Tag Archives: YouTube

The New Groove: Now Available for Streaming!

Today I am celebrating my birthday!

I am so thankful to be entering my next year of life being healthy, happy, and inspired. Thank you to everyone who has sent their birthday wishes. It means so much.

Join me in celebrating this milestone by streaming my EP The New Groove! You can find it on Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube Music among many other places. And it is still available to purchase on Bandcamp. If you like it, please share it with your friends!

Thanks for continuing to support me and my music. Can’t wait to make more for you soon!

Miss my blog?

I miss it, too! Just when I felt like I was getting in a groove, the world got turned on its head…

Being an artist, graduate student, and “gig worker,” the coronavirus has been devastating financially, educationally, creatively, and more. I talked about these hardships in more detail in my April Newsletter.

While it’s been hard, I’ve been rebuilding. I’m getting in a healthy routine and working on some exciting projects I will be sharing very soon! I also have some new blog content in the works that I think you’re going to like.

In the meantime, here are some ways you can help me keep writing and playing music.

Join me on Patreon. For a subscription as low as $1/month, you can access exclusive content, early access to my projects, free sheet music, and more!
Find Sam Spear Music on Patreon.

Like me on Facebook. And be sure to like and comment on my posts!
Find Sam Spear Music on Facebook.

Follow me on Instagram. I tend to get a bit more personal on Instagram, so you can follow me for great music and adorable photos of goslings by a pond.
Follow @sam_spear_music on Instagram.

Subscribe to my YouTube channel. I recently bought new recording gear, so I’m putting up new and better videos much more often. Subscribe and give my videos a “thumbs up,” or even a nice comment if you feel inclined!
Subscribe to Sam Spear Music on YouTube.

Follow me on Twitter. To be 100% honest, Twitter is the social media platform I least understand. So give me a follow and watch my epic blunders – and be among the first to hear about what I’m up to!
Follow @sam_spear_music on Twitter.

Subscribe to my monthly newsletter. I promise, I actually only send one email each month! No spam, only news about the music I’m creating and the blog posts I’m writing.
Subscribe to Sam Spear Music’s E-Newsletter.

Buy sheet music. If you’re a musician looking for some new pieces to learn, I have loads of sheet music for sale on SheetMusicPlus and Noteflight Marketplace. You can also commission me to write a new composition or arrangement just for you!
Browse sheet music selection.

Thank you so much for your continued support. I will have some fun, thought-provoking, highly nerdy blog posts for you soon!

May 2020 Newsletter

[Subscribe to see this in your inbox next month!]

Spring greetings!

I hope you are all doing well and getting some sunshine like we are here in Boston. I have enjoyed hiking during this time of social distancing. The header image for the newsletter is from my hike yesterday. It was gorgeous!

I am happy to report that I am feeling completely recovered from my mysterious illness. It has been amazing to have back my energy so I can practice, compose, hike, and finish the spring semester strong.

Today was my last day of classes for the school year. In some ways, it feels like school ended a long time ago. I am sad for all my graduating friends who are not getting the celebrations they deserve. I am sad for all of us who are uncertain they will be able to return to school in the fall. I am sad for all the administrators facing impossible decisions. I am sad for all the faculty and staff whose livelihoods are at stake. I have been reading a lot of articles about how the pandemic has and will continue to impact higher education in the US. Here’s an interesting one I read this morning from the New York Times.

I am excited to share that I set up a little “home studio” and have been making some short, fun videos to get comfortable with the setup. Now that I’m done with the spring, I am looking forward to making more videos and collaborating more with my friends. Stay tuned for more!

Today I released a transcription of John Coltrane’s solo on “Big Nick.” And here’s a video of me playing the first two choruses. I also shared my analysis of the solo with my followers on Patreon. For as little as $1/month you can gain access to exclusive content, early releases, free sheet music, and more!

I hope you all find ways to stay healthy and positive during this unusual time. As always, thank you for your support and encouragement.

With gratitude,
Sam

Featured Sounds

My parody of the Disney song “A Whole New World.” This arrangement is available on SheetMusicPlus: https://bit.ly/3aXuSK0.

Sheet Music For Sale

Original compositions and arrangements for a variety of ensembles available on Noteflight Marketplace and Sheet Music Plus!

Latest From the Blog


More coming soon, sneak peek for the next post available on Patreon 

  • April 2020 Newsletter – Last month’s news. [Read More] 
    (All of my newsletters are archived here.)
     
  • Encountering Gunther: Celebrating MBS – It was an honor to perform a concert with the New England Conservatory Jazz Orchestra celebrating the life and legacy of Gunther Schuller. … [Read More]
     
  • Encountering Gunther: My First Encounter With His Music – As part of New England Conservatory’s Jazz50 Celebration, the NEC Philharmonia and NEC Jazz Orchestra combined forces to produce the third performance of Gunther’s tour-de-force Encounters (2003)…. [Read More]
Patreon
Noteflight
SheetMusicPlus

Encountering Gunther: Celebrating MBS

It was an honor to perform a concert with the New England Conservatory Jazz Orchestra celebrating the life and legacy of Gunther Schuller. We were joined on a couple pieces by special guest George Schuller, Gunther’s youngest son. This video is of George’s composition MBS, in memory of his mother (Gunther’s wife and pillar of strength and inspiration), Marjorie Black Schuller. After reading Gunther’s autobiography, A Life in Pursuit of Music and Beauty, it was clear to me that he would never be satisfied with a celebration of his life that didn’t acknowledge his cherished counterpart. It was a great honor to be featured on this moving memorial to a strong woman.

Learn more about my Encountering Gunther blog series.

October 2019 Newsletter

I’ve just completed my first month of studying at New England Conservatory! It has been an amazing experience so far. I am taking classes on saxophone, composition, improvisation, and orchestration and loving every second. I have also been fortunate to work in NEC’s beautiful Blumenthal Library and as a teaching assistant in the Music Theory Department. I am looking forward to more wonderful times at NEC!

I am really excited to share that I am joining the board of Jazzhers, an organization with the mission of empowering female and non-binary high school jazz students. I have worked with Jazzhers in the past, and now we are going to be incorporated as a non-profit! Learn more about Jazzhers on our website, Facebook, and Instagram.

I have been working on consistently posting on my blog. It has been fun sharing my musings and hearing all your thoughts about my writing.

I also have some new charts available on my Noteflight Marketplace store. I am usually uploading at least a couple new scores every month so check in every once in a while.

I’m so thankful for all the wonderful things going on in my life right now. Thank you for sharing this journey with me.

Happy autumn!
Sam
Upcoming Performances
10/17 – NEC Jazz Orchestra with Alan Pasqua and Antonio Sanchez, 7:30 pm, Jordan Hall (More Info)

10/18 – Cecil Taylor Tribute Concert, 7:30 pm, Jordan Hall (More Info)

10/30 – NEC Philharmonia & Jazz Orchestra + Hugh Wolff: Beethoven & Schuller, 8 pm,  Jordan Hall (More Info)
Featured Sounds
New Scores For Sale
Original compositions and arrangements for a variety of ensembles available on Noteflight Marketplace!
Latest From the Blog

 Four – Is There More To It? –  the ending of “If You Could See Me Now” reminded them of the ending of Miles Davis’s tune “Four.” … [Read More] 

Jitterbug Waltz – “Jitterbug Waltz” was written in 1942 by pianist/composer/entertainer Thomas “Fats” Waller … [Read More]

 Meet the Gellers – The Gellers were vital contributors to the West Coast jazz scene of the 1950s and played with the likes of … [Read More]