Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess’ Wizdom Music recently launched a new app called GeoShred that lets musicians create music on an iPad. GeoShred features next generation physical modeling sound synthesis from moForte, enabling musicians to create mind bending guitar sounds and effects on an iPad.

Rudess has posted this new video to discuss and demonstrate one of the most important elements in playing an instrument. The control of pitch. Learn all about how important vibrato is to your music making and how mastering it can give you new levels of personal musical expression.

Dream Theater's new album, The Astonishing,  a character-based two-act double album that tells the story of dystopian future in which only machines can create music, was released on January 29th. The band has checked in with the following update.

"The Astonishing has been released to rave reviews across the world. Now the first week’s #‎s are in, and they are…well, Astonishing!

The Astonishing lands at #1 in the United States on the Billboard Rock Albums chart. Thanks to our loyal fans in Norway, The Astonishing made its chart debut at #2, the all-time top position for Dream Theater in that country. In Sweden, the band just made its highest ever chart debut at #3. Dream Theater’s first-ever top 10 debut in Australia came in at #10, and in the UK, The Astonishing just entered the charts at #11, the band’s highest chart debut there, as well.

Thank you again to all of our fans for supporting Dream Theater in our latest endeavor: The Astonishing! Find the full list of awesome chart debuts below."

Norway – #2
Hungary – #2
Italy – #3
Sweden – #3
Portugal –#3
Netherlands – #4
Germany – #5
Austria – #6
Canada – #7
Australia – #10
Japan – #10
Belgium – #11
UK – #11
US - #11 Billboard Top 200
US - #1 Billboard Rock Chart
France – #13
New Zealand – #17

The band has made the entire 34-track album available for streaming; check it out below.

The band comments on the artwork: “This album cover extends an ominous invitation into the retro-futurist dystopian setting of The Astonishing. The deceptively beautiful yet chillingly totalitarian image is a bold harbinger of the visual components and ideas presented by the sonic story that is our most ambitious creative work to date. We are very proud to soon bring you…The Astonishing.”

Tracklisting:

Act I
“Descent Of The NOMACS”
“Dystopian Overture”
“The Gift Of Music”
“The Answer”
“A Better Life”
“Lord Nafaryus”
“A Savior In The Square”
“When Your Time Has Come”
“Act Of Faythe”
“Three Days”
“The Hovering Sojourn”
“Brother, Can You Hear Me?”
“A Life Left Behind”
“Ravenskill”
“Chosen”
“A Tempting Offer”
“Digital Discord”
“The X Aspect”
“A New Beginning”
“The Road To Revolution”

Act II
“2285 Entr’acte”
“Moment Of Betrayal”
“Heaven’s Cove”
“Begin Again”
“The Path That Divides”
“Machine Chatter”
“The Walking Shadow”
“My Last Farewell”
“Losing Faythe”
“Whispers In The Wind”
“Hymn Of A Thousand Voices”
“Power Down”
“Astonishing”

“Moment Of Betrayal”:

"The Gift Of Music":

Dream Theater has announced their first North American tour of 2016, which will see the pioneering group performing a historic set in immersive and interactive settings for a unique and unparalleled live experience.

Set to kick-off April 14th at Quebec City’s Theatre Du Capitole, the spring trek will see the prog-virtuosos delivering a one-of-a-kind show in which they will perform their forthcoming double concept album, The Astonishing, live in its entirety. The momentous tour will continue through May with the band making stops at prestigious theaters throughout North America including New York’s Radio City Music Hall, Los Angeles’ The Wiltern, and Boston’s Orpheum Theatre with additional dates to be announced.

For up-to-the-minute news and ticket information visit this location.

Tour dates:

February
18 - London, England - Palladium
19 - London, England - Palladium
22 - Amsterdam, Holland - Carre Theater    
23 - Amsterdam, Holland - Carre Theater
24 - Amsterdam, Holland - Carre Theater        
26 - Oslo, Norway - Konserthus
27 - Oslo, Norway - Konserthus
28 - Oslo, Norway - Konserthus

March
1 - Stockholm, Sweden - Cirkus
2 - Stockholm, Sweden - Cirkus
4 - Hannover, Germany - Kuppelsaal
5 - Paris, France - Palais des Congres    
6 - Paris, France - Palais des Congres
8 - Copenhagen, Denmark - DR Koncerthuset
9 - Berlin, Germany - Friedrichspalast
10 - Bochum, Germany - Ruhrcongress
14 - Nurnberg, Germany - Meistersingerhalle
15 - Frankfurt, Germany - Alte Oper Hall
17 - Milan, Italy - Teatro Degli Arcimboldi
18 - Milan, Italy - Teatro Degli Arcimboldi
19 - Milan, Italy - Teatro Degli Arcimboldi
22 - Stuttgart, Germany - Liederhalle Hegel-Saal
23 - Zurich, Switzerland - Kongresshaus

April
14 - Quebec City, QC - Theatre du Capitole
15 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
16 - Toronto, ON - Sony Centre
18 - Albany, NY - Palace Theatre
19 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre
20 - Hartford, CT - Oakdale Theatre
23 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
24 - Baltimore, MD - Hippodrome Theatre
26 - Greensburg, PA - Palace Theater
27 - Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theatre
30 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theater

May
1 - Minneapolis, MN - State Theater
3 - Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre
7 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
10 - Portland, OR - Schnitzer
11 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theater