Audio Recording with GarageBand - A Beginner's Guide

Offering innovative shipping options to executive-level clients, Stephen “Steve” Sangree is a territory manager at Priority1. Based in New Jersey, Stephen Sangree enjoys challenging himself outside of the workplace through empowering activities such as making music.

When it comes to music software for beginners, GarageBand by Apple is one of the most common and respected. It comes as a part of every Mac and iPhone and is free to download. Despite how easy it is to obtain, GarageBand has powerful capabilities.

First, the software comes preloaded with lots of samples. Choose a base loop, and add layers to create a song.

Second, the Software Instrument function allows you to make your own music using dozens of different pre-programmed instruments, from drum kits to pianos. Playing music using your Mac or MIDI keyboard, you can write an entire album without owning a single physical instrument.

Finally, GarageBand allows users to record real-life instruments using either the built-in microphone in a computer or phone or with an external mic. With an external one, just plug it into the computer and position it near the instrument, and you're ready to use GarageBand for live audio recording.

A Comparison of Zone and Man to Man Defense in Basketball

Stephen Sangree graduated from The College of New Jersey in Ewing in May 2018 with a degree in marketing. Steve Sangree played college basketball two years at Case Western Reserve University and has further experience as a basketball coach with Excel Basketball Camp in New Providence, New Jersey and Kevin Boyle's Basketball Camp.

In basketball, teams and coaches can implement a wide variety of defensive schemes. However, all schemes can be classed as either man or zone defense. Man defense, also known as man-to-man defense, involves a player on one team being given a defensive assignment on the opposing team and sticking to that player for the entire game. Assignments in man defense are generally positional, such as a point guard covering a point guard or a center guarding a center, but coaches may adjust assignments in search of more favorable match ups.

Zone defense requires a player to guard a spot on the floor rather than an actual player. Any opposing player that enters that section of the court becomes the defenders assignment. Zone defenses are highly customizable and can be used to either highlight a team’s defensive strengths or counteract an opposing team’s offensive tactics. For example, the 2-3 zone defense involves three defenders situated on the baseline, providing strong interior defense and allowing for easier rebounding, while two defenders oversee the top of the three-point arc. Meanwhile, 1-2-2 zone provides stout outside defense, but lacks protection up the middle and in the corners.

Priority1 Sales Conference

In November, I attended the Priority1 Sales Conference in Las Vegas.  Check out this link Click here.

Keeping Current on B-Ball News

1. Slam magazine, which you can now get as an app.  I used to read this magazine in hard copy as a kid (lots of action shots), and you can still get that if you want, but now you can get the app or just check out the website. A one year subscription is $12 or you can get a free trial subscription on the app.   You can also sign up for the Slam newsletter on their website which is free.  Check out www.slamonline.com. 
2. Another good weekly summary of what’s happening is available from Marc Stein, the former ESPN NBA analyst who is now the NBA writer for The New York Times.  He provides a lot of insight and you can sign up for his email at www.nytimes.com/newsletter/marc-stein.  
3. There are a lot of twitter accounts to follow .  I’m doing one which curates what’s going on from a number of sources at @SangreeHoops.  Check it out!

Want a Job in Basketball?

For those of you who want to get a part time job in basketball this season, I’ve got a few  tips:

1. Check out http://www.workinsports.com.  They have a lot of listings and you can sort by type of job.
2. Indeed.com allows you to put in a screen for basketball jobs – I have seen a number of coaching jobs at all levels, including high school and college.  They also have listings that might work for a weekend (helping to run a tournament or helping coach for a special event) (Click here).
3. TeamWorkOnline has a lot of listings, although it tends to be more full time (Click here).
4. Of course, another excellent way to find a job is to work your contacts from high school, AAU and college basketball teams and coaches.

Remember, getting a part time job in Bball can help you in whatever career you get into.  I’m in sales now, but learned a lot that’s helped me in my career  – working as a team player, striving for goals, working with different types of people – that came about through playing in college and working as a basketball coach at summer camps and a tournament operator in the spring.

Not to mention, its fun to work with a lot of fellow basketball players.   The cash is helpful if you are a student!  Looks good on a resume!  Think outside the box!

Some graduation pics!

Click here to see someone who is pretty excited!

Check out Twitter!

Simple Tips for Avoiding Basketball Injuries

Stephen Sangree is a senior studying business and marketing at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). An active student, Stephen Sangree also devotes time to playing basketball and has competed in college.

Taking steps to prevent injuries is vital for all athletes, including basketball players. Here are some important precautions basketball players can take to protect themselves from injury.

Basketball players should undergo a physical examination before starting a new season and prepare themselves physically beforehand, since injury rates increase in athletes who are not adequately fit. Activities such as strength training, agility workouts, and aerobic conditioning can help athletes achieve an optimal fitness level for playing basketball. 

Before every practice or game, it is vital to adequately stretch all muscle groups. Also, after a workout, a player must properly cool down. 

Some sports medicine professionals recommend that basketball players take a break for at least one season each year from basketball, which can help them to avoid overuse injuries. Younger players can cross-train and play a different sport in the spring or summer. All players should also strive to recognize when their body needs a break from training and decrease the intensity of their workouts if they experience pain.

NJ Resources for College Players

The summer is a great time to work on getting better in basketball.  Living in NJ, we are lucky to have many places and coaches that can help you improve your game.

I spend a lot of time at LifeTime Fitness in both their basketball gym and their weight room.  There is usually one night a week when college players show up for pick-up games.  Be sure to talk to other players to find the best day to show up.

To get some high-level competition, look for a pro-am or college summer league.  The league I played in at Princeton played games two evenings a week.  Another summer I played in a league at the Meadowlands where we played once a week.  This is a great chance to work on your game and meet other college players.

NJ Hoops for High School Ballers

One of the questions I am always asked is how to get better at basketball.  We are really lucky to have so many great programs in our part of the state.  Some of them operate under the radar so here is a list of some great programs that I have been part of – either coaching or as a player.

For a high-schooler, I strongly recommend the Excel Basketball Camp (Click here). Usually it is in the first two weeks of August in New Providence.  They focus on fundamentals.  I have been coaching with them for several years.

Another Jersey powerhouse for high-schoolers is Hoop Group, in Neptune (Click here).  They run lots of different camps including a 4-day camp to showcase academically strong basketball players to college coaches.  I would highly recommend it for sophomores and juniors that want to play ball on the college level in a D-1 or D-3 program.   It is a great way to make connections with coaches and other players from all over the country.  I went to two sessions during my junior summer and got a lot of great contacts.

When you are not playing in your high school b-ball season, I recommend Hoop Heaven (Click here).  They have a number of locations and it is a great way to stay in shape and find some good competition.  Shout out to my coaches at Hoop Heaven.

To stay on top of  what’s going on in basketball, find a blog or website that covers action in your county.  It is often a lot more detailed than what you find in the paper.  When I went to Morristown-Beard high school, I followed the Morris County Varsity Boys Basketball blog (Click here).   This blog gives a good rundown on each team in the county and often has cool pics (Click here).

About the author:  A business student at The College of New Jersey, Stephen Sangree has worked as an elite assistant recruiter with Hoop Group and as a counselor at Excel Basketball Camp.

My favorite Stephen Sangree basketball pics!

Stephen Sangree at Case Western Reserve in 2015

Stephen Sangree in State Tournament against St. Anthony's - 2014

Stephen Sangree in Princeton Summer League - 2016

Stephen Sangree in Princeton Summer League - 2016