Early Rock

Putting the final touches on my lecture tomorrow on early Rock. I'm startled by two things:

Firstly the song to preceed the 1955 Rock Around the Clock as #1 on the charts was Perez Prado's Cherry Pink, a song daily butchered by trumpeters all over the world.

Secondly, that the song to succeed it, after eight weeks was Yellow Rose of Texas by the Mitch Miller Singers. That's a song from the mid-19th Century!

And I was annoyed at the 3rd years today, none of whom had the good sense to show up to their
Vocal workshop. But enough on that.

Still, it's good learning stuff from different people - the main reason I'm a teacher. Today I got a simile from Clare MacLeod, the senior vocal tutor. She said being a successful musician is about three gates.

The first gate is labeled "Are you good enough?", and it's a big one. A lot of people aren't. The talent is a big thing. A lot of people don't make it through that first gate. They have the passion, but not the talent.

The second is labeled "Are you tough enough?" That's a big question too. It's a damned tough industry this one of ours. Are you tough enough to get back up when you've fallen down, to pick up the phone after the millionth rejection, to call the venue back? To give sass back to a drunken punter?

The third is labeled "Do you want it enough?" And a lot of people falter here as well. You've got to want it more than anything.

And I'm not talking about the arenas here. I'm talking about the people doing the small gigs as well as the big.

It made me think.

A lazy Monday afternoon... it doesn't sound quite right, but let's go with it.

Well, here's 2009. Well into it, in fact. Finally got a little time to myself, due to Labour day (god help us when we get Liberal day!) so I'm finally getting around to patching up the old website, making a few changes and ... well ... you're reading the result.

The Big Move happened a month ago or so. I arrived in Melbourne, and set about finding new staff for JMC Music in Melbourne. And may I say, I have managed, with much help, to find the absolute dream team of lecturers this year. Passionate, hard-working and scholarly musicians every single one of them and I am exceptionally lucky.

The only problem, of course, is finding time for my own projects. This weekend is the first one I've managed to take off since I've been down (except for one where my folks visited). And mostly it's been about recovering. I'm trusting that once the semester is up and running again, I can get back to my arranging and recording. I guess it's a common problem for teachers of music, finding the time to do what you want. The balancing act between being an inspiring teacher and being an inspiring performer is a tough one, and one that's going to need a lot of work.

I actually went bush and went horse-riding, courtesy of an old friend, Helen, who lives in the area with her husband. The last time I was horseriding was in 1987 with this girl in Coonabarrabran, and managed to fall off in quite a spectacular fashion. This time, I again, managed to fall off in quite a spectacular fashion. Fortunately, when you're as clumsy as I am, you get quite used to falling over (as many people will testify) and I didn't hurt myself. Helen also posesses the smallest horse in the world (see photo).

So the light is at the end of the tunnel, and you can expect to start seeing some new musical items being posted here soon.

2009 with a bang!

The other big news in my life at the moment is that I've been appointed Head of the Faculty of Popular Music Performance at the Melbourne campus of JMC Academy. Moving to Melbourne, eh? Big move. I've been a Sydneysider all my life, except for growing up in the far north coast of NSW, and four years of overseas work. Exciting new opportunity though. And the fact that it's the first time I've been in full-time employment since 1994. I mean, I've always worked many, many hours in the week, but this is the first time for a long time I've been working a 9-5! Looking forward to the challenge actually.

Tomorrow is Trumper Day, and everything is in place. It's a little cloudy outside and we're all hoping the weather is good tomorrow. Aussie Aussie Aussie!

Victor Trumper Day

Well, it's getting towards the end of the year, and I'm getting very busy. I've got a movie project, the taking over of Head of Department for the Melbourne Campus of JMC, and Trumper Day.

I've been asked to MD the Victor Trumper Day at the Sydney Cricket Ground, and it's taking a lot. Victor Trumper was a great early Australian batsman... sort of a proto-Bradman. Like Bradman, he was very unpredictable and impossible to set a field for.

We ... or rather I ... have decided to go with a turn of the century feel. I'd been listening to a bit of the Canadian Brass lately, and have always loved a good brass band. Thus, I've organised a brass quartet with some great players... Danny May, Simon Ferenci, John Saunders, Liam O'Niel and Sam Hosking. I've worked with Simon before, but the rest I know only by reputation. But it's going to be a terrific day. All these cricketty-cricket songs like Hurrah for the Bat and Ball and Our Able Plucky Team. A couple of opera arias and an anthem I've written for Trumper Day. All the arrangements, of course, I've done myself. This will form a small concert party and will be played thrice at the SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground for you seps). Then, to my family's delight, I get to conduct the band playing a the Royal Anthem and Waltzing Matilda on the cricket pitch of the SCG. I'm taking Stu (the brother in law) out onto the field as an assistant.

So as we stand right now, the band's organised, and the singers almost all. We've got two wonderful sopranos, Irene Sarrinikolaou and Beth Goddard. Our tenor had to withdraw, so we've been looking for another. I think we've found one. If we don't find a tenor, the world gets subjected to my singing, something you don't really want. Channel 9 is going to film it for their sports program, and it's all quite exciting. I should give credit where credit's due, and mention it's all being organised by the wonderful and excitable David Strange.

Apart from the music...well... in addition to the music, there'll be the wonderful steam organ from Victoria, tours of the SCG, lectures given by 19th century scientists...well...actors pretending to be 19th century scientists. And it'll finish off with a Twenty20 Cricket "match" (we all know a Twenty20 not a real cricket match).

It's been a real hoot doing all the turn-of-the-century music. I blame Victoriana! which I did earlier on in the year, for re-enlivening my sense of Edwardian music. My sense of the absurd has always been there.

The other things will have to wait to be discussed, as It's 1.30am, and my bed is beckoning, as soon as I finish this soothing Coopers. :)

Oh...my...god

So much has happened in the past few months its been hard keeping up with the changes. Apologies I’ve let my blog slip. Will keep more up to date.

The CD is now at CD-Baby, and is selling really well. In fact, it sold out on the first day of being there requiring a very quick restock. I’m back at JMC Academy teaching Arranging and Composition. Exhausting, but very, very satisfying. Most of the students are very keen and eager to learn. And I’ve got to admit, I do love teaching. I’m actually quite good at it. I’ve recorded a demo with the Sydney City Showband, a large ensemble I’ve put together. That’ll be up on their website soon. Watch this space for details.

I seem to think that coming home was the best thing I’ve done. Four years of my career in neutral. Ok, I got to see some amazing things. When would I ever get to Antarctica, or India, or the Tierra del Fuego or Sri Lanka or Jordan? I guess you can never let your career go for too long. I was chatting with a guitarist mate of mine yesterday who also really needs to release a cd. Doing This IS my day job was hard, and even now, I’m not entirely happy with it, but I guess there comes a point you need to let go. After all, everyone else seems to enjoy it. And I’m not going to argue with you, the listening public.

Already thinking about the next one though! Watch this space for details! Going to be a very different one.

Morning Prayer

I’m not a religious man. Not even a particularly good one. My father is. The Reverend William Robert Cashman. And my Mum. June Cashman BTh (that’s a Bachelor of Theology). I grew up in the church and, even though now I don’t believe as they do, I have respect for most aspects of the liberal church. Trust me, you don’t want to get me started on the fundamentalist...

Out the front of my apartment, I have a view of this beautiful old church. After a bit of searching, I find it’s called the Hunter Baillie Presbyterian Church, which surprised me, as it looks so Anglican. Mind you, that’s hardly surprising, as it’s a Blacket church. Anyway, I wrote a tune on Sunday night, and started recording laying it down. Up until this morning, I didn’t have a name for it. I often have difficulty naming my songs without lyrics. It’s not uncommon. Charlie Parker used to let the studios name his pieces. Anyway over my morning coffee (essential) my gaze fell upon Hunter Baillie, and this name came to mind. It seemed to fit.

You’ll find a recording of it on my website at http://www.davidcashman.com.au

Finally, the ordeal is over!

Been a busy couple of weeks. Mostly because I’ve been working on the CD. But finally the mastering is over. It’s just a case of adjusting one or two pieces, and it’s going to be sent off to print. Should be available on CD Baby in the States, and here on the website within two weeks.
I’m pleased with how it turned out. Choice of songs is good. The sound is good. It was a lot of work, but when you love what you do, work is easy.

Also, I’ve found an apartment in Sydney, so I’m quite pleased. Sitting typing this overlooking a beautiful garden and church. Currawongs and Noisy Miners in the trees. Very pleasant.