Mega Music Talent

Archive for November, 2008

If you’re frustrated with your weight, use a piano scale! It never shocks you like a traditional weighing scale, and it actually tones the muscles while you’re engaged in it. Here are some other benefits:

1. A music scale doesn’t make you feel like screaming out the words: “I’ll never lose this weight because I’m such a stupid Neanderthal!”

2. Music technique never makes you think: “Those numbers can’t be right. Not only am I gonna write a letter to that scale manufacturer, but I’m also gonna ship this stupid scale back to them – in a million pieces!”

3. Playing a simple sequence of notes never gives you this depressing thought: “Oh, what’s the use. My bones are so thick that I could lose all of my fat and muscle, and I’d still be overweight.”

Using music scales is really a lot safer for the ego. Sure there are also drawbacks in learning instrumental techniques. However, the blame in messing up a scale passage is far less personal then the mental and emotional assaults that you can potentially give to yourself after stepping on a weight-measuring device.

That having been said, here are some pitfalls to avoid when learning music technique. Restrain from saying the following self-destructive quotes:

1. “I’ll never learn how to play this scale, because I’ll never be smart.”

Remember to be your own best friend so that the above nasty comment doesn’t rear its ugly head.

2. “I can only play this technical exercise effectively with one hand. Maybe I should have been born with only one hand!”

Take comfort in the fact that many beginner students have more dexterity in one of their hands.

3. “I’ve finally learned a scale, and now I’ve just learned that there are dozens of them still to be learned. When will the hurting stop!”

Life is a long learning process to be enjoyed. It doesn’t really hurt to ‘learn’ if you know how to play the mental game of realizing gradual improvement.

In piano playing, scales and chords are the lifeline of compositions. Pieces are made up of these two components, as is an impressively improvised work. Scales are also one of the most effective ways known in familiarizing a musician with the different major and minor keys. They also have the added benefit of developing forearm and wrist muscles, as well as finger speed and flexibility.

Apart from that, music scales will never tell you how much you weigh and will never make you feel like you have thick, uncompromising bones!

So the next time you sit down and demolish a double fudge brownie sundae, don’t immediately run to the family scale and see what kind of damage you’ve done to yourself. Rather, pick yourself up and place yourself on a piano bench. Play a scale and say with conviction: “I just ate well and now I’m playing well.”

By the way, do make sure to take care of your dietary habits. Once in a while, you really should weigh yourself. After all, bad health isn’t going to improve a piano scale. Keep fit and keep tickling those ivories.

Come and join the author, Daniel E. Friedman, at http://www.musicmasterstudios.com for assistance in music education and comprehension.

Article Source: http://over40sclub.com

Guitar, a dynamic musical instrument, is played in almost all kind of music; be it pop music, rock music, lounge music, country music or even contemporary classical music. The modern music can`t be imaginable without guitar.

The demand of guitar in every music sphere has made it one of the most sought after musical instruments. As guitar is an expensive musical instrument, it only makes sense to take proper care so that you can continue playing it for years to come. Here are a few tips discussed in the following on how to clean this amazing musical instrument so that its longevity can be increased.

Dust is the main form of debris that is collected on the surface of guitar. Don`t let dust cover on your guitar for dust buildup that can actually affect your guitar`s performance. A very simple approach to keep your guitar clean is by regular dusting. You can wipe off your guitar with a clean and soft cloth. You can either opt for any of your old but clean cloth or you can purchase special cloths that are available in music stores.

If you are a bit fancy about your cleaning, then you can choose many products available in the market that are designed for cleaning guitars. Guitar cleaners, fancy cleaners, liquid solvent and even solutions especially meant for cleaning the fretboard of guitars are available. If your guitar has a matte finish surface, it is suggested to use a water-based guitar cleaner as the creamy polished cleaners have a tendency to be slightly abrasive.

Often sticky residues from tape or stickers are left on guitars, which are a bit tough to remove. Use only mineral spirits or any other lighter fluid such as naphtha to remove the stains on your guitar. These solvent won`t harm the finish of your guitar. You just have to damp cloth with the solvent and wipe off the tape and stickers of your guitar. It might be surprising, but if you clean and dry your hands before you start playing on your guitar, it will significantly lengthen the life of your strings.

Like cleaning, polishing is equally important. A polish from a good brand not only gives your guitar an excellent shine, it also preserves the wood of your guitar. However, you should always choose a polish that is designed specifically for guitars as any general polish might ruin the smooth finish on guitars. But be careful of covering only the major surfaces of your guitar. Areas such as bridge or tuners or even the neck region of the guitar should not be polished.

Another major area which needs regular cleaning is the fingerboard of a guitar which includes the strings and the fret wire. These areas are prone to high-temperature and humidity and also of acidity by the constant touch of the player`s hands. The lower-end manufactured guitars especially suffer from this fret buzzing problem.

Though some simple adjustments raising the string action can correct the problem for some time, but this is not a permanent solution. If the surface of the fingerboard is not much damaged, a simple application of lemon oil can prevent the wood from further cracking. It is suggested to use a piece of extra fine grade steel wool to clean the fingerboard of your guitar. Don`t wet the steel wool; just rub it in up and down motion of the fingerboard area without catching the ends. The frets will be shiny only after a few motions.

Last but not the least is how and where you store your guitar. A guitar-case is a must and it should not be stored in too humid, warm or even too cold surroundings. Also make sure it does not get bumped around. An interior closet is the best place to store guitar.

You can have access to portuguese articles about guitars from page http://www.polomercantil.com.br/instrumentos-musicais.php Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for http://www.polomercantil.com.br

It is remarkable to me how the face of pop music has changed. When I was a kid there was definitely those popular bands that most people were embarrassed to admit they enjoyed. A certain group that rhymes with Buran Buran comes to mind.

I seem to remember however, that while there were a few of these groups controlling the top spots on the pop chart there were still several great rock bands prominently appearing on the radio. Despite some synthesized group getting air play, you could still catch something from Aerosmith or the Stones during the same set. It would appear that kind of trend has disappeared considerably.

Enter Push Play. Now this group Push Play has followed in the foot steps of several kid bands to come before it. There was Miley Cyrus, The Jonas Brothers and now Push Play. All groups clearly drawing on young kids all of them are also managed by their parents. It is interesting to note the trend. It is almost as if these parents see their kids as a chance to grab the lime light. Maybe they always wished for something more. Like the words from a John Mayer song, “while in their memories tiny tragedies.” Nothing against pop music for little kids. Hey, it is supposed to help with cognitive development. I would just like to hear some great bands again on the radio. I’m sure the average listener is still over the age of ten.

Hopefully these kids stay grounded. After listening to a few tracks off their latest album, Push Play has all the makings of a tween pop sensation. The music is simple. A lot of it actually sounds pre-recorded. It is almost like the tracks were made on a computer or something. It doesn’t actually sound like instruments are being played although I’m sure they are. The tunes all sound similar and are definitely catchy. Their young audience of prepubescent girls are bound to adore them.

Where will Push Play be in a few years? Who knows. Perhaps they will go the way of so many other kid pop bands before them, a few hit singles with the little kids and then disappear. Perhaps they will go the way of Miley Cyrus, touring to sold out auditoriums of little girls and making a ton of money.

One thing is for sure. Even if they are not remembered as great musicians or anything at all, it is hoped that their moms know a thing or two about investing. When the time comes that Push Play becomes push stop, they had better have put their money somewhere smart because this party won’t last forever. Everybody’s voice changes eventually.

More from John Thins at:http://4entertainmentonly.blogspot.com

The whispering clamour surrounded me and as it grew in intensity my fear of what was to come grew stronger. Suddenly the chanting started, the dread inside me rose as the chants grew louder and my anticipation greater. Each drum beat took me closer to the edge… a scream …then Preludium.

Fun over! As I looked at the hellish images on the Toxic album Fear just before I inserted the disc into my CD player I wondered if I had something to be afraid of. A whimsical thought I know but those thoughts continued as I looked at the play list:

01) Preludium

02) Lucifer

03) Fear

04) Live On

05) I am the Fire

06) Panic

07) Tinnitus

08) Feed me Bitch

09) Freedom

10) Truth

11) Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained

12) Greed

13) Every Beating is a Lie

14) Fear None

Those titles are not exactly pussy footing around, but my fears continued in a good way as I listened to Preludium. It began with the type of sound effects that are used to create fear and anticipation in horror films and then chanting as if a black magic ceremony was going on. My imagination was working overtime by the time the band kicked in with powerful vocals and backing. I’m told that Preludium was recorded in a large cathedral type of room and that it sounded wicked – I can imagine that!

The other tracks that stood out for me were:

Feed me Bitch – despite the title I loved this track. ‘You’ve got to be poor to feed the rich’ that’s true. A contrast of sounds with an edge that made me feel the music almost as much as Preludium.

I am the Fire reminded me a bit of Black Sabbath. A full on rock track that got me jumping. To get the full effect I wished that I were listening at a concert and not in my sitting room, but second best was still good.

Every Beating is a Lie tells you to stand up for your rights and not to let them hold you down. I absolutely agree with that. Musically I enjoyed listening to this stirring track and as with all over the other tracks Toxic are getting a good message across.

Fear None is a good finale to the album, strong instrumentals but it does get a bit screechy in places. Not enough to scare my cat who seemed to be enjoying it as much as I was. Seriously, I like the vocals, the instrumentals and the mad contrasts and was disappointed when the track faded out to nothing and half expected them to come back and shock me.

After listening to the 14 tracks several times I can reveal that there was nothing to be afraid of from Fear. I enjoyed listening and can recommend the album to anybody who likes heavy rock. It’s crazy in places, a creative album of unexpected events that left me wanting more. My favourite track has to be Preludium because it was so atmospheric and captured my imagination. Well done Toxic it isn’t often that happens.

“What Kind of Drum set should I buy?” or “What’s the best brand to buy?” are probably two most frequently asked questions. Even some professional players get it a little confused when it comes to making a decision on what to buy sometimes. This guide should help you figure things out and help you make the right decision.

First, for you beginners, let’s look at the different components of a drum set. First you have:

1. Bass drum
2. Snare drum
3. High tom
4. Low tom
5. Floor tom
6. One ride
7. One crash
8. Two hi-hats

Those are just the basics. Now we’ll move on to the hardware and accessories;

1. Snare stand
2. Cymbal stands (includes wing nuts)
3. Hi – hat stand
4. Foot pedal for the bass drum
5. Mount for the tom toms
6. Throne (this is where the King or Queen drummer sits on)
7. Legs for your floor tom (sometimes you’ll have a stand)
8. Drum keys used for tuning purposes

So now that you’ve got the basics down, let’s move on to making a buying decision. In an ideal world, you’d have just one main brand that magically works for everyone. You’d also have enough money to afford to buy it. Drum sets can cost you anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to several thousand dollars , depending on brand name and quality.

Now if you go online to places like Musician’s Friend or Guitar Center or even Ebay , you’re liable to find the following brands: Pearl, Remo, Tama, Gretsch, Mapex, Yamaha, Slingerland, Ayotte, DW, Ludwig, CB700, Premier, Sonor, TKO, Maxwin, Sunlite, and Thor. There are more name brands, but this is just a basic list here. Cymbals also have brand names such as, Solar, Ufip, Paiste, Meinl, CB, Stagg, Sabian, and Zildjian.

Again, you get what you pay for. When you’re making a buying decision, you want to make sure that both the bottom and top heads are on your drums. You also want to make sure that none of the lugs on the drums are missing. You need them to be able to tune your drums. Also, be sure that the exterior drum finish is in good condition. Your hardware needs to be sturdy and all your locking mechanisms need to be secure.

Another thing to look out for is to make sure the drum heads are in good shape. If all the drum heads are bad, then it’s going to be pretty expensive to replace them all.

If you are able to afford to buy a brand new set of high end quality, then by all means do so, but if you’re on a budget and you need to look for a used set, then be sure that you get it from an older player who takes care of his or her equipment. Sometimes you can get an older set that will still last you many years from someone who has given their drum set loving care.

Do a basic search on a drumset on google or look through your local classifieds. Just like buying a used car, if you’re getting a used set, you’re going to have to put some money into it. If you can, take an experienced drummer with you to help you check out your potential drum set. Also, listen to your gut instinct. If something doesn’t “vibe” or it doesn’t “feel” right, then leave it alone. Another thing you want to look for is external clues. What does their home look like. If it’s filthy and dirty, they probably don’t take care of the drumset you’re about to buy. On the other hand, if they are neat and clean, you’re probably in luck. This is not always the case, and there are exceptions, especially if people are renting or living with roomates, so use your head here.

Visit John Sandy at http://www.JohnSandy.net for more information drums and learning how to play drums. Free music and art lessons available!

Article Source: http://megamusictalent.com

Drums have been around forever. Another name for drums is called a membraphone. This is because drums are really an instrument that makes sound by striking a membrane. Drums consist of the body which is hollowed out. Then, a membrane of some sort is stretched over the end of that drum. Pegs are tightened and loosened to create different tones. Most people think that the body of the drum makes the sound, but it’s actually the membrane that makes the sound.

Drums date as far back as 6000 BC. Mesopotamian excavations have unearthed drums that date back as far back as 3000 BC. Markings on the walls of caves in Peru depict drums. The Native American Indians made drums out of gourds and wood. They used these for their ceremonies and spiritual rituals. Drums have played and important role in many ancient societies and were used for more than just music.

As the uses of drums evolved, drum kits were developed. A drum kit is basically a group of various toned drums. It was found that one person could play more than just one drum at a time. He or she could play several simultaneously. This is also called double drumming. Tom toms and cymbals were invented in China and they were then added to the regular drum kits. Later, more people got creative and added percussion instruments like wood blocks, cowbells, chimes and things. By the time 1930’s rolled around, the standard drum kit had taken shape. This drum kit consisted of a bass drum, foot pedal, large hanging cymbals, hi-hat, snare and tom toms.

Later on during the 1960’s, rock drummers expanded the drum kits, which are the normal standard of today. More cymbals and toms were used as well as another bass drum to increase speed. Electronic drums were also created. Electronics drums are cool in a way because they can create sounds that traditional drums can’t. So then, we had the synthesized drum sounds that you hear in many styles of modern music of today.

If you’re a beginner and you’re wondering what you should have in your drum kit, here’s a list of items:

1. Snare
2. 3 toms, high tom, low tom , floor tom
3. Bass drum
4. Ride cymbal
5. Crash cymbal
6. Hi-hat

If you’re wondering how much a drum set will cost, the answer is a little complex. Some drum sets can be as cheap as $100 or $200, while others can cost as much as $10,000 or more. As with anything, you get what you pay for. You want a drumset that’s sturdy enough to endure years of playing. If you’re planning on becoming professional and going on the road, doing performances, you’ll want to invest at least $700 and up on it.

On the other hand, if you’re just planning on keeping it a hobby, then you may can get away with $200 or $300 sets.

These are the basics. You can always add more things like Chinese cymbals, a cowbell, etc. If you don’t have a drum kit yet, don’t let that stop you from practicing. All you need is a couple of drum sticks (they cost about $3 to $10 at the music store) and a wood block. Main thing is that you practice your rhythm and the basics like paradiddles and basic beats. If you’re a complete greenhorn, then this is going to take you enough time to learn until you can save up for a set. Until then, keep on rockin’.

Author: Enigma Valdez

Check out http://www.JohnSandy.net for free drum lessons, art lessons and more!

Article Source: http://megamusictalent.com

The Norwegian heavy rock band Toxic recently toured the UK to promote their new album Fear. I was very pleased when bassist Rolf Lura agreed to be interviewed and following you will find the outcome:

Trish: I always wanted to play an instrument well but after a screechingly dismal attempt at violin lessons and not much more success with a piano I decided that it was best to leave music making to others like yourself whom I feel quite envious of – just how many instruments do you play and which is your favourite?

Rolf: My main instrument is the bass, that’s what I play live with my band, Toxic. On our new album “Fear”, I’ve also played some double-bass, cello and organ in the studio. I like all the instruments that I play very much. If I have to pick a favourite, it has to be the bass.

Trish: Which was the first instrument that you ever played and how old were you?

Rolf: I started to play the Tuba in my local school band at the age of 9.

Trish: Why did you choose the tuba?

Rolf: In fact it wasn’t I that choose the Tuba. It was my music teacher. I was the tallest and strongest boy in my class, so therefore he advised me to play the heavy Tuba.

Trish: Very democratic of him! Is there any instrument that you can’t play that you would like to learn?

Rolf: The Church organ it’s a majestic and powerful instrument, I would love to learn to play it.

Trish: Yes you are right there; perhaps I will invite you over to learn in the church at the bottom of my street! Now for something different.

The very first single that I ever bought was See Emily Play by Pink Floyd and I still think that track is amazing. Which was the first single that you ever bought and what do you think of it now?

Rolf: It was “I was made for loving you” by Kiss. Now I wonder “Where the hell was my brain at the age of 12?”

Trish: I think that I see what you mean after watching the video on YouTube, those outfits and the white face paint eeeewh. Do you have a record in your collection that the rest of the band would tease you about?

Rolf: Maybe “Gothic Impressions” by a Swede called Par Lind. It’s an organ-based album that I adore, but the rest of the Toxic lads probably think that I’m insane in my brain because I love that album.

Trish: Maybe they have secret likes too! Which band or artist do you currently listen to the most?

Rolf: I never stick with just one artist for a long period; I try to vary a lot, so that I don’t get tired of a good artist. The bands that I listen to for the moment is: System of a Down, Opeth, Queen, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica ++++

Trish: If you had just one wish and could perform with any band or artist – alive or dead; who would that be and why?

Rolf: Queen w/Mr. Mercury or Judas Priest.

Trish: Ah!! I wrote on my blog last week that if I could go back in time the band that I would most like to see perform live would be Queen with Freddie Mercury – you have good taste.

Whenever I return home from holiday it’s a real let down having to return to work and reality. Toxic have just completed a 2 week tour of the UK, how does it feel to be back to reality?

Rolf: To be honest. This return to work and reality was the hardest ever in my life. We had two fantastic weeks and were longing to go back to England on the air trip back home.

Trish: I hope that you will be coming back soon, is there another tour planned?

Rolf: Our manager is in touch with several UK festivals, so we’re awaiting the results of his work. So the plan is to base our next UK tour around a festival next Summer, early Autumn.

Trish: That’s great, something to look forward to through the dreary winter months. This is your second tour of the UK, how did it compare to the first?

Rolf: This tour was definitely the best. Everything was well planned and prepared by our English manager, Mark. We felt so much welcome everywhere. You Englishmen are such a great people.

Trish: Er don’t forget English women! What was the highlight of the tour for you and was there any low?

Rolf: The highlights:-

Our first night in England was fantastic. We spent it at Josi’s radio studio. She works for ”Hard Rock Radio Live” We did a live radio show. Her comment after the radio session was. “You’re the craziest Vikings I’ve ever met, and this has been my funniest/best radio show ever”. Our last gig at “The Purple Turtle” in Camden/London was the best one. We had an amazing audience and a fantastic sound engineer.

The “Downside”:-

We played a gig in South London, upstairs in a pub in a crummy area. There was just a few people attending the show.

Trish: Darn it I missed the radio show it sounds great. Do you have lots of groupies flocking around you or aren’t we allowed to discuss that?

Rolf: There is only one thing to say about that. You didn’t turn up at any of our shows lol

Trish: You sweet talker! We have a saying in the UK – ‘do not judge a book by it’s cover’, but people do judge others by appearances. For instance some people see a biker and they fear them – OMG a hells angel type of reaction – when really most bikers are decent folks who love riding bikes. In the Chronos video the bikers are the good guys, was that intended as a statement or just a different twist to make the video more interesting?

Rolf: Chronos is the God of time. Our intention with the video was to make people wake up and see that things aren’t always what they look like. We try to put things upside down. Like you said. A biker can be good man, and a vicar can be a cruel one. We also turned Elvis into a Messiah. But, I have to admit that we like to be a bit provocative!

Trish: Provocative I like and I agree with what you are saying. I’ve been listening to your album Fear and appreciate the contrasts. Image means a lot for a band and the perceived image is not what I believe to be the true Toxic who from my limited contact are much nicer guys than the image dictates.

Trish: I’d like to thank you Rolf for your cooperation with this interview, you have given me some great answers. Hopefully we will see you in the UK again soon.

Rolf: I would like to thank you also for your questions. They were very good. Most interviewers ask the same questions over and over again, yours were something different. It was a pleasure to answer you back. If you feel that my English sucks, feel free to adjust it

Trish: I always like to be different. Your English is excellent, much better than my Norwegian, which is limited to Tusen takk (thank you very much)

When choosing a piano, most people want to ensure they get a good quality one and the best way to do this is to buy a popular brand that has been around for a while and has an established reputation. There are quite a few popular piano brands available to select from.

Baldwin Pianos

This company was established back in the late 1800`s and still provides some of the best pianos on the market. They also own a number of piano companies including Wurlitzer. Created by Dwight Hamilton Baldwin, the first Baldwin piano was an upright, though they later manufactured grand pianos, as well.
The Baldwin piano is well-liked because of the high quality available. As a family piano, it`s very good choice. Liberace and Bela Bartok both played this piano.

Steinway Pianos

Of all the different piano brands, Steinway and Sons is definitely at the top of the list in popularity and best known. It`s a real boon to have a Steinway in your home and is a goal for many true piano students who dream of owning one.

Henry Steinway was originally a cabinet maker who began to manufacture pianos professionally back in the 1850`s. Some of the most famous pianists of all time have use Steinways, including Wagner, Liszt, Rachmaninoff and Gershwin among others. With an elegant quality about them, these pianos are on the wish list of every pianist.

Schimmel Pianos

This German piano brand is a good one, as well. Many pianists and aspiring pianists find Schimmel pianos to be a dream for playing on and as a result, Schimmel pianos can be found around the world, not just in Germany. It`s a great option for anyone who is looking for a high quality piano, but doesn`t want to invest in a Steinway.

Wilhelm Schimmel was the founder of this company in 1885, but it was later passed on to his grandson in the 60`s. It is one of the few piano companies that is still run by the original family, while most other piano manufacturers have been bought out by larger companies.

Kawai Pianos

A Japanese brand, the Kawai piano is an interesting one. Most people think of electronic keyboards when they think of Japanese pianos, but for those in the know, Kawai is the place to go for high quality, decently priced pianos that offer great sound.

As far as first pianos go, this Japanese model is ideal to get started in the world of owning your very own piano. The Kawai piano brand is well liked and well known, but still not the most popular, which means prices haven`t gone through the roof like they have with many other models. This alone, makes these pianos a hot commodity.

Mason and Hamlin Pianos

This is a company that actually went bankrupt in 1995, but they have made a comeback and are still one of the most popular piano brands in existence. The pianos have been around since the founding in 1854. Though the original families are no longer involved in the business, it continues to do well after the bankruptcy.

The financial struggles in the past of this company hasn`t affected the quality of their piano design. It`s still an excellent design that people from around the world long to have.

Choosing the right piano brand is an important choice and one that must be made with care. If you go with a more popular brand of piano, chances are you will be more than happy with it. The years of growth and development have made these pianos some of the best in the world and they are popular brands for good reason.

————————–

Piano lessons Toronto offered at one of the most innovative and recognized music schools in North America. Get quality music lessons Toronto offering the ideal educational experience.
http://www.merriammusic.com/school/flash.html

It’s extremely difficult for anyone to determine exactly what piano will be the easiest for any beginner to start off playing. A beginning piano player will play any variety of piano exactly how he or she is taught to play it.

With that in mind – each brand, type and style of piano can sound differently and the sound and feel of each instrument may appeal differently to different players.

When considering purchasing a piano, especially when you don’t have a whole lot of experience with the instrument, there are several things that you should do before making your decision. A piano is a very large investment, so it isn’t something that should be taken lightly.

Some Valuable Tech Talk

One of the best possible things that you can do when looking for a piano is to talk to a good technician. A good piano technician can be worth his weight in gold when it comes to helping you decide what type of piano will be the best for you. They will know just about everything there is to know about many varieties of pianos – which ones hold their sound best, which are the easiest to repair, which may have recurring problems. Most techs are also players as well, so you’ll likely be able to get some good personal recommendations from this valuable source.

Visit Every Showroom in Your Area

This will give you the opportunity to sit down at all different types of pianos to plunk away, giving you a good feel for what type of piano you’ll most likely feel comfortable at. It will also allow you the opportunity to compare pricing between the different dealers and different brands.

Talk to Sales People

Though some sales people may be pretty biased towards one brand or another based on what they are selling at their particular showroom, piano sales people can often provide you with some pretty good information as to the quality of certain brands or the difference in quality between different models of the same brand. They should also be able to provide you with different manufacturer’s warranty information without necessarily being too one sided with their commentary.

Talk to Teachers and Students

Sign up for a free introductory lesson, and while you’re there, pick the teacher’s brain about what type of piano they feel best suits a beginner. A teacher will often be totally unbiased in their opinion and have the student’s best interests at heart.

If you’re lucky there will be other students there that you can ask some questions of as well. Find out what different types of pianos they have played and what they feel would be the most comfortable and appropriate piano for someone who was just starting out. Who is better to ask than someone who was just recently in your position and had to go through the same things themselves?

The best piano to start out with is definitely the one that you will happily play and that you will find yourself wanting to play often. That’s why it’s so important to do a lot of research before jumping into a decision. In addition to following the aforementioned advice, there are several good books available that will give solid advice when considering purchasing a piano, and today there are an abundance of internet communities that have sections devoted to providing advice to beginning piano players. If you don’t happen to see a line of questioning that you think will help your situation, pose the question yourself and let the advice of experienced piano players come to you.

——————————-

View our stunning lineup of prestigious pianos at our piano stores Toronto and piano stores Vaughn. Offers quality pianos such as Fazioli, Baldwin, Shigeru Kawai or Grotrian. http://www.merriammusic.com/

Undoubtedly a staple of Broadway theater, West Side Story has earned its reputation for challenging social commentary and entertaining songs. Even theater patrons have to admit that it’s take on gang life is a little bit colorful-and perhaps even laughable-when compared to the reality. There’s certainly plenty of grit in the story, or at least by the standards of the time it was written in, and there is murder, which is portrayed as grim and meaningless. Anyone with West Side Story tickets these days has to watch the show with a bit of a smirk at times. It’s like comparing the reality of Cops to Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” video.

West Side Story’s 1961 film adaptation shared the Broadway play’s sensibility. But there have been several other movies since then that have taken an overly theatrical or even glorified view of gang life in New York. Here’s just a few of them.

The Warriors, 1979

Directed by Walter Hill, who would go on to produce some of the most thrilling, gritty action films of the ’80s, The Warriors’ opening scene sets the bar for theatrical gang life pretty high. At a conference of New York’s gangs (held in a graveyard), the leader of one of the strongest gangs urges a united front that would allow all of them to rule the city. In the crowd there are The Warriors, a group of Coney Island-based kids with leather sleeveless jackets, feathers and beads; the Hi-Hats, a group of mimes; and the Baseball Furies, a gang that wears face paint and baseball outfits. With other colorful, bizarre gangs fleshing out the story, and what appears to be the absence of any rule of law throughout the film, it’s a pretty unrealistic, almost surreal but entertaining perspective of gang life in New York in the ’70s.

The Wanderers, 1979

Coming out the same year as The Warriors, but with a much smaller cult following, The Wanderers looks at gang life in a glamorized ’60s. Like The Warriors, the film seems to relish showing off the bizarre cliques that tended to divide along racial lines. Loosely based on real gangs that ran in the neighborhoods throughout the late ’50s and early ’60s, there’s the Irish Ducky Boys, the Italian Wanderers, the African-American Del Bombers, and the Chinese Wongs (the last group being described as “twenty-seven guys all named Wong”).

Rumble Fish, 1983

Francis Ford Coppola’s arty gang flick takes a pinch of the nostalgia for the early ’60s that The Wanderers thrived on and adds an oddly experimental slant to the picture. The jarring camera angles and swooping shots, along with the picture being shot in monochrome, with a few choice objects in certain scenes being in color, have made this a favorite of film buffs. Even though the hoods in this film sigh over days past, when the gangs ran the streets, it’s kind of hard to believe any actual New York gang would appreciate Coppola’s art-film view of street life.

Gangs of New York, 2002

Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York only seems to get better with time, but that’s largely because the epic story of American street life has so much detail and substance to it. Reaching back to the 1860s, Scorsese has created a brilliant panorama of the races, creeds and colors that fuel the American dream-and always have. The gangs in this picture are divided along the lines of territory and race as well as ideology, pitting the Dead Rabbits-and Irish gang-against the Native Americans, a group of Protestant xenophobes led by the aptly named Bill the Butcher. Based upon the historical book of the same name, this is the most well-researched and historically accurate of the films on this list, though there are certainly enough Hollywood flourishes to keep things interesting.

————————-

Written by Andrew Good and sponsored by http://www.stubhub.com. StubHub sells sports tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets and more to just about any event in the world. Don’t miss West Side Story at http://www.stubhub.com/west-side-story-tickets/.