dsindel

He’s the maestro of symphonic sound reviving classical compositions by Beethoven, Mozart and Schubert on guitar. He dazzled fans with instrumental imagery of Anitra’s Dance and Ole. He triumphed with his version of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus and other Messiah excerpts. Then he had others marching to a different beat with his tribute to John Philip Sousa. Now, you can call him teacher. Using technology to his advantage, Dan Sindel is off to conquer cyberspace with his online guitar lessons. And according to him, this venture is taking off quite well. Recently, the wizard granted SouthSide an all-access pass to find out what’s happening in his realm.

This year at NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Dan had a purpose. It was to promote his new site, www.ezgtr.com, and video guitar lessons. His site is sponsored by GHS / Rockton, Notion Music, Levy Leather Straps and The Guitar Wheel. Currently this site only targets beginners and immediate players but there are future plans to create lessons for advance players. What makes this site so helpful for users is that it’s not a pre-recorded lesson. You get the symphonic maestro teaching the lesson himself. As a test, Dan launched the idea with a couple of YouTube video lessons at the end of 2008. Now, he has quite a number who have signed up for his lessons.

Like any medium using technology, the advantages and disadvantages are about the same. The advantages of taking Dan’s lessons online the person doesn’t have to waste gas and money especially if the weather is bad. Another advantage is that it saves time. You can take a lesson anytime you want. On the flipside, the disadvantages would be choppy video and breaks in net connection. Dan told SouthSide that this did get some response from a few representatives during NAMM. At the time of this interview, he was still in talks with software companies about online and lesson tutorials. Some of the ideas like downloadable lessons for a reasonable price are being tossed around.

According to Dan, music has changed alongside with technology. The amount of exposure an artist can have is astounding because of the connection with many around the world. Though the recording industry hasn’t caught up, musicians still have to promote themselves the old fashion way. The internet is great for beginning bands and artists but they have to put the effort in getting their name and music to the willing listener. To quote Dan, “it’s hard work in this business.” SouthSide understood that statement all too well. She has seen many bands rise and peak to the top only to falter in the end. “With a little bit of practice and patience, you can go far”, Dan said.

It wasn’t all talk about online guitar lessons with my friend Dan. He asked SouthSide what was new in the Blagojevich scandal. Besides making headlines here around town, it was big news in Los Angeles. Talk about him sparked an impromptu song by Dan dedicated to the embattled (now former) governor. He did treat this reviewer a few riffs of everyone’s acoustic request, Freebird. Dan was very excited over the press and write-up he has received for his Marching In CD, The interview ended with this piece advice for all musicians - love what you do and don’t get caught trying to be a superstar.

Wise words, Fearless fans, from the maestro himself. For more information about Dan Sindel and his online guitar lessons, check out www.ezgtr.com, on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/ezgtr and on myspace at www.myspace.com/ezgtr.

Until next time, Fearless fans, support local indie artists and music.

Peace
SouthSide

Dan Sindel featured in Electronic Musician - July 2008
For Press Release: 06/26/08

Yet another exciting day as Dan Sindel's Symphonic Guitars earn a full page "Pro-File" in the media giant "Electronic Musician" magazines July 2008 issue.

The article covers quite a lot of ground as staff writer Emile Menasché eloquently summed up Dan's "Symphonic Guitar" approach to multi tracking layer upon layer of guitar tracks to create a huge wall of sound and also talks about his debut release of "Marching In: A Tribute to the March King John Philip Sousa".

Dan states: "I have been reading Electronic Musician Magazine for a very long time and it is an absolute honor and a privilege to have been featured within EM's revered pages, it truly is a thrill and I certainly hope to inspire many a guitar player to try their hand at raising the bar regarding their methods of recording".

::read more at http://emusician.com/interviews/emusic_guitars_mar ch/

What a nice way to start off at ultimate-guitar.com..!
This is a wonderful review and I look forward to meeting lots of new friends here..!

Dan   

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Sound:
John Philip Sousa, the March King, is buried at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington DC. His legacy has been celebrated since his death in 1932-perhaps most famously through Monty Python’s use of The Liberty Bell during the credits of Monty Python and the Flying Circus. Dan Sindel is next in line to deliver his take on The March King, but this time, Sousa has been immortalised through the use of myriads of guitar-layered tracks. Sindel excels on world-renowned composition, The Washington Post, first performed in 1889. The beauty of Sindel’s guitar work is the sheer depth of the mix, as he indulges the listener in a truly breathtaking rendition of the timeless classic. Sindel’s work is best heard through headphones; through which the listener can fully appreciate the attention to detail Sindel has gone through the trouble of achieving. Utilising his full board of pedals, Sindel’s sound and tone are achieved through his close collaboration with some of the all time greats, such as Rick Shlosser, with whom notable artists such as Alice Cooper, Rod Stewart,Van Morrison, Cher and Diana Ross have worked. Sindel’s mastery of the instrument is phenomenal; a much welcome breath of innovation in the development of instrumental guitar work is what Sindel has achieved, with guitar solos bouncing off each other, as he incorporates flawless technique after flawless technique in reproducing arguably one of the finest guitar-orientated albums of 2008. Not only do his recordings break the innovation threshold, but his performance at NAMM has to be seen to be believed, and fortunately, you can do just that by visiting his myspace page, which can be found at: http://www.myspace.com/dansindel.  // 9

Lyrics:
Despite this being an instrumental album, it is indisputably expressive, as Sindel’s love of what he does resplendently shines through. He Shall Feed His Flock provides the greatest acoustic arrangement of the year; the accompanying  lead guitar playing is distinctive, poignant, and sombre: Sindel speaks through his technique and overwhelming brilliance, as his guitar sheds its skin, entering a realm beyond what this world can offer.  // 8

Impression:
When the UG editor first directed me to Dan’s webpage, I was initially apprehensive of what I was about to hear. Somehow, a guitarist’s tribute to one of the greatest composers of all time did not stand out to me as anything remarkable. What is remarkable is Dan’s inimitable capacity to completely dispel initial doubts. After listening to Dan’s tracks, I hurriedly contacted him, flabbergasted, touched, both by his sincerity and intensity. A final point to address is where Dan can go from here, or rather where he cannot; it is safe to say that Dan’s unique endeavour and talent should see his ripples transpose from calm waters to roaring storms. // 10