How the Internet Helps Musicians

Everyone talks about the negative impact of the Internet on the Music business. Illegal file sharing and copyright violations have decimated the profits in the industry. Record labels are less willing to take risks with new artists because the profits have dried up. Sales have steadily declined over the past several years due in large part to the proliferation of illegal downloads. All of that is true, but there are two sides to this coin. Sure, things are tougher today for the new Musician than ever before, but there are also new opportunities thanks to the Internet.

The Internet has reduced the barriers to entry into the Music business. Today thanks to the rapid evolution in technology, a Musician can record a song and share it with listeners around the world. In the past, distribution was controlled by the record labels. Unless you had a record deal it was almost impossible to reach listeners outside of your immediate area.

Distribution was not only controll ed, but there was no way around the high costs of physical distribution. Manufacturing a batch of CDs or tapes could be prohibitively expensive for the starving artist. However, with free MP3 distribution via the Internet, an artists Music can reach across the world. An up and coming Latin diva can share her tunes with someone in Europe. The next rock star in Africa can share his Music with someone in Japan. The Internet has opened a door that allows artists to share their art with anyone, anywhere, at any time.

Now with online retailers like Amazon, artists can even market and sell their Music themselves. Sure its tough and dont expect to make much money. But singers and bands can share and sell their Music without depending on a record label in ways today that were impossible a decade ago.

The Internet helps people connect. Music is a deeply personal experience and people have their own preferences in what they listen to. The Internet lets people who prefer a p articular style to group together easier and allows them to talk about new artists that they never would have had the chance to hear otherwise.

Now, dont get me wrong. Music is a tough business. With declining sales and tighter profits it is harder for anyone to make a living in the Music business. However, if you have a good day job and you love to make Music for the sake of the Music itself, then the Internet can be an incredible enabler.

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Author:: Scott Richards
Keywords:: Legend Vega, Latin Pop, Latin, Hot Latin, R&B, Legend, Internet, Music, Songs, MP3
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Review: The Bled Pass the Flask

Released in 2003, Pass the Flask turned this little quintet from Tucson, into a mainstream success overnight. Classifying this band as Metalcore or indie or hardcore is quite futile, because for every genre you pick, someone is going to disagree, and have a solid backing for their view. Everyone however can agree that whatever The Bled are doing, they are doing it well.

This album bursts into action from the first song, and doesnt let you down for 38 minutes. Personally I would like to see a longer album, but releasing a short disc like this sure does make you long for more. The album is very tight throughout, featuring a machine gun riffing section in nearly every song. If you love the stereotypical hardcore breakdowns, you will love every minute of this album.

As with all bands in the Metalcore genre, the guitar work on this album is fantastic, a great blend of soothing indie tones, contrasted next to dissonant riffing doubled by the bass guitar and kick drum s. Showcased best in The sound of sulfur guitarists; Jeremy Tally and Ross Ott put on a spectacular performance highlighted by the breakdown section half way through the song. Building slowly with one hard panned guitar, the riff slowly progresses over 8 bars, culminating in a machine gun section with a 4/4 crash beat forcing you to nod your head. I hope he loves you like I did/ when you needed me / I came for you that night

The vocals on this disc are nothing short of phenomenal, the band manages to turn a simplistic guitar melody and soothing vocal line and Id burn alive to keep you warm/when youre alone/shiver under blankets in the basement and slowly turn it into a thrash symphony that Metallica approve of. The most important aspect of Music is dynamics; there is no use in playing something heavy unless you can juxtapose it next to something quiet. The band knows this, and they have crafted their songs masterfully using this concept.

Known for their intense s tage show, the Music conveys a sense of urgency, as if the band knew they need to have this Music heard, and they arent going to sit down until youve heard exactly what they have to say. You will hear it, especially since I youll find yourself turning up your speakers periodically as the album progresses.

One of the most memorable moments on this disc comes on the 9th track, we are the industry after 3 minutes of heavy riffing and screaming, the song slowly degrades into a simple guitar melody with calm, matter of fact vocals whispering we are the industry / the birth and the death while the drumming and guitar slowly grows over the next few bars; adding a simple change every 4 bars gives the song an epic buildup, eventually the Music, and vocals reach a fevered pitch and then drop off, into static.

If youre looking for a solid album with heavy guitars, solid drumming and excellent screaming vocals, there is a damn good chance that you will enjoy the bled. If no t, you have terrible taste in Music, and you should be shot! Well, perhaps that isnt the case, but I really like this disc, and I hope you do as well.

Overall: 8.4

Chris Elkjar is the founder of 'trust.me' an online Music magazine for the enthusiast. He spends all of his spare time immersed in Music, be it writing Reviews, interviews with leading bands or writing his own Music.

For more of his writing, check out Trust-Me.ca - Music for robots

Author:: Chris Elkjar
Keywords:: Music,Trustme,the bled,pass the flask,Rock,Metal,chris elkjar,Review
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The Beatles and Epiphone Guitars

The Beatles may well be arguably the worlds biggest ever band. Musically from the early 1960s to the end of their career they covered an array of different music styles from the jangly pop of their early days to the psychedelia of their latter albums. To cover all these different sounds they needed a broad range of instruments.

Throughout their career they used a variety of Guitars and you can see many photographs of the Beatles with Rickenbackers (325s in particular) various Gretch, Fender and Hofner. However they are also linked with Epiphone Guitars and often choose Epiphone Guitars over all other Guitars for recordings and live performances.

The first Beatle to own an Epiphone Guitar was Paul McCartney who bought his first, an Epiphone Casino,during 1964. Influenced by the sound of this Gu itar John and George bought theirs soon after. The Epiphone Casino is a hollow-body double cutaway electric Guitar. Although available in a variety of colors, George Harrison stripped his down to bare wood saying that he liked the sound of the Guitar being able to breathe.

John Lennon favored the Epiphone E230TD Casino and used a variety of these Guitars from 1966 onwards. Lennon painted this Guitar and it appeared during the White Album sessions and in the Film Let it Be. During that film Lennon can be seen playing his Casino while rehearsing new material. Lennons Casino also features during the celebrated performance on the London roof top of their office building. Lennon is synonymous with the Casino, so much so that Epiphone recently re-released a John Lennon signature Casino. This faithful reproduction is of the Guitar as John originally purchased it with the vintage sunburst finish and stock hardware.

The Beatles also used Epiphones acoustic Guitars. Paul M cCartney favored the Epiphone Texan acoustic Guitar and it was used to record the epic track Yesterday. McCartney still uses Texan's to this day.

Clearly the Beatles have been one of the (if not the) biggest influences in popular music over the last 50 years. Their sound was distinct and this was bought about both by their playing and their selection of instruments. Thier Epiphone Guitars contributed to their sound and a number of Guitars have become iconic in their association with arguably the worlds biggest band.

ShanzuGuitars.com is a reference site for Guitarists everywhere. The site features Guitar news, resources, Guitar gear reviews, online lessons and free tools.

Author:: Adrian Martin
Keywords:: Guitar, electric Guitar, Gibson, Fender, Online Tuner, Online lessons
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Horror Stories (Playlist)

This is the perfect playlist for HALLOWEEN!

I figured these tracks would work great for this time of year when everyone gets dressed up and goes out to parties or trick or treating. I figured a mostly Electronica mix would work great so this is what I have come up with.

I start things off with The Hacker of Miss Kittin and The Hacker fame. It's a great spooky, dark track of minimal electro sounds that The Hacker is known for. The album comes off of his latest release Reves Mecanique. Those of you who are Miss Kittin fans can also find a track that she guests on.

I then head off to the Campy Industrial sounds of My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult. This track comes off of the Confessions Of A Knife album and it's a great track in this mix. It works perfectly as it has the sampled sounds of movies. Next up is Nightmare by Brainbug. This was a pretty big hit back in the late 90's in the club world. It's got that great sample of a classic Hollywood film soundtrack. It's sounds great and it's very upbeat and energetic!

Next up I have a track from EON. What an awesome artist Ian Loveday is as he had produced one of the most excellent electronic releases of the 1990's. Fear: The Mind Killer (Original Mix With Beats) by Eon comes from the only great album he put out called Void Dweller. The entire album samples horror/sci-fi movie soundtracks like Dune and Basket Case. If you haven't checked out this album definitely find it and listen to it as it's a masterpiec! I then head off into Hip Hop territory with Bloodsuckers by Spectre. Then right after that is Killer's Lullaby by Faithless remixed by Nightmares on Wax for a more downbeat feel to it from the original.

I continue slowing things down a bit with some very minimal creepy Electronica tunes by Grace Period and Piana then kick things right back up with the classic track Ghost Town by the Specials and Help Me by Timo Maas featuring the fabulous Kelis. This track is amazing as it samples the music from The Day The Earth Stood Still while Kelis is singing Help Me.

I wanted to end this playlist with one of my favorite Industro/New Wave/Techno Pop tracks of all time. Everyday Is Halloween by Ministry. A great track that still sounds great today. This track was released right before Ministry went on to become the hardcore/thrash/punk musicians they became and produced pretty crappy material. I'd much rather listen to these earlier more electronic tracks of theirs like Work For Love, Cold Life, Effigy and Everyday Is Halloween. Anyway that's it for this playlist as it clocks in at 78 minutes just enough to fit a CD.

Have a Happy Halloween!!!

Horror Stories

Village Of The Damned by The Hacker
Rivers of Blood, Years of Darkness by My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult
Nightmare (Sinister Strings Radio) by Brainbug
Fear: The Mind Killer (Original Mix With Beats) by Eon
Bloodsuckers by Spectre
Killer's Lullaby (Nightmares On Wax Mix) by Faithless
Ghost In The Graveyard by Grace Period
Monster by Piana
Zombie'ites by Transglobal Underground
Blind Date With The Devil by Quarks
Ghost Town (12 Vers.) by The Specials
Help Me (Featuring Kelis) by Timo Maas
Satan Spawn (With Kirk Hammett) by Orbital
Diablo (Devil Rides Out Mix) by The Grid
Everyday Is Halloween by Ministry

Seb Jarakian is the owner of Musync http://www.Musync.com a music research and licensing company based in San Francisco California. Seb's client list includes: Microsoft XBOX, Esurance, Clorox, VISA and Adidas. Seb also o wns and updates Best Playlists http://www.BestPlaylists.com and Beatzblog http://www.Beatzblog.com - Two blogs about electronic music and Apple's iTunes/iPod technologies. Seb periodically updates the two blogs with new playlists, album reviews, articles about new and classic Electronica music, and new technologies.

Author:: Seb Jarakian
Keywords:: Halloween, horror stories, seb jarakian, best playlists, Beatzblog, Musync, Electronica
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Guitar Lesson: Learn To Play Classical Guitar Without Nails

Is it possible to play classical guitar without nails? I guess so as I often do it myself. Many guitarists today and in the past have also done the same. Let me tell you the advantages of no nails playing and give you some tips!

Sharon Isbin in her Classical Guitar Answer Book wrote...

Classical guitarists can play without nails, but they should be aware that in doing so they are sacrificing certain possibilities of tone color and projection - all of which affect interpretation and musical presentation.

I have played classical guitar and also improvisational jazz and blues guitar for many years and have been teaching others professionally. I have played with long nails, shorter nails and no nails at all.

I have seen guitar students struggling with their tone on the guitar. Guitarists with problem nails, guitarists not taking care of their nails and subsequently with a terrible tone and some guitarists with perfect nails and still not a good tone be cause of faltering technique.

I have also met guitarists that were playing without nails and I have seen electric guitarists finger playing without nails like Mark Knopfler and others.

As with nearly everything there are pros and cons with the different approaches. I like playing without nails for these reasons:

1. It's a challenge to find the tone and get the most out of the guitar playing without nails. You have to play with more force to find the upper harmonics and you have to work even more with the guitar technique. No sloppiness is allowed!

2. I like the sweet sound of my fingers touching the strings. The sound created is mellow but the volume will still be satisfying if you play with force and with calousses developed by practising.

3. There is a special feeling involved in letting living flesh touch the strings on a guitar. You will come nearer the instrument somehow.

4. Of course you'll have the advantage of not risking to have y our nails broken as you don't depend on them anymore.

5. You will be able to play piano with correct finger posture.

6. You can play electric guitar with your fingers without risking to destroy your nails.

I will now give you some of my own advice and experiences from playing without nails.

You might find some more information on the net as there are many other classical guitarists and lute players who want to play without nails. Here are my personal hints:

1. It will take a week or so to build callouses on your fingertips after having filed down your nails. This will improve your guitar playing and tone but until then you have to be careful not to play so intensely as to get blisters.

2. A way to build callouses is to play finger picking on electric guitar or steel string guitar. I have experienced that my blues guitar playing is much more musical and more dynamic as I play with my fingers instead of with a pick on my electric guitar. Som etimes I use to alternate between my thumb and index finger when playing scales and licks and other times my index finger and middle finger or in another classical guitar playing way.

3. You will get a softer and in many ways a more beautiful tone if you cultivate your playing without nails. However you might miss some of the higher frequencies. To compensate for this you can see to it that you always play with fresh new strings and if you are a rich man you might purchase a classical guitar with more treble and less bass.

4. When you use your nail sharpener (you should instead of just clipping the nails off!) to keep your nails short you might as well give your fingertips some grooming with the nail sharpener. This will improve your tone and stimulate your finger tips to become harder.

5. As you practice exercises on your guitar you need to play slowly and with a little more force to get a good tone. It is important that you don't build tensions as you pla y. All musicians benefit from learning relaxation techniques and stretching to prevent injuries.

6. Practice especially playing apoyando (support strokes) with all your fingers and listen to the tone and try to improve it as part of your playing.

If you feel that playing completely without nails is to hard for you, you might after this test period let them grow but you can keep them a lot shorter as your technique has improved. They will then work as the claws of a cat. Mostly not used but still affecting your tone and supporting your playing. As with long nails you will have to polish them and take care of them.

There are many more things to say about playing guitar without nails but personally this technique gives me a tone I like and an exciting and rewarding challenge.

Peter Edvinsson is a musician, composer and music teacher. Visit his site Capotasto Music and download your free prinTable sheet music and guitar Tablature at http://www.capotastomusic.com.

Author:: Peter Edvinsson
Keywords:: guitar lesson, classical guitar, learn to play guitar, guitar technique, sheet music, Tab, Tablature
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Beware Of "Gear Overload"

Fifteen years ago or so I wanted a new amp. One that would be loud as all get-out. One that would melt your face!!

So...I went to the local Music store and got just that.

Boy...do I regret that now.

Sure...I had a great amp that was versitile. It was big enough and loud enough to use for stage volume without monitors. It sounded GREAT.

Hauling it around, however, turned out to be another story.

For those of us that are unfortunate enough to not be able to afford roadies (and I'm quite sure most of us are not), I found that lugging this thing around from gig to gig was a royal pain in the rear.

Too heavy, too bulky, too loud for some clubs...

I got caught up in Gear overload.

Sure, having a full Marshall stack would be great. Visually impressive even. But would it REALLY be necessary?

If you are blessed to have access to a great PA, large amps onstage really are not necessary. I have seen many, many bands over the years where the Guitarist has a small combo. And you know what? That was all that was needed. Had a great sound without all of the bulk.

The same can apply to effects as well. You may be a stomp-box junkie, but let's be real here for a minute. I have seen players with ten-plus effects layed out on a monster-sized pedalboard. Just the cords look like a wiring nightmare! With technology today being what it is, you could probably have the same results using one of the many multi-effects units available.

Interestingly enough, the same is now almost (I say ALMOST) holding true for your tried and true Guitar-arsenal. Got a Fender...AND a Gibson...and who knows what else? The new modeling Guitars can offer a great diversity of sounds from the same ax - without having to carry them all around.

Don't get me wrong here - having a multitude of necessary Gear is great.

But is it really necessary?

Jerry Mathis has 25 years of Guitar experience - playing, teaching, recording and performing live. Visit his website http://www.1StopGuitar.com to get all of your Guitar tablatures, articles, reviews, accessories and more all in one place!

Author:: Jerry Mathis
Keywords:: Music,Guitar,Gear,Amplifier
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Piano Music How to Begin and End a Piece

How do you begin a piece of Music? That's a question I'm often asked. The answer I usually give is that you begin as soon as you start playing - that is, if you're trying to compose something, the piece begins the moment it has energy and is something you want to capture. If it's an Improvisation, the piece begins the moment you set your fingers on the keys and hit the first note. It's like free flow writing and writing a chapter to a novel.

The writer can both improvise and enjoy the process or can structure the ideas more - or, as I like to do, combine both procedures into one. I start out by Improvising - always. Then, if I want to memorialize a Musical idea, I write down the first two bars of melody along with the chord(s) I'm playing. I throw this on a chart and voila - the idea remai ns fresh until I want to either expand on it, or ignore it completely.

If the idea is a rhythm pattern I write down (Left hand = whatever the pattern is) so I can remember it later. I never stop Improvising though because that would stop the flow and who knows what could come out of it. Don't forget that an Improvisation is a piece of Music in and of itself. There is really no need to impose structure on something as beautiful and organic as spontaneous expression. In fact, these spur of the moment fantasies are often more inspiring than any contrived Composition. There is something more alive to them because there IS more life to them.

Endings pose another problem, namely the problem of when to stop playing. For Improvisation, the answer is when energy (inspiration) starts to wane dow n. That's a good time to bring your Music to an end. You'll know when this is happening when you become bored. That's the sign it's time to stop.

Composition is a different story. The form of the piece already dictates when you should stop. For example, an ABA form tells you to play the A section once or twice, go to B, back to A then bring the piece to an end. Of course the amount of repetition and contrast is a personal decision but the form establishes both beginning and ending. It's a nice safe way to say that yes, I have a piece of Music here. Now, Improvisations can have form as well. The big difference is that you don't consciously think about putting the Music into a predefined shape.

But for some unknown reason, most Improvisations do have symmetry - that is they take on a form of their own. I don't know if this is because of human beings innate rhythm (heartbeat) or what.

Even Zen flute Music, which may be the most freely inspired Improvisation s tyle around has some structure. You can hear it in the phrases. Beginnings and endings. Don't worry too much about them. What's important is where you are emotionally while you play. Become aware of that and all your problems are solved.

Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now at http://www.quiescenceMusic.com/pianolessons.html for a FREE piano lesson!

Author:: Edward Weiss
Keywords:: Composition,Improvisation,Music,begin a piece,end a piece,Improvising,
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DMX The Year Of The Dog Album Review

After a 3 years break DMX is back with a brand new album: The Year Of The Dog.

After a guitar background intro, followed by Give Em What They Want is based on rhythmic claps combined with DMXs raspy voice. Give Em What they want has a beautiful hood flavor. Offensive, DMX teaches you not to mess with him unless you want to get laid down, 6 feet deep creeping.

Walk These Dogs is built on a rapid rhythm. Violins and keyboard in the background are intelligently mixed up with DMX and Eves voices. Hostile, straight up and confident OGs, both artists fully master the track.

Another beautiful and rhythmic track is really worth your attention: Pump Ya Fist. DMX introduces you into the creepy streets of NYC. Pump Ya Fist and be ready to fight.

Its Personal featuring Jadakiss struggles against any forms of fakeness. You gotta deal with the real in the streets.

Electric guitar sounds and rapid beats reinforce the creepy runaway atmosphere of Go For Dat f eaturing Lil Scrappy. You like talking shit? You gotta be aware that you might get hit hard by DMX. X is gonna give it to ya in no time. No time for bitching.

DMX voice can get very dark, sometimes it is very similar to barking dogs sounds. This elements gives DMX art its particular flavor.

Blood On My Hands is a very beautifully handled gangsta track. DMX teaches you the laws of the streets and spices up the atmosphere in no time.

The Industry underlines DMX state of mind about the music industry.

Unlike many peoples opinion, the music industry is a real dirty business in which you can find greedy and fake people who want to play most of them artists like their property.

It is not about the music and the artist: it is all about image and selling Cds. Those people dont care about the artist as a person.

Lord Give Me A Sign: DMX is a strong believer. In this song, he addresses to God, talks about his fights and asks for directions. Electric guitars, keyboard sounds and rhythmic beats enhance the final track.

The Year Of The Dog is a real good East Coast album that is definitely worth your buy. Check it out!

Copyright 2006 by Isabelle Esling All Rights Reserved

I am an Eminem biographer and a freelance music journalist. I teach English and German at public schools.

Author:: Isabelle Esling
Keywords:: DMX, The Year Of The Dog, East Coast Rap
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Piano Lessons and Perfectionism

Are you a perfectionist? Does every note have to sound right before it comes out of your piano? If so, you might be cheating yourself out of the joy of music making. Most of us learned how to be perfectionists as children, trying to please Mommy or Daddy. We wanted their approval so we tried to get it right.

In the process, we learned that getting it right meant giving up happiness. It wasn't enough that we could express ourselves musically. We had to do a good job of it as well. As good as we could make it. Getting all the notes right. Trying to please music teachers who could care less if we were enjoying ourselves. All for what? To get a grade or a that's good?

It's a shame but this happens all the time in music schools. It's not until we become adults that we realize the damage that has been done. By then, it's usually too late and most never pick up an instrument again. What a pity that is. What a shame that we all must create to someone's standard of what good is. And worst of all, when you finally achieve that high standard, you are told that it is never good enough anyway.

The way out of this perfectionist's rut is to let go of the need to please others and refocus on pleasing ourselves. Now there is room to make mistakes and explore what art really is - namely EXPLORATION OF THE UNKNOWN! Here is where the real adventure begins my friends. Here is where excitement truly is! Not knowing what is going to happen next. Not judging what comes out of us but being beholders of it all.

Improvisation is the key that unlocks this door. It is the one art form that is invention from one moment to the next. Experience the joy of Improvisation and all need to get things right disappears. Just for a moment you feel like the music is playing you. Isn't that enough?

Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New A ge style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/pianolessons.html for a FREE piano lesson!

Author:: Edward Weiss
Keywords:: piano lessons, Improvisation,Creativity,music lessons,Perfectionism,Edward Weiss
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Country Music Lyrics

Developed as an amalgamation of various musical forms, country music has a huge fan following across the globe. Country music enthusiasts are divided loosely into two sects. The first contains those people who listen to this melodious form for Entertainment. The second and the more serious are those who follow country music as a form of Art.

Country music lyrics have played a huge pArt in bringing the music to its present successful stage. The simple and flowing words of country music describe the day-to-day lives of the average American. Not every body identifies with Brad Pitt or Madonna, but you can empathize with the simple characters described in country music. An average working class American citizen relates to the beautiful depiction of relationships, touching loneliness or poverty.

Earlier commercial forms of country music copied ballad or folk music. The lyrics depicted the lives of Americans in earlier days, using a fiddler to deliver the message. A good example of this was fiddling John Carsons 1924 hit Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane.

Country music lyrics beautifully portrayed the romantic version of a vast span of lonesome prairies. People loved the image of a singing cowboy galloping on a steed singing and working hard on a sunny day. Singers like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers boosted the image of country music tremendously by including beautiful lyrics in their songs.

The lyrics in country music are o ften repeated as a catchy melodious phrase by a chorus, and composers usually write tunes that are 150 words or less.

Country Music provides detailed information on Country Music, Country Music Lyrics, Country Music CDs, Country Music Videoes and more. Country Music is affiliated with Classical Music Downloads.

Author:: Ross Bainbridge
Keywords:: Country Music Lyrics
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Beginner's Guide to Music File Formats

Are you confused by the various types of Music file formats out there? Most of you would have heard of the popular MP3 format, but are you aware there are other alternative digital Music formats like WAV, WMA, RA and MIDI? Some of these give better sound quality than MP3 (e.g. the WAV format) but also need more disk storage space. Others like WMA give file sizes smaller than the MP3 format and are more suited for portable Music players.

Let's run through the various file formats now:

The MP3 File Format

MP3 files have the extension .Mp3 and are available for download from many web sites. MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3) technology compresses a sound sequence into a very small file (usually one twelfth of of the original file size). The designers of MP3 compression algorithm managed to do this by eli minating sounds that the human ear cannot perceive. While MP3 technology is impressive, it has been abused by Music pirates. One can very easily create MP3 files from commercial CDs and make them available for download. The RIAA and major Music companies have been cracking down on the distribution and sharing of MP3 files in this manner.

The WMA File Format

WMA (Windows Media Audio) is Microsoft's proprietary Music file format that it is marketing aggressively. WMA files are smaller in size than MP3 files, but still retain a decent level of sound quality. This format is getting very popular in websites for sampling Music and also in portable Music players. However, whether WMA will overtake the popularity of MP3 remains to be seen.

The WAV File Format

A wave file is characterized by the file extension .wav. This Music file format provides raw, uncompressed audio data. Originally invented by Microsoft, wave files are still used widely (examples include your start up and shut down sounds in Windows). Audio quality is excellent, but the file size is huge. A full pop song in wave format may take up to 30 MB of disk space or more.

The AIFF File Format

The AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) is a popular Music file formats used in the Apple Macintosh operating system. In a way, they are the Macintosh equivalent of wave files. AIFF files have the file extension .aif when accessed via a PC. They contain raw audio data (which result in excellent sound quality) but take up a large amount of disk space.

The MIDI File Format

The MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) file format was originally created for recording and playing Music on digital synthesizers. MIDI files are very small in size. The reason for this is that the MIDI file only contains information on how Music is produced (e.g. note-ons and note-offs). The sound card which plays back the MIDI file takes this information and plays back Music u sing an in-built soundcard wavetable.

The RA File Format

RA (RealAudio) files support streaming technology. Created by Progressive Networks, an RA file is highly optimized for live, streaming audio from websites. RA files are best played back on RealAudio players which are freely downloadable from Progressive Networks.

Conclusion

Well, that wraps up our coverage of the most popular Music file formats out there. You may be interested to know that there are many software applications which can convert Music from one format to another (e.g. MP3 to WAV or WAV to AIFF). Do a search for these applications at www.download.com.

About The Author

Gary Hendricks - http://digital-Music-guide.com

garyhendricks@digital-Music-guide.com

Author:: Gary Hendricks
Keywords:: Music,Music downloads,Music files,Music format,Mp3,internet Music,online Music
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Mark Knopfler: Producing Willy DeVille's "Miracle"

Following the international success of Brothers in Arms, Mark Knopfler set forth in a variety of directions to keep himself busy musically and to take a break from Dire Straits. He produced several albums, including 1987s A&M release, Willy DeVilles Miracle.

Like Knopfler, DeVille was the singer-songwriter and driving force behind his band Mink DeVille. Miracle was his first solo outing. According to a very recent interview with Richard Marcus, DeVille remembered how the album came together. It was Mark's (then) wife Lourdes who came up with the idea. She said to him that you don't sing like Willy and he doesn't play guitar like you, nobody plays guitar like him. You really like his stuff so why don't you do an album together? (In fact, DeVille cleverly dedicates the album to Knopfler and ex-wife Lourdes for their support which was nothing short of a Miracle in a time of Dire Straits.)

DeVille also recalled It wasn't easy because we didn't want it to sou nd like a Dire Straits' album, and his guitar playing is so unique that it was hard to do. But nothing good is going to be easy. I know that I spent the whole time really trying to impress Mark, I wanted it to be good. Hes still proud of the album, nearly twenty years later, citing Southern Politician as one of his favorite tracks.

The only real Dire Straits influences heard on the album are Knopflers distinctive guitar work and keyboardist Guy Fletchers synthesizers. Knopfler also recruited his childhood hero, Nashville guitar icon Chet Atkins, to play on the song HeArt and Soul.

The surprise of the album was Storybook Love, which also appeared on Knopflers soundtrack for Rob Reiners fairy tale film The Princess Bride. The song was written completely coincidentally, but when Knopfler heard it an d played it for Reiner, they both decided it should be the title track for the movie. It went on to earn an Academy Award nomination, and DeVille appeared at the Oscar ceremony to perform the song.

Thom Jurek, All Music Guide, writes of the album: There is a notable difference in production style thanks to Dire Strait Mark Knopfler at the helm. He observes that Knopfler was able to soften the edges and shift the focus to DeVille as a singer of fine pop ballads. A&M may have failed to effectively market the album, but critics and fans alike realize that this was a turning point in Willy DeVilles career, with some of his best and most memorable work appearing on it.

Mark Knopfler is a singer, songwriter and guitar player touring in 2006 with Emmylou Harris to promote their new album All the Roadrunning. For Mark Knopfler news, biography, photographs, and tour information visit the site: http://www.knopfler.info

Author:: Susan Dagostino
Keywords:: Mark Knopfler, Dire Straits, Brothers in Arms, Willy DeVille, Mink DeVille
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Producing Your Own Music

Producing music is something that can be very intriguing, but also it is something that can be very time consuming. It takes a lot of dedication and motivation. Most of the professional music producers have extensive imaginations and years and years of experience.

So if you are someone interested in producing music are you prepared to put in the work?

A lot of people have the understanding that to stArt producing music you need thousands of dollars in equipment and you need to have gone to school or had some kind of schooling on producing music. This is totally untrue!

You can begin producing music very cheaply. The program (tool) that I stArted with was very cheap and it is actually something that I still use. It offers pretty much everything you need. It has extensive help guides and tutorials. I definitely got my money worth with this program, it gets put to use all the time.

There are programs like this all over the internet. I recommend stArting with one of these programs. Not only are they inexpensive, but they are also very helpful. They offer tools that help you produce music, make instrumentals, compose music, professionally engineer and play different instruments. You can easily make beats and play them right online.

Most of these programs are basically mini music production workshops. Many of them also offer hundreds of videos and tutorials that show you exactly how to produce music, the right way.

So get rid of the preconceived notion that you need to spend thousands of dollars and stArt producing the kind of music you want to be listening to right now!

The author is an avid internet user. She also loves music and enjoys messing around with music production and making different sounds. For more information on one of these tools check out http://www.melovemoney.com/music.html.

Author:: Maryann Morrison
Keywords:: produce music,producing your own music, producing music,how to produce music, music production
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Concerts Live vs Studio

In this article we're going to indulge in a debate on concert performances versus studio recordings.

It should be pointed out that there are no personal views in this article. The following is a composition of arguments made by critics and fans of music since the early days of both live and studio recordings.

Let's first cut to the question we ultimately want to get answered in this article. Which is better, seeing a group live or listening to one of their studio albums?

Well, to answer that it first needs to be pointed out that the question of better in itself may not even be the definitive answer. A live performance may be better than a studio album, worse than one or simply a different experience depending on what you are trying to get out of it.

If you're a purest who wants to hear your favorite group's songs done exactly as they were done on record then more likely than not you will probably be disappointed. Why? Well, there are several th ings that factor into that equation.

For starters, a studio recording is done in an environment that is totally different from a concert hall. The acoustics are manufactured as opposed to natural. Also, in a studio, you have millions of dollars in equipment that you just can't lug to a live performance, no matter how hard you try.

Then there is the recording process itself. Anyone who thinks that a group records each song they do in one take has an unrealistic view of studio recordings. Songs take multiple takes. Also, many parts are overdubbed and even triple dubbed. In a live performance there is no dubbing. Everything is done there on the spot. No chance to take back a wrong note. If the lead singer has a sore throat you can't skip over his parts and do them another day, as can be done in a studio. It is do or die at a live performance. Therefore, a live performance is going to be different from a studio recording.

Naturally, if you are going to see somebody who just plays guitar in the studio and is going to be playing that same guitar live, there is a better chance that what you will hear will more closely resemble what you'll hear on record. But with a big ensemble rock group that uses twenty keyboards in the studio, the chances become quite slim.

However, if you are someone who is going to a concert to hear and see the energy that a group puts into something live, or even hope to hear something a little different from what you get on record, then most likely you live for live performances. Recordings to you are simply a matter of getting some idea of how good that group will sound at a live venue.

But disappointments happen. Many critics claimed how a band by the name of Boston from back in the late 70s sounded absolutely terrible in concert because the lead singer could not hit the same high notes that he hit in the studio and it was obvious that the musicianship was just not there. This is a group that most likely needed the studio to sound as good as they did.

And then there is the concert enthusiast who isn't so much looking to hear the record duplicated or to hear energy or something different. They're just going to the concert to hear a band they just happen to like. Their experience at the concert will most likely be a simple matter of did it sound good? Since sounding good is a relative term, we won't try to answer how to qualify what good is. That is an individual's taste. In most cases however, just to generalize, if the concert sound is of professional quality and the songs are recognizable as the hits from the record then most people will walk away from the experience saying that it was a good one. But again, that depends on what you're hoping to get out of the experience itself.

Hopefully though, the above will serve as a guide of what to look for based on what type of person you are and what you are personally expecting. That way you can get a decent idea of what a concert experience will be like for you. If you need your music note for note to the record then most likely you will be disappointed by most Concerts.

Notice we didn't actually answer our question of which is better. As was stated, Concerts may simply be different.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Concerts

Author:: Michael Russell
Keywords:: Concerts
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Improvising On The Piano: Jazz Musicians Do It Why Not Other Styles?

Why jazz piano Improvisation?

Why not gospel piano Improvisation?

Is it not possible to improvise classical Music, or sacred Music, or any other kind of Music?

Bach improvised many of his fugues and inventions while playing organ in church. Many others in all Musical styles have improvised within the context of their own persuasion. So why study improvised jazz? Why not study improvised classical Music, or improvised gospel Music?

The answer is access.

Jazz piano Improvisation is so much more accessible than is Improvisation in other areas. Some classical Pianists do improvise, but at performances they are generally expected to play Chopin or Debussy or Mozart, rather than to make up their own Music. There are gospel Pianists who do improvise, but the expectation of their listeners is not primarily to hear Music created on the spot.

But the expectations of a audience of jazz fans is expressly to hear Music created extemporaneously, witho ut benefit of written score. And so jazz, far more than any other Musical style to date, has become the Music of Improvisation. Not because there is anything inherent in the tunes jazz Musicians play that calls for Improvisation, but because of the expectation of Improvisation that has built up over the years.

This fact makes it possible for an interested observer to study jazz Improvisation like he could study no other kind of Improvisation. He has easy access to concerts, recordings, transcriptions of jazz recordings, and even local jam sessions. When can he attend a classical concert and be sure of hearing Music improvised? When can he attend church with assurance that the pianist will improvise? But with jazz, his sources are many and are readily available.

Can the principles derived from jazz Improvisation be applied to other Musical styles?

Of course.

Every pianist uses the same 88 notes of the keyboard. All Music consists of some kind of melody , some kind of harmony, some kind of rhythm. Elements from one style can be transplanted to another style; in fact, this is happening all the time. Notice lately how much of contemporary pop Music is flavored with elements from jazz, country-western, and even classical Music. Cross-pollinization of styles abounds in contemporary Music.

So Improvisation can be studied by the student of classical Music, the church pianist, the worship team keyboardist, the new-age pianist, the country-western piano player, and any other style of Music. The benefits and rewards of learning to improvise on the piano are enormous.

So next time you see or hear a jazz pianist play, pay close attention to what she or he is doing. Ask yourself what's going on Musically -- what Chords and chord progressions are being used , what rhythms are in play, and how the tune of a song is being altered as the pianist improvises the melody line.

Then go home and apply what you've learned to your style of Music. You'll be surprised how much you can learn by simply observing and then applying what you've seen and heard to your own playing.

Duane Shinn is the author of over 500 Music books and Music educational materials such as DVD's, CD's, Musical games for kids, chord charts, Musical software, and piano lesson instructional courses for adults. He is the author of a CD-DVD course titled How To Make Up Music As You Play -- How To Improvise On The Piano!. He holds advanced degrees from Southern Oregon University and was the founder of Piano University in Southern Oregon. He is the author of the popular free 101-week online e-mail newsletter titled Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions with over 57,400 current subscribers.

Author:: Duane Shinn
Keywords:: Improvisation, jazz piano, Pianists, Music, Chords, chord progressions, gospel Music
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3 Secrets To Understanding What Makes Music Tick

Its no secret that virtually everyone loves Music in some form or other. After all, Music is the universal language. In one way or another we all participate in it from our cradle song to our wedding song to our funeral song, with thousands of other s stops along the way.

The country-western fan may not like jazz, but he or she sure loves the sound of pickin & grinnin.

And thats as it should be. If we all liked the same kind of Music, there just wouldnt be the variety that is available to us now. We can choose from Musical styles ranging from heavy classical and opera to rock to childrens songs to Broadway Musicals to gospel Music to the blues.

Each has its place, and each seems on the surface to be drastically different than another form of Music. The key word is on the surface. But beneath the surface of all Music is a commonality that is organic to all forms and styles of Music.

So what does all Music have in common? What makes Music tick?

At least 3 things sometimes more, but never less:

1.Melody

2.Rhythm

3.Harmony

The Melody is the part of a song or composition that you whistle or hum in other words, the tune of the song. In one sense, it is the most visible of the 3 elements, because Melody is what identifies a song. Without Melody, it would be difficult to even conceive of a song or piece.

In Musical notation, the Melody is almost always written in the treble clef also known as the treble staff. It consists of a horizontal line of notes that move up and down on the clef as the tune moves higher or lower.

Rhythm is the beat the swin g the throb of the Music. It happens in repeating patterns, depending upon the type of Music. It is like a horizontal line of beats which occur at regular or semi-regular intervals. A waltz, for example, basically consists of a heavy beat followed by two lighter beats. So we say that a waltz is in triple meter one strong beat followed by two weak beats, then repeated.

A march, on the other hand, generally consists of a heavy beat followed by a light beat, then another heavy beat followed by another light beat. (Im simplifying, of course there are many varieties) So a march is in duple meter as you might expect since we have two feet and we march in left-right-left-right patterns.

All Rhythms are some combination of triple meter and/or duple meter, and the possibilities are endless from bo ogie to R&B to mambos and sambas and bossa novas and.on and on.

Harmony, the 3rd aspect of Music, is the Musical background of a song the chords, or intervals behind the Melody. Without Harmony, a song sounds empty like a vocalist singing without an accompanist or accapella. Music doesnt HAVE to have Harmony to function, but in actual practice it almost always does, even if it is just the interplay of two melodies, as in counterpoint.

You could spend a lifetime learning all the nuances of Music, but it its most basic form, it is these 3 elements combined together; Melody, Rhythm, and Harmony that comprise Music.

Duane Shinn is the author of over 500 Music books and Music educational materials such as DVD's, CD's, Musical games for kids, chord charts, Musical software, and piano lesson i nstructional courses for both children & adults. His book & DVD course titled How To Dress Up Naked Music On The Piano! is used by adults around the world. He holds advanced degrees from Southern Oregon University and was the founder of Piano University in Southern Oregon. He is the author of the popular free 101-week online e-mail newsletter titled Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions with over 59,700 current subscribers.

Author:: Duane Shinn
Keywords:: Music, Melody, Harmony, Rhythm
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Neyo's Smooth Transtion from Songwriter to R&B Superstar

Shaffer Chimere Smith, best known by his stage name, Ne-Yo, is an American R&B singer and songwriter. Ne-Yo was best known for co-authoring Marios 2004 number-one hit, Let Me Love You and then later shot to fame with the release of his own album, In My Own Words, which was released in 2006 and debuted at the top of The Billboard 200. Ne-Yos second single, So Sick, became his first number-one hit single.

Ne-Yo achieved much success as a songwriter, co-writing songs for several popular artists, including: Mary J. Blige, Marques Houston, Ruben Studdard, Christina Milian, Faith Evans, B2K, Tyrese, Jamie Foxx, and Rihanna. Upon a failed record deal with Columbia Records, Ne-Yo was introduced to L.A. Reid of Def Jam Records, who signed Ne-Yo on the spot.

In February 2006, Ne-Yo released his debut album In My Own Words to much success, thanks to hit singles Stay and So Sick, which would reach number-one status in both the US and the UK. Though he has experienced m uch success as an artist, Ne-Yo continues to co-write songs for other artists and is currently working on tracks with Mario, Fantasia, Britney Spears and Beyonce.

Ne-Yos name was given to him by a friend, who believed that the singer-songwriter could see music similar to how The Matrixs Neo character, played by Keanu Reeves, could see the Matrix. Neyo is of Afircan-American, Puerto Rican, and Chinese descent.

http://Ne-yo-ringtones.com

Author:: J Kim
Keywords:: Ne-yo, Neyo, Ne-Yo ringtones, Ne-yo R&B, Neyo history, Neyo music, Ne-yo music, Ne-yo Biography,
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GuitarPlaying Tips For Beginners

Learning how to use a pArticular musical instrument can be pretty challenging to most people. The act of playing an instrument like a guitar is not only a skill that can be learned in due time but it is also a gift that can be harnessed by a determined individual.

A person who wants to learn guitar-playing can try it on his own with the help of tutorial books and DVDs. Others get by with only song magazines guiding their musical inclinations. If a person is really determined to learn guitar-playing, then he will have to spend almost all of his free and not-so free time in practice.

There are those who want to learn guitar-playing the right way and so they enroll in guitar-playing classes. These classes are sometimes offered in groups but most often, guitar-playing lessons are offered individually so that the teacher can really focus on the learning skills of his student.

Guitar-playing is not just about hand techniques but it also involves one's love for music. There are guitar players who play guitar by ear. They listen to the notes of a song and then try to mimic the tune in their guitars.

If you want to learn to play the guitar, then you have to accept the fact that it will not be an easy job. Learning how to play the guitar will take most of your patience and your time. It can even take you away from your other hobbies.

A person who wants to learn guitar-playing should focus on understanding guitar concepts, proper practice techniques like focus and attention span and developing routines towards a better guitar-playing technique.

One must never try to aspire to be a guitar player if he does not have the desire to learn how to play the guitar. A person's desire or willingness to exert effort to learn guitar-playing can play a very big role in his success. If you are just playing the guitar for the heck of it or you are just doing the motions then you better review your priorities. If you are not really interested in guitar-playing but would just like to show off a new skill to your friend then you will only be frustrated later on.

However, the desire to play the guitar cannot make you a good guitar player. That desire must be coupled with determination and confidence that someday, one can successfully play the guitar with all the right tunes and fingers in place. It should also be accompanied by the proper guitar-playing training and techniques.

No matter what motivation you may have in your desire to learn how to play the guitar, it will be your guiding light and beam of hope during days when you feel you no longer have the willpower to stay on.

Very rigid fingers should be exercised regularly for them to be able to romance the guitar strings properly. If you stArt guitar-playing the right way then you will most probably be on your way to becoming a good guitar player. Bad habits are hard to lose so better begin your guitar-playing with the right intentions, instructions and equipment.

Proper guitar playing is just a matter of letting your fingers learn and remember. Sometimes, your fingers become so rigid you cannot hold the proper strings but in due time, your fingers will remember and will magically play on its own. When this time comes, playing the guitar will no longer be an effort.

For the amazing methods to learning how to play virtually any guitar song you hear, please visit http://www.guitar-playing-tips.info/

Author:: Tim Lee
Keywords:: guitar playing tips, guitar tips for beginners
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The Miseducation of Hip Hop

Just what is the definition of Hip Hop? Well according to youngster of this generation it is a Music Genre, a trend, a Lifestyle, anything that comes to mind on today’s youth. When you ask old-school enthusiast they'll agree on one term, it's a "Culture" for them. For today's young men and women hip hop has a deep impact on their lives, back then when Hip Hop was still a growing phenomenon, when all you hear on the radio station was rock and roll, pop, country and dancehall Music, hip hop made noise by starting their own with the emergence of rap Music.

It was cool when old-school hip hop beats such as, Kool G Rap's, KRS One's, Big Daddy Kane's and all of them Old School flavor was hitting the scene, you see people of all races dance to it, but not much whites, as Vanilla Ice did a contr oversy that made them vulnerable to the culture. It was a Culture before which was strong and all about having fun, but in the midst of it all, the infamous "Gangsta' Rap" emerge as Hip Hop's hard core side, Hip Hop was incorporated with gangs, and lyrics which rappers like Chuck D, whom infamously runs Public Enemy, N.W.A. the west side’s hard knocks and several other gangsta' rappers build hip hop's different foundation, Rappers talks about their run-ins with the Police, best delivered by N.W.A.'s "F*ck the Police", and tension with other gangs.

All Of that builds something heavy to the succesor of Hip Hop Culture, In The Mid-90's Gagsta' Rap evolve and creates the Eastcoast/Westcoast beef, headed by California's Tupac and New York's Notorious B.I.G., then followed by their record labels like Pac's Deathrow Records and Biggie's Bad Boy Records, it was widely known, and in '96 Hardcore Gansta' Rapper/Poet Tupac was assassinated, after him Big gie was also killed. Because of that youth in that generation was cautious, wild and curious, just to be "in" the "game", you have to be Gangsta', the whole Hip Hop as a culture definition has evolve rapidly that it has became a Lifestyle and on recent events it was Life for most.

Hip Hop has been misunderstood as of late, you see gangs going it all out, you hear rap Music talking about sex, drugs and all that jazz, and Hip Hop's main meaning has been misinterpreted, it's not enough to explain how it goes down, but for a real Hip Hop enthusiast one must observe that, before all that beefing and conflict began Hip Hop was a wholesome act, even Tupac has Poetic lyrics that tackle's Life in general, not just the stereotypical hip hop we knew now.

All in all the total misconception on hip hop have to be the misunderstanding that all of the conflict and history of the culture brought, if only every people who listen or gets involve with hip hop has a wider conceptual analysis in their minds they would understand, but that would be impossible. So the misconception of it will continue, people have different views, analysis, and conception on things so it will be real hard to unite one brain to another. This Essay is not to criticize the culture rather to open eyes to some who seeks a little opinion from a little fan.

Jron The Black Mamba Magcale

http://www.hqpress.com

Author:: Jron Magcale
Keywords:: hip hop, Essay, Miseducation, Genre, Music, Life
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Concert Ticket Brokers

Busy lifestyles have made it increasingly difficult for people to visit a travel agent to book a ticket, to go to the financial advisors office to discuss buying and selling of shares or even stand in a line to buy movie or concert tickets.

To overcome this problem, many ticket brokers have launched their websites that allow people to book tickets online in advance. This enables people to book tickets for their favorite concert, movie, sports event or airline without actually having to stand in the queue and wasting their precious time and energy. Typically, these ticket brokers charge a fee in addition to the face value of these tickets. People do not mind paying this extra money to get their desired tickets delivered to their doorsteps without any hassle. Concert ticket brokers are those who specialize in offering their ticketing services to individuals who want to purchase concert tickets.

The job of a concert ticket broker is not easy, as they have to be co nstantly in touch with the concert organizers of the locality. They have to put in place a network of similar service providers with whom they can exchange services as and when necessary. This is essential to maintain client satisfaction and to build a good reputation among the patrons. Many concert brokers have an understanding among themselves that if one of the brokers has already got a contract from a certain organizer, they will not try to secure the same contract by reducing their prices. This helps maintain professional decorum and cooperation among the local ticket brokers.

Before going to a concert, it is a good idea to check the local concert ticket broker for availability of tickets. If the booking is done well in advance, chances of getting good discounts are brighter. This especially holds true for rock music concert tickets that are sold out as soon as they come for sale. Many concert ticket brokers also offer group discounts for special categories of pe ople such as students and disabled persons. As several brokers aim to make maximum profits, the customers usually get a good deal on concert tickets.

Ticket Brokers provides detailed information on Ticket Brokers, Concert Ticket Brokers, Sports Ticket Brokers, Ticket Broker Software and more. Ticket Brokers is affiliated with Online Texas Holdem.

Author:: Seth Miller
Keywords:: Concert Ticket Brokers
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Learn a Musical Instrument Prepare for a Career

For a skilled musician, there is an additional career path that is invisible to the non-musician. This is an additional benefit beyond the pleasure of playing music, the attention it brings, and the better academic performance than students who do not learn to play a musical instrument. It is a broad range of extra career opportunities that non-musicians never even consider.

But if you're a musician, you can apply. Let's take a look at these Careers that are available only to musicians

Education: Are you a musician who has also studied education? If so, there are numerous music education opportunities that may interest you:

Music educator at a college, conservatory, university; thousands of positions to apply for in both public and private colleges.

Music teacher at secondary or elementary school; thousands more all over the US and the world.

Private music instructor; there are hundreds of thousands of private piano teachers, guitar teachers, drum teachers, etc. working for themselves in private studios and/or teaching in a music store.

Music supervisor; many opportunities to oversee musical programs in both public and private venues.

Choir director; thousands of schools from elementary to college; thousands of churches who use choir directors.

Therapy: Are you a musician who has also studied psychiatry? You can practice the trade of music therapy in a wide array of settings. Some of the sources of employment for music therapists are the following:

Schools

Universities

Nursing Homes

Mental health clinics; the author worked as an assistant music therapist one summer when he was in college; it was a great experience.

Correctional Facilities

Private practice

Business: Ever wonder wha t it takes to work in business management? Besides business smarts, an ability to talk the language of music will take you places the non-musican cannot go:

Artist Manager or Agent

Talent Agent

Concert Promoter

Independent Radio Promoter

Music Business Entrepreneur

Music Business Consultant

Record Company Executive

Music Publisher

Tour Coordinator

Performance: Actors are more highly valued if they have a musical education. Today, with so few actors multi-skilled as they were in the era of the large studios, this can be a real advantage. Below are some of the jobs for which an actor who is also a musician may incidentally be qualified.

Performing artist

Soloist, instrumental or vocal

Studio musician

Background vocalist

Theatre musician

Accompanist

Church musician

Product demonstrator for instrument manufacturer

Movies / Video Games: If you study movies or video ga me production, a background as a musician will help you prepare for music-related jobs such as the following:

Conductor

Music Composer

Music Editor

Music Supervisor (to scout for music)

Arranger (to determine the mix of song elements per the conductor or producer's specifications)

Sound designer (of effects to accompany music score)

Jingle writer / composer

From education to video games, there are Careers available for those who happen to have a background in music which the rest of us never see. Each of these fields requires time and study for proficiency, but they represent a career path that is nonexistent for non-musicians.

Sure, you already knew that playing music could improve your quality of life. Now you know it can improve the quality of your career.

Duane Shinn is the author of the popular free 101-week online e-mail newsletter titled Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions- Intelligent Piano Lessons For Adults Only! with over 84,400 current subscribers.

Author:: Duane Shinn
Keywords:: music education, music teacher, Careers, music Careers, music therapy
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Starter Drum Sets

A drum set is a collection of drums that are played in sync to achieve melodious tunes. A drum set consists of drums and cymbals. They are arranged in a manner that is convenient for a drummer to play. Drums are percussion instruments that can be used for different genres of music like jazz, rock, pop and other types of modern day music.

Those new to drumming usually begin with what is called a stArter drum set. This set is basic and easy to maintain. Parents like the idea of a stArter drum set because it allows them to see just how much interest their child has in learning to drum without spending a ton of money. They like the idea that ther e are reasonably priced stArter kits available. The beginner drum kits can be purchased for under $300. They are priced right for a beginner and offer the same equipment that one would find in a professional set.

Like professional drum sets, a stArter set consists of a bass drum, a snare drum on a tripod, a small cymbal and other small percussion instruments. A stArter drum kit may include what is known as a kick drum. These drums are played with the help of drum sticks or brushes us ually made of plastic. In professional drum sets, wooden drum sticks are usually preferred.

StArter drum kits are designed for children up to the age of 12. They have shells that are made of multi-ply hardwoods and are available in an assortment of colors. The drum settings can usually be altered to facilitate different sounds. They are sold with stands that are usually double braced, making them sturdy. A stArter drum kit is the best tool to gauge whether the player is serious about his music or not.

Drum Sets provides detailed information on Drum Sets, Cheap Drum Sets, Electronic Drum Sets, Used Drum Sets and more. Drum Sets is affiliat ed with Steel Drums.

Author:: Richard Romando
Keywords:: Drum Sets, Cheap Drum Sets, Electronic Drum Sets, Used Drum Sets
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Interview With An Up And Coming Musician From Toronto

Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com is delighted to have as our guest, Dan Goldman, Guitarist, Song Writer, Poet, Arranger and a Musician of many other talents.

Dan is here to discuss his world of Music and travels.

Norm:

When did your passion for Music begin? What keeps you going?

Dan:

I can't quite remember when my passion began. It seems to have been an inborn appreciation. My earliest memories are of listening to old records and 8-track recordings that my parents had kicking around the house - anything from Kenny Rogers to Neil Diamond sparked my interest at the time. My father played piano, and I always loved listening to his romantic, albeit, slightly schmaltzy touch. I'd press my ear against the soundboard to get the most out of the vibrations.

Norm:

Who were the Musicians that influenced you?

Dan:

There are too many to mention; but if I had to narrow it down, I'd say, in ord er of appearance: The Beatles, The Who, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, my uncle Issac, Classical guitar repertoire including Bach and most of the Spanish composers, Joni Mitchell, Jim Hall, Bill Frisell and on and on.I'm currently into Wilco, Joanna Newsom, Lisa Germano, to name a few.

Norm:

When on tour, do you notice any differences in audiences from one city to the next, and if so, would you say that this may due to their geographical location. For example, how would you compare audiences in Vancouver to those in Toronto or Montreal insofar as your Music is concerned?

Dan:

Yes, I'd say the main difference lies in how saturated the market is. In Calgary, for instance, where there isn't as much traffic in terms of touring bands, I tend to get a warmer and more appreciative reception than in Toronto, where, although I play plenty of great gigs, the audiences are somewhat numbed by the sheer volume of Musicians around. Then again, performances are always di fferent and anything I think is the rule is always put into question as soon as I play an unexpectedly great gig in the least likely situation.

Norm:

What challenges or obstacles do you encounter while traveling and performing? How did you overcome these challenges?

Dan:

I get nervous a lot. I'm fine when I'm actually performing, but I generally get stressed a couple of hours before the show. It's really important for me to eat and rest appropriately so that the stress doesn't take a toll on my performances. I generally try to put aside a certain amount of time every day that I'm on tour to warming up or to my sitting (meditation) practice.

Norm:

Which is your favorite city to perform in? Why?

Dan:

I can't say that I have one. Anywhere where the people are receptive and supportive becomes the best city.

Norm

How do you get the inspiration for your song and Music writing?

Dan:

I love Music. It's not hard to get inspired, what's hard is following through and staying consistent with my writing practice. I find that the only way to get to where I want to be expression-wise is to spend the time it takes; and you never know how long that's going to be, so you just keep going!

Norm:

What was the first piece of Music you ever wrote? What was the reaction?

Dan:

I can't remember. It was probably something in the classical guitar idiom. I've always made sure to ask people who I knew would be supportive - a stacked deck, if you will, in my favor.

Norm:

Do you set yourself daily, weekly, yearly goals? If so, what are some of your goals?

Dan:

Yes, I definitely have to set daily goals, otherwise a whole day passes me buy, and I feel like I've done nothing. These goals are rewarding because I can say, for example, I'm going to work on words for an hour, and then at the end of the hour I've done it - it might all be shit, but at least I've sta yed with it, and it'll likely turn into something good at some point. In contrast, saying that I want to tour the world by the time I'm 33 is a bit more difficult to materialize. Ultimately, I know that if I keep writing and touring, I will get led to greater accomplishments in my craft as well as a greater fan base with more touring opportunities.

Norm:

You are a guitarist, song writer, poet, and arranger. Which of the above do you prefer and why?

Dan:

At this point, I'm a singer-songwriter. It's what I practice on a daily basis, and it's how I'm starting to become known.

Norm:

I understand that in Canada there are Music Festival Travel Grants as well as other travel grants that assist professional Canadian Musicians to perform at festivals outside their province or territory of residence.

Apparently, these grants are given to introduce experience artists to new audiences at an early stage of their career to a wider public. Have you ever received this assistance and if so, could you tell our audience how beneficial have they been from the point of view of furthering your career?

Dan:

Yes, I've received some assistance from the Canada Council for the Arts and it has been extremely helpful. I got a tour grant last year, for instance, which allowed me to tour across the country. Although the tour wasn't as well organized as I'd hoped for, it did provide me with a new network of people across the country who have since become very supportive, including my current manager, Candace Elder.

Norm:

Do you think there is some kind of a connection between Music and travel?

Dan:

Absolutely. Traveling, whether physical or emotional, provides a new perspective, or a new backdrop, if you will, to your old script. It makes your story seem a little more vibrant, and therefore, worthy of being documented, which of course, is one of the main purposes of art.

Norm

What is nex t for Dan Goldman and is there anything you wish to add that we have not covered?

Dan:

I have a tour beginning in August that I hope will bring me from coast to coast. I'm also working on some new songs and am really excited to record them in the new year.

Thanks Dan and good luck with all of your future endeavors. Thanks Norm

To read more about Dan or listen to his Music check out his site at www.dangoldman.ca

Norm Goldman is the Editor of the travel site, http://www.sketchandtravel.com and the book reviewing site, http://www.bookpleasures.com.

Norm is also a travel writer and together with his artist wife, Lily Azerad-Goldman, the couple meld words with art focusing on romantic destinations.

Author:: Norm Goldman
Keywords:: Music, Dan Goldman, Toronto mucians, Music, Guitarists
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Music for Corporate Entertainment

For many years I have supplied Music for and played in Bands that provide Music for corporate entertainment. Clients have included Audi, The Evening Standard, Sainsburys, P.C. World, Safeways, Large corporate clients at Henley and Ascot, I.T.V. and H.M. Treasury. Because of this experience I felt it would be relevant in putting down some pointers in helping clients choose the right kind of Music for their particular corporate entertainment.

Interestingly enough, most corporate Hospitality entertainment work tends to require Music as an ingredient to a larger recipe. What I mean by this is a great deal of corporate events are offering a multi service package. Typically an organization may be putting on an evenings entertainment to thank its workforce for a particularly successful year. They may be offering Music, food, comedy, a close up magician, a casino and a caricaturist. The corporate client organizing needs to decide what part the Music has to play in the days/e venings entertainment.

Questions he or she needs to ask are:

Is the Music specifically for entertainment or is the Music for background listening?

Do we need one style of Music early on in the proceedings and then a change of style later in the days/ evenings entertainment?

Do you expect the corporate clients to be networking and discussing business or are they just there for a good time?

What overall atmosphere do you want to project with the event?

Is there going to be a change of location for the Music as the entertainment event unfolds?

Different styles of Music Bands lend themselves to different corporate Hospitality situations. Below are a number of typical corporate Hospitality events with Music suggestions for suitable Music entertainment.

Corporate entertainment model 1.
Evening reception with dinner and speeches.
In a situation such as this you will typically need Music from the outset as part of the meet a nd greet of the corporate evening. A four-piece swing or Latin group is ideal with a larger ensemble for particularly large gatherings. A professional outfit can pitch the Music at just the right decibel level so your guests can talk and enjoy the entertainment without it encroaching on conversations. The Musicians would typically be dressed in Lounge Suits or Tuxedos (or the female equivalent) to mirror what the guests are wearing themselves. The Music portrays an atmosphere of sophistication, which again hopefully reflects the evenings overall ambience.

It is rare for corporate clients to want to dance especially as clients there relationship is business not pleasure! In most cases it is more important that the Band is flexible in when it is needed over the course of the evening i.e. At the top of the night for the reception, a smaller version of the Band (The pianist maybe for the dinner), stopping for speeches and then after the speeches to play until other enterta inment is put on for the corporate clients. In this situation give the Band a clear idea of how you expect the evening to go. What to wear, when they will be needed, when they need to get their instruments in the building and be set up, when breaks will be required, let them know if it is convenient or not to feed them and then finally how they can leave when finished so as not to disrupt the rest of the entertainment.

Corporate entertainment model 2.
Company Party.
Still corporate entertainment, still corporate Hospitality but a totally different set of requirements for the Music. Ask yourself these questions: Are your work force the type of workforce who will want to dance at some point in the proceedings? If they are, then a professional Band with flexibility is essential. My experience is th at people of all ages will join together to dance to Music from the sixties and seventies. Whatever background Music you require earlier in the day/evening be it Latin, Swing, Rat Pack or Lounge, if you are hoping to provide entertainment that will get people dancing remember this fact. Sixties and Seventies. For some inexplicable reason this is the Music that gets people up on their feet.

When choosing your Music ask the Band if they can cover this part of the corporate entertainment requirement. Get samples of their Music if need be. There is nothing worse than an ill equipped Band struggling through alien repertoire. However good the Band is, if they do not play the right repertoire, the right style of Music then the corporate entertainment will fall on deaf ears.

Let me at this point provide a caveat. Your workforce work together They are not always going to be the best of friends however professional their relationships are at work. Answer truthfully, will they really want to dance together or is it asking too much? I would say that in all the years of providing Music for this kind of corporate entertainment / Hospitality , as long as the Music is right, the workforce tended to dance 30 or 40% of the time. It could be said that a workforce who will enjoy each others Company in this way is a reflection on the talent of senior management to create a happy team!

Corporate entertainment model 3.
Company Fun Day.
These come in two types. The type to entertain your own workforce or the type to entertain prospective clients. Both types of corporate entertainment require Music that is fun. This means that the Music must be perceived as fun and the Band must be perceived as fun. In both cases Jolly Dixieland Jazz or the summer sounds of Latin Music are most suitable.

Ask yourself these questions: does the Band need to be mobile? Meaning do you want the Music to move around the site at various points in the proce edings? If so then the jolly Jazz route is most suitable. A good professional outfit of four or five players can play acoustically and move around a site as directed.

If the Band can be static and close to electrical power then either Jolly Jazz or Latin Music is suitable.

Is the event outdoors or indoors and do you have provision for bad weather? This is England, never trust to luck, assume the worst! Any Band that needs power cannot play in the rain for health and safety reasons. At the first hint of inclement weather a Band will have to breakdown their equipment. Build this situation into your corporate entertainment Music decisions.

How do you want the Band to dress? It is a fun day after all! In the past I and my Musicians have dressed as Elvis, Cavemen, Circus Clowns, in fact all manner of characters in the name of corporate entertainment and corporate Hospitality. Good Bands will have suitable outfits for most situations but don`t hesitate in provid ing something off the wall for a special event. Most professional players have a strange urge to jump into such costumes at the earliest possibility! As someone who has played at a nudist camp and for a toga Party, both dressed accordingly, take my word for it!

To draw this article together let me say this. Choose the right kind of Music for the event. Brief the Band accordingly but make sure you have a professional and flexible outfit, things can change over the course of the event and you want to make sure the Band are both co-operative and able to fulfill your needs. Don`t hesitate to ask the Band for any special requirements you have. Do it in plenty of time so they have time to prepare.

The corporate entertainment and Hospitality you offer to your guests reflects directly onto your Company. T he Music and Musicians must be the type who are aware of this. Dont go for second best just to save a small amount of money. You need a well prepared, well dressed Band who are both polite and charming to your guests. They need to play the right kind of Music for the event in order to help make the day or evenings corporate entertainment a resounding success!

About the author
Jeff Williams is a London based trombonist and vocalist who has worked all over the world in most areas of the business. He also runs a successful, specialist, live Music agency using the best of London Musicians, servicing both private and corporate clients playing all over the country. He would be happy to advise you with your own event or Party and offers bespoke solutions for the perfect occasion.

Contact him on +44( 0)20 8761 8932 or +44(0)7747 801471 Email him on bonejeff@aol.com

Visit the website http://www.JazznotJazz.co.uk

Author:: J Williams
Keywords:: Music,Corporate Entertainment,Band,Jazz,Blues,Teambuilding, Hospitality, Company,Party
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

The History Of Hip Hop

The history of hip hop is one that was born upon the back of a group of silenced youth. Inner city youth felt that not only were they not getting a fair shake at a quality life but that they weren't even being heard. Our history shows that when expression is suppressed something bad, usually aggressive is about to follow. In the case of hip hop thankfully the aggression wasn't expressed in the form of violence but rather in a movement that would change not only the urban areas close to its birth but our society as a whole!

In the beginning, hip hop wasn't even regarded as hip hop. In the mid to late 70s young black and Latino youths from the Bronx were looking for a way to express themselves and stArted to have open microphones at house pArties which they would use to perform a type of poetry over any song that was currently playing. This was the creation of rap music. Although rapping may seem easy to a novice the fact of the matter was not everyone had the talent to express themselves in this manner. So another form of self expression related to rap was born in the form of break dancing. People could be found not only at pArties but on street corners with nothing more then a boom box and a piece of cardboard, dancing for self expression and even for money in some cases. The last form of expression is the most controversial one! Some youth couldn't rap nor could they dance but they had to find an outlet or a way in which they can also be a pArt of this movement. What they did have was the ability to draw. This Art form which to most is considered graffiti was now renamed tagging in the hip hop community. Whether you agree with the way in which they went about showing off their talent, no one can take away the fact that they truly were talented. Tagging was when the Artist of one clique or crew would create a symbol or phrase that was now his group's logo and spray paint this on subway trains. Why subway trains and not j ust walls? Well, the fact that the subway system ran throughout the city was advertisement of his crew to the other respective crews. It became a game in the sense that if you could place your tag over top another groups tag you would have essentially performed the hip hop version of a check mate!

So what is hip hop? Hip hop is the combination of all three of the above mentioned facets. Rapping, break dancing and graffiti Art are all equal forms of the hip hop movement. Some may argue the message that some hip hop sends but the fact that these men and women are Artists is not even debatable. Hip hop was a feeling much before it ever became a means of expression and it will stay a way of life long after all of the forms expression is gone!

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Hip Hop

Author:: Michael Russell
Keywords:: hip hop
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips