Focus, would ya?

Thursday and Fridays are basically my weekend, as I usually do not have a "gig" either of those days. I teach Mon - Wed this quarter, and then play church on Sat and Sunday. A lot of times I will also have a gig in the evening - so I am workin' as much as possible, and thankful to be working!

I usually have to catch up on bills, my "honey do" list on Thur and Fri ---

After all that is done, whatever time is left I get to work on Fdeluxe.

This weeks task was to learn the Vienna Strings library that was borrowed to me. That may sound easy, but it opens up a whole new can of woop ass!

I have to not only learn the program, I have to learn how to orchestrate.

I also have to learn about articulations, what instrument plays what, and once I do that, figure out how that corresponds to the synth that I am learning.

Pictured with me is my friend A.D.A.M. who set up some templates for me to get me rollin'.

Needless to say it has been a bit of a struggle, but today I had a break through.

I am working on a track called "The Vigil" - and I had originally done the orchestration on a string synth that I though sounded "fine;" that is until I heard this new synth.

I now have to re allocate all my arrangements on ALL the songs to this new synth, to make my string section sound as real as possible.

You probably are asking yourself, "Why don't you just use Clare Fisher again, like the last record?" One word - BUDGET.

If I could I would hand this right over to him and his son Brent, whom I have been in contact with for the last 2 years. We had tried to figure out a way to get to work together, but no one can work for free. Brent did, however, listen to my arrangements and give them his blessing.

I am sure he was just being nice, but I have REALLY tried to draw on all of my harmonic heros to do this CD justice.

I am anxious for you all to hear it when it is done (so am I, really!)

Maybe I can put a sample of what one of my arrangements sounds like here!

Have a great weekend.

St Paul Peterson

Thanksgiving Weekend - the hang and the gig

Hope you are having a great Thanksgiving weekend. Well the 40 Peterson's that came to my house had fun. It went SO smoothly, I was amazed. I put 2 turkeys on - 1 on the grill and one in the oven, and they both turned out PERFECTLY! The decibel level in my house was so loud, I was amazed!!!! Everyone partying, having a great time.

Before we ate, we said grace, and I was able to remind people how lucky we all truly are. I told them to look around at the people at their table - and drink it all in. We are truly blessed in our family, and I never take it for granted.

We also had our first Peterson Family Holiday Concert of the season at the Woman's Club of Mpls. Mom stole the show, once again. Everyone was there except for Ricky, who is on a plane to Japan to tour with David Sanborn.

I played drums the entire night, and even sang from back there. Talk about lack of coordination! I am glad I wasn't chewin' gum!!!

If you have never heard the Peterson Family's latest Holiday CD, click HERE.

I am now sitting down to watch my Vikings kick some Bear butt!!!!

I have to plan out my week, because I have TONS to do.

Here's the list:

Teach Mon-Wed, and prepare for the 3 songs that we are producing in class.....

I have a management meeting on Monday with my artist Casey Carlson.

I also have make time to learn more about my new programs that I purchased to enhance the my new record with Fdeluxe, formerly known as The Family.

We truly are close, but time is ALWAYS, ALWAYS hard to find when I am at home.

Looks like Thurs and Fri I can devote all day and night to that. I am getting some help with the programs from some folks smarter than me, so hopefully that will cut down on the learning curve. More details of day to day as it happens.

Have a great night, and go Vikes!

St Paul Peterson

Thanksgiving Day - a day off of sorts....

It's 9:30 am, and I just woke up (that is sleeping in for me!)

My wife had the coffee on and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on. I looked at the last time I started a blog, and it was the day AFTER Thanksgiving 2008.

I am really going to try this year to blog more often, so you all have an idea of how insane I really am. I want to share with you all things that are going on with me:

1. The 500 projects I seem to take on: progress, etc

2. Family life

3. Travel

4. Parenting

5. New Music that I am listening to

Let me know if you have any suggestions as well.

OK - so as I am sitting writing this, I am thinking about how lucky I really am.

I really have it made - a beautiful wife that loves me after 19 years, great kids, and a wonderful family. Most of my family will be here at 3:30, each bringing their special dishes. I am cooking 2 turkeys: 1 in the oven, and 1 on the grill.

Julie (my wife and I) rent tables and chairs, and usually have between 30-35 people over.

We really love to host Thanksgiving, and I believe this is our 10th year (if not more).

My mom and sister Linda are flying in from Palm Springs, but the rest of the family are actually in town.

This Saturday the Peterson Family have their 1st of 4 holiday gigs. This one is at the Womans Club in downtown Mpls. We have scaled things back a bit, as I actually wanted to enjoy my brothers and sisters this holiday season, instead of ordering them around. (I am sure they are going to enjoy that more as well.) All the 3d and 4th generation will take a year off, with the exception of nephew Jason Peterson DeLaire.

If you want to find out all the details of the gigs, go back to www.PaulPeterson.com and look on the front page where I list the gigs. You can also go to www.ThePetersonFamily.info for bios, etc.

That's all for today, as I want to actually TAKE A DAY OFF!!!

God Bless you all - and have a wonderful day!

St Paul Peterson