Chiff and Fipple Forums

I recently attended a streaming event for Ted 2014 in Vancouver. One day of the conference is streamed live. My favorites include Marc Kushner talking about the recent trends in architecture and a city planner, Amanda Burden from New York City talking about parks and more parks. These will likely go...

The local song circle that I go to, Songmakers, traces its roots back to Pete Seeger. We still call the meetings, hoots, a reference to hootenany. It isn't always folk music, but the spirit lives on. The song book we use, Rise Up Singing, was in part a Pete Seeger project. 94 is a long life, so it i...

I've mostly given up on whistle and flute. I've taken up piano. Despite many years on the wind instruments, I am what might be politely termed a hack. That said, I have had some magic moments during public performances and still can play a few tunes when so inclined. The bigger drop off is on flute,...

The story is that someone at my local music group, used the line, Nothing Gold Can Stay, in an original song about old dogs. Someone else mentioned a second Robert Frost poem, Acceptance. I looked that up, and after some work, I have this song. Here is the link to the PDF sheet music. https://www.bo...

Something occurred to me the other day. The stimulus was, IIRC, a majority tax cuts. And the side that favors tax cuts calls it a failure and the side that is against tax cuts calls it a success. We are going down the political rabbit hole. Many on the other side believe much of the stimulus was mo...

To add to Bill Chin's comment, I heard on the radio this morning that back in the day when President Ronald Reagen was a movie star, the tax rate above $250,000 was 94%. So, once he made that much money, he quit working and went home to his ranch for the year. The movie studio execs would come to t...

The way the question is asked, it is politically loaded and shows bias by the framing. That said, I hope to give an example that illustrates the point without going into politics. The first response gets at the crux of it. By raising marginal tax rates there is less incentive for people and business...

Someone on 50/90 wrote a song about Emmaline. Made me think of this forum's Emmline. It isn't everyday there is a new song by that close a title. The lyrics almost seem a fit too. from http://fiftyninety.fawmers.org/songs/16934 >> All you need is to believe It's possible to follow your dreams It's h...

Fearfaoin,

Yes, both sets are powered speakers. Your diagnosis sounds likely, I'll try some of your solutions.

Thank you.

I bought a used set of Cambridge speakers (2 small speakers and a subwoofer set up) and hooked them up to my piano keyboard. They had an annoying buzz. I have another set of Yamaha speakers (similar satellite 3-speaker system) and they don't buzz. I hooked up the Cambridge speakers to the computer, ...

Music I can see, many birds "sing." Thumbs? I doubt it. They have little bird brains, what use are thumbs when you don't have a brain to use them. Birds have little in the way of material possessions or treasures, what use would thumbs be when material things mean so little to you? It isn'...

If birds dream, what might they dream about? People sometimes dream about flying. Birds can already fly, so what might be the next progression? Anyway, I bought a CD by that title and thought it such an interesting question. The composer tries to capture the idea in music. The title would make for a...

I used a rolled up baby blanket and secure it with a shoe string. I also have used a hollowed out bicycle pump for my Clarke original, though this does leave an indentation in the tin. Small PVC whistles have an advantage in durability over some others. Others have used drum stick holders, shipping ...

Several years ago, I got to hear Ray Bradbury speak at a writer's club meeting. Fortunately, I take notes on most events that I attend, and looked up that entry. Bradbury talked about finding inspiration walking along the beach, seeing the old abandoned rollercoaster in Santa Monica, and imagining i...

Mistakes are average. If you make a mistake, which is highly likely for amateur performers, keep playing, and laugh about it afterwards. It is an open mic, not an audition, not a job interview. It is supposed to be fun. Have fun with it. Lower your standards and your performance will rise. That said...