All You Need To Know About Choosing A Drum Set

There are hundreds of types of drums on the market so it's obvious why choosing the right drum set is not an easy task, especially if you're not into music, if you want to offer a drum set as a gift or if you are a beginner. Here's all you need to know about choosing a drum set to make your pick a little bit easier.

Beginners

If you want to take lessons on how to play the drums, especially if you are a young student, size is the most important. Start with a typical elementary-level snare of 14" x 5" and made of steel, snare drum stand, a pair of good quality drum sticks (even if they are more expensive), and a metronome for timing. To select good sticks, try to look for popular manufacturers such as Vic Firth or Pro-Mark.

Select a drum stool that fits with the percussionist's size because comfort is very important when you learn how to play the drums. You should start with a five-piece drum set that includes a bass drum (the size for a beginner should be a 22" x 18" or a little lower), three tom-toms (or just toms), and a snare drum. The high tom should be 12" x 9", the middle tom should be 13" x 10", while the lowest can be 16" x 16". The wood and style of the drum set is not very important at this stage.

Moreover, do not forget about cymbals and hardware. If it's not included in the drum set, you have to buy it separately because you're going to need stands for your hi-hat, ride, and crash cymbals. You do not have to buy the best cymbals on the market but if you can afford it, go and purchase some from famous companies such as Sabian or Paiste.

Intermediates

A drum set for this stage usually costs between $300 and $800 and are of fair quality. They are usually made of birch or maple and don't come with cymbals included but they do sound very good and are usually preferred even by professionals who don't afford to spend $1000+ for a first-class drum set. The most famous brands of drum sets for intermediates are Ludwig, Pearl, Gretsch and Mapex.

Experienced drummers

For those who already master the art of playing the drums, a superior kit is a "must-have". Seek for the most famous drum brands such as Pork pie, SJC, Slingerlands and Orange Country; as for drumheads, buy from Evans or Remo. At this stage of experience, wood is very important. Mahogany for instance provides a warm sound with a pinch on the low end of the drum sound, maple have the best resonance, while poplar and luan are the cheapest and less qualitative for the sound. The price for such drum sets range between $1000 and $1,500 because they usually come in 6 up to 8 pieces and sound and look amazing.

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How To Write Songs: Choosing A Title

This is part of an article series about how to write songs, which I am writing entirely from my own experience as a songwriter. I don't have any formal training and haven't studied under any great teachers in the field, but I seem to have a knack for it, and it is my passion and livelihood. I have taught a number of successful songwriting workshops and am happily pursuing a career as an independent recording artist, performer, and producer. I hope these articles help you. If you like what you see, please comment with your own songwriting tips, questions, or success stories.

In this article, I just want to say a few words about the different ways to choose a title for your song.

The most common way to name a song is to take a phrase or word in the song that repeats and use that for your title. In other words, choose the "obvious" title. This has the advantage of being memorable, and there are experts who say that this is the best way to go if you want to write hits. There are obvious benefits to having a title that listeners can guess if they hear the song on the radio or at a concert or party. That being said, I almost never do this. I find it much more fun to make the title change the meaning of the song in some way. If your lyrics are memorable, that's good enough, in my opinion.

For instance, you may choose a word or phrase which only occurs once or twice in the song and use that for the title. That way, your listeners, knowing the title, will be listening for that word or phrase. When they hear it, it will stand out, giving it added significance in the song. Famous examples include Burrito by Pete Yorn, Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell, and Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin.

Another approach would be to choose a title that does not appear anywhere in the song at all, but contextualizes the song in some way. It may tell you something about who is singing the song, or when, or about what. Some examples are Anthem by Leonard Cohen, Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict by Pink Floyd, Sympathy for the Devil by the Rolling Stones, Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin, Ghost Story by Sting, Bear Tracks by the Grateful Dead, and Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls.

If you enjoy reading my articles, I hope you will check out my music. Visit http://www.vanessacardui.ca/ to download your free mp3 of my new single. Enjoy!

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Choosing Between a Plastic and Brass Trombone

Introduction to the Trombone For Beginners

The trombone is a very special musical instrument. It is usually made using brass and it is shaped into a kind of long "S" shape. The sound is produced by vibrating one's lip area with the mouthpiece and also shifting the length of the telescoping tube slide up and down. Though most trombones employ a slide, valve trombones have three valves like a trumpet instead of the slide. The two most widely used categories of trombones include the tenor trombone as well as the bass trombone.

Brass or Plastic

The trombone belongs to the brass group of instruments and it has existed ever since the 17th century. A short while ago though, there has been innovations with constructing trombones out of plastic instead of brass. Many say that these plastic trombones are incredibly comparable in sound to their brass predecessors. These new plastic trombones can be an excellent option for learners, playing in a marching band, as well as for traveling along with. Let's have a look at some of the distinctions between plastic and brass trombones.

Price

When it comes to price, trombones may get somewhat pricey for a student. The accessories that you'll need will probably add more to that total as well. Some of the accessories you may possibly need to have can be a trombone case, a bow protector, a maintenance kit, and slide cream. Traditional brass trombones could cost you anywhere between $200 to $600 excluding the accessories. The recent popular plastic trombones available for sale really are a lot more economical, priced at about $150 to get a brand new one. I personally highly recommend a plastic trombone for the learner who would like to keep their price down.

Ease of Playing

When it comes to the main difference of playing a brass or a plastic trombone, they're nearly the same. Really the only difference that I'm aware of is that the slide on the plastic one has a distinctive feel with it which takes a bit of adjusting to. It will get smoother with use though. Since you will only be beginning learning your new instrument, this should not be a major problem.

Quality & Style

With regards to style, conventional brass trombones just about all appear similar to they have for a very long time. If you're searching for a little something a lot more cutting-edge, the plastic trombones are the ideal way to go. Many of them may be found in several colors and will really be noticeable in a crowd! Both types can be easily damaged if you are not careful with it so a good case is strongly recommended with either a brass or plastic trombone.

Therefore Which Kind of Trombone Should You Start Out With?

When it comes down to making your final decision regarding purchasing a brass or maybe plastic trombone, there really isn't any obvious winner. It genuinely is dependent upon what type you'd probably prefer. If you would like perform standard trombone music in an orchestra or maybe music group, you might like to think about deciding on the brass trombone. If you would like a more inexpensive musical instrument, one that will be suitable for traveling, and something that looks modern-day and unique, a plastic trombone may be the best option for you. Whatever one you decide on, have a great time trying to play the trombone please remember... practice, practice, practice!

If you would like to learn more about the plastic trombone, please check out our blog that will help you decide!

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3 Tips for Choosing the Most Efficient Fingering for Romantic and Modern Organ Music

Knowing how to choose the most efficient fingering is crucial to any organist. This skill is important because it makes a big difference both in practicing and performing. If you know how to play with good fingering, you will feel much more confident and your performance might sound effortless and efficient. In addition, the right fingering helps you to avoid mistakes and allows playing with precision and clarity. In this article, I will give you 3 tips which will help you to choose the most efficient fingering for Romantic and modern organ music.

Since the normal touch for Romantic and modern music is legato, every fingering technique is geared towards achieving the perfect legato. Differently from the piano where the legato can be achieved also by the means of the right pedal, the legato techniques that are used in organ playing are based on the fingering only.

1. Finger Crossing. This technique is primarily used for single voice passages. It helps to achieve legato where you play just a single voice in one hand. The most common manifestation of finger crossings is thumb-under technique. Here you put the thumb under other fingers in order to change positions and move upwards or downwards. You can also use finger crossing by putting the longer finger over the shorter one or the shorter finger under the longer one.

2. Scale Fingerings. Probably the easiest way to play the single voice episodes in organ music is by choosing fingerings which are based on scales. This also involves chromatic scales. Here the most important rule is to avoid using the thumb on the sharp keys because it gives unnecessary strain to the hand.

However, in real music we often have to play with the thumb on the sharp keys (especially in music with many accidentals). A very useful exercise not only for finger dexterity and independence but also for fingering patterns is practicing scales in all major and minor keys. This can be done either on the piano or the organ. If you practice scales regularly, with time these fingerings will become second nature to you and many places in your organ compositions which earlier appeared problematic because of the fingering will be straightforward enough.

3. Position Fingerings. When you write in fingerings, think about the position. How to play the most number of notes without leaving your current position? Put a thumb under only when is necessary to change position.

Try to write in your fingering in the organ pieces that you are playing, at least in the most difficult passages. This will help you to avoid accidental fingerings and play with precision and accuracy.

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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Organ Technique: Tips for Choosing the Best Pedaling for Early Music

Early organ music requires a different kind of pedaling than Romantic and modern compositions. Just like fingering, choosing correct pedaling allows good articulation, phrasing, and touch, among other things. Whether you play music of Schlick, Buxtehude, Sweelinck, Bach, or any other Renaissance or Baroque composer, you will benefit from the correct pedaling methods. Today I would like to give you my advice on choosing pedaling for 16th, 17th, and 18th century organ music.

Do Not Use Heels. The rule in pedaling early organ music is to avoid using heels. In countries, like France, pedal keys were very narrow and it could be played using toes only. Moreover, very often organ bench on historical organs was in a position were playing with heels was simply impossible. In other words, the full foot of an organist could not fit between the organ bench and the sharp keys. Although in Italy pedal keys were not as narrow, they were quite short. So the only option on many organs was to play with toes. In addition, on the clavichord sound made by the heel would produce a squeaking effect. Since clavichord technique was the basis of organist technique as well, all toes pedaling is the best choice in early organ music.
Alternate Toes. Perhaps the most popular pedaling technique in early organ music is alternate toes. It basically means that some passages of pedal lines should be played using toes of left and right foot in alternation. For example, try to play the ascending C major scale in this way: left-right-left-right-left and so on. Start the descending scale with the right foot. Make sure that the notes would not be played legato. In other words, you should try to achieve small articulation between notes. Shorten every other note a little so that you will make small accents on strong beats.

Note that you should not use feet crossing with this technique. In other words, do not put you foot behind or in front of the other. Instead, move both your feet together as a unit. If you perform the C major scale in this way, it will be easy to feel the pulse and alternation of strong and weak beats.

I recommend regular practice of major and minor scales in most common keys using alternate toes technique. In other words, play scales with up to two accidentals which were the most often used in the Renaissance and Baroque music. This practice will help you to master not only this technique but also the natural articulation.

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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4 Tips for Choosing the Best Fingering While Playing 16th-18th Century Hymns on the Organ

Performance of 16th-18th century hymns on the organ requires special kind of fingering. This type of fingering helps to achieve the desired articulated legato touch and feel the alternation of strong and weak beats. In order to play the hymns in style it is important for an organist to know what kind of fingering to use. In this article, I will give you 4 tips for choosing the best fingering while playing 16th-18th century hymns on the organ.

1. Avoid Placing a Thumb on Sharp Keys. Because performance of early type of hymns has so much in common with the performance of early music on the organ, generally try to avoid placing the thumb on sharp keys. This has something to do with the early type of keyboard which was used in the Renaissance and Baroque organs. These instruments had keys which were both shorter and narrower than our modern day piano or organ keys. Placing a thumb would be very inconvenient on an early style instrument. However, sometimes the thumbs are necessary to use because of wider intervals and chords in the left hand part.

2. Avoid Finger Substitution. Another important point about early fingering in hymn-playing is that you should avoid using finger substitution. Finger substitution is a technique, fully developed in the 19th century and helps achieving a perfect legato touch. This technique involves substituting one finger to another while holding one key. Since we need a different type of articulation in early music, finger substitution will create some difficulties of articulating the hymns properly.

3. Interval Fingering. In hymn-playing, when you play two voices in one hand, you can use interval fingering which has much in common with the finger skipping technique. This rule generally means that every interval in the Baroque or Renaissance period had its precise fingering and succession of similar intervals should be played with the same fingerings.

4. Write in Fingering. I recommend that you write in the exact fingering that you will be using in your hymn. Do this at least at the beginning stages of your organist career. In doing so, you will prevent from playing your hymns with accidental fingerings which might not help you to achieve the desired precision and articulation.

Treat your hymns like normal organ music and practice accordingly. For example, you may find that in some cases playing not the entire 4 part texture but practicing in voice combinations is more beneficial. Or if you have trouble with sight-reading your hymn, stop and work on one phrase at a time.

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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Choosing the Best Piano Lessons In El Paso TX

The city of El Paso TX has a great deal of music schools and piano instructors and students wanting to enroll in piano classes often get confused which school to choose from or even whether they are getting the best value for their money. This is understandable but in this article, we'll discuss ways of making the best selection.

Before choosing the best piano instructor in El Paso, you want to look and review a few things. These can help you arrive at the most satisfactory selection and even save you money in the long run. One thing to look for before choosing is consulting with the experts. But where do you find the experts in a city like El Paso? This is easy. You can start with the Community colleges such as the El Paso Community College. Their music classes offer excellent information and even if you do not end up enrolling there you can at least gather some very helpful information. Another place within El Paso where you can garner expert information before choosing the best piano teacher is places like the El Paso Conservatory of Music. Their staff is very knowledgeable on where to start and can provide you with expert guidance.

Before making the choice of schools that can help you learn how to play the piano in the city, you also want to consider how much you are willing to spend. This is an important consideration because lessons can cost upwards of $100 per hour especially when taking to a professional private instructor. Costs can also depend on where you take the lessons and may vary from instructor to instructor. A good way of saving money is to ask whether an instructor charges per lesson or per hour. Those that charge per lesson are preferable.

Time is another consideration when choosing a piano instructor in the city. Some students desiring to enroll in piano classes have little or no time to devote to the lessons. It is recommended that you set aside at least an hour or two for lessons. if you are totally unable to create that time, you want to reconsider and maybe even postpone the classes until later. Some students have found that getting piano software is a great way to pass time and catch up on skills before actually enrolling in actual lessons.

Finally, are you looking for private piano instructors or lessons or public ones? Private tutors are great but you must also consider paying slightly more before choosing one since their fees are higher than public tutors.

Irene James is a consultant who specializes in El Paso Piano Lessons and she recommends this affordable El Paso music specialist

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Irene_James

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Three Things to Avoid When Choosing a Beginner Electric Guitar

So you want a beginner electric guitar? These guitars are designed to offer a new user ease of use at a decent price. This way, the purchaser can make sure that they are truly into the guitar hobby before sinking thousands of dollars into an instrument that will end up collecting dust. Unfortunately, not all guitars are created equally, which can make purchasing one extremely difficult and frustrating, especially for the layperson or someone newly interested in the art.

The following three tips will show you what to avoid when looking for a beginner electric guitar. The following mistakes are commonly made, and can end up being costly in the long run.

3 Must Avoid Tips for Purchasing a Beginner Electric Guitar

1. Cheap stores. There are numerous mainstream stores that you can purchase this kind of guitar. Unfortunately, you should do your best to avoid them. Stores such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy or other nationwide chain stores may advertise an electric guitar at a bargain, but you will be getting what you pay for. Most of these in store purchases from non-specialty stores are nothing more than high-end toys designed for children. Plus, these chain stores will not be able to give you much advice when it comes to the instrument you are purchasing, or the accessories you will need to go with it. Yes, you will find your best prices in these types of stores, but they are essentially selling poorly made merchandise that will not last you very long. And, when you decide to upgrade, you will find it hard to sell your old one.

2. Do not buy from chains that do not offer lessons. It's a no brainer that you should be able to try out your instrument first. If you can find a local music shop that can give you lessons on the instrument that you purchase, or better yet - let you try it out for free during a lesson, you will be able to make a much better buying decision. Plus, this way you will have the opportunity to actually feel the comfort of the instrument and make a decision between several different types of beginner electric guitars before signing on the dotted line.

3. Never purchase a beginner electric guitar without plugging it into an amp. If you have been playing acoustic guitar, then you might not recognize in the beginning of your electric guitar hobby how important an amp is. And yes, you will need to purchase one. Before you buy, however make sure you are able to plug your guitar into the amp of your choosing. Then, it is important to plug it into a few other amps so you can actually identify the differences in sound. Many people may be unhappy with their guitar, when the reality is they purchase a substandard amp which distorts the clarity, tinniness, depth, and color of their guitar sounds.

These three tips will help you avoid the most common buying mistakes. You should also note that it isn't a good idea to purchase the first one you set your hands on. When it comes to instruments, slow and steady wins the race.

Julia P. Ray is a electric guitar and sound system equipment expert that specializes in the best musical instrument equipment that money can buy. His articles are designed to offer you expert information and tips on Beginner Electric Guitar and Electric Guitar Kits so you can make informed buying decisions.

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