Yamaha S80 Tips Website Revived!

I have recently put my Yamaha S80/90 tips website back online.  It has been on hiatus for a few years while I was reworking other parts of my life. This will be of absolutely no interest to anyone who doesn't own an S80 or an S90.  It will be invaluable to anyone who wants to figure out how to use all the amazing features but is frustrated by the manual. Neither the manual nor the screen display are user-friendly.  The S80 tips site contains notes of mine and notes shared by other users who have been willing to share their hard-earned discoveries.

Those who have heard my alt.pop music are hearing the Yamaha S80 in combination with acoustic guitar, electric guitar and flute.  Pretty much every other instrument sound was created on the S80, apart from the digitally recorded orchestral instruments.  Now you know!

Yamaha S80 Keyboard Beginner's Reference

Geoff's music on CBC Radio 3 & Sirius Satellite Radio 152

Now you can listen to songs from my album in progress, "Songs From the Edge" on CBC Radio 3, which can be found on Sirius Satellite Radio 152.  Go to http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/search/?q=Geoff%20Bell where you can listen to the program currently playing on Sirius 152, or choose instead to listen to the songs on my list.

Either way, you'll hear something that you can't hear many other places!
(Yes, there's a reason for that... it's because the singer/songwriters involved are putting our music out there so people can hear it and choose what they like!)

I'm still working on building a fan base to share my music with the world.  If you find a song you like, please feel free to let other people know where they can hear more!

:-)
Geoff

TEDxCalgary

I just spent a fascinating afternoon at TEDxCalgary.  The Calgary Folk Music Festival Hall is still under construction, but they managed to host the event nonetheless.  The washrooms were in a trailer outside, (-20 degrees, but hey, we're Canadian!)  The conversation inside was hot enough to keep everybody warm and focused.  We had some impressive speakers who challenged us to think differently about the conference topic, "Volunteer . . even better."

I've got a lot to think about now, and am pondering an idea to meet the "3 things you can do" challenge.

More later ...

Getting Out There

I just got back from my second visit to Market Collective.  Local musicians on stage, great coffee from Higher Ground, interesting original art, jewelry and clothing!

I talked with some animators from QuickDraw Animation Society about collaborating on a music video for "Single Life" and a photographer/artist about creating a CD cover for my current project, "Songs From the Edge."

I stopped by the CJSW booth to ask about getting some airplay. 

Wayne Gretsky says, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."
Methodology asks, "What are you afraid of?"

Success! (Sort of ...)

Eighty songwriters hungry for feedback; Dan Hill the star on a panel of five members of the Canadian Music Industry.  Each songwriter got to drop a one-song demo CD with lyric sheets into the draw.  Mine came up third!

Most people heard the same advice, (me included!)  Move the chorus to come right after the first verse.  With attention spans getting shorter and more music to surf at the click of a button, you have to grab the listener RIGHT AWAY!  So, "Single Life" now has the first chorus right after the first verse.  Yes, it works better for this purpose.  You can hear the results at: https://noisetrade.com/geoffbell

Dan Hill liked my lyrics, but suggested that I completely change the genre to a blues song. A BLUES song?  Really?  This definitely would radically alter the whole feeling and message!  But then, who am I to argue with Dan Hill, singer/songwriter extraordinaire for 30 years?  So, work has begun to re-imagine "Single Life" as a wailing blues song.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Songwriter Workshop with Dan Hill

Next weekend I'll be doing a songwriter workshop with Canadian recording legend Dan Hill!  My goal is to not make a fool of myself by blathering, but to actually listen to his ideas about songwriting and learn from them.
Deep breaths, stay calm, stay focused ....

Call for Casting - Beautiful Baby Music Video!

Yes, you heard it here first!  I am currently recording a "Beautiful Baby" song to celebrate babies around the world!  When the song has been recorded, I plan to make a music video to post on YouTube.  This is the casting call for babies everywhere!

Parents will be asked to sign a consent form to allow their baby to be in the video.  All babies will remain anonymous. 

So, do you know a beautiful baby?  You can submit your own video clips (15 seconds or less) or we can arrange a short video shoot together if you're in Calgary.  It's best if there are no other people in the video, so the focus stays on the babies.

Want to hear samples of my songs?  Go to:
http://noisetrade.com/geoffbell

Want to see a sample of one of my videos with music?  Go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3slYKTHovUw

When I am finished recording the song it will be added to my collection on NoiseTrade.  When the video is ready it will be added to my collection on YouTube.

Smile, and think happy baby thoughts!

Brand New Song on NoiseTrade

I just put a brand new song at https://noisetrade.com/geoffbell .  "Disbelief" is a departure from my recent acoustic trend.  The new song uses some Steampunk-ish sounds to give it a grittier texture than my acoustic songs. I'll be interested to hear what my 5 fans have to say!  (Yes, it's up to five now!)

You are invited to listen and download at:
https://noisetrade.com/geoffbell

Back From Hiatus

I've been busy visiting with family over the past week, enjoying time with everyone.  Sadly, I also have had to deal with loss; a dear, lovely, kind, cheerful friend killed in a car accident in July.  This week our family also lost another senior member to the complications of old age.  It has been a month of joy and sorrow.

Today I'm back in the studio, writing lyrics, pressing buttons, twiddling knobs, recording sounds, and making some music. Let's see what comes of it all!

Song ideas too fast to record!

I can't keep up!  The song ideas keep coming faster than I can get them jotted down in some form or another.  Some are recorded on my iPhone, some lyrics sketched out in Word, some instrument tracks recorded quickly in Sonar.  I'm having fun creating a loud, wild electronic bit of craziness one moment, then recording yet another sad, reflective ballad, then jumping to a song about an odd bit of something that I saw down the block last night.  The lyrics are already halfway done.

Does anyone know somebody interested in making a couple of song videos on spec?

G

What my furry friends do when I'm making music

This is what my furry friends do when I'm writing and recording songs.
I guess my songs are that exciting!

Geoff

New Solo Guitar instrumental

I just finished remixing an introspective guitar solo called "Blossoms Turn to Summer."  I've uploaded it to https://noisetrade.com/geoffbell

It's free to listen! 

Geoff

Time to record some new songs!

In the cold, winter months when the North is frozen, I huddle close to my amplifier and electric guitar.  Even though my fingers are stiff with cold, I knock the icicles away from my nose and work out new chord changes and riffs.  When the Spring thaw comes, the music begins to flow more freely.  Now that Summer is officially here, it's time to start laying down tracks.

Get ready...here come some brand new songs!
I'll let you know when I post the first one at:
http://noisetrade.com/geoffbell

Free downloads of songs in mp3 format.

(suggested donation .99¢ per song)

New Songs on NoiseTrade

I've added some new songs to NoiseTrade, plus a few tracks from my 2005 CD "On Being Human."  I've been busy in the studio, recording some more songs that will be ready in the weeks ahead.  Click the link below  and have a listen!

http://noisetrade.com/geoffbell