Interview with Dave Marshall and Brad Stanton of THWOMP

In Part One of this exclusive interview that I originally did for Suite101, Brad Stanton and Dave Marshall of the Nintendo® cover band THWOMP discuss the band's roots.

Drawn together by their passion for music and classic Nintendo® games, THWOMP has performed throughout Alberta, playing at everything from bar mitzvahs to comic-cons.

The year 2010 is an exciting one for the band, with gigs at the Calgary Comic Convention, Otafest and Animethon 17, as well as their upcoming CD release party in the fall. Suite 101 sat down with Brad Stanton and Dave Marshall before a rehearsal to chat. In this segment, they share how the band came together.

The Origin of THWOMP, a Nintendo® Cover Band

THWOMP is a six-piece progressive "prog" rock band based in Calgary, Alberta. It is comprised of Brad Stanton (lead guitar), Colin Mitchel (lead guitar), Scott Munro (bass), Scott Moffat (drums), David Marshall (keyboards/percussion) and Kirk McVean (keyboards).

Band mates Brad Stanton and Scott Munro met in 2001 while they were attending Mount Royal University (then a College). Brad recounted the first time he and Scott jammed on video game music, "I walked by his room one day and heard him playing the battle music from “Final Fantasy VI” and it was like, “That’s frickin’ awesome! Teach me how to play that.”

Writing down what he learned was the natural next step for Brad. "I went home and started transcribing for real, writing it out in three parts, for bass and two guitars. Then, I just did more and more and more tunes from that game." Eventually, Brad amassed enough transcriptions to begin jamming on the music. He called on Colin Mitchel and Scott Moffat, two buddies who play with Scott Munro in Günther, a three-piece progressive rock trio.

Classical Nintendo® games were ideal for the new band. "You can separate out the audio and it comes down to four tracks," Brad explained. "The original Nintendo® pieces work so perfectly for a four-piece band because you just transcribe every note and it sounds perfect."

However, the advent of Super Nintendo® posed some challenges for the group. "Well we wanted to do more Super Nintendo® games and they have 16 channels," said Brad. "That’s eight tracks of audio. I had to make decisions between what tracks I could do and what tracks I couldn’t do. I had to cut out stuff and give Colin a lead and me a harmony and miss this other string patch or something like that."

Dave Marshall Joins THWOMP

The group played at house parties, shows and bars around town for approximately two years. They met David Marshall at Broken City. At the time, the club hosted the Ramp Show on the first Thursday of each month to showcase new music or bands.

"We played the very first one as Günther’s side project and absolutely tore it up," recalled Brad. "The place was packed and everybody loved it. I remember you [Dave] being there and…the shit-eating grin on your face when we played Final Fantasy."

Hearing the band for the first time was a special moment for Dave. "I played that game in particular so much that as soon I heard it, I knew every note. I think that’s part of the appeal of the band too; there are lots of people who have that same experience when they hear us play. It took me a year to convince them that I was supposed to be in the band too."

Thanks to a cold snap during the winter, Dave was given a chance to play with the group. "It was about 35 below outside. It was ridiculous," said Brad. The rehearsal space didn't have heating, so Dave invited the band to rehearse in his home nearby. After jamming with the group, the decision was unanimous: "We decided that Dave needed to be in the band." The addition of Dave's keyboard and percussion skills meant that the group could explore music from Super Nintendo® games without compromising voicings.

THWOMP is a Nintendo® band that took root during an impromptu jam session between founding members Brad Stanton and Scott Munro on Final Fantasy tunes. The four-piece band became a quintet with the addition of keyboardist and percussionist Dave Marshall.

For more information about THWOMP, the band or to listen to audio clips, visit their website, BandCamp and Myspace page.

The full interview series:

Full interview series: Part 1 – THWOMP’s Origins | Part 2 – Band Names & Niches | Part 3 – Songwriting | Part 4 - Hey! Listen! CD Release | Part 5 - On Gigs | Part 6 - Convention Gigs | Part 7 - Video Games | Part 8 - Fun & Food

Hey! Listen! Album Review

Originally published on Suite101.com on July 27, 2010. Updated on March 22, 2013. All rights reserved by Rhona-Mae Arca.

Popular Japanese Study Books

Some of my classmates have been using other Japanese language workbooks to supplement their Japanese studies. Our きょうかしょ is jam-packed with information. However, the print is tiny and it's all in Japanese. It would be nice to have some explanations in English.

I'll be ordering my messenger bag soon, so I thought I would do a quick search

to find some of the popular Japanese workbooks on the market and add one or two to my order. Here are 10 of the most popular Japanese text books and workbooks that I found. どうぞ!

1. Japanese DeMYSTiFieD with Audio CD, 2nd Edition

2. Japanese For Dummies

3. Japanese for Young People III: Student Book

4. Japanese Sentence Patterns for Effective Communication: A Self-Study Course and Reference

5. Japanese for Busy People I: Romanized Version 1 CD attached

6. Japanese For Young People I: Kana Workbook

7. Japanese the Manga Way: An Illustrated Guide to Grammar and Structure

8. Japanese For Young People I: Student Book

9. Japanese for Busy People: Kana Workbook (Vol 1)

10. Genki: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese Workbook I [Second Edition] (Japanese Edition)

These books are also popular on J-List.com. Click on the link below to shop there:

Why Do Music Students Hate Counting?

This is something that I've been grappling with every year. Some students, no matter how hard I try, refuse to count their beats. They are usually the ones who really need to because they are struggling and need help with the rhythm or the tempo.

As far as I can tell, my students fall into five general groups. Perhaps you're in one of them:

1. Students who hope that their rhythmic instability isn't so obvious if they don't count,

2. Students who are self-conscious and don't like to hear their voice,

3. Students who just don't care about whether they are playing the rhythm correctly, and

4. Students who aren't sure how to count beats in their music.

Well students, regardless of whether you count, we music teachers can tell when the timing is off.

For my students who are self-conscious, sometimes, I count out loud with them or bang out the beat on my cajón. You could ask a family member to count with you at home (just ask them to be steady like a clock and then set the metronome to what the tick-tocks should be).

For the students who are apathetic about rhythm, there isn't much that me or your music teacher can do to help you. You've probably heard it before, you just can't help someone who doesn't want help in the first place.

Now for those of you who need a refresher on how to count, I have found these articles and video tutorials:

• Understanding the Basics of Counting Rhythms

• How to Count Rhythms

• How to Count Beats in a Song

Grain Free Hamburger Recipe for Dogs

A flavorful meal for dogs made with whole foods, this homemade dog food recipe can be prepared quickly and easily.

Whether your dog has food allergies or sensitivities or you are searching for better food for dogs, this is a viable alternative to expensive premium dog food. Maestro’s Grain Free Burgers is an easy dog food recipe to make. Serving portions and ingredients can be varied to give your dog a balanced diet, thereby ensuring your pet’s health.

Ingredients for Maestro’s Grain Free Burgers

The following whole foods form the foundation for this delicious dog food recipe. This can be easily customized to suit your dog’s preferences and nutritional needs, while providing balance through variety.

• 1 kg (2.2 pounds) of ground meat (e.g., veal, beef, pork, chicken, turkey, organ meat)

• 1 – 128 ml jar (4.5 oz.) of organic baby food vegetables (e.g., peas, carrots)

• 1 – 128 ml jar (4.5 oz.) of organic baby food vegetables (sweet potatoes)

• 2 tsp. vegetable oil

• ¼ tsp. rosemary

• ¼ tsp. basil

• 5 shakes of black pepper

• ground/crushed eggshells or bonemeal

Tips on Portion Control When Preparing Homemade Dog Food

Portion sizes should be calculated prior to making Maestro’s Grain Free Burgers. Raw4Dogs has an online calculator to determine portion sizes. The website also has recommended calculation adjustments for puppies, underweight and overweight dogs. The calcium requirements for a dog varies depending upon its weight.

According to David Bastin, Jennifer Ashton and Dr. Grant Nixon, D.V.M., authors of Better Food for Dogs (Toronto: Robert Rose, Inc. 2002), a 5 lb. dog requires a minimum of 274 mg of calcium daily and a 10 lb.dog needs 536 mg of calcium, while a 50 lb. dog requires at least 2,689 mg. The book, which contains numerous dog food recipes, also contains a comprehensive nutritional guide detailing the nutritional requirements of a dog from 5 lbs. up to 150.

First, calculate the amount of calcium required per meal. Better Food for Dogs does list recommended amounts per meal. Next, calculate the number of meal portions that the recipe will yield. This figure will give you the amount of calcium needed for this recipe.

Alternatively, you can add the calcium supplement just prior to feeding. Thoroughly mix the per meal amount with the dog food. Some recipes in Better Food for Dogs suggest adding a pinch of calcium supplement into the food. The balance of the daily required calcium would have to be administered another way (e.g.dog calcium pills, raw bones, milk, yogurt).

Preparing and Cooking Maestro’s Grain Free Burgers

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients.

2. Thoroughly mix together all ingredients.

3. Using a measuring scoop, spoon out a portion equivalent to one meal and shape it into a meatball or hamburger patty. Place on a plate for now.

4. Repeat step #3 until all the ingredients are used up.

Lightly cook the burgers by searing them. You can use either a broiler or a pan-sear them at a high temperature until the outside is brown. According to Dr. Per Schonbeck in his Pet-Nutrition-Advice article, “How is Your Dog Food Damaged by Its Processing,” “lightly broiled meats and steamed vegetables retain most of their nutrients.”

Serving and Storing Maestro’s Grain Free Burgers

As this is a protein-rich dog food recipe, various sides of carbohydrates can be added to balance your dog's meal. According to Bastin, Ashton and Nixon, dogs require 40% protein, 45% carbohydrates and 15% supplemental fat. Examples of fruits and vegetables you can include are chopped carrots, apples and bananas.

For grains, you can add brown rice, cooked oatmeal or cooked pasta. Smaller dogs may need their burgers broken down into bite-sized chunks.

Freeze the remaining burgers for future use. Simply microwave a serving for 45 seconds – 1 minute to defrost and warm up the doggy burgers.

Dogs on a home-prepared diet should take dog supplements such as digestive enzymes, glucosamine for dogs or brewer’s yeast to obtain optimal pet health. They should also take multi-vitamins. However, as many dog vitamins on the market are geared towards dogs on commercial dog food diet, check to make sure the vitamins are sufficient for your dog’s needs.

Vary the Ingredients to Achieve Nutritional Balance Over Time

No single homemade dog food recipe will meet all of a dog’s nutritional requirements. According to Mary Straus in her April 2007 Whole Dog Journal article, "Introduction to Homemade Diets for Dogs", dog owners should strive for nutritional balance over time. Vary the vegetables used as well as type and cut of meat in this hamburger recipe for dogs. However, be sure not to include any foods that are harmful to dogs.

If you are just starting your dog on a home-prepared diet, read "What You Should Know Before You Cook for Your Dog". Explore other dog food recipes and dog food alternatives. You should also consult with a veterinarian to determine your dog’s specific nutritional requirements.

Japanese Reading Practice with Children's Books

When learning a new language, it's important to try and apply what you've learned into daily living. Our Japanese Language school has a lending library.They are mainly children's books, but with our limited vocabulary, kids' books suit us just fine.

For a good laugh, check out みな うんち！It's the weirdest book I have ever read. The English translation is available on Amazon.

One of my classmates recommends the city library. I've also borrowed children's books in Japanese from the Calgary Japanese Community Association.

In the fall, I traveled to Vancouver, British Columbia. There, I visited Daiso Canada, a 100 yen store (or a "toonie" store for us Canucks). There were so many neat things, from kitchenware to slippers and from office supplies to books.

I picked up this puzzle book to work through. It's fun, however, the frustrating part is having to look up every second word!

While doing some spring cleaning, I found the puzzle book again. Guess what I'll be doing during my イースター の やすみ?

I had such a great time wandering the store. One of the staffers looked at me a little oddly when I held up a folder/book protector and asked "いくら です か？" It was before I realized that everything was approximately $2.

One of my friends just returned from a trip to New York City. One of her stops was Kinokuniya Bookstore. She picked up this book for me to practice my Japanese, along with some pamphlets:

Clickity-click, Barba Trick. Now, will I be able to read my Japanese kids' book without singing the Barbapapa Theme?