Philippe playing at "National Night Out"

Facts Of Music® Productions in action…

IMPORTANT: If you did not read the last post, “Spring Has Sprung Forth,” please go back and read it first — it’s an important precursor to this article.

I’m very pleased to share concepts that will revolutionize the way your mind and ears process sound…in particular: all (any/every kind of) music…in “3-D.” Here are the basics of how:

Last time, I started to present how we hear things — and music (i.e. voices, noises in the street, TV, movies, etc.), generally. The purpose for these posts is that you may learn to hear and understand (particularly music) more thoroughly. I posited the idea that we hear music only to the extent we can process it — i.e. from a superficial perspective initially (this being a “Fact Of Music” that we hear sound as a “wall” — see last post).

At first, we hear music (and all sounds, in real time) as a kind of “monophonic” wall coming at us. Let’s now continue…with specifics

Think about it this way: When you hear a language you do not understand — you hear the sounds, but their meaning is not understood by you. The meaning is not comprehended, and yet you may even think or say it sounds nice or “beautiful” (to you…though your friend thinks it “stinks” — and your friend doesn’t understand that language or know what is going on either!!!). For this reason and on this basis, people may initially say that musical taste is very subjective. I DISAGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY (at least on one level). I can say this objectively because some aspects of music are very quantifiable as to their EFFECT.  Also, this is true with regard to the way music can be used AFFECTIVELY (i.e. to make everyone feel a particular way/feeling — let’s say the composer has to make it sound “scary,” or” beautiful” in a particular spot in a movie). Music does this — and CAN be used/crafted to affect us in exactly such ways. All musicians/composers learn to do this.

Now, you may hear a piece of music and think it’s great, but you may really not know much about it (if anything) — unless you are a “trained professional.” You don’t necessarily know what “KEY” it’s in (and whether or not it modulates, what kind of key or scale), what notes are being played, what and how many instruments and voices (singers) there are, any audio effects and processing that went into it…NONE OF THIS…or maybe you ARE able to “catch some of this!” If so, GREAT! This is what I’m talking about and where I am going with respect to, and in the direction of “3-D MUSIC.”

“3-D MUSIC” is not a “kind” of music, but rather, “a way of hearing and understanding what (ALL THAT) you hear!”

I wrote just a bit about the “Mozart Phenomenon” last time (not to be confused with what a few years ago was being tossed around — “The Mozart Effect” — that children would “get smarter” by having Mozart and other classical music played for them in the background!!!). I want to point out now that most people are hearing music in a way that is VERY INCOMPLETE. I call it the “music in black & white” way of hearing, in contrast to “hearing music in color.” WHAT DO I MEAN?

I promised last time that I would elaborate on “hearing in a polyphonic way.” You have probably noticed I’m using some technical vocabulary, and may even notice it’s been of Greek origin. The ancient Greeks had a lot to do with “coining” these terms during their “Golden Era” (about the 5th century B.C., or B.C.E, if you prefer)…

We have all seen video and/or movies that were NOT in color. This means that if we see red shoes (i.e. Dorothy in the “Wizard of Oz”), they would NOT be RED — they would be a kind of “grayish.” Even in the early days of computer monitor screens, this was referred to as “monochromatic” (one color, from the Greek compound — the adjective “monos,” meaning “ONE,” and the noun “Chromatika” — meaning “COLOR.” So, we are NOT seeing the real color (i.e. all the colors, or, “the whole thing,” the way it really is). This is what happens with music as well. We are “HEARING MUSIC IN BLACK & WHITE!”

How do we remedy this? First of all, someone has to introduce us to, and “name” the colors. Music even uses the word, “Chromatic” in naming the musical alphabet (all the notes — there are only twelve), as in the “Chromatic scale.” Allow me to explain this, because the use of the word “chromatic” in music is a mixed-metaphor. We don’t really “hear colors,” do we? We see colors with our eyes. But in what good way can we describe “hearing?” We have a problem here in trying to describe the sounds in an adequate way. Fortunately, the Greeks had the problem first, and solved it for us before we got to it!

They decided to “borrow” the idea and term for color, and kind of use this idea to represent the different sounds. There are only 12 different sounds (and their repetition in octaves): A through G, and the accidentals (our black keys on the piano). This is why we say that the noun “chromatic” is used as a “mixed-metaphor” in music. Think of it in the same way for boats and ships — they “navigate” (from the Latin, “nave” — pronounced, “NAH-VAY” — which means “boat”)…now you “get” where we get our word, “Navy!” Well, why do we say that airplanes, space shuttles and jets “navigate” also? That’s a “mixed-metaphorical use” — shouldn’t they “aerogate,” instead? I guess that’s another story! Back to “3-D MUSIC.”

Actually, there is so much more to cover about “3-D MUSIC,” I’m going to have to do it on the next post. Let’s cover at least the next important aspect: BREAKDOWN OF PARTS/ASPECTS. This gets back to Mozart.

When Wolfgang was a very young child, his musician father started him on violin, and then piano (more significant and important information about these two instruments next time — they are “harmonic” and not “melodic” instruments…hmmm, what does this mean/do?). By the time he was 6, he was performing on tour across Europe — playing for heads of state (and anyone else who would have the privilege of a concert ticket!). What did he learn in his infantile and toddler years? His father taught him basic rudiments, but you can bank on the fact that little Wolfgang was hearing the parts individually (from the whole). He was born with a great gift (the talent) to naturally hear “parts.” 3-D MUSIC is the idea of hearing music this way — parts as whole, and the parts in the whole. He probably didn’t think of it that way, but that is exactly what he was doing! That’s what I do, that’s what my friend Nick Vincent (who also has “Mozartian Perfect Pitch” — named in Wolgang’s honor, and based on his virtuosity in his day!!!), and this is what I am asserting you will want to learn to be able to do, and MUST do (well…at least you should WANT TO be able to do so…).

Let us continue this article next time. The next one will elaborate on parts and tracks…how can we learn to hear all these things individually — and all at once? How do we use our technology to help us with this advance?

I hope you will enjoy these “Facts Of Music” as much as I do. They have made my musical life much richer and more exciting/fascinating. It is a wonder and pleasure to be able to pass these nuggets of wisdom and musical wealth on to you! Keep growing with music, and you will be the richer and happier for it. MUSIC IS A GOOD THING. Use and enjoy it in the right way(s) — it’s a great tool and friend!!!

Musically yours,

Philippe :-)

Spring is time for something new, and…musically speaking: Here’s something a bit new for you (Part 1 of 2)…

Are you “on the move,” musically? You can and should be! I hope these 2 posts will help you to understand a couple of things, and I’ll try to present it briefly but fully in two parts. Next time, I will conclude with some of the detailed aspects of what we can do when we use our current technology in this way.

There are many special and wonderful musical opportunities these days: new ways to learn and enjoy music; new technology to help us accomplish things we couldn’t do in the past…because there was no way to do it (i.e. playing many instruments beautifully from your own home computer, or even on a laptop in any location…well, just about any location!).

What are you learning or doing now that is moving you musically into a forward direction? I want to tell you about a new concept that will help us all, as musicians/music aficionados — as well as the audience/listeners…SO LISTEN UP:

How about this for a concept: “3-D MUSIC…”? What on earth am I talking about (yes, Virginia, it is ON EARTH, and even for the whole universe — and yes, it’s a sort of “3-D” for/with music!)?

Let me explain for a moment how we all hear music (at least originally), and how the idea I’ve been developing proposes to enhance “what,” and “the way in which” we hear and experience music — generally, and then specifically. Let’s only focus on the general in this post…

GENERALLY:

We start out hearing music in much the same way as we hear language — the whole thing is coming at us like a “wall of sound.”

A human voice is, for example, “monophonic” (two Greek words put together, meaning: one [mono]; sound or voice [phonos]). Music is often/usually “polyphonic” or many voices or sounds. THE INTERESTING THING IS…BOTH STILL COME TOWARD US AS ONE “WALL” OF SOUND.

If there is a person speaking or singing on a stage, that is only one sound coming from one place. But if it is a band, an orchestra, or even only 2 people (on that same stage)…we have a situation where there is more than one thing “coming toward/at us” at that moment. STILL, it comes toward us as a wall; as one thing, all at one time.

This is experienced as “1, or 2-D” in the sense that we can experience either some or maybe all of what is coming at us “at once.” How much we experience is based on our ability and frame of reference (to absorb this “wall”)…

Not unlike watching a movie — which is on the screen or wall, the music is coming toward us, and we see it for what it is (or what we are ABLE to “see/understand”) — all at once. Our eyes can only process as much as our mind can “understand…IN ONE LUMP SUM“.

Ever watch a movie a second time (or even multiple times) and see things you missed before? How about with music? Ever hear a song or piece of music, where there was an instrument or a vocal part you missed, and then you suddenly heard it the second or third time you listened? THAT’S MY POINT HERE.

This article has in mind the developing of our musical perspicacity and auditory acuity (how’s that for a mouthful?) so we can catch more of what’s coming at us. THERE IS A GREAT AND SAVVY WAY (thanks to technology) to “hear more.”

I have done it this way in an older form (before computers were readily available…and did it with tape recorders and such). In the past 10 or so years the NEWER WAY (computers!) has arrived, and this new way is working even more effectively. YOU CAN HEAR MUSIC IN “3-D” IF YOU JUST GET SOMEONE TO DO WHAT I’M GOING TO BE SAYING HERE.

In part 2, I’ll elaborate on the details from which we can all benefit by hearing more in a “polyphonic way,” such that the results are “enhanced hearing” (which I also call “hearing in color” — taken from the idea of the Greek word, “Chromatika”).

You will hear parts you didn’t before, and the music will sound “larger” (fuller and richer) than what you could initially hear/understand. As we individually develop our hearing by using this technique…we can hear more the first time. This gets better and better as the process is repeated over and over again.

Something then happens that someone like Mozart was able to do as a small child.

Mozart had perfect pitch (he could hear and remember the sounds like most of us “see colors” — i.e. we see reds, oranges, blues, greens — he could hear a Bb and know it from let’s say, an “A” or “G”). And, he continued to develop both his perfect pitch as well his “listening skills.” There were no recordings in his day, so whatever he heard was performed live, and he could hear the individual notes/voices more and more…and to the point that, even as a very young boy, he was able to go home and write down what he heard…ALL THE HARMONIES (i.e. all the parts!). He is most famous, and that’s for more than just the music he wrote. People have marveled at this noteworthy phenomenon, and we will develop this more in the next segment. I hope you’ve enjoyed this and are already thinking about/wondering where this will go in part 2…

Carry on, and keep on making music wherever you can!

Musically,

Philippe :-)

Before I begin, yes, it’s been almost 6 months (again) since my last blog! Looks like I’m down to 2 comments a year (at least for this year) — then again, HOW MUCH does it matter up to this time — that I write these suggestions and thoughts? Well, I guess it depends on where you stand/sit at this time! How is your “use of time” working for you? Let’s examine a couple of things that could improve our production output/productivity.

O.K. I have a number of people telling me lately that they haven’t had much time to play music/their instrument(s), etc. I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THEIR (OUR) PLIGHT! The reality is, if we want to have a productive, balanced and healthy life, we need to organize our lives so we can distribute all the necessary things and have them be a priority, in a routine and disciplined way (admittedly, there are many things competing for our attention).

It gets harder as we become more and more proficient on multiple instruments, become “engineers and producers,” and continue to keep everything “up.” Does this mean we are over-doing it, somehow? Are we being a bit “unrealistic?”

As I face this “almost nightmare” on a daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis (lifetime, etc.!!!), I have observed that IT CAN BE THAT we put too many things onto our “daily plate.”

It is more probable (and possible!) at some point or time, to only pick a few things to work on and be consistent with them for a (short/temporary) determined amount of time. Let’s say we pick, for example, a period of about 3 months (like a semester). This, of course, does not include the basics of eating, sleeping and exercise — these 3 are “essentials” and need always be on “the plate.” If we can allow for occasional exceptions, not being too perfectionistic (too type A about it), we can actually take very good care of ourselves, not get burned-out and be most productive!

During the past 5-6 months since my last (early-November) post, I decided to rearrange every room in my house. I needed to re-organize each room, so I could be more focused throughout the day and have more order — each room would be more “individual” and not seem like “extensions of each other” (basically, because there were all kinds of things in every room). Everything was “everywhere” and I simply couldn’t continue to function productively and focus, kind of a “fung-shui” (pronounced “fung-shoo-way”) problem. It turned out that it took about 6-8 weeks (from December into January), and during that time, I basically didn’t produce much output, musically or “effectively.” BUT, I did continue to study, create and practice (not at the normal pace, though). The end point/result was having the joy of now being able to move forward and go back into the sketches and creative sparks that I couldn’t really focus on…and work on/finish them!

THE BOTTOM LINE: Even though it was a transitional and mostly unproductive time (creatively), I was happy to feel as though I didn’t lose any “skill” and kept moving forward — but it did feel like it was all going much slower. My early and main mentor (in my teens), Ted Greene, once said: “Think of it like the bow-and-arrow principle, where you go backwards to go forwards.” I went backward a bit, to plan for a more productive environment that would propel me in a forward direction, and for that matter, in a greater and increased rate once I had my proverbial ” house in order.” For the past 2 months or so, I have felt so “free” and I now get more done in less time — what a great BUZZ!

If you need more help with this kind of thinking, in a personal and individual way, contact me and we can tune-in to it. I think you’ll be really happy you did — I’M ECSTATIC. Things haven’t been so nice in my “pad” in years. And, it feels great. I hope you will be more motivated to accomplish even greater feats as you continue to better organize your life AND YOUR MUSIC! It’s a really cool thing to have “all things in their place” (as much as is humanly possible…especially these days!).

Carry on, and keep on plugging…

Musically yours,

Philippe Willems :-)

Greetings and Salutations Facts Of Music® friends and fans!

I know, I know — it’s been forever since I last posted a blog (June, to be exact)…

Would you like to hear about some MUSIC NEWS? Country music (and Rock)? Well then, READ ON…

I’ve been keeping my usual fare of “busy,” and have been playing in a variety of settings over these past 5-6 months. It’s been about that long since I started re-focusing on Country music, and playing more of it. I’ve been listening to the only Country Radio station in L.A. — namely KKGO “Go Country” 105.1fm (oh, well — there may be other ways to hear country — i.e. on the internet)! KKGO 105.1 is the ONLY Country Radio station that gives people the chance to win all kinds of “Country” things. I had the distinct pleasure of going to Nashville and seeing (among other things) Jason Aldean and the CMA awards (on KKGO’s nickel!).

It’s almost the Holidays, and I am grateful (even closer to Thanksgiving!) for the opportunity to have participated with KKGO on this “super-trip” that I enjoyed with my “partner for Country Music Affairs” (another CMA of sorts!) — photographer, media and technology specialist extraordinaire: Peter Duke.

Peter first suggested that I specialize (again) in Country Music…and that is the direction I find myself in and enjoying the most lately. Something everyone should notice (about Country) is how much it has become the “Rock” of today (with the original roots of Rock Music being from the heartland of America, and those southern roots!). While in Nashville last week, Peter and I noticed how truly “Rock” it was over there — and we had an absolute blast. Please go to my FaceBook account to see pictures — Peter posted quite a few: www.facebook.com/philippe.willems

There should be some video coming soon (from the trip), and I will be happy to let you know how to see it — when it’s ready! Those video clips should be coming in the next week or so, and I will certainly inform you when I can get them up…stay tuned/check in again SOON! Until then, I hope you keep on playing music and doing all things musical to your heart’s content…

Musically,

Philippe :-)

THIS POST IS BEING RE-SENT (the original was inadvertently interrupted/discarded from the website). Hopefully, you received the first, but if not — here it is again. Sorry for the confusion, but maybe you’ll read it now — if you were not going to the first time (ha ha ha – editor’s note!). :-)

Isn’t “live music” great?

It’s the way to go…or is it? Of course it is!!!

And, if you haven’t noticed it lately, there are lots of musicians playing live who play other parts and instruments as well – IN THE BACKGROUND — on pre-recorded tracks. THANK YOU TECHNOLOGY (for being so red hot and FAST)!

Finally, our equipment is fast enough to keep up with the demands put on it (i.e. a laptop that can crank out our studio production in the mix while we ever so happily do what we do “in real time” (…LIVE!). My friend Scott Moyer and I are putting together a new show that promises to put ourselves to the task (and for good measure, a little more weight-lifting to stay in shape)! Scott is a drummer, and I a guitar player — at least that’s how we’re known. BUT, we are also “multi-instrumentalists” in the true sense of that term. So, you will hear and see us playing various other instruments (therefore the extra weight — I hope our vehicles will handle the loads!). That means we will come, as a duo, playing guitars, keyboard, bass, drums, singing and filling-in all the other orchestral parts — some performed live via keyboard. We’re also planning on having “special guests” come and perform with us, at just the right moments.

This is our debut and announcement that in early July, we will start performing around the Southern California area as a “Duo Band/Orchestra.” I wonder what we will be known as — probably not “T 4 2,” but the “T” would definitely be “Technology.” The dates are not quite set yet, but then neither are our sets! We’re developing them right now.

First off, we will be playing many styles, very hip grooves and great standards and hits. All instrumentations will be available and either in the “original configurations” (when cover material) and most certainly with our original music.

Also (secondly), we will go out of our way to demonstrate a level of musicianship/performance/showmanship that focuses on MUSICAL CONTENT — sometimes creative arrangements, but NOTOther Than Music” — a form of entertainment we see a lot of today!!! What do I mean by that? Well, it’s been a while since “artists/bands” have majored in musicianship (lots of “music” today focuses on a straight, simple pulse; one throbbing note; and 40 dancers in the background)! We are going to bring back MORE melodic, harmonic and rhythmic excellence into the lives of our audiences that will inspire both our audiences and ourselves to go upward and onward in our musical experiences. What’s not great about increasing our appreciation for and of the components that make music what it really is, and what it should be/can become?!!! We all know that music is a powerful medium, but its power has been greatly curtailed.

Scott and I are both intensely committed to the furtherance of QUALITY MUSIC AND MUSICIANSHIP. There are fantastic amounts of good music and great players out there — but that’s not what we get to see and hear much of the time, or so it seems. Though there has always been excellent music and musicianship around, much of it has not been promoted because certain “forces” in the business have decided to lower the “common denominator” so the effect results in a dumbing down of what most of the public generally hears (the thought behind this is to “keep it attractive” to the greatest number of people)…kind of like the government telling us we don’t know what to do, so they will “do what’s good for us.”

Third, and finally (and this is the part we are working OUT and ON the most), we are anticipating and preparing for the ability to run this show either WITH or WITHOUT electrical power provided (meaning, if there is no power available, we bring our own — hello batteries and power inverter — DC to AC!). No, do not confuse this with the popular band, “AC/DC.” And, no, we do not plan on performing any of their material! This is something that will make our show a bit different than all the others around us — but we still need to work out the “bugs” (how to make it all work!). Believe me, it’s more than meets the eye (guess that’s because it also includes the ear?!!! HA HA HA)! O.K., enough for now. We will bring more details to you toward the end of June, as we approach our bookings (for dates in the 2nd week of July sometime, and beyond).

Until the next blog, remember to make more music (i.e. add an extra chord, using “harmonic improvement” or possibly a “substitution,” if you like)!

Musically yours,

Philippe :-)



Here’s a quick POST to say HI after about 6 months! Looks like I’ll have to catch you up on all the news and what’s about to happen — in the coming month or so! But at this point, suffice it to say this post is just to let you know that I am indeed still alive (remember, “Paul is dead!”?) — those of you old enough to remember that PR ploy (?)…

Oh, yes, and one more thing…

I sincerely hope you all have continued to grow musically in as many ways as there now are out there – more to come soon… “on them apples!” (clue to the riddle of the aforementioned PR ploy: What was the name of the record label started by the group whose member was NOT dead?…) :-)

Musically, Mr. FOM

In a way — I HOPE NOT!

Welcome back to Facts Of Music® and the facts of life (and indigestion…maybe). It is hoped you had a terrific Thanksgiving (if in America!), and that your days have been and will continue to be filled with much good musicI have been working on too many projects, personal and musical, but it looks like the near-future will be more focused on MUSIC — and I am “Thankful” (grateful) for that!

Personal busy-ness is not bad, but those of us who know and enjoy music (the way I do) LOVE to spend some quality time learning and creating. There is so much excellent technology to make good music these days, but it does take patience and a lot of experimentation to make special and beautiful music come out of us! It’s not as easy as “1,2,3,4” — although a lot of our music starts out just that way!

This is just a quick note of thanks to those of you who visit the site and read/subscribe to this blog. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I will be writing again in the next week or two with the much delayed and promised FOM PDFs to start our journey into the vault of fun stuff we can learn/study in a better, faster way (and get those sought-after “quicker results!”).

Until the next time — keep on thinking musically. It WILL help you in all other things!

Philippe

Wow — it’s been FOUR MONTHS since my last blog here. THE REASON: (can you guess?)… It’s been a very, very busy summer! While many people are busy working a job (or 2, or 3), and many others are really busy looking for one — the rest of us are keeping busy doing BOTH! I’m one of the latter — working constantly — juggling several projects at once and creating more work. Keeping busy is not hard in the field of the arts. Making a living at it is another story. If you want to be a professional in this “business,” it takes more than getting up and going to work (and then going home at the end of the day).

One of the most important things we can do as artists and “business-persons in the arts” is to keep growing, learning, re-learning, investing in ourselves, and in our tools of the trade.

Since it has become more difficult to make a living in any field these days (working longer hours for less pay!), it would help to know some of the things we can do to “diversify our portfolios of assets” — something every artist can do — and I would love to elaborate in the next article on this subject. I’ll also open the door to the FOM vault, and we’ll look at some things from the Facts Of Music® vantage point, and you’ll begin to see why those who have seen it are better for it!

I started out as a guitar player who was very interested in most other instruments, could sing some, and also dabbled with arranging and composing. Little did I know back then (in the 60’s and beyond into the 1980’s) that I would someday have to use all those “skills” and add several more to boot.

Two blogs back (only May 15th, 2010…) — seems like forever ago — I mentioned that I was going to release some time-treasured secrets from the FOM vault. What did this mean?

I am going to start posting some of the materials that make it much easier for most of us to absorb large masses of musical knowledge in a way that is much more organized and therefore easier to master (some of this information is often referred to as “Music Theory” — although this truly is a “misnomer,” and you will soon see what I mean). I am also planning to post Facts Of Music® PDFs and video sessions to pull things together for you, at least in a basic way, hoping that all of this will motivate and encourage you in more ways than one.

Almost two years ago, I started doing live Skype web-cam sessions with students, and these have become valuable ways to work with people anywhere in the world (it also helps that I can communicate these things in languages other than English!).

When we get back together in the next month or so in the next blog, I will introduce the first of many subjects and show you HOW and WHY the “Facts Of Music®” approach is the faster, better and richer way to really put things all together for yourself in music and this crazy world we call “Show Biz.” It’s going to be another busy time now with the holiday season just around the corner (again?!!!) — so you can consider and anticipate this as a “Christmas gift” from Facts Of Music®! Hopefully it will be an “early one,” if I can pull the resources together and get it out to you.

Until then, keep on plugging and stay focused and organized wherever possible, and keep learning and enjoying NEW THINGS — musically and otherwise.

Musically yours,
Philippe Willems

P.S. Remember you can email me with your questions: philippe@factsofmusic.com

Today is June Riddell’s Birthday. What do these two wonderful friends of mine have in common? They are MOST musical and fun to be with — besides the fact they are so SPECIAL! I have had more fun and learned more about music and people with them than I have with most people in my life. One reason is that Scott is a great instructor, and the other is that June is not only my friend Nick (Vincent’s) Mom…but She and Nick are both fabulous musicians (Nick and I decided in Jr. High to go to Music College together)!

Do you have many friends that are musical? I think it’s a great way to grow musically, because you will spend a certain amount of your time together getting into musical situations and conversations (not to mention many musical experiences of various types such as going to concerts, listening to all kinds of music, et al.). So, today’s blog is just a quick thank you to those two friends, and to let them know how much it means to me — having spent time with them, and all the things we did together and talked about over the years! I am grateful and the better for it!

I hope you too will find these kinds of friends to grow with, and enjoy all kinds of music! Until the next time…

PW

Well, it was Armed Services Day yesterday, and considering it’s been 6 weeks since I’ve posted on this blog — I guess I’m only a “day late” (at least it’s not “and a dollar short” too!).

The musical aspect to this is the military loves a parade. There’s always music at the parade right? So there! Now, we’ve gotten past that, so let’s get on to what’s new with FACTS OF MUSIC®!

Something NEW is about to happen on this site: inclusion of data from the FOM vault!!!

I have been in meetings with several key people over the past month or two, and there seems to be a consensus that NOW is as good a time as ever to post some of the details that make Facts Of Music® a unique and beneficial approach, maybe even a better approach to learning musical concepts than most other methods extant. Everyone interested in learning as much as possible, as quickly as possible and as thoroughly as possible about music needs to “hang on to their hats.”

For years (even decades), there have been those who swear by the approach and presentation of the Facts Of Music® system. Unfortunately, the word has not been getting out that the system is “from” Facts Of Music®. That’s not so much the problem. The real problem is the word just isn’t getting out — that means most people are working “harder” not “smarter” at learning all the “facts” as we have come to know them in the FOM system.

I have decided to start posting much of the information, in a necessary “order” a little bit at the time, so that more people can start seeing the FOM system (and eventually seeing how FOM is a faster, easier and RICHER way to approach the material of music and instruments). Doing this will not be too difficult, but it still stands to reason that most interested students would be better served by having a certified FOM instructor to help them with the learning of these materials (you learn better and quicker with the help of a mentor who KNOWS the material!).

So, get ready to start seeing some of this fantastic approach to learning music and instruments (especially guitar and piano) in the coming weeks and months. I hope you will take advantage of this information, and if you need help — contact me either by sending a note to this website, or calling me directly (in the CONUS) on our toll-free number: (888) 244-6312.

If you get voice-mail, just leave your contact info, and someone will return your call within 2-3 business days.

This is just the beginning, but I hope you will soon see what a great beginning it is! Watch for the upcoming details and data/information!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Musically,

Philippe