Featured news
New Street Sign!
Jun 14th
Thanks To Chris Davis of Renaissance Innovations for building our new street sign!
Audio Transfer!
Apr 8th
We now offer an Audio Transfer service! If you have Adat Tapes, Vinyl, Cassatte Tapes, Reel To Reel, and need your Media on a cd or pro tools, we’re your team! We also have audio restoration tools to clean up hum, noise, crackle and more! For more information send us an email at info@mainstreetmusicstudios.com
Production Suite Now Open!
Mar 29th
We now offer a pre/post production room in addition to our main Studio A. For more information click here!
Bassists 4 Bassists @ MSMS!
Mar 16th
Interview with Bangor Bassists 4 Bassists: “Every time I leave I’ve picked up a few pointers…”
The meeting began with the three participants (there are sometimes as many as six or seven in attendance, but the count varies) talking equipment, plugging in and quietly playing. A guy passes through from one of the rooms in the back of the building. “Can you mod MXR pedals?” he asks Ken, a veteran bass player who performs with a couple of area bands. The guy rattles off some specs. Ken nods. “Yeah, that’s something I’d consider. Give me a call.” This is clearly the place to go for bass questions of all kinds.
To connect with Bassists 4 Bassists, visit their Facebook page, or come down to Main Street Music Studios on the second Tuesday of the month.
Upcoming Classes @ MSMS
Feb 16th
Click Here To Contact Brad O’Brien
Click Here To Contact Judy Fricke
Introduction to Bluegrass Music course outline
Course Title: Introduction to Bluegrass Music Level 2
Course Description: Students will gain the skills and confidence to take their Bluegrass Music to the next level.
Prerequisites:
¨ A Bluegrass Instrument- Banjo, Mandolin, Fiddle, Acoustic Guitar, Dobro, Bass
¨ A Tuner, Capo, Pics, and Strap for your instrument
¨ Basic Knowledge of the instrument i.e. G,C,and D chords
¨ Ability to string, tune and maintain your instrument is a plus
Instructor: Bill Thibodeau billthibodeau@mainstreetmusicstudios.com
Dates: March 5th to May 7th 2011
Schedule: Every Saturday 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Location: Rocky Knoll Golf Course 94 River Road, Orrington, Maine
Materials: Charts, Lyrics, CDs with audio demos.
Course Objectives:
¨ Students will learn the role of each instrument in a Bluegrass Band.
¨ Students will expand their knowledge on rhythm, timing and speed.
¨ Students will explore and increase their Bluegrass harmony ability.
¨ Students will learn to use a P.A. system more effectively.
¨ Students will learn song arrangement techniques, fills, solos, starts and endings.
¨ Students will perform a recital at week 10.
Instructional Methods:
¨ Demonstration
¨ Lecture
¨ Audio
¨ Hands On
¨ Interactive Discussion.
Fee for the course is $100 per person to be paid at the beginning of first class.
Click Here to Contact Bill Thibodeau and Sign Up For BlueGrass Music Level II
MSMS In Bangor Metro Magazine!
Jan 18th
Check Us Out In The January/February Copy of the Bangor Metro Magazine! Click Here To View Online Article!
Play It Forward!
Dec 17th
Hampden Academy students get trained in music industry
By Emily Burnham
BDN Staff
The training that young musicians receive in high school is invaluable. It sets them up for a lifetime of music, whether it’s in a professional setting, as a hobby or simply as a fan. Beyond performance, however, the ins and outs of being a musician sometimes get lost, or don’t get taught at all. How many people learn in high school how to record an album, produce it, distribute it and publicize it?
That’s where Hampden Academy music teacher Pat Michaud comes in. Michaud offers a music technology class, showing students the basics of the business of music, from songwriting and recording to booking and promoting concerts.
“What we want to do is teach the kids about all the other things that go into being a musician besides the strictly performance-based aspect of it,” said Michaud. “In high school, you don’t learn how to work in a recording studio or send out press releases, usually. That’s what we’re doing here.”
The end result of the past four months of work is an original album, titled “Play It Forward,” featuring the musical talents of 12 Hampden Academy musicians. Michaud’s students in the music technology class took that music and learned how to record at Main Street Music Studios in Bangor, produce the album and distribute it, and then put on a concert for their friends and family. The “Play It Forward” CD release party will be 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at Hampden Academy.
“We were all blank slates, definitely. I didn’t know anything about Pro Tools,” said James Gilmore, a sophomore, referring to the industry standard recording software. “I didn’t know anything about microphones or running a PA. We all had a ton to learn.”
Andrew Clifford and Brad O’Brian, recording engineers at Main Street Music Studios, offered their facility at a reduced rate to the class, who spent five sessions recording the eight-song album.
“I didn’t know how fast everything was going to move,” said Gilmore. “You think from reading about it that bands spend weeks and weeks in the studio, but we did it really quickly. We all learned quickly.”
Clifford, a drummer and longtime audio engineer, was surprised at the level of professionalism of the students and their eagerness to learn.
“I was really surprised at how fast everyone picked everything up,” said Clifford. “They were all very prepared to come in and get focused and learn. They were very good musicians, too. We always want to support education in the area and get involved in the community. I never had anything like this when I was in high school, but if we did, I would have been the first one to sign up for it.”
The album features an array of musical genres, from Jimmy Sargent’s hip-hop track “Take the World,” to the folk rock of Samantha Utrecht’s song “Fly.” Beyond Goodbye, a band composed of Hampden Academy students, contributes the pop-punk infused song “Congratulations, You’re Not a Winner,” and Emily Guillow’s two songs, “Faster and Faster” and “Time,” showcase her lyrics and vocal delivery. Vocalist Christin Casavant and pianist Tim Coston’s song “Autumn’s Butterfly” fuses classical and rock music, and Lucas Holmes’ singing is featured in the song “Untitled,” featuring his singing.
At least some of the students in Michaud’s class have taken what they have learned so far and turned it into future school and career ambitions.
“I originally wanted to go to college and become a music teacher, but after this class, I think I’d like to major in audio engineering,” said Amy Cirrinone, a junior. “It was really fun to be in the studio. I think it’s something I’d like to pursue.”
Taylor Slamons-Spencer, also a junior, enjoyed the opportunity to learn something new.
“I think we’re really lucky because I don’t think a lot of other high schools get to learn this kind of thing,” he said. “I know a lot more now about things like where to put a microphone when you’re recording, and how to mix tracks and stuff like that. We’re lucky to have this early exposure to this technology.”
The “Play It Forward” CD release party will be 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at Hampden Academy. Admission is $6, or $5 if you bring a nonperishable food item. The album will be on sale at the event for $6.99. All proceeds from admission and CD sales will benefit the Hampden Food Cupboard.