, and Tech 21 have introduced this concept with the FlyRig, it would be perfect. But sadly I don't think it is coming.2)Love to see an update to the Ibanez RG Prestige range, perhaps a natural finish guitar??3)Spectrasonics?? Where are you???????….maybe some new libraries for Stylus RMX? and how about the next generation of awesome software that we know you are capable of!!4)Logic 11? 2013 was the year of Logic X, I am very cautious with Apple at the moment and their (what feels to me) move away from supporting the creatives that carried them through the bad times. They are a phone company now and not a computer company, evidenced by their latest update to the Mac Mini, a total backward step IMHO.I would be very interested to hear what you are waiting for/hoping for.Maybe I'll get my book there next year ;)
Or Kindle version....
So what is on your list?
PeaceNeilEnjoyPeaceNeil
A video thesis on how worrying, 2nd guessing what others thinking will prevent you from being a better guitarist! Enjoy, create, strive to improve, but most importantly be yourself. That is the key, it is simple really when you think of it, but in practice it can be a lot harder. The video examines the issues around constant comparison with others (in particularly in light of the internet) and how this can impede your development as a musician, guitarist or actually in any profession.
Check out the video below! You won’t regret it!EnjoyPeaceNeil
Home working (thankfully) is becoming more and more common and we all know that it makes SO much more sense. That is not to say that going into the office (or in my case rehearsal/gig) on occasions is not crucial to maintain relationships and have human and work interaction.
But, in this day and age, working from home really is possible and can serve to cure many of today’s pressing issues, such as combating congestion, helping to reduce co2 and climate change; helping employee’s with health issues such as stress and over working; helping employee’s to achieve a much better work life balance.
I am fortunate as a guitarist and composer that I get to work in my home studio....in my home!
But that doesn’t mean that it is all swings and roundabouts, there are some problems, just as there are going to work in an office.
But even with a few cons, the pro certainly outweigh them!!!
As they say, “we have the technology”, and so much more at our fingers tips,
So, WHY in this day and age are we forcing millions of people into (usually) very small city centre areas, all at the same times of day, to sit in over priced offices and (if we are honest) just think about and wish it to be home time so they can escape again (with the other millions).
There are SO many alternatives to the antiquated Victorian industrial era habit, and enabling employees to work either from home or hub offices and in their own time would do go part of the way to achieving this, and I am sure making the world a much better place!!
If you would like to hear more then please check out there There is another way podcast.
Yes, so of us are fortunately to already be able to do this, either because we decided to work for ourselves (I am sure this is the future!) or have actual liberated, open minded and most importantly trusting employers, who have embraced home working. BUT, what find is that when we cross this divide and finally get to work from home (or those of us who run our own businesses, there are a new set of issues to contend with.
Hopefully, this article serves to help overcome some of the common problems of isolation, new stresses, inactivity, procrastination and more.Sit back and enjoy the tips.
According to a podcast from the ultimate home worker Tim Ferriss, when he interviewed a military general, his top piece of advice to avoid procrastination and giving your sense of habit forming and achievement is to make your bed and make your bed every day.
As you do this, it starts to form a habit, and when habits form they are hard to break. With the bed made and the formulation of this habit stuck in your head, you can then set to create the next habit task which starts directly after you have started your first task of the day, such as checking emails, corresponding to clients, or going to the gym.
To beat procrastination your need a routine and you need to form habits. Making the bed also gives you a sense of achievement that you have already completed a task at the start at the day. Therefore your are already on your road to success! Try it, your will be surprised.
The act of putting your shoes on to me help signal to my brain that I am in work mode. I am ready for action, should I need to go out, go to a meeting, I am ready. Working in Pj's and slippers might sound like a great enticement to home working, but it can easily lead to you confusing work with being at home, and whilst this is fine, it can also (if you are that way inclined) cause you to start stressing as there is no delineation between your work and home life.
Bonus tip - Take your shoes offThis is a biggy to help relief and home working stress anxiety , the very act of removing your shoes signals that you are no longer at work, but at home and it is your time. It really does help you to relax and triggers your brain to start switching off from work life and moving from home life. Try it! It is just another trigger!
I personally recommend some form of news talk show type program, as this chatter in the background at a low level is very similar to being in a work place environment, where you no longer feel isolated, and can switch in and switch out of the conversation. Just like in an office, when you are in the zone, you focus out the conversation, but thanks to the cocktail party effect, if something of interest is mentioned, you can zone back in again.
This tip really helps if you are feeling isolated working from home and alone. The constant hubbub really can help focus the mind on your task as you aren't thinking about being isolated. You should use the radio and not the TV as the visual elements of the TV will serve to distract you and the way that TV is edited is to draw you in and not allow you to switch off, because you just have to know what is coming next.....
This is very very important. You have escaped the office, and the sedentary life that goes along with sitting at a desk all day....to sit at a desk all day. Yes we are all guilty of it. But unfortunately this is actually worse for your fitness because you aren't even walking to the bus or the car or up the office stairs.
You need to keep yourself active, so make sure you go out for a walk, to the gym, whatever takes your fancy. This will also help clear your mind and for me helps my creative mind come up with new ideas and projects.
This could be a spare room, the sofa, for me it is a coffee shop. I became my own boss so I could work where I like and when. I have discovered after years of doing this, that I work SO much better in short very concentrated bursts in coffee shops.
I manage to kill two birds with one stone. I pick a coffee shop that is a mile or two away, and count that as part of my exercise (See above).
I walk to the coffee shop (most have WIFI these days....in fact I am writing this now in a coffeeshop) sit there and enjoy the atmosphere, which for me is very conducive for concentrated work (I know that this might not be for everyone) and sit and work very intensely for a few hours and then walk home with a sense of achievement.
I jokingly call the coffee shop my office, and I am so lucky as I have a huge range of “offices" to go to depending on my mood. For you it might be different, it might be a bean bag in your kitchen, or a shed.
Where ever that space where you find you can do your best work is, go there, and DON'T worry about what or where it is at the end of the day your client or boss want to see results....Do they REALLY care that you did it at 2am in a late night service station? Nope!
NOTE : This article was written before the enforced home working of the Covid-19 Pandemic for many people around the world. For additional advice about homeworking and homeschooling do check out this article on Mindgenius.
I’d would love to hear your home working tips and tricks, please leave them in the comments below!
Enjoy
Peace
Neil
A little while ago, I wrote a blog post entitled "The expectations of education and online learning.”, about my experiences of both taking the Hans Zimmer masterclass and then the online commenting in forums and Facebook from other students. I really felt that there was a big gap between some students expectation of what they would be getting and I think this is reflected by the nature of the modern student and instant gratification.So, I put together video on my thoughts on the Masterclass and Hans’ content, you can simply click the video below and enjoy (there is also a little rant in there as well!) Personally, as you can see in the video. I though this was an excellent course and would certainly sign up to others. I feel it offers excellent value for money and has certainly inspired me (which surely is the main aim of any education?)EnjoyPeaceNeil
