Michael Buble’: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne 2011

The first time I heard this man live in concert was back in September 2005. Hamer Hall, my favourite Melbourne venue for music. The acoustics were incredible. Of course, I had full hearing back then too. But the warmth of the jazz band filled not only every niche in the room but crawled its way inside my body too. The sounds bounced off the walls with nowhere else to go but within. I felt the music from head to toes and had to shed several silent tears for the sheer power of the sounds being expelled from the room. Michael Buble' won me over that night – not just for his charm and his humour, but for the respect he showed for his band … and the respect he showed for the original singers of his cover tracks. I confess my Frank Sinatra CDs became a little dusty after that night.

BEI concert review (coming soon!)

Of course I’ve got lots to report on the BEI concert! Has been a crazy couple of weeks juggling CICADA deadlines with medical appointments, but don’t think I’ve forgotten! 

Media publicity: Bionic Ear Institute's Interior Design Concert (UPDATED)

Some amazing sounds coming from the Fairfax Theatre at the moment - just listening to the performers getting ready for the show!

We just wrapped up our interview with ABC TV. Be sure to tune in to the 7pm national news on ABC 1 tonight, if you're interested!

UPDATED ON 14/02/2011:
Here's the link to the online news story!
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2011/02/14/3137688.htm

Music for bionic listeners - concert day!

It’s ‘Concert Day’ – sort of! It’s after midnight anyway. And I should be in bed resting up, but am feeling a little flat after watching my football team lose twice in the one night. Should be used to it, I suppose, but with football only just starting up again for the year, I need to slowly wean myself into the disappointing losses once more. For my Aussie readers: I’m a mad (in all senses of the word) Tigers supporter, if you didn’t realise already.


But, tonight’s game is in the past now – I’m done with devoting my Saturday to sports, and ready to devote my Sunday to the arts. (Do I epitomise the typical Melburnian, or what??!)

Interior design: music for the bionic ear!

Very exciting weekend ahead with the Bionic Ear Institute’s concert taking place in Melbourne on Sunday!

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Sunday 13^th February, 2011

Where: Fairfax Studio @ the Arts Centre, Melbourne

Times: Choose from: 5:30 pm or 8:00 pm

Prices: $25 adults / $15 concession

Also an optional 7 pm lecture for all ticketholders, limited space available (first come, first served). Lecture will cover how the music was made along with some of the issues encountered.

Buy tickets here: http://www.theartscentre.com.au/whats-on/event.aspx?id=2403

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The calm before the storm

Tap tap tap. Tuh-tuh-tuh-tap. Tuh-tuh-tuh-tap. Tuh-tuh-tuh-tap.

Ignore that, if you can. Or give me A Look, whatever. That’s what Jase does. It’s the sound of me tapping my fingers on the table and I’m told it’s Annoying. Why am I tapping? Because I’m waiting.

Bionic Ear Institute – the television interview! As promised!

A few blogs ago, I mentioned our meeting at the Bionic Ear Institute had been partially filmed by the ABC, for a program called ‘Art Nation’.

I’ve mentioned the concert project plenty of times, but in case I have new readers ... the Bionic Ear Institute have teamed up with a group of composers, lead by Robin Fox. The composers are learning all about cochlear implants and are trying to create pieces of music that people with cochlear implants can enjoy. The pieces of music will be performed at a concert in Melbourne, in February next year. It will hopefully be recorded so we can share the experience with cochlear implant recipients around the globe.

The first meeting between composers and CI recipients took place in early October. The film crew from the ABC were present for part of it. Aside from filming part of the meeting, they also spoke to a few cochlear implant recipients afterwards, myself included.

Music updates … and other activities

Can you believe it’s October already? My cochlear implants have been activated for six months now, and life is so amazing. Better than it was before because I’ve had the chance to meet so many wonderful people, and explore things I’d never be able to otherwise.

"Cochlear music" – the ABC Radio National interview

Very happy to take part in a national radio interview to spread further awareness about the work the Bionic Ear Institute are doing here in Melbourne.

Can I just point out the not-so-obvious but overwhelmingly amazing fact that this interview was conducted over the phone? Imagine that! Only five months ago, I'd pick up the phone and not even hear a dial tone. For about 14 months prior to that, I couldn't understand speech well enough to use a phone.

Triple J radio publicity

And the media publicity for the Bionic Ear Institute's 'concert project' continues ...!  

I'm so honoured to be able to help them out with this. What an incredible way of overlapping the arts with the sciences! And anybody who knows the importance of making music FUN is going to get my firm seal of approval. ;-) 

Here's a link to the Triple J interview played earlier this week: http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hack/stories/s2953719.htm  

There’s Mildly Ambitious … Far Too Ambitious … and Insanely Ambitious

Shh … I’m booking tickets for musical events taking place later this year. If my audiologist finds out, I fear she’ll send me for a pre-implant psychological assessment, quick smart, to quash those Unrealistic Expectations.

Let’s start with Mildly Ambitious, scheduled for around 4.5 months after switch-on. (August 2010)