RPM Challenge is an amazing music event that happens every February. It is a challenge for musicians of all talents to conceive, write, record and submit their album all in the month of February (28 days!).  For most it is a daunting task, and full of rewards.  Not money rewards, but personal growth, community building, and artistic expression.  You see this challenge is all about the music and the musician.  There is no winner, there are no judges.  Not even an entry fee.

Last year 8500+ original tracks of music were recorded.  There were simultaneous listening parties in 7 different cities (plus secondlife).  So much music was produced that it wasn't possible to listen to just one track from each album of just regional participants in many of the cities.

[More]

This morning I am playing/listening too a Flex powered jukebox of 16,000+ tracks of original music.   A local group here recnetly put out a challenge for musicians to write and record an entire album in the month of February.  700+ groups from around the world signed up and completed that challenge.  The listening party was last Friday and the new jukebox to listen to all of that music is now up and available.

The jukebox offers quite a bit of flexibility.  Musicians can log into their account to update their track info, upload cover art, etc.  We can create your accounts and you can build play lists, mark favorite music etc.  I especially like the equalizer built into the header.  The music controls are docked at the bottom, but drag it around to have it float and give you more artist information.  The main screen shows 100 random tracks, but you can click on library to search through the many thousands currently available.

[More]

I have been busy the past couple days migrating email over to a new google apps account for everyone here.  Been interesting, and as such I had to change my main google IM account.  People can now chat with me via jcyr@besavvy.com.   Yes, I know bots can find my email, but they already have it and gmail does a good job at filtering.  I am not going to hide and obfuscate my email just because other people are shit heads.

In other news:

[More]

RPM Challenge is one of those brilliant things in life that asks for nothing but energy, creativity and passion and in return delivers it all back to us ten fold.  It is a challenge to musicians of all genres and skill levels to write and record an entire album in the month of February.  It sounds like a daunting task, and frankly it is, however it has also proven to be completely doable.  Not just for music veterans but for musical newbies like myself. 

In 2006 I signed up for this crazy challenge along with 170+ other people/bands.  In a fit of a few afternoons/evenings I managed to pull off 10 improvisational saxophone movements and completed the challenge with about 6 hours to spare.  Due to the success of its inaugural year and the enthusiasm from the 2006 participants the challenge grew quite a bit last year (2007).  Bands from every continent signed up.  Yes every continent.  Over 850 albums were completed and thousands of musicians participated.  In fact, that music is all online and available for your listening pleasure right now.  And some pretty darn good media coverage came out of it as well.

The community built around the web site is also quite impressive.  Buzzing with activity all year long, well past the end of last years challenge.  In just a small example of community building, one enterprising participant named Mick even put together a boxed set compilation of 6 CD's .  The boxed set of music came from various RPM artists 2007 entries and he mailed out those boxed sets to numerous participants.  All organized through the website.  As I write this 27 bands are currently logged on and doing something on the web site.

A lesser known fact is that this isn't a for profit venture, there are no entry fees, and sponsorship is less than minimal.  This is 100% from the heart and it shows.  Everyone working on the project in an administrative capacity is a volunteer and most are musicians themselves.

So now it is a new year and a new challenge. Its been 24 hours since sign ups started and without even an announcement there are 120+ registered bands from every corner of the globe. We have a few weeks now to muster up the energy and kick this thing off right.  I have once again signed up and as of right now have no clue what I will be doing.  I am excited as all hell though, and have vowed to spread the word to anyone who will listen.  This year RPM Challenge will have thousands of people participating.  Original music will be made, inspiration will be had and lives will be changed.  If you have ever wanted to learn an instrument - this is the time.  If you have ever wanted to start a band -  make it happen.  If you have always wished you had continued to play the piano - today is the day.  It doesn't need to be perfect.  Indeed it wont be.  But you will be so proud of what you have done, and you will have made friendships in the process that will propel you to your dreams.

What about the rest of the world - the non-musicians and the supporters?  It is your duty to spread the word.  Tell everyone you know, send notes to your local TV stations, blog about it and make lots of noise.  RPM Challenge 2008 will make history.  Make sure you're a part of it.

Small technical note: The Jukebox playing 8500+ original tracks is powered by Adobe Flex and is pretty darn cool.

For those that don't know RPM Challenge is a great project that pushes bands and individual musicians to write perform and record an entire new album in the month of February.  It started last year as a local thing in the seacoast of NH and had 160+ bands complete and entire album.

This year it went international.  Well over 2000 bands signed up representing every continent including Antartica.  Of those that signed up 860+ bands completed an album.  That is 860+ new albums made of independant music.  The listening party was last week and happened in major cities all across North America, as well as 6 venues in Portsmouth NH simultaniously.  I participated the first year, but wasn't able to complete an album this year.  Next year for sure!

Well, the long and short of it is that most of the bands that completed the challenge allowed their music to be heard.  Each selected their top track and that track is now on a jukebox.  The jukebox is powered by Flex and is being updated all the time with new features.  At some point it will not be just 870 tracks on there, but 8700 tracks!

So check out the Jukebox and find some new music.  Track down the bands.  You record producers give them a call and for god sakes give them a good contract!

It is a whole new year and that means time for RPM Challenge again.

For those not in the know, this is a very cool project that challenges people/bands to create perform and record an album in the month of February. Last year was their first year. They expected 20 bands maybe (from Seacoast NH area) to sign up, but had something like 160 instead. Over 1600 tracks were recorded in February in our little community. How cool is that? I even recorded a CD. My first ever. I can honestly say that without the prod of RPM I would have never done it.

At any rate this year they have opened it up to anyone and have gotten people signed up from all over the world. So sign up, tell your friends to sign up and spread the word. The sign up just started a couple days ago and so far it looks like 50ish have already jumped on board.

http://www.rpmchallenge.com/

Just over a month ago I signed up for the RPM Challenge.  The challenge is to write and record a complete album during the month of February.  Today being the last day of February, I am finally finished!

I should note that I really did have a lot going on, and didn't start until yesterday.  I should also note that the last time I played my saxophone for more than a minute or two was almost a year ago.  My tenor doesn't seem right, and my alto literally started falling apart when I recorded the first track!

My plan was to record 35 minutes (at a minimum) of improv saxophone jazz, rock, or blues, etc.  Turns out, my chops are crap.  I couldn't play that long without having to stop.  My lower lip is all cut up. ;-)

I think the longest song I could muster was just over five minutes.  All still, I worked up 9 pieces.  Some of which are not too bad in parts.

The recording quality is sub par to say the least.  I bought a cheap mic, and connected it to the computer, then used Audacity to record the songs.

So here you are, dear internet reader.  My songs are for you.

(this is dedicated to Jen, whom claims I gave her an ulcer by waiting until the last minute.  so sorry baby)

Track 1
Track 2
Track 3
Track 4
Track 5
Track 6
Track 7
Track 8
Track 9

RPM Challenge ignites region - throws down challenge to Austin, TX

This is the official press release for RPM.  I am adding my own little bit at the bottom.  Basically, if little old sleepy seacoast NH can do something like this we can do anything.  Which means we should challenging Austin, TX.  Put up or shut up.  Why Austin?  Why not.  Oh, and yes I am participating.  Look to the blog a month or so from now for my mp3(s).

Over 190 bands and artists, almost entirely from the Seacoast area of New Hampshire, will be hunkered down in February to produce more than 190 new albums at once. They are taking part in the Record Production Month (RPM) Challenge, a first-of-its-kind community arts event that has yielded an overwhelming response.

The challenge was for each band to record a new album during the month of February. That's 10 songs or 35 minutes of material burned to a disc and handed in by March 1. The music will then be available to the public at www.rpmchallenge.com, and a listening party will be held at a location and date to be determined.

Artists were encouraged to use the limitations of time, money and equipment to inspire them - in other words, if they could afford studio time, great, but if not, then use what was at their disposal, whether that was a four-track, a cassette recorder or a laptop and a mic.

The sheer variety of projects is stunning, from 60"s style R&B instrumentals to electronica, from roots rock to comedic folk, from punk to a Celtic opera--it's as if every artist in the community has stepped forward with their own unique musical vision.

For more information about this historic event, go to www.rpmchallenge.com, or e-mail info@rpmchallenge.com.

Update: I completed it!  Click on the RPM category below to find latest post.