9 minute read
Depot Artspace
Auckland Guitar School with Dylan Kay Creative Guitar - Improvisation
Dylan Kay
Whether you were first inspired to pick up the guitar because a fiery guitar solo made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, or you just want to add some tasty fills around the chords you play, at some point many guitarists start to look at improvising. (In fact, as a guitarist, it is often simply assumed that you are able to improvise).
Many students come to us having worked hard on their own to learn scales and develop techniques for improvising but are disappointed that it still doesn’t sound 'right'. Here’s why.
Think of music as a language. The scales you learn are important building blocks, but they’re just like the alphabet in that language (the notes are even played in alphabetical order). On their own, those notes don’t 'say' anything. What you need to do is combine them into words, phrases, musical sentences, stories – this is what improvising is all about. It’s about developing vocabulary, having something to say and putting that into your own words.
Can you learn to do this? Yes, of course! The starting point is learning musical vocabulary and ideas from great players – whoever that might be – Jimi Hendrix, Tommy Emmanuel, BB King etc.
Next, think about how children learn to speak – they mimic sounds and words, start to understand what they’re saying, and over time begin to use the words in phrases in their own sentences. Learning to improvise is like this – you learn vocabulary, learn techniques to absorb it into your playing, and tools to help you make it your own so that you can express what you want to say on the guitar.
There’s more on our website on this topic: https://www. aucklandguitarschool.co.nz/the-lick-sandwich/
We help students learn to do this all the time – get in touch if you’d like help! See you next month!
Dylan Kay, Auckland Guitar School, Howick and Takapuna, Auckland "Transform your playing." 09 533 5246 www.aucklandguitarschool.co.nz
Depot Artspace, Devonport
Amy Saunders
We have a bumper month of May lined up with some really
fantastic events happening. As part of NZ Music Month we’re running our North Shore Schools Songwriting Competition again which was a huge success last year and saw the winners and runners-up professionally record their songs at Depot Sound with our top notch engineering team - this is for Intermediate and Secondary school students. And as part of Techweek, we’re hosting a panel event on the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of NFTs, and showcasing the first ever 3D printed musical instrument exhibition, in partnership with the Auckland University. Our creative employment programmes, Artslab and Wayfind Creative, continue to run regularly and this month we go back to delivering workshops in person! Yippee! So if you’re looking for support in building a creative career, make sure you come and visit us or check out our website to see what’s going on.
Depot Sound has long been involved in supporting emerging local songwriters and bands and we are excited to announce that we will once again be running our North Shore Schools Songwriting Competition as part of New Zealand Music Month! This was a huge success last year, with over sixty entries, and we’d love to provide the opportunity once again for local students to have the chance to come back and make use of the studios. Submissions end on 31 May. For more info & to submit: www.depotsound.co.nz
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of
NFTs. Join the conversation hosted by Depot Artspace as we demystify and explain what NFTs are. We will host a panel discussion featuring creative practitioners and artists, sharing their perspectives on the opportunities and challenges posed by NFTs in Aotearoa and beyond. Panel event to be held at the Depot Artspace on Tuesday 17 May, 6-8pm.
Synthesis: An exploration of 3D printed
Art. Be part of history as we showcase NZ’s first 3D printed musical instruments. Depot Artspace is thrilled to host as a part of NZ Tech Week NZ's first live performance on 3D printed musical instruments. Opening night will feature a short and punchy discussion from the University of Auckland’s Creative Design and Additive Manufacturing Lab, Professor of Additive Manufacturing Olaf Diegel on the intersection of Art and 3D printed technology. Opening: Friday 13 May, 5-7pm. The instruments will be on display from 7-28 May.
Depot Galleries. See the colours of Aotearoa through the eyes of Mohad Ben Fahmi, an established artist who has returned from Dubai to share the light that drew him back to this corner of the world. Impressions of Idyll reveals the stronghold these local vistas hold over the artist, from bright Paihia and Tauranga in the north to the mists of the West Coast down south. www.depotartspace.co.nz/event/mohad/ and www.depotartspacegallery.com
Fully Renovated Seaward Side With Gorgeous Views
17 OCEAN VIEW ROAD, MILFORD
Located halfway down Ocean View Road, one of Milford's most exclusive seaward side streets, number 17 is a lovely fully renovated four-bedroom home with two living areas (or three bedrooms and three living as it is currently set up), offering a superb family lifestyle with the added bonus of breath-taking views not often witnessed in this location. The entire property has been re-clad completed in 2021 and now offers buyers a turnkey opportunity to simply move in and enjoy this tightly held location. The site is freehold with just under 600m² of land is elevated to take advantage of the superb views from the master bedroom on the second level. These views are some of the very best I have seen in this location. The master suite is a very generous retreat offering a large quality fitted walk-in wardrobe and lovely ensuite. Also on this floor is two additional double bedrooms which share a family bathroom. Currently, the spacious fourth bedroom is set up for teenagers, as a separate third lounge but has a fold-out couch to house guests if required - a great setup. On the ground floor, you have gorgeous kitchen dining, and lounge which offers a dramatic granite top renovated seven years ago (along with most of the interiors). This is set up very well for entertaining in complete comfort with large open spaces plus peeps of the sea. Separated by a lovely piece of cabinetry art is the second ground floor living area. This is a lovely afternoon reading spot and this flows out effortlessly to a large covered loggia area - ideal for alfresco dining and outdoor entertaining. This area is protected thanks to café style drop-down blinds and electric louver Tec roof and even has an outdoor fire. There is also a guest double bedroom on the ground floor with a nicely appointed full bathroom. Good sized double garaging plus off-street parking for two vehicles complete the home. The whole property has central heating which ensures lovely comfortable temperatures in the winter, new double glazed aluminium joinery, and on order are new blinds and shears which will be installed in the coming weeks. Overall a perfect family home in one of the most in-demand areas on the Shore.
www.precision.net.nz/ID #53304
Andrew Dorreen / Precision Real Estate Ltd MREINZ Licenced under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008 Email: andrew@precision.net.nz / Phone: 021 747 334 / www.precision.net.nz / www.andrewdorreen.com
Spectacular Modern Seaward Side Residence
21 OCEAN VIEW ROAD, MILFORD
Located halfway down Ocean View Road, one of Milford's most exclusive streets is a stunning home, built new just seven years ago. The home offers around 400 m² of timeless modern living over its three elegant floors and will be sure to impress. The site given its elevation, benefits from amazing sea views, particularly from the master suite where you have panoramic views from Rangitoto around the inner Hauraki Gulf. There is a total of four double bedrooms plus a separate office in the home. There is a choice of three separate living areas and a gorgeous covered loggia providing all-weather alfresco entertaining - Superb! The master suite is an opulent space with a lovely walk-in wardrobe and lavish ensuite with underfloor heating. As mentioned above it has panoramic views. Also on the top floor is a spacious guest bedroom with a separate full bathroom, plus a separate office with a gorgeous outlook. This could easily be a fifth bedroom or nursery if required. The main living area is expansive and like most of the home offers solid American oak flooring throughout. Separated with a cavity slider, this can be split into a media room that has a cosy gas fire. The mid-floor flows effortlessly to two outdoor entertaining areas and of course the generous lap pool of 13.5m. A real feature is the covered loggia providing an all-weather entertaining area, with outdoor fire, very practical and appealing with electric louvers to ensure privacy and sunlight. The kitchen has a generous island bench and stainless worktops with excellent storage including a butler's pantry. There is a lift to all three floors in the house which is a brilliant feature ensuring carefree easy access to all floors. On the ground floor, you have a perfect setup for teenagers! There are two double bedrooms that connect to a central lounge/rumpus room. This floor has underfloor heating in the slab, plus a generous full bathroom and flows onto a nice secure garden. There is an oversized double garage offering additional storage space - and a custom-made wine cellar to complete the home. Walk up from the beach, take a hot outdoor shower, jump in the spa - this home has it all!
