Discover the Unique History of Mechanical Music Part I

The delicate sounds of a ballerina music box, inlaid music box, musical jewelry box, or music trinket box is loved by many a music box and antique collector. Some collectors and lovers of mechanical music may not realize the interesting history that is part of the world of music boxes and mechanical music. Let's discover what that is.

Attempts to create mechanical music reproductions really began in the third century B.C. Plato had an idea for making a water clock that would sound the hours of the night on pipes. He felt this was needed since darkness made it impossible to read the face of a clock. No one knows whether or not the clock was made, but it did reveal that interest to produce music automatically occurred very early in history. Singing birds and Organs, which were worked hydraulically lik ely, were developed from Plato's clockwork idea.

After clocks were invented in AD 1000, more advances were made. Soon carillons of bells were made which played simple tunes on a barrel. Next came the barrel organ, which had air for the organ coming from bells driven by clockwork.

One of the most basic elements of mechanical music is how storage of the music is in a barrel or sheet, both of which rally make the memory of the instrument. The music was then set on the barrel with pegs and pins and on the actual sheet as perforation or projections. When rotated steadily and evenly against the levers, the levers then played an organ or carillon.

In 1502, the first mechanical music was made in the form of a barrel organ. The most famous one was the organ made in Salzburg for L. Von Keutschach. It had 350 pipes from which music from a barrel was played. The organ only had one tune for centuries until Leopole Mozart composed 11 more in 1753. Now, only 9 tunes survi ve on the original barrel. Announced with a grand and might chord, the locals have nicknamed it the Salzburg Bull.

It is fascinating that mechanical music has been around for so many centuries. It puts a unique perspective on the history of collectibles such as music boxes, antique music boxes, ballerina music boxes, inlaid music boxes, musical jewelry boxes, and music trinket boxes.

Copyright 2006 Monique Hawkins

Monique Hawkins is the owner of Monique's Music Box. Located at http://www.My-Music-Box.com is a music box gift store specializing in products such as inlaid music boxes, wooden keepsake boxes, ballerina music boxes for ballerina rooms dcor, and musical jewelry boxes. The company also provides interesting information for music lovers of all ages.

Author:: Monique Hawkins
Keywords:: music boxes, mechanical music, music box, Organs, ballerina music box, inlaid music box, musical jew
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Confessions of a Master CD Sales Woman Part 2

Well a great performance and an interactive sales crew is just the start to seling more CDs at gigs. The Rogues also employ other salespeople.

Our sellers work off of a commission, with bonuses built in when an individual's sales total reaches a certain amount. Giving a salesperson a commission motivates them to sell more product than just giving them a flat rate. We do have minimum pay for a day's work when the sales are not good. In that case the band usually pays $50 day, or a 10% commission of the sales total, whichever is greater.

At the more modern venues, such as highland games and celtic festivals, we have found that having a sales table is an extremely successful way to increase sales, especially in combination with a roaming salesperson (when using both are appropriate). At pub gigs, we only have a sales table. Having someone roam in a tight space like a pub would be seen as too aggressive or invasive, which the Rogues do not encourage their salespeop le to be. Friendly competition between two or more sellers is fine as long as there is a feeling of team spirit. Our sellers help each other out when one needs change or more stock.

The larger the crowds, the more sales people are needed. The sheer size of the crowd has a tremendous impact on sales. When you get that many people standing or sitting that close together and they are all excited about the music, it is like a ripple effect--once the sales start flowing, everyone seems to jump on the buying bandwagon.

At one particular show at the Maryland Renaissance Festival, where the crowd was huge, our three sellers were not able to maximize the full sales potential. A good indication of my not being able to tap the sales potential that is when I am standing in one spot and have not moved out of it the entire show. Just as soon as I finish one sell, another person comes up to buy a CD. I call that standing in a sweet spot--when people come up to you already wanti ng to buy a CD. My job then is to try to figure out, as quickly as possible, what CD or CDs would best suit what they are looking for. I always try to point out the fact that they can order more CDs through the website or mail order, or listen to the music on MP3.com.

As a bandmember's wife, I am always trying to promote the band. I take business cards from people who want to hire the band for potential gigs and I direct them to my husband, Randy, who is the business manager for the band.

1. Reward sales people with commission
2. Set up sales table for venues
3. Encourage friendly sales competition
4. More people to sell for larger crowds, enjoy 'ripple effect'
5. Take business cards to gigs and hand out at every opportunity.

The Rogues use CDBaby to sell their CDs. Why? See for yourself?

Bard Marc Gunn of the Brobdingnagian Bards has helped 1000's of Musicians make money with their musical groups through the Bards Crier Music Marketi ng and Promotion Ezine and the Texas Musicians' Texas Music Biz Tips. Now you can get personal advice by visiting http://www.bardscrier.com for FREE how-to music marketing assistance.

No time to visit the site? Subscribe to the BardsCrier.com distributed weekly for Free. Just email subscribe@bardscrier.com

Author:: Marc Gunn
Keywords:: Tips,Musicians,Improve,music Tips,Tips Musicians,Busking
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Is the Record Album Dead? Not by a Long Shot

In 1982, Sony and Philips introduced the compact disc, a digital music playback format that used a laser to read the disc. The compact disc was expected to quickly replace the long play record album (LP) that Columbia had introduced in 1949. The product took off quickly, even at a retail price that was nearly double that of a record album, and sales of record albums plummeted. The CD, as compact discs quickly became known, offered what audio magazines called perfect sound forever while offering immunity to the effects of the wear and tear that often left Records noisy. The record companies reduced the price of manufacture through improved production methods, and the cost of manufacturing a CD soon fell below that of manufacturing a record. Even so, compact discs continued to sell well at the higher price, making the CD quite a profitable product, indeed.

In order to maximize their profits, the record companies decided to phase out the phonograph record. They told their retailers that they would no longer accept returns on defective albums. This caused many retailers to stop stocking Records altogether, and the record album had more or less disappeared from the market by 1990. And then something strange happened. The record began to make a comeback. Sparked by a few artists that demanded that their record companies issue their product in record form, the LP never quite went away. New albums by bands such as Pink Floyd and Metallica were issued in the mid-1990s in LP form, and those releases not only sold out, but now command a hefty premium on the collectors market. A number of independ ent bands that were signed by small record companies began to issue Records in addition to CDs, partly just to be different and partly because the band members just liked listening to Records. In some cases, in order to spur sales of the record, artists would include an extra song or two on the record that was not included on the compact disc of the same album. Throughout the 1990s and to the present day, several million record albums have been sold every year.

Granted, Records are harder to find in stores than they were fifteen years ago, and an interested buyer might have to seek out a collectors shop or buy them online. But new albums by major and minor artists, along with older, classic albums, continue to be released in the LP format. Last year, in Japan, EMI Records issued every album by the Beatles in LP form as limited edition items. They sold out quickly, even at nearly $500 for the set. The market for Records is smaller than it used to be, but the record album still thrives.

Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing.

Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a f irm that operates several retail Websites, including AluminumChristmasTrees.net, a site devoted to vintage aluminum Christmas trees and accessories, and RarePinkFloyd.com, a site devoted to rare Records, compact discs and memorabilia by the band Pink Floyd.

Author:: Charles Essmeier
Keywords:: Pink floyd, pink flyod, dark side of the moon, the wall, wish you were here, Records, compact discs,
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Guitarists...Are You A Victim and A Loser?

I was thinking today about THE most dangerous enemy of musical progressthe victim mentality. What do I mean by this?

Often we can let our personal circumstances dictate our progress. For example, someone may let their Guitar Practice slide because they were really busy at work. This person may start making excuses such as I didn't have time. This is victim mentality. It is believing that your musical progress is only possible when external circumstances allow it.

What they are really saying to themselves is that their musical dreams and goals are not as important as paying a few lousy bills.They are letting their boss's goals get in the way of their own.

NowI can't point fingers at anyone. I've been guilty of having a victim mentality plenty of times! Especially when it comes to things like going to the gym :) But I don't have a victim mentality when it comes to Guitar Practice. There is virtually nothing that I will allow to get in the way of my musical progress.

Sohow can you stop yourself from becoming a victim and a loser

1.Stop making excuses.
I can guarantee that for every excuse you can make there is someone out there who has overcome that obstacle. Don't allow yourself to make excuses. They are the death of your musical dreams.

2. Watch your language.
For example, rather than saying I couldn't find the time say I am acting like a complete and absolute loser and if I continue acting like this I will NEVER achieve my musical goals. Because that statement is pretty painful to say, you'll soon stop making excuses!

3. Think of solutions.
For excuse s that you normally make, think of ways of overcoming those obstacles. For example, if you are constantly using your work as a reason why you can't Practice, ask yourself questions like

How can I get paid more but work less hours?.
How can I get paid while I sleep?.
How can I stay home all day and Practice?.

If you ask enough questions like this on a daily basis, you will find a solution eventually.

4. Think of your Why.
These are the reasons why you want to achieve your musical goals. If your why is strong enough, You will NEVER want to stop practicing for any reason.

5. Think of your role models.
Use your role models to motivate and inspire you to keep on practicing. Every time you start to make an excuse, ask yourself Wouldmake this excuse? For example, one of my favourite Guitarists is Steve Vai. I could NEVER imagine making him excuses for not practicing!

To finish off here's a quote that you may want to memorize

You can either become a great Guitarist, or you can make excuses, but you can't do both.

Craig Bassett (The Guitar Solutions Expert) is a professional Guitarist, Guitar tutor and author living in Auckland, New Zealand.

For free online Guitar lessons go to:
Free Online Guitar Lessons.

Author:: Craig Bassett
Keywords:: Guitar lesson, Practice, Guitar, free online Guitar lessons
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Musical Soundtracks

Musical soundtracks became very popular in the 1940s through 1960s, around the same time musicals became worldwide hits. Moviegoers flocked to see screen-based adaptations of popular stage plays, which were perceived to be more accessible than their Broadway counterpArts. This trend seems to be resurging, with the success of such Hollywood musicals as Moulin Rouge and Chicago.

What's in a musical soundtrack? First, the title song. Most musicals have titles that are based on their main song. For example, the musical The Sound of Music is titled after the song of the same title. The same is true for Jesus Christ Superstar, which also had a song with the same title.

A title song does not necessarily become a hit song, though. In the case of Jesus Christ Superstar, it was a minor song entitled I Don't Know How to Love Him that hit the top chArts.

Most musical soundtracks not only contain all the songs used in the film, but even the background or incidental music. Background music refers to the sounds used during dialogue and transition scenes. This music is, more often than not, a purely instrumental version of themes or songs that are sung by the characters in other pArts of the movie. Background music is incidental, which means it is passive and runs unacknowledged by the characters.

Almost all of the feature-length animated cArtoons produced by such labels as Disney are musicals (the same is not true for Pixar, though). Animated films work just like their real-actor counterpArts, but their soundtracks have one distinguishing characteristic - their music is more novel, done in the same tradition as nonmusical film soundtracks.

Soundtracks of animated musicals oftentimes become very sellable. Some commercial hits are songs performed by Cline Dion for Beauty and the Beast, and songs performed by Elton John for the The Lion King.

Soundtracks provides detailed information on Soundtracks, Movie Soundtracks, Soundtrack Lyrics, Musical Soundtracks and more. Soundtracks is affiliated with Song Titles.

Author:: Eddie Tobey
Keywords:: Musical Soundtracks
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Creativity Versus Technology

The greatest gift bestowed upon us is the ability to create. Whether it be in creating a painting, a model car, or a song that drifts in and out of your mind.

Often though, you may find getting your ideas to flourish into a realistic assemble becomes one of the most complex tasks you had to face. The point is, are you finding it impossible to get your ideas working due to the complex technical details you believe you need to know and learn?

In this discussion, I am going to guide you in how to separate the nonsense from the necessary in the very beginning, and far from being a tutorial full of jargon, I will try to give you some ideas, hints, and a framework in which to begin your creative journey. It will un-clutter your mind from what you really need to know and what you don't. It's simple.

Knowledge

Without it where would we be? Whilst undoubtedly you will need some talent, some determination, you will also need some knowledge about the tools you need to use to perform your task. A painter will study different colours, textures, canvases, types of brushes in order to evaluate the different working methods, study other Artists work, and also the effect his tools will bring to his own creations. Similarly, in producing music, we need to know the availability and variety of programmes and equipment, how they work, what they offer in value, and which pArticular ones we need.

To begin at the beginning, (as they say) is to look at the facts. You're new to the game. You will have to face the fact that you are not going to create a Rembrandt painting, or a Beatles number within your first week, ( if you do please let me know). Therefore, you only really need the most simple of tools to get you stArted. There is only so much you even need to know at first, or even that you brain will be able to digest, so walk slowly.

Hardware

In computer music making terms, you're going to need a PC or Mac, obviously. I presume you have this already? Ok, then you will need to make sure it is running efficiently and that you have a large amount of RAM (at least 512 MB, preferably 1 GB) to be able to cope with all those large music files you intend to use. Along with this you'll probably want a simple sequencer (something like a word processor for music) and a keyboard (the musical type if possible) capable of sending midi information to and from your PC. The soundcard you have installed will express the qual ity of the sounds you hear. A cheaper soundcard will likely have your basic GM soundset giving you at least 127 midi instruments to play with. The sounds from an inexpensive card may not be wonderful and you will probably want a better one. You can get this now or later on. It's up to you! It could take some time for you to research as there are hundreds of soundcards available.

Software

What you really want to be focusing on at the beginning is sequencing, i.e: composing your song with an arrangement or structure. The complexity of sound and its varying frequencies and forms you should definately not worry about at this stage. Remember, at first you need to familiarize yourself with your tools. For an idea how to get stArted with sequencers check out the 'getting stArted' music making tutorial also on this site. Read up on the various price ranges on different websites or music magazines. What do you think will work for you in the long run and what kind of music do you intend to make? There is no point buying a fully comprehensive dance music-making package if you intend to produce classical tunes in the end. Think about it. Get a software package that suits you.

The Power of Technology

Since the advancing power of technology in all areas of computer music, companies have been falling over each other to produce the 'next best thing'! There are literally thousands of software/hardware tools now available, many promising to do much the same thing, promising to be the only thing you need to create that 'killer track'! Don't be fooled by marketing strategies and tactics. Just because something looks good and costs a lot doesn't necessarily mean a smaller, less comprehensive package can't produce a similar result, and also, is it what you really need? Some things you'll just have to work out for yourself.

When I stArted producing, I was always tempted to buy top end tools (and great some of them are too), but I just didn't have a clue how to use all the complex functions at first and what if I didn't even like it? Spending all that money may have been disheArtening. Cubase vs Sonar vs Logic vs Reason, it doesn't really matter until you read up on each one and find which one appeals to you the most. Bear in mind the type of music you are hopi ng to create, the availability of future upgrades (if you ever want one). (Emagic discontinued Logic for the PC, disappointing to many logic fans, myself included).

Check the prices between the latest versions, and how it will integrate with your current system. How much technical support is offered by the company? Is it reliable? (A good place to find out how reliable a product is, is to visit forums on user groups on the internet; manufacturers seldom boast about how unreliable their software is!) Check for incompatibilities between your units, (again on the internet), and read reviews too. What have other people who bought the products thought? Don't let fantastic offers be your deciding factor. You may not like the product once you have used it.

Don't worry, this initial choosing pArt is the worst . Trust me, it's all very confusing and there is too much conflicting information available. You'll have a much better idea what you really want at a later stage, and that's when you stArt collecting the bits and pieces which you'll know will be of great use to your musical style. If all this looking up stuff sounds like a complete pain, in recommendation, download a stArter demo (for free) of any of these packages mentioned above,(and there are more), and see which one you like! Recommendations are made here for you by Wesley.

What am I doing?

You're not in a race (I hope). Do you have a deadline to produce great tracks? (hopefully not to o). You're aiming to get that stunner of a track outside your head and inside your PC. Yes, you need some basic decent tools, but only you can bring to life the energy and value of your work. So don't fuss, obsess or panic about all the technical doo-daa's thrown at you in magazines. Concentrate on the music! A lot of musicians actually lose inspiration and/or creativity by ending up collecting or reading about all the gear available; after all there really is not enough hours in the day to learn how to competently use all the different pieces of software/hardware on the market. What happens to them is they end up with tons and tons of gear, but very few quality tunes! You must get familiar with your chosen tool or package. Figure out the functions and read your manual that comes with the package. Play with it, and you'll begin to understand what it's doing and which functions may be very useful to you now or useful to you later! This time should be about getting to know you r tools.

Are you aiming for Dance? Pop? Electronica? You know how the music sounds, sure, but can you do it yourself? Yes, you can!

I hear people saying (and I myself have said this too) 'this sounds rubbish', when stArting out. Try building a house without any experience, is it going to be a palace? No. Neither is your song. Patience (lots of it), regular breaks. Do not spend hours and hours at the screen either, you will end up frustrated with tired ears and a total lack of enthusiasm. Always remember, at this stage you are learning, you're a student!

Listen to a song similar in style to what you'd like to do yourself. Take note of the structure, and try to separate the instruments in your mind, this is difficult at first but gets easier with practice. You are not expected to know exactly how everything is put together. In the beginning a lot of the 'effects' applied to instruments are indecipherable. You will learn with time how a compressor, EQ, reverb, chorus and other effects sound. Try not to worry about it all at first. Next, on your chosen song, how fast/slow does the song seem to be going at (tempo)? Does the speed change in the song itself? How many frequency ranges can you hear?

Is it mostly deep and low or high, or does it vary, what effect on you is the song trying to have? Figure out which sounds appear to be more 'up front' and which are 'pushed' further back in the song. Try to describe the sounds you hear, are they metallic, clangy, thuddy, sweet, deep? Yes, there is some learning of sound here, and you'll later be manipulating those sounds yourself, but for now you're grasping the structure, what you're actually hearing, and how it is all fitting together. What is usually very handy for understanding the structure of a song, in a very simpl istic way, is grabbing a copy of E-jay or some type of 'drop and drag' pre-made music samples into the main page.

You don't actually have to create the sounds themselves too much in this type of package, but use the ones they provide. This way you can mostly practice the arrangement and structure. Bring in a chorus where you think it should go, and the breaks or build ups etc. You may not find it to be the most serious musical production package, but it will help you later on. Try different instruments on your menu's and see what sounds good with what. What clashes with what. Play with the levels, usually strings are very nicely set panned and at a lower velocity, play with beats, bass and basically just get stuck in! Doesn't really matter what you come out with its all a learning process at first.

Music To My Ears

So! You have a PC, you have a sequencer or music package of some kind, you have sounds, and you're figuring out your first track. Excellent! At this point you may like what you are hearing or you may want to take up gardening! Fair play! Still today, after three years composing, I still threaten to take up knitting instead, but I'm not giving up without a fight! Why should you? One day it'll make you really smile and by all means, or just for now, try to keep it fun. Play, play, play!

Even though I'm not a very 'Artistic' person in terms of works of Art, paintings, sculptures etc, I do happen to very much like Michaelangelo's work and I have a couple of his paintings hanging right over my studio. I bought a book on the guy and found him to have the most remarkable will I ever heard of. (You'd need it to spend 12 years painting a ceiling). I draw some inspiration from him in the fact that I realised that even he must have had his 'off' days, or moments when he thought, 'Why oh why did I volunteer to do this?' and most interesting of all was that he never kept much of his reward but rather gave it away to family and friends.

So what inspired him to spend so long doing something so hard?

I guess it was his love of Art, his talent and the fact that he was creative. He wasn't intending to become a legendary Artist, he just was, and I believe his greatest reward remained deep inside him!

So don't let the jargon, the conf usion, the downright bothersome technology put you off your real intentions......... which is making the music you love!

If you love it that much you'll get there!

Carla Acheson is a musician, and freelance writer for a variety of subjects, mainly the independent music industry. She is the Director of Independent Record Label http://www.melodrift.com, and the Assistant Editor for news site http://www.indienewslive.com.

Author:: Carla Acheson
Keywords:: making music, music production, music production lessons, tips on music making, computer music
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Alan Jackson Concert Details

Alan Jackson born on October 17, 1958 is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is the one of the best-selling country musicians of the 1990s and has sold over 40 million albums with 30 number 1 hits. Jackson is originally from Newnan, Georgia. He previously worked in The Nashville Network's mailroom. Jackson's wife Denise got him connected to Glen Campbell, who helped him jumpstArt his career.

His first album, 1990's Here in the Real World, was a major hit, as was his second (1991) album, Don't Rock the Jukebox. His 1992 release, A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'Bout Love) was a smash success, spawning five major singles with Chattahoochee being the most enduring and successful. After a few more hit albums, Jackson again rocketed to fame with Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning), a song about the September 11, 2001 attacks, which became a hit single and briefly propelled him into the mainstream spotlight; the song was even the subject of parody on the popular animated series South Park, in the episode A Ladder To Heaven.

Although Jackson has been characterized as a hat act, his influences go deep into the roots of country music and his songs have been recorded by some of the greats like Charley Pride, who recorded Here In The Real World. He has sung with George Jones on the award-winning I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair and A Good Year for the Roses. His sense of humor comes through in Gone Country with the satirical description of the wannabes who cynically jumped on the country music bandwagon in the 1990s: Everybody's gone country/Yeah we've gone country/The whole world's gone country. He has been credited for popularizing a Neotraditional Country sound.

Alan's band is named the Stray Horns.

Some of Alan Jackson Albums are:

Drive (2002)
Let It Be Christmas (2002)
Greatest Hits Volume II And Some Other Stuff (2003)
What I Do (2004)
Precious Memories (2006)
and many more

He has received many awards like:

Grammy sward for Best Country Song Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning) 2002
Entertainer of the Year 1995
All time winner: Single of the Year 2005
Album of the Year, Common Threads: The Songs of the Eagles 1994
and many more

Thomas Jefferson is an avid Alan Jackson fan who loves to talk about his concert, write about Alan Jackson concert and other events. He invites you to see his site at Ticket Depo and search his great collection of tickets for Alan Jackson Concert.

Author:: Thomas Jefferson
Keywords:: alan jackson tickets, alan jackson concert tickets
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

When Are Lyrics Not Important?

As many fans of Music know, the lyrical parts of a song are usually the most important and integral pieces to a particular song or pieces success. Many times these words are the only part of a song that fans will remember or be able to recognize in an instant. In addition, it is common for Artists to make the leap into becoming a superstar when they come out with great Lyrics for their new hits. But the truth is that not every artist in the world who is selling CDs and concert tickets has great Lyrics to their work, or any at all for that matter. You might be wondering, how can Music be good without meaningful words, much less having no words at all? This article should help to answer that question and change the common notion that all great Music must have unbelievable Lyrics as well.

To start out with, it is important to realize that Music is not just the Songs a person can hear on a radio. In fact, the first pieces of Music were almost exclusively played in a conc ert hall. In this setting, a group of different instruments play in unison to a conductors movements. There are no words because quite simply there doesnt need to be any. Some of the most famous Musical work in the world, and oldest at that, is often played in this style. While not popular with the youth today, classical Music, as it is often termed, often goes hand in hand with being upper-class. Whether this is a fair pairing or not, that is debatable. But this much is true, many people find deeper meaning and enjoy this style of Music without looking for words to accompany they harmony of the instruments!

On the other hand, a popular selection at almost any night or dance club is techno Music. Techno Music is often generated on a computer, and combines wacky sounding drum beats and other instrumental sounds to make a song that sounds like it was electronically produced. This Music has many different beats and often is extremely easy to dance to. While it can have wo rds, it is more common for techno Songs to be without any human voices, or to use them sparingly. Even with the absence of almost any words at all, however, techno Music remains a popular choice on any dance floor and it would be hard to find a club that doesnt play at least one song. Indeed there are even some popular techno Artists, whose main Musical talents lie in creating new beats and remixing past billboard toppers!

All in all, it should be fairly obvious by now that a song doesnt have to have Lyrics to be considered worth listening to. Many different types and genres of Music embedded in our society today are, in fact, found without any words at all. Whether it be rich classical Music that your grandparents listen to, or fast-moving techno Music that you dance to, words are not as important as they may seem initially.

Joe Kenny is the webmaster at the free Music Lyrics website, with free Music Lyrics to N Sync Songs. Visit today: http://www.Lyricspost.net

Author:: Joseph Kenny
Keywords:: Lyrics, Music, Songs, Artists, Bands, Singers, Rhythm, Sales, Records, Singles, Industry
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

What to Look for in an Online Guitar Course

The internet has opened up many opportunities to have information transferred around the world. One of the more recent developments on the internet has been the proliferation of how to websites trying to sell their programs online. This article will focus on this and particularly on learning how to play Guitar sites.

The first things that you should think about when you are looking into learning the Guitar are your goals and ambitions. It is important to develop are clear vision about where you want to go. This could be a dream of rock stardom or just simply having the goal to be able to play a few simple songs.

There are man y ways you can go about learning the Guitar. You could try and learn the songs of your favorite band go to a Guitar teacher or go online and find an online course. I personally think just going out and learning songs is not the best way to go. The reason for this is that you will not learn systematically. Also you will only learn the techniques used in one genre of music. This can lead to you having a narrow set of skills.

I think going to a Guitar teacher is a good idea as it is good to have someone who can lead you though the process to become a good Guitarist. However constant practice with a teacher can be expensive. For this reason many people are moving towards buying online Guitar teaching packages. I personally thing going this route is the way to go. These days there are many affordable and comprehensive packages available online.

So if you are going to purchase an online lessons program what should you look for? Like I said there are a lot of good products out there, but there are also some duds. For this reason I will give you some things to look for when deciding what to buy when yo u are in the market for an online learning product.

I think the most important part of any Guitar learning system is that it is systematic. An online Guitar course should be able to replace a teacher and for this reason it needs to put in place a systematic learning program so you can become a complete player.

Teaching all the important chords is a very important thing for any Guitarist to learn. Chords form the basis of nearly all Guitar music. For the beginner learning chords is a critical part of developing a comprehensive skill base. Chords are also relatively easy to learn and for this reason you can build up a reasonable repertoire without to much difficultly. Like I said chords are the building bocks for not only most Guitar music, but even non-Guitar music is usually based around chords.

Focusing on rhythm is critical because all instruments use rhythm. If you can develop a good sense of rhythm your playing will become more developed. Any course that develops your rhythm is valuable. Rhythm can be difficult to learn so it can be hard to find a course that clearly teaches rhythm. Rhythm is often overlooked when purchasing a lesson course. For this reason I would recommend you look into the way rhythm is taught on any course you are interested in. Honestly I dont think you need a course that has a lot of songs. You can go to www.harmonycentral.com and you will be able to nearly any well known song on Guitar. For this reason it is not necessary to find a course that provides a lot of different Tabs.

So when you are shopping around for an online course take some time to think about the factors that I have briefly gone over here. Also dont forget you are individual and you should look for something that will also suit you as an individual.

Just a quick note on the Jamorama program; when I was first researching this piece I could only find two lessons review sites that were constantly updated. These were http://www.Guitarlessonsreview.com/ and http://www.learnGuitar2day.com/ ; as both of these sites recommended Jamorama I went to website and checked it out. At www.jamorama.com you can find some free lessons to see if you think the course will suit you. If you like it they will ask you to pay but you can trial the program for free so it is worth checking out.

Ben Edwards has been playing the Guitar for more than 12 years. He has been involved in the music industry for 6 years. He has worked as a session musician recording in some of the worlds best recording studios. Ben has also written and co-producing two full length studio albums, and he has toured internationally and shared the stage with many top international acts.

Ben continues to play the Guitar and recently recorded another music video. His main focus, though, is teaching; This includes private tutoring and continuing to develop Jamorama. You can learn more about Jamorama the ultimate Guitar learning kit! by visiting this site: http://www.jamorama.com

Author:: Ben Edwards
Keywords:: Guitar, learn Guitar, Guitar course, online Guitar course
Post by History of the Computer | Computer sa fety tips

Lori Nuic Sparkles

A Soulful vibe along with an amazing Voice is what Lori Nuic is gifted with, she got the crowd grooving as she performed at Launch Pad at the Cameron House for the first time.

This Young starlet started out by playing a big part in a high school Musical, Leader of the Pack, bringing her to the stage today and playing songs that any crowd would love.

Just to have an audience to listen to you is cool, Lori said.

The energy in the audience was amazing as this Kitchener girl sang, looking like she has been doing it for years.

Together with her eclectic Voice, she mainly plays the Guitar but also dips into the Keyboard. Before Loris performance at Launch Pad, she asked the audience for some spoons or a cowbell which she also likes play, adding a little spice to her tunes. Too bad no one had any of those instruments to spare.

Dancing was what Lori started out with taking it into University, but she said, I knew that Music was what I always wanted to do.

As a Young age Nuic learned how to play the Guitar and her Voice was discovered after Singing songs from the movie Beaches with her friend.

It doesnt seem like hard work when you love what you are doing, Lori said.

She is not the only one in her family to have such passion for Music. Loris brother is in a band and plays the drums and bass. I look up to my brother because he is a Musical genius, Nuic said.

Lori is working on her first album. To her it has been a lot of fun to create, yet stressful. You will be able to see it out in early 2005.

I will definitely be looking forward to seeing Lori at the Cameron House in the future, she has so much talent and a great personality to go with it.

Farris Green
farris@sugarcainentertainment.com
http://www.su garcainentertainment.com

Author:: Farris Green
Keywords:: Lori,Nuic,Music,Folk,Guitar,Sing,Voice,Toronto,Canada,Soul,Young,Cameron,House,Keyboard,
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Mastering the Guitar: What Are the Keys to Becoming a Great Guitar Player?

Many people look up to great guitarists of both the past and present, wondering how they became excellent musicians. A lot of people attribute such greatness to natural talent, something they were born with and were good at from the very beginning. But it would be surprising to many that a great number of such great Artists did not really have the innate ability to become great players, some of them never even thought of being excellent musicians from the beginning. Conversely, there are a lot of prodigies who showed amazing feats do not necessarily become great Artists later in life. In fact many of the great young talents waste away as they become adults for one reason or another.

So what makes the difference between those who make it and those who do not? For some it could have been good management, great publicity or just sheer luck. However for most of the great guitar players out there, one key thing that becomes the driving force to greatness is the passion not only to become a good player, but an excellent Artist. Many great talents have the right skills (perhaps the right genes) to become a good guitarist, however they do not necessarily have the immense desire to be the best in their craft. There is even a big danger for prodigies to loose interest in their craft as they get tired of being sensationalized during their younger years.

Those who may not have all the talent but just have a right amount of knack for guitar playing may have a greater chance to be great, if they have the passion that drives them to their goal. One should have a desire strong enough to fuel a discipline that will keep one doing ones work. Of course passion alone would not make one a great guitarist immediately there are some key steps to do so.

First, one should learn from a teacher or a mentor. Why there are some rare cases of do-it-yourself successes, great guitar players more often than not have learned from great masters as well. There are millions of things that only a teacher can impArt. Not even thousands of volumes of books and online lessons can replace the vast knowledge a teacher can give.

Second, an aspiring great guitarist has to devote hours and hours of practice through several years. Even the great guitarists of today still practice a lot to ensure that they would not their fingers would get rusty and their minds would not tarnish. Even if you have the greatest teacher in the world, you would not learn much if you do not practice. But it would also be futile to practice aimlessly without a teacher telling what to practice, so these two keys are inseparable.

Third, an aspiring musician should have great patience and a realistic self-evaluation. One should not expect amazing progress immediately. The road to greatness is a long one. There are slow times and fast times. While you should be greatly encouraged when progress is fast, you should not despair during the times you make a lot of mistakes and the moments that you seem not to learn as much.

Fourth, you should do the steps to greatness as soon as you can. Procrastination is evil in the music world. As much as possible do not put off lessons and practice sessions. Devote a special slot of your daily schedule to practices and lessons.

There are many other steps to become a great guitarist, but the ones mentioned above are the foundations to success. It takes hard work and long time to become a great player but if you are dedicated to the craft, you are just a few inches behind to greatness.

For further resources about improving your guitar playing craft, click on this link Learn Guitar Reviews.

The author, Arland Kent, writes on various subject matter including guitar related topics, dogs and health. He writes for http://learnguitar.reviewsrate.com.

Author:: Arland Kent
Keywords:: master the guitar, improve guitar playing, guitar secrets
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Free Sheet Music

Long before radios, movies, television and the Internet popularized music, sheet music made compositions of the good old days popular, or at least, known.

Defined, sheet music is a printed musical composition. Musicians back then publish their songs in these unbound sheets of paper. Performers also used these as they played a musical piece to an audience.

Today, sheet music is still made. However, it is used mainly by musicians such as singers, pianists and guitarists. For many, they are just mere sheets of paper. You will often find old sheet music hidden in piano benches or placed in a box, untouched for ages, collecting dust.

If you are interested in finding old sheet music, you can still see many of them in music stores. You can even find them in several web sites that offer them in computer-readable and easy to download formats. There are sites that sell sheet music for as low as $3 to as much as $50. There are also sites that allow sharing, downloa ding and printing of sheet music for free.

Most free sheet music available is sheet music of classical and old songs. This is because the copyrights these old songs and classical music have already expired. In the US, a copyright expires 70 years after the death of the last surviving creator of the music. Furthermore, the law states that those published before 1923 must be in public domain.

There are sites that offer musical scores of popular and latest songs (scores are printed music of all instruments used to play a piece). Usually, the free downloadable and printable sheet music available are only samples and are merely pArts of the entire score.

New arrangements and editions of the old songs may have been made. Some of these new versions are freely available while some are sold for a reasona ble price. There are also personal sites of music enthusiasts that offer free sheet music of their favorite songs. You can check these sites to look for sheet music of the songs you like.

Sheet Music provides detailed information on Sheet Music, Free Sheet Music, Piano Sheet Music, Guitar Sheet Music and more. Sheet Music is affiliated with Music Education Theory.

Author:: Kristy Annely
Keywords:: Free Sheet Music
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

View From the Stage: The Seven Milestones of gman Blues

For those just starting out in the music business, you must measure you progress in small steps. Everything in manageable; the largest aspirations can be accomplished by planning and moving forward at your own rate. Ill tell you my story; maybe you can learn from it.

It is hard to believe that only a year ago I was just getting my toes in the water regarding performing again after a thirty-year hiatus. I had begun a year before that with a single song and quickly adding two others; at the time I was thinking that if I do get to play an open MIC somewhere I would have three songs ready. Small goal indeed; but my first milestone.

I practiced those three songs hundreds of times. My primary goal was to have an Acoustic show with lots of humorous songs built in. I waited and watched my song list grow slowly. I search the internet for funny songs. It took a long time to build my list because I utilized a Zen approach to my performance. I was less concerned about perf orming an accurate rendition of the covers that I was playing, and more concerned about utilizing my particular skills and talents. I wanted to personalize each pieceput my own spin on them. Everyone knows many players who can accurately depict and reproduce the songs that we have heard over and over. My plan was to provide a fresh view of these songs.

The song list grew to ten, twenty, then thirty. I was so proud. I kept multiplying the number of my songs times three minutes to attempt to determine how long I could play for. I slowly moved on from my goal of comedy and headed more toward Acoustic Rock and Blues. My goal was fifty songsI figured that I could play a three hour gig with breaks; milestone number 2.

One year ago I played my first performance, an inconsequential unassuming open MIC at a sandwich shop a few blocks from my home. I had made the promise to myself months before that I would start showing up and playing but it seems there always was a good reason for not showing. One day Carla (my wife) wouldnt stand for another excuse. She made me go against a wholehearted resistance on my part. I was so glad I did. I showed up with the only piece of musical equipment that I ownedmy trusty old Guild D44, now yellowed with age. I had to borrow Carlas tiny practice amp to play through. Small beginningsyet a huge milestone number 3 for me. I was so pumped up from the performance that I couldn't sleep that night.

The sandwich shop turns out was a good performance workshop. The clientele changed every twenty minutes or so, so if I wanted to I could work on a song over and over. No one seemed to take notice of me. There was no pressure to do well. Although I still managed to invent reasons why I couldnt open MIC there, Carlas stubbornness was unyielding. I kept playing and kept improving; they liked me there and most nights let me play all evening. I kept buying equipment.

In the beginning of 2005 Carla took me on a whi rlwind tour of Open MICs all over Chicagoland. Seven or eight stages in a two week period. I was in heaven. I was beginning to build confidence as a performer. Carla looked on the internet for gman Blues no one had the name, and she suggested it. I began to perform under that name. Milestone number 4. Having a name, is the beginning of having your own brand. My Brand Identiy Statement became: Upbeat Acoustic Rock and Blues

After that first round of open MICs in the competitive world, I continued to open MIC around the city. I played Wednesdays at Ballydoyle Pub, and every third Friday at Sandwich open stage. Ballydoyle had a state-of-the-art Bose sound system, and a professional sound man who recorded the performances. They were a wonderful refinement tool. One of the problems with Ballydoyle however was the excessive number of players. Often I had to wait hours to play. At that time I only drank water because I still was somewhat unsure of myself. One of those times I broke protocol and started drinking Black and Tans while waiting for my set. I was feeling pretty good by the time I got on, and asked the house band to play with me. I did some Blues songs and I really belted em out. The place went completely nuts. Everyone was Rockin and yelling out g-man! Yo da man! I never felt as good as that moment before onstage. Afterwards everyone was shaking my hand and telling me how good I was. So began the growlin thing. I thought that I would never be able to top that moment. I didn't want to go back the next week, because I knew it would be less. It turned out really well however.

Ballydoyle soundman Rick Sullivan gave me lots of good insight about how and when to back off on the MIC when belting out. He also gave me the suggestion for the Aphex Acoustic Xciter which I wouldnt show up to a gig without. I cant tell you how many people think that my guitar is the best that theyve ever heard.

In the spring I had launched my Web Site gmanBlues.com it was a huge milestone number 5 for me. It was like hanging an Open for Business shingle out for me. Things really seemed to be happening. The Web opens many doors, and has many paths to progress on. You should be exploring and leaving your name wherever you go; building your brand recognition.

One Saturday I got a last minute email from Ballydoyle Pub requesting me to play that night the regularly scheduled band couldnt make it. I didnt think that I was ready, but Carla insisted that I was. Ballydoyle on a Saturday night was a huge first gig for me. I was apprehensive for several reasons, the main one was that Rick Sullivan couldnt make it and I didnt know how to run the Bose. But I showed up with my tiny little PA and showed everyone a good time. This was Milestone number 6paying gig.

I realized that if I could do well there, I could do well anywhere. I began to actively look for gigs. Carla was always there, taking photos, and networking. She w as always around to lend a hand, setting up, tearing down, or instantaneously producing a pick when one flew out into the crowd.

It is the end of 2005. There will never be a year like this one for me. I look at all the places Ive been, and things Ive done. I look at all this equipment that I have. I think about all the wonderful friends I've made along the way. Its truly amazing.

Well thats only six milestones you may be thinking. The last was the demo CD.

I performed over 50 times in 2005, from small to large crowds. Ive grown so much in the year. I will be sharing what I have learned with you as we progress in this series.

Gary g-man Wesselhoff is an Acoustic Blues Writer/performer woking the Chicago Metro area. You can contact him at: gman@gmanBlues.com

Please Visit my site: http://www.gmanBlues.com

Author:: Gary Wesselhoff
Keywords:: Blues, Rock, Acoustic, Live Perfromances, Singer, Writer
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Karaoke Software That Lets Your Computer Become Your Player

With more than 100,000 Karaoke song titles and Artists to choose from wouldn't it be great if you could play your karaoke disks on your computer? Good news - you can! Karaoke software let's your computer become your player.

Turning your computer into a karaoke machine it's not nearly as difficult as you might think. There are actually several different software programs that will allow you to do this.

1. Power CD+G Player Pro

Is a CDG karaoke player that supports BIN, CDG, MP3+G files and will let you play your CDG's on your CD-ROM drive. In minutes your computer becomes a Karaoke machine.

You can playback from your CD-ROM as long as your CD is able to extract CDG sub codes. Almost all newer drives can do this but check. If you can extract with Audiograbber then you should be able to play your CDG's.

The software's seekbar lets you jump to any pArt of the song and you get full screen playback. Your playlist will allow you to manage your entire karaoke collection with just a couple of mouse clicks. And the key transposer will let you adjust the song to your voice. Nice feature!

2. Karaoke Builder Studio 3.0

This is the next generation in Karaoke CDG software. You can make professional quality CDG tracks in no time at all and it's affordable. The tracks you create can be played on your computer or in your CDG machine. As a beginner you'll easily have an understanding of the software and it will continue to provide the features as your skills grow.

It even has extra support for those CD burners that aren't CDG compatible so you might not have to buy that new dr ive. Complete with AVI Video features and you can add you own photo backgrounds or use the presets. Write your karaoke videos to DVD if you like.

3. Power Karaoke

This software will let you burn, save, and copy CD+G karaoke disks. It's the all on one Karaoke solution. It's also compatible with BIN and MP3+G.

You can playback from your CD-ROM as long as your CD is able to extract CDG subcodes. Almost all newer drives can do this but check. If you can extract with Audiograbber then you should be able to play your CDG's.

Your computer becomes a Karaoke player and playlist will keep you organized and your songs easy to find and retrieve. Create karaoke videos if you like and when your done burn them to DVD. Heck you can even turn them into movies if you like.

You will need Windows XP with 512 MB of RAM and 1 GHz processor as well as a good quality sound card and video card. The software does not require a connection to the internet to use but you do need the connection to download the software.

4. Karaoke Sing N Burn

This is a shareware piece of software that will let you play Karaoke files and MIDI. You can highlight the scrolling lyrics so you can follow word by word and adjust the tempo. Basic but it does the job and it fits any pocketbook.

There are many other karaoke software packages that will convert your computer into a Karaoke player and let you play your karaoke disks. Isn't it time to get the pArty stArted with your favorite Artists and genres?

Nan worked in a karaoke bar for 9 years before stArting his own audio electronics store. His store specializes in karaoke machines and accessories and a much larger variety of items than almost all large depArtment stores. At http://www.karaokeadvisor.com , he shares his experience with you by listing out the top karaoke essentials with buying advice on various products.

Author:: Nan Edemann
Keywords:: Karaoke Software
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

How To Connect A Guitar To A Computer

So many players want to record guitar playing on their computer. Digital recording is more popular than ever for pros and amateurs alike. But there are some things to be considered when you connect a guitar to a computer; mostly how you want to connect the instrument, and the quality of the recording you hope to capture. The type of guitar computer interface you choose will greatly affect the sound of the electric guitar through the computer and the overall recording you can expect.

While it is possible to play guitar through a PC just by plugging it in, this basic approach is likely to be fine for most though many players dont like sacrificing a good sound for the ease of quick setup. Electric players need a high impedance input to get their electric guitar to connect to a computer, and though most computer soundcards come with high impedance inputs, these inputs are usually not strong enough to get a good guitar signal or in the long run, for recording guitar effec ts for PC. This lower impedance can cause noise problems too. A player can avoid all this of course by plugging the guitar into a line-in jack, instead of the mic-in, but then the all-important preamp is needed.

Almost any one attempting to connect a guitar through their computer or familiar with recording a guitar into a mixing consol should be familiar with a preamp. The preamp does exactly what its name implies, it amps the signal before it goes into the plug-in. Therefore your guitars signal will get that extra boost it needs when you record guitar on a pcor into any other device that is not an amp. There are plenty of external interfaces that combine computer soundcards with a preamp. Or if you like more components to you set-up you can always buy a preamp separate from your sound card. There are a lot of stand-alone vintage preamps out there that will not only boost your signal, but warm your sound before it goes into the cooler digital domain of your pc.

I ts not only the pristine quality of digital that makes recording guitar on a pc so much fun, it is also portability. With very little equipment you can put down a riff (or an entire song actually) into a laptop! And added to all this wonderful technology is the fact that there are so many recording guitar effects for pc now on the market, a player can access different amp sounds and settings, effects. Well after you have wrestled with how to connect a guitar to your pc and have recorded a strong signal, you can call record guitar effects with pc during recording or in post-production.

Of course information about how to connect your guitar to a pc and the wonderful wide world of effects is available through an on-line pc guitar tutor and websites devoted to digital recording. You can even purchase a computer guitar tuner (some programs include a free computer guitar tuner) so everything you will ever need is self-contained in your rockin pc! Some players are even record ing pArts, then downloading and sending these pieces of tunes to musicians half-way across the world.

The possibilities really are unlimited for the guitar player who says: I want to connect a guitar to my pc; he or she will be amazed at the varied and easy results they can achieve when they simply stArt recording guitar on a pc.

Brad Finley is senior editor of MyGuitarWorkshop - Free Guitar Lessons. Website provides guitar lessons and instructions for all level guitar players. Also click for Free Music Theory Lessons

Author:: Brad Finley
Keywords:: connect a guitar to a computer, play guitar through pc, pc guitar tutor, record guitar on pc
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

How to Start Up a FM Radio Station

Whether you are looking for information on how to start up a FM radio station that operates on a low power FM basis, operates on a full power frequency or alternatively streams on the internet, it is essential to first establish what the options available to you are. It is also important to understand the process for obtaining a frequency, what the licensing requirements are, and also what type of FM Broadcasting equipment and studio gear you will need to run the radio station.

The following is a brief outline of some of the options that may be available. Please that not all options may be available in all countries, as license conditions do vary.

When it comes to how to start up a FM radio station, one of the options is low power FM. This type of radio station operates at lesser p ower than commercial stations and so they cover a smaller area. The exact area they will cover is dependent on terrain and the exact amount of power you are permitted. Again depending on the country you live in, the low power FM service may enable you to broadcast anywhere near from 500mW to 100W, and may be license-free or alternatively it may be licensed. This level of power is sufficient to cover anywhere between a radius of a few kilometres to several kilometres.

Another option is operating a full power licensed radio station. This type of frequency will give station maximum coverage and will enable you to reach as many listeners as possible. Depending on the country you live in, there can frequently be provisions to operate on a full power frequency, but either on a commercial, non-commercial or educational basis. However, operating a full power FM radio station can be a somewhat complicated process - especially during the initial stages of determining whether the re are frequencies available in your area and also costing the equipment that is needed. If you want to start up a full power FM radio station, then it is essential to get expert guidance at the earliest stage. This will ensure you get the information you need to make an informed decision.

If these options don't appeal or are not available in your area, you have one other method for how to start up a FM radio station. You are able to establish a station that streams on the internet. It will be available to a worldwide audience and can stream in your choice of format. Common formats include Winamp and Windows Media Player, although generally we recommend the latter as most people won't need to download any additional software to listen to your station. This type of radio station can use a great deal of bandwidth, so it is important to have a fast speed internet connection with a high data cap limit.

When it comes to choosing the type of station you will set up, o ne of the most common constraints is budget. That said, it has been proven that a station can start out on a low power FM basis and successfully make the transition to operating a full power licensed commercial FM radio station. Some of the points to consider when looking how to start up a FM radio station include:

- The process for obtaining an FM frequency and what to look out for

How many Watts you will need to achieve the broadcast coverage you want

What your obligations will be when it comes to music royalties

- What specialist services you need before to assist you in submitting your application for a frequency

What is the most appropriate powered transmitter and what type of antenna would be needed

The type of radio automation software that will be used

For further information on how to start up a FM radio station please visit http://www.themulcher.com or email radio@themulcher.com

The Mulcher FM has over 5 years ex perience helping set up over a dozen low power FM and commercial FM radio stations across New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, as well as advising on countless other installations in the US, UK and other parts of the world...

Author:: Claire Calkin
Keywords:: radio station, start up, set up, FM, Broadcasting, commercial FM, starting up, low power FM
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Taps Piping Military Honors: A Ceremonial Guide for Highland Bagpipers

It has become increasingly popular for U.S. Military veterans and their families to specifically request a Piper to not only pipe for a Funeral, but to pipe Taps for the rendering of Military honors as well. Funerals for law enforcement and fire personnel in the United States have a long tradition of incorporating Pipers and Military honors, and most departmental Funerary protocols closely follow those of the U.S. Military. The following is a brief general outline of what to expect and what will be expected of you as a member of an honor guard when playing Taps.

You should be well prepared before the Funeral, your pipes should be well tune d, well set up, steady, and reliable. ParaMilitary band uniforms, appearance, and instrument should meet or exceed the Military standards as outlined in British or Canadian Army regulations for Pipers. Civilian dress should look equally neat and presentable; jacket brushed, metalwork polished, leather waxed, and kilt pleats and glengarry ribbons pressed; every bit as squared away as a Military uniform. A homemade kilt in MacWal-Mart tartan with athletic socks and a JC Penny blazer definitely won't cut it. You'll need decent enough kit to look respectable standing alongside Marines in their Class A's. However, do not wear a Prince Charlie and bow tie unless all the other members of the Funeral party are in tuxedos and evening gowns. Active duty or retired Military personnel and members of the VFW or American Legion may wear their uniforms. Police, EMS, and fire personnel uniform should conform to agency guidelines; when in doubt check with your departmental chaplain prior to arrival. It is completely beyond my comprehension that this even needs to be said, but unfortunately it does; the wearing of Military uniform and insignia to which you have not earned the right is extremely offensive to those who have. Its unconscionable, grossly inappropriate, and in some situations can be physically dangerous (in my opinion, rightly so). Do not humiliate yourself, dishonor the decedent, and deeply offend their friends and family by playing soldier. If you show up dressed as a Pipe Major in the Black Watch, you'd damned well better be a Pipe Major in the Black Watch!

Under absolutely no circumstances should you be late, so plan ahead; taking traffic, weather, and road conditions into account. You should report to the Funeral site well prior to the designated time and report immediately to the Officer In Charge (OIC) or Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge (NCOIC). If Piping at a National cemetery, it will probably be very busy; check in at the gate, and make sure they know that you need to precede the family to the site in order to coordinate with the honor guard. For a Military Funeral, at a minimum there will be two uniformed active duty Military personnel assigned to the Military Funeral Honors detail, at least one of which will be from the decedents branch of service. The highest ranking of the two will be the NCOIC. There may also be a color guard and/or firing detail made up of veterans from the Veterans of Foreign Wars or the American Legion. Fire, EMS, and police honor guards will also have a team leader or ranking officer in charge. Always check in and coordinate with this person. Regardless of anything written herein, the OIC/NCOIC is in charge of the Ceremony and is to be considered the authoritative source of protocol.

Generally speaking, when you're attached to a detail, the leader of that detail will render all salutes. However, there are some points in some Funerals when the entire company present will be called to Attention to Present Arms. As always, when in doubt, check with the NCOIC/OIC. Regardless of uniform, if you are not, nor have you ever been, enlisted in the Military, you are by definition a civilian, and you will therefore render all hand salutes by placing your right hand over your heart. The one and only exception to this is uniformed civilian fire, EMS, and police personnel, who should conform to their departmental protocols. Just remember to listen, watch, and follow the lead of the OIC/NCOIC and honor guard (unless youre actively Piping); if they come to Attention, so do you, if they salute, so do you. If they uncover, so do you, if they come to Parade Rest, so do you. Most drill commands are given in two parts; the preparatory command, and the command of execution (for example; Present, Arms). When your cue is the execution of a two-part command, go on the command of execution, not the preparatory command (i.e., Arms). The Piper of an honor guard is a highly Ceremonial role; solo Pipers who havent had much exposure to drill should seek to learn some from a Drum Major of a local band if at all possible, and practice some basic drill movements with pipes, such as Parade Rest, Attention, Pipes Ready, and Pipes Down.

Remember always that this is a very solemn Ceremony and a responsibility to be taken very seriously, and this should be reflected in every aspect of your demeanor and deportment at all times from the first moment of your arrival until your departure from the site.

CHURCH SERVICE

If Piping for a church service at a civilian facility, uncover upon entering the chapel unless Piping the casket in. Uncover and remain uncovered throughout the service unless actively Piping. Generally follow the lead of the honor guard; they will uncover and remain uncovered until time to render Military honors. If there is any doubt, check with the officiant beforehand. No weapons of any type should be worn in chur ch; this includes skian dubhs.

Just before the Ceremony begins, if not Piping the remains in, stand outside by the officiant and OIC/NCOIC or wherever they designate, and salute (If you are a civilian, place your right hand over your heart) along with them as the remains are brought out of the hearse and into the church. If Piping the remains in, the OIC/NCOIC will usually call the assembled company to Attention; your cue to execute Pipes Ready; and then Present Arms as the casket is withdrawn; that is your cue to strike in. You may or may not have been requested to enter the church with the honor guard or casket team, or to play a tune during the service. If youve been requested to remain outside until the end of the service, end your tune as the casket enters the chapel, and remember that you are still actively engaged in a Funeral detail, and maintain the solemnity and dignity of the Ceremony.

Casket: If not Piping, be prepared to drop your salute (If you are a civilian, place your right hand over your heart) as the pallbearers make a five step formal turn with the casket.

Urn: If not Piping, be prepared to drop your salute (If you are a civilian, place your right hand over your heart) after the pallbearers have retrieved the remains and are standing with the other pallbearers, when you hear the command Ready, Step.

It is not uncommon to pipe the remains out of the church at the conclusion of the service; coordinate with the OIC/NCOIC as to whether they want you to lead, follow, or stand aside. Once outside, stand to the left, near the hearse or apparatus. If already outside, the OIC/NCOIC will usually call the assembled company to Attention (execute Pipes Ready), and then Present Arms as the casket emerges; that is your cue to strike in. When you cut off, execute Pipes Down and render a hand salute (If you are a civilian, place your right hand over your heart). After the remains are secured, drop your salute (take yo ur cue from the OIC/NCOIC) and move to a position predetermined by the OIC/NCOIC, and stand at Attention or Parade Rest; follow the lead of the OIC/NCOIC.

If not marching to the gravesite with the hearse or apparatus, be prepared to come to Attention and render a hand salute as it moves out. (If you are a civilian, place your right hand over your heart).

If marching in a Funeral procession, the Piper (or band) will traditionally lead the marching element right behind the color guard; coordinate with the OIC/NCOIC. When the OIC/NCOIC begins to move along the hearse or apparatus to the front, they will salute. If you are not directly attached to the detail but will be a lone Piper, salute (If you are a civilian, place your right hand over your heart) as you move past the hearse or apparatus to the front as well, dropping the salute when in front of the flag draped coffin (when marching with a band, the Drum Major will render the salute). Move to a point in well i n front of the marching element in order to take your place in the Funeral procession, directly behind the color guard.

If it is a Funeral with cremains or memorial service without remains, you will sound Taps on completion of the service and at a prearranged signal by the OIC/NCOIC or officiant. Usually, the flag will be encased and displayed upon the altar or stand. Usually, the honor guard will unfold the flag and hold it outstretched as you play Taps. When the flag bearers come to Attention and the flag comes taut, that is your cue to strike in. Start off on the first note; Low A, just like a bugler. Regardless of what you may have been told or how you may have been taught, in this instance do NOT sound an E pick-up note! After sounding Taps, execute Pipes Down. After the flag is folded, the bearer will turn and present the folded flag to the OIC/NCOIC. They will salute the bearer with the flag and take the flag with their left hand on top and their right hand on the bottom, and stand while the bearer salutes the flag. When the bearer drops his salute, they will wait until the bearer is dismissed and then go to the next of kin (normally seated on the left front seat) and present the flag, or present it to the officiant or ranking officer, who will present it to the family. After presenting the flag, they will salute.

GRAVESIDE SERVICE

Unless Piping the casket to the gravesite, you will stand at Attention and render a hand salute as the casket is carried to the gravesite (as a general rule, salute whenever the flag is in motion and you are standing still; take your cue from the OIC/NCOIC and follow their lead on when to drop your hand). If you are a civilian, place your right hand over your heart. If you must move in front of the flag, salute (If you are a civilian, place your right hand over your heart) as you walk past the flag draped casket. If you're indoors, simply stand at attention.

Casket: be prepared to drop your salute (If you are a civilian, place your right hand over your heart) as the pallbearers make a five step formal turn with the casket.

Urn: be prepared to drop your salute (If you are a civilian, place your right hand over your heart) after the pallbearers have retrieved the remains and are standing with the other pallbearers, when you hear the command Ready, Step.

You may be called upon to pipe the remains to the graveside. This will of course have been coordinate d well beforehand with the officiant and OIC/NCOIC. Strike in as the casket is removed from the hearse. Stand at Attention facing the casket as it is being withdrawn from the hearse, execute a proper About Face, and march the casket to the gravesite, about 60 steps per minute, stepping off on the left foot on the first note of the first part. When you arrive at the gravesite, veer off to your prearranged position for the service, then turn and face the gravesite. You should position yourself near the gravesite, alongside the firing party. In any event you should take care to stand in a location where the sound will carry to the Funeral party and where you can be seen by the next of kin. You should be facing the casket. End your tune as the casket is placed upon the lowering device. Stand at Parade Rest during the Funeral service; follow the lead of the OIC/NCOIC and firing party. You may be called upon to play a short tune, usually after the opening prayer. This will of cou rse have been coordinated well beforehand with the officiant, and you will take your cue from them. For a Fire service Funeral, there may be a ringing of the bell, three times, three rings each, signifying the end of an alarm. For air personnel, there may be a fly-over in a missing man formation.

The casket team will position the remains over the grave and unfold the flag, holding it taut over the remains. When the service is complete, the OIC or NCOIC will Present Arms. The firing party consisting of seven riflemen will come to Attention and fire three volleys. Come to Attention with the firing party (bring in left foot, drop right hand to side), and Pipes Up with the command Ready. Sound Taps after the third volley and after the NCOIC of the firing party orders Present, Arms; that is your cue to strike in. Start off on the first note; Low A. Do NOT sound an E pick-up note! After sounding Taps, execute Pipes Down with the firing party on the command Order, Arms. After the flag is folded, the bearer will turn and present the folded flag to the OIC/NCOIC. They will salute the bearer with the flag and take the flag with their left hand on top and their right hand on the bottom, and stand while the bearer salutes the flag. When the bearer drops his salute, they will wait until the bearers are dismissed and then go to the next of kin (normally seated on the left front seat) and present the flag. After presenting the flag, they will salute. You will be dismissed on the command of the NCOIC of the firing party at the conclusion of the service.

When a firing party is not available, you will sound Taps upon completion of the service and at a prearranged signal from the OIC/NCOIC or officiant. Usually, the honor guard will hold the flag outstretched over the coffin as you play Taps. When the flag bearers come to attention and the flag comes taut, that is your cue to strike in. Start off on the first note; Low A. Do NOT sound an E pick-up note! After sounding Taps, execute Pipes Down. After the flag is folded, the bearer will turn and present the folded flag to the OIC/NCOIC. They will sal ute the bearer with the flag and take the flag with their left hand on top and their right hand on the bottom, and stand while the bearer salutes the flag. When the bearer drops his salute, they will wait until the bearer is dismissed and then go to the next of kin (normally seated on the left front seat) and present the flag, or present it to the officiant or ranking officer, who will present it to the family. After presenting the flag, they will salute.

DRILL FOR CEREMONIAL PIPERS

ATTENTION

On the command of execution TION, bring heels together with feet at approximately 45 degrees. Do not lock your knees. As blood pools in your lower extremities, it is possible to pass out if your locked knees inhibit venous return. Pipe bag tucked underneath your left elbow, with bass drone, chanter, and blowstick in your left hand, palm upward. Bass drone should be perfectly horizontal and 90 degrees from your body. Right hand at your side thumb resting along the first joint of the forefinger, hand cupped (but not clenched as a fist) with palm facing your leg. Stand erect, shoulders square, eyes straight ahead. DO NOT MOVE, FIDGET, OR LOOK AROUND! If youre in this position for a while, very slightly flex your knees, wiggle your toes, shift your weight, etc. to keep circulation going, as long as its imperceptible to bystanders.

PARADE REST

From the position of Attention, on the command of execution REST, move the left foot about 10 inches to the left of the right foot, about shoulder width apart. Keep the legs straight without locking the knees, resting the weight of the body equally on the heels and balls of the feet. Simultaneously, place the right hand at the small of your back, fingers outstretched. Pipe bag remains tucked underneath your left elbow, with bass drone, chanter, and blowstick in your left hand, palm upward. Bass drone should be perfectly horizontal and 90 degrees from your body. Stand erect, shoulders square, eyes straight ahead. DO NOT MOVE, FIDGET, OR LOOK AROUND! If youre in this position for a while, very slightly flex your knees, wiggle your toes, shift your weight, etc. to keep circulation going, as long as its imperceptible to bystanders.

STAND AT EASE

From the position of Attention, on the command of execution EASE, you may relax and move around, as long as your left foot doesnt move. Keep silent.

STAND EASY

You may relax and move around, as long as your left foot doesnt move. You may talk quietly.

PIPES READY

From the position of Attention, on the command of execution Ready, draw your pipes forward in front of you, bass drone perfectly horizontal and 90 degrees from your body, bass drone, chanter, and blowstick in your left hand palm upward, grasp bass drone, chanter, and blowstick in your right hand, and then smoothly swing them up into playing position. Rotate the chanter down into playing position in your left hand; bag tucked in u nder left upper arm, blowstick in your mouth. Drop your right hand to your side, eyes straight ahead. You should be ready to strike in.

PIPES DOWN

From the position of Pipes Ready (in playing position on your shoulder, chanter in your hand and blowstick in your mouth), on the command of execution DOWN, with the right hand, rotate the chanter and blowstick up to the bass drone, grasping all three. Bring the pipes down in front of you, bass drone perfectly horizontal and 90 degrees from your body, grasping the bass drone, chanter, and blowstick in your left hand palm upward with your right hand palm downward on top of the bass drone. Draw the pipes straight back tucking the bag under your left elbow and then dropping your right hand to your right side. Eyes straight ahead.

PRESENT ARMS

From the position of Attention, on the command of execution ARMS, a civilian will bring their right hand up to their heart, palm inward, fingers extended and close togeth er. Pipe bag remains tucked underneath your left elbow, with bass drone, chanter, and blowstick in your left hand, palm upward. Bass drone should be perfectly horizontal and 90 degrees from your body.

ORDER ARMS

From the position of Present Arms, on the command of execution Arms, drop your right hand to your side, and resume the position of Attention.

ABOUT FACE

From Attention or Pipes Ready, on the command of execution Face, place your right toe about 10 behind and slightly to the left of where the right heel was. With your weight evenly on the ball of your right foot and left heel, turn smartly around to your right. Done properly, you should still be at Attention or Pipes Ready facing the opposite direction.

CADENCE

A Funeral march is 60 beats per minute.

Piper for Hire; Tampa Bay, FL

BagPiper available for weddings, receptions, formal dinners, ceremonies, corporate functions, Funerals, memorials, and special events of all ki nds throughout the greater Tampa Bay area.

Author:: Emmet Bondurant
Keywords:: BagPiper,Piper,Bagpipe,Bagpipes,BagPiping,Piping,Funeral,Funerary,Ceremonial,Ceremony,Military,Taps
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