Mega Music Talent

Archive for February, 2009

Third eye review of a live performance in Calgary, Alberta, from a local 60′s, 70′s and 80′s rock band. This three person group is called ShadowBeat. If going to Calgary and you appreciate older music, you might just enjoy this combo. Do so if you get a chance.

“Get your motor running” That’s what this band will do to you. I managed to catch this three person combo by accident Friday night in Calgary. They were shaking the walls in some lost eastside pub called Chelsea’s, and though the crowd was not huge, we were on fire with this performance. And so was ShadowBeat.

As the night went on I found myself losing time but not wasting it. It was an experience worth living. The little place was a-happenin’, as they might say and we all enjoyed many familiar oldies (think John Paul George and Mick) and a few NotHeardThatinAge’s.

And then they hit us with a sharp left hook. A few great wing-ding’s from the 1990′s country line dancing and hat head era. Personally, I don’t two-step, but plenty were stompin’ their runners to this classic string of hits that included an Alan Jackson favorite of mine and that old Grundy County Auction song. I could tell by the wall posters that country bands frequented this establishment. But this was a rock outfit with a bit of creative dabble.

The first set I saw opened with Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf and by the third or fourth selection we were convinced this group knew their stuff. They weren’t much to look at, not having a drummer on stage with them or the heavy-metal concert trappings seen in bar bands of years gone by. It was just the three of them. Dying to have a voice. They were just there. Authentic. In your face. They were good.

I like it when a cover band tries to make the well-known piece their own and have fun with it. Granted, ShadowBeat did not do this with every composition on the setlist but when they did, it shone through, and the effort became worthwhile. You might want to check out the original versions of these songs. I did some Googling and found out that they have their own mini internet broadcast station easily found by entering “Shadowbeat radio”. That’s where you can hear those originals. Handy. It’s at http://www.live365.com/stations/radiosonde1?play

Who would have thought a stage keyboard could be played like that? Not me, that’s for sure. Somebody sprinkled this guy with magic dust, or maybe a few extra recorded tracks. It’s hard to tell. Wait for “Time of the Season” by the Zombies. It’s worth it.

In general, the band takes full advantage of the highs and lows (tempo, dynamics etc.) in the material. When they were tight, it was as good as it gets and the loose rambling between songs kept the feeling quite casual. Nobody was intimidated. With the old stuff I heard that night, you’ll go back to your younger days in an instant.

Author Bio: More about – this band if you like this kind of rock.

And more – check it out – you’ll be glad you did.

Choosing the correct violin can be an intimidating prospect for many people. The variety of instruments available can be quite daunting and, unless you fully establish your particular criteria, you could end up spending a considerable amount of unnecessary money.

Fortunately, by carefully evaluating exactly what it is you are searching for, it is quite possible to choose a violin that is going to completely meet your needs ? for however long that might be.

First of all, don’t be frightened that the best way to choose a violin is to target the most expensive one you can find; this almost certainly will not be the case. Budget is only one of the considerations.

Remember that although it is undoubtedly rewarding to have an immaculate new instrument, it is usually possible to find one completely appropriate that is second-hand. A well cared for violin ? meaning without cracks, with pegs that still tighten easily without slipping and which has clearly been well maintained ? can have a warm, clear, smooth tone that matches any new instrument. Personally, I would not recommend buying from an on-line auction site, though ? unless you can have a return clause if the violin turns out to be not quite what you wanted. As with most things, it is necessary to ‘try before you buy’ if you want the most suitable instrument.

The size of the violin is another prerequisite. Very, very young children ? pre-school age, for instance – can play a violin that is 1/16th of standard size and the instruments are graduated through to ?, ? and ? sizes. It is marginally less helpful for a child to learn on an instrument that is too small rather than too big, but, if the child is growing rapidly, then buying a cheaper violin for just a year or two is not a bad idea. Most children will be able to play a full-sized violin by the time they reach secondary school age. It might even be possible to rent a good violin for a child to learn with whilst he or she is growing, or, again, whilst you are both deciding if the violin is the instrument the child really wants to play.

For experienced players, the criteria become much more sophisticated, of course.

For example, you might want to weigh up the advantages of purchasing a handmade or a factory produced violin. The handmade will be more expensive but almost certainly produce a better sound and be a more satisfying instrument. Many experts undoubtedly consider Italian-made violins to be the very best ? and not just for historical reasons. Individually produced Italian violins are usually meticulously and lovingly crafted.

Other things to be taken into consideration by the more experienced violinist might include the investment potential of the instrument, its ‘beauty’, the particular size and arching that suits the player, the sound quality and perhaps even the maker’s name!

Finally, the most important criterion ? whether you are young or old, novice or professional ? and one that can never be quantified, is, ‘Can I love this instrument?’ Playing the violin is an emotional as well as an intellectual experience and, although most of your criteria will be logical and sensible, your heart and soul will also play a part in your final decision.

Author Bio: The ability to play a musical instrument has many benefits and has been linked to improved intelligence. Instruction has never been more convenient and you can learn how to play the violin online with instructional videos on my website.

The legendary jazz/soul singer, Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996) was also affectionately called “Lady Ella” and the “First Lady of Song”.

This dynamic and soulful female jazz singer has a very wide vocal range spanning up to three octaves and is best known for her purity of the singing tonal quality, phrasing and note intonation.

Ella was particularly well received for her improvisational singing and scat singing and perhaps the most memorable performance of this exceptional singing skill was exhibited at a live concert when she admitted that she had forgotten the lyrics of “Mack The Knife” and improvised and scatted her way through the entire song much to the delight of the audience and worldwide awe to her ability to impromptu adlibing.

In her half a century career span as an eminent singer, Ella boasted an amazing collection of 13 Grammy Awards and sold over 40 million albums given the astounding fact that her singing career was in the early half of the last century. Not surprisingly so as such was Ella’s singing agility that she could sing sultry soulful ballads, sweet swing jazz and even able to imitate almost every musical instrument in an orchestra.

In her heydays, Ella Fitzgerald performed sung and performed in top notched venues, clubs and concert halls all over the world alongside some of the greatest musicians and singers of her era such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie and Benny Goodman just to name a few!

Lady Ella Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Va. on April 25, 1917 and her parents divorced shortly after her birth. During her growing up years, Ella took on small mundane jobs and even worked as a runner for local gamblers, picking up their bets and dropping off money to support her siblings.

Ella had a difficult growing up years. She did not do well in school and frequently played truant. She even got herself into trouble with the police and was taken into custody and sent to a reform school. Life in the reform school was even more miserable as she suffered beatings at the hands of her supposedly humane caretakers.

Eventually Ella was forced to escape from the reformatory during the terrible years of the Great Depression when she had to struggle for a living, braved extreme hunger and sometimes without shelter over her young head.

The amazing thing about this formidable singer was that she never complained and used the memories from these sad times to help gather emotions for performances. Perhaps it was because of such unhappy events that she was able to inject so much soul, feelings and passion into her singing.

Ella’s first break was in 1934 at the Apollo where she won the opportunity to compete in an event called the Amateur Night. Ella went to the theater that night planning to dance, but when the Edwards Sisters closed the main show, Ella changed her mind. “They were the dancingest sisters around,” to quote Ella and she felt her act would in no way compared to the dancing sisters.

She then went on stage, faced the boos and derogatory verbal barrage from the rowdy audience, a terrified and disheveled Ella made the decision to sing instead. This was perhaps the best decision she ever made in her life and from that moment on, her life took on another destiny.

She asked the band to play Hoagy Carmichael’s “Judy,” a song that she knew very well. Ella at that magical moment quickly silenced the audience booing and by the time the song ended, the crowd was hollering for more! The gutsy young lady then obliged them and rendered Boswell Sister’s “The Object of My Affections” which sent the crowd into a frenzied standing ovation.

As fate was smiling on Ella, in the band that night was saxophonist and music arranger Benny Carter. Benny was so impressed with the singer’s natural talent that he begun introducing Ella to people in the entertainment world who could help launch her singing career. In the process, Benny Carter and Ella became lifelong bosom buddies often working together as a team.

Buoyed by the enthusiastic response that night, Ella began entering and winning every talent show she could find and participated in. Then it happened. In January 1935 she was presented with a chance to perform for one week with the Tiny Bradshaw band at the Harlem Opera House.

It was in this gig that Ella met drummer and bandleader Chick (William Henry) Webb. However much Chick was impressed with young Ella, he had already hired male lead singer by the name of Charlie Linton for his band for the Opera House performances. Chick then offered Ella the opportunity to sing with his band when they played a dance at Yale University and said to Ella that if the audiences like her at the dance, she can stay with his band. You can bet that the audience at Yale definitely adored Ella!

Sometime in the middle of 1936, Ella made her first recording and thus “Love and Kisses” was released under the Decca label, with only a so-so success. By this time she was performing with Chick’s band at the prestigious Harlem’s Savoy Ballroom which as often referred to as “The World’s Most Famous Ballroom.”

During this period of Ella’s singing career, the era of big swing bands was shifting, and the focus was turning more towards bebop style. Ella played along with the new musical style, often using her voice to take on the role of another horn of the brass section in the band. Her rendition of “You Have to Swing It” was when the up and coming young singer began experimenting with scat singing and her improvisation was a big hit with her fans.

Then one day in 1938, Ella recorded a playful version of a nursery rhyme “A Tisket A Tasket” and sold a million copies of the album which stayed number one on the charts for an astounding 17 weeks. With this release, Ella Fitzgerald became a famous singing sensation overnight!

When Ella’s mentor, Chick Webb died in 1939, Ella took over the band and renamed it as Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous Band for the next three years or so.

While on a concert tour with Dizzy Gillespie’s band in 1946, Ella fell in love with the band’s bass player Ray Brown. The lovebirds were eventually married and adopted a son whom they named as Ray Jr.

At the time, Ray Brown was working for producer and manager Norman Granz on the “Jazz at the Philharmonic” tour. Norman had the vision that Ella had the talent to be an international star and he convinced Ella to sign with him.

Under Norman’s mentorship, Ella joined the Philharmonic tour, worked with Louis Armstrong on several albums and began producing her famous songbook series. From 1956-1964, she recorded covers of other great musicians and composers, like those of Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Gershwins, Johnny Mercer, Irving Berlin and Rodgers and Hart to great successes and international acclaim.

Ella also began appearing on television variety shows regularly and she quickly became a favorite and frequent guest popular shows including “The Bing Crosby Show,” “The Dinah Shore Show,” “The Frank Sinatra Show,” “The Ed Sullivan Show,” “The Tonight Show,” “The Nat King Cole Show,” “The Andy Willams Show” and “The Dean Martin Show.”

These busy work schedules finally took their toll on her marriage as Ray and Ella filed for a divorce in 1952. However, they remained as good friends for the rest of their lives.

Ella often suffered from ill health but bravely continued to work as hard as she could early on in her career. She toured all over the world, sometimes performing two shows a day in cities hundreds of miles apart and in 1974, Ella spent two weeks performing in New York with Frank Sinatra and Count Basie. Some 5 years later, the singer was inducted into the Down Beat magazine Hall of Fame and received Kennedy Center Honors for her continuing contributions to the arts.

In 1987, the then President of the United States, Ronald Reagan awarded Ella the National Medal of Arts. It was one of her most auspicious moments in her life. France did the same several years later, presenting her with their Commander of Arts and Letters award, while Yale, Dartmouth and several other universities bestowed Ella with honorary doctorates.

As Ella’s health continued to deteriorate, she underwent a quintuple heart coronary bypass surgery in the fall of 1986. Her surgeons also replaced a valve in her heart and diagnosed her with diabetes, which they blamed for her failing eyesight. The press and media carried dreadful stories that she would never be able to sing again.

How wrong the the prophets of doom were! The indomitable Ella returned to the concert stage and pushed on with an exhaustive concert schedule that can make any pressman blush with embarrassment!

By the 1990s, Ella Fitzgerald had recorded well over 200 albums and finally in 1991, she gave her final concert performance at New York’s Carnegie Hall. As the negative effects from her diabetes continued to mount, a 76-year-old Ella experienced severe blood circulatory disorders and was forced to have both of her legs amputated.

The legendary Ella Fitzgerald finally succumbed to her illnesses and passed away on June 15, 1996 at the age of 78 in her Beverly Hills home. Fans all over the world mourned the loss of their favorite and the only “First Lady Of Song”, the incomparable jazz singer, Ella Fitzgerald.

Author Bio: Chris Chew is a music advisor and editor to music education website at at Learn How To Be A Good Singer and Learn How To Be A Good Pianist

This article has been prompted by one that appeared in The Times Online some time ago.

The article refers to how some couples are using ipods to supply their wedding reception music as opposed to hiring a DJ, although this could also apply to any other event.

This may seem like a good money saving idea, but lets take a closer look at what it means in reality. I agree that couples could save money on hiring a DJ but, and it is a big BUT, what are the potential ramifications of doing so legally.

Firstly in the UK any electrical equipment used in a public place and accessible to the public must have PAT (Portable Appliance Test). This is to make sure that the device is safe electrically. That means using an ipod with any form of mains supply either to the ipod itself or a mains powered docking station must have PAT. There are many companies doing PAT, usually charging per item, but most also have a minimum fee of around £70.00 plus VAT.

The second factor is if extra amplification is required then it will mean hiring additional equipment which will also add to the overall cost.

The third factor is that an ipod does not come with any lighting which mean the hire of lighting effects if you want some.

It is now we hit the major stumbling block. If you are using such equipment you must be conversant with its safety and operating instructions. Why is this? Because you will be liable to be sued if anyone at the event has an accident, and if you have no knowledge of the safety and operating instructions then you cannot mount an active defense should the matter go to court. The next point to this is that to offset any possible action for injury you will have to have PLI (Public Liability Insurance). Yes the venue may have it but it is you who are responsible not the venue. PLI is not cheap to obtain, and if you read most small print it will require that all electrical items have a valid and current PAT, otherwise the PLI is void. PLI is a legal requirement.

Lets do some simple maths at this point:

PAT £70.00
PLI £150.00 (though you may get it cheaper)
Equipment hire £60.00 (hire equipment must already have PAT)

Total cost £280.00

Next let us take a look at using an ipod for your musical entertainment. You have downloaded your songs the party is going well, and then a guest wants a particular track, do you stop the music to download it as you don’t have it already or do you just say they can’t have it and risk offending them. This is something that should be considered, also how much do you spend downloading the tracks in the first place.

There is available a system that has 60,000+ tracks available to play, and which you can hire from certain places. Basically it is a large digital jukebox for want of a description cost on average £300.00, and yes it can do requests, but what happens when someone puts on a track they love that clears the dance floor. Or will the music someone likes and puts on offends other people at the event.

A good quality DJ will set you back on average £300.00 for the evening, some cost more some less, but £300.00 is a fair price, unless you have special requirements. A good quality DJ will also have PLI and all equipment will have PAT, if it is required. A DJ can also play requests, and adapt to different situations, being human has advantages. Then there are the times someone wants a request but can’t remember the title of the track and is also not sure who recorded it so they try and sing it to the DJ hoping they will know, now you can’t do that to a machine.

When all is said and done to be legal and do it yourself will cost the same if not more than getting someone to do it for you. The other benefit is they will also set all the equipment up and take it all down, and there is no having to return the hired equipment which saves on time too.

I hope the above has made you think a little, sometimes it is better to get a professional rather than DIY.

© Paul Sims

Author Bio: Paul Sims has spent over 32 years working within the entertainment industry. Since its inception in 2000 he has been CEO of CEE Worldwide Entertainment Agency, a UK based company. His experience includes working in theatre, film, radio and television, which has given him a good all round knowledge. CEE Worldwide Entertainment Agency

What’s hot for 2009 in mp3 devices? If you go by name recognition alone it would be anything from Apple’s iPod series. Face it Steve Job and team have done a great job equating the iPod with all things mp3. There is more to the mp3 landscape, however.

Did you know there are mp3 players that do not require any connectivity to the Internet to function? Did you know there are combination CD mp3 players? Did you know there are many models that are extremely affordable and easy to use? If not, keep reading we think you’ll find something that’s a perfect fit.

Apple iPod ? We’ll bring this up first because we know it’s what you’ll probably think of first. From the iPod Shuffle to the iPod Touch you’ll find an option from $49 to around $400. Price and unit will depend entirely on what you want it to do. The 1 GB unit will allow you to house more than 200 songs, while the larger 32 GB units allow video, movies and certain PDA qualities that make it a function that goes beyond what you might think of an mp3 device.

Sony MP3 ? The 21st Century finds Sony selling an entirely new Walkman. At the time of this review a 2 GB Walkman could be purchased for around $40. This included an FM receiver and a record function for radio shows you want to record digitally for later playback. Like the iPod you can also feature larger units with a video display. Available units provide up to 8 GB of storage.

Phillips MP3 ? Like the Sony the top end player is an 8 GB video and audio mp3 device. Also like Sony this provides an FM receiver. Their top end unit (SA6185) provides built in speakers allowing you to share your video and music without ear buds.

Coby MP3 ? This company has always been about providing affordable electronics. They provide a 2 GB mp3 player for around $27. This unit is based on a USB plug built in. No cords needed. On the top end Coby provides a wide screen video playback unit that comes in models up to 16 GB of storage.

Creative MP3 ? How’s this for tantalizing? A 2 GB mp3 player for more than $20 less than a 1 GB iPod Shuffle? Creative has provided this with the Zen Stone. This also features speakers and an FM receiver. PC World reviewed Creative’s top model, the Zen X-Fi and said, “?beyond question a better all-around digital music player than any of Apple’s current iPods.” The 32 GB unit sells for less than $300 and comes with the ability to use certain Internet functions in a wireless atmosphere.

RCA MP3 ? RCA has long been known for their electronics and commitment to audio. The 2 GB Pearl is an unusual offering. This mp3 player provides the least expensive unit and it comes with the ability to expand your playlist through an onboard slot for an expansion card. The downside is the unit is powered by a single AAA battery. This will need replacing about every 15 hours. For the sports enthusiast RCA provides the Jet Stream. This provides wireless earphones, a stopwatch, calorie counter and pedometer.

Zune MP3 ? So, you’re thinking 32 GB may not be enough for the music and videos you want to play on your portable mp3 player. Zune from Microsoft offers up to 120 of space for around $250. They also offer units for less die hard fans with 4 GB at the lower end.

Sandisk MP3 ? This company has taken a hard look at how some people listen to music and concluded that there were some who would love an mp3 player, but who either did not have a computer or the expertise needed to download music. That’s the premise behind SlotMusic. This product allows you to simply plug a pre-loaded card into the mp3 player with music ? much like a CD. It is the only mp3 player reviewed that offers a completely offline way to gain mp3 music. However, they also provide units that do require Internet connectivity with up to 32 GB of space for around $250.

Buying Your MP3 Player

Online shopping has become a great way to purchase electronics. When looking for your new mp3 player you might consider sites like http://www.bizrate.com, http://www.mysimon.com http://www.allmp3-players.com or http://www.amazon.com.

Author Bio: Anthony Coleman provides the most current information on Top Name Brand MP3 Players, including Apple, Sony, Zune, Coby, Audiovox, Creative, and more. GO TO: MP3 BLOG REVIEW

As performers we must never forget that our bodies are our instruments. So, just as you would care for a violin, guitar or any other instrument, you must be prepared to look after your body. If you fail to look after your body, you will not perform to the best of your ability and you may not be offered the opportunities you deserve. Here are three top tips to help you maintain your vocal stretch and stamina on stage:

#1 No Shouting: It’s the most obvious solution to maintaining your vocal health, but you’d be amazed at the number of performers who forget that screaming and shouting will seriously damage your voice. There will be times when you’re not thinking about the development of your performance skills and ‘looking after your instrument’ but if you’re serious about success on the stage, you will need to constantly remind yourself that screaming, shouting or straining the voice in anyway will be detrimental to your performance. A voice can be stretched but not pushed and quite often you will need to stretch muscles involved with the vocal process as part of your training. This is just like an athlete stretching before running a race. However, we know that if the athlete feels like he’s pulling a muscle, he will stop to prevent any damage being caused. The same is true for singers and actors. We must stretch muscles as part of our training in order to improve our vocal performance. However, as soon as we feel we are pushing or straining the voice we must stop.

#2 Warming Up: Carrying out a full vocal warm-up is crucial before going on stage for both singers and actors. Think about our athlete again. Have you ever seen an athlete arrive at the race track and immediately run the race? No, neither have I! They always look like they’ve been stretching, jogging and exercising a long time before the race and they’re always bouncing up and down to keep their muscles warm just before the race begins. Again, the same is true for singers and actors before going on stage. For our best vocal performance, our voices need to be warmed-up with an effective sequence of vocal exercises. So, get into the habit of doing vocal warm-ups before going on stage and your performance will benefit greatly.

#3 Lifestyle: Singers and actors worldwide talk about weird and wonderful concoctions and lifestyle rules which help them look after their voices. Whilst some of these may help you to maintain vocal health, a few solid rules are sure to make a difference:
- Avoid extremely hot and extremely cold drinks
- Be aware that excessive dairy products like milk, cream and chocolate are not good for the voice
- Eat well and get plenty of vitamins and minerals to stay healthy
- If you’ve strained your voice, mixtures such as milk and honey will help you feel better but not necessary prepare you to sing
- If you’re preparing to sing, drink plenty of water or other drinks such as lemon and ginger to clean and lubricate the vocal tract

Achieve performing arts success with mystagedoor.co.uk – the global community of aspiring performers. Join the performing arts platform at mystagedoor.co.uk and get free access to training tips, career advice, showbiz news and the opportunity to meet thousands of other like-minded performers.

Article Source: http://bb-articles.com

Learning to play the guitar is never an easy step to make if you have never been a musical person. They say that those who start at a young age will inevitably become professional guitarists if they continue to keep up with their guitar playing on a regular basis. These days every household in the UK having access to broadband internet, young people and adults alike are able to learn how to play any instrument from just a click of the mouse.

‘You Tube’ is amongst the most popular video posting sites that incorporate many talented individuals showing off their musical skills or short film sketches, resulting in millions of people tuning in every day. As it is free to use and free to upload videos, it then becomes a gateway for people to have easy access to new information. Amongst the long list of video genres come short music lessons including guitar videos offering short explanations on playing techniques. These videos do come in short bursts and are on average approximately 10 minutes long.

These days many young people are becoming influenced heavily by the popular Konami guitar video game ‘Guitar Hero’, as it resembles a real guitar, only without the strings using a flipper for strumming and some buttons for the fretting. Even though this is not the way to learn how to play the guitar, in my own personal experience it gives the player a good feel of the music and playing to a certain beat. Of course, there is no comparison to playing a real guitar!

Still this should not divert you away from playing the real thing, regardless of how addictive the game can be! Guitar tutorials are very easily accessible from the internet. One-to-one tutorials are good to keep you motivated because you have someone else there to pick up on your mistakes and correct you where needed. The disadvantage is that you take on board your tutors playing techniques and do not get the chance to discover your own style. It is good to take on board the right way of playing, avoiding bad habits and becoming adjusted to a good style of playing. As you continue to play you will undoubtedly pick up your own bad habits – hopefully this will not hinder your playing technique!

For those who cannot afford one-to-one tutorial, there are plenty of music forums and websites that offer low cost guitar videos in DVD or video streaming format. These can also be downloaded onto your PC, bringing you hours of guitar tutorials and close up views of fingering techniques. You do not need to know how to read music to follow the instructional guitar videos, as many beginners will not know how to read music.

Learning to read music is like learning a new language. Tablatures make it easier for the guitarist to understand where to place their fingers on the fret board, once they have mastered this they can then begin to learn how to read official music notes. Remember you will need to give yourself that extra time to practise playing the notes and memorise them.

When learning to read music you get to know your guitar and your fret board, the more you practise the better you will become at playing it without having to look down at it all the time. Pay attention to your guitar video tutorials, as they will provide detailed information on where to place your fingers and which strings to strum when playing a specific note or chord.

Once you get to know how to play one chord, memorise where you had placed your fingers on the fret board and try playing this with your eyes closed. You will see that it is a completely different experience, but your senses will imprint this into your brain as you continue to practise.

When you learn to play on your own, you will not have someone there physically to correct you. Therefore when learning to play from guitar videos place a mirror in front of you and observe your own fretting ability, how you hold your guitar and your strumming motion. Be sure to relax, shake your shoulders, shake your arms and wrists, and practise a finger walking or strumming exercise before beginning your video tutorial. Also allocate a time slot each day or week dedicated to playing the guitar without any interruptions, this will help to put you into a routine and prevent you from procrastinating.

One final note is not to rush your learning! Different people pick things up at different rates, so try not to beat yourself up if you feel you are not progressing. The key to learning how to play the guitar is to just practise and repeat every step until you are comfortable enough to play with your eyes closed. In time you will become more comfortable with playing in front of your friends or family.

The author Anna Stenning has continued to use guitar videos to learn new guitar techniques and to pick up how to play her favourite tunes. You can find more guitar tuitions online via this website http://www.licklibrary.com/videos

It`s a rare parent who wouldn’t love their child to take piano lessons. We`ve all heard of child geniuses like Mozart who began playing and composing at a very tender age, and who wouldn`t want their little one to have that same opportunity?

While you may be thinking about investing in a piano and lessons for your children, it`s also a big expense. Most people want to be sure they are doing the right thing if they are going to spend the money and that is precisely the point of this article. Here you`ll find a number of reasons piano lessons are beneficial for children.

Boost coordination: In order to make music sound like it should, children will need to have full control over where their fingers go and how they move. As the piano lessons get more complex, they will need to coordinate both hands to play a piece, something that is very useful in other areas of daily living.

Increase math skills: It`s no secret that music and math are connected, but did you know that many children find it easier to tune into music . . . and then end up being better at math because of it? Piano lessons could easily help your child who is struggling with math in school, though this shouldn`t be the only reason to take lessons.

Language and thinking skills: Music is basically a foreign language. Kids have to translate the strange marks on those bars of music and turn them into a smooth-flowing song. This can actually enhance the area of the brain that processes new languages . . . also easing the way for your little one to pick up another language like French or Spanish in the future.

Sense of pride: Too many children these days have a low self-esteem, so anything you can do to encourage them is great. When a child participates in a piano recital or graduates to the next level of piano books, his self-esteem will also improve. There`s nothing better than seeing a thrilled youngster, with his eyes glowing as he recounts how he won a ribbon for his piano playing.

Develop a lifelong skill: Playing piano is much like riding a bike. When children take lessons while young, they develop musical skills that will last them a lifetime. They may not stick to the piano . . . in fact, many kids end up moving on to other musical instruments with piano as their base instrument. However, you`ll be setting your child up to be successful in musical endeavors forever. Even if he doesn`t become a rock star or a famous pianist, it`s always good to have a skill like this where you can sit down at a party and entertain!

Enhance concentration: With kids these days being diagnosed with ADHD left and right, an activity that not only enhances concentration ability but makes it interesting and a challenge is an activity you want your kids in.

Piano lessons will provide that option and while small children might start out with just 15-20 minute lessons and practice times, they will soon be able to practice for longer and longer periods of time, as their attention span lengthens. This obviously has benefits in many areas, not just on the piano.

Piano lessons are an excellent investment. Your child doesn`t have to be a musical prodigy for you to get your money`s worth, though you could end up surprised by his aptitude for piano. There are so many different benefits that make this a worthwhile thing to do for your children that it would be a shame to miss out on it because you don`t think your little one will do well enough.

Author Bio: Music School offering piano, voice and guitar lessons Mississauga and the GTA area. Visit our music store to find new and used pianos.

In this modern age of the Internet, many people have come to realize the advantages of new technology. The internet has literally changed lives. The proliferation of the internet has made untold amounts of information available to the common person, literally at the click of a button. Even something like a rock guitar lesson has benefited from the internet and the ebook format.

The internet filled a void in the demand for rock guitar lesson. Many beginning guitarists could not afford the time or money for private lessons. They had to rely on friends or purchase expensive books to teach them to play. On the other hand, some guitar teachers struggled with finding students and paying for the space to open a practice. Solution? Rock guitar lesson ebooks.

eBooks have many benefits over a private lesson or even a paper guitar lesson book. An ebook can be used at the individual’s convenience. You no longer have to make time to drive across town and attend your lesson. In addition to time, a complete rock guitar lesson program can be purchased for the price of just one or two private lessons.

And when it comes to books old in music stores, they just can’t compete with an eBook. An eBook allows the author to take advantage of the digital age and provide features that paper just can’t. eBooks contain video and audio clips to help give you the feel of a private rock guitar lesson.

These video and audio clips get you started on the fast track as experts contend that a rock guitar lesson with music and video is a much easier process than trying to learn by reading guitar tab out of a book or off the internet.

Below is a summary of three of the benefits of a rock guitar lesson eBook that we have already discussed.

1. Convenience

eBooks, once purchased, can instantly be downloaded and you can begin playing minutes after your purchase. You can even start your lessons at 2:00 in the morning if you are a night owl. An eBook also allows you to take a lesson when you are ready for it. Anytime you have a free minute you can open the ebook and take a lesson.

2. Affordable

For the price of one or two private rock guitar lessons you can purchase a complete guitar lesson eBooks. eBooks are typically more expensive than a book from the music store, but you don’t have to drive across town and you get a complete system that you might only find in three or four paper books.

3. Variety of features

The best thing about a guitar lesson ebook is that it does not just contain the lessons that the learner has to know but also has some added features making the learning process easier and more fun.

For instance, there are ebooks that provide lyrics, chords, transitions, strumming patterns, and songs.

Indeed, rock guitar lesson ebooks are not just merely new technology, but they are especially made to meet the growing demands of the consumers.

Author Bio: Will Huff has been playing guitar for over 10 years. Check out Giggin’ Guitars to learn more about online rock guitar lessons.

Inspired to take to the stage and create their dream, over 180,000 contestants turned out for X-Factor 2008. Most left the competition with shattered dreams. But now every aspiring performer has the opportunity to become a singing sensation with help of some of nation’s most respected experts.

Professionals from all across the performing arts industry are collaborating to provide expert advice and guidance to help aspiring singers achieve their aspirations. The world does not have space for thousands of new singing superstars but there are still fantastic opportunities for performers to entertain audiences all around the world. To help you realise your potential as a singer and take a big step closer to singing success, here are five top tips to help you produce a flawless performance:

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#2 GET TECHNICAL: Some performers are blessed with ‘natural talent’. From an early age, natural born performers demonstrate their ability to capture the attention of any audience. However, when it comes to pursuing a career in singing, every performer has to work hard to develop flawless singing technique to maintain their vocal strength. Why not learn the basics of singing technique with an online singing course? This can be an effective and affordable way to realise your full potential as a singer.

#3 CHOOSE YOUR TUNES: Singers are often criticised for choosing the wrong songs. Choosing the most suitable repertoire to perform is an extremely challenging task. To do this, we recommend taking time out to listen to as much music as possible. Don’t just listen to music you think you should sing or music you already listen to – try to broaden your horizons. You may stumble across a style of music which you didn’t consider before but which is perfect for your voice. The combination of singing music which is ideal for your voice and performing music which is not been covered by thousands of other artists will increase your chances of success.

#4 PRESENCE & PERSONALITY: Your presence as a performer on the stage and your personality when working with other people in the business will have a huge impact on your success. First, think about your posture and presence whilst performing. Do you look comfortable and do you look like you are enjoying performing? If so, you are likely to make your audience feel comfortable and more open to your performance. Secondly, think about how you come across to the people you work with. Modesty and honesty alongside perfect manners will get you a long way.

#5 ADVICE & SUPPORT: There is a vast amount of advice and support available to aspiring singers. In particular, thousands of websites offer free advice on developing your singing skills and giving a perfect performance. However, the challenge is to find material which is proven to be successful. We recommend, starting with an online singing course from easysingingtutorials.com – a leading provider of effective and affordable singing tuition. Then, we recommend registering for free at mystagedoor.co.uk – the global community of aspiring performers. Here you will find training tips and advice from leading experts as well as showbiz news and you will have the opportunity to meet other like-minded performers.

Good luck!

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Article Source: http://bb-articles.com