Musicians, Alcohol and Drugs - When Will We Learn?

Whitney, Michael and Amy...Why?

Damn it! I know this is going to sound selfish, but I've been robbed of another great singer who was giving my life so much richness and joy. First it was Michael and Amy, and now, Whitney. I know they had their reasons for basically committing suicide, but couldn't they have waited at least until I was given a few more of their amazing musical gifts? Sure, I'm aware of the screwed up childhood, the drugs and the alcohol. I, like so many musicians and artists, have been through much of that. I know I'm going to piss some of you off by saying this, but that's how I feel. I've been robbed. Around a year ago my student and great friend was also defeated by alcohol. He spent most of his adult life being defeated by a terrible addiction. This guy was the greatest singer I ever taught..his amazing voice and talent silenced forever. He just couldn't stop drinking. Again, the world was denied the wonderful music he could have given us.

I'm not judging, I'm just venting.

My question is...why? Why do so many artists take their own lives, not with a gun, but with alcohol and drugs? This problem isn't unique to our times. History tells us that many great classical composers and artists have died of these causes at too young an age, leaving so many potential works unrealized; never to be mine. If you want to fill a few hours, Google "musicians dead because of alcohol and drugs" That'll wake you up real fast, especially if you still haven't accepted that you might have a problem. Do you? Facts and history tell us that we musicians and performers are very susceptible to such addictions, and have to stay alert to the warning signs.

I just scanned the web for names of singers, actors and performers who died from alcohol and drugs. Here are just a few:

John Bonham, Kurt Cobain, Dee Dee Ramone, John Entwistle, Chris Farley, Judy Garland, Bobby Hatfield, Jimi Hendrix, Billie Holiday, Billie Holiday, Brian Jones, Janis Joplin, Phil Lynott, Keith Moon, Jim Morrison, Marilyn Monroe, Brent Mydland, Jani Lane, Gram Parsons, Chris Penn, River Phoenix, Elvis Presley, Sid Vicious, Brad Renfro, Bon Scott, Bobby Sheehan, Hillel Slovak, Ike Turner, Amy Winehouse, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston....and we all know that there are hundreds and hundreds more.

If you can't go a week without alcohol or drugs you have a problem. Test yourself by taking a week off occasionally. If you can't do it, you have a problem which will bite you in the ass eventually.

When I was "on the road" I drank a lot every night. I told myself that I was a much better singer and player when I was drinking. But when I listened to recordings of my gigs I was appalled by the poor pitch, bad phrasing and lack of musicianship. Did I learn from that? No. I just kept on drinking. I admit, there are some creative people who are better when they do weed or alcohol, but the list is short...and you probably aren't one of those people (I'm not). Are you actually better when you drink, or are you continuing to fool yourself?

Many working musicians, actors and entertainers simply should not drink or do heavy drugs. Are they going to stop? Probably not. It's a way of life for many of us, and we don't want to change. So how do you know if you really have a problem? Take the "week off" test I mentioned earlier. Do it often. If you can't do without you shouldn't do with.

Want to learn more easy techniques to improve your singing? Download my powerful new FREE eBook: "TIPS & TOOLS FOR ALL SINGERS" at:  http://vocalvision.com/ebook1/

Al Koehn is a nationally recognized voice teacher, known for achieving amazing results with simple and effective techniques. http://vocalvision.com/

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Starfleet Digital Music Pool: Why Record Pools Still Matter

This year music industry veteran Ronnie Matthews and the Starfleet Music Pool are celebrating 22 years in the music business. Most people under the age of 30, have no idea what a record pool is or the importance they played in breaking new music while playing the liaison between DJs and record labels.

Starfleet is one of the few record pools that is still standing from the "golden area," and it continues to thrive because of its willingness to embrace change. With over 19,000 registered DJs in it's database, Starfleet is consistently recognized as a global leader in music promotions. Early last week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Ronnie about the history of Starfleet and why record pools are still important.

How was Starfleet started?

Being in the music business as a dj and as a promoter for so many years is where it kind of all started for me. I was always working with record pools, and I knew exactly how they broke records and exposed people to new music. During the early part of my career, I was a buyer for Camelot Music and the store in the Charlotte region was the largest around. So, that relationship exposed me to just about every indie and major label you can name. Because of my background, I had record labels to actually come to me and ask if I would start a record pool in this region. And, as of today Starfleet Music Pool has been servicing DJs for the last 22 years.

With most of the old school record pools no longer operating, how has Starfleet maintained its relevancy?

Basically, a lot of the older record pools that were around as long as me weren't able to make the digital turn. As of January,we have been working digital music for over twelve years. I remember we were at the Winter Music Conference in Miami right around the time that digital music was beginning to take over, and we had a long debate about what the future was for the industry. We have always supported the industry, and we knew that change was inevitable so it made sense for us to embrace the change. Labels were talking about no longer pressing cds, shipping vinyl, and how inexpensive it would be to service a record.

We weren't necessarily ready to give up physical copies of music, but we saw the change coming. We would have loved to keep getting 12 inches and boxes of cd's but it's evolution. So instead of fighting it we supported. I remember speaking on a panel with label heads, record buyers and other record pool owners during that conference; and I had a pool director tell me I was helping the demise of hard copies being shipped to the record pools. I basically told everybody that I'm not the one making things happen. I would love to continue getting vinyl and cd's but sometimes you have to go with the flow of things. As I was finishing my spill, one of the heads of the major record labels basically told the guy if you don't think this is the direction that music is going in your not gonna be in business very long.

Tell me how Starfleet's digital service works?

You can submit your music into us for a free, and we will actually set it up at no cost. The first group of 135 DJs,which are called the Vip DJs, are Billboard Reporters, Mix show DJs and big club DJs will give you limited feedback on your single. If they like it, they will actually play it and we will chart it. We also offer a service called the VIP featured artist, which sets up an artist profile with a bio, concert info, a comment system, links to purchase music and contact information. This is important because It has all of our DJs have to login to our system to download mp3's and when the DJs sees the visual it creates that extra reinforcement that reminds them about the artists music.

Why are record pools still important in 2012?

The connections that we already have is an extremely important thing for a new artist looking to build relationships with DJs. We have over 19,000 registered DJs around the globe in our pool. We provide a reputable place that record labels and artists have been working with for years. In addition, you have new DJs that are searching for places to find new music and record labels are always searching for ways to get their music noticed. And, the one thing you still have to do to get your music noticed is you must have somebody somewhere playing it. You have to have exposure or no one will ever know about you.

What advice would you give a new artist looking to promote their first single?

One thing I think I would say is that you better have a thick skin about things. We wish that every song was a hit and sounded great, but it's just not the case. Everybody is chasing the same sound with auto-tune, and its good to have a familiar sound that people can relate to, but you still want to be unique while implementing your own style.

Kelland L. Drumgoole
CEO
http://sosoactive.com/

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Booking A Soul Band 101: Frequently Asked Questions

One best way to bring excitement and fun to your wedding reception or a corporate event is to hire a live soul band. It adds more flavor and life to your big day, something that a DJ can't quite deliver. With a band performing live at your party, you treat your guests to a memorable experience they will always remember.

To give you some ideas of what to expect when booking soul bands for special events, we provide you here in this article our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions of hiring a band:

What's the process of booking a soul band?

Before you start seeking for the right band, you have to first define your needs based on the size and demographics of your audience, venue, and your budget. Once you know exactly what you want, it would be a lot easier to match your specific requirements with the band.

The band will provide demo CDs, photos, songlists and videos of their past performances. You can also ask for references or a chance to see them perform live at a function. When you've chosen the soul band, you can then negotiate for the best price. Or if you have a booking agent, she will do it for you. Once the deal is done, be sure to have a contract to make everything official.

How far in advance should you book a soul band?

Ideally, when it comes to booking a band, the sooner the better. For weddings and corporate events, it would be best to book them at least 6 months prior. This will allow more time for the soul band to prepare or practice any repertoire requests.

Also the earlier you book a band, the more options you will have, and the better your chance of hiring the best quality band available for your budget.

Should you book a soul band directly or through an agency?

Both options have their own share of benefits and pitfalls. On the one hand, if you hire a band on your own, you will have more opportunity of knowing your band. But it can also drain much on your time and energy. On the other hand, hiring a band through an agency offers a more convenient, hassle-free option. But this will also mean shelling out more of your entertainment budget for additional fees.

How much do soul bands cost?

The cost for hiring a soul band varies based on a number of variables such as quality and size of the band, location and date of the event, travel expenses, and production requirements. If you want highly skilled and quality band for your wedding, you can get one in the $1,500 to $5,000 range.

When asking for a quote from a band, be sure to know what's included in the package. If you received a quote that's not clearly itemized, ask for further details. Also keep in mind that many bands charge extra for an early set-up or if you ask them to extend their finish time than what was agreed on the contract.

Check out Soul Fiesta, a high quality latin band and soul band.

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The Significance of Composition and Transcribing Music

The first major benefit is that composition really helps you to understand the enormous importance of rhythm in music. You are required to place all of your notes carefully in relation to the pulse and once you know exactly where they fall you will notice the confidence that it brings to your playing. No one can ever say that they truly know a piece until they have really analyzed it and fully understood where each note falls.

It follows from this, that by thinking along these lines you will think differently about improvisation. There will be more focus on rhythmic accuracy and a tendency to make things much less complicated than they need to be. A habit I often see in students when they start to do this, is to try and launch into improvisations with all guns blazing right from the start, without too much thought for crafting a solo carefully.

The danger of this is that inevitably they run out of steam and their playing can have a tendency to sound a little disjointed. Simply start with one note at a time so that you can get comfortable with the chord progression underneath. By leaving the space the ideas will begin to formulate in your head and you can start to put them into play by gradually adding one or two notes at a time. Liken it to laying down a solid foundation and then gradually build upon it.

By crafting your solos through composing you will learn not to push every piece of your knowledge into any available space. Instead you will learn to consider what is more appropriate, how to gradually build a solo in terms of intensity, and how to create balanced musical phrases. The good use of appropriates phrasal techniques such as staccato or accents, as well as dynamics and sounds will come into play and it is precisely these that separate a good musician from an average one.

Another benefit of immense importance that is part and parcel of composition is the ear training that comes with it. You will find yourself really listening in to other songs for ideas, analyzing the rhythmic patterns for yourself. You will discover that this is a necessary stage in your development especially when it comes to soloing. This is because despite the fact that there are massive resources for tabs and notation available there is still an awful lot of music that isn't available in this form. If you want to learn something you will often have to listen to things and work them out for yourself just as the great players of the 50s and 60s and had to do. This is not as difficult as you may at first think.

Try this out playing a major scale and then trying to work out a simple melody based on that scale, such as the tune to your favourite TV show or the national anthem. In so doing you will really zone in to what you are hearing and begin to recognize how the intervals in the scale work. With a little practice you will become better and better as your ear becomes more in tune and soon enough you will be able to work whole albums of riffs and chord progressions.

Together with this, it is often the case that even if your desired repertoire is available in tab and notation form, complex music still has to be listened to very carefully whilst reading the transcriptions. The unorthodox and groovy rhythm play of Jimi Hendrix is a formidable exercise if you attempt to read the music alone. By listening into what he is playing and by looping and repeating over and over you can really get into what is contained in the recordings in a way that doesn't come across from solely reading the music.

This is often overlooked in music education, but it is of singular importance for the musician. Analysis of what others have done transmits into greater accuracy in your own playing.

Finally, and this is of utmost importance to any budding songwriters and also for those studying music that are required to create their own pieces. Composition helps you to delve deeper into exactly what kinds of music you like and what kind of musician you want to be. The more melodies and songs that you compose the more you begin to focus in on what it is that you really love to play and listen to above all else. This may take time and a lot of writing before you become really happy in what you achieve but it is a necessary stage in your musical development and is the only way to get really good at the guitar and help to find yourself as a musician.

For Over 100 Guitar lessons and resources, visit http://www.guitar4free.com/
And for additional tips on music theory, writing and notation see http://guitar4freenewsandthoughts.blogspot.com/

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How To Get A Professional Vocal Mix At Your Home Studio!

What Goes Into A Professional Vocal Mix?

When you're starting out recording or been recording in your home for a few years you probably wondered why your vocal mix doesn't sound as professional as the ones you hear on the radio. It can be very frustrating at times but don't give up yet. There are ways for you to improve your mixes in your own home studio!

Why Everyone Is Recording At Home Now..

Back in the day everyone was in big studios similar to the picture in this post. Huge SSL boards and the whole works. It was a dream for anyone to even have the opportunity to get into one of these studios. Luckily for us we are in a revolutionary time and we don't have to go to a "Professional Recording Studio".

Home studios have been around for a while but with the advances in technology now everyone can afford one (for better or for worse). Matter of a fact most of the records you hear now days were probably recorded in a home studio. The reason for this is simple - for one no one wants to pay $100 an hour to record a song. That means rushing a song which also means not a great performance - depending on who the artist is. The second reason is convenience - from touring to waking up in the middle of the night with a great idea its a great benefit to be able to record whenever the time is right.

The Difference Between Your Recording and Theirs

One simple difference between you and them is recording your vocals from a clean source. What you need to do more than any microphone or latest version of Pro Tools is learn how important your microphone cable, preamp, and sound card is. Don't get me wrong the right microphone does make a difference but if your cable is constantly stepped on and you don't take care of it you will get a short.

Furthermore, the preamp - where your microphone cable enters into must be a good one. If you got some money to invest in a really good one do it. DO IT IMMEDIATELY!

Let's Move On....

For your sound card don't expect that your brand-new-right-out-of-the-box Dell computer is gonna come equip for such a job. Remember now a days your computer is your SSL board so treat it as such. You can either go out and get an Apple which is always good for audio. Or you can really get down to business and build your own music computer. That is a totally different article though and will require a lot of labor and money on your part but you will have a nice computer built for music recording.

Quick Overview:

You can get a professional quality vocal mix from home.Record from a clean source - that turns into a clean mix - then a clean master.Never underestimate your microphone cable - protect it at all costs.Never underestimate your preamp - don't be cheap invest in a really good one.Never underestimate your sound card - you can't record on just any old computer.Never take the recording process to serious

Have Fun & Continue Making Music!

Travis G Schave aka ShottyGunz Beatz is a Hip Hop and R&B producer based out of Indiana. He is also CEO and Webmaster of ShottyGunzBeatz.com. With over 8 years experience in his field he has worked with many artists. His main goal is to provide artists the opportunity to buy beats from one of the coldest producers online and to establish a professional relationship with those artists

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The Healing Powers of Music

A music composer is someone who plays with beats and turns out a piece of melody. This music could be soothing or unpleasant. It is said that what a composer produces greatly hinges on what they feel while composing the music.

For years, people have been using music to uplift their mood. It is known as the best therapy in a melancholic situation. On the other hand, it multiplies the happiness of happy moments.

Though people are familiar with the fact that music has huge impact on our mood, the scientific reason behind this effect has just been found. Scientists who were researching the relation of music to the human mind expounded that melody affects the functions of the human brain. This in result alters the overall functions of the body.

Also, music has some great healing powers. This is why it is used in several therapies to treat different ailments such as high blood pressure, depression and ADD in children. Anxiety, stress and pain are some other sicknesses that are treated by music. In addition, many music therapists recommend their patients to listen to relaxing music as it elates emotions.

Health practitioners now believe that good music composition not only elevates mood, it also pace up the healing process.

A research by Michael Thaut and his colleagues underlined how positive changes were observed in the behavior of patients with cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease and stroke when they listened to good music. The progress in these patients was quite significant compared to those who did not listen to music in due course of their treatment.

"Surprisingly, patients with severe head injuries and dementia are also able to identify music," says Suzanne Hasner, chairperson of the music therapy department at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Researchers also conducted research in which 10 musician (5 women and 5 men) were subjects. Blood used a device PET (positron emission tomography) to learn the effect of music on the human brain. In this research subjects listened to four different types of music in a sequence. This sequence was repeated thrice. According to on of the researchers, when subjects heard their favorite music PET detected the similar activity in the brain as is stimulated by sex and food.

Music composition not only affects our brain, it also alters the body's hormonal levels. For example, it reduces the level of cortisol (stress-related hormone) and increases level of melatonin in the body, which helps one fall asleep easily in a stressful condition.

Jimmy Prior is a professional writer and have skills and specialist in Music composer, and composer.

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You Can Build Your Own Recording Studio

Building a cheap home studio can possibly be the only way for most beginning artists to get their music out there without breaking the bank. People who are in the business will charge big money for a single demo, and most of them probably won't even help those singers out. The truth is that you do not need to be rich at all in order to make your own recording studio. It is all very easy to do, and with the right information on what you need to buy, you can prevent buying something that you don't need. A recording home studio is only conducted by just two things; a microphone and a software.

Get A Professional Microphone

Just because you need to have a professional microphone, it doesn't mean they need to be expensive. When you are building a recording home studio, the main thing you need is a good microphone for creating quality sounds when you are singing. Consider looking for a condenser mic, as this is great for achieving more clarity of sound when you are singing. This is great if you are the Whitney Houston type of vocalist who sings loud and strong. Do not forget about considering the pick up pattern. The most commonly used pick up pattern is the unidirectional. When looking for a microphone, look for these two aspects.

Studio Softwares

You need a software in order to do all kinds of music. The first software that you need is a recording software. This is where all of your music is going to be on. In order to edit the music and the overall sound, you need to make sure that it has an audio mixer. Usually one software would mainly be a recording software, and it will have a nice audio mixer already attached with it.

Tips for beginners when building a home studio

If you believe that a home studio is something that has two rooms, a glass window, and lots of instruments, then you definitely do not know what a home studio really is. Even though the above example is what many people have, all you really need is the microphone, an online studio software, along with a nice and quiet room. It is not difficult or hard at all, and you will find the process very easy to accomplish if you just know what to invest in. Make sure that you do not buy anything too big or expensive.

Usually it is the smaller mic stands that are more affordable.

A recording home studio can give you the chance to make the music that you want without spending thousands of dollars on a demo that isn't even guaranteed to get you an album. You can help create your own demo at home and even craft your entire music. By the time you have your own songs written, you can give these to producers and allow for them to make your name. The business is not that easy to succeed in, but as long as you know that you have great music, then success s bound to happen in no time. With a recording home studio, you can hone your skills and develop your confidence for when you really get that recording contract.

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What Exactly Is Dubstep?

Skrillex: Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites - Ever heard of it? It is probably one of the most popular Dubstep songs up to date. Skrillex is arguably the most recently responsible artist for bringing Dubstep to the mass mainstream audience; however, many old-school Dubstep fans will likely scoff at you for not giving the more classic Dubstep songs and artists a chance.

Dubstep is known as an innovative, trendy type of electro-dance music. With roots in southern London, England, the distinctive genre continues to soar into global recognition. As opposed to house as well as some other brands of techno or electro-music, Dubstep offers minimalistic lyrics. Its futuristic type of sound is normally oriented on electronic synthesizers, combined with a sequencer, turntables, and beat samplers. Prominent utilization of drum-machines, the keyboard, and even personal laptops play crucial roles in the overall compositions and tracks. Heralded by industry critics, Dubstep's innovative and engaging style is quickly dominating the global dance movement. Additionally, it appears to be substituting more aged types of electronic music; such as house, techno, and electro-pop music.

The blueprint behind a basic Dubstep song involves reverberant drum patterns and catchy bass-lines. Sampling is also used in this style of music, along with the periodic vocals here and there. In the end though, Dubstep's Remixes are what separate it from other types electro-dance music due to its originality, charm, and dance-floor playability.

Some of the initial forerunners of this sound are Distance and DJ John Peel. When the music was in its infantile stage and still in its underground roots, it made an appearance on BBC radio in 2003. This event was caused by the growing popularity of DJ John Peel and many other similar performers. Digital Mystics and Plastic Man also aided in helping push the style of music towards the mainstream atmosphere.

From 2003, a great number of music outlets have chronicled the musical popularity of Dubstep. Some of these media outlets include Pitchfork Media and The Wire Magazine. In early 2006, BBC Radio disc jockey, Mary Anne Hobbs contributed to Dubstep's success by airing some of the genre's songs. As a result, the sound has garnered millions of loyal fans from all over the world; and now the music is often played at many discos, parties, and dance-halls across the planet. In addition, the genre has accomplished such amazing feats that a Post-Dubstep genre is now in the works.

Rico Callirgos is a big fan of the old and new wave of Dubstep music. He currently runs the site, Gods of Dubstep, which gathers only the most popular and Best Dubstep Songs along with some of the Best Dubstep Remixes available on the Internet.

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A Career As a Musician Can Begin At Any Age

Many careers sadly do have some kind of time limit to them. Starting out as a lifeguard aged 70 is highly unlikely to happen! However, if you wish to become a musician it is possible no matter what age you are. You just need the drive and some luck. Whether you are just a son, father or even a grandfather, it does not matter. Learning and music come fully equipped with no age limit.

The more you play an instrument the more skilled you will become. Certain skills require you to be of a certain age to be the best, but with learning an instrument such as a guitar you can only keep getting better. As long as you practice often, especially if you can find time to every day, you will be able to accomplish a lot. The more you continue to play, the more you will be able to grasp harder songs and be able to accomplish more difficult chord combinations.

Recently a man in his 60's just started his career as a guitarist in a band. How amazing to have lived a regular life as a suit and tie kind of business man, only to completely change direction aged 61. This man first started to learn how to play the drums, his first instrument choice, at the age of 13. His father was getting sick of the loud noise filling the house so suggested a guitar and they both never looked back. It has certainly paid off for him now changing his mind. Like many he was spurred on to play an instrument by listening and watching his favourite performers.

Once older, he attended university and wanted to pursue a major in music, however there was no option to take one for playing the guitar. In the end he chose education instead. He became a teacher for three decades but music was still always his passion.

During the time he spent teaching others, he did take part as a backing musician for many artists but wanted the spotlight to be his. After many years of this his big break came, and finally realised his dream of turning to his true love of jazz music. Releasing your own solo album at 61 and it becoming successful must be an even bigger achievement than doing so at 21. To think that people can appreciate your musical talent without regards to age and looks would feel incredible. No matter what age you are, why not pick up an instrument and give it a go? You have nothing to lose and lots to possibly gain.

Zoe Robinson is an enthusiastic writer in the subject matter of music, guitars and guitar accessories. The websites recommended by Zoe Robinson have been thoroughly researched and come highly acclaimed from direct experience. Take a look at a range of Line 6 guitars today.

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Organ Playing: How to Squeeze in Practice Time in Your Day

One of the main things that keeps many organists from practicing is the lack of time. They say they would want to play the organ more but their job takes so much of their time, not to mention commuting, their families and other important tasks they have to do during the day. However, I believe it is possible to squeeze in more organ practice time in your day. Try applying the following 6 tips and you will be able to spend more time playing organ without sacrificing your other important responsibilities.

1) Prioritize your time. Take a look at your daily tasks and try to make a list of them on the sheet of paper. You will have 10 or more things that you do each day. You will be surprised that some of the things are not really important. So number this list from the most important to the ones that can be omitted. This way you will be able to have more time for organ practice.

2) Practice during TV commercials. You may not realize this but TV commercials might be a great time to practice organ playing. Usually there are 3 or more times when commercials are shown during a show or a film. Each commercial might last at least 5 minutes. This gives you to play the organ at least for 15 minutes or even longer.

3) Practice longer on the weekends. If you work from 8 to 5 on weekdays, then the most productive time for your organ playing might be the weekends. You can spend even 2-3 hours on the organ bench this way. However, make sure you rest every 30 minutes, stretch, have a drink and relax your mind and body.

4) Limit distractions. If you look at the usual day of an ordinary person, you will soon notice at least several distractions which are serious wasters of time and energy, if used not efficiently. These are various social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and many others. Note that I am not suggesting you should avoid them completely. Just check your email twice a day. The same applies for social networking sites. You can spend the time saved on your organ practice.

5) Get up earlier or stay up longer. The great times for organ playing during the day are mornings or evenings. 30 minutes might be all you need for practice. Note that you can spend this time doing other important tasks that you need to accomplish which in turn will allow for more organ practice time during the day.

6) Have a constant practice schedule. Whatever time you choose for your organ playing, make it constant. Put it on your calendar so that you will know the exact time each day for playing the organ. Let your family members know about your commitment and ask for their support.

Although these tips may seem self-evident, only surprisingly small number of people put them into action. Many of them would want to spend more time practicing the organ but they lack perseverance to see their commitment through. Just like anything worthwhile, organ practice takes conscious effort from the organist's part but if you stay focused on your goal, you too, can do it.

By the way, do you want to learn to play the King of Instruments - the pipe organ? If so, download my FREE video guide "How to Master Any Organ Composition" http://www.organduo.lt/organ-tutorial.html in which I will show you my EXACT steps, techniques, and methods that I use to practice, learn and master any piece of organ music.

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Top 10 Ways Not To Destroy a Guitar

Over the years I have learned there are many do's and don'ts when it comes to caring for a guitar. Some I have learned from other guitarists, teachers, etc. and some I have found from first-hand experience.

My first bad experience was making the mistake of putting my guitar and amp in the trunk of my car and leaving it there for like 3 weeks. It was winter and I didn't know I had a hole in the wheel well. So, when I finally realized I had left them in the trunk and checked the trunk I found a damp amp that was moldy and an electric guitar that had rust and mold all over it. Needless to say neither could be salvaged.

Many newbies to guitars do not know the effects that temperature and humidity can have on such a fine musical instrument. So, below I've listed 10 of the many things not to do with a guitar. Not all of these concern temp and humidity.

1. Do not leave a guitar in the trunk of a car. The temperature changes can vary greatly and cause condensation.

2. Do not store your guitar in a damp basement. The moisture will damage your guitar in several ways.

3. Do not store your guitar on a stand in a room where the sun will be shining on it all day. This can get the instrument very hot and heat dries out and loosens the glue that bonds the guitar together.

4. Do not keep your guitar in your bedroom or any other room with a humidifier running all night. The moisture will damage your guitar, crack finish, warp, etc.

5. When traveling by plane, train, etc. you should have it in a solid case and pack soft cotton material around the guitar to keep it from banging around in the case. (As we all know how careful the baggage handlers are).

6. When not using your guitar, store it in a guitar stand or wall hanger. Do not leave it laying on the bed, couch, floor, etc. It will get stepped on or sat on. You can depend on it.

7. Do clean your guitar body, neck, fret board, strings and tuning machines often. This will keep your guitar in great condition and it will be easier to play. With the neck, fret board and strings clean and polished your fingers will glide over them.

8. If you do not need or want to store your guitar in a stand, it is best to keep it in a case. It's much easier to control temperature and humidity in a small confined area.

9. Do not leave your guitar in the back seat of a car even for a short time. It gets incredibly hot and will damage it. Same as #3 above.

10. And last of all, if you are playing a gig and decide you just have to smash a guitar in the finally, do not and I repeat DO NOT smash your 2500 dollar Gibson. Get the 100 dollar beginner guitar that's been in your closet for years and smash that one. Unless you're really loaded and can afford to replace the Gibson.

I hope this helps in understanding the care that is needed by your guitar. I learned a few of these the hard way. I hope you don't!

Stephen Baum is a musician and entrepreneur. Please visit his site at: http://www.greatacousticguitars.com/

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The Songwriters Starter Pack - Article 4 - Creating A Melody

The melody

Having arrived at a nice chord progression we can begin to build our melody and as a starting point I suggest you stick with what notes make up the chord. It is permissible to have a few 'passing' notes in there which are not in the chord but steer clear of any notes that obviously sound discordant.

Play the chord with your left hand and look at what notes are available to you then try to fit your lyric into those notes while holding the chord for the required number of beats. Initially, stick to sections of 8 bars.

You can play around with this for hours, even days. Nothing is set in concrete so try out different versions. Record you efforts and listen carefully because this will undoubtedly suggest changes and improvements.

All we are trying to do at this point is lay down a basic melody. The final arrangement, harmonies etc. will come later.

Previously I suggested the chords Em, D, Em, D, C, G, F, Em to go with our lyric and to create a nice flow I use the first Em and D in their first inversions then the rest are played in the root position.

So in our example we have the notes in Em for the words 'It's raining now so'

Then we might change to D for the words 'heavily a'

Then back to Em for 'cold wind shakes the'

Then finish this section with D in its root position for 'trees - old'

C 'Winter has re'

G 'fused to go he'

F 'drives Spring to her'

Em 'knees'

I haven't listed the available notes in each chord as I am sure you know them well enough and you are encouraged to find your own chord progressions and create your own lyric. This is just a starter to motivate you.

Bear in mind that initially you only need to play the individual notes in a regular time without any regard for a nice flow, that will come later once you have decided on the basic tune and you might be amazed to find how the tune will just suggest itself once you have laid down the basic idea.

If you simply can't find the notes you want because they are not in the chord remember that you have 6ths, 7ths, 9ths, 13ths etc. to choose from as well as augmented and diminished chords. Perhaps you are looking for a diminished seventh or a Maj7.

Sevenths are very useful to take you back to the tonic chord such as a G7 leading to C or try a Bdim leading back to C.

The written score.

So finally you can play a nice tune with some nice chords but have you written any music yet? You can't really say that you have written a song unless you can give the music to somebody else to play. When the day arrives when you hand somebody else your printed score and they play it exactly as you imagined you will be filled with pride and delight.

Surprisingly it is not that easy for the untrained to actually WRITE the music. The problem is getting the note values and timing correct. You will be able to sing your song but you might have trouble getting it down on paper. Even great singers employ somebody else to write the music down.

What will save you here and speed your learning is something called 'Notation Software'. There are a number of programs available and some will set you back many hundreds of dollars or even thousands but unless you are planning to turn professional you don't need them.

There are inexpensive programs out there that allow you to simply record the song and import the midi file directly into the software which produces the score. It is not that straight forward as humans cannot play with the accuracy of a computer so you end up with a lot of funny notes like 32nds and odd little rests worth a 16th so you have to spend an hour or two cleaning things up.

You quickly learn that you do not have to play the entire orchestration into this software because you end up with 16 tracks when all you wanted was perhaps the melody and chords so just consider what you actually want printed before you begin otherwise you end up deleting a lot of unwanted stuff.

I highly recommend these learning tools because they teach the structure of the music, correct timing and a hundred other things. Some will also print out a very nice score for you complete with chord symbols and lyrics. Oh! and of course you need the printed music so that you can remember how to play it later after you have written 200 songs.

If you can't simply record your midi file into it then you place each note on the stave manually which is a good learning tool in itself. Software of this type usually provides you with a handy little play back so that you can correct errors as you go.

In my next article we will look at The Hook and embellishments.

Steve Parry has been teaching keyboard on the internet for over 10 years. His downloadable eBooks cover basic tuition, chord finder software, how to play by ear and numerous articles covering such topics as home recording and song writing.

Visit his site at http://playkeyboards.com/ for more information and follow his blog at http://playkeyboards.blogspot.co.nz/

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Organ Playing: How Not to Give Up Your Organ Practice - 4 Tips

Although many organists start playing the organ, only a small portion of them ever achieve success. This may happen for a variety of reasons but one of the greatest obstacles is when people give up playing this instrument and quit. If you want that this will not happen to you, try applying the following 4 tips.

1. Have a goal in mind. First and foremost your have to find goal which you can focus on. It could be like a dream which keeps you going. Your goal could be a general one, like to become a good organist, or a more specific, like to master any specific piece.

However, if you play aimlessly, your chances of keeping up your practice for years to come are not high. In other words, if you play one day this, another day that - such practice will not lead you anywhere. Note that I am not talking here about sight-reading which you should also practice. Instead, I am referring to the pieces that you want to master at a deeper level.

2. Have a schedule for practice. Once you found out what your goal is, prepare a plan with specific steps and schedule for your regular practice. Remember that it is important that you practice regularly.

If you skip one day without practice, only you will notice it. Spend two days without a practice and your teacher or friends will start noticing it. As the old saying goes, practice is like boiling water - without constant heat it cools down.

Note that your practice sessions do not necessarily have to be very long. Only 30 minutes a day might be all you need to start seeing some positive results after a few short months.

3. Choose pieces according to your level of ability. Try to be realistic about your technical level when practicing organ. Although your dream might be to play something technically very challenging, like Widor's toccata, you might not be ready for it yet.

Instead, take some shorter, slower works from the same period and master them. Think of them as a preparation for your goal which you eventually will attempt to achieve.

4. Find a mentor you can trust to push you. Although you have chances to succeed when working alone, having a good mentor, a teacher, or instructor is much more beneficial. Your mentor can tell you to practice harder, motivate you, give you a daily plan, and other valuable recommendations.

However, you must listen to your mentor and do what he or she asks you to do. There is no point of working with a mentor and doing things that contradict with mentor's teachings.

Key points to remember: find a goal, prepare a schedule for practicing, practice pieces that are not too difficult for you at the moment, find a mentor and listen to your mentor. If you follow my advice, you will have many more chances to practice for many years successfully.

By the way, do you want to learn to play the King of Instruments - the pipe organ? If so, download my FREE video guide "How to Master Any Organ Composition" http://www.organduo.lt/organ-tutorial.html in which I will show you my EXACT steps, techniques, and methods that I use to practice, learn and master any piece of organ music.

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Learn the Art of Beat Making

Music is a source of entertainment for billions of people across the world. It is accepted across the whole world and the best of it is timeless. Every new age comes up with their accepted type of music, but the concepts are dominant across the whole world. Music beats that are unique and catchy sell millions of records and that is why the music industry keeps growing. Every music producer is out to get fans by producing unique beats that are of good quality and accepted by the masses.

Many people are interested in the art of making beats since it is a lucrative venture and it pays well. Fans are even looking for unique beats to add onto other ventures such as dances or other videos. For this reason, producers of music equipment and software have improved and made many models to help with the work. Many musicians are opting to make their own beats so that they can have a personalized feel. Beat making is not hard once you learn how to go about it, you just need to have passion, a good ear and patience. You can follow a simple guideline that will help you to grow into a pro beat maker, and soon you will be making your own beats, as well as for other people.

1. Get a suitable beat making software
For you to achieve the objective of making good beats, you have to have the correct equipment. Having a computer is enough, but then you will need the required software for making beats. You can find one in music stores, or download one for fee from the web. Pay a visit to major producers of beat making software such as Fruity Loops Studio, Sony Acid Pro, Propellerhead Reason and many others. Some of them give you a trial demo before you purchase, and some do not charge. Once you get the software, then you are at a good position to start your project.

2. Have a collection of samples
You can go to the music store and get a library of sounds that you can use. You can even download them from the web and have a wide collection that is as diverse as possible. Keep the sounds that suit your style in a folder that you can access easily. Be on the lookout for virtual studio technology plug-ins that will provide you with the unique effects that you can use to make your beats stand out.

3. Organize your samples so that you can access them easily
Have your effects and sounds organized in a way that you can access them easily especially if you have a big collection. This keeps you from using the same ones all the time. Refrain from overusing them no matter how good they are, always look for something new. Mix the beats once you complete them and save them in the format of your liking.

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Set Fire To The Rain - Another Soul Stirring Song From Adele

If you have Adele's set fire to the rain, then you sure must have wondered how she manages to come up with such intense composition and music that leaves you addicted to it. The song has an intense message and someone who admires would definitely love what she has done with the song. The beginning of the song might give out a hint that she just needed a relationship and the correct description would be that the relationship was torn to pieces. The goes ahead by telling how the new relationship helped in pulling herself together and how the new relationship has influenced on the whole. The song proceeds by describing the new relationship and also tells how she ended the second relationship. With the song, she has tried to explain how the partner is two sided and manipulative.

Adele is one person who has always used deep metaphors in her songs and she has done the same with this song as well where she tells how she ended the relationship with many different metaphors such as "but I set fire to the rain", watched it pour as I touched your face" and "well, it burned while I cried". Well, it is obvious that each person might have a different interpretation for these metaphors. There are several different things that Adele is trying to say with the song. For instance, by setting fire to the rain, she might be implying that she had the courage to confront the situation which had been draining her. There are also certain instances that reflect the pain she suffered and one such instance is when she said "it burned while I cried" and with it, she is implying that she was left hurt and deeply moved by the situation and all she focused on was the partner.

In the song, she has also emphasized on how much she trusted and had faith in her partner and also sheds light on the fact that by confronting the situation, she knew there would be no going back. It is evident when she says that setting fire to something changes it forever and she also recognized that by confronting the situation, she is destined to walk away and things will never be the same. When she says "sometimes I wake up by the door" and "and heard you calling, must be waiting for you", she is clearly states how much she misses him.

She also says " even now when we're already over" and "I can't help myself from looking for you" which makes it clear that she is left in pieces again and continues to say that she has finalized her decision and will be brave to ace what is coming next. Overall, the song just sends a strange vibe to anyone who is in love and also has a soothing effect to the mind and soul. The beautiful lyrics and the music will set your mind on fire and also gets you thinking of the various thoughts that she is trying to imply with the metaphors.

The author has a long history of play Set fire to the rain sheets which can be found on a dedicated site music notes which contains plenty of Adele sheet music.

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Learning to Play Guitar by Ear in 3 Steps

Most new musicians seem to think that learning to play the guitar by ear is an impossible task; like learning music by ear some sort of super power that only the best and most elite musicians possess. Well the truth of the matter is that learning music by ear is a skill and like all skills it can be learned and taught. Below I am going to outline the 3 step process I follow when learning songs by ear. I also use this same process to teach my students how to learn music by ear as well.

What Does it Mean to Learn Guitar by Ear?

In a nutshell this basically means the ability to play music only by hearing it and without looking at any sort of tab or printed notation. What most people do not realize though is that you use this skill every day. Every time you sing in the shower you are using this skill. So the only real skill needed to learn by ear is the ability to hear if the notes you are playing are the same as the ones you are hearing on the recording or in your head. This is called Pitch Recognition.

The easiest way to develop this is to simply play a note and then sing it back. Then move on to playing two notes and sing each one from lowest to highest. Finally move on to three note chords using the same technique.

Getting Started Playing by Ear

First I want you to pick a very simple song that you know very, very well. Like Mary had a little lamb simple if need be. Sing the song out loud and pay attention to each note. Then simply try to duplicate the melody you just sang on your guitar. This is usually where people will get stuck, so what you want to do is pick out the song one note at a time. If you still get stuck and keep hitting a wrong note then try the note one fret below or above the note you are playing.

Repeat this process with songs you know well. You want to take your time here because doing this badly can really mess you up down the road. So be precise!

Perfecting the Skill

Once you have got the process of playing by ear down you need to use that process to learn as many songs as you can. Try and pick out at least one melody per day until it becomes easy. As you begin to improve you will want to challenge yourself with more difficult songs and melodies. Then you can even try to sing chord progressions and learn them. Start by singing the lowest note just like we did at the beginning and then pick out the chords on the guitar.

To truly understand the benefit of teaching yourself to play guitar by ear you have to go out and try it yourself. I have provided access to a free 6 part series of guitar lessons which will give you in depth knowledge of how to learn to play guitar. By the end of this course you will be able to play along with a band.

To get access to your free online guitar lessons please visit:

http://www.learninghowtoplaytheguitar.info/

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Become a Singer at a Young Age

Every kid wants to have a great singing career. It is one that is eyed by many youths in the world today. Many youngsters may fall in love with some celebrities in the music industry. This is one of the factors driving many to pursue this career. In as much as the profession looks very appealing, there is always a big challenge to many. Starting off as a child looks good. Children's minds are known to achieve much as they are growing. At age 11 a kid is able to start pursuing his or her dream career. This is one of the most admirable talents among the young. It requires attention, the right attitude and an inspired heart. The pursuit is very hot therefore courage is needed.

There is a need to write your career goals down. Ask yourself why you want to take the path and make sure that at the end of it all you can justify the reason as to why you want to go into singing. Constantly, remind yourself of the vision you have written down. It is good to keep to a daily routine. As a child singer you should share your goals with parents, relatives and other people who have succeeded in the industry. Read about them and teach yourself the path they followed to becoming what they are.

Enrolling in singing classes is vital. You will be helped by the professionals to find your voice. Professional coaches will train you how to control your voice and being consistent in your career pursuit. Another point is tapping every chance you get for singing including attending music classes. You may join a local band or the church choir. If you have the chance you can even ask the choir master to give you a chance to lead a song. At home sing for your family members without nerves. Further, if the opportunity comes join a local music competition or a bigger one if you are sure you can really make it. Starting to perform locally will make you known to the public also. The challenge is big but you have to pursue your goal.

Being unique in your voice is also advisable. As a child singer you should try to find your voice and use it distinctively. If you try imitating others, you will not perform as an original. Be unique in your voice as much as you can, then people will always be looking for the owner of your voice. Before long you will hear the gossip around that you can sing. Take the career as fun because music is meant to be fun unlike some other careers.

We provide the best info about how to become a young singer and how to become a singer at age 11. For further details please visit the provided links.

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It's All About the Rhythm!

Before man could speak, many, many thousands of years ago, he was able to bang out a rhythm. The image of the primates striking the stone obelisk with bones at the start of 2001 Space Odyssey leaps to mind! All of our bodies works in coordination with the rhythm of our heartbeats. In a nutshell, rhythm is life and music can't function without it. Imagine a group of musicians getting together and all of them trying to play together but none of them playing with the same rhythm. How bad would that sound?

Rhythm is a fundamental in music as in so many other things and musicians must learn to work with the rhythm as soon as possible in order to get to grips with music and for it to really work for them.

Simply tapping your foot while you play will help you lock into the groove and play what you are reading or hearing perfectly. Another useful tool is a metronome, especially so when the rhythms become complicated. Although the sound of a metronome can often be described as being without a vibe, the benefits and improvements to your playing will be enormous.

The final method for mastering playing to a rhythm is to count while you play, and of the three can be the most difficult. It certainly requires some practice and takes a little getting used to, but it is by no means a bridge too far. By counting you are able to really understand where all of the notes fall, thus giving you solid knowledge of how songs and melodies work and thus giving you real confidence as a player.

In some cultures, for example in India, Tabla players are not allowed to use their instruments until they have understood the complex language of their rhythms. This is achieved by counting (sometimes counting the digits on their fingers) and by using sounds to help emphasise accents and different rhythm tones.

Such a thorough approach can be applied to less complex music and when teaching in this way I have noticed significant improvements in the students' performance. When you really understand the rhythm and get to grips with it, you will play with enormous confidence and will then be able to change things around a little. You may then, for instance, be able to change notes around, add stresses and accents and really imprint your music with some of your own character.

Understanding rhythm is vitally important when it comes to understanding music, and when you have got to grips with it you will realize that there is no other way. Imagine your body functioning without a heartbeat, or imagine the feeling when your heart skips a beat. These are all sensations similar to when a musician is unable to hold a rhythm!

For Lessons and Tips on How To Play Music with Good Rhythm visit http://www.guitar4free.com/rhythm

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How to Teach Yourself to Play Guitar Scales

One of the best ways to really increase your skill on the guitar is to teach yourself to play guitar scales. Learning the basic scale patterns which make up guitar chords is one of the first steps in becoming a good guitarist. Unfortunately most beginning guitarists learn their scales in a very poor manner; tacking months or years on to their learning time. This can cause you to become frustrated and give up. Below I am going to outline my 4 step process for effectively learning to play guitar scales, which tends to cut down the learning time greatly

Have the right scale charts

Most professional guitarist usually will not reference a scale dictionary or chart in order to know what scale to play. This is because they know that all scales are based on the same five basic chord shapes and so do not need them anymore. When you are first starting out though, you will need to find a good guide for each of the five basic scale patterns that is clear and easy to understand. Also you will want to make sure that you are clear on how to read tablature and scale or chord diagrams. For tab just remember that the bottom line is the low E string and the top line is the High E string. The numbers on each line tell you what fret to play.

Develop Muscle Memory

Learning scales is as much about your muscles as it is about your eyes and ears. You want to memorize each scale using all possible modalities so that you will never forget them. When you are listening to a basic major scale just remember that it is the basic Do Re Mi scale we all sang as kids. Also each scale is formed from a chord and vice versa; so make sure you know what the chord tones that make up your scale are and visualize the chord you are playing as you work on the scale. This type of memorization will allow you to use the right scale for the right chord every time; without having to think about it.

Learn 4 Notes at a Time

When you are first learning guitar scales only work on four notes at a time. This is known as a tetra chord and there are only about 8 different shapes for them. This will cut down your memorization time considerably. Also by simply linking these clusters of four notes together you will be able to cover the entire fret board with one scale and not have to think about it.

Learn the Scales to Simple Changes

When you make some progress with one of the five basic scale patterns you should start to create basic melodies with them over very simple chord changes. The progressions you use should be only 3 chords in length and repeated over and over again for about a minute or two. Also the chords should be related to teach other and in the same scale family. So C F G for one progression and so forth. These are the I - IV - V chords of the Key of C. These are the types of progressions you should be working on.

To truly understand the benefit of teaching yourself to play guitar scales you have to go out and try it yourself. I have provided access to a free 6 part series of guitar lessons which will give you in depth knowledge of how to learn to play guitar. By the end of this course you will be able to play along with a band.

To get access to your free online guitar lessons please visit:

http://www.learninghowtoplaytheguitar.info/

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Does It Matter That You Cannot Sing?

How much does ones success as a singer depend on their ability to hold a note, and how much is down to personality? There is no doubt that since the inception of the latest spate of television talent shows, there are numerous cases where a lack of the former, but an abundance of the latter has led to a successful career.

Take for example, the latest series of the X Factor in the U.K. It was apparent from his first audition that the cheeky chappie from Brighton was going to make it through to the live shows. It is true he gave a passable musical rendition, but more to the point he made a huge impression on both the viewing public and the judges alike. Not only that, but by revealing the list of girl's names tattooed on his rump, he put the show on the front page of many Sunday papers. A publicists dream.

As he progressed through the competition his musical prowess appeared to diminish, as his extra curricula activities gained him more and more notoriety. As better singers were being ejected from the show this mediocre performer was being kept in, not only by the viewers but also by Mr Barlow and co. Finally, he took his antics one step too far and was unceremoniously dismissed for talking about drugs. However, that is not the end of this young man's story. Only a few weeks later he popped up on Celebrity Big Brother, and very nearly one it!

His is not the only example. Consider if you will the phenomena that is 'Jedward'. Here again we are talking about two very likeable brothers, twins named John and Edward. They too are somewhat limited in their vocal abilities, but what they have in bucket loads is personality. From the wacky hair, to the matching outfits, to finishing each others sentences, these two have captured the hearts of millions. Having gone through the same tv programme a year earlier, they relied more on their staging and presentation than on their vocal dexterity. With the exception of their mentor, Louis Walsh, the judges were agreed that they could not sing. However, the first week they were in the bottom two Simon Cowell saved them and voted off an exceptionally talented singer.

Since then their career has gone from strength to strength. They even represented Eire in the Eurovision Song Contest, and although they did not win, they now have even more fans. It is obvious therefore that to become a successful singer you do not necessarily need to be able to warble that well, especially if you have that added ingredient.

We provide the best info about how can i become a singer and how do i become a singer. For further details please visit the provided links.

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