Building Your Band

A better conversation about music, with David Loftis and Peter Bulanow

Steven Kristopher | 40th Birthday Gift

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With Abandon CD CoverSteven Krisopher shares what was behind his most recent project, With Abandon, (edit: released December 15th, 2015). With sixty minutes of music in ten songs, he talks about how his desire for this project was to let the songs breathe.

Primarily a pianist, Steven wrote this project on the acoustic guitar and did a textbook rock keyboard/piano treatment, after programming the drums and bass himself. Lots of vocal tracks unite the songs, sung by him and four other vocalists (one of which we talk about in particular). He then mixed and mastered the album, and edited the official video.

Keep up with him at his website: StevenKristopher.com, and follow him at Twitter and on Facebook.

Check out his music on iTunes and Bandcamp – and “With Abandon” is out!

Find this podcast on iTunes or Stitcher and subscribe. If you enjoyed this episode, please support this podcast with a rating and comment.

John B Stanley | The Language of Heaven

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John B Stanley

John B Stanley (Twitter, Reverb Nation, iTunes) challenges us to do better music in our services and gives us the behind-the-scenes story of his “Drum Spectacular”.

Also check out his post on this in Modern Drummer.

Along the way we discuss his influences, most especially Lee Ritenour (Wiki, iTunes, Amazon) with Omar Hakim (Wiki, iTunes), and Hans Zimmer (Wiki, iTunes, Amazon).

Without further ado – scored and produced by John B Stanley:

Find this podcast on iTunes or Stitcher.

edit: “O Holy Night” has been released on iTunes!

Dave Tauler – Not Enough Bassoon Gigs

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Youtube | Facebook | Twitter

Dave Tauler: Youtube | Facebook | Twitter

In this podcast episode, Dave talks to us about how playing wind instruments informs the way he approaches singing and composition, and warns us about how solo instruments can conflict with vocals. He then gives us his formula for using these instruments in a band setting, describing not only where to play but where not to play.

Along the way, we discuss the difference between Handel’s Messiah, Watermusic, and Fireworksmusic, as well as the difference between Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos and his St John Passion, and Dave gives a big shout out to the Bach Collegium Japan (Amazon | iTunes) version of the latter.

If you’ve ever wondered about how to incorporate note-readers into the (chart or ear-based) worship setting, this podcast is for you, as Dave gives practical steps toward this and points us toward the free notation software MuseScore 2.0.

Connect with Dave Tauler on Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes & Stitcher

 

Season 1 Remix | Kaleidoscope Edition

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While recording and editing the first 18 episodes of the podcast, I began to notice some of the content commented on some of the other content. I began to think how awesome it might be to hear these ideas back-to-back, remixed into a super-episode, which would demonstrate both the importance of the ideas, as well as some of the different ways they’re approached. When my amazing wife suggested I do a “kaleidoscope” edition, I poured through all 18 episodes, finding clips to put together, resulting in this fascinating overview of Season 1.  Special thanks to all my guests who shared their quality content.

If you missed Season 1 of the Building Your Band podcast, this is a great way to catch up! It is also an invitation to go back and revisit specific episodes.

I would love to hear your comments right in the Soundcloud stream or below in the comments section. For all the episodes past and future, subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher!

Season 2 will be coming soon! Please contact me if you would like to be featured!

“Almighty“- Produced, Mixed & Mastered by Peter Bulanow | http://meltingearth.com

Featuring: Taylor Carson | http://taylorcarson.com
Additional Vocals:  Eileen Graham | http://eileengrahammusic.com
Cello: Michael Thomas | facebook.com/CelloMT
Bass: Aron “Teo” Lee | facebook.com/teo.lee

Special thanks to all the musicians for their collaboration, and to Dan Rebeiz (http://danieljackproductions.com) for his advice and mentorship.

Jay Smith, ‘Cathartic Worship’

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Guitarist Jay Smith spends 45 minutes with us pretty much not talking about guitars at all. Instead we discuss worship, art, venue, and the role of music in the church. If you like discussions that go deep, you won’t want to miss this one.

To connect with Jay in DC, visit our convergence.org

“Eminent”; composed, arranged and produced by Jay Smith

If you enjoyed this episode, check out guitarist, Dan Rebeiz, and small church worship leader, Jayson D. Bradley.

Laura Blankenship, ‘Unbelieve It’

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Laura shares the secrets and struggles of her journey as a Worship Leader and songwriter as a wife and mother of two young children. In particular, she addresses the maturity and people skills required to be successful in leadership. You’ll hear how she programs her musicians for three services with respect to their individual availability.  Finally, she talks about the impact that Mark Batterson‘s book The Circle Maker has had on her life and ministry (and songwriting).

Visit her blog at: laurablankenshipmusic.com and follow her on twitter.

Psalm 40:3

Jayson D. Bradley, “3/4 Waltz”

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Jayson talks to us about his passion for leading worship in a small church, the pitfalls and dangers of turning worship into a formula, and why the church needs more laments.

For more of his thoughtful musings read “A Worship Leader Questions Modern Worship“, and visit jaysondbradley.com

Terri Plant, ‘Carrying Shoes’

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Terri Plant

Terri Plant

Vocalist Terri Plant talks to us about cross-cultural singing in both English and Arabic, and how music has both moved into (been a gift) and out of (been a hindrance to) her life in service to God.

Terri sings “En Tal El Layl”
“If the night should prolong”
Words: Wafaa Adel
Music: Amgad Saad Zakri

If the darkness of night is prolonged
even so the dawn will arise
and my Lord comes to me in His peace
and says, “I am here” (x2)

I make music on my flute and my lute
my troubles and wounds don’t remain
My Lord sweetens my existence
and my heart is comforted at last (x2)

Perhaps we pass through trials
maybe tribulations war with me
But my victorious God lifts me up
even in my extreme difficulties (x2)

I make music on my flute and my lute
my troubles and wounds don’t remain
My Lord sweetens my existence
and my heart is comforted at last (x2)

Instrumental Break

Certainly there lie thorns in my path
as this wilderness journey is tough
But the glory of my home to come
is so much better than here! (x2)

I make music on my flute and my lute
my troubles and wounds don’t remain
My Lord sweetens my existence
and my heart is comforted at last (x2)

Bridge

If the darkness of night is prolonged
even so the dawn will arise

Iconic Artists Mentioned:

If you wish to connect with Terri or have a question of her or any of our guests, please use our contact page.

Chordy, ‘Four out of Five Times’

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Keyboardist John “Chordy” Teagle talks to us about growing up with a love for playing keys, the impact of learning theory in his playing, his wish for the direction of popular music, and some parting thoughts on genres.

Chordy’s Influences:
James Poiser (Website)
Corey Henry (Amazon, iTunes)
Snarky Puppy (Amazon, iTunes)
Vince Guraldi (Amazon, iTunes)
Johnny Costa (Amazon, iTunes)
Bill Evans (Amazon, iTunes)
Oscar Peterson (Amazon, iTunes)
Chick Corea (Amazon, iTunes)
McCoy Tiner (Amazon, iTunes)

Connect with Chordy on Facebook, or via The Monster Band Website, Facebook

Brandon Peoples, ‘Back Pew Baptist’

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Brandon (keyboardist for Break The Fall) talks to us about his thoughts as a “Back Pew Baptist“, sitting in the rear of a church, helping with the tech program, watching, and thinking about why we’re doing a lot of the things we do in church.

This podcast all started with a thoughtful tweet (and my followup blog post / analysis called ‘Throw-away songs’):

Connect with Brandon on Twitter & Facebook.

Check out his Church (especially if you’re in Rayville, Missouri), his amazing band Break The Fall (Amazon, iTunes), and if you ever wanted to master Propellerheard Reason, check out his extensive Reason Tutorials.

God’s Great Dance Floor by Chris Tomlin (Amazon | iTunes).

Pete recommends: Value-Focused Thinking: A Path to Creative Decisionmaking

If you have something you’d like to share with the church on the Building Your Band Podcast, please contact me.