Palmetto Fine Arts Academy

01/16/2015

Good Morning Upstate.

Unfortunately, I have some bad news this morning. I have decided, for a variety of reasons to close the Palmetto Fine Arts Academy.

Working with the teachers and students there has been a fantastic experience and I truly want to thank all of them for their hard work and dedication. The teachers of the Academy will continue to teach elsewhere and I look forward to spreading the word about this extraordinary group of music educators.

If there is anything that I can help with, this page will be left up for a while, so please feel free to contact me.

Musically,

Chris Earle
Director, Palmetto Fine Arts Academy

01/08/2015

Live music has returned to The Phoenix Greenville's Inn. This - and its predecessor before the fire The Thunderbird used to be a center for live entertainment in Greenville. The new management has made a commitment to live music and I suggest this venue as a fine and cozy place to hear some of the best musicians in the upstate do their stuff - performances will be in either the piano lounge or the restaurant. January's schedule features Jeff Gadd at the Piano Bar on Tuesdays, Groovin' High Duo on Wednesdays - this is a flute and guitar duo featuring PFAA guitar instructor Cameron Morris. Thursdays it is Scotch & Soda with a Twist led by PFAA Upper Brass Instructor John Hoppe. AND every 2nd and 4th Thursday will be a supper club. The theme for this month's shows is "Under the Influence" - a tribute to the saloon songs and saloon singers - complete with a scotch tasting between sets tonight. Fridays spotlight various Greenville musicians: Adagio 345 on the 9th, The Jean Calvert Trio on the 16th, Katie & Larry Rockwell on the 23rd, and The Sonny Thornton Trio on the 30th. Saturdays you can show your stuff: Jeff Gadd & bassist John Brookshire will play a set and then it is Jam and Open Mic night. All times are 6:30-9pm. Sunday Jazz Brunch coming in February!

01/04/2015

This is one of the best articles I have found on Idina's performance. Read and learn something! :)

"If you want to skillfully un-balance the voice for the purpose of achieving a particular sound or effect, you must first establish a balanced technique."

When Idina Menzel sang “Let It Go” on New Year's Eve, Twitter critics didn’t care for her performance of the climactic high note. Was she just having an off-night, or should she be concerned? My thoughts on what makes for a healthy high belt and how she rates.

12/18/2014

Percussionist, particularly those that are interested in building and repairing instruments, check out this blog. Mr. Kirkpatrick is a phenomenal percussionist and repairman and has some great info to share....

Installing the “War Machine” Spent a better part of my day today working on getting my 1943 South Bend “Heavy 10″ lathe properly installed into my workshop. The to do is pretty long, but so far: * Go get lathe and safely get home * Get 1000lbs lathe into shop space * Redo shop space * Level the lath…

12/17/2014

Time to celebrate the birthday of Beethoven. Although in Charlie Brown Christmas, Lucy reminds us that Beethoven couldn't have been that great because he was never featured on a bubble gum card, we disagree and believe he is one of the greats!

Happy Birthday Ludwig, we owe you quite a bit....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_UOuSklNL4

Perhaps one of Beethoven's most popular pieces-"Fur Elise" (translated into For Elise). The picture is one of Beethoven when he was a middle-age man (fairly ...

12/15/2014

Even when you have been singing for years, you can still hate listening to your own voice. This also explains why most great singers use sensation to sing properly instead of listening to their voice in their own heads.

People really do hear you differently than you hear yourself.

12/11/2014

5 of the best drummers in the world doing a little showing off!

12/04/2014

In the voice studio at the PFAA, you will learn how to properly phonate so you don't sound like this during the holiday season.

Remember when Mariah Carey could sing? Most millennials probably can't. "All I Want For Christmas Is You," she sings, but we'd suggest adding "a new voice" to her letter for Santa. Only Rep. Peter King could vocalize something more tone-deaf in New York today.

12/04/2014

Looking forward to "Sponsor" night at the Younts Center for Performing Arts this evening. We are presenting Charlie Brown Christmas to the people who support the arts...AWESOME!!!

12/03/2014

Enjoy your day with these "modern classics"

11/26/2014

"A big chest, a big mouth, 90% memory, 10% intelligence, lots of hard work, and something in the heart." - Enrico Caruso on how to have a successful singing career. Caruso was and still is considered one of the greatest singers of the 20th Century.