Some of you may not know this, but besides writing I participate in other arts. I used to post a lot of photos. And then there is music.
At one time I studied to be a contemporary classical composer. These days I’m quite content with playing around with more pop. For the most part I play electronic instruments (synthesizers) and like to go “old school”, using a lot of technology from the 60s and 70s.
This week I received an instrument I order a few months ago, a Behringer VC340 Vocoder. It is a recreation of the Roland VP330 Vocoder Plus (VP = Vocoder Plus while VC is just Vocoder, get it?), an instrument released in 1979. It has been a lot of fun playing with it. I am going to post a review soon, including some new music.
My smile this week is playing with a new musical instrument.
What made you smile?
****
Come on, I’m sure you smiled at least once last week. Why don’t you share it? I hope you can join in!
Here is list of “rules” and guiding ideas. If you don’t have time to read it right now, just remember that this is an exercise to spread positivity. Don’t smile about the misfortune of others. Don’t smile in a way to excludes others. Make sure a 12 year old can read it.
And remember, the Smile can be anything, large or small. Nothing, nothing at all is too small for a Smile! Sometimes taking time to notice those small, every day smiles is more important than those once in a lifetime huge ones :)
To join in, write a post to share your smile and then leave a comment on this post with a link to your smile. Or, if you prefer, do a pingback to this post (pingback = have a link from your post to this one) (Note – pingbacks have been very inconsistent – please leave a comment :) ). You can post any time until next Sunday evening (to be simple, I will say midnight GMT, which is 7 PM Sunday for me). Next week I will compile all of the Smiles and do a separate post of them on Monday morning just before the smile. (I will shoot for around 7 AM EST).
Try to use the hashtag #WeeklySmile when you use Twitter or other social media that uses hashtags. I searched Twitter and found that #weeklysmile had been used only a handful of times back in 2012 and 2013. It hasn’t been used since. So it’s ours! I also registered it on Twubs.
You can use the graphic at the top. It is the official graphic for the event.
Now go out there and find something to smile about! :)
Pingback: The Weekly Smile Recap 6/17 – 6/23/2019 #weeklysmile | Trent's World (the Blog)
you’re so cool, Trent :)
https://ladyleemanilablog.wordpress.com/2019/06/21/the-weekly-smile-june-17-2019-weeklysmile/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Lady Lee :)
LikeLike
Pingback: The Weekly Smile June 17, 2019 #weeklysmile – Ladyleemanila
Pingback: A Father’s Day Gift | Colline's Blog
Wonderful! I will check it out. Thanks as I didn’t know you had this available to listen to on your blog. I can’t believe all you can do and share here, it’s all so COOL!! 😀
LikeLike
I love your new musical instrument! I love music too and play classic piano. Here is my link to my weekly smile. Thank you Trent for hosting this as I think it is so FUN to share!! :D
https://myhorsestories.blog/2019/06/19/the-weekly-smile/
LikeLiked by 1 person
I -tried- to play classical piano but was never very good at it… As to the new instrument, I am going to post a review of it later this morning. It will include a “demo” – a piece of music showing it off a little.
Love your photo post. Thanks for joining :)
LikeLike
I can’t wait to hear the demo. I have to say I have a passion for music and took piano lessons for many years. I play Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoff etc… But I never learned how to write music or anything like that creatively. So my hats off to ALL musicians that can create BEAUTIFUL music. I don’t think it’s easy, but I bet it’s fun when you create a good tune. 😀❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
The problem for me with “true” composition is that I got sidetracked and I was never able to get back into it – it was a huge amount of work getting to where I was! These days I do pretty simple pop type stuff, but usually with a twist. A lot of what I post, including the demo, is almost straight improvisation – I play around for a few minutes, turn on the recorder and play, so nothing quiet at the Beethoven level ;) If you want to hear my more classical, there are samples under the “music tab (click on it, not one of the sub menus). Maybe start with the Sonata in g minor since it is in the late classic style (i.e., influenced by Beethoven) while most of the others are more modern. (Some of it is also pop and such)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: The Weekly smile – Mylife-and-Horsestories
It must have been so enjoyable for you to immerse yourself in the music :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
It has been. It’s been a while since I was able to – my last big music project was well over two years ago and I haven’t done anything i a year, so it feels great to be able to do it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You really are a jack of all trades, Trent! Here’s my smile
https://dailymusing57.com/2019/06/18/the-weekly-smile-34/
LikeLiked by 1 person
…And a master at none ;) Thinking of an artistic trade that you practice, I do need to get back into photography again. I’ll be over in a few minutes to take a look at your smile :)
LikeLike
Pingback: The Weekly Smile | A Day In The Life
The smile this week goes to the art of photography, and trying new things. LOL. https://sagittariusviking.com/2019/06/18/the-weekly-smile-4/
LikeLiked by 1 person
New things with photography is always fun :) Will check it out in a few minutes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: The Weekly Smile – Sagittarius Viking
Pingback: The Weekly Smile June 17, 2019 | Nut House Central
For this [post, I choose the small plein air in San Diego for my weekly smile.
Music – when you like to compose, it always puts a smile on your face! There’s this new thing, that whenever I come in my painting studio (barn) I hear a line of a melody!
You can read/see my art at http://artnotes2016.wordpress.com
(the plein air you see is not on my art website, since I consider some of them as my” vacation shots”)
LikeLiked by 1 person
There often is a connection between visual arts and music. When I play it is often visual and when i draw I try to make it sing :)
I will be by in a few minutes for a visit :)
LikeLike
I knew you did some beautiful drawings and photography. Quite the renaissance man!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks – I often feel more of a jack of all artistic trades and a master of none ;)
LikeLike
I am on leave from work this week, Trent, and, seeing as I feel as if I hate my job at the moment, that is a great thing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Being on leave is always worthy of a mile, but if it is from a job you hate… I’m sorry that you are hating your job right now. It makes it difficult to get motivated to get up in the morning to do the job…. Which thankfully you don;t have to do this week.
LikeLike
https://tessacandoit.com/2019/06/17/the-weekly-smile-6-17-2019-weeklysmile-had-some-down-time-with-the-pain/
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Tessa. I’ll stop by soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: The Weekly Smile 6/17/2019 #weeklysmile – had some down time with the pain | Tessa Can Do It! Positivity is Catching!