Mega Music Talent

Archive for the ‘Music’ Category

Music itself brings to the mind of the wonderful phrase called beat making. Beats come sin variety of speed, classes, tastes and variety. You might have come across the common names like hip- hop, hard rock, old classical, salsa and many more.

However like you most of the common people who listen to music have the wrong opinion that creating beats also requires a basic knowledge of the musical extravaganza and nuances.

Using the drums and the octopads and other instruments come in for a lot of cost. The other problem associated with using original instruments is ruling out the parallax. Synchronization becomes a great worry for the people who have to coordinate a big mass of musicians playing various instruments together. They end up in a common uproar that usually signals the end of the show or music rehearsal. Read the rest of this entry »

Whether you are to sing in a talent show, want to land a career in music, or you just want to learn how to improve your singing so that you can also have fun with friends in your karaoke nights, for sure you always want to give it your best. Of course, we all want to have that good, soothing singing voice that is pleasing to our ears and to the listeners.

(1) Learn the proper breathing. Whether you are into rock music or pop or any style of music, proper breathing is very important in singing. If you want to learn how to improve your singing, check your breathing. Breathing should be from the belly going up. This will provide you air to sustain longer and louder notes and help you improve on your performances. You can practice breathing by swimming or by meditation. Read the rest of this entry »

How to make hip hop beats? This is a question which a lot of novices want a concrete answer to. The reason why this question gets asked so frequently is simple. Hip hop is a simply amazing genre of music! From its humble roots, hip hop has come a long way. Lovers of this genre of music have made the sound evolve to what it is today and let me just say that their efforts paid off!

Let’s start with the basics. What are the essential components used in hip hop songs?

MIDI Drum patterns, also known as audio loops which is what basically comprise the drum tracks is an integral component of the beat.

A bassline, which is also a MIDI drum sequence is used. Read the rest of this entry »

Scores of people want to take their love for music to the next level by learning how to play an instrument. However, too many feel that they don’t have a natural ability or lack musical talent, and ignore the urge to sign up for music lessons. They might be intimidated by the hours that are required to be proficient at a musical instrument or be put off by the stereotypical lifestyle of a musician. In spite of all that, they might pick up a guitar and learn a few chords to sing songs to their children, or express their creativity by banging away on a drum set in a weekend garage band.

If you have a deep love for music – no matter if you are a senior, adult, teenager or a child – music lessons can be a boost to your self-esteem and your social life. Making music can be a solo act, but it is often contingent on playing with other musicians and connecting with other people. It is often more fun, too! Learning a popular guitar riff or piano jingle comes with great satisfaction, but to be able to break out your guitar as you gather with friends around a campfire is priceless. No one ever said you had to quit your day job in order to be a musician.

Music lessons also can bolster your cognitive thinking and boost your brain power. Research published in 2009 by the Institute for Music and the Mind at McMaster University in West Hamilton, Ontario, shows a strong correlation between musical training for children and certain mental abilities. According to the study, a year or two of musical training can lead to higher levels of attention and memory.

In addition to stimulating your thought process, the style and genre of music you prefer adds a little excitement to your social life by bringing you closer to people of similar interests – those who share your same passions and intricacies. Once you get started with guitar lessons and are able to strum a few notes, you can learn and practice full songs with your friends. You may even head out to concerts and musical events together for inspiration.

Have you always had a secret desire to play the drums but figured it wasn’t worth driving your neighbors – not to mention your housemates – completely batty? Learning to play the drums doesn’t have to be a noisy experiment; try an electric drum set or practice pad, and find a local rehearsal space to practice what you’ve learned from your drum lessons. If your child has a strong interest in being the next Travis Barker, you’ll want to consider drum lessons, a practice pad and two sticks first, before going all out with a full drum set that he or she may lose interest in quickly.

Of course, music lessons need not always involve an instrument. Music lessons with a voice instructor can be just as rewarding as having a guitar lessons or drum lessons. Who doesn’t want to wow the crowd by hitting that high note in their favorite song on karaoke night? Even if you don’t feel comfortable performing for an audience, it is nice to carry a tune while singing along with your friends or alone in the car.

Music brings people together and inspires self-confidence. This is just as true for children and teens as it is for adults. If you have always had a hankering to learn a musical instrument or improve your voice, you have little to lose and much to gain. Go for it.

Author Bio: Justin Sarra is Sales Manager at Pianos N’ Stuff Music, which offers music lessons in Pittsburgh, PA, including voice lessons, guitar lessons, bass guitar, drums and piano lessons by Pittsburgh’s best and well-respected music instructors!

It used to be that if you wanted to buy a musical instrument, you had to find a nearby music store and find time to get there. This traditional method can be inconvenient and sometimes even impossible with busy schedules and limited local options. The music store may not have your preferred instrument in stock, it may be too far away or you simply may not have the time to get there.

Fortunately, the Internet makes it very simple to purchase musical instruments online. However, it may feel like you are taking a leap of faith by purchasing such a costly item without first playing the instrument, listening to it or even holding it in your hands. Read the rest of this entry »

Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage is a story of a seventeen year old girl named Frances “Baby” Houseman. Set in the summer of the year 1963, Baby goes on vacation to the New York Catskill mountains resort with her family where the staff have all night dance party with sexy dance moves and musical rhythms and tempos that Baby hasn’t seen nor heard before. After seeing and hearing the dances and the Baby can’t wait to be a part of this hypnotizing scene especially after she first sets her eye on the very attractive dance instructor of the resort, Johnny Castle. There is a show at a nearby resort that Johnny and his dance partner wish to participate in but his usual dance partner is unable to participate so Johnny teaches Baby to be a better dancer as well as teaches her his sick partner’s part in the routine so that she can be the replacement. Baby and Johnny’s tempers clash but despite this a romance begins. There is a turmoil of events happening during this with Johnny’s dance parter (Penny), Johnny, Baby’s family, and Penny’s current boyfriend. The events all unfold and all lead up to a climatic ending.

The musical Dirty Dancing : The Classic Story on Stage is based on the movie Dirty Dancing that was originally released in 1987. This version of the movie, however, is a live, musical show. The live version of the show actually broke records in the UK and Germany for having advance that were the highest in history.

In London, the show sold out for the first six months of it’s showing before it had even opened. After the musical was first performed in Sydney, Australia at the Theatre Royal it went on a national tour of New Zealand and Australia. In these two places alone it was shown for eighteen months and sold out every single time.

A new production opened in Hamburg, Germany in March of 2006 and it continues to play there to sold out crowds. This show actually just sold it’s one millionth ticket. As if all of this success wasn’t enough there was even more to come. When the show opened at London’s Aldwynch Theatre it brought in eleven million dollars in advance ticket sales. After the show’s opening night the advance ticket sales to the show increased to be even more than they already were.

There is, predictively, a lot of wonderful music in the musical. Some of the songs include This Magic Moment, Wipe Out, and the infamous song (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life. There are fifty five times in the musical where music is played with thirty times being in the first act and twenty five being in the second act.

The cast of the show includes Hannah Vassallo as Baby, Martin Harvey as Johnny Castle, Nadia Coote as Penny Johnson (Johnny’s original dance partner), and fifteen other talented actors and actresses.

The writer of the show is Eleanor Bergstein who also wrote the movie. James Powell is the director but was also an actor for twelve years and appeared in the show Les Miserables. The choreographer for the amazing dance moves for the musical is Kate Champion.

The show is said to be ‘spectacular’ (Financial Times, Alastair Macauley), ‘magnificent’ (Mail on Sunday, Georgina Brown), and ‘the biggest live theatre sensation of all time (Observer, Polly Vernon)’. The fact that is has been sold out many, many times is proof enough that the show is, in fact, sensational and a must see.

There are various performances happening March 29, 2010 through October 23, 2010 with multiple price options, assisted performances including wheelchair access, help for people who are hard of hearing, and people with guide dogs, and a premium seating option. The show is currently being shown at Aldwych Theatre in Aldwych, London.

This show is definitely a must see show so book your tickets today!

Author Bio: Click here for more information about Dirty Dancing or to book tickets

Pirate FM’s band Eden have launched their new single “Steal the Night” on Saturday 27th March and are giving all the profits to the Handstand Appeal which raises money for two year old Marshall Janson.

After contracting meningitis on Boxing Day 2008, Marshall was rushed to hospital and although he escaped brain damage, Marshall had to have both his hands and legs amputated. Over the next 16 years Marsall will require a new pair of hands and legs at least every year costing between £850,000 and £960,000 in total.

Eden’s new single “Steal the Night” was unveiled as part of a glittering fundraising party at the Glendorgal Hotel in Newquay on Saturday 27th March kicking off at 7.30pm hosted by Pirate FM’s James Dundon. Also performing was boogie-woogie jump-jive band Company B, finalists from Pirate FM’s Xmas Factor, Nuleaf Disciples and dancers from Arkangels.

Eden will be debuting their new single featuring rapper Skrribble alongside a performance of their new set featuring tracks by Pixie Lott, Lady Gaga, Girls Aloud, Rhianna and Britney Spears.

Eden would like to raise the profile of Handstand Appeal (handstand.org appeal for Marshall Janson) All proceeds to Marshall from single.

The track can be purchased for just 99p by visiting http://indiestore.7digital.com/piratefm/tracks/

Source: This article is © Gary Vine Associates. All rights reserved worldwide. Gary Vine is an internet Marketer who regularly writes music articles & promotes unsigned. Visit our news site at www.megamusicnews.com. We also promote unsigned artists through our free mailing list at www.megamusicdiscovers.com where we present you with quality music you never knew existed.

“As musicians, you’re so lucky that your profession is your hobby. You’re so lucky. I’m so jealous. I hate you because I’m jealous. Actually, I just hate you.”

Many of my colleagues have heard that they are rather fortunate to have a profession that can double up as a hobby. There is definite truth to this statement, especially if the musician in question has diversity within his or her particular field. For example, a composer who is also a skilled pianist could be said to have two hobbies. This is most certainly a wonderful blessing.

However, what if a musician has only one major skill within his or her profession? This type of scenario can become a bit troublesome. Consider a semi retired composer who uses a winding down profession as a stress relieving hobby. Have a look at the following situation:

On Monday, our composer in question (let’s call him Felix) sits down and begins to write a jingle for a television commercial. On Tuesday, writers block sets in. By Thursday, the writer’s block continues. Hmmm! It’s time for Felix to seek stress relief. It’s a shame that golfing, tennis or art collecting aren’t interests that have been formulated and honed over the years as ‘Felix stress relieving devices’. So what does our composer friend turn to in times of stress from his profession? More COMPOSING!

Isn’t that just great!! In this circumstance, Felix’s hobby reminds him of the exact stress filled situation that he is trying to escape from. This situation has the potential, over time, to accelerate out of control. Add into the mix a definite migraine and potential ulcer unless Felix finds a consistent outlet that has nothing to do with his focus of frustration.

This would not as likely be the situation with a composer/pianist, for example. In this case, our frustrated composer (let’s call her Samantha) could turn to the piano and play other composer’s works to her heart’s content. Pianists are continually searching through other composer’s repertoire in order to find meaning in their world. What a wonderful way of escaping the highly personal problems associated with writer’s block.

Felix is freaking out. Samantha is happy. I’m happy. Why? My humble point has, to an extent, been favorably argued.

A best case scenario would be a musician that has a hobby of a completely non-musical nature. Even in Samantha’s case, her sanity relies completely on the health of her hands. If she sprains a wrist, or develops any sort of syndrome associated with the muscles in her wrists, her outlet is compromised. Also, she runs a small risk of not being able to escape from her writer’s block through the art of piano playing. After all, perhaps playing other successfully published compositions remind her of the ‘failure’ of a composition that she is having trouble with. Much depends on the personality of the composer who is experiencing the block.

Musicians need hobbies. They’re like safety nets. Having two or three can prove to be highly beneficial. Contrasting hobbies are like having different brands of safety nets. If one brand is not performing well, then you have another brand that may well prove to be long lasting in its effectiveness.

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

Ahhh, the sweet sound of a vinyl record playing your favorite music. Some say that there is no better way to listen to their music. Yes, vinyl records have made a triumphant return to the music arena, with sales over the last few years on a steady increase.

However, opponents of the format may point to the delicate nature of vinyl, records do require due diligence and upkeep in order to keep them sounding their best. But if you maintain a vigilant ritual, vinyl records can last many decades, so the records that you own right now can conceivably be passed down through generations of music lovers. And the bonus for properly maintaining your records is enjoying a crisp, clear playback each time you spin your turntable.

Let’s explore some relatively easy ways to properly care and maintain vinyl records so they can be listened to and enjoyed and also to help preserve their resale value for years to come:

Never touch the grooves

When handling records, treat them with loving care, hold them with two hands around the outer edges of the record; never allowing your fingers to touch the grooves. A simple method to alleviate this potential problem area would be to invest in some disposable plastic gloves, like the ones used in food preparation. Then, one can easily manipulate the record playing process and take the fear out of handling records.

Know the enemies of vinyl

The environment in which your records are stored is very important to a long shelf life. If you want a long shelf life for your prized recordings, keep the records away from dirt, dust, smoke, fingerprints, and oils from human skin as well as faulty phonograph needles. Never stack your records on top of each other, albums should be stored vertically. Avoid storing them too tight as it can lead to ring wear on the cover or sleeve and cause unnecessary stress to the record’s materials, surface and label, often resulting in warps and contact damage. Additionally, the records should be stored in a low humidity setting with a temperature between 60 and 70 degrees if possible. Obviously, it is imperative to keep your treasured vinyl away form heat sources such as sunlight, heater vents and even lighting. Avoid dusty environments and if possible store the records in a relatively airtight container such as a cabinet with doors or sealable boxes or bins.

Protecting your records and LP jackets

There are different opinions on this, but it is recommended by most to remove the original wrapping from the manufacturer, the dreaded shrink wrap, as this may shrink over time; eventually warping the jacket or possibly the record. A note of caution, however, some of the stickers or promotional information on this shrink wrap may actually make the album more valuable if left on; so use discretion when removing the shrink wrap. It is recommended to replace this wrapping with a high density polyethylene outer protective sleeve.

There are several vendors where one can buy these protective outer sleeves, but one that offers many different options for record collectors is a well-respected vendor www.bagsunlimited.com. Bags Unlimited has been in the collection protection business since 1975 and are the #1 choice of collectors for storage, display and shipping products for their collectibles. BagsUnlimited.com stocks record bags made out of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyester (Mylar). All three of these materials have passed the Photo Activity Test (P.A.T.) certifying that they are safe for long-term storage and protect them from dust, dirt, finger oils, and other airborne pollutants.

“We carry multiple types of poly sleeves, varying in thickness and record jacket sleeves that come with a re-sealable flap, depending on the collector’s choice,” explained David Street of BagsUmlimited.com. “We also stock 2 mil and 4 mil sleeves that are manufactured of archival polyester (Mylar), an inert material of the highest clarity. Mylar is extremely clear, inert, 100% acid-free and considered to be the most archival of all protective sleeves. Polyester will not discolor, damage or adhere to items placed inside it. This material has passed the Photo Activity Test and Polyester is used worldwide in museums, libraries and archives. Our polyester material has been approved by the Library of Congress for archival storage.”

It is also very important to have clean, acid free inner sleeves to protect your records with paper sleeves being the most practical. Some recordings were issued with inner sleeves that have acidity issues, which over time, could damage the vinyl records that they hold. Additionally, some sleeves may be viewed as collectible, so it’s best to save them as part of the album package.

“We are the manufacturers of our paper sleeves and therefore have control over the sizes and materials used. Being the manufacturers also insures that the sizes are true, the holes are centered, and the seams are well-glued,” stressed Street. “Investing in quality sleeves for your records is one of the most important care tips for long lasting vinyl.”

Storing your records in boxes can also add to the preservation process in many ways according to Street:

“Bags Unlimited boxes are the Standard of the Industry. Storing your records in our boxes keeps them in an environment that will protect the corners, edges, and flat surfaces. It also keeps them away from ultraviolet light, dust and other airborne pollutants that can destroy or damage them,” Street stated. “Our boxes are super strong, properly sized and stackable. They come with 3″ deep sturdy covers and die-cut handles that can be in the open position for carrying or closed position for storing.

Cleaning and maintaining vinyl records

The most important aspect of owning and playing vinyl records is to keep the records clean. Due to the chemical nature of vinyl, they attract dust and dirt. This is caused by vinyl’s tendency to build up static electrical charges which attract small particles of dust which land in the grooves. These particles will cause “pops” and “clicks” as the record plays.

The cleaning of records should be performed before and after playing. This will ensure the best possible playback, and also prepares the record for “dust free” storage. It’s highly recommended that a record collector have on hand some sort of carbon fiber brush (there are many varieties of brushes available). Carbon fibers are used to help disrupt static buildup while brushing relies on the vibration of the almost microscopic carbon fibers to clean the grooves and remove dust and dirt. It’s recommended that the turntable be running while brushing rather than holding the record in your hands because this will result in a smoother, more consistent cleaning motion.

Some people get so intensely careful about cleaning their vinyl records, they often forget about keeping the needle clean. Since the needle is constantly tracking in the groove of the records, it attracts large amounts of dirt and dust particles and must be cleaned. When not properly maintained, the needle may not vibrate fully and may not rest in the bottom of the record groove; resulting in decreased sound quality and other audio problems. Needle maintenance supplies are easily obtained, for instance, the aforementioned BagsUnlimited.com sells an inexpensive “Stylus Care System” which includes a special cleaning fluid and a dense nylon brush to maintain a clean needle.

Obviously the turntable surface should be kept clean of dust and static. Most newer turntables come equipped with a rubber or antistatic felt surface. A great way to clean both the needle and the turntable area and also keep the carbon fiber brush clean is with condensed air in a can, which is available at any electronics retailer; just spray the area before and after playing your records for a continued dust free environment for your audio treasures. Taking this one step further, BagsUnlimited has in stock a unique antistatic solution, as Dave Street explains:

“We carry a portable antistatic, ionizing air gun to use with the condensed air dust remover and it will significantly boost the ability of canned air to remove dust from static-prone areas. This ionizing gun effectively neutralizes static charges in vinyl, plastics, glass, films, Mylar and other items that hold static charges by creating a flow of ions that neutralizes static charges and releases clinging dust. The gun easily snaps onto any type of nonflammable canned air,” explained Street.

There are many cleaning solutions that can be used to ‘wet’ wash a record and it really is a matter of personal preference as to which one to employ. In the old days, when record were made of shellac, they could be cleaned with a mild solution of regular soap and water (always use distilled water as tap water often contains too many contaminants) and this was the preferred way to maintain the old 78 rpm records. Never use the new cleaning solutions on 78′s because they are alcohol-based and can dissolve shellac recordings and will ruin these types of records.

Speaking with Dave Street again, they sell several kits of various sizes to help keep record clean.

“We recommend the ‘Groovy Record Cleaning Kit’ and each kit comes with micro bristled cleaning brush; cotton cleaning cloth, various sized bottles of GROOVY Cleaning Fluid which is Bags Unlimited’s own Record Cleaning Fluid, and is specially formulated for its deep cleaning, antistatic, residue-free properties.”

It’s also recommend not storing the vinyl inside the record cover but instead slip the vinyl (protected by the inner sleeve) behind the cover with both protected by the outer sleeve, because storing the vinyl inside the cover may eventually create seam and/or spine splits. Over time the weight of the record could possibly cut through the binding.

The reward

This article was not written to exemplify how hard it is to maintain vinyl records; on the contrary, these are very simple tasks and often become mundane and second nature after time. But the reward is so great-the preservation of your prized collection and the coupdeville- the best possible sound reproduction that is humanly possible. With proper care and diligence, these historic audio treasures will last a lifetime or two, giving vinyl record owners many hours of listening bliss.

Author Bio: Author Robert Benson writes about rock/pop music, vinyl record collecting and operates http://www.collectingvinylrecords.com, where you can pick up a copy of his FREE ebook called “The Fascinating Hobby Of Vinyl Record Collecting.” Have your vinyl records appraised at http://www.vinylrecordappraisals.com.

Whether you are a music fan or not, nobody can deny that the music from Hawaii is a beautiful mix of flowing lyrics and rhythms that truly capture the feeling of the islands. Listen to Hawaiian music whether you are into reggae, steel guitar, Jawaiian or slack-key ? there is something for everyone!

Anyone who has ever traveled to Hawaii will know that their music is truly mesmerizing. This local scene itself was originally influenced by a number of different sources, including many countries around the beginning of the nineteenth century. Immigrants brought with them a large variety of different musical instruments, with which the Hawaiians soon developed their own distinctive style.

Most famous in Hawaiian music is the ukulele, with a distinctive sound that almost everyone can recognize. Many of the beautiful rhythms are played by this instrument, and the great thing is that they are all inspired by the beauty of the islands and as such really capture their spirit. There is no doubt that the ukulele is uplifting yet melodical when it needs to be.

In Hawaii’s history, it was King David Kalakua who supported a musical resurgence. He inspired many of the locals to create music based on their sense of pride in the islands, and as a result music started to become more and more popular and expressive of local culture.

The sounds of Hawaii, though completely unique, have a number of distinct influences. When you listen to music of the islands you will hear a combination of the styles of jazz, swing, pop, ragtime, gospel and all other kinds of western music. The music is designed for both locals and visitors to either dance to or to simply enjoy the graceful lines and beautiful lyrics.
Jawaain music is growing in popularity on the islands as a distinct blend of reggae from Jamaica and more traditional Hawaiian sounds. This is perhaps one of the most popular types of music to dance to on the island, due to the fact that it incorporates many catchy melodies. However, these melodies run a little deeper and are actually written in order to spread the positive spirit of Hawaii and celebrate Hawaiian life.

If you want to listen to music of Hawaii then you can either get your hands on some records, or visit the islands for an authentic musical experience. If you tune your radio in Hawaii you will find that there are many local stations dedicated to playing strictly Hawaiian music. You may also be able to catch a live performance. There are several music festivals held in Hawaii every year, including the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, the Molokai Music Festival and Oahu’s Steel Guitar

Association. When you come to stay in Hawaii this is definitely an experience not to be missed. You could even look for some hotels that put on live music performances for their guests. Whatever you do, find some way to experience this unique culture and listen to the music of the island!

Author Bio: Kentaro Konika. Listen To Music, The arrival of a large number of websites of music and the emergence of free music has led to a revolution in the music world.