This week has been one to remember, as I performed with the LHS Jazz Band for the last time on the Lindenwold Stage. Playing in the Jazz band for me has helped me as an artist in ways I still can't grasp. It allowed me to excercise my skills and telents, and gave me a platform on which I used to help reel in the likes of Anthony "flex" Wellington, which was an experience alone. Long story short, Thank you Mr. Pollock, and Mr. Lesser, your lessons will be with me for years to come as I try to take them to the next level and beyond.

Can't win em all

After an amazing day, I rest my head both honored and humbled. The Cappies Gala was a place I strived to belong at one day, and I finally achieve my goal, as I was nominated for a Cappie as a Comic actor in a play. Unfortunatly the stars hadn't alligned for me to go all the way, however the simple fact that I was nominated was enough to satisfy my "ego". Thank you Mrs. Trip, Mr. Abrams, and the rest of the Stand and Deliver cast and crew, it was an amazing experiece that will be with me always.

Youtube knows all(virtual sponsor visit)

I think new inventions of the 21st century like the Internet, easy access to recording equipment(audio and visual) and an open forum to show off your talents(youtube), have had a bigger impact on my personality and talents than almost any other force in my life. Which is a catch 22 I suppose, because I'm pretty much saying "I have no life". But if it weren't for personalities like SxE Phil, Robbert Chapman, the wonderful people of Expert Village and many many more, I've become the talented goofball you all know an loathe.

Lets GOOOO (to the cappies)

This plast week I was given the news that I had been nominated for as Cappie, as a Comedic Actor in a Play. Needless to say this extreme honor is one that few are given, as a mere nomination is  recognition enough for me. As an actor/musician being acknoweldged is something that happens almost never, outside of your own circle. So this annoucement hit me as nothing short of breathetaking, win or lose this will last me the rest of my life.

Song Bird

Over the past few days I've hit a massive patch of inspiration. Things have finally slowed down enough for me to have a minute to organize my thoughts. I've taken advantage of the time by creating, and exploring new territory in music, by recording some more aggressive music that normal. I owe this new musically emotion to some things going on in my life, coupled with the morbid lyrics of OFWGKTA, and catchy melodies and chord progressions of Four Years Strong, and A Day to Remember. Which helped me produce 2 instrumental samples that I am very proud of

and

Acting on Camera

This Saturday was a day that will live with me forever. I was the day of my industrial film shoot. Where I played Kyle Dawkins, and along with Villeen Wright(Cari), Gabe Cisinaros(Marcos), and Mike Peak(Dwayne). Together we everyone involved did an amazing job of bringing the script we've all been studying diligently to life. It was a very fun experience that I am grateful to have even been a part of, I still can't believe Mr. Wilson was so impressed with me that I was offered this great opportunity. I hope for more chances like this in the future this was to great and experience for it to only be a one shot deal.

Sponsor Meeting

Although it started with a close call, I was able to have a very intresting and sucessful sponsor meeting, Mr. Johnson arrive promtly at 1:30. It took a sec to figure out where we would go as Jigga and I hadn't completly thought it through, but thinking quickly on our feet we found ourselves in the library. Mr. Johnson brought his computer and used it to give us a quick run through of some very useful recording software(,Garageband,Logic, Reason)
After we sat down and talked about exactly what we need to do in the little time we have between now and presentation in May.
And we've also made some plans for a pretty cool surprise for the future...

Mentor Meeting!!

This past Tuesday Mr. Pollock gave some advice that goes above and beyond music. Several simple life lessons he had to learn the hard way.
1.) Network, always do your best to expand your contacts pool.
2.)Never burn bridges, just because you no long talk to someone that does not mean it has to be on bad terms.
3.) Take advantage of every opportunity, never allow your ego to get in the way of something doing something, you never ever know when you might meet some big move makers.

And along with each tip I was given a personal a real life application or anicdote. A very sucessful mentor meeting, I feel enlightened.

My Presentation

Although my presentation is some time away, and I am more that assured that my plans will change between then and now, but I plan to do a Music Clinic style event, and share my knowledge about general music, theory, production, recording etc.

Trip to Wildwood

This week my sponser meeting fell through unfortunatly, and my backup plan for a trip to the city that birthed me feel though as well. So it was just my luck that a friend of mine Jhmir asked me to acompany him on one of his famous "Dummy Missions".
I must say I was very skeptical at firs questioning how busy Wildwood could be the beginning of spring. However the day turned out that to be a pretty fun one, I use the "winning" power of networking, to plant the seeds of our relationship that could be very mutually beneficial to myself and a local arcade. As well as gave my e-mail to a man who runs a jazz podcast.
All in all not the most productive day, but a solid day I can be a big platform for even bigger moves in the future.

A longing for long distance...

As of late I've grown content with my surroundings,(I don't like it). Ironically its the result of recent trips I've taken, physically, spiritually, and mentally. On these journeys I've learn that there is much more to life than the narrow pool of goals I've clung to for so long. My dreams now venture far beyond the small box of obvious musical achievements to more general things, involving new human experiences that I'd never have in any other circumstance.

I'm already working on several life events, with club in hand I will mold my existence into my ideal one.

Sponsor meeting #2

This past Thursday was a very informative one, "Jigga" and myself made our second visit to our very knowledgeable, yet soft-spoken sponsor Mr. Randall Johnson. After arriving at Mr. Johnson's home studio we sat down and did a little catching up, which was well needed.
After listening to some of Mr. Johnson's work, pop, hip hop, funk, and rock loops, which he made himself, I was more than impressed. And I regret not thinking of it then, but quite a few of his loops were perfect for an instrumental demo I've been meaning to form, but just lacked the means to create. So with my next meeting I have a ton of ideas to share with him, and I hope they all work out to a mutual benefit.

Over 9000!!!!!

When I woke up Monday morning, I could feel deep in the farthest reaches of my being that this week would be one to remember. Needless to say I couldn't have been any more correct. This week began on the highest possible note, as I met and spoke with a man who ranks as one of the best Bass players in the world. Mr. Anthony "Flex" Wellington, came to our humble White Horse Pike town, and gave me the exact kick start I needed in order to give my creative energy some constructive direction, and even gave me ideas to help fuel this rekindled inferno.
Anthony's words helped me power through this past week, and now I can finally set my sights on outrageous goals, that once were too massive to comprehend, but with someone like Anthony in my corner I feel confident enough to really attack my future with a club in one hand, and creative force in the next.

An honest Apology

I must apologize for my blogs as of late. Over the past 3 weeks I've been producing less than stellar blogs The last few Blogs I've put out, have been pretty lack-luster and I haven't lived up to the standards that I have established for myself, so with this I vow to only submit blogs of the highest quality, and caliber, and return to the most "BI-WINNING" blogger of all time.

WINNING!!!!!!

Thank You Mr. Morris

In no less than 9 hours I will finally meet a man who has quickly become a juggernaut in my musical influence. Anthony "Flex" Wellington will be visiting LHS. This is sure to be quite possibly one of the most powerful events of my life.
Five years ago, I never would have even been daring enough to imagine someone of Anthony's caliber and talent would even recognize me as a blip on there radar, but thanks to Mr. Morris,(seriously Thank you) I've been placed right in the sights of the amazing Bassologist.
I still can't thank Coach Morris enough.

Trip To Philly: Part Duex

This past Thursday, Kyle, Rondel, Larry and myself took a very enlightening trip to the city of Brotherly Love. Although my last trip was somewhat productive, and allowed me to familiarize myself with center city, this trip was by far a better experience. In this trip we all gained some invaluable information, met some interesting and unique people, and shared the general feeling of accomplishment. All in all, a great day, with some very cool info you'll have to stick around to find.

QOTD "No Reward > Education"

This past week has been one of the most enlightening experiences I've had in a very long time. I was introduced into some new fashion, music and networked far beyond the confines of my "White Horse Pike" town. After visting a new clothing site suggested to me by a fellow Senior Projectee. Amung the great sales and deals of plndr.com I found a shirt that spoke to me. Although It has been taken down since posting this, Its knowledge has left a print on me.

My alterEGO

A conversation I had earlier this week got me thinking about myself, as a Gemini I was born with spit personalities which sounded alittle far fetched, but after conversing with some about music and how when performing their persona completely changes I thought about this introspectively.
And after pondering this for some time, I did notice a certain swagger, and charisma that the everyday Ron Thompson doesn't have.
I've come to the conclusion that at some point in my life I began developing a second metality that only came out when I performed, To be frank I don't have much self esteem, and I'm not quite as confident as I let on. But when I get on stage and can "zone out", my "Alter-Ego" takes over and I become what every character, or person I need to be, weither I'm acting in a play/movie, or playing in a music group. I just find it so fascinating how I can transform so drastically so quickly. I also wonder if anyone else has any moments like this.hmm..

Gotta Love the City(Sponsor Sub #2)

This past Monday, Kyle Thompson, Darius Greene and myself decided to use the brief brake in our schedule to do a little sight seeing, as we roamed the concrete of Center City Philadelphia.
I'm not sure what is is about the city that just breaths inspiration, something about the fast pace, and environment helps me clear my head, and developed my thoughts, it's a very empowering experience. We tookin some sites, tasted some "cousine", and even played some cool improv tunes for passer-bys' enjoyment.
All and all this was a much needed and well enjoyed adventure.

Sponsor Meeting(Sub)

For the next week and most of this week, my duties to my commitments has had we bound to the school. But I did not let my inability to see my sponsor discourage me from learning something new in my field.
Earlier in the year I post a Blog explaining that I choose audio production and music recording because I had become comfortable with my playing abilities. In retrospect, "I was a damn fool", I have no idea how I could have allowed myself to fall victim to talent satisfaction.
I digress, I say all of this to say, I've discovered a brand new world of music to explore. After performing at Princeton's Jazz festival a few weeks ago, I realized that there was more to Jazz than once perceived. If I wanted to truly become the great musician I wanted to be, I would have to fall further down the rabbit hole. So I picked up my guitar, warmed up my computer and discovered a plethora of new influences. So expect to hear more of the unsung heroes of the 1920' through 40's in up coming weeks.
Wes Montgomery: Jimi Hendrix looked up to this guy.

Still Blocked?!

A few weeks ago I posted a blog describing my frustrations with my overwhelming mental block. This isn't a redemption blog where I explain that by some magic happening I've somehow found myself on the other side of it, but rather a part 2, a continuation of my struggle with comprehending the fantastic events that I've experienced, and that I need to find a way better handle this stress. In the most paradoxical fashion expected future events are a looming ominous storm cloud, performing my final high school musical (no pun intended), meeting the professional "Bassolgist" Anthony Wellington, starting my own musical endeavors, acting for the first time in front of a camera, and spreading my wings over the summer so I'll be better prepared to fly on my own in college

Sponsor meet #1

After months of planning and weeks of work, my efforts have finally paid off as myself and "Jigga" visited our sponsor the ever humble Randell Johnson. We met at Randell's own home studio where he was already in the process of recording a contest jingle with a friend of his. To the untrained ears and eyes, our meeting seemed very boring and uneventful, but I was able to come away from it with a better understanding of the technology involved and time devoted to seemingly simple tasks. I can easily tell that this will be a very enlightening time for me.

A Jazzy Experience

February 23, 2011, the Lindenwold Jazz Combo, took a trip to the Ivy League Princeton University. Princeton was holding its third high school Jazz festival. The gathering consisted of the LHS Jazz Combo Newark Select Jazz band, and Cherry Hill select Jazz combo, each band being given 20 minutes to play and another 20 of Dr. Anthony D.J. Branker sharing his knowledge of Jazz to the budding musicians of the bands.
To sum up the night, I was put into a state of shock as so much information was given in each bands performance, and we were all lucky enough to have been given a private performance of the Princeton Select Jazz band's original songs.








"Smoovest Man Alive!"

The Quest for Unconscience Knowing

Over the past few weeks I've been in waxing contact with this man (Picture above) Anthony Wellington. This man is a well accomplished professional musician, who does clinics where he conveys his knowledge and talents.
I owe this incredible opportunity to Mr. Morris who actually went to High School with Anthony, and who instructed me to use his name to contact Anthony.

I have related my project and have created this blog based on him, because in only a matter of weeks he has become my goal. I hope to one day achieve the same level of success, skill, and most importantly knowledge.

Blocked

 As of February 14th 2011, I Ronald Thompson Jr, have overloaded myself. For the past few weeks I've started listening to new music groups, gained a new medium of enjoying media and took my 1st real trip to New York's Time Square. To most people that sounds great, but I am a person who needs time to digest new information and material. I do this to absorb as many of the small details as possible.
This being said, I still haven't gotten over New York's monstrous size, Spiderman spectacular stunts, or Anthony Wellington's furiously fast bass lines. So it may be a while till I can function properly and are able to comprehend everything that has recently occurred.

My Project(wish me luck)

My project will be on Audio Production, and Music recording, two subjects that I know very little. My Sponsor is Mr. Randall Johnson, a local music who works out of his own recording studio. Finally for my research paper, I will defend guitars both acoustic and electric as the most popular instrument of the past 60 years.

I belong in the City of Dis...

Inferno, the first part in the Divine Comedy Trilogy, follows Dante Alighieri as he is lead through Hell by the poet Virgil. Early in his journey Dante finds that Hell is divided into nine layers, each layer filled with souls condemned to eternal torture based on their sins on earth. As he roams through Hell, there are moments of true sympathy for some of the souls, as Dante feels that many of them should not be subject to such horrors. It was first noticed as Dante is lead to see the fate of those who are lusty earth, he finds a soul he knew, and she sorrowfully explained her story.
Adultery, promiscuity, lusty and general perversion, all things that would cause you to end up in Hell, and be whipped around like a flailing rag-doll colliding with other "heretic" souls, and after reading Inferno I believe it’s not a far-fetched concept that I could end up amongst these damned souls.
Introspectively I am guilty of several sins that would cause me to end up in one of Hell's ominous layers. Lust, wrath, avarice, and even heresy all sins that would cause me to be mercilessly tortured for all eternity.
The 7th layer of hell is designated for those who are blasphamers, and a layer which if I am wrong on my beliefs is waiting for me. For many years my "Faith" has been waning, and my own ability to believe or follow many organized religions has be withered greatly. This ,ironically, is due to growing up in a church environment. I have been a member of the Salvation Army Germantown corp for as long as I've been alive and have scarcely missed service. However this constant barrage of "non-denominational Christian" force in my life coupled with the constant hypocrisy of these "Holy" people caused me to begin to question my faith and what it was  I was a part of and why I believed what I did. Soon after I began researching, and the questions only grew bigger, and few answers could be found anywhere, whether I searched text or the religious people that surrounded me. After a while I was driven up and wall, and I now stands on the reason side, in the debate of religious validity. Because of this I have to be aware that my view may be a bit controversial in certain crowds, so I all make sure to be as respectful as humanly possible when discussing this with others, because I understand and celebrate the fact that I live in a nation where everyone is entitled to their thoughts, opinions and beliefs. Yet that is’nt enough to save me, from the City of Dis, or the torments found in Hell.(If it really exists that is.)

Are you Experienced?

Before all the fame, before money, and certainly before the flood of accolades, and praise, Johnny Allen Hendrix, better know as Jimi Hendrix, had just as humble a begining as most who have climbed to the pantheon of greatness, and achieved the title of legend. Jimi spent many of his years simply living from gig to gig, playing backup to many different acts before being discovered himself, such acts include  Don Covay, Little Richard and The Isley Brothers. Ironically after recording the Mercy with Covvay, The Rolling Stones recoreded the same song, and played Jimi's licks, long before his big break. Jimi played in several groups before Starting The Jimi hendrix Experience, never being too shy to put himself out there, one of his first bands after leaving the Airforce would humbly be named, Johnny James and the Blue Flames, clearly still refering to his birth name.
Jimi played in many road bands throughout his career, but would need to play 2nd chair to anyone after May 12, 1967, when Fire, recorded in London England, was realased making Jimi and overnight star. And dispite all of the current adoration and "worship" Jimi has recieved in recent years, and the hype of the time, Jimi Hendrix was a one hit wonder, having only his cover of Bob Dylan's All Along the Watchtower reach the number 1 spot.
Stories of stars proir to their great success has always intrested me, and after reading this I can only wonder, "Will there be a time when the name Ron Thompson has become synonomous with that of legend, and great and if the tales of my time in Lindenwold will be heard by the same ears that find Jimi's story just as capitvating". I almost am afraid to dream so big.

http://www.npr.org/2010/12/21/132231192/jimi-hendrix-before-he-was-famous

Dante's Inferno

This is my brief introduction into the world of Dante Alighieri, and the events leading to him creating The Inferno, and the Divine Comedy.
http://prezi.com/vk42jc0fteke/dante-alighierithe-inferno-still-burns/

The quest for your musical Identity

As a musician one of the most important things is finding and developing your own sound. Some try this through simple trial and error, trying different instruments, with different features, in different genres, stumbling aimlessly till they either give up, or find their niche.
When i first began my musical journey, I though I was lucky enough to have an accurate idea of what I wanted to do musically, and simply steered myself in that direction at full speed. Only to be found at a dead end, seemingly mastering a genre which I adored for its "technicality". Heavy Metal, my first love turned sour as I found the end the road much quicker than I anticipated.

at the time Metallica was the greatest band on the planet.

Later on my journey, I found that their was more the music than simply being the heaviest or the loudest, but you can use dynamics, different keys, and many other things to display a very diverse palette of emotions and sound.

So I pulled a complete 180, and began exploring other genres of music, taking things I liked and assimilating it into my own style using the soulful bend found in blues, fast punk rock power chords, heavy metal palm muting, and jazz chords, scales and modes.

And after 5 years of my search I still don't feel complete but that's only because I've come to terms with the fact music is truly limitless, and that I should never become content with one "sound"

Plagiarism Hero.

Coldplay, a band whose names has become synonymous with plagiarism, has somehow won a songwriting award from The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), for their hit single Viva la Vida http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/coldplay_win_songwriting_award.html

This came as a huge surprise to me, as the band has been accused of several accounts of plagiarism for their "Award winning" song. Both the Creaky Boards, and Joe Satriani has filed law suits against Coldplay for using excerpts from their respective songs. And to only make this situation even more bizarre Coldplay's Chris Martin has been nominated for an Oscar for another song writing award.
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/coldplays_chris_martin_nominated_for_songwriting_oscar.html

All and all this whole situation leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, by forcing me to ask the  question "How can an accused plagiarist be congratulated for thier ill-gotten works?".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEGGFJLpbu4