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CAN-DO MUSICAL NOTES - OCT 2015

Welcome to the second Can-Do Musical Notes for 2015.

Our website keeps growing, we currently have 198 Can-Do Musos from 22 countries. We have reached out to musicians from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, England, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Scotland, Sweden, United States of America, and Venezuela, all living with a disability of some kind.

Can-Do Musos was established to provide support and showcase musicians living with a disability, such as mental health issues, physical challenges, intellectual challenges, speach, vision or hearing impairments who are all music makers and have the same passion about their craft.

 

Can-Do Musos - Winter NAMM 2016
Following the success of our Can-Do Musos presentation at NAMM 2015, we have been invited back to do it again in 2016. Can-Do Musos are presenting in the H.O.T. Zone at NAMM in Anaheim, California on Sunday 24th January 2016. To make this happen, we have setup a fundraiser on Go Fund Me. We are trying to raise $6,000 by the end of December. So far our fundraiser has raised $1342. If anyone has a few dollars to spare, as little as $5 is all it takes. To donate, please visit our Go Fund Me page www.gofundme.com/candomusos
Check out the video below for more information.

Latest News
CALLING UTOPIA TRYING FOR AIRPLAY ON TRIPLE J
Calling Utopia have new music and would love help to get them air play on Australia's Triple J radio station. All you have to do is rate or leave a review on their music on their profile! Calling Utopia were in the Triple J charts in 2011, it would be great to get back in there!! We want to make Calling Utopia happen! To rate or review you need a Triple J profile. It's easy to do and you just never know what other amazing bands you might want to rate and review! To vote for Calling Utopia, please go to www.triplejunearthed.com/artist/calling-utopia
PATRICK HENRY HUGHES LIFE STORY DEBUTS ON WORLD TV & RELEASED TO DVD
Patrick Henry Hughes is a talented musician who always wanted to be a part of something bigger than himself. He dreamed of one day joining the U of L marching band but there was one problem; Patrick Henry was born with out eyes or the ability to walk. Before he was even born, his father Patrick John (Burgess Jenkins) had his own goals for Patrick Henry. Now, he must sacrifice all that to help his son reach his dream. This is the inspiring true story of sacrifice, perseverance and realizing one’s potential. "I Am Potential" has recently made its TV debut and is now available for purchase on DVD. Check out the trailer for the movie here youtube.com/watch?v=WH4MEAvPwNU and to find out more, go to I Am Potential Movie on Facebook.
GREG DODD & THE HOODOO MEN WIN AT VICTAS BLUES AWARDS
Congratulations to Greg Dodd and the Hoodoo Men from Melbourne, Australia. They won Best Band of the year in MBAS Vic Tas awards. Their new album MOVIN' ON is now available through the online shop and hit #1 on the Oz blues charts. Tracks from the album can be heard at Soundcloud. For more information and how to buy the album, go to gregdoddandthehoodoomen.com.
DOM FAMULARO MAKES COVER OF MODERN DRUMMER
Our fearless Can-Do Musos leader Dom Famularo has been featured on the cover of the latest issue of Modern Drummer magazine. For more information, please visit www.moderndrummer.com.
MICHAEL CANDY - GLOBAL ROCKSTAR COMPETITION 2015
South Australian Guitarist/Songwriter Michael Candy has entered his song "Taking back control of my life" in this years 2015 Global Rockstar competition. He is after votes. To vote for Michael, please go to www.globalrockstar.com/artists/michael-candy.
ANDREW HEWITT LANDS REMO INTERNATIONAL ENDORSEMENT
Australia's Andrew Hewitt has landed an International Drum Circle Facilitator endorsement with Remo. This is a huge honor for Andrew and is due to Andrew facilitating the TRAP program in Australia and various other disability drumming programs he is involved with. Check out Andrew's artist page at Remo here www.remo.com/portal/artists/5817/Andrew_Hewitt.html.
CAN-DO RADIO ON DRUM TALK RADIO
Can-Do Musos supporter and drummer Pino Pertolini hosts Drum Talk, a talk back radio show about all things drumming on Monday nights at 8:30pm (AEST). Also Wednesday nights at 7:00pm (AEST) Andrew Hewitt hosts The Can-Do Radio Show Encore Edition. To Tune in to either of these shows, simply go to www.drumtalkradio.com and click the Listen In button. Drum Talk Radio can also be found on Facebook.
 
Hands Free: Mark E Goffeney
San Diego's Mark Goffeney recently had this documentary mate about his life being a bass player and guitar player with no arms. Video by Ross Harris and Stanley Gonzales. Shot and edited by Ross Harris. Location audio and mix by Stanley Gonzales. Color grade Jeremy Ian Thomas. rossangeles.net bigtoerocks.com. Check the video out here on Vimeo.
 
Dean Zimmer on Crypt TV
Californian drummer and Can-Do Musos member Dean Zimmer was interviewed by Alex Barone for Crypt TV. Check out the video here on Facebook.
 
The beginning of a challenge by David Segal
Source: Drumhead Magazine (USA) - September 2015
On March 15th, 2013, Andrew Hewitt, who hails from Australia, arrived in New York from California to have a lesson with Dom Famularo. Andrew was in Santa Barbara, CA to attend a threeday seminar for Eddie Tuduri’s TRAP program [The Rhythmic Arts Project], a workshop-based program to teach people with disabilities how to read, spell, count and use life skills via drums and percussion.

Andrew was born with cerebral palsy. In spite of this, over the past 20 years, he has worked successfully as a performing artist, drum teacher, drum-set clinician, motivational speaker, workshop facilitator and disability advocate. Mike Mignogna, also a drummer, was in town from Tennessee. Mike also has cerebral palsy and has studied and known Dom for over 20 years. Mike published a book entitled Look Ma No Feet, a practical approach to the drum set for someone with limited, or no use of their legs. In 2009, the three of them played together in the Ultimate Drummers Weekend in Melbourne, Australia’s Darebin Arts Centre.

I had known Dom Famularo since I started going to the KoSA Drum Camp in 2002. Born and raised in New York City and now in residing Connecticut, I formally began studying with Dom in 2004. I was born with arthrogryposis, which affects the development of the bones, muscles and nerves in the hands and feet, and had to have 12 corrective surgeries throughout my youth. In spite of that, the desire to play drums was burning inside me and studying with Dom and other master drummers/percussionists each summer at KoSA inspired me even more.

I decided to go back to school and get a B.A. in Music and a Masters in Music Education and was excited to realize a dream and play Carnegie Hall in 2014.

Back to March 2013; we were all in town. Dom suggested meeting at his drum studio to have a summit of sorts, discuss drums and issues we had been dealing with as “challenged” musicians. There was something there previously, but it wouldn’t be crystallized until we all were together that day. What if we all came together and formed an organization that could empower all “challenged” musicians–be it physical, mental or intellectual from across the world.

That day we came up with CandoMusos, got the domain, and CandoMusos.com was born. We chose Can-Do because having that type of attitude is the first step towards success, and Muso is a term used to describe a musician that is passionate about their instrument. We combined the terms to form a unique name that described our vision and mission.

In 2014 we added an associate board member to our main team, Californian drummer Joe Hardy, who was born with no legs and plays with the heavy-metal band Unit 287. For over 30 years he has played drums, has a unique, electronic drumset built into his wheelchair and has developed a special device that allows him to play a bass drum, despite having no legs. Two years removed from that meeting we already have over 150 members from 19 countries.

In January 2015, we spoke at NAMM in the H.O.T. Zone, and included on our panel was drummer Dean Zimmer, who also has arthrogryposis, and guitarist Mark Goffeney, who was born with no arms and plays with his feet. Recently we launched CandoRadio which features music from disabled artists all over the world.

If there are any artists with any physical, mental, intellectual challenges and would like to join us please send an email to info@candomusos.com or visit us at candomusos.com.
 
JD Weaver on “Where Eagles Fly,” DMD, Ableism, and the Virtues of Bedroom Recording by Kat Kulke
Source: wprb.com

On his new EP, Where Eagles Fly, JD Weaver sounds rugged and brooding. Between raw, yearning vocals and finger-picked melodies, he has the grit of a mountain man and the wistfulness of a traveling folk artist, like a free spirit more comfortable spending nights on a Greyhound bus than in his own bed.

In person, Jason Daniel Weaver is round and ruddy-faced, a mop of blond hair masking his forehead. He speaks quickly and earnestly with a thick North English accent as we Skype from his bedroom in Cheshire, England. Despite the folksy wanderlust in his music, Weaver rarely leaves his home. “This is it—these four walls and my laptop and my guitars are all I pretty much do at the moment,” he told me.

At age 9, Weaver was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, or DMD, a debilitating genetic disorder that causes the progressive shrinking of muscle tissue throughout the body. Over the past ten years the disease has eaten its way through the lower half of his body, rendering his legs useless and forcing him into an electric wheelchair. In several years, he will lose mobility in his arms, as well. Eventually, the condition will reach his heart. “I try not to think about it,” he said. The average life expectancy for individuals with DMD is 27 years.

Ever since he was a child, Weaver dreamed of being a musician. Since he first picked up a guitar at age 6, he says, he envisioned himself playing professionally. Yet it was not until his health began to decline that he started actively working to turn his passion into a career. “Over the last 4 or 5 years, I’ve been really aware that I don’t have a lot of time physically to achieve what I want to achieve if I’m a bit laid back about it,” he explained. He began composing fervently, feverishly, determined to beat the clock that was his own body. By the end of 2013, he had written 300 songs. “I work tirelessly,” he told me. “If I’m not thinking about music I’m playing my guitar, if I’m not playing my guitar I’m writing something.”

Weaver strives to marry his two favorite genres, rock and folk music. He attributes his passion for rock n’ roll to his father, a hard rock fanatic, who “brainwashed me on Def Leppard and AC/DC.” Folk, on the other hand, inspires him in its tenderness and capacity for storytelling. “I think folk music is one of the neat sounds everyone can associate with,” he said. “It’s one of the most accommodating styles there is, because it’s a powerful song in a quiet presentation.”After recording a handful of lo-fi demo tapes in his bedroom, Weaver decided to approach labels with his work. Yet he only met with disappointment. “They just saw a disabled musician and said, ‘how are we going to sell this to an audience?’” he explained to me. Weaver says he was told his disability made him unmarketable to mainstream listeners—an idea that infuriated him. “I thought, if you’re just worried about making money off of someone with a disability, then I think you might want to remind yourself what you actually want to achieve in music. Because for me, music is about being meaningful,” he said.

Indeed, the music industry is not friendly to musicians with disabilities. Though Weaver estimates that, statistically speaking there are between 50,000 and 100,000 disabled musicians in the UK, he knows of only one signed artist who is not able-bodied— a singer with a prosthetic leg who he feels he is not representative of the broader community. “I don’t want to offend people, but it’s a lot easier gigging when you’ve got a prosthetic leg than when you’re in a wheelchair and you’ve got all this equipment,” he said.

Gigging—or playing live shows—is particularly challenging for Weaver. The last time he performed—over a year ago—he was told the venue was accessible, only to find he had to descend a series of steps to get onstage. Just before his set began, five men physically told hold of his chair and lifted him onto the stage. The experience was jarring. “I felt like I was being violated in a weird way,” he said. “It felt like I wasn’t in control.”

Disillusioned with labels, Weaver finally received support from Round Table UK, a charitable organization that funds community and social service opportunities for young men. He used the 2000 pounds he received from the group to record his debut EP, Where Eagles Fly. The recording process was a highly emotional experience. “I remember being in the studio and I just said to myself, if you really want people to take you seriously, don’t hold back,” he said. “It sounds really grim, but I just pictured in the back of my head where I’m going to be health wise in 3 years time, and how annoyed that made me feel. And that allowed me to play like it was the last ever chance I got for anyone to hear me.”

Since the EP’s release, Weaver has earned local radio play and a small but loyal following on Soundcloud. He maintains that he is not out for fame, and that the limited scope of his success thus far doesn’t bother him. “I don’t think I’m ever really going to get big,” he told me. “If one person listens to my music, I feel like I’ve sold a gold disk.” Even so, he is deeply frustrated by the industry’s dismissal of his talent. “It’s not fair that I have twice the amount of work as someone my age who doesn’t have a disability, yet because of my disability, labels and managers won’t give me a chance,” he said.

At times, he said, he feels like an outsider begging for acceptance in his own country. “I feel left out, I do,” he admitted. “Because of a reason I can’t control, I’ve been sort of thrown to the side. And no one can say that’s not the case, because they haven’t lived that existence.”
 
What is Drumsparx by Risty Bryce
What is Drum Sparx, how does it work, and why was it needed? These are the questions we love to answer. Before we explain the what and how of the Drum Sparx, here’s the quick version of how it came to be the invention that saved Risty Bryce from calling it quits on his drumming. From 2003 through 2013 he was losing the ability to use his legs due to a disease diagnosed as Idiopathic Neuropathy, which has similar effects to Multiple Sclerosis. Therefore, in 2013 a few things lead Risty to ask the question, “Is there a way to play my kick drum with my mouth?” First, he was reunited with Mike Goodman, an old friend and guitarist from his first band, who would later help form what is now Drum Sparx LLC. Second, he was introduced to Matt VanMeter through an event called Drum Fest. Matt would later develop the first prototype Drum Sparx that would put Risty back behind the kit!
Now on to what the Drum Sparx or DSX for short is and how it works. To explain how the DSX works is quite simple. We have developed a "voice" activated drum trigger that allows people to play not only bass drum samples with their mouth but also many other drum related samples such as snares, toms, cymbals, and auxiliary percussion samples all by using any standard dynamic microphone or a directional microphone (i.e. a drum mic or guitar mic). The reason we put quotations around the word voice is that people don't necessarily need to use vocal commands such as “boom” or “click” but they do have to use enough air to activate the microphones diaphragm. We have two versions of the DSX currently out: our DSX Pro model that is a touch screen and our DSX Black prototype that uses knobs to select different samples and settings. We just debuted the DSX Black prototype at Drum Fest 2015 on Oct. 17th. We also have other versions and inventions waiting on the back burner to be brought to reality.

Here we are two years later and Drum Sparx is slowly gaining its own momentum, and we believe it will continue more as the word gets out and people really get to see and hear what the DSX is capable of. We just finished a showcase at Drum Fest 2015 where we had Joe Hardy, a Can-Do-Musos member from L.A., come out and demonstrate the DSX using it as an auxiliary (cowbell) sample in a track he played from his band. Risty, of course, used it as a bass drum but had the chance to demonstrate its ability to allow him to play double base patterns without the use of his legs. We are excited for the future of Drum Sparx not only as a business but also because we have the ability to give “The Power To Play” to so many people whether they have a disability or not!



For more information, please visit www.drumsparx.com.
 


You can find Connor Wink online at:
www.connorwink.com.au
Can-Do Featured Artist: Connor Wink
When Connor Wink was two years old, he was playing songs that he had heard and liked on his toy piano. His parents realised that the ability to play by ear was a great gift and encouraged his playing. Later, when he was six, they set out to find a piano teacher to work with him.

By the time he stopped classical training, he had reached Grade 3. During this time, Connor transitioned successfully to singing, due to his ability to memorize lyrics and music combined with his acute hearing, pitch. and unique voice. For a short time, Connor dabbled with the guitar; but later, he discovered the ukulele.

He had found his place as an artist.

His biggest musical influences have been the Bee Gees and Cher. He was fortunate enough to meet Cher back stage in Las Vegas in 2010, and she was gracious enough to listen to him sing. Cher also gave Connor some advice that assisted him with his audition for the performing arts high school that he still attends. Connor has also been fortunate to meet a number of other great solo artists, including Marcia Hines and John Paul Young.

Connor has been blessed with the presence of many amazing people in his life as well as the support of his local community. In appreciation, Connor spends several months a year busking for Variety Australia, the children’s charity. To date, he has raised, and will continue to raise, thousands of dollars, and he is excited about continuing his amazing journey.
Read More >
Connor's Fast Five:
1. What started you playing music?
As a blind child I was always fascinated with music. So I'd use toys to make noise.

2. What are you working on at the moment?
Working on getting Best Friends and Fascinating World on ITunes and CD Baby. Also working on more co-written songs.

3. Had any bad gigs? Any funny gig stories?
One gig I didn't like was singing at the Newcastle Show and the Super Cars were doing laps right near me. Funny gig was when I get asked to sing for a charity and someone makes a complaint. Now It's gone viral and I'm booked every weekend.

4. Who inspires you? Who are your heroes?
I'm inspired by Cher and Bee Gees.

5. What is your biggest challenge as a musician, in what way have you had to adapt your playing to work around your challenges?
My biggest challenge as a Blind Musician has been my voice breaking. No real challenges at the moment because mum is my roadie.
 
Can-Do Youtube
 

Little Ozzy (USA)
America's Got Talent

The Sisters of Invention (AUS)
This Isn't Disneyland

Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät (FIN)
Eurovision 2015
 

"In my global travels to over 60 countries, I meet many incredible people. I am always inspired when I meet a Can Do Muso. They have the deepest commitment to music, and an endless energy for their musical expression! Listen to their stories and spread the word for others to be moved emotionally to a level of excitement!!! A Can Do Muso will give you a Can Do feeling!"

 

Till next time...

 

 
About Can-Do Musos
Can Do Musos want to provide guidance and hope to all musicians with challenges. Music is empowering and has no limitations and everyone should have a chance at their dreams.

Having a "Can Do attitude" is the first step toward success!
Contact Us
Email: info@candomusos.com
Web: www.candomusos.com

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