Tag: blog

Quarterly Digest – Q3 2022

INTRODUCTION

It’s been a surprisingly busy three months at Plan M Music Blog. I’ve totally revamped the site with new slicker navigation and improved categories. Hopefully you’ve found it easier to find the posts that suit your musical skill level and personal interests.

I’ve also spent time setting social media sites like Pinterest, Twitter, & Tumbler to help drive traffic to the site. I haven’t seen much effect on my site stats yet from it, but perhaps that will come with time.

HOBBY POSTS

My primary mission is still to help adults connect with musical hobbies that suite their needs and busy life style. I’ve posted 12 new posts in this area.

Hobby #1: Don’t Start a Band – Part 1

Hobby #2: Start a Band

Hobby #3: Reinvent the Concept of a Band – Hobbies You Should Try Instead of Starting a Band

Hobby #4: Create a Fake Band

Hobby #5: Listen for a Cause: Support Ukraine – #Music4Ukraine

Hobby #6: A Call to Action

Hobby #7: New Goblin Ears Images Created by Artificial Intelligence

Hobby #8: Active Listening

Hobby #16: Kill Your Radio Club

Hobby #27: Write Song Parodies

Hobby #97: Conduct Historical Research – Part 2 – 5 Ways Researching Your Favorite Music Can Bring You Joy

Epic Protest Songs – A Playlist

HASTY MUSIC REVIEW SERIES

I’ve also launched a new series that I call Hasty Music Reviews. I examine and describe songs I’ve never heard before and recommend them to fans of other similar bands. This series is my humble attempt to help drive listeners toward Ukrainian musicians. Hopefully this will help them to earn a living from streams and online sales while Russia’s invasion continues.

Thus far there have been, 7 new posts in this area.

“Pisces” by Jinjer – A Hasty Music Review to Support the People of Ukraine #Music4Ukraine

“Hydronaut” by Shiva the Destructor

“Picnic in Tchernobyl” – By Yom: A Hasty Music Review for Folks Trying to Support #Music4Ukraine

“Kurs Valüt” by Kurs Valüt: Another Hasty Music Review for People Supporting #Music4Ukraine

“Da Cao” by La Horsa Bianca: Another Hasty Music Review to Support Musicians in Ukraine #Music4Ukraine

“I’m the Mountain” By Stoned Jesus – A Hasty Music Review to Support Ukrainian Musicians #Music4Ukraine

“Up In the Sky” by Somali Yacht Club – A Hasty Music Review to Support Ukrainian Musicians #Music4Ukraine

I’ve also published a playlist to help you find your own favorite Ukrainian artists. I hope you’ll join the cause and post similar content. If you do, please be sure to Pingback to me and I’ll share your work with my audience.

TRAVEL SERIES- MUSIC AROUND THE WORLD

I was fortunate enough to travel a bit this quarter. Like most people, I’ve collected plenty of great content from my travels. Much of it is music-related, and is great for this blog. Some of it has nothing to do with music, but I just want to share it anyway. It’s my site, so I’ll do what I want. I hope you’ll forgive my divergence from my mission and enjoy the content in my Travel Series anyway.

PPAC CHALLENGE

Marsha Ingrao at Always Write encourages bloggers to post artwork that they’ve enjoyed in free, public settings. This is known as the PPAC Challenge. I’ve found this endeavor to be quite worthwhile because I’ve casually been collecting photos of artwork that I enjoy and I’ve always just horded them to myself. Her series has provided a fun outlet. Thanks Marsha!

Sculpture Outside Kilkenny Castle

Pink Predator Sculpture #DublinInk

“Art” at Guinness Open Gate Brewery

BJ’s Bar Fredonia, NY

Eric Schultz Reconnecting

“Full of Beans” Moxy Hotel, Dublin

A Missed Opportunity

Cleere’s Bar and Theater, Kilkenny, Ireland

REPOSTS FROM OTHER BLOGGERS

I’ve made it a focus to share the work of other authors on my site, particularly those that align with my mission to inspire adults to make more of their musical hobbies.

I hate knowing that I might be driving you away from my content, but I’m hopeful that you’ll return. Either way, if another author’s content helps you find more joy from music, then I’m proud to help you connect with them.

CONCLUSIONS

WordPress provides lots of useful statistics to help quantify success. I wont bore you with many, but this is my 31st consecutive day posting (my longest run). It is also my 100th post.

When I started this blog I didn’t know if I would stick with it. Im happy to say this has been a more enjoyable endeavor than I expected and that’s largely due to the interactions I’m having with other bloggers. Thanks for making blogging a new fun hobby for me!

Cleere’s Bar and Theater, Kilkenny, Ireland – Artist Unkown – PPAC Challenge

I’m really happy to combine my PPAC Challenge entry this week with my musical content.

This hand painted sign is a repurposed old door outside Cleere’s Bar and Theater in Kilkenny.

A painting outside Cleere’s Pub, taken August 22, 2022.
A hand-painted bodhran, a traditional Irish drum, is used to reserve the table for the musicians.

I’ve got another post planned to describe the incredible musical experience I had at Cleere’s, but for now, please be sure to check out their YouTube channel below. Also, be sure to check out my recent post about the music in Dublin. Perhaps it will hold you over until you can plan a trip to Ireland.

Hobby #8: Active Listening

This is a common sense hobby – you probably don’t need someone like me to suggest it. But I bet for most of you it’s been months or even years since you’ve done it… so indulge while I nudge you a little bit.

Dedicate Time to Focus on Active Listening

Minimize distractions: let the dog out, put the kids down for nap, and silence your phone.

Grab a note book and pen so you can take notes. Scribble what do you like about the instrumentation, any lyrics that stand out, and any emotions you feel.

Consider headphones: this will help you hear the depth and spacing of the instruments better. Any headphones will do, but noise cancelling over ear will help block out the world and let you get lost in the soundscape.

Get comfortable: Dim the lights, light a candle, and pour some wine.

Listen to your favorite tune, or try out something you’ve never heard before. (See the playlist below for suggestions if you’re looking for something new).

Check out this playlist if you’re looking for something new to listen to.

Set a reasonable volume: heavy metal should me loud, classical music should be loud enough to hear dynamics, or whatever is appropriate for the tune you’re enjoying.

When the song is over, review your notes in silence- add any final impressions you have. If you feel compelled, listen again.

Move on to another tune. Then when you are done with the session take a moment to reflect. Did you learn anything new about your artist, album, song, genre etc? Can you draw any new conclusions?

Is there something that you’d like to share? Publish on social media or share with friends or consider starting a song club.

The most important thing is that you make the time, because if you don’t, life will get in the way and you’ll miss out. Get listening!

Ireland Adventure Series

Normally my blog focuses on musical hobbies. That is still my intent, however, I’m sitting here in the Dublin airport awaiting my flight back to the U.S. and I feel like I have so much to share about my holiday in Ireland. I want to document and share my experiences, musically related and otherwise.

Trim Castle, Ireland

So, I’ve decided to do a brief mini-series about my trip. I’ve got some great photos, videos, and travel tips that could be very useful to you if you’re planning a trip to Ireland, or if you’re just here because you’re curious about the culture or want to experience the beauty!

Here are a few posts you can look forward to seeing here in the weeks ahead.  If any of them pique your interest, you should be sure to follow me to make sure you get updates when they are posted.

Planned Blogs

  • My musical experiences from Ireland including venues in Kilkenny and Dublin.
  • Traveling the world to experience music from other cultures.
  • Our special tour of the Ring of Kerry.
  • Other Travel Insights

Photo Blogs

PPAC Challenge – Photos of art available in public places

Sculpture Outside Kilkenny Castle

Pink Predator Sculpture #DublinInk

“Art” at Guinness Open Gate Brewery

BJ’s Bar Fredonia, NY

“Full of Beans” Moxy Hotel, Dublin

Sculpture Outside Kilkenny Castle

Cleere’s Bar and Theater, Kilkenny

Two Irish castles and two ancient stone forts

Numerous photos of the beautiful scenery

PPAC #54: Harbor District Guitar

Here is my entry in Marsha’s, Always Write Blog, PPAC Challenge. This challenge it to take pictures of public art and share with others. There is an …

PPAC #54: Harbor District Guitar

PPAC Challenge: “Full of Beans” Moxy Hotel, Dublin

I recently learned of the PPAC Challenge and thought it would be fun to share pic I snapped of some staged graffiti in the Moxy Hotel in Dublin. Don’t worry, I’m sure it was done legally since it’s inside the bar.

I’m sure it’s not considered high fine art, but it, it makes me chuckle when I see it. Art is meant to elicit emotion- am I wrong?

“Pisces” by Jinjer – A Hasty Music Review to Support the People of Ukraine #Music4Ukraine

I’ve been doing this series for several days now and I’m really loving learning more about the music and people of Ukraine. I hope those of you who read this blog are listening to the tunes and recommending them to your friends. Hopefully we can send these tremendously talented musicians a little support through our viewership.

Typically in these posts I give a brief description of what you’re about to hear and try to encourage readers to listen to songs based on similar Western artists. I’m not going to do that this time. I could draw parallels to some important and beloved artists, but this time I’d rather just encourage all of you to listen to the track below. (If you’re the type of creator that is inclined to do a Reaction Video, please record yourself as you listen for the first time. I promise, you will thank me for giving you the heads up.)

A logo I created using artificial intelligence by using the prompt “heavy metal logo Pisces symbol.”

“Pisces” is an absolutely hauntingly beautiful and brutally powerful song that needs to be experienced. I will warn you that it gets pretty heavy, and some of you may not normally be inclined to listen to music like this but please listen through to the end. It is a musical rollercoaster and it is absolutely worth the ride.

If you like this song, please check out more tracks from Jinjer. I’ve been listening all week and I keep finding more and more to love about them. “Judgement (& Punishment)” is one that I highly recommend. The reggae influence is unique in metal and in my opinion it is something other artists should consider experimenting with.

Also, I found a few clips of them talking about the war that you may want to check out.

Some of you may be trying to support Ukrainian musicians with the #Music4Ukraine Challenge, but maybe you don’t know where to start. I’m here to help. The playlist below has tons of great songs you should check out from a variety of musical styles. When you find something you love, please share it with others!

A Lil’ Freaky Fun For The Songwriters…

If you’ve ever written a stinker of a song before you’ll get this. Enjoy!