Monday, October 24, 2022 - Music Changing

I’ve been thinking a lot about what music is and what it was and what it will be. As you can guess, I still think of music as one person with an instrument or a group of people with instruments playing and/or singing. I think this goes into the “what it was” category. That is the purest form to me, and it was obvious during the pandemic when a lot of musicians took to performing on the internet that this is not as natural as it once was. Today’s music is often very much created from sampled instruments on a computer - particularly drums and keyboard sounds. Vocals are often so altered with computer effects that they aren’t very close to one person singing in a room. I don’t think that’s bad, it’s just not what I prefer. Of course there are some people like me who do it more in the old way in some genres, but in popular music it’s mostly not done this was anymore. With the advent of artificial intelligence it’s possible that what music will be may be an AI coming up with all the sounds and vocalization with just a little human input. And it may be pretty good at it too. It’s all about what reaches you and entertains you, I suppose. I tend to think of music as something that has an unknowable and almost spiritual aspect to it, and I think that is still true, but ultimately I guess it is just a way for us connect to each other and to our environment. At the very least it’s fun to see where it is and to speculate on what it will become. I’m out of the loop enough that I just marvel at what can be done today, and then I pick up my guitar and just play. 

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What have I been up to? 

I had 11 senior facilities last week, but one had to cancel due to COVID outbreak. I have heard now that everyone at that facility is almost back to normal, and that it wasn’t too bad an infection. That’s good. 

My Wednesday online show doing birth-year songs for a second show was even more fun than the first show last week. I’m amazed at how many memories and good vibes come up when we explore these songs from even before our childhood. We have enough to do it again at some point, and I’m sure we will. 

My Sunday online show doing favorites and requests was great fun as well. We had a big group and some wonderful requests. I love these evenings we share! 

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What am I up to this week? 

I have 10 senior facilities this week, and I’m looking forward to them as always. I’ve been doing Halloween songs which is a blast, and I’m even playing a Halloween party Friday evening. 

My Wednesday online show 7-8:30 mountain time this week will be favorites and requests so that we can do a Halloween theme show on Sunday since it’s closer to Halloween. I’m curious if this will throw me or the audience off any. Come on out and see! 

My Sunday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be doing Halloween songs as I mentioned above. I have gathered so many great songs for Halloween over the years, and I’m really looking forward to playing them for the group. Come on out if you’d like a little fun and spookiness. 

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That’s it for this week. I mentioned my upcoming Christmas shows last week - December 10 at 7:00 at the Mercantile in La Veta and December 17 at 7:00 at the Bell Tower in Florence. There was some confusion over the date at the Mercantile in La Veta, but that’s been straightened out now, and I will be there on the 10th. 

Best always, 

Tom 

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Details this week: 

Who:  Tom Munch  

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts   

When:  Wednesday, October 26, 7-8:30 pm mountain time 

Who:  Tom Munch  

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Halloween songs 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts   

When:  Sunday, October 30, 7-8:30 pm mountain time 

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