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BASS IS THE PLACE
<------<
.
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Cody Walter (from the APRIL VERCH Band)
and Ben Sollee (from the SPARROW quartet)
look on as Henry stresses the importance of
practicing scales in this featured bass player
demonstration and workshop.
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SPECIAL KUDOS
>------>
to Ms. DIANA D (from the KERPLUNKS) who lead the BASS
IN THE PLACE panel and audience though one hour of
solid non-stop bass solos, grooves,
and little known facts. DIANA also belted smooth as silk
vocal as she accompanied herself on bass.
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WRITE A BLUES SONG WITH
<------< HENRY ODEN
Henry directs one of the songwriting
practitioners in his impromptu blues
composition, a blues about the E&N Railway
(Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway) , one of 2
historic railways that exist on Vancouver Island.
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"Big" Jim Monroe joins Henry to demonstrate blues
phrasing, diction and stanza's
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Henry looks on as Canadian Blues-man
GENE GROOMS artfully demonstrates staying
traditional, while bringing the blues into the 21st
Century with his original composition
"BLUES-TWO-THOUSAND"
<------<
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***********************
Dear Henry,
My overview of the songwriting workshop would be five
stars for presentation, five stars for group participation
and five stars for results. I thought that you brought out
the best in the participants and you created a safe space
for them to take risks. To be able to have the participants
write a number of songs and then get on stage to
perform them without hesitation is truly the mark of a
gifted teacher. The participants appeared to be very
enthusiastic and they also seemed to be having a lot of
fun as well. In spite of having to compete with the loud
music next door and working in an outdoor venue, the
participants never lost their focus or enthusiasm. To be
able to unify a group with varying degrees of skill is a
challenge and you pulled it off very well.
I think you have a great workshop style. Must be your
teaching background.... also you acknowledged other
musicians in the audience and invited them to share their
talents. I thought that was great.
Gerry Ambers
Artist/Facilitator/Instructor
University of Victoria
***********************
"Henry! I caught your songwriting clinic up in Courtney
this weekend...sounded great.”
Phil Wipper/Musician
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*********************
Mr. Oden,
I really enjoyed your Blues Songwriting Workshop at
the Music fest on Vancouver Island. You did a great
job of presenting the material and getting the
audience to participate. That's not always easy to do.
I was actually surprised that the people were so
willing to get up and on stage, offer lyrics and
participate in the performances.
I thought you did a great job of explaining the blues
song structure and the most basic lyrical formats.
Perhaps if you had more time for the workshop you
could have gotten in to other, less common forms for
the blues.
I do realize this was a workshop for beginners. And in
that context and the time allotted I thought you did a
marvelous job. Again, your ability to explain the
basics and get the audience to participate was quite
remarkable.
Jimmy Keyes
Musician
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