Thank you!

Happy Holidays,
~Marcus:)

2. Haircut. While there I noticed my old school man barber does pretty darn good doing nothing but straight forward business man cuts for guys. I see so many ladies set up the really, really fancy hair shops with the perms colorings etc who go out of business, but my barber has more biz than he needs, lines everyday by doing nothing but A+, old-fashioned biz cuts. Something to think about for those of you headed to Barber school.

3. Writing on the series, book, multimedia event. It is getting more thrilling each entry. Getting closer to the big turning point that really launches the story. Having a darn good time on the way there also. I ask that it stay that way through all the edits etc.

4. Paid some bills, (the ones I could afford too:) These companies need to learn to be more thankful.

5. I am absolutely going to have to look at a tiny price increase for students. I wish I didn’t have too but that is where it is at. I have always undercharged for what I know, and what I can do, and my own education and experience relative to it. I ask that all my students and their families be ok with this.

6. Looking forward to getting the story to the point of the second song so that I can begin notation of it and get it ready for my students in the student artist program at Marcus Unlimited (Introduced in 2009)

7. Making sure to combine all side story ideas that have in the past side tracked me into the big story. I thought originally this would weaken the story but instead, it has enriched it exponentially are really takes it to a new level of pure originality.

8. Tried increasing the format size for the stories art work to 8.5 x 11 on high quality card stock, however that size takes to long because of the allowable detail which is visibly unnecessary anyways. When the books come out they will be standard pocketbook size so I may fold the 8.5 x 11″ ‘s in half and use that as the format. That could work. Other ideas include some sort of big picture map on one page. (Something I’ve done before for other works that had a cool result.

9. Filled up one journal, going to the second tonight! Yes!

10. Happy New Year!

2. Completed my take of the first song for it and have sent it towards the iTunes system through my distributor RouteNote in England.

3. Have not been able to shake desire to make and amazing all-ages, youth centered, operetta/musical recently and a theme and idea came to me. I was afraid to look into the idea because I didn’t want it to throw off the upcoming series/book/movie thing. Then I had this wild idea on how to integrate the two! Neat! May even be a concept I could use to incorporate all kinds of short story ideas that come up along the way while still being at work on the series.

4. It has been surprisingly cold in Modesto. Wow, I heard it even snowed here recently. I was busy composing, or writing, or illustrating. Which frankly is a rather wonderful world because you can add snow, sun, or beaches anytime you want. Or anything else for that matter.

5. Looking back, realizing all of my best music stories have come from first writing them into one of those very fancy ‘esque journal books. The kind that cost just enough money for you to take what goes into it very seriously. So that’s what I’m sticking to.

6. Semi-new to Facebook but having fun with it.

7. There was talk about a new full size, wood and steel piano showing up at the second location where I teach voice, NICE!

8. I have been rereading many “Young Reader” classics and noticing how much of that artwork is done in simple pen and ink. I’ve been realizing how much better my art looks before I color it. Hmm…

9. I have begun piano / vocal notation of song 2 for the web series, book thing, but am considering a slight story tangent before arriving on “the five.” Shh, its a secret.

10. Heard a beautiful Samuel Barber song today regarding “Winter” sung by a mezzo. Samuel was also a singing composer and I’m surprised he didn’t write more for the voice. Needless to say if Adagio for Strings was the only thing he had ever composed, that would have cemented his place in music immortality anyways:)

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays,
from,
Marcus Unlimited

2. Sketched out many themes for the All of Us album. Considered classic poetry, however I think I know what my existing audience will prefer.

3. Began to actually implement Facbook tool: http://www.facebook.com/people/Marcus-James-Christian/1240915111 …and make it publicly available to good, kind and peaceful fans and friends around the globe.

4. Explored Julia Cameron’s “Artist Pages” concept in a number of different methods. This procedure has netted some interesting results.

5. I am thinking of recrafting the first tune for the All of Us album project.

6. Lots of new practice files up at our main YouTube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/marcusunlimited

7. I am enjoying alot of small setting, chamber music lately. Duo’s of piano and violin, maybe a cello added etc.

8. Tried some exploratory drafts of Chromaticus, the full story. I’m rethinking the perspective though. I may want to take it back to a “You” perspective, and borrow the treasure chest idea or there abouts.

9. It has been unusually hot for this time of year here recently. I’m looking forward to the real Autumn weather to begin!

10. I sold my first music/art aceo card this week. Neat feeling, not so profitable though. I am however quite thankful for so much.
I wish you all the very best,

~Marcus:)

1. Had a mind blowing, A+ idea for AIWU (Alice in Wonderland UNLIMITED) marketing come to me. Well it didn’t actually come to me, I mean I worked for it with pen and paper, over and over again writing the words, AUDIENCE , STUDENTS and MARCUS. These words kept me on focus. I have to think about the audience first, and teach my new students artist to put the audience first. I can’t wait to test this new idea:)

2. A small movement from the first soprano aria from AIWU is mostly done. I want to put the prelim tracks up on youtube for students to practice with. Maybe I can get that in tonight before the eyelids fall.

3. I had a cool idea for the Caterpillar, who won’t actually be a caterpillar but instead will be a… (Shhh!)

4. Bunch of new stuff up at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/marcusunlimited Happy Halloween.

5. I’ve been having fun with the Artist’s “Morning Pages” concept by Julia Cameron from her book the artists way:  (I was considering posting an Amazon affiliate link here but, I have to wait on something first.)

6. The original Time Machine by H G Wells is an amazing book. Such vivid Steampunk lore it is.

7. Recently found out that a young voice student won a 1st place, grand champion at a San Jose vocal competition. Nice!:)

8.  I’ve been thinking about letting students take a run at doing their own cut of my Harmonious Haiku albums: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mjcu

9. I recently asked a question on Answers.yahoo.com about which 3 literary classics  pre-1900, would most parents desire for their kids to read prior to college. Some of the responses were obvious and wise, but I was quite surprised how only one book kept ending up in the top 3 must read; “Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice?” Not that its not a great read but I wouldn’t have thought it would have outscored Hamlet or Great Expectations, or…?

10. Newman’s own sesame ginger salad dressing is amazing on confetti coleslaw, wrapped in a heated corn tortilla!

`Night:)

2. I have had an idea about a new series, thinking of running it simultaneously with the excerpts from Alice in Wonderland Unlimited. I thought of it because the AIWU songs of course are leaning towards a best performed by young female singers, which leaves to many other students out. Thus a second project added on will be most beneficial to all students. I may base it on an idea I’ve had in the past but had backburnered.

3.  I still dream of some sort of amazing Chromaticus Epic, but, well, we all have dreams:)

4. Taught voice today to wonderful students, who are… “on their way!”

5. Distributed coupon stickies today as a way of meeting and talking to people closer to home base.

6. Noticed that there are toooooo many drug stores in the world! They are opening up a rite aid and a cvs pharmacy right next to each other, corner to corner at one of the busiest corners in Modesto! I wish we could all see that the real problem is not the people, but how many people are struggling with serious drug dependencies. There must be a higher level solution than “more dope?” I feel so thankful that somehow I’ve never had even the slightest desire to try the stuff and it has been an advantage I must recommend for any young person; “…if you are going to try things in life, be sure that none of those things are drugs!”

7. Made some contributions to the first Major soprano aria for AIWU, “in the box” thinking would say it needs to be alot longer of a tune, but, “what is best” thinking suggests it is a beautiful short interlude. Perhaps its melody could be reprized later in the show with different lyrics, like maybe Alice’s return home? / Also I’ve noticed maybe the arrangement could/should be alot simpler?

8. Wondering which art format I should use for the “Journey” concept? Paper or Digital?

9. Some of the itunes volume of sales and subscribed streams are quite impressive, I wonder if I double work load, will it double sales? Or do the types of works they are simply have a “ceiling.”

10. It was a weird unpleasant type of heat today. Like a wall of something, can’t really explain it, glad the sun has set for tonight.

All the  best,

~Marcus:)