Sam Aluyon - How to Turn Mistakes into Musical Masterpieces

Today we dive into musical improvisation with the multifaceted Sam Aluyon. Sam Aluyon as been playing piano and singing for 20+ years, and has been an improv actor for over a year. From spontaneous melodies to the impact of AI on creativity, Sam Aluyon is here today to explore it all. we delve into the intersection of traditional musicianship and modern technology, exploring how tools like the Autochords app help inspire Sam with new chord progressions, fostering his creativity during live performances. So grab your headphones as we have an enlightening discussion on the intersections of music, improvisation, and technology right here on Creator/Shift.

Some Questions I ask:

• Which instruments do you play?

• Which genres do you play the most?

• How many different musical groups are you in?

• Were you raised playing music? 

• What kind of tech do you use the most when going out for a performance?

• Do you use any type of A.I assisted apps?

• How are artists affected by A.I. created content?

• Which part of being a musician do you have to practice the most to get good at?

• Best way to practice scales and chords?

In this episode you will learn:

• Expressing Creative Desires: "the bigger feeling that you have, the bigger wants or expression that you have, the more that I can pull from

• The Importance of Community in Improv**: From his stories about Measure Island to Edgewood Avenue, Sam stresses the significance of support and collaboration within the musical and improv community, underpinning the success and vibrancy of performances.

• The podcast discussed the influence of AI in creative fields.

• In what ways AI can best complement human creativity without replacing it

• Keeping Music Human-> Despite the benefits of technology, both Sam and Erika agree that AI and apps should aid, not replace, the human element in music, emphasizing emotion, spontaneity, and human connection as irreplaceable aspects of live performance.

🎧 Catch this inspiring conversation and more on how the blend of tech, talent, and teamwork powers the world of musical improv on our Creator/Shift podcast. Available now!

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Measure Island website: https://www.measureislandimprov.com

Connect with Sam and his groups on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/sam.aluyon/

https://www.instagram.com/measureislandimprov/

https://www.instagram.com/albertonedgewood/

Erika Christie is the host of Creator/Shift and as a Filmmaker/Writer/Producer has worked professionally in many different fields. Erika will be interviewing all types of amazing art-folk and delving into the best ways that artists up skill themselves- meaning, what they do to better themselves and their artwork. We'll also be putting a special focus on transitioning your skills into new artistic mediums and how to best work and collaborate with artists who have very different skill sets from your own.

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TRANSCRIPT

Erika Christie:

Questions. Which instruments do you play? Which genres do you do the most? And how many different musical groups are you in?

Sam Aluyon:

Okay, so. That's so funny. Okay, so different instruments. I sing, if you consider that an instrument, because the vocal. And then I play guitar, acoustic guitar, specifically. I do know how to play bass. I play piano, which is piano. And singing is, like, my main instruments.

Sam Aluyon:

I can fangle with the drums a little bit, but not as technical. I do want to learn, for sure. And then another thing is, and this is a long time ago, but I do still kind of know how to play tuba. It's kind of ingrained in with me, like, still how to, like, hit the note. Like, it's in my fingertips that I'm like, oh, yeah, this is c. I know that. Or things like that.

Erika Christie:

So, yeah, excellent. And then what's. Did you, like, grow up in band? Like, what kind of genre? Like, what do you do the most?

Sam Aluyon:

Okay, so I did grow up. Well, I grew up more singing because, like, my whole family are, like, a bunch of singers. I feel like that's Filipinos in general. We're all singers. And then I was forced to learn to play, like, classical music as a kid, and I. Yeah, so, gosh, what do I play? That's so funny, because right now, what I am currently playing a lot of is, like, musical, like, musical type of songs. It's very simple. Not simple, but yeah, it's like music, musicals is what I feel like I'm playing, like, the most.

Sam Aluyon:

Like, if you think of any kind of musical, it's that type of genre. But my favorite things a lot of. A lot of times to play is, like, r and b kind of songs. Yeah, it's a different mix, but yes. Right now, what I'm actually trying to learn, and this is going to help me to grow as a. Specifically as a piano player, is learning to just do a bunch of different cover songs on piano. Like, learning to, like, okay, any song that I can think of, old and new, if you can, like, just learn to play that, then you start to understand the structure within there. Right? Like, what chord progression and patterns happening in there, and you start to understand and see that.

Sam Aluyon:

And then as you learn that, you can easily start using and putting those into. For. Specifically for me, for my type, like, improv shows. So, like, if I'm in a musical and I want to, like, add something else, a different type of genre, and I understand the chord progression, then I'm like, okay, I can use this. And so, like, people who like playing piano bars, like, have, like, two to 500 songs, maybe even more actually songs in their repertoire that they know. And that's mainly because it's, like, repetitive chord progressions that happen. Yeah. They just figure out, okay, what's the scale? Or, like, what scale are we in? And then, okay, I'll add.

Sam Aluyon:

And then I know what the chord.

Erika Christie:

Progression kind of hit, that muscle memory where you remember some part of the song and you can just kind of go into it.

Sam Aluyon:

Yes. So that's the. Definitely the goal. So I'm trying to spread myself a little bit more because where I got most of my piano stuff was playing christian music is where I got. I played at a church.

Erika Christie:

I played in church for a number of years. So I'm right there with.

Sam Aluyon:

Greatest musicians are people who come out of the church, which is so crazy, but you learn so much. And that's, like, also a thing where I was like, instinct. You learned instinct there because you would follow, like, what the pastor wanted or what the worship leader wanted. You know, like, you would feel it. It's really a feeling at the end of the day, like, okay, this is where we're going or building up or whatever. Yeah, yeah.

Erika Christie:

And when I was doing church stuff, I was a teenager, and everybody else in the group was in their thirties to their fifties, and a few of them had played professionally in rock and blues bands. So they were always bringing rock and blues into what we were doing. And then there was me just, like, figuring stuff out as I go, and then I get older and realize, like, wow, that was amazing that I was playing some of that music from the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and I wasn't even, like, aware that that's what was happening at the time. I can look back and be like, that was so great that I was able to do that.

Sam Aluyon:

Yeah, yeah. And now it translates into now, which is so amazing.

Erika Christie:

Yeah. So two of the groups that you're in that I'm totally aware of, one was Edgewood Avenue puppets. Music.

Sam Aluyon:

Yes.

Erika Christie:

You're a performer, and often I've seen you doing emcee stuff as well. And I've also filmed you even doing measure island stuff, which is improv, musical improv. And I've seen you perform and sing, and I've seen you play the piano. So I think you and JT go back and forth, depending the show.

Sam Aluyon:

Yeah, depending on the show, we are learning how to, uh, like, it would be interesting within or the middle of the show, figuring out how we can use the tool of the both of us to be able to, like, flip. So, like, an example is, like, we could be. We could be like, brothers and stuff. And you only see, like, one of the brothers in the first act and then it switches and you will see the other brother or second act or what, you know, it would be interesting, especially if, like, the piano is on stage, it makes it easier in that. But I think of, like, for instance, where you recorded us at red light, that would be a lot harder for us to, like, rotate around, kind of. I don't know, it would be interesting. So playing with that idea, because, I don't know, many improvise, like, improvised team musical teams that have two accompaniments at the same time, which is kind of rare. I think companies in general are rare, but having two in your team is even more.

Erika Christie:

Yeah. Are you in any other groups or are those the two main ones for right now?

Sam Aluyon:

Um, I do consider myself part of, um, road trip, so whenever. Uh. So road trip is Madeline's group. Um, yeah, yeah. And she mainly plays at dad's. I think they're gonna start having, like, a reoccurring set there, but I am part of that. Because, uh, she always asked me to, like, play piano specifically for that. So whenever I'm.

I make myself available, like, consistently. So whenever she wants that. So I love that it's. It's not necessarily musical per se. It's kind of like, yeah, I just, like, add to it, and then I always tell the people there, I'm like, hey, if you want to do a musical or kind of music and sing, I will follow you along. Like, don't worry, I have your back the whole time kind of vibe. But those are those. Yeah, those are the three main.

Those are my three main focuses, because I think I can spread myself out thin, but I do. I will say I'm a musician at dad's garage, so whenever they need me playing there. Oh, black grounds is another. This is a new improv. I don't know if it's new, but they've been doing it, I think, for a little bit of time and have recently started coming back to dad's garage, but black ground at dad's garage. I think the 24 April 24th is when our next one is. And that is gonna be. I'm a muse musician for there as well, but I'm like, is there anything else? Yeah, I try to focus on that because I feel like if I go anymore, I'll, like, spread myself out too thin.

I have my main focuses.

Erika Christie:

All right, I want to jump over to what I'm calling, like, tools and technology. So, like, beyond your physical instrument, whether it's a keyboard or guitar or whatever it is, what kind of, like, tools and gear and software do you use the most when you go out to do a performance?

Sam Aluyon:

Gosh, that's the heart. Okay. So there's really only one tool that I specifically use, because my piano is, like, the main instrument that I use, and within there, if you have a good piano, you can adjust and change it. So you don't necessarily need an outside software, like, necessarily. I can tell you when it comes to dj equipment, what you definitely. What you want. But there's this thing that I use that it's kind of. It's not.

Sam Aluyon:

It's not necessarily. It kind of is a cheat. I don't know what people think, whatever, but it's this thing called Autochords that I use. I don't know if you can literally see it, but it will. It will show the different chord progressions and you can choose different, like, how you want it to feel. So, like, going back. So if something feels like I'm doing a scene or like, I'm watching a scene and it feels eerie and just like, ooh, something like evil is lurking. There is literally a thing in here called eerie, and it will give me a four chord progression that is.

Sam Aluyon:

That gives an eerie feel to it. And so I will use that as interrupt you.

Erika Christie:

Is there, like, a website to this?

Sam Aluyon:

Oh, it's just.

Erika Christie:

Is it just an app? It's just an app.

Sam Aluyon:

It's called auto cord. And maybe there is a website. I wouldn't be surprised, though, because they're always. People are always finding out, like, what is the chord progressions that I can use? So I use this in a way to give me, like, just a basis of, like, okay, these are the four chords I could use. It's a starting point. And at the end of the day, I'm like, okay, I hit those. You'll find me in a lot of times hitting those four chords quietly and figuring out within me, I'm like, okay, okay, that's the feeling that I'm getting. And then I'll start playing around.

Sam Aluyon:

It's almost like, once again following the path of, like, okay, I do like those four chords. How can I keep following that? Maybe I'll add a six or a fifth or things like that in there to make it sound more. And that's. It's just a starting point, a basic point. Yeah, but according to anything else, not really. I mean, Voc. Vocally, I mean, I love listen, like, having, like, playlists that are, like, vocal warm up playlists that I have that I like will listen to. And that's something that I use.

Sam Aluyon:

It's also where I pull from, because when it comes to, like, musical improv, I am specifically, like, you know, making sure that the vocals for everybody's working warmed up. And so we will pull from those kinds of things to keep it interesting, to focus on things that we notice that as a musician, notice, like, okay, we have a harder time hitting those sounds because obviously we're not, like, professionals in that sense of, like, we want everyone to sound like amazing opera singer, but we want it to still sound fairly good because people like that, once they hear, like, harmonies and melodies and all of that within that, they're, like, amazed by that on top of, like, how do you do improv at the same time? But yes. So that is something else. Other softwares and stuff, not. Nothing really is as a piano player, not as much.

Erika Christie:

Yeah. Yeah.

Sam Aluyon:

Because it's. It is found within the instrument.

Erika Christie:

Mm hmm. Yeah. How long have you been using that app? Like, is that something that's new to you? They've done recently or have been using it for a while.

Sam Aluyon:

That is maybe like a year. No, wait. No, that's not true. Like, six months or four to six months I've been using. It's been helpful in many ways, but also, like, I will find that sometimes I have to, like, let it go and being like. Because there's. It only has a finite number of combinations, and it only gives you four chord combinations. So not.

Sam Aluyon:

It's gonna. Everything's going to sound the same if you're always hitting four chords, even if you're switching up. So, like, you know, learning to jump between that and it's not even giving you, like, four. Four, you know? Or, like, are we in? You know, like, what type of meter are we in? It's not giving you that either. It's just like a waltz, you know? So it's like, it doesn't give you much, but at least it gives you a basics. And I'm, like, learning to, like, okay, sometimes I got to, like, step away from there because it can restrict you if you're too stuck in, like, oh, no, these four chords aren't working kind of thing, but it's a great way to start.

Erika Christie:

Yeah, definitely sounds like it. I like to talk a lot about, like, emerging technology. So kind of based on what you were just saying, is there any other apps out there that you've heard of that you kind of want to jump on, or is there any part of that app that you're like, oh, I really wish they would change this, and that would be, like, the next change, and that would really help me.

Sam Aluyon:

Okay, well, there is this other app that I've seen that I haven't played around with. I can't remember the specific name of it, but it's within that realm of the auto chords, but within there, you can actually. It uses AI to create the chord progressions for you in that sense. So it doesn't stick to just four chords and create chord progressions. And then from there, if there's something that I really, really like, I can go back and save that as a specific. Like, that's my favorite chord progression, and then you can adjust and change it to even have it. So it's like, if you're gonna add, like, this is, like, a piano term, but if you're gonna, like, a fifth to it or a 7th to it, to a note or a chord, then you can actually save that in there. I just think it's cool that you can, that AI can actually.

Sam Aluyon:

That's, that is an interesting thing to know, that, like, AI can actually create chord progressions for you.

Erika Christie:

Well, music is math and computers like math, so it certainly makes sense to me. Yeah, kind of. I'm a little back and forth as far as the AI stuff. Well, first of all, I am annoyed. We don't need to go on a tangent right now. I'm annoyed by everyone calling it AI because it's not AI, it's not artificial intelligence. It's just, it's just generative software. That's all it is.

Erika Christie:

But that's a, that's a tangent.

Sam Aluyon:

We don't need.

Erika Christie:

It's just powerful, generative software that can pull so much. So part of me is excited between that and, like, mid journey and some of the other, like, more arty stuff and music and text stuff, writing copy and, you know, chat, GPT and that sort of thing. Part of me is like, I like it in the fact that it can kind of help you move forward a little bit in some of these, like, or if you just have a starting point or if you need something summarized. I like that. And I'm not fully on the bandwagon of, oh, no, all artists are going to be irrelevant because you have to put information in to get information out. Like, it doesn't, it doesn't just create stuff out of scratch.

Sam Aluyon:

No. And also it's so soulless. Soulless in many ways. Even if you, like, create something in it, like, it just doesn't sound the same. It's, it's missing something within there. And that really is like what you were. I think what you were basically getting at is that it's not AI because it's like, it's just putting out. Like, this is a basic structure.

Sam Aluyon:

Because even if I used the app that I mentioned, at the end of the day, I'm the one still hitting the notes and I'm not like, I have to choose which, because even within there, I have to choose which. What do they call that? Because I can play a c a certain way and I can play a c in so many different ways, I get to choose which notes I want to play on that to get that feeling, and then that's what people connect to. I just don't think that it's going to completely remove or take out artists because that's impossible. I don't know. That's just impossible at the end of the day.

Erika Christie:

I mean, I like it in the sense of, like, you know, you can dump in a couple paragraphs of text and be like, give me four different titles for this, for a social media post, and I'll go through those four and I'll choose the one I want. Like, that's sort of just, like, kind of busy work that you don't necessarily need to do, but, like, for the bigger stuff, like, you still, still need a human who's there, who's looking at it, who's proofreading it. Like, it's just a very small tool to kind of help you save a little bit of time in your progress. What I want is for AI to start doing our laundry and vacuum floor.

Sam Aluyon:

Which that would be amazing. Things that we don't need to do.

Erika Christie:

I want them to be doing that. Or, like, analyze the city and figure out traffic routes. So good ways of getting more cars off the road, lowering traffic levels, that sort of thing. That's what I want AI to be doing. It doesn't need to be doing more than it's already doing now.

Sam Aluyon:

All right, agreed. Agreed.

Erika Christie:

All right. That was a little bit of a tangent. Question for you, skills. Which part of, let's say, being a musician do you have to practice the most to get good at?

Sam Aluyon:

Say that again.

Erika Christie:

Which part of being a musician do you have to practice the most to get good at?

Sam Aluyon:

Hmm. I guess, honestly, I would. Part me is, like, just practicing alone and being consistent is the only thing that you need to do to just get good at. Because people will give up so quickly because they don't think that they're good enemy as a musician because how they started and if they just kept going, which is so simple, it's like just life. Like, we are. We as human are so funny that we don't want to be consistent or we want to be so good, we want control and we just, like, don't want to be consistent. But, like, for instance, if you, as a improv musician, if you want to get good at it, then, like, just keep. Keep practicing different it songs, keep practicing different things.

Sam Aluyon:

Like fear. Get in tune with your own self and your own and your own gut. Like, what you like to do it, like, find things that light you up. So it's like, it, like, goes beyond just and also, like, take breaks because you'll find that, like, having breaks in between as a musician helps because sometimes you can get so burnt out by trying, like, doing over and over and over again. It's almost like when people have writer's block, like, step away for a second, but honestly, being just consistent as a musician and just keep on practicing. Like, practice, learn, learn from other people's music at the end of the day, because people are wrote in beautiful, amazing music, and they've put in a lot of effort and time into that. So, like, learn it and understand it, and what's happening can be a really great way of becoming a better musician. Yeah, I say that's, like, such a hard question because musician is so well rounded.

Sam Aluyon:

Like, what is a musician?

Erika Christie:

I tell you one thing that I never did practice a lot that I could have gotten better at, especially as a drummer, was really just being much more confident with chords because I knew what they were, because, you know, especially even during warm ups, get job, jump on that, you know, marimba or xylephone or whatever, and you're doing scales with the band. But then when it's time to sit down and really do something, my brain is going, is it B flat? Is it b? I forget which. Which key are we in? Like, if I had really, really focused more on. And especially if you're doing, you know, jazz or improv or something like that, you have to know the chords and the different varieties within the chords. Like, so, so well in your head.

Sam Aluyon:

Honestly, scales, for sure.

Erika Christie:

Scale. Like, learn your scale, boring as it may seem, like so.

Sam Aluyon:

And memorize them. Like, like, know them. And then, you know what, on top of that, just don't even know. Like, this is such a basic thing, but, like, don't even just know, like, c, d, e, f, g, a, b, c, D. Like, no, like, numbers, because that's what's gonna actually help you at the end of the day. So when I say numbers, it's like, if people will say, like, oh, it's a one, four, three pattern. You're thinking in a scale. So one, four, three.

Sam Aluyon:

So I'm thinking one is c, f, and then e is three. So if I did that, I can move that into any other scale. So, like, one, learn your scales, because then you can learn your numbers, and then you can apply those numbers, because at the end of the day, it's just like you said, it's numbers. It's math. So what is the pattern that is happening within music? And if you can understand the same pattern and you know your scales, you can apply that wherever you need to go. And also, scales are so complicated. I was looking at, and I was like, there's so many, like, diatomic scale. Like, something.

Sam Aluyon:

Like, so many different scales. I'm like, why is it so complicated. But, yeah, it's so funny. But, yeah, if you can learn those and then learn your numbers, you're. You're, like, really set for a lot of things. And then obviously, you know the normal things of, like, learning, like, rhythm, learning to, like, trust yourself and play and move around within the piano. Try different things here and there, but get that basic knowledge down, because once you can get the, like, the two brain split I was talking about, when you can get the knowledge down for playing piano or learning your scale as a musician, then you're gonna be able to, like, move freely. It's like improv.

Sam Aluyon:

Like, for improv, they're always like, learn the rules that are here, and that way you can eventually break the rules is what happens. But you can always come back to the rules at the end of the day.