Well I got 2 new things: 1.) My new pipa! Sent to me all the way from China! I couldn't find a pipa dealer in Austin, Texas, not even in China Town. The other thing I got is 2.) a video camera for the computer so I can make more music videos now!!! Yesterday I went to my local Discount Electr... More
Well I got 2 new things: 1.) My new pipa! Sent to me all the way from China! I couldn't find a pipa dealer in Austin, Texas, not even in China Town. The other thing I got is 2.) a video camera for the computer so I can make more music videos now!!! Yesterday I went to my local Discount Electronics and bought the top of the line Microshaft LifeCam VX - 7000 for $45 and I spent over 6 hours last night trying every possible thing that could make the software work. My computer recognized the hardware no problem, I took a shapshot of me giving the finger to the imaginary microshaft programmers. The LifeCam 2.0 software that it came with (did I mention it was brand new and my PC met all the specs?) kept saying there was "no camera connected" to my computer when my computer kept telling me "LifeCam connected and working properly" I tried everything on the support site to no avail including the LifeCam 3.5 software, reducing video quality, and numerous reboots. Nothing worked and no forums gave me any answers, I just repeatedly found people saying this product was uber crap and to go with Logitech, so going back and trading out for Logitech seemed the only logical solution. Needless to say, after only 5 minutes I was recording video with no problems.
So I watched the instructional video...I thought learning jazz music theory was complicated, but you should check out the pipa hand techniques, they are numerous and really difficult to do. I will one day learn some Chinese pieces, but for now I'll have to settle for my original intention of applying my own style and technique to the instrument to create a new sound. What a marvelous instrument it is! I recently have been playing less of my 5-string banjo because even though I love its' high twang notes, it lacks a certain ancient bass or baritone sound and I find that the pipa can do both as well as the bonus of having far more tonal control with the deeper longer frets. I am in love with this instrument. Guitar, pipa, and fiddle are my top 3 right now. Less
