Archive for September, 2009

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Why You Should Take Cello Lessons

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

A cello is a musical instrument which is in the family of the viola and it has the lowest pitch sound compared to any of the string instruments today. It is looks so much like a violin but almost four times larger than that of the ordinary violin and it is played the same only it rest on the ground and not under your chin. The pitch produced by the vibration of the strings of the cello matches in no small measure, the frequency or timbre of the human voice. This musical instrument is an integral part of any orchestra where both harmony and melody are played by the cellist. A cellist is a person who plays a cello.

Taking cello lessons would be a little costly since a cellist is rarely found nowadays. Self study on playing this instrument would also be convenient and cheaper, only requiring an instruction book, or a manual on how to play the instrument. Few people would prefer taking lessons on a smaller instrument rather than learning a huge music instrument such as the cello.

The following are the reasons why you may benefit in taking cello lessons:

1.    Learning to play the cello makes you popular, and in demand in orchestras and in the industry of classical music because only few people knows how to play it.
2.Taking cello lessons allows you the apportunity to interact with more people and gives you more self confidence.
3.    Learning how to play an instrument boost a person’s self steam and give a person additional talent and not only what he already has.
4.A cello is an awesome instrument that produces beautiful, haunting and evocative music, really worth the effort to learn to play it.

Many people are convinced that the cello is the main voice in an orchestra, and additionally giving support to the harmony of the violins and the melody of the lower bass end. Supporting these two principal instruments in the orchestra results in a wonderfully harmonic blending.

An uneducated musician might think that a cellist is not important in an orchestra, but a comparison of a concerto with a cellist and one without a cellist would clearly point to the contrary. The cellist has earned its valued place in the classical music industry by reason of the harmony and unique sound that the cello alone can produce. Amateur cellist can became great musicians by taking lessons and advices from people who plays this type of instrument and ask for tips on how to make the cello music more beautiful.

One of the basic skills required to play the cello is knowing how to read a sheet music. It is where you would base your tunes, notes and the sequence of the music being played. People who are interested in playing the cello    would be greatly pleased in the honor and glory they may achieve from different people at school, at recitals, and even in events that showing other people the beauty of the music a cello creates will inspire them.

In the same way that classical music seem to help a person think more clearly, listening to the the harmony and melody of a cello gives the listener clarity of thought, but only when the cello is played skillfully and masterfully.

For people who are motivated on really learning to play the cello, the quickest way is to take cello lessons. You may be able to master the techniques and be able to play in an orchestra in a very short span of time since a cello is an instrument that is easily learned with proper practice and of course eagerness to learn.

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Finding the Right Flute Teacher

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

Finding a flute teacher in Singapore can be a bit daunting, but by creating your own profile and having an idea of what qualities you desire in a flute teacher in Singapore, it can be an adventure to research and choose a new teacher! Seek flute teacher candidate names from your colleagues in your ensembles, your musical neighbors and relatives, your local colleges and universities, music stores and even the internet and yellow pages.

Before beginning your search or making that first phone call (Refer to the Flute Student Defining Quiz below for assistance with these issues):

1.    Define your flute goals (get a higher chair; win competitions; audition prep; sheer enjoyment; to do your part toward world peace; etc.)
2.    Determine your commitment level for practicing the flute.
3.    Define a realistic schedule for the daily/weekly practice
4.    Ascertain your current playing level (advanced, intermediate, upper beginner, etc.)
5.    Have the music you have learned or are learning accessible
6.    Initiate the call yourself if you are 15 years old or up. Your parents may handle the business end, but you need to navigate and field the music related inquires

Here are some sources for finding a local flute teacher in SIngapore

•    Contact your local music school or academy.
•    Inquire at your local music instrument stores.
•    Check out your local symphony orchestra.
•    Contact local religious organizations.
•    Advertisements (any of the above locations may have ads posted).

Now that you know where to find an flute teacher in Singapore, how can you make sure he/she is the best for your needs?

•    Ask for references from student currently receiving instruction.
•    Does the teacher enter the students in competitions e.g. all-County, All district, All-State etc. If so, how do the students fare in the competitions?
•    Is the flute teacher in Singapore acquainted with musical opportunies for students in their community e.g. community ensemble or orchestras?
•    Does the teacher create opportunities for the students to have recitals or perform in public?

I would consider it important to receive positive answers to each of the questions above. I would consider the answers to the following questions when comparing different flute instructor’s in Singapore rates:

•    What type of professional experience does the Singaporean flute teacher have?
•    How long have they been teaching flute?
•    Where did this instructor go to school for flute?
•   Is the flute the primary instrument of this teacher?

A student that thrives in a very structured learning environment may do better with an instructor that provides the same lesson plans and practice assignments to all their students. Yet some flute teachers in Singapore look to spark a passion for the flute by catering their instruction around the musical interests of their students. Try to match the student’s learning style with an instructor’s teaching style.

We find that there are also some flute teachers in Singapore who use the Suzuki method in teaching their students. In general, the Suzuki method is described as learning music by ear instead of learning to read and play by musical notation. Some beginners, with really good ears, quickly learn musical pieces just by this method. However, one criticism of this style is that many students of the Suzuki style may develop a weakness in their ability to read music. If the student, therefore, learned by this style, it is highly recommended that he or she also work toward learning how to read sheet music, that is, if the student is really serious about taking up flute playing as a profession.

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Guitar Tuning Explained

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

Before you ever strum your first song, your guitar must be in tune. Even if you use a tuner, you should know how to tune by using only your ears. Being in tune is so important you must learn how to properly use a number of different methods.

 

First you will tune the bottom string to a reference note. Then fret the fifth fret on the bottom string and this is what you tune the next string to. Do the same on the fifth string and the fourth and second strings. The third string you fret at the fourth fret, unlike the other strings. If you know how to tune your guitar by ear, then you can tune to another persons instrument and you two can play together. To tune several instruments to each other, begin with one guitar to another and then add subsequent instruments one at a time.

 

If you have an electronic guitar tuner you will be in tune with every instrument that also uses a tuner. Concert pitch is the agreed upon standard in modern western music. In order to make this tuning process easier, use a guitar tuner. A guitar tuner will allow you to always be in tune. The tuner also allows you to tune in complete silence if you have an electric guitar.

 

The tuner may have LED lights to help guide you in a dark environment as a concert stage and it may have a needle display to tune with. The acoustic guitar can also be tuned with the built in microphone on most guitar tuners.Musicians will make fine adjustments by ear after using the tuner as a base. Before the guitar tuner came along, tuning was an often tedious event, especially when several instruments were involved.

 

You will often see guitar players using harmonics to tune their guitar. If you are unfamiliar with harmonics, touch a vibrating string at the twelfth fret and you will hear a harmonic. The tuning fork is another means , often used in classical guitar that you should at least know about. For the new guitar player, tuning these days is a breeze. If you are unsure how to use any of the methods described here, ask your teacher to show you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Top 5 Tips On Playing The Keyboard Or Piano Easily

Sunday, September 27th, 2009

The piano or the keyboard is a popular musical instrument that is very versatile and can play all types of music genre. The first few weeks of learning it can be difficult for most people. Here are some tips that may help beginners who are playing this instrument improve fast:

1.The first step is to be accustomed to the piano or keyboard keys. To be familiar with the keys and the sound each of the keys produce will greatly improve your stride in learning to play the piano. Usually beginners have difficulties in remembering the keys of the piano since looking at it may confuse them. In fact, there is a pattern to the arrangement of the keys that distinguishes one key from another. Knowing about this will more easily help you in memorizing the keys.

2.    Taking piano lessons, Find ways to help you easily familiarize yourself with the notes and to learn how to read piano music sheets. It takes about three to five weeks for a beginner to be fully acquainted with the notes and learn to read a music sheet. Just by reading the music sheet, you should be able to visualize the piano keys and with enough effort, you could even practice playing the song in your mind.

3.Start practicing a song using only your hands, do not, for the moment, use the foot pedals. Learning to play the instrument involves a step by step process that greatly helps in remembering the timing and the beat of the song being played. Just be patient and not rush the learning process. After being familiar playing a song just by the keys, now try playing the song by just the foot pedals while counting the beats. Once you have familiarized yourself with the song’s timing, try now to play the song using both the keys and the foot pedals. Your first attempts might not give you the desired result, but with continued practice you should be able to synchronize your hand and feet in a coordinated manner.

4.    Constant practice and replaying the songs you have learned will be a good habit if you are determined to master the instrument. By this method, recalling what you have learned and slowly adding songs with increasing level of difficulty may also increase your skill level. Do not play songs that are already difficult, learn to start at the bottom and climb your way up to the top.

5.    Ask tips and advices from people you know also playing the piano or keyboard. Ask for some techniques, new songs to learn and some strategies on how to better play the piano or keyboard. Watch people on how they play, but not imitate their style. Every pianist has his own distinct style of playing. Be unique so that people could recognize you in your own characteristics. Trying out combinations of notes and composing tunes, likewise, will help improve your skills.

Following the basic tips enumerated above will most assuredly help improve the piano playing skills of any beginner. Patience and hard work is all it takes before you achieve a certain goal, and in learning playing the piano, it needs hard work and patience as the key.

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Find Out How Guitar Scales and Guitar Chords Work Together

Saturday, September 26th, 2009

Minor Pentatonic Scale in action

If you are a student taking beginner guitar lessons and you are starting to get into playing leads, solos, and improvising, then it is very important to understand what guitar scales to practice and when to use them. Before we go shredding away playing crazy guitar solos, we need to take a look at what type of chords are being used in our song or chord progression to help us decide what scales on guitar will work the best.

The basic idea of how chords and scales go together is this: If a chord is only made up of a couple notes (such as a power chord) then you will want to play a pentatonic scale over it because this scale only has five notes in it. If a chord is made up of three or more notes (such as a major or minor chord), full major and minor scales will work better because they are made up of seven notes and have more notes in common with the chord. A huge benefit to soloing in rock music is that after you know what key your in and what scale goes with it, you don’t need to change it if you don’t want to. The one scale will work great for the whole song. When soloing over more in depth stypes of music like jazz, playing one guitar scale won’t cut it for the entire song. You should switch scales as the chord progression changes.

The most popular type of chord in Rock music is by far the Power Chord. If your looking for basic guitar chords then look no further. Power Chords are the simplest chords for guitar because they only contain two notes, the root and the fifth. When your playing guitar scales over a chord you want the two to have as many notes in common as possible. Since a power chord only has two notes in it, a pentatonic scale (the king of all rock guitar scales) is always a great choice to use. This is becuase it consits of five notes instead of seven like the minor and major scales have. You must make sure that you are playing the scale on the same note as the key.e. if your tune is in the key of A Minor you should start the minor pentatonic scale pattern on the note A.

Should I use a Major or Minor Pentatonic Scale?

The most common thing to do here is play the Minor Pentatonic Scale pattern. Most rock songs and chord progressions are in minor key signatures so the minor pentatonic scale will always work great. The major pentatonic scale can also be used, you just have to start it on the relative note (we will discuss this in future articles).

When should I use full Major and Minor scales?

I always like using Major and Minor scales because they allow you to play really fast and smooth soloing lines. Using them to solo in rock tracks is harder than using minor pentatonic scales though. It’s best to apply these scales when your tune uses major and minor chords. The cool thing about these types of chord progressions is that you can still use a Minor Pentatonic Scale if you want to keep it simple or you can integrate both scales and create some really cool and unique licks.

For a great lesson on how to practice guitar scales, visit the Members Section on the Rock Guitar Power website at http://www.rockguitarpower.com. There is a bunch of backing tracks there, in different keys and styles, to help you practice your lead playing, create your own solos, and work on your improvising skills. Be sure to check out the examples to get an idea of how to work with these tracks.

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The Advantages of Learning Music Theory

Saturday, September 26th, 2009

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Some people may probably wonder that if they can carry a tune or play an instrument without learning how to understand music sheets, that learning music theory is unnecessary. After all, there’s no real substitute for one’s ability, right? It is true though, that one can be considered an admirable musician even without learning music theory but it is worth mentioning that doubtless, your talent may be better expressed if you have the knowledge of music theory.

If you are in doubt of whether to take music theory or not, here is an analogy that might be pretty helpful in making up your mind. They say people are not born to become composers. Not all individuals can write and translate their thoughts into poetry and prose. Being familiar with the intricacies of language such as grammar can make a writer more effective in communicating his thoughts and ideas because learning could always become an additional tool. Writers must be versed in wordplay thus they are required to know language and grammar. The discipline of getting to know a language’s grammar improves your grasp of the art of writing. While its true that distinguishing the ins and outs of a language’s grammar can be crucial, not everybody can be a writer.

A good example is a person who likes spending time cooking. Somebody usually knows how ingredients work, how a combination of taste and flavors can be converted into a wonderful dish. Understanding flavors is a wonderful gift that could be developed if one can actually go to a cooking school to learn the essential of cooking. In doing this, a structured approach to learning will be attained as well as make sense of your innate talent to understand flavors.

One should be familiarized with the rules first before one can use it as they say. It’s great if you could strum your guitar by ear, it is a talent. Steve Krenz parades this talent in his course, Learn and Master Guitar. You can be a great guitar player just by having that talent to recognize notes and put them together without the aid of music sheets. But in order to master guitar playing, you would have to learn music theory. It is easier to share your music with other musicians because by writing your own music, you also share the same language and know the same education on the “grammar” and technicalities. Nevertheless, even if you know the variety notes of music like the back of your hand, nothing can still replace one’s real musical talent.

However, even if finding the discipline that it takes to truly master music theory can’t make an artist out of a musician, it may train you how to make good music. When time comes, good music can become inspired music. Consistency and hard work will eventually pay off at the last part in the end.

If you hope to learn and master guitar techniques or just be able to grasp simple music theory, there are music schools to help you. The beauty of technology resulted to make a lot of information become available when you go online. The only thing you have to do is search and it’s there.

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Playing Piano by Ear 101

Saturday, September 26th, 2009

You can actually learn to play the piano by “playing by ear,” but it’s not the common route. The usual way to learn to play the piano is to learn and read music at the same time. No matter how they learned, most professional musicians can play by ear, but this was a talent most honed with many years of practice, reading music, listening, and imitating. Of course, playing by ear CAN be a born talent. It is said that Mozart as a small child could play and compose beautiful compositions before he even saw a sheet of music.

Reading music, however, is an important basic and most beginning piano instruction will include music reading. It will teach you everything you need to know to play the piano by ear. Without good playing technique and a thorough understanding of music theory, playing by ear will be very difficult for most people. So spend time with your scales and positions because it’s important. These seemingly mundane tasks should be a part of every practice session. They build good habits, and just as important, they train your ear. We may not all be Mozat, but we can learn some of his skills with regular practice!

Once you reach a certain skill level, you might be best suited looking for a teacher that is skilled in playing by ear. This will give you another boost in your playing abilities. They can help you learn the tricks of the trade for listening that will help you identify chord progressions that form the foundation of any piano playing. They will usually combine this skill with regular music-related teachings.

Whether you want to play for fun or become a professional, or to make music for friends and family, you’re best bet is to first learn to read music and then by ear. But don’t worry because it’s never too late to start if you’ve ignored either. There are even Internet or computer-based courses, such as Rocket Piano Software, that teach these skills.

Start searching, keep learning and make sure you have fun in the process. Once you have a beautiful piano and piano lamp, and you can both read music and play by ear, you’ll be a complete pianist!

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How to wholesale Songs

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

sell song

 

Trying to sell your songs to a music publisher or licensing house is a great idea. Remember that these are two very different people! Do some research of the persons music if you’re approcing them directly. Undertake to get away a spot regarding them, and build your advance based on that. It is necessary to be positive that you are contacting the person most interested in your style of songs. Locale innovative compilation each component of the structure as of primary toward final custom of lash elevated spot soil live complete of positive and responsibility. Songwriters and artists who want to sell songs that aren’t perfectly mixed and mastered should not worry too much, but this really is dependent on who you are playing the song to . With technology at the accessible level that it is, its much easier to produce a demo version that can sound very good. As best as you can, you should aim to represent the songs. The few flaws and glitches that may be found in a song add character to it and may actually be beneficial in the promotion of the song. The most important thing, however, is that you are happy with the end result and that you are comfortable with having the song released to the general public. These days you will be facing two types of song buyer: First will be the buyer who is buying your song to license it out in adverts, movies, internet video adverts etc. Second will be the more artistic buyer who is looking for songs for other artists or for use in other types of music… This second type will be much more likely to accept a less than polished demo because they are looking for “songs”. The first type of publisher is more apt to receiving demos that are ready to be released as these publishers tend to treat music releases as a factory assembly line. Someone will ask them if they have any music like X for use in a movie by tomorrow. They resolve look in the itinerary of their catalogue to see what they have and then launch it inedible.. They will not have the time to locate a person that can record your song etc.. Generally, having your songs signed with a publisher or licensing agent can be tremendously beneficial to your career. However, many ethical issues can arise from the decisions that you will need to make so it is critical that you stick to your personal ethics! One of my clients got offered way over $100,000 by a company who wanted to use their track in an advert. For whatever reason that is logical to them at the time, they turned down the offer the company extended to them. It’s not certain that this type of marketing would have improved their sales and visibility. Would they have regretted it – definitely! If you want to be a serious artist, one of the reasons to sell songs to a traditional publisher is that they may help you with strategic planning in terms of career. Some companies will plan a course of action for the next six months and up to a year in some cases. They will also identify other artists or writers that an artist will be able to collaborate with. They may come to a conclusion that your harmony is ideal for a meticulous TV show for instance, and then try to tie that in with a leave go of of various manner.

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One More For the Road, Frank Sinatra Entertainer

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

Ol' Blue Eye's

To Be Just About Frank
Sinatra comes alive at Franklin Lakes
crooner Jason Nazzaro, in the now my way frank sinatra .

When listeners close their eyes, it might be 1966 at The Sands, the famed Vegas Strip hotel where Ol’ Blue Eyes left an indelible mark, rather than one of the many venues around northern New Jersey where Jason Nazzaro channels his idol.

The Chairman of the Board lived two years longer than the venerable Sands, which was demolished in 1996. But, The Voice lives on, not only in recordings and a songbook borrowed by countless musicians in several different genres. Sinatra’s own inimitable dignified manner is preserved to a “T” with the faithful interpretation of his classics by crooners like Nazzaro.

The Franklin Lakes resident, Nazzaro, thanks Columbia House records, in particular a Sinatra CD his sister gave him as a child, for sparking his lifelong passion for vocal performance, and for The Chairman’s body of work. Though he had no formal training – another trait he shares with Sinatra – Nazzaro was a especially natural at memicing the singer’s defining character: his breathing technique and phrasing. He’ll listen to a song for months, listening and singing along. “If I couldn’t hold my breath as long as Sinatra, I was doing something wrong,” he says. “I would try over and over again until I got it right. I’m learning from the master.”

Though he has a day job running his eponymous financial planning firm, Nazzaro calls the joy he derives from his avocation, Frank Sinatra Singer, incomparable to anything else he’s done. “Patrons come to hear Sinatra; I make sure they hear Frank himself.” With 250 songs to his memory, he can sing for hours. After all, part of the audience’s “memorable experience,” he admits, is being included in the process. “What fun is it to go to a show just to watch someone on stage?”

 

One More for the Road

Nazzaro wants to always leave ’em smiling. The best admiration he’s ever received? From a woman of a certain age who, he says, “approached me after the show with tears in her eyes and said, ‘Thank you for granting me to relive my youth.” It’s an incredable day when you’ve made someone happy.

That’s Italian

It could be Sinatra’s Northern Italian roots – his mother, Dolly, hailed from the Genoa area – that inspired Nazzaro’s favorite pick from the menu at frequent haunt Pizzette in Ramsey. “The gnocchi with Bolognese sauce (pictured) is the best,” he says; owner Antonio Marra, “the nicest guy in the world.” Nazzaro also drewels over the meatballs at Lotito’s Deli, Ramsey, as well as Savini in Allendale, for its “great veal chop.”

Grounds for Greatness

Nazzaro ventures to Hoboken, Ol’ Blue Eyes’ hometown, every few weeks to dine at Teak – “great cocktails and food” – and for the anonymity a performer sometimes craves: “No one knows me down there.”

He Does It His Way

Nazzaro is not an impersonator, preferring to focus on his talent. But though declining the Rat Pack regalia, he buys his Sinatra-look tuxedo and cuff-links – as well as his own regular wardrobe – from Neiman Marcus, Garden State Plaza, where he heads to once ever so often. His trusted and faithful salesperson? Charlie Hallman, who “understands” Nazzaro’s dignified manner – “the best! I go to [Frank Sinatra] for everything.”

Always the Entertainer

A passion for making people happy spills over into Nazzaro’s personal life when not frank sinatra cds /entertainer. He and lovely wife Ivy, who moved to Franklin Lakes after a decade in Ramsey, frequently have friends to dinner, serving good wine from his large collection (at right, a bottle of Opus One), and Nazzaro’s own cooking. Son Lorenz, just a toddler, doesn’t partake, but this “total ham” sure loves the atmosphere.

 

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The Need for Guitar Lessons

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

No matter how skilful a guitarist is, they will end up taking guitar lessons at some point.While improving a player’s proficiency at playing guitar, guitar lessons push the player into a specific playing style.As the world becomes more interconnected, the number of resources available for improving guitar skills is increasing.

Guitar lessons are important for guitarists because it helps them push themselves to become better.  By doing this, musicians can learn new skills that in time can help them create their own musical pieces. But where can one look for help?  The following are the 5 best sources for you to learn how to play guitar:

1. Friends – Based on logic, one can determine that the most skilled educators are the priciest.Out of the good solutions that can be done on a budget is the help of a friend guitarist.Although a friend may withhold full criticism, a good friend will give pointes based on the guitarist’s playing.While a friend may not be able to replace professional assistance, he or she has the ability to provide cheap input.

2. Night School – Almost exactly like a school, night schools are the next most effective and cheap method.However, there may be a conflict if daytime activities intrude into the nighttime hours.Also, a student may suffer due to the lack of individual time an instructor can allot due to the large sizes of evening lessons.However, nighttime lessons are cheaper than regular ones and are paid for hourly.

3. Professional Teachers/Instructors – If you are willing to pay a high cost, day instruction may greatly improve your skills as a guitarist.  But if an individual doesn’t practice enough, they will become frustrated.It is vital to understand that day lessons are expensive and cannot teach without effort by the learner.

4. Online Courses – Since they are usually cheap or free, they are the most popular choice for guitarists.Those who are just beginning to play the guitar can access written material and free lessons on the Internet.  Along with theory lessons, instructors also teach through video lessons.  But online courses do require a lot of effort and regular practice is a must.

5. Teach Yourself – Without resources to pay for lessons, it is possible to learn from oneself.Instruction of oneself can be made simpler by using available books, CDs, and DVDs on guitars.  Not only can a guitarist work at their own pace, but they can also learn different techniques and skills they want to learn.

Guitar lessons may seem like a waste of time, but they can help a guitarist perfect their style. The vast array of solutions on guitars available to you will assist you on your path to learn new guitar techniques.If you like the traditional way, go to a guitar school and learn with the assistance of instructors, or explore guitar playing by yourself, if you enjoy adventure.  Either way, the new techniques that are learned through classes can help turn a beginner guitarist into an intermediate musician or maybe even an expert.

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