1st Piano

The New Facebook - A Musicians Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 00:12:00 +0000

By Ariel Hyatt

Several months ago I wrote an article on my 6 favorite Facebook apps. Since then Facebook has relaunched with a new design and now as a musician you can create a band / musician page.

Here is an updated version that explain how to set up a page from scratch and my favorite apps for you!

Getting Started & Ariel's Top 6 Facebook Apps For Musicians
Facebook is here to stay. I know a lot of artists who are already overwhelmed with MySpace tend to feel daunted by the whole concept of introducing yet another social network into their lives. On September 4, 2008 Facebook launched "new" Facebook and the new interface is easier to use than before.

You won't believe how many people who you never saw around MySpace are on Facebook. All of a sudden you will be back in touch with your babysitter from grade school, a ton of old friends, and even the drummer from your first band. And, if you have been resisting because you think Facebook is just for kids in college, you are mistaken. The largest demographic on Facebook is over 25. It's the 4th most-trafficked website in the world and it's the number one photo sharing application. Read the full stats.

With over 110 million active users it's here to stay so my advice is DIVE in (if you haven't already).

Here is a quick rundown for newbies on how to create a page as a band / musician and my favorite apps for Musicians when pimping out your Facebook profile!

FACEBOOK FOR NEWBIES - HOW TO SET UP A PROFILE
STEP ONE: Create a Band / Artist Profile

STEP TWO: click on the third button down, it will say: Artist, Band, or Public Figure

STEP THREE: Select Band or Musician After you select it, a pull down menu will pop up. Select band it if you are a band, or musician if you play solo or want to create a solo-page (you can create as many as you want so you can create one for you and one for your band).

STEP FOUR: Enter Your Name Name your page and select create page. You are now off to the races!

The rest is pretty self-explanatory - you will upload your photo for your main user icon, your bio, band members and photos and details.

STEP FIVE: Click Create Page Now you are live and ready to add Apps! What is an App? It's short for application and it is simply a cool additional tool that you can add to your page so that you can display features such as music, photos, and videos.

Facebook has a great page that explains how to help you with apps.

And the whole list of available apps is here: http://www.facebook.com/apps

Here are my top picks for musicians and links to where you can download the apps for your own profile.

1. Music By Reverb Nation
Play Your Tunes

Musicians and bands can post unlimited songs for streaming or download, add bios and band photos, sell your music and have your friends add your music and share with their friends (viral marketing for you!). This app also includes links to your homepage and you can add up to 30 of your songs (full-length) to your Facebook Musician Page. And the best part: great stats track song-play activity.

2. Vod:Pod
Display Your Videos

I am a big advocate in creating small casual videos to share with your fans. Videos are an excellent viral marketing tool. This app is the easiest way to show your videos and your favorite videos. This is a good place to display backstage moments, live shows and of course your music videos

3. zuPort
Show your Flickr photos

If you are a Flickr user zuPort automatically imports your public Flickr photostream so you can show off even more photos to your friends. zuPort: Flickr keeps your sets, collections, tags, comments and everything else linked so you only have to update only once.

4. Twitter
Tweet Away and Have It Synched!

This app allows you to update your status on Facebook straight from your mobile phone. So you can be on the road but your Facebook page can be updated from your van! Pretty cool eh?

5. Facebook Mobile
Bring Facebook on the go

This app allows you to use Facebook on the go. With it, you can quickly to upload photos and notes from your camera phone straight to Facebook. You can also receive and reply to Facebook messages, pokes and Wall posts using text messages, or use your phone's mobile browser.

6. iCast By iLike
Tell your fans your news

Send bulletins to fans with iCast, the best bulletins system on Facebook. You can send multimedia or mobile bulletins, or just plain blogs. Your bulletins will show not only to Facebook fans, but also via iLike across 10 different networks. They are the go to app for communicating your music to your fans.

7. iLike this Artist
Show off to your fans

Musicians, you can show off your fans on iLike on your artist page. This will add an "iLike this artist" button on your page, and will show your (larger) fan count across the entire iLike network.

Happy facebooking and please find me and join our group which features loads of free tips for musicians:

Ariel Hyatt founded Ariel Publicity & Cyber PR 11 years ago and her firm has worked with over 1,000 musicians and bands of all genres. The Ariel Publicity mission states that all artists deserve to be heard and there is a place for artists of every level to receive exposure. Ariel Hyatt has managed to place tens of thousands of artists in countless outlets from national magazines and TV to the most grassroots online fanzines. Her company is now 100% digital and helps artists increase their online exposure. She also runs Bandletter.com a company that creates newsletters for musicians.

Ariel PublicityÂ's Sound Advice is a free monthly e-zine for musicians & entrepreneurs who want marketing, promotion and PR tips for navigating the new music business. Sign Up here: http://www.arielpublicity.com

VST Guitar - 4 Sample Based Guitar Plug-Ins for the Keyboard Player

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 01:09:00 +0000

By Alan Williamson

In a previous article I talked about a method of creating realistic live Guitar solos using my keyboard. However, if you are like me and cannot play a real guitar, how can you create believable guitar tracks in your home studio when either composing, or producing audio backing tracks for your solo performances?.

Well, the answer is VST.

Briefly, VST or (Virtual Studio Technology) is a software interface designed by Steinberg, which allows a person to simulate either musical instruments or studio hardware effects realistically, such as Reverb, Compression, Delay, Audio Mastering to name just a few.

Many VST 'plug-ins' can operate as stand-alone programs but generally they are used (or 'Plugged in') to your music sequencer - Cubase, Logic or Sonar are prime examples. There are many VST plug-ins available on the market, but for the purpose of this article I am concentrating on the use of VST Guitar plug-ins which, through the use of audio sampling, emulate the style and sounds of a real guitar. (Not to be confused with just simulating Guitar Effects and Amplifier Cabinets)

So, what is special about being able to emulate a Guitar?

This type of emulation VST Guitar plug-in uses audio samples of the actual type of guitar that has been selected. This means that as a non Guitar player I can realistically reproduce a guitar sound using my keyboard. Also, by the use of the keyboard I can also affect the performance and style of the produced sound.

For example, I can play a chord with my right had and with my left press keys (often at the top or bottom register of the keyboard) to produce performance techniques such as full attack and sustain, bridge mute, slap, harmonics, fret noise, pitch bend, strum, up/down stroke - the list goes on.

Another plus to these plug-ins is that you can control them from your Midi tracks within your sequencer. This is useful if you are converting your midi tracks to audio backing tracks. Let's face it, if you are using backing tracks for your solo act, nobody wants to hear midi anymore, and the converted-to-audio quality is so much more professional.

MusicLab RealGuitar

One of the VST Guitar packages that I use is MusicLab's RealGuitar 2L. This particular plug-in features 8 Acoustic guitars, including Steel, Nylon and 12 String. I have used this plug-in very successfully converting my Midi tracks and the performance simulations are extremely realistic.

MusicLab RealStrat and RealLPC

MusicLab have two other similar virtual VST Guitar samplers named RealStrat and RealLPC. The first, as the named suggests, emulates the sounds and style of the Strat Guitar. Not only does this plug-in have the usual range of control over playing techniques and articulations, but also has its own Pattern Manager complete with a Pattern Library, enabling the user to easily create guitar accompaniment tracks.

MusicLab RealLPC

Next is RealLPC. This plug-in emulates a Les Paul Custom Guitar which boasts an innovative approach to guitar sound modelling and guitar techniques. The appeal of this high-end custom Guitar is probably because it is used by many Guitar Heroes such as Gary Moore, Carlos Santana, Eddie Van Halen etc.

The playability of this VST instrument is based on unique performance modes, combined with an easy to use keyboard layout which allows the Keyboardist to perform with whole new performance realism.

Vir2 Instruments Electri6ity

There is one final VST Guitar sampler I want to mention, and that is Vir2 Instruments' Electri6ity. In my search for "the perfect" VST Guitar, the most difficult to find has been a virtual guitar which can produce stunning realistic lead guitar - especially the heavier Rock type of solo you might hear John Petrucci or Eddie Van Halen perform.

Electri6ity uses 8 guitars including the Les Paul, Strat, Tele and Rickenbacker and the software incorporates more than 24,000 audio samples of each guitar allowing you to play every articulation on every string of every fret to produce that authentic guitar sound. Certainly for lead work, this plug-in really rocks my boat.

Conclusion

If you are a Keyboard Player looking to buying a VST Guitar plug-in and are a bit unsure about which, then I hope the above has given some insight which one may be right for you. Excellent quality VST samplers for emulation of other instruments like Piano, Drum, Orchestral instruments etc. have been around for quite a while, but finding that right realistic guitar emulation - especially for lead work - has only been available, in my opinion, quite recently thanks to more powerful computing power - handling huge quantities of high quality audio samples in real-time, combined with a powerful and well thought out control via your keyboard.

There are a number of excellent VST Guitar plug-ins available - some create virtual Guitar realism using thousands of audio samples of various makes of Guitar, while other plug-ins allow a REAL Guitarist to connect to a computer, and simulate hundreds of Guitar Effects and Amplifier Cabinets.

If you would like further information on these and other VST Guitar plug-ins, including videos of some of these plug-ins in action, then please visit http://www.vstguitar.com.

Shure Headphones for Audiophiles

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 02:47:00 +0000

Every audiophile has their preference of how they listen to their music when they are on the go. You can choose from the many sleek designs of earphones or you can stay with the traditional headphones.

Shure has a variety of both that are bound to fit your listening needs as well as keep you comfortable. The Shure line of headphones and earphones are professional quality and are suited for the serious listener.

The technological precision that goes in to the making of these headphones and earphones is evident in the unmatched quality of sound that comes through them.

There are many models of both Shure headphones and earphones you can choose from and they all have their own style and minutely different characteristics that set them apart from other models. There is something for everyone here, and if you are as serious about your audio as we are about making what you use to hear it, you will have as much fun shopping for them as you will listening to them.

We take pride in the fact that the bass our models deliver, the SRH840 in particular, is not only the richest you will hear anywhere, but that the range of highs and lows are both impressive and distinct.

You will also be impressed with the level of sound reduction and isolation that you will notice when using the Shure brand of headphones. This is mainly because of the circumaural and closed back design of the pads which also make them ergonomic. When enjoying the intricacies of Pink Floyd music for example, the last thing you want to hear are car horns honking in the background.

You will be pleasantly surprised to hear virtually nothing at all when wearing Shure headphones except the music that you want to. If you are listening back to the music that you just created, you can remain comfortable in these headphones for a long period of time because of their design as well.

The durability of these headphones are impressive as well. They are made of the sturdiest and most lightweight materials on the market that make them easy to travel with and capable of withstanding years on the road. Their collapsible design and custom carrying bag help make sure of this.

We have an impressive line of earphones as well which include the popular SE530 model. As is the case with any model of earphone, or ear bud, you are not going to get the full, wrap-around sound experience that you will with headphones.

The SE530 though is well known for coming the closest of all models of earphones to the audio experience that headphones bring.

At $500 a pop, even the most avid audio aficionado will say that they better. These models may be on the pricey end of the spectrum, but Shure headphones are proof positive that you get what you pay for. If you take your music seriously, then our line of headphones and earphones are going to be well worth the price you pay.

Looking for some great Headphones that give you the true sound you deserve

I know how hard it can be to find just that so dont buy anything until you have checked this site out noise cancelling headphones.

Read my free report on what to look for when you are in the market for some Noise Cancelling Headphones.

Why dont you check out what I have to say here Shure SE530 Sound Isolating Earphones

How to Choose the Right Home Cinema System

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Sat, 14 May 2011 03:02:00 +0000

By Neville Booth

Home cinemas can be the perfect accompaniment to the gadget home. It can be difficult to decide where to begin as there is a multitude of options available and with technology advancing all the time an installation can be out of date almost and soon as it is installed. Ideally you want to future proof you system as far in advance as possible to ensure you get the maximum use out of your system. This is especially the case if you plan on spending thousand's of pounds on a system.

Here are some helpful tips on deciding what products to choose:

- TV's (3D, LCD, PLASMA)- What format do you wish to watch
What size TV do you want
- DVD- Standard, HD or blueray
- 3D player, necessary if you take the 3d route
- TV receiver- cable digital or freeview (you will probably have something already)but is this to be linked in
- Sound: dedicated home cinema system with surround sound
Simple hi fi system
- Remote control: all in one or separates

Ultimately the system that you choose will be dependent on the type of system you want and what your budget is. To begin with there are several options available for creating a home cinema system:

- DIY on a budget
- DIY for those with lots of money
- Professional Installation

DIY Home Cinema on a budget

It is perfectly possible to set up a good home cinema for little cost. For instance, if you are willing to consider a projector rather than a TV you can get a very big TV screen for as little as £300 which is also 3d ready. You can also pick up standard audio systems relatively cheaply and as long as you have a aux output on the hi fi can link the TV/projector to produce cinema level sound.

DIY for those with lots of money

This is essentially the same way as the above but can be of a higher specification dependent on the level of the budget you have.

Professional Installation

There are a variety of companies offering excellent professional home cinema systems and if you are willing to spend £10,000's on the system then it is well worth going down this route. Additionally they can link the rest of your home into the system such as security, cameras, heating, lighting and even automated curtains!

For more technology related articles and advice please visit http://www.freewebs.com/thetechnologystore/howtosandadvice.htm

4 CDs of Celtic Harp Wedding Music You Will Want for Your Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:14:00 +0000

By Marc Gunn

Haste To The Wedding by Anne Roos

Anne Roos performs Celtic music on the Celtic harp with accompanying instruments. The tracks flow in the order that music flows at a wedding. Ideal for future brides and lovers of Celtic music alike. This unique CD was recorded live in a church, without overdubbing, to give the feeling of a live ensemble performing at a wedding.

Vow: An Irish Wedding Celebration by Aine Minogue

This is a beautiful CD of traditional Irish wedding ceremony music. The music is very well-produced with a beautiful modern new age sound that could be likened to Enya playing irish wedding music. The vocals are exquisite. The performance is fantastic .The music is beautiful and enrapturing. All in all, this is just a great CD and well worth the experience.

Princess of Flowers by Margaret Davis

The instrument Margaret performs on, the Celtic Harp, is based on the traditional British Isles instrument that predates the modern concert harp. Of Scottish heritage herself, Margaret has created a repertoire of traditional music from Ireland, Scotland, and England, as well as Medieval and Renaissance music from England, France, and Germany. Find out more about her Celtic Harp Wedding Music on her website.

A Celtic Renaissance Wedding by Brobdingnagian Bards

No, it's not actually harp music. Instead, there's an autoharp. However, this CD is a beautiful and mesmerizing album of romantic Celtic wedding music. In addition to being one of the band's best-selling albums, it also receives high-marks from wedding couples worldwide.

Marc Gunn is an Irish and Scottish folk singer with a strange affinity for Celtic ballads, drinking songs and cats. He is the lead singer for the Brobdingnagian Bards who perform at numerous Celtic weddings in Central Texas. He is also Celtic music podcaster and Irish music magazine publisher and promoter.

How to Be Prepared for a Studio Recording Session

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 03:17:00 +0000

By David F Samuel

The studio is not a place to hammer out your ideas so come to the table with a dish that is ready to be dressed seasoned and served. You should understand how to chart out your song before entering the recording studio and have charts to give to all the session players involved and notes to give the engineer for each tune.

Example for what kind of notes to give to engineer would be as follows: I want the snare to sound sonically like the one on "billie Jean" from the Thriller Album. I'm looking for that tight in your face sound. Be specific for the engineer/producer to know what you are looking for on the overall sound of the mix.

You should also grasp the importance of playing to a click track and have the bpm's (beats per minute) figured out for each track beforehand.

In order to be successful in the studio you must be able to perform to a click track. This allows you to utilize the day and age of cutting and pasting in the studio. Not to mention it can save you a lot of money & heartache.

For example, let's just say you killed the first chorus with the most magical guitar part but could not find it on the remainder of the songs chorus sections. No worries mate, we will take the magic and spread it over the whole song fitting it in perfectly because you played to a click track. Saving you time and money with countless takes trying to capture the same mojo you had on the first take.

After you have conquered the ability to play through your song by reading a chart and playing to a click track you are now ready to venture on to find yourself a studio to capture this masterpiece. Just remember these little practical tips and you should be just fine.

1. I don't care if you have Pro-Tools! I have heard demos that have come out of million dollar studios that did not sound as good as a home studio powered by a PC. Why is this? Most likely they could not afford the engineer that knew how to work the million dollar studio.

You are better off looking for a guy who has a reputation of making artist sound great instead of looking for a high end studio. A good engineer/producer is able to make a decent home studio recording sound closer to an L.A. recording than an L.A. studio with a bad engineer.

2. Make sure you listen to other recordings the studio engineer has released. It seems simple enough but how many bands forget to do this? They get all caught up with what equipment the studio has and what it looks like when they should be more concerned with how good is the guy running the show.

3. Is he personable? The engineer should be knowledgeable but he should also be very personable. You don't want to be spending 8 hours a day in a studio with a guy who is a tool to work with. Find a good balance of character. This is your baby you are investing in.

4. Bring your favorite albums to reference sounds with. This will help out tremendously in your communication efforts with your engineer. For example if you love the way the drum kit sounds in U2's Joshua tree album bring it so he can have an idea of how they are tracking the kit. He should be able to get a good idea on what kind of reverb they are using, did they use close miking techniques and how they mixed it all from taking a quick listen to your CD that you brought in. You can use this same idea to tell him about guitars, vocals production etc.

5. Be ready to be under the microscope. Prepare yourself to be humbled through the studio experience. If you have never done any recording before this can be a horrifying experience. The truth is you are never as good as you think you are. In the studio there is a saying, "The tape never lies." I have had clients swear they did not sound like that. There must be something wrong with the recording. It is quite embarrassing for me and them.

6. If you are entering the recording sessions with a band make a pack with them; a signed contract if you have to saying that you will not break up after the recording project. There is nothing more strenuous on a band than the recording process. You are totally naked before one another not to mention a stranger ( the engineer ) who is in the room with you at all times poking and prodding at you.

7. The last but most important thing to remember is this. Do not be married to your ideas when you go to record them in the studio. The recording process is where you will realize if the ideas are good or not.

You might realize the track needs to slow down for the chorus to really soar. Maybe a verse needs to be dropped in order to get to the listener to the hook more quickly? You never really know until the recording process truly begins so be prepared for a few changes. Come with an open heart and mind and surrender to the song. We are a slave to the music.

Enjoy the gift of creating music!

If you would like to hear a few of my studio recordings you can download them absolutely free click here for free tracks http://www.thedavidsamuelproject.com/davidsamuel

Why Is DUBTurbo the Best Beat Making Software?

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:51:00 +0000

By Ryan Gill

Why Is DUBTurbo The Best Beat Maker? Read This And Find Out...

If you want to make your own music online or on your computer then you may well have heard of DUBTurbo. If you haven't it will not be long before you do!

Especially if you are interested in making real rap, dance and pretty much any electronic music that you can think off.

So why should you pick DUBTurbo?

Well there are a few different options out there but the problem is that most of them are for people that really know what they are doing.

You will need to know how to master, record and have a recording studio with all of the features and equipment in order to use high end solutions like Cubase or Fruity Loops. Of course if you have got the money and a few years to spare while you learn all about production this might suit you.

For most of us however that want to start this new awesome hobby it is not feasible to spend this much money, especially not knowing whether or not you will like it!

Well this is where DUBTurbo comes in and it gives you most of the functions of a high end beat maker but has been made for the complete beginner so you will be able to pick it up and start running with it!

There are others out there but they really do not give you the quality DUBTurbo does and here is the main reason:

We had a look and found some beat makers that just use.mp3's, sure you will get a smaller file size but you will LOSE quality. Plus and this is a big one, try and sell your beat as an.mp3 file and you will get laughed at.

You see when you sell your beats you will need to split your track into separate pieces like the drum track, the keys, etc...

Also you will need to export a .wav file that is Stereo 44.1 which is studio quality!

This is what makes DUBTurbo the best choice as you have all the features of the more in-depth solutions above but also easy enough for anyone to use!

You will also be able to save your beats and burn onto CD and take them with you!

Check out the full site at: Click Here!

Review - Yamaha YPG635 88 Key Weighted Portable Grand Piano

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 03:41:00 +0000

By Christopher Braun

Combine a great sounding piano sound with attractive wood finish, then add in a host of useful and advanced features and the Yamaha YPG-635 88 key weighted portable grand piano might just be the perfect portable digital piano for you. After this review, you will know significantly more about the YPG-635 including its pros and cons and other important considerations you should be aware about.

Overview

The Yamaha YPG-635 digital piano comes with standard 64 note polyphony, a two-way speaker system (separate woofers and tweeters), a handy digital display, a multi track recorder, built-in reverb effects and digital signal processing (DSP) which adds different special effects.

If that's not enough, Yamaha also throws in a fully adjustable metronome is also available together with a total of 130 voices, 12 special effects and drums kits, and 361 XGlite voices. That's quite an impressive list of voices and features for a piano of this modest cost.

The Good

For me, the big selling point of the Yamaha YPG-635 portable grand piano is the piano action which is very similar to a real piano. Just like a real acoustic piano, the weighed hammer standard action keys enables responsiveness and a touch that feels heavier on the low parts and lighter on the high notes. Every time I play this model when I see it in a music store I'm always blown away by how fun it is to play.

Equally impressive is the pleasing quality of the grand piano sound which is all made possible by Yamaha's proprietary AWM technology which produces exquisitely realistic sounds. What makes sound quality even better is the digital signal processing which enhances the overall sound quality of the piano and really takes it to the next level.

I can't let this review go by without mentioning the aesthetic quality of this model. The neutral wood accents really make one of the most attractive portable pianos I've seen in a long while and make it the perfect addition to any room.

The Bad

Sometimes I found myself overwhelmed by the sheer number of features the YPG-635 has. As someone who just likes to sit down and play the piano it can get overwhelming. However, once you read the manual and figure out what each button does you'll have no problems.

Another possible downside for this model would be its small display which can be quite of a hindrance to those who are relying on the display for digital sheet music while playing. Sadly, there is no available option to make it bigger.

Unless you are using an external amplifier, the volume of the speakers might actually be disappointing to those who play with the YPG-635 in front of a live audience.

Final Verdict

Overall, the Yamaha YPG-635 88 key portable grand piano is a terrific buy considering its realistic grand piano sound and authentic piano action. When you take into account the incredible number of features that Yamaha has packed into this piano, nothing can come close. Somehow Yamaha has found that elusive sweet spot of sound, action, features and price. That's quite a remarkable achievement in a very competitive market.

Despite a few minor annoyances, this model scores so amazingly well on every criteria that I don't hesitate to give the flagship Yamaha YPG-635 top marks all around. So when it comes to looking for a great portable digital piano for a reasonable cost, this particular model should be the first model on your list to consider.

For a more in-depth reviews and ratings of the Yamaha YPG-635 and other popular digital pianos, check out pianist Christopher Braun's website DigitalPianosReviewed.com.

Thinking of Buying a Second-hand Piano Privately?

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:36:00 +0000

By David A Robinson

Hundreds of second-hand pianos change hands privately every year. Only a mall number are in good playing condition. We know for buying second-hand pianos and preparing them for resale is an important part of our business. Of the many pianos offered to us we actually buy fewer than one in ten of them - and almost every one needs work on it to a greater or lesser extent

When looking for a piano it is important to remember two things.

Pianos are not all of the same quality.

Before 1914, in the boom years of piano sales, huge numbers were made in small workshops to satisfy the demand for cheap pianos. They were of poor quality when new and hundreds are still around, several generations later, in dreadful condition.

There were some excellent pianos made in the 1920's and 1930's. They are now 60,70,80, years old - nearly old age in the lifespan of a piano. If they have been well maintained during their life they can still be good instruments, but if they have been neglected or abused they will be tired, second rate pianos.

Some will be "the family heirloom" passed down through several generations, much loved but often unplayed and neglected. Such pianos may have sentimental value to their owners but their true worth, as a playing piano, may be nil.

Pianos do not last forever
A piano is made up of around 5000 parts many of which move. Although enormously strong and heavy it is very complicated and sensitive to damp, dryness, changes in temperature, wear and tear and neglect.

A good piano, well maintained, has much the same useful lifespan as a human - few are in really good shape after 80 years! Remember that the piano you buy will probably be the only one you ever buy so look for the youngest and best quality instrument you can find.

So What Should I Look For In A Second-hand Piano?
Very few people have any technical knowledge about pianos. The list below will give you an idea of some of the problems often found in second-hand pianos.

Sticking keys or hammers
This is usually the result of being in a damp atmosphere. The felt absorbs moisture, swells and movement is restricted. If only one or two notes are sticking it may be possible to ease them. If lots are sticking the action (i.e. the moving parts inside the piano) probably needs to be dismantled and rebuilt. Expensive!

Noisy keys or noise from the action
A sign of wear. A tuner may be able to make adjustments to lessen the unwanted noises but if it is badly worn a rebuild will be required.

Hard Tone
Probably the result of worn and compressed hammer felts. If they are not too badly worn they may be able to be reshaped. Really heavily worn hammers cannot be treated in this way and new hammerheads need to be fitted.

Dull, dead tone
This may be partially due to worn hammers but is more likely to indicate that the piano strings have lost their original suppleness and need replacing. This is a major undertaking and only high quality pianos can justify the cost.

The dull tone may also be the result of splits having developed in the wooden soundboard. These can be repaired but, again, it is only worth doing this to really good pianos.

Out of tune
Every piano goes out of tune as the tension in the strings changes slightly. If the entire piano is out of tune it is probably because it has not been tuned for some time. Depending upon how far it has fallen below pitch one or more tunings should put this right.

If, However, only one section of a few notes is really very badly out of tune and is clearly very much worse than the rest of the piano, this signals really problems. IT si likely that the tuning plank has lost its ability to hold the tuning pins tightly enough to keep tension on the strings. It is common on pianos made before the 1960's. They were not built to withstand the dry atmospheres created by modern central heating systems. The timber loses moisture and shrinks, the pins go slack and the piano is beyond economical repair and useless for playing purposes. Avoid at all costs.

Woodworm
More common in older pianos. They attack the timber - look for small holes and tiny heaps of wood dust. To check, the piano needs to be dismantled as far as practicable and closely examined with a torch. Look behind it and under the keyboard. Avoid anything that has or has had woodworm.

Moths and mice
Damage the felt hammers, dampers and key washers. Minor damage is not important but extensive damage is costly to put right.

Cracked frames
The strings are carried on a cast iron frame. Examine the entire frame carefully with a torch. Although cracked frames are not common, should the frame be cracked the piano is a write off.

Uneven piano keys
Kneel down until your eyes are level with the piano keys. They should be level along the whole length. If they are not they will need to be adjusted by a skilled piano tuner to make the piano easier to play.

If the keys form an arc with either a rise or a depression in the centre it is probable that the wooden frame on which the keys sit has warped. Avoid.

Pedals not working
The pedals are connected to the action by levers. If the levers are dislodged the "loud" or "soft" pedals will not work. Relatively simple to put right but best done by a piano tuner.

Casework
The condition of the casework has no bearing on whether the piano plays properly or not. The heart of the piano is inside - the casework is largely decorative. A clean attractive case can conceal a total wreck inside. Never buy a second hand piano just because the case work looks good or will match your room.

If you do find a piano which plays well but has casework in poor condition remember that although pianos can be stripped and repolished the cost is such that only pianos of really good quality can ever justify the expense.

Avoid
* Pianos with fretwork fronts - very old
* Pianos with candlesticks or candlestick marks (look carefully). They are likely to be at least 90 years old.
* Pianos with flowers and garlands inlaid. Pretty but again pre-1914.
* Pianos with heavily carved legs
* Pianos with wooden pedals with brass button ends
* Pianos advertised as "suit beginner". They are almost without exception dreadful pianos which the owner wants to get rid of and are usually totally unsuitable for any pianist.
* Pianos with wooden frames.
* Pianos stored in garages or outhouses. We've yet to come across one in decent condition after being stored in an outhouse.
* Pianos which have not been tuned or played for years.

Buy if possible
Overstrung pianos i.e. the bass and treble strings cross over each other
Pianos which were new from the 1950's on. They are best in central heating
Pianos which have been regularly tuned and maintained. Ask who the piano tuner is and check with him on the condition of the piano - he will remember it.

Extra costs
Remember that in addition to the cost of the piano you will have the expense of

Advertising
* Following up any pianos offered (mileage, time and frustration!)
* Transport, especially if stairs are involved
* Tuning once in your home
* Essential repairs recommended by the tuner

Together this generally adds up to around £200 and my be very much more if your piano needs a lot of work.

Expert Advice
The person selling the piano may genuinely be unaware of the faults in their piano (and some may well be aware but say nothing!) Before you buy privately please, please ask a reputable independent piano tuner to check the piano for you. He will charge you for this but may save you wasting money through buying a bad piano. We regret that because we may well be competing against you to purchase the piano in which you are interested we cannot be considered to be impartial and cannot provide this service.

How much should I pay?
An impossible question to answer since the value depends upon its original quality, present condition, age and how much it will cost to bring it into proper playing condition.

One word of advice though- never, ever buy a piano simply because it is cheap. Cheap pianos are cheap because they are usually worthless as playing instruments. There may be rare cases where good quality pianos are sold below their true market value but your chance of coming across this kind of bargain is about the same as winning the lottery.

Equally do not think that by paying more to a private seller that it guarantees that you are buying a good quality piano. Most piano owners have a greatly inflated idea of how much their piano is worth and ask a price which may have no relation to its age, condition or true value.

We have to repeat - before you part with money please get a report from an independent tuner.

Dave Robinson is a web expert who works with Bruce Millers in Aberdeen. They are 100 year old musical instrument supplier with a wealth of knowledge about pianos and keyboards.

Music Promotion Companies - Don't Get Ripped Off!

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 04:03:00 +0000

By Chris Rockett

Music promotion companies are great for bands who have a little bit of a marketing budget. You can get more fans and more success without having to spend hours and hours every day in front of the computer spamming the social networks and record companies.

I think it's a crime that so many musicians spend two to three hours a day promoting their music, then spend only an hour a week actually producing any songs.

There is a little sum I like to do that keeps me on track with my music marketing. It goes like this...

Spend 80% of your time making music.

Spend 20% of your time marketing music.

The 20% may be two hours a week talking and working with music promotion companies creating a marketing plan.

Making better and better music is like rocket fuel for all your marketing efforts because suddenly people will be falling in love with what you do and the real fans will start rolling in.

I have a dream....

Let's say you're in a band with four other dudes...

Now you go to them and say you have an idea that if you all put in $300 a month, you could employ a music promotion company. This will help you play bigger and bigger shows and easily pay the costs.

It will be a hard sell, but if you can pull it off you will be able to hire one of the great music promotion companies out there.

But what will they do for you?

- Radio Promotion: Now your music will be blasted out and promoted to all the top national and local stations.

- Online Music Magazines and Ezines: There are too many to count and it would take you hours to do this yourself.

- Blogs: Some people call them the new A&R, and your music promotion companies will have a big list.

- Directories: Full of fans looking for new music.

- Music Podcasts: Another great place to pick up new fans.

- Indie Record Labels: Get a small deal then move to a major. Works like magic!

I got your back...

To learn the No1 secret to working with Music Promotion Companies click here: Music promotion companies

To learn the music marketing methods I used to sell 2000 CDs myself without spending a dime penny sign up here: Record Labels Looking for Artists

Sonic Producer Software - Beat Makers Special

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 06:46:00 +0000

By Rebbeca Stone

Do you want to have Sonic Producer software to help you create your own beats? Well, is you are then I cannot blame you, because personally this software has also allowed me to make and form my own brand of music and beats that sound professional. I like this product so much, and I find the technology very intuitive and user friendly.

The Sonic Producer software in my experience is created ahead of its time. What I mean is that, although there are a lot of other beat making software available online who seem to offer similar services as the Sonic Producer software does, but I find that they pale in comparison. Not only did the Sonic Producer software seem to anticipate the need of every musician, but the quality of sound it produces is just simply amazing.

The things I like about this product are the following:

It includes production lessons. In it, it discusses all about Pro Tools, lessons in keyboard and other instruments and also included is software instruments. This means that you do not only have the chance to create your own beats for music, you also have the opportunity to learn to use other musical instruments for your blends.

The membership area allows members to download all the high quality instrumentals, which you can enjoy the use of as well.

It save your music in MP3 format which makes it very convenient for you to enjoy your music anytime and easier also to share your creations.

For those still deciding on what to get, the Sonic Producer software manufacturers even have free online demos which anyone can easily avail of. This online demo is really great as it allows us musician and artists a like to have a real feel of the equipment even before we make a commitment in purchasing it. Is this not great or what? And to top it all, this online demo is absolutely free of charge so you can experiment all you want and enjoy the use of the software, without fear of buying something that is not tested or not suited to your needs.

What I have enumerated are just some of the features of the Sonic Producer software that really made it the best for me. Do not just take my word on it and try it out for yourself and experience real pleasure in creating such great beats for your music.

Sonic Producer Software - Beat Makers Special read more on Sonic Producer review. Read about how I make hip hop beats at home on my > The Best Beat Making Software blog

Flat Screen TV Mounts

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 03:26:00 +0000

By David Patullo

The device that holds flat screen televisions in a stable or fixed position are known as a TV mounts. There are mounts that can be used to hang the new types of televisions on the wall there are also mounts that can stand on a desk or on the floor depending on the size of the television.

Flat screen TV mounts are devices that are necessary to hang a flat screen television. The mounts usually come with a complete kit that is needed to mount the television. There are things that need to be noted before installing the device. Flat screen TV mounts should not be placed near the sources of heat as this may cause damage to the flat screen TV in place. It should be placed on a stable platform or floor area; this is to prevent wobbling of the flat screen TV in place. If the mount is intended for wall installation it is necessary to ensure that there are no electrical or any house hold cable connection behind the target area of placement.

The tools you need to install the TV mounts are a screw driver, a stud finder, a power drill, a small hammer and a wrench. The time it will take you to install the mount and the television on it depend on the size of the TV; larger ones may require two persons to install.

The mounts can be purchased on any stores or hardware that offers electronics and entertainment gadgets. It is also possible to shop online for these mounts you just have to make sure it is compatible with your TV. It is best to canvass for the prices of flat screen TV mounts. There are online reviews that are also helpful in making your decision. Today's modern day televisions are designed to be mounted making it necessary to have flat screen TV mounts as a requirement.

There are different kinds of TV mounts, there are those that can be rotated and face the position that you may desire. This is a simple way of handling the viewing angle of your TV; the cost of TV mount is dependent on the materials it is made of. Some wall mounts have ball bearing rotators that are made of titanium and some are made of stamped metal. Of course the titanium material would cost higher compared to other materials in use.

The most important thing to take note in considering a TV mount is if it is solid and sturdy, ensuring that it is capable of holding the entire weight of your TV. If the mount is of poor quality it may damage your TV. You should be careful then in making your decisions when buying for a flat screen TV mount. If it is for a wall installation not only should you ensure the integrity of your mount you should also make sure that your wall is stable enough to hold such weight. Sometimes we have the right tools and devices but have the wrong area of emplacements. In any case we have to be careful before making installation of our flat screen TV and mounts the area of installation should be a primary consideration as well.

David has been writing articles for nearly 2 years. Come visit his latest website that helps people find the best flat screen tv and the best 50 inch televisions to buy when making their next television purchase.

Can Crowdsourcing Solve the 3 Toughest Issues of Music Licensing?

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 02:08:00 +0000

By Scott J McIntosh

Music licensing can be boiled down to three tasks - locating the perfect song, negotiating a license for that song, and agreeing on a price. These are not simple tasks though and have long required multiple entities to complete the process. The Internet, however, has made these tasks less difficult as of late and the new process of crowdsourcing may be the simplest way to quickly complete all three.

It's no secret that locating the perfect music for commercials, film, or television can be a daunting task. With thousands of new songs being uploaded to the web weekly, quickly filtering through them to locate specific types of music that are best matches for a project is simply not possible. This may be the reason that studios and music supervisors continue to work with labels and publishers to license mainstream music as opposed to working with new independents. Even though it is more expensive and can be difficult to license music from these entities, these are songs that are well known and don't require an extensive search. Another benefit is that these songs are proven hits and already familiar to the audience.

Consider, however, the much easier process of just explaining the type of music needed in advance and having songwriters search their libraries or compose new songs to fit the project. The crowdsourcing model is perfect for this scenario because it allows the person or studio needing music to describe exactly what they need beforehand. Then songwriters just pitch matching songs as a bid to win the project. This saves those needing music the time required to search through multiple songwriters' catalogs or music licensing firms' catalogs trying to locate particular types of songs. Instead, the music comes to them in a single location designed to help them quickly hear, rate, and eliminate songs as they are submitted.

The other issues when licensing songs are negotiating the actual license agreement and price for use of the music. Of course, this is a more daunting task when working with labels and publishers as the prices will be much higher to accommodate for all the included parties. Working directly with independents can reduce costs but may be more difficult when licensing questions come up. Most independents won't have a licensing department working on their behalf to discuss different options. This can backfire when contracts become too difficult to be easily understood by songwriters who are not familiar with the process.

By using the crowdsourcing method, the song licensing contract and price being paid would be shown in advance. Only songwriters and composers who agreed with the license and payment would enter their songs for consideration. So by using crowdsourcing, those needing music would describe what they are looking for and establish the price and license in advance. Then all they need to do is sit back while songwriters submit custom music. In this scenario, the process almost works in reverse, the price and license is preset and the music is located after. It is not a search process though to locate the music as the music will just arrive from composers all over the world thanks to the internet.

Crowdsourcing songwriters and composers may not be the all-in-one solution when it comes to music licensing. But to quickly get custom songs composed for many projects, crowdsourcing is one of the better solutions available online.

Scott McIntosh

MusikPitch allows anyone needing custom songs for film, jingles, videos, or other projects to run a song contest. Just describe the music you need, set a price you'd like to pay, and sit back as songwriters around the world compete to win.

Tips to Make Your Own Karaoke CD

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 08:35:00 +0000

By Mishaun Taylor

Having your own karaoke system will provide you with one of the most awesome and inspiring entertainment activities you could ever own. You get to practice in your privacy of your home, or have a karaoke party anywhere you want - home, office, school, or even outdoors in the park, club, or beach.

The requirements are pretty basic such as:

A computer, desktop or laptop
A CD writer that is capable of handling CD+G, WAV, and MP3 files
Speakers
Microphone
Writable blank CDs
Karaoke Software

The key to writing your karaoke CD is to make sure your software is the right one. This ultimately means a paid software like Singing Superstar that will not scam or infect your computer. Freeware can be very risky because there is a price to pay - your computer could be exposed to a host of malicious files that could damage system and data files, and be very difficult to remove. Other peripherals like the microphone, speakers, and CDs can be either branded or a lesser known device.

Here are some tips you can adopt when creating your karaoke library:

Create a folder for your karaoke songs so that easy retrieval is possible. You can enjoy song after song without having to search all over for them. This will be especially useful when you're singing as a group or having a karaoke party.
If you download a karaoke voice remover software like Singing Superstar or another type of software, you won't need to buy the CDs, or go through a lengthy process just to make one CD. A software like this will create the karaoke CD in minutes. You can even take extra time to label your CDs according to genre or singer. In fact, with a software like the Singing Superstar, you won't even have to burn karaoke CDs since you can store them in your computer.
Some karaoke software is licensed to sell, so make sure the software you finally decide to use is also licensed
Be sure to separate the karaoke songs from the regular songs because it will save you time in the long run
A CDR disk can contain up to 18 songs, depending on the length of each song, so before you start burning your karaoke CDs, group them into batches of 18
The CDs you should buy should be 6x and 4x

The key to building your hard copies for your karaoke library is organization. Aside from the hardware, you should have proper filing bins, labels and even index cards to help you find CDs easily. Take your time when planning your karaoke song library because if you do it right the first time, then you won't have to re-do everything again.

You should also have a system which can track down your karaoke CDs so that if anyone borrows any, you have a file. With the huge popularity of karaoke parties today, no doubt once people know you have an extensive hard copy library, they'll be making a beeline to borrow what they can.

How would you like to save a ton of money and still have the best karaoke tracks available? Karaoke Software will tell you how to create your own karaoke tracks from the music you already have, saving money and ensuring tons of fun!

Whether You're a Beginner Or Pro, Dean Acoustic Guitars Rock Since 1976

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Wed, 26 May 2010 15:42:00 +0000

By Robert Dant

Currently owned by Armadillo Enterprises, in Tampa, Florida, the Dean creates many types of guitars. When a search for the perfect electric bass guitar is on the rock and roll agenda, look no further, a Dean would be a great choice whether one is a beginner or a professional. Should the individual decide to look into this American guitar manufacturer, they might be asking what is a Dean acoustic electric guitar?

Dean Guitars were born in Chicago, Illinois, founded by Dean Zelinsky, this guitar company has created a bass electric guitar with a big body, big sound, full size bass guitar that rules the music world. If excellent pick up is what the musician is looking for, whether they are a professional or just a novice, then the Dean for sound and quality is where it's at.

Rocking the music world since 1976, this guitar will fit into any jam session, country or rock, blue grass or classical, this is the guitar of choice for musicians. With models like the Denominator, Metalman, Rhapsody and the Razorback V, the player has their choice of electric bass guitars. Metal rockers prefer the tried and true Dean quality when jamming and many rock musicians tout their electric bass guitars as supreme for large sound and fantastic pick up. And if one is interested in owning more than one type of instrument, Dean also carries a line of over 50 acoustic guitars as well.

One of the top 100 music companies in the world, Dean creates many styles and designs. Owners can brag about their rocking, tight style and flashy designs, individualized to suit the player. Quality controlled production of these beauties takes place in a 110,000 foot warehouse in Tampa, and these guitars can be custom ordered and shipped all over the world. Rugged and durable each guitar is designed to rock the musician as far as they want to take it, from the back yard garage to the rock and roll stage, the Dean acoustic electric guitar is the musician's choice.

Junior guitars are available for children just beginning playing, easy fit and tapered bodies make these guitars ready to rock for beginners. Technology advanced sound design and body shape makes Dean the logical choice when starting a band or playing in the basement, a Dean design should be the first choice and only choice when shopping for that perfect instrument.

Now that you know what is a Dean acoustic electric bass, it's time to find the perfect one. A quick internet search can land the searcher many choices and resources for purchasing that perfect guitar.

One such resource is the site: Acoustic Electric Bass

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CDJ 200 - Technical Excellence With Fantastic Sound Effects

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Fri, 14 May 2010 14:46:00 +0000

By Mark McBride

The Pioneer CDJ 200 desktop CD/mp3 player is a professional DJ CD turntable that is suitable for both entry level and professional players. The CDJ 200 is suited for a wide variety of genre with multiple digital effects. It is both versatile and easy to use and its overall design and build quality make it both portable and robust.

The CDJ-200 has taken many innovative features that are normally found on the more expensive CD DJ players and come up with an exceptional CD player. Including feature such as full mp3 playback, Hot loop, Beat loop and a one button Loop cutter.

With the CDJ-200 being fully mp3 compatible, DJ's can easily stay up to date with the latest downloadable music trends and tracks without the need to reformat the audio file to mp3 before copying to a CD.

An established highlight of Pioneers Pro DJ CDJ players, is the jog wheel. The jog wheel has many functions including creating amazing sound effects when used in conjunction with the digital jog break. It can produce Jet, Zip and Wah phaser like, effects, while playing tracks. The Jog wheel can also be used for super fast searching for tracks or find precise cue point or speed up and slow down the music while playing tracks.

The CDJ 200 has its own built in oil dampened suspension system that helps protect your CD's from heavy vibrations or knocks, making it difficult to miss or skip the audio tracks.

Pioneer have made this CD turntable 'player friendly' while making it look as good as it sounds. The Pioneer CDJ 200 is great value and hands down beats other DJ CD players in this price range because of the fantastic features, many taken from the most useful of the more expensive CD decks.

With these advanced features Pioneer have produced a CD player/mixer offering a professional solution without a heavy price tag.

Get started creating your own unique sound effects and mixes - Get more information on the Pioneer CJD 200 desktop CD/mp3 player Click this link CDJ 200.

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Take Your MP4 Player With You on May Day Travel

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:27:00 +0000

By Tracy Liao

The May Day is around the corner, and it's such a great idea to have a travel in the mild spring days. Either climbing mountains or going on a picnic is a favorable choice. Of course, if you take along an entertainment device such as an 8GB or 16GB mp4 player with you, especially when you are having barbecue or snack, you will feel relieved and relaxed. Today we will recommend you some hot players which can be suitable for your journey.

Aesthetic type-Mplayer Eyes

The love for beauty is a nature of all human beings. The player excellent in design will interest us. The most classic digital product-mp3 has become our indispensable part. The classic image of Disney - Mickey Mouse is favored by so many people. And many girls are crazy about the lovely Mplayer Eyes created by iriver.

The Mplayer is the upgraded version of the iriver Mplayer. Ten LED light creating two eyes are added. As a pure mp3 player, Mplayer Eyes supports MP3, WMA and ASF. The ear of the mouse acts as the play key. There are pink and blue ones of the unique Mplayer Eyes. It must be the killer of the girls.

Shooting type-Newman F6

Now the digital products are of integrity, the mobile phones are basically coming with camera and so are the mp4 players. For the young guys, the portable shooting device is necessary equipment. Newman F6 comes with 500, 0000 pixels camera which can fully satisfy your daily shooting. And it comes with the 3.0 inch TFT LCD screen.

Touch type-ainol V900HDA

Currently, the new items in all fields like iPad, MOTO Milestone and OPPK39 apply the touch design. The consumers tend to have a fancy for the convenient touch operation. Are there any nice HD MP4 players? Ainol V9000HDA uses the LTPS screen which will not make the users feel blinding or tired. The concave design will give you nice touch feeling. And it applies the key and touch operation system.

Tracy is from chinazrh, an excellent china wholesale electronics supplier, which serves you the best wholesale consumer electronics including the 8GB and 16GB mp4 player. Welcome to find more information about the wholesale mp4 you need and welcome your valuable suggestions.

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Audio Mastering Software - Turn Your Home Into a Studio

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:20:00 +0000

By Tom Hudson

You may not be a professional at producing high quality musical discs, but that doesn't mean everyone else has to know that! As audio mastering software becomes more widely available to non-professionals, hobbyists, and struggling musicians and bands, more people are finding ways to produce their own top notch musical discs right from their own homes.

There is some expense in the initial purchase of your audio mastering software, but the price is far less substantial than paying professional from a studio to make your music sound crisp, clear, and professional. If you are already paying someone else a nice price to put those finishing touches on your music and equip them to playback on stereo systems, then why not make a one-time investment and start learning to do it yourself?

If you have been suffering with low quality, unfinished sounding discs because you couldn't afford to pay professional rates or don't have a professional studio in your local area, then it's time to put some serious thought to purchasing your own audio mastering software and polishing off your musical creations so they sound more professional.

There are different types of audio mastering software out there and which one you select will depend on several things:

* Your intended use.

* How often it will be used.

* Your budget.

The first thing you will need to determine is your budget. You can purchase relatively cheap audio mastering software that will get the job done in most cases or you can purchase more expensive software programs which will literally do it all and help you create professional level musical discs that can be played on stereos and used in any desired manner.

Once you know how much you can reasonably afford to invest at this time, it's time to start looking around at different types of audio mastering software and determining which ones will meet your needs.

Think about what you intend to use the software for and how often you plan to use it. If you are just creating a compilation of downloaded music for your personal use every now and then you aren't likely to invest as much money in audio mastering software as someone who intends to polish off live performances of their band and sell them at all of their gigs.

If your intentions are to sell the final product, then you will need to invest in a more comprehensive audio mastering software that will help you develop real skill at giving your tunes that crisp, detailed sound that listeners expect from a disc they have paid good money for. This doesn't mean the audio mastering software you select is going to come with a huge price tag. It simply means you will want to pay for very good software if so you can get the same professional sound that you would get by having someone else do the work.

Now, working with audio mastering software in your own home may take some practice. You will get everything you need to start learning with most software purchases, but you will need some time to practice and develop your skills and tune your ear to the best musical sounds before you start creating professional discs to be sold.

Just about anyone who is musically inclined can get the hang of high quality Audio Mastering Software and turn their own home into a productive music studio!

Learn how to make your own beats using Music mixing Software. One of the best ways to stand out is by choosing something new and risky.

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Carl Flesch "Cliff Notes" - Simply Violin - Violin Scales & Arpeggios in One, Two, and Three Octaves

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:48:00 +0000

By Sheila R. Graves

Many of us who have taught from the violin scale book by Carl Flesch have wished for a "Cliff Notes" version -- one that includes the familiar fingerings but without all the extra material, such as octaves, tenths, and parallel thirds. Of course, these have their place. But most students could benefit from a more simple (and portable) version.

Most violin scale books other than Flesch are lacking in several areas. First, they do not use the Flesch fingerings, which are widely considered to be standard in America as well as abroad. Most also lack arpeggios. Finally, they are often hard to read and/or densely spaced on the page. For these reasons, many (if not most) advanced students continue to study from the Flesch book, even though they may never use the majority of its pages.

I have also wished that a "progressive" book would come available -- one that included scales in one and two octaves rather than just three octaves. Even better would be a book including arpeggios with fingerings that are consistent not only within octaves, but between them as well.

Simply Violin: Violin Scales and Arpeggios in One, Two, and Octaves (based on Flesch) solves many of these problems. This book employs consistent fingerings. Plus, the notes are well spaced and there is ample room for the teacher to change fingerings if desired.

The two octave scales in this book are particularly nice for students who are auditioning for an intermediate youth orchestra. Further, all of them use the same fingering pattern, which allows the student to memorize them easily.

In this new book, I believe that I have found a viable alternative to Flesch that I can recommend in my shop to violin teachers who are looking for a more user-friendly version of Flesch. And, the book contains scales in one and two octaves, allowing for students of any level to begin scales and progress to Flesch fingerings in a logical and progressive way.

Sheila Graves
Violin Dealer

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Dance the Night Away on Your Patio With Wireless Outdoor Speakers

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:07:00 +0000

By Mark Perseth

Wireless outdoor speakers can help change your home and your life. When decorating your home, typically you will focus on the indoor rooms and get them to represent your unique style. One the indoors are taken care of, the typical homeowner then focuses on making the outdoor landscaping look attractive. It is at this moment, when homeowners begin to discover the world of outdoor speakers ( in general) and wireless outdoor speakers (in specific).

After building out the landscaping with trees, bushes, flowers (and the soil beds they are planted in), the only thing left to top it off is to add some lighting and a sound system. Lighting is easy to understand since most people have some sort of "lightscape" on their property, but installing a sound system is a decision that will pay dividends far into the future.

By installing an outdoor sound system, you can transform your patio into a dance floor worthy of "Fred & Ginger". Your guests will enjoy dancing their hearts out while sipping cocktails, enjoying your food and listening to your cool tunes. You could even erect a large white screen and turn your backyard into an outdoor movie theater on a warm summer night. Or in a quiet time, you could simply enjoy a nice cool beer on a hot day with jazz notes tingling your ears.

So we know we need to add an outdoor sound system and mount speakers to relay the music. But why would you want to use wireless speakers. The reason to use wireless outdoor speakers is that you will not have to worry about the speaker wire or the power wires getting in the way. By going wireless with your speakers, you can mount them anywhere as long as they can relay the signal from the audio source and as long as their solar panels can get sunlight for at least 8 hours a day.

Mark writes articles about his passions. One of these passions is Wireless Outdoor Speakers, which he talks about at his website that covers the topic of Wireless Outdoor Speakers at his website about speakers and sound systems.

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The Secrets to Making Piano Accompaniment Sound Professional

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:01:00 +0000

If you are a piano accompanist but your accompaniment doesn't sound well, or you want to be an accompanist but you don't know anything and you can't find a teacher who can teaches you how to play accompaniment piano effectively, don't worry, this home study piano courses will teach you become a better piano accompaniment!

In this "Mastering The Art Of Piano Accompaniment Course" Yoke Wong, an experienced accompanist will share her valuable techniques. For examples, how to improve the dexterity of your hands, how to play accompaniment piano using left hand and right hand chords with various accompaniments, how to accompany 'on the spot' (the never heard music before), how to use three pedals on the piano. The course is suitable for intermediate to advanced piano players.

The "Mastering The Art Of Piano Accompaniment" course consists of 3 DVDs (an hour each) and a handbook of various how to play accompaniment piano techniques including chordal styles, rhythmic patterns and sheet music will be provided.

This home study course costs are $125 (retail price), $99 USD (sale price) with a 30-day guarantee and you get the skills, enjoyment plus $24.95 bonus lead sheet, bonus resource ($19 value). All materials are practical and successfully tested; they can be reviewed as often as you want, at any time. If you take a private piano lesson that will cost you from $65-$105 per hour, not include your gasoline.

Click here for further information.

Peace and Guitarmony - The Spirit of Practicing

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:45:00 +0000

By Steve Coyne

In Japanese the word for rhythm is hyoshi which translates to "child's clap". Meaning a rhythm as natural as a child clap. Hyoshi also refers to the synchronization of natural rhythms in nature. The phases of the moon and the tides of the ocean are in rhythm with each other. During the relaxed concentration of playing music or anything that puts one "in the zone" a rhythm or a pace develops. Musicians find hyoshi when playing with other musicians. Martial artists find hyoshi with their opponents while sparring. Scales, overtones, time signatures and the subdivisions of the beat are all mathematically synchronous. Every situation and activity has hyoshi.

Playing an instrument requires muscle memory to develop in a relaxed way. Like learning any physical activity the body develops the type of endurance it needs to sustain the activity by repeatedly doing the activity. At times, your fingers will not do what your mind tells them to do or you seem to run out of fresh ideas and don't really know where your next great "idea spring" is coming from. These are the times that challenge us. We begin to wonder if it is worth it to go on. We wonder why we put in so many hours to master our instruments. We ask, What will I have to do to progress? We become like a writer with writer's block.

There are three Samurai adages to remember.

1. "Don't ask, practice":
Some answers will only come to you by practicing. As you dig deeper and gain more experience, your practicing will answer questions as well as create more questions. The questions that your practicing creates are the ones that lead to you developing your own sound and your own style, through your personality and musical experience.

2. "Seven times down, eight times up":
Like the story I told you about my ice skating and getting back up so many times. You get up more times than you fall down. In music, this type of frustration usually means that you are being impatient. If it is causing you frustration try it again at a slower tempo and gradually work the tempo up! Remember what I said about finding the perfect tempo to practice? We all want to play things at Paganini speed, but you just have to set that metronome back a couple notches sometimes.

Also, when defeatist thoughts creep into your head, don't give them any chance to take hold. That weird musician ego defense is kicking in again, trying to protect you from feelings of failure. Don't let yourself be defeated by pessimistic thoughts. Just let them go. Find the solution by slowing things down as much as you have to.

3. "The only opponent is within":
Don't try to compete with the mediocre majority. At conservatories most of all, the people around you are overly involved in a lot of defeatist talk, trying to create self doubt in others and bring them down like crabs back into the bucket. You can only control what you can do. If you stay focused on the music, you will be able to do what others cannot because they are too busy trying to convince themselves of their own superiority.

Motivation does not need to come from a negative source. Great accomplishments can also come from a rational place. It's great to practice hard but it's also good to take a step out of your routine and consider a more relaxed point of view.

Steve Coyne is a Rock/Jazz/Fusion guitarist living in the New Haven, CT area. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music and a Master of Science degree from Western Connecticut State University. Currently, Steve is gigging regularly in cover bands throughout the Fairfield/ Westchester area. Steve is also writing and recording music with his original band FREERIDER. FREERIDER will be one of the first bands featured in their own video game on Rock Band 2/Rock Band Network.

Looking For Music Without Lyrics? Here's A Short Guide To Different Kinds Of Music Without Lyrics

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:32:00 +0000

By Andrew Gavin Webber

Who's searching for music without lyrics, and why?

Some people are looking for backing music they can sing to, usually of songs that they're familiar with. There are three kinds of music without lyrics that spring to mind, catering for this need.

1.) Karaoke - This usually comes on a CD or DVD, where the backing music is played while the lyrics, along with a video of some arbitrary scenery, are displayed.
The lyrics are usually highlighted at the appropriate time for them to be sung. While this form of music without lyrics is great for parties and pubs, it leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to serious vocal performances.
Technically speaking, this is actually music with lyrics, but the music and the lyrics have been separated so that you can sing them.

2.) Backing tracks - These are sometimes called "Backtracks". Professional backing tracks are a step up from karaoke tracks, however, they don't display the lyrics on a screen.
Professional backing tracks should contain as much live instrumentation as possible, or otherwise feature sound samples that are a very convincing substitute. You'll find that a lot of quality backing tracks will only be available on audio CD or in mp3 format. The reason for this is that a lot of expensive audio samples and live recordings are used in this type of music without lyrics, making each backing track a unique production that can only be correctly reproduced either on the studio engineers own equipment, or as a final audio mix-down.

3.) Midi - Midi is short for "Musical instrument digital interface". I'm sure you are familiar with the term "Midi file". This is a music file that contains the note information as if it was played on a keyboard (Not the computer keyboard).
All of the instrumentation for a song can be reproduced via a computers sound card or other external keyboard sound modules.
Although midi is used extensively in recording studios, getting a midi file to sing along to is probably the poorest choice when looking for music without lyrics to compliment your vocal talent.
The audio samples used in general midi reproduction lack the tonal nuances that make up a convincing instrumental performance.

A brief summary of these three kinds of music without lyrics and their best uses

1.) Karaoke - Great for pubs and home entertainment.

2.) Backing tracks - For serious vocal performers.

3.) Midi - Great for one or two man bands who can supplement the fake sounding instruments with real live ones.

Other forms of music without lyrics.

I mention these only for the sake of completeness, but seeing as they are so obvious, I'll make this short.

Classical music, Instrumental music (some people confuse this for backing tracks), Trance music and music for healing, which should also be music without lyrics and drums.

I hope this gives you a clearer picture of what to look for in music without lyrics.

Andrew Webber is a music producer and arranger who has spent the last ten years creating backing tracks and doing original recordings for many people in the music industry. His website Music without lyrics features his backing tracks and a convenient instrumental music store. Pay a visit

How to Make Money in the Music Industry - Simple, Yet, Effective Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:51:00 +0000

By Davis Carter

How to make money in the music industry is a lot easier than you think, however, people often complicate it till this very day. Too many people make the common mistake of beginning and never finishing in any venture that they try. I feel that when it comes to music, this mistake is too common. I'm going to briefly help you lessen your mistakes and make the most out of your music venture.

Sign Up for as Many Social Networking Sites as You Can
This is a very important step that many people fail to take because they feel as if they only need one website to market their self. You need to have as many social networking pages as possible because this creates maximum exposure. If I were to sell 10 CDs a day in front of my house, I would possibly make decent money. If I were to get 10 people selling 10 CDs a day in front of their house also, I will more than likely be more successful in the music industry. The same thing applies to social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook, YouTube, and more. For one, it's less work that you have to do in the long run and two, more pages equals more people, meaning more money in your pocket. Another trick you can do is sign up for Myxer.com and Soundstation.com. You can use Soundstation to sell your albums directly to your fans and use Myxer to sell ring tones right on any of your social networking sites by embedding the code's onto your pages. So many people struggle trying to figure out how to make money in the music industry and one of the answers is as simple as the above.

An Extra Street Marketing Tip
As I said before, the more people you have to sell for you, the less work you have to do. Too often I run into people who have fans that are so into them, they feel it not robbery to enthusiastically tell the artist as if they were in love with the musician and the response the artists will give the fan is "thank you very much." This is the worst response you can give someone with that much enthusiasm from listening to your music. If you offer to pay them a percentage of sales for the number of records they promote and sell for you, they will more than likely take it because they love you that much. This is a trick that many musicians don't follow, therefore, now that you know about it, you have an edge on them.

Selling music online can be a great way to earn extra income, as long as you know what you're doing. If you're looking for fast and simple ways to get radio play, produce videos, build a music website, bring thousands of qualified "buyers" to your site daily, while getting music contacts, and expanding your record label, click here: Make Money in the Music Industry

For even more information on Internet music promotion, click here: Music Promotion Online

No worrying about shipping costs and when it will come, everything is available instantly.

Where To Send Your Music For Placement In Film and Television

noreply@blogger.com (Yen Yen) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:54:00 +0000

By Aaron Davison

There are literally thousands of different opportunities for places to submit your music for potential placements in film and television. Let's look at two different approaches you can take:

1) The direct route:

One way to get started in this business is to directly contact music supervisors who place music in TV shows and Films. Music Supervisors make their living by selecting the music that is used in the productions they are involved in. They are ultimately the people who make the decision as to what music is used. The upside of this approach is that when you operate this way you are essentially acting as your own publisher and you will receive both a writer's and publisher's royalty if your music gets used. The downside is that you probably don't have any relationships established with music supervisors and although it's certainly possible to establish relationships and "break in" this way, it's going to take a lot of leg work!

2)The indirect route:

This is the way I got started and I suggest you try this approach first. In addition to music supervisors there are also music publishers whose job it is to screen music and present music to music supervisors for potential placement. These people typically have established relationships (if they're established publishers) and they make their living by "shopping" music to supervisors. They typically work hand in hand with supervisors and help them find the right type of music for their project. For example, let's say a music supervisor is working on a film and they need a song that sounds something like the latest White Stripes song. Since they can't actually afford to license the latest White Stripes song they will then contact a publisher, or several publishers, and put the word out that they are looking for songs in the vein of The White Stripes. These publishers will then scour their catalogs looking for songs that are a match and they'll present these songs to the supervisor.

The downside of working with a publisher is that they typically receive half of all royalties generated. This is what's called a publisher's royalty, and it's how publishers make their living. Publishers typically also split licensing fees with writers, which is a one time fee paid for the use of whatever song is being used.

Unless you already have connections in the music industry, I suggest starting with a publisher that is established in the business. Usually they have established relationships that have taken them years to establish. Splitting your royalties is a fair trade off when you consider how helpful they can be in getting your music into the right hands.

For a comprehensive directory of publishers, supervisor and more working in the TV and Film industry, click here.

Aaron Davison is a Berklee College Of Music Alumnus who has been working in the music business for over ten years. His songs have been heard on a variety of television shows and he has performed live throughout the midwest. Visit http://www.aarondavison.com for more information on getting your songs placed in TV and Film