Interview with Nico Weenink on 12 feb 05
Nico ordered a Stick a few months ago and will join us at the Seminar in Zaandam in April 2005.
Click here for the website of Nico
1.Which Stick do you play ?
Indian Rosewood 10 string, classic tuning which is on order at SE currently
#5261.
2.What tuning do you use?
I intend to use Classic tuning, but I am not sure at the moment. Maybe later
I'll switch to baroque tuning but we'll see.
3.Which gauge strings?
Heavy
4.How long do you play Stick?
Since yesterday, February 12, when I had my first real lesson from Ron.
5.Which other instruments do you play and how long?
Bass and guitar for about 10 years or so. Besides that a little piano,
didgeridoo and Ud.
6.If you would have to choose to 4 levels of playing in which 1=absolute
beginner 2=beginner but knows some music theory,play a simple song
3=intermediate 4=advanced , which number would you give yourself?
On Stick I 'm an absolute beginner, but I can play a little tune. I am not
very good at music theory but I am working on it.
7.Please give me also a number(1,2,3 or 4) of the level of knowledge/skill
of
the next subject:
- Reading Staff Notation:
Just a little. As autodidact I never trained these skills.
- Reading Tablature:
Quite ok.
- Can you play major/minor chords? In open and close harmony?
Ron showed me yesterday and it went out well. I now need to look for naming
and the root notes.
- Do you know all 7 modes/scales/chords?
I know most of the modes, quite a few chords, but not all of them by head
fluently. I know the fifth step of a scale is always a dominant 7. I am
studying on this subject now but as an autodidact it's sometimes pretty hard
stuff.
- Can you play chordprogressions?
Yeah, with some studying.
- Can you play a song?
On Stick? Not yet, but be prepared...;-)
8.Do you play in a band or solo?
I played in bands but am currently not involved in any.
9.Which specific subjects would you like the teachers to concentrate on?
I liked the way we did it yesterday: I started to play something, Ron added
and showed some stuff and from there we went on with ideas, technique and so
on. But I suppose it is quite difficult to do so in a group. For me
personally I would like to learn how to play modes, chords and such, find
out where notes are located and how to build up a song, solo's etc. I liked
the 'jam' yesterday were Ron showed me a scale, played a song and I added a
kind of solo-part.
10.On Saturdaynight you can also play a few songs at the pubconcerts, would
you
like to play a few songs as well?
I am not able to study because I do not have my own Stick yet.:( Otherwise I
would love to play of course! But next time I'll be there on stage playing
the roof off! ;)
11.How's your sense of rhythm? Can you read rhythm notation?
Yes, I played drums for a year when I was about fifteen.
12.Which kind of music do you like?
All kinds of music! Paganini's violin concerto, Portuguese fado, salsa,
dance (Orleanski), jazz, name it! Only music I do not appreciate much is
Trash Metal and Hardcore House (but who of us likes these anyway? ;))
13.How did you discover the Stick?
First time I saw somebody playing Stick was at a Peter Gabriel concert in
Ahoy, 1985 (Tony Levin). My new discovery was after the interview with Ron
in Bass Magazine, and actually that's where it all started. Just a week
after reading the interview I was at Ron's house and he showed me the world
of the Stick. I must admit I was impressed by the (r)evolution the
instrument made throughout the years and I am looking forward to play my
own.
14.What is your goal in music
To make good music and to entertain people.
To broaden my own horizon and skills as a musician and human being.
15.Do you eat meat/fish or are you vegetarian ?
I love fish, and I eat meat about three times a week. So you can say I am a
part-time vegetarian.;)
Thanks Nico for the interview, we look forward recieving you at the seminar!
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