MMT #35 - South Africa Tour Part 5: Watts Up with Current Issues

Click to Play

Voltage conversion problems galore! I detail some of the problems and solutions for the digital musician converting electrical instruments from the U.S. to South African voltage. My Casio Privia PX-110, acting as a keyboard controller for my Pianoteq piano simulation program, finally gets a workout as demonstrated in two performances at a primary school in Hout Bay and a high school in Moessel Bay. Good thing, too - many of the pianos we encountered in our tour were either badly out of tune, broken, or altogether missing!

Hugh Sung www.hughsung.com http://hughsung.com www.hughsung.com/blog http://hughsung.com Hugh Sung www.hughsung.com http://hughsung.com www.hughsung.com/blog http://hughsung.com/blog

MMT #34 - South Africa Tour Part 4: All that have Life and Breath

Click to Play

Following an early morning worship service participation in St. Mark's Cathedral in the town of George, the CFS Choir Guys and i visit several game parks - Monkeyland and Cango Wildlife Ranch - we then settle down in Addo Elephant Park for a few days of game drives. We witness the lions in their own habitat up close and personal at the Schotia Safaris and live to tell the tale over a roaring Lapa fire and delicious buffet!

Hugh Sung

www.hughsung.com

http://hughsung.com

www.hughsung.com/blog

http://hughsung.com

Hugh Sung

www.hughsung.com

http://hughsung.com

www.hughsung.com/blog

http://hughsung.com/blog

MMT #33 - South Africa Tour: In The Wild

Click to Play

After getting settled into our hotel and sorting out our bag issues, the CFS Choir and i finally hit the road and start our road trip eastward from Cape Town towards Port Elizabeth. First stop is - to our surprise - a shopping mega mall! Surprising because so many of us in the States have limited, pre-conceived ideas about what life in South Africa is like - seeing something this modern and so similar to something found at home took all of us completely by surprise!

After a delicious lunch at the mall, we then head out to explore Cango Caves, a beautiful rock formation rediscovered by Van Zyl in 1780.

Next, we visit an Ostrich Farm and have the opportunity not only to meet these fascinating birds up close, but also to try our hand at riding them! Yee-haw!!

Hugh Sung www.hughsung.com http://hughsung.com www.hughsung.com/blog http://hughsung.com Hugh Sung www.hughsung.com http://hughsung.com www.hughsung.com/blog http://hughsung.com/blog

MMT #32 - South Africa Tour, Part 2: Arrival

Click to Play

The CFS Boys' Choir and i arrive in Cape Town and immediately start a downtown tour of the Two Oceans Aquarium, a little rock shop, and a bayside shopping mall. Bag problems continue, and i describe how the South African voltage fries my digital piano plug! Our first concert at a school for the sight impaired couldn't be recorded due to our late arrival, but instead i feature a short clip of the school's own choir performance (that begins with a bang! Luckily, no injuries!)


Hugh Sung www.hughsung.com http://hughsung.com www.hughsung.com/blog http://hughsung.com Hugh Sung www.hughsung.com http://hughsung.com www.hughsung.com/blog http://hughsung.com/blog

Music Meets Tech #31: South Africa Tour, Part 1

Click to Play

I just returned from my tour of South Africa with the Church Farm School Boys' Choir! From Cape Town to Port Elizabeth and back, we performed under the direction of Gary Gress at schools and churches, taking in the amazing sights, wildlife, and warm hospitality along the way. Part 1 of this special series introduces Gary, the CFS school and choral program, and chronicles our departure from Philadelphia and layover in London en route to Cape Town.


Hugh Sung www.hughsung.com http://hughsung.com www.hughsung.com/blog http://hughsung.com Hugh Sung www.hughsung.com http://hughsung.com www.hughsung.com/blog http://hughsung.com/blog

Music Meets Tech #30: Lidia Kaminska, Classical Accordionist

Click to Play

In this episode, Hugh Sung interviews Classical Accordionist Lidia Kaminska. Ms. Kaminska plays the Chromatic Button Accordion, which is capable of a wide range of musical expression. Ms. Kaminska demonstrates some Scarlatti and explains how the instrument works. This is Part 1 of a 3 part video interview series, originally posted on www.HughSung.com. Ms. Kaminska is currently affiliated with Astral Artistic Services.

Music Meets Tech #29: How to Set Up a Pianoteq System

Click to Play

Pianoteq is an amazing piano simulation program that allows for unprecedented musical expression on digital pianos. If you're new to digital pianos and virtual instrument plugins, this episode will help untangle all those wires and break down the setup process into easy steps. I start with simple diagrams for either a computer or dedicated sound module setup - aka, the Muse Receptor - then follow with a "live video" example of a computer setup with the help of a talented young pianist, Katie Tran.