April 2021 Gruber Update!

Hey ya’ll!

Tl:dr - Lots of stuff coming:

• 1)  More pics of Levi
• 2)  Pico-8 Tutorials (composing with filters)
• 3)  Slipways soundtrack
• 4)  More jazz piano music
• 5)  Jazz piano articles & transcriptions
• 6)  New Pico-8 album!?

More pics of Levi

Toronto doggo:

Pico-8 Tutorials

Pico-8’s new filters add many possibilities for sound design.  So far, I’ve explored writing ambient music and echo effects with these new filters. I have ideas for at least three more of these tutorials, including designing dirtier bass sounds, buzz sounds, and using detune+instrument 0 to create more depth with less SFX.  You can expect to see these in the next couple months.

Slipways Soundtrack

Jakub has announced a release date for Slipways!  The plan is to have the soundtrack available for release (June 3rd).  The music is almost done - I’ll be using April and May to mix and master.  Current $5+ patrons will have access to the soundtrack via the Google Drive.

More Jazz Piano Music

The Bebop Isolation series is well underway.  I’m currently in the sound design/mixing phase of a new batch. The goal is to have at least twelve tracks.  When that’s done, I’ll probably move on and write some original music.

As a side note:  What sounds better: Bebop Isolation or Isolation Bebop!?

Jazz Piano Articles & Transcriptions

My practice guide on two-handed voicings is at about 6000 words and there’s still more to write!  The final section will be about “returning to physical gestures.”  By writing out and exploring exercises using traditional notation, it’s easy to forget that they’re meant to represent motion.  This final section will explore ways to get these exercises out of our heads, and back into our hands.

When this article is complete, I’ll be returning to transcriptions for a while.  I have many hand-written Thelonious Monk solo piano transcriptions I’d like to transfer to Finale.  At some point, I’d also like to transcribe all my Bebop Isolation music.

New Pico-8 Album!?

It hasn’t gone unnoticed - over the last few months, my Patreon support has been at an all-time high.  I’m extremely grateful.  How about another Pico-8 album to celebrate?

In February, I posted a short sketch of some Pico-8 Lo-fi.  I’ve also been experimenting with composing ambient music.  This got me thinking.  How about an album the alternates Lo-fi and ambient tracks?  This might be my summer project :)

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Thanks for reading. Thanks for being here.

All the best,

Chris / Gruber