You can always tell a love song. Even if a song is sung in a language foreign to you, the sound of romance and love is universal—everyone knows what it’s about. That’s why, when Valentine’s Day rolls around, local venues and musicians know to spice up their lineup or set with some music that tugs […]
Joe Payne
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Solvang Conservatory students to showcase in ensemble in Los Olivos
The bowed, stringed instruments such as the violin, viola, or cello are often regarded as some of the hardest instruments to begin studying, but don’t say that around Diane Byington, director and owner of Solvang Conservatory. Byington thinks the stringed instruments famous from the orchestra are by far the best to study, she said. She […]
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The keys to artistry: Alina Kiryayeva will bring a headful of classical piano music to Lompoc Concert Association show
Music is the language without words, and with it, we tell stories of many meanings. That’s why a crucial aspect of filmmaking is scoring, using the music to help tell the story. But many filmmakers realized that the perfect score for their projects was already written, in the piano works of Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, […]
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Energetic elders: Local seniors stay healthy and fit with low-cost, low-impact activities
Staying active is challenging in many ways, but for senior citizens, getting older compounds the predicament. It takes longer to recover from an illness; soreness and stiffness are a daily companion; and getting injured is a much more serious concern. But for some local seniors, the prospect of staying active isn’t a challenging one at […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Douglas Tomooka explores other realms as Saiku Sapien
Music has evolved much like life, in familial fashion. Genres inspire others, with the common ancestry of styles apparent in their sound. That’s why when an artist comes along and produces music that defies the typical labels, sounds authentically different from anything else, you have to wonder how the leap in evolution occurred. The first […]
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Weekly habit: Musicians and poets of all flavors are welcome at 6 Degrees Coffee House in Orcutt’s open mic night
Watch a video of Anthony Michael Ariolla performing at 6 Degrees Coffee House. Freedom of expression is a founding principle of our society, but how often do we all engage in it? One last bastion of unfettered expression is the open mic, a chance for anyone to share a few thoughts or songs, taking turns […]
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Make the resolution to learn an instrument this year
If you are one of those people who have pined for music their entire life and are yet to pick up an instrument or get some lessons, I feel for you. I get it, we all put up mental blocks, but this is one you need to knock down. If you make a resolution for […]
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Keeping music live: Music groups big and small made 2016 a year worth listening to on the Central Coast
There was something for everybody’s musical tastes in 2016, from the solo singer/songwriters to the concert orchestras. Every week, Local Notes serves as a place to celebrate—and more often give a heads-up about—the skill of local musicians, bands, and ensembles. Everyone is welcome. Interesting artists came through town, local music organizations welcomed new collaborators, but […]
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Making life beautiful: Local artists, organizations, and ensembles made 2016 a year bursting with creativity
The Central Coast is home to some exceptionally creative people. Painters, sculptors, actors, musicians, poets, novelists, dancers, photographers, and plenty of others make it a fantastic place to live, and 2016 didn’t slow anybody down in terms of output. A year can go by so fast, but art is something that can slow that time […]
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Join the Audubon Society’s local contributors for the annual bird count on Dec. 26
For more than a century, amateur and experienced birders have taken to the roads and hiking trails of America to participate in the National Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count. The Audubon’s Santa Barbara Chapter joins the 117-year-old tradition each year with counts across the county, including the upcoming Santa Maria/Guadalupe region count on Dec. […]
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Sound of the season: Learn about the instruments and techniques musicians use to make holiday songs
Just after Thanksgiving you begin to hear it piped into every department store, those same familiar songs, chord structures, and instruments. Sleigh bells never get as much work as they do during the month of December it seems, and we have generations of songwriters and composers to thank for this. The holiday season rolls around […]
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A classical gas: The Great American Melodrama presents ‘A Witless Rogue’ with sword-swishing panache
The Great American Melodrama always welcomes its audience in with a certain amount of fireside charm, from the live piano music to the warm popcorn and other treats served up by the actors in the bar line before the show even gets started. You always feel welcome and taken care of. Part of that welcome […]