Hello all,

I'm Abi and I play the Stick.
I thought I'd say hello.

As a stickist, I consider myself to be backwards in my approach. For the last year I've been trying to gain what I call 'fluency' with the Stick. That is to say, to be able to make my fingers play the notes my mind knows – in real time – like singing. I've not been a good girl. I haven't practiced bass chords. I've stuck to rigid boxes for my right hand too. I am finally reaching the point where I need to mix things up a bit more. So here I am!

It's time to crawl out from under my domestic damp log, and actually connect with people. I'd like to eventually video and produce my own music, so I I'm also here to absorb any tips this fine community can offer. In time I hope to reciprocate – but also get to know you people here!

I live in Massachusetts, and like a very diverse set of music. I'm also a mom and a poet. Mom, so I can't easily play in bands, a poet, so I can easily set lyrics. Unusually, I came to the Stick from playing the harp, a very modal instrument. I like the Stick because it too has bass and treble, but I also love it because it doesn't weigh the same as a small fridge.

Thank you for adding me.

Hi Abi, welcome! I'm also in MA near Boston, it's good to have more MA-based Stickists!

I get funny looks in my local music shop when I try to describe the Stick, so I'm glad I'm not the only one up here, in the (now snowing) arctic Northeast. Who knows, maybe we'll run into each other.

There's actually a growing number of us in and around the Boston area. We're slowly turning into one of the places to be for Sticks on the East Coast, you just gotta know where to look!

Wow, harp. That IS a unique background music experience, as most of us come from some sort of fretted stringed instrument. Welcome!

I would bet harp is an excellent launchpad into Stick playing, being a semi-counterpoint instrument (piano keyboard being the FULL counterpoint instrument).

Don't sweat too much about having learned bass chords or not. All will come in due time. I've played for almost 22 years and I find my left hand bass chord approach is steeped in cliche...root/V/iii arpeggios or root/iii/VII. I'm finally trying to learn inverted positions (3rd in the bass, etc).

As far as the singing poet, there are MANY stickists who use the instrument to accompany their voice/words. Check out this song by Edmonton based Stickist/artist Dale Ladouceur. She's playing a simple bass note (not chord) added to her right hand chords and melodies with voice. It works well.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqrW3MHsuEs[/youtube]

Oh, I meant to add...yeah, I can relate to the parent gig changing your musical output for the season.

I used to play bass & Stick in bands all the time until I became a father of three. So, staying home more and not rehearsing with others forced me to concentrate on my solo Stick act. Now, Stick is the only instrument I play due to that season. Funny how that works...

Welcome Abi. Nice to meet you
Please do share some poetry... I’m a sucker for poetry


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Welcome Abi

I’m in Connecticut, not too far away.... there may be a seminar or two coming our area, when they do I recommend you attend, it’s an amazing community.

So, can you give us a sense of what type of music you plan on pursuing on the stick?

An artist with a year of playing in, very cool, and I find the singing analogy really interesting.

Again welcome
Brett

Hi Abi and welcome welcome!

Firstly, as a Mum you have our respect and mountains of it.

I could never really get my head around being a musician and a parent, but that’s just my journey.

You really do sound like you’re coming from a different place musically and stick is the best instrument to convey this, yes?!

I’ve always loved how stick only encourages the wired and wonderful, so stay connected to that , however large or small that influence may seem. It’s yours.

Catch ya later.

Welcome Abi. Nice to meet you and looking forward to hearing where your musical travels take you.