Fork In The Road Music » application

Help Me Save a Life

Russell Martin — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:27:39 +0000

For the past two years I have been supporting the “Nothing But Nets” campaign. The campaign raises money to provide mosquito nets that protect from Malaria with the goal of wiping out the disease on the continent of Africa.

Between now and Christmas I want to raise enough money to buy 1000 nets. At $10 each that makes a total of $10,000

Wow, you might say that’s a lot of money but think of it this way.

Between now and Christmas is around 45 days. That means if you saved 22 cents per day between now and then you would have $10 for a net.

I figure that I have about 2000 people I am connected to between facebook personal page, fan page and twitter. If only half participated we would reach the goal.

How you can help:

1. Donate: I have created a netraiser team called Fork In the Road. You can help support me by making a secure online donation. Click here to donate.

2. Forward, Retweet, Repost: Send this on to your friends in your social networks. Get them to help.. who knows we could pass 1000 nets easily.

3. Start Your Own Team: Why not start your own effort with your church, youth group, or among your social media friends. It doesn’t matter who raises the money, just that they get raised.
For more information on how YOU can participate in Nothing But Nets, please visit www.NothingButNets.net

Thanks for your support!

Your Favorite Blackberry and Iphone Music Apps

Russell Martin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:27:08 +0000

For about a year the most searched for and viewed posts on my blog had to do with worship backgrounds. That was until I posted a list of my most useful iphone applications for musicians, along with a link to a friend’s post on iphone audio applications.

Since I wrote the apps for musicians post I know that many more applications have come out for the iphone, and you may have different favorites than me. I also know that there are a lot of you out there who use Blackberrys and use apps for them in your ministry.

So here is my question. What applications, for Blackberry and Iphone, do you use in your worship ministry and would recommend to others? List the name of the app and what platform it’s for in the comments below. If you have a link that would be great too.

Instrumental Reflections Live #1 Haunting Melody

Russell Martin — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 01:50:07 +0000

Basically this is how it works. I found a web cam I had bought a few years ago. Then I set up my keyboard, ran it into a small mixer and then into my computer. I then signed up for a ustream account and set up a show called “At the Piano.” From there I just sit down, invite some friends and just play.

Today I asked my friends to give me several notes in a random order. I took the notes in the order given and gave myself the challenge of creating a melody and chords based on the give notes.

Want to know when I play next? Follow me on Twitter and Facebook

The Fourth Screen- Can Social Media Bring us Back Together?

Russell Martin — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 02:56:03 +0000

When I found this clip about the 4th screen I had just heard about this guest post called “Is Twitter the New Town Square?” written by Gavin Richardson for the blog Life Without Pants. In his post he suggests that social media, like twitter, facebook, blogs etc can be the new town square.

In our world of intense individualism social networking may be a place where we can come together and share stories of faith, testimonies, exchange ideas, find comfort and support from other believers that we may never see or know about without social media.

I think this commercial reflects the same thing except the computer has done the same thing that the printing press did. That as technology has advanced we have in fact become more individualized. We need to find ways that technology can help us be more connected to each other, and engaged in the real world, rather than continuing to allow ourselves to live in increased isolation.

What do you think?

Oh.. for more you can always follow me on twitter @rgmmusic or on facebook

Sunday Setlist 3/22/09

Russell Martin — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 03:17:24 +0000

This was my first attemt at a video worship confessional. Check it out and let me know what you think.

To see what other worship services did this week make sure and check out Sunday Setlists on Fred McKinnon’s blog.

Sunday Setlist- 01-25-09

Russell Martin — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 19:24:55 +0000

Again it was a great Sunday. Our message this week was “Fishing and Following” brought by Pastor Danny Wayman. The music was awesome too, except I forgot where my capo went on “Jesus Messiah.” Luckily I was able to correct the problem.

Here are the songs.

Fork In the Road- I brought this to the band from my first CD. They do a great job with it.

Revive Us Again- A great redo if this old hymn.

Jesus Messiah- Except for me almost starting in the wrong key because of the capo, it went well

Flower in the Field- Kerri’s Song from her first CD.

Here I Am Lord- We did a quick redo of this hymn. Fit great with our topic of following Jesus

We also used this video about if the church marketed like starbucks.

And that’s just what we did this Sunday. Be sure and check out what others did on Fred McKinnon‘s Sunday Setlist Worship Carnival #27

Iphone Audio Applications

Russell Martin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:00:50 +0000

Over the past few weeks I have shared posts highlighting some of my favorite iphone/touch applications for musicians. If you enjoyed those make sure and check out this post on churchaudio.blogspot.com for some audio apps that might be helpful as well. And if you missed them, check out iphone apps for musicians part 1, part 2 and part 3.

A Wednesday Funny

Russell Martin — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 06:02:22 +0000

Working at any job I used to think the worst days were Mondays. But I have learned that Wednesdays are the days I tend to dread more. Yesterday my friend Russ Bowlin sent the entire staff this video. Apparently his goal was to inspire, and encourage us all this tough point of the week. I can tell you, I was inspired.

Hopefully Wednesday videos will become a weekly tradition. To read some of Russ’s slightly more serious thoughts you can follow his blog at http://russbowlin.blogspot.com/ or catch him on twitter @russbo

Iphone Apps for Musicians- Part 3

Russell Martin — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:00:15 +0000

This post is third in a series where I have highlighed some of the most useful apps for the iphone and ipod touch that I have found for my ministry leading worship. Here are the final 4.

Evernote-Their website says “Evernote allows you to easily capture information in any environment using whatever device or platform you find most convenient, and makes this information accessible and searchable at any time, from anywhere.” I have just begun using this software and haven’t started using it to it’s full potential but it looks promising. The ability to sync online and iphone is good. I could definately see it useful when purchasing equipment and making comparisons.

Twittelator- If you are a twitter user this is a great app to have. It is my primary form of interacting on twitter. I can send photos, direct messages, and replies. It also supports the location feature so everyone can know exactly where you are. It does from time to time get overwhelmed if you are following a large number of people who update very often but all in all it does well. There is a free version and then Twittelator Pro which costs a few dollars.

Pandora- I wrote about this a few months ago for the desktop version. The Pandora program for the iphone works just the same. Enter a song or artist and it will create a station based around the sound characteristics of that artist or song. The result is a play list that is similar in style that you can listen to all day long. I have used this both on the edge and 3G networks as well as Wifi. As long as you have a signal you can listen. The downside is you cannot listen to it and do anything else on your phone. Until apple lets us run two programs simultaneously.

BONUS APPLICATION FOR MUSICIANS

Gigbaby- A four track recorder with drum machine and metronome? Yeah and all for under a buck. I wouldn’t produce any records with it but great for recording song ideas. This was not in my original list but I ran across it the other day and have loved it since.