April 21/15 – PRESS RELEASE – Local Electric Violinist Receives Endorsement By World-Renowned Instrument Maker
This Press Release just went out to local media:
Local violinist, Trevor Dick, is endorsed/featured by world renowned electric string maker, Ned Steinberger of NS Design
After NS Design founder Ned Steinberger saw local jazz/world/pop violinist Trevor Dick using a Steinberger violin in a YouTube video, he added Dick to the company’s roster of musicians where he is presently the featured artist: http://thinkns.com/artists/artists.php
Dick was recording a solo improv track on a Steinberger CR 5-string violin for the upcoming Trevor Dick Band CD New World. He started using the instrument in 2006 while preparing for the launch of his Glory & Peace Christmas CD.
“I was really impressed with the sound of the instrument,” he says. “Also, it feels really natural and easy to play with a sophisticated ergonomic headless design.”
The Steinberger violin plays a key role in the Trevor Dick Band’s newest CD, New World, which is planned to be released in the fall. The instrument takes a lead role in the band’s arrangement of Eric Clapton’s “Change the World” and both the “East of Sinai – Prelude” and “East of Sinai” tracks.
“Paired with a complete rebuild of my pedal board, this instrument has enabled me to attain the sound a pallet of tones I’d been searching for,” says Dick.
Instrument designer Ned Steinberger began creating the unique-looking instruments in the mid-1970s, starting with the Spector NS bass guitar. Soon musicians like bass player Geddy Lee (Rush) and guitarist Eddy Van Halen (Van Halen) were seen using Steinberger instruments. In 1990, Steinberger founded NS Design (www.thinkns.com) to develop electric string instruments, focusing on bowed instruments: violin, viola, cello and double bass.
For more information contact: Trevor Dick: trevor@trevordick.com http://trevordick.com/
Written by: Robert White – http://www.quailcommunications.ca
Just launched! “Fairmeadow Studio :: String Recording Services”
With over 20 years of recording experience and a background in arranging and orchestration, I have decided to launch online string recording services on violin, viola and cello from my home recording studio – Fairmeadow Studio. I also plan to do more professional and home studio string session work in the region. I really love the interaction, creativity and energy of recording. Visit the new Fairmeadow Studio :: String Recording Services page here.
CREDITS:
STUDIOS:
Bruce Stacey’s Home Studio
ADS Media: http://adsmedia.ca/
Phase One Studios: http://www.phaseonestudios.com/
Noble Street Studios: http://www.noblestreetstudios.com/
ENGINEERS:
Richard Cleaver, Ken Vandevrie, Ian Tanner and Darryl Kingdon
VIDEO/PHOTOS:
Kurtis Vandevrie, Ken Vandevrie, Richard Cleaver, Trevor Dick and Kevin O’Leary
A Rare Airport Security X-Ray of my Two Violins!
Yesterday, at the tail end of a little Southern Manitoba tour, the Winnipeg Airport Security x-Ray technician snapped this photo of my two violins (George Craske acoustic and Ned Steinberger CR 5-String) snuggled together in their double violin case.
I travel/tour a fair bit and have always wanted to capture a shot like this of my instruments, but know it would be a serious breach of security to do so … so I asked the security guard if he would take a picture for me on my iPhone … and he did! I think he must be a fan of the violin/fiddle. I hope it did not cost him his job!
Until next time. T
St. Patrick’s Day :: Weather Network Exclusive – “Behind the Scenes”
Today, the Weather Network (Canada), play an exclusive Irish styled fiddle tune I recorded last week for St. Patrick’s Day. Here is a little bit of the “behind the scenes” footage of the recording process. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Violin/Fiddle: Trevor Dick
Studio: http://adsmedia.ca/
Engineer/Producer: Ken Vandevrie
iPhone Video Footage: Trevor Dick
GoPro Video Footage: Kurtis Vandevrie
“Electric String Players” Facebook Group Reaches 400 Members!
Back in July, I started a new Facebook Group called Electric String Players (Violin, Viola and Cello). The link is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ElectricStringPlayers
It was wonderful today, after a short six months time, to see this group reach the milestone of 400 members!
This group is meeting its goals to be a supportive, Global, all-inclusive Forum for electric violin, electric viola and electric cello players, fans, educators and enthusiasts. I encourage you to join in on the excellent discussions and continue to spread the word!
T
Three Stories – From the Dominican Republic with Love … and Compassion Canada
Happy New Year!
This coming year, I will be celebrating 10 years as an artist/ambassador with Compassion Canada in partnership with Flyingbow. As we celebrate a new year, I also look back on 2014 with some really fond memories. One such memory is the week I spent in the DR with Compassion Canada. You can read more of this visit in a blog post here. Compassion Canada captured a video (and three stories) of my visit to this beautiful country. Compassion works! If you have not done so already, I encourage you to sponsor a child through Compassion here. It will change your life and the life of another child – for eternity!
Perseverance …
per·se·ver·ance
ˌpərsəˈvirəns/
noun
Synonyms: persistence, tenacity, determination, staying power, indefatigability, steadfastness, purposefulness; patience, endurance, application, diligence, dedication, commitment, doggedness, assiduity, tirelessness, stamina; intransigence, obstinacy; informal – stick-to-it-iveness; formal – pertinacity
Recently, I have been doing a lot of reflecting on this word: “perseverance”. I breathed a sigh of relief this morning as I signed over final approval for the Trevor Dick Band | NEW WORLD CD Project to go to press at Ball Media Corporation. This is a culmination of three years of persevering through writing; arranging; orchestrating; rehearsing; recording (bed tracks at Noble Street Studios and overdubs in our home studios); editing; mastering with George Seara; coordinating the photo shoot (including renting old world “Steampunk” costumes); pulling together the text and content for the CD; working with Shane Drever from HOThouse Design on the artwork; submitting copyright and payment to CMRRA; and finally sending the final masters off to press and print at Ball Media Group.
Honestly, this has been the most ambitious project we have undertaken as a band – a total of 15 stylistically diverse, technically demanding songs. I built a brand new pedal board for this project. I also purchased and performed a new MIDI electric violin on a few songs for new tonal possibilities (youtube clip below). We have certainly entered a new musical World. The CD description says it well:
NEW WORLD, a collaboration of the Trevor Dick Band, freely explores and reinterprets a diverse collection of global music styles. This instrumental offering strives to convey the wonder, beauty/ugliness, sanctity, mystery and complexity of life on earth. The music is a culmination of all that has inspired us – a gift to our fellow sojourners.
What we thought was going to take a little over a year ended up taking almost three. We ended up pushing off the release date on the CD several times. We kept reminding each other that the process is just as important as the outcome – a process that truly stretched us as a band. It has taken real patience, dedication and determination to dig deep every step of the way. It has also required a lot of humility as we have had to go back to the “drawing board” several times to re-track parts that were just not sitting right or quite stylistically correct. I personally re-recorded three songs. At several times during this project I honestly felt like throwing in the towel, but I have pressed on. The vision for this project however has only become that much clearer as we have persevered.
I want to thank each band member for their dedication and commitment over these three years: Steve Heathcote (drums & percussion); Will Jarvis (electric and acoustic bass); Tony Lind (acoustic and electric guitar) and Brad Toews (piano and keyboards). We also want to thank Richard Cleaver (engineer) for his wonderful work mixing, editing and assisting in the production. Read more about his perspective here as we submitted the Masters to go to print earlier this week.
Until next time. T
Tracking “Perpetuum” on the new Cantini MIDI electric violin
Tracking “East of Sinai – Prelude” on my NS 5-String electric violin
Electric String Players (Violin, Viola & Cello) Facebook Group Started
ATTENTION all String Players on electric Violin, electric Viola and electric Cello!
I have just started a new Facebook Group called Electric String Players (Violin, Viola and Cello). The link is:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ElectricStringPlayers
This group is a Global all-inclusive Forum for electric violin, viola and cello players, fans, educators and enthusiasts. I encourage you to join, spread the word and talk about what is on your mind.
Until next time, T