http://indiebear.com Making Music So You Don't Have To Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:37:20 +0000 en hourly 1 Original Music by Chris Schuette Chris Schuette no Chris Schuette chris@indiebear.com chris@indiebear.com (Chris Schuette) 2006-2010 Making Music So You Don't Have To piano,music,schutte,indybear http://www.indiebear.com/wp-content/images/chrisitunessmall.jpg http://indiebear.com/category/music/ http://indiebear.com/2010/06/guy-spy/ http://indiebear.com/2010/06/guy-spy/#comments Tue, 29 Jun 2010 01:29:57 +0000 cjschuette http://indiebear.com/?p=2659 http://indiebear.com/2010/06/guy-spy/feed/ 5 In between my specific fatherly duties and my general paternalistic attitude, I hand-crafted a new piece of music for my own personal enjoyment (or "funsies" as the hipsters like to say.) - I set out to create something that sounded kinda late-50s retr... In between my specific fatherly duties and my general paternalistic attitude, I hand-crafted a new piece of music for my own personal enjoyment (or "funsies" as the hipsters like to say.) I set out to create something that sounded kinda late-50s retro cool, but not "pretty" like  Populuxe, which I recorded a while back.  I decided to make this one sound like an old TV detective show, or an early James Bond film.   So I started with high-quality sampled instruments, then proceeded to "dirty 'em up" with various effects.  Overall, I'm happy with how it turned out.  As a final touch, I added some vinyl record effects to give it a sprinkling of dust. It's called "Guy Spy" and it runs 1:00m.  Dig it. Chris Schuette no 1:00 http://indiebear.com/2010/06/first-person-fathers-day/ http://indiebear.com/2010/06/first-person-fathers-day/#comments Sun, 20 Jun 2010 19:17:29 +0000 cjschuette http://indiebear.com/?p=2656 http://indiebear.com/2010/06/first-person-fathers-day/feed/ 4 - Today is my first Father's Day as a new Dad.  Still feels weird to type that.  It will be kind of a "hands-on" Father's Day, with a lot of diaper-changing, feeding and staring.  Isla is several years away from giving away artwork in the medium of el... Today is my first Father's Day as a new Dad.  Still feels weird to type that.  It will be kind of a "hands-on" Father's Day, with a lot of diaper-changing, feeding and staring.  Isla is several years away from giving away artwork in the medium of elbow macaroni and construction paper, so we're just going to hang out and enjoy the day.  Patty framed several of the new family photos for me, so they are now in a prominent location in my studio.  I wouldn't have it any other way. Speaking of my studio, I managed to record a quick little piece this morning.  I was working with some of my orchestral samples and I whipped up a little 3-part tune with Piano, Cello and Viola.  The whole thing took a little over an hour and it runs 1:43m.  Since I didn't want to waste valuable Father-Daughter-Wifey time, I simply named it "Trio." Happy Father's Day! Chris Schuette no 1:43 http://indiebear.com/2010/06/anytime-now/ http://indiebear.com/2010/06/anytime-now/#comments Mon, 07 Jun 2010 23:59:31 +0000 cjschuette http://indiebear.com/?p=2590 http://indiebear.com/2010/06/anytime-now/feed/ 2 I actually I thought I'd be posting baby photos by now.  Seriously, I was certain that I would telling you how Wifey, Baby and I spent D-Day.  Alas, there is no baby yet, and we wasted D-Day by sitting around looking confused and eating ice cream. I actually I thought I'd be posting baby photos by now.  Seriously, I was certain that I would telling you how Wifey, Baby and I spent D-Day.  Alas, there is no baby yet, and we wasted D-Day by sitting around looking confused and eating ice cream.  Just like Arbor Day!  Don't worry, though; there will be news soon enough! It also dawned on me that unless our little girl wants me to read her books on the subject of  audio recording and/or home repair, I may want to start looking for some new children's books.  I'm certainly open to suggestions, so let me know what you think. I should also mention that during my search, I came across the website of a very talented illustrator named Nina Victor Crittenden.  She has no idea who I am, but I definitely recommend you check out her work at her website.  Very cool stuff. I've also been making the most of the voluminous amount of free time one associates with pre-parenthood by continuing to make music.  I had a lot of fun recording this piece.  It has a toy piano, a Mellotron and a few other things that I can't recall at the moment.  Patty said it reminds her of  a walk in the park.  I couldn't have said it better myself, so I'm calling this one "Through The Park," and it is 1:41m long.  Enjoy! Chris Schuette no 1:41 http://indiebear.com/2010/05/old-timey/ http://indiebear.com/2010/05/old-timey/#comments Thu, 20 May 2010 15:01:55 +0000 cjschuette http://indiebear.com/?p=2575 http://indiebear.com/2010/05/old-timey/feed/ 2 I did a little recording this morning.  And just to let you know how easily distracted I am, I was actually working on an orchestral score, when I decided to take a break and try something different.  The result will never be mistaken for "orchestral. I did a little recording this morning.  And just to let you know how easily distracted I am, I was actually working on an orchestral score, when I decided to take a break and try something different.  The result will never be mistaken for "orchestral." (Not if I have anything to say about it.) I own an old Rhodes Stage 73 piano that I am in the process of restoring.  Here's a pic. Idn't she cute? I've already repaired the mechanics of it and I am in the process of replacing the old Tolex on the outside.  More on that another time.  (And, yes, I meant to say "idn't;" that's how I role...OK, that was a typo.) So, this morning I was playing the Rhodes and decided to run it through my equally old Fender Twin Reverb Amp.  I also added some distortion to give it kind of an early 70s, Faces sound.  Yes, that was Rod Stewart's band before he became the (ahem) performer he is today. It's a short piece (1:21) but it's long on attitude.  Wait, no, the attitude is pretty short too now that I look at it in the right lighting. Chris Schuette no 1:21 http://indiebear.com/2010/05/piano-in-the-corner-4/ http://indiebear.com/2010/05/piano-in-the-corner-4/#comments Tue, 11 May 2010 17:07:26 +0000 cjschuette http://indiebear.com/?p=2564 http://indiebear.com/2010/05/piano-in-the-corner-4/feed/ 3 No baby yet!  Yes, I will let you know when the big moment arrives. - I'm taking a li'l break from any baby-related preparation/freakouts in order to sit down and do some recording.  I also decided to make the most of my caffeine high by recording an u... No baby yet!  Yes, I will let you know when the big moment arrives. I'm taking a li'l break from any baby-related preparation/freakouts in order to sit down and do some recording.  I also decided to make the most of my caffeine high by recording an uptempo tune on the piano.  It's a simple 12-bar blues pattern, and I even left in some wrong notes; you know, for "authenticity" and stuff. The piece is 1:27m in length which is how long my caffeine high usually lasts. Chris Schuette no 1:27 http://indiebear.com/2010/04/im-on-itunes/ http://indiebear.com/2010/04/im-on-itunes/#comments Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:20:32 +0000 cjschuette http://indiebear.com/?p=2484 http://indiebear.com/2010/04/im-on-itunes/feed/ 0 http://indiebear.com/2010/01/piano-in-the-corner-3/ http://indiebear.com/2010/01/piano-in-the-corner-3/#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:26:52 +0000 cjschuette http://indiebear.com/?p=2218 http://indiebear.com/2010/01/piano-in-the-corner-3/feed/ 1 I'm taking a break from the white-hot panic one associates with impending parenthood to post the most mellow li'l piece of music I've written this weekend.  "Written" might be over-selling it. As you may or may not know, I'm taking a break from the white-hot panic one associates with impending parenthood to post the most mellow li'l piece of music I've written this weekend.  "Written" might be over-selling it. As you may or may not know, I occasionally just sit down at the piano, hit record and start playing. Every once in awhile, I like the way it turns out and I post it here.  Other times, I don't like it, and I kinda freak out like this guy. Luckily, there is no such freaking out associated with my current Piano In The Corner dealie.  It runs 2:05m.  Enjoy! Chris Schuette no 2:05 http://indiebear.com/2010/01/talk-to-the-hand-sing-to-the-belly/ http://indiebear.com/2010/01/talk-to-the-hand-sing-to-the-belly/#comments Thu, 28 Jan 2010 03:33:05 +0000 cjschuette http://indiebear.com/?p=2142 http://indiebear.com/2010/01/talk-to-the-hand-sing-to-the-belly/feed/ 0 http://indiebear.com/2009/10/piano-in-the-corner-2/ http://indiebear.com/2009/10/piano-in-the-corner-2/#comments Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:49:40 +0000 cjschuette http://indiebear.com/?p=2011 http://indiebear.com/2009/10/piano-in-the-corner-2/feed/ 0 Here is another bit of "Piano In The Corner" music for your dining and dancing pleasure.  As I said before, I occasionally like to just sit down at the piano, hit the record button and see what happens.  Usually what happens is in the key of G, however, Here is another bit of "Piano In The Corner" music for your dining and dancing pleasure.  As I said before, I occasionally like to just sit down at the piano, hit the record button and see what happens.  Usually what happens is in the key of G, however, this one is is E minor.  I know,  I know; you're probably thinking that all the cool kids record their spontaneous solo piano compositions in E minor, so why did I feel the need to follow the crowd.  Well, you got me.  I don't have an answer for you.  Maybe, I was just showing off for the dogs.  They love that stuff. Man, where was going with this? Oh yeah, so it's a little  piece (2:36m) I recorded the other night after Wifey turned in a little early.  It's pretty mellow, 'cause I'm such a mellow guy.  It contains no banjos...repeat: NO banjos. Chris Schuette no 2:36 http://indiebear.com/2009/10/wink-woolery/ http://indiebear.com/2009/10/wink-woolery/#comments Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:24:14 +0000 cjschuette http://indiebear.com/?p=1981 http://indiebear.com/2009/10/wink-woolery/feed/ 0 Every so often, I am hired to write a piece of music that requires, shall we say, "extra cheese."  In this case, I was hired to write some "game show" music for a local radio show.  Well, since my history of rotting my childhood brain with the help of ... Every so often, I am hired to write a piece of music that requires, shall we say, "extra cheese."  In this case, I was hired to write some "game show" music for a local radio show.  Well, since my history of rotting my childhood brain with the help of television is a matter of public record, I was very willing to take on the challenge. The first thing I knew is that the piece needed bongos...FRANTIC bongos.  They wound up a little buried in the mix, but they are there, believe you me!  I also knew it needed trumpet hits and a tuba, mainly because every musician will tell you that "Tuba = Funny."  (Also, the square root of trumpets is piano...wait, that can't be right.)  The melody is carried by vibes and a very poor quality digital piano patch. Remember, whenever something sounds bad, it's "deliberately cheesy!" Or something. After I got it sounding like a 70s Game Show, I needed to give it a name.  I decided to call the piece "Wink Woolery," after famous game show hosts and plastic hair aficionados Wink Martindale and Chuck Woolery.  It's a short piece, only 57 seconds, but it's supposed to be.  It is also written to be loopable, in case you don't ever want it to stop. But at some point, please, for the love of God, make it stop.  Enjoy! Chris Schuette no 57