Qualities of Best Music Composers

Music fascinates people of all ages. Every genre of music has its own beauty which cannot be surmounted by another. To be able to listen to music of any genre, one must try to learn and understand it. Music has no borders and people from all parts of the world enjoy all kinds of melody and composition throughout the world.

The composition industry like other industries seldom faces recession. There are always new melody composers composing fresh and better composition for the masses. Moreover, the audience also likes listening to a variety of composition. There is always hustle-bustle in the music industry since there are lots of new music composition entering the industry with better work. Since, the music industry has changed over the years, the quality and genres of melody have changed as well. There is a lot of difference between the kind of music that was heard in the olden days and what we hear today.

The main reason for such differences in melody is the entry of new music composers. Each composer is talented and possesses unique skills. Some composers have the ability to mix and integrate two different genres of composition into each other, while some are great at classical melody. The classical genre of music is the most unique form of melody. There are not as many classical music composers in the music industry as those of the other genres. Also, there is not much experimentation in classical music like other genres of music.

Music composers should be creative and have an artistic mind because people are not ready to hear old music repeatedly. The music composers should always use their creativity to compose music that would stand out among so many albums already being released in the industry.

A good melody or composer should also have sound knowledge about the types of music and different aspects of the music industry. It is not enough to know only about a specific genre of music; however, music composers should be able to display skills in other genres of music too. With lessons in different melody genres, a melody or composition can amalgamate and create a unique melody.

There are various career options for musicians. They can either go on to make careers in playback singing, go solo, start bands of their own or even teach melody. Teaching music however, comes at a later stage when one has acquired substantial amount of skills and specialized in an area of melody at least.

Jimmy Prior is a professional writer and have skills and specialist in Music composers, and in Classical music.

Which Is Harder To Master, Classical or Jazz Piano?

Classical pianists are faced with the rigorous task of sight reading. Sight reading includes being completely fluent in reading rhythm as well as melody. Reading sheet music is probably one of the most arduous and tedious tasks of playing classical music. Because classical music relies almost entirely on sight reading music written by previous master composers such as Mozart, Hadyn, Bartok, Bach and the like, there are many guidelines as to how songs should be played. Advanced classical technique is also very strenuous and complex. Some advanced pieces may take an average classical pianist several months to learn.

Jazz relies heavily on improvisation. Because jazz is more free spirited and in the moment, many think that it's easy. Coming from a classical background, this is definitely not the case. Complex chords are often used in jazz music that are never found in classical music. Extended chords such as 9ths, flat 13ths etc. would sound quite dissonant to a classical ear. If Beethoven or Mozart had heard jazz piano played, they might have wrinkled their nose a bit pondering questions of harmony before really taking a liking to it. It definitely took some acclimation for me to appreciate this style of music.

One of the most complex things about jazz is theory. Although students of classical music learn a lot of theory, not much of it is actually used because students are not reliant on theory to play their pieces. All they have to do is learn music from sheets and then commit it to memory.

As for jazz, there are so many different chords and inversions that students will need to learn before being able to improvise melodies and rhythms over them. Understanding music theory is a very integral part of playing this form of music. Jazz chord changes are also very complex and irregular compared to traditional classical piano pieces. Though both advanced classical and jazz students will know all the scales in different keys, jazz musicians will use this knowledge in a more hands on way than an average classical pianist.

Finger technique for both genres can be extremely difficult. In my opinion, neither of them is harder than the other although many classical riffs may be a bit more complex as jazz melodies are often created by running scales. Learning complex classical and jazz riffs will take much dedication and practice to master and proper finger technique will dictate how well one can play for both genres.

In conclusion, the two genres have different obstacles and challenges that students will have to surmount and face. I would say both can be equally as challenging but just in different aspects. A real master pianist will have comprehensive knowledge of both.

Jason Johann Chang has played keyboards professionally since 2005 and has shared the stage and studio with members of George Clinton and P-funk, Fishbone, Sublime, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers and many others. He also runs a music school in Southern California which offers Orange County piano lessons. His very easy and intuitive eBook on piano improvisation is perfect for anyone who comes from a classical background and wants to learn the basics of improvising in a few short hours.

Love of Music

There is nothing that brings greater peace, happiness, and comfort than music. Listening to the best quality music can change a person's mood instantly, whether you are using it for educational purposes to help improve memory, or for the athlete to get all-energetic for an event, or simply just want to escape to a different world with softer music. But, no matter what the means are, music is what defines us as human beings. Growing up as a kid, I used to love singing to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir almost every day, until my mom got so sick of it that she told me to stop singing to the choir. I never realized that my singing was so bad. Eventually, my love for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir faded away as I got into my teenage years and then I started listening to rap and heavy metal music. Metallica and Tupac were some of my favorite bands and rap artist to listen to.

My parents would never let that type of music in the house, so once I got my first car, I took all my CD collections and jammed out to my music wherever I went to. Then, once I got into college, I had to take Intro to Humanities 101 to fulfill a requirement for my general education course. I abhorred the idea of listening to classical music from the start, because that is one type of music that I stayed away from, I would not even go down the CD aisle where it contain classical music at the store. But, as I took this course, my professor would play classical music in class to get us to understand what it is. After going through a full semester, my thoughts about classical music changed drastically. I also saw the benefits that it can bring when you study a particular subject such as math. It also changed my personality a lot whereas I started to buy more orchestrated music and less rap and heavy metal.

As a father of seven children, I decided to have my kids listen to classical music instead of the type of music that I had listened to. So, I have come up with an idea to help kids love classical music and not abhor it like the way I did. Parents, if you have love for music, make it fun for kids by making it livelier by adding your own rhythm to it but still keeping the same tune. At bedtime, put a radio on your kids' dresser, put in some Mozart, Beethoven, Handel, etc., and let the music do all the rest. Lead by example. Kids will listen to the same type of music as their parents do. Another fun way to inspire kids to listen to classical music is to purchase soundtrack CD's such as Beauty and the Beast or Sleeping Beauty. Theme songs such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Back to the Future, Flight of the Navigator, Last Air Bender, Superman, Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings, and How to train you dragon are some great examples to introduce your kids to the world of classical music. So, in the end, music does make a big difference in our lives and it also defines us as human beings.

To find out more ways to keep classical music entertaining for your family, go to http://www.squidoo.com/the-love-of-music2

The Charisma of Classical Music

Classical music is one of the most cherished forms of music; however, there are not many takers on it. People who are classical composition fans will always resort to finding solace in listening to their favorite tunes coming from some of the best traditional music composers.

Many people who listen to this form of music find it quite complex. Hence, there is not much of real appreciation for this form of music, since it requires profound comprehension of musical notes. These people fail to comprehend and appreciate the beauty and charm of traditional composition.

The study of classical music basically depends upon your taste for music. It might be that one form of composition appeals to you but not to others. Similarly, there might be instances where a traditional music expert might try to influence you with their judgment of classical music; though you can never understand what they mean to say until you begin to understand it.

A lot of people are not comfortable listening to classical composition at all. One major reason for this is the complexity and distance from the artist. The best way out to appreciate and understand classical music is learning it. Sometimes it can take too long to understand it. It totally depends upon the interest and dedication of the person.

There are many young music composers who are eager to learn and adopt classical music as their major mode of singing. There are different websites that promote these young singers who wish to study traditional music seriously. These music-oriented websites facilitate young singers to interact and share their art with each other. Moreover, many seasoned musicians also help those young composers to create better music. Many also promote young and budding artists to get some of the best opportunities in the music industry.

Classical composition was composed during the time period of 1750 to 1820. Modern traditional music emerged later and can now be heard commonly in the musical tracks of all genres. You can also listen to the theme of classical music being played in the background of video games. These themes are not sourced from plain traditional music, but are written especially to be played by an orchestra. People who write this form of music are trained in traditional composition.

Today, classical music has its own significance in the world of composition. There are hundreds of traditional music concerts held throughout the world. Thousands of people flock to these concerts just to hear the mesmerizing vocals of the legends, while many only appear to catch a glimpse of their favorite classical singers.

The Growth of Live Music

After years of declining physical record sales, artists, bands and record labels lately are focusing on live music shows. Record labels are also providing their bands 360 deals. Sounds cool, what is it exactly? Previously, record labels mainly used to only fund the process of producing a physical record; also known as long plays, tapes and compact discs. Nowadays, labels are also funding and helping their signed bands and artists organize and sell their live shows, and also eating a large portion of the profits.

Thanks (or not) to the internet and the ease of pirated music distribution, the generic public is no longer bothered, or even willing to buy physical music records. There is still hope though; Johnny is still willing to spend his hard earned money on music. Maybe not on physical music records, but people seem to be going to concerts much more than ever before. It seems that the sound quality is of no difference to Johnny and most of the population, so he won't bother if he listens to MP3's on his computer.

On the other hand, going to a concert is a social experience where one can head bang and interact with sweaty people, some of which you've never seen. It's a new experience, totally different than when you're frequenting the same old rotting bar for several years. So invest today. Instead of spending hundred Euro, the bankrupt currency, alone in a bar, might as well invest some of it on a concert ticket and the rest on some ice cold beers to help you bear with the heat of indoor concerts, or maybe as a chick investment.

Mention the world's biggest acts and you will notice that even though the world economy is spiralling down, they are still managing to sell out their world tours. International renowned electro band Depeche Mode and their Touring the Universe Tour, U2, who embraced the internet like no other band, Lady Gaga and many other world renowned bands and artists all managed to generate a decent income, which you and I don't even dream of. Navigate through several online ticket websites and you will notice that there is at least a concert of two in the city where you live, if not more!

Some time ago, the editor of one of the blogs I write for, wrote a rant about the music industry. Unfortunately his rant was criticized by many, and unlike other of his self-opinionated articles, its publishing on several music news sites was rejected for one simple reason; encouraging piracy of music over the internet. It is kind of funny; it seems the editors of the other websites do not know how to read. In this rant about music, Octave Shaper is simply stating that like many other world industries, the music industry should stop pointing fingers, think out of the box, and search for its golden eggs goose somewhere else.

That is why I admire the music's industry Father Christmas, Mr. Cowell's and his shows, such as X Factor. Mr Cowell, instead of trying so hard to sell records, changed his business model and now is helping many aspiring artists by giving them the chance of having their own sponsored tours. Thanks to his international renowned shows, Cowell is raising live music awareness, and "brand awareness" for the artist and bands involved, while still making truckloads of money, most probably more than ever before.

In my opinion, the music industry was wrong in pointing its fingers and blaming the internet for its decreasing income from sales of physical records. It's true the internet made it easier for the distribution of pirated music, but it also made it easier for Johnny to buy concert tickets. If you need a carton of milk, you still have to leave your home, walk to the grocery store, and if it is expired and you didn't notice, you have to walk back to return it. If you want to purchase a concert ticket, you can do it from the comfort of your sofa while keeping your butt warm and cosy.

Thanks to the internet, social networks and viral videos, it is now easier for agents and bands to grasp the attention of new crowds. With the tsunami of new music being constantly uploaded on the internet, it might be difficult for non-established artists to infiltrate the masses and grab a big piece of the pie, but they will always have their share of crumbs. Let's not also forget that the internet also made it easier for already established and world renowned artists to reach new horizons in the music industry. Simply have a look at how many Facebook likes and Twitter followers famous artists have. Do you think Lady Gaga would have had the same influential effect on the world as she has now without the internet?

By profession, Leo Pechlino is an IT expert while in the evenings he likes to listen and discover new music. An avid writer, Leo reviewed several music records for several music blogs. Most of his work can be found on Muzikablog music blog ( http://www.muzikablog.com ). Leo is also a technical writer and from time to time publishes IT industry related articles.

Stress Relief and Discos

When we feel stressed and exhausted, we look for something that could somehow re-build our strength, right? Yes, there are many events that challenge us every day so the least that we can do is to live as lightly as possible. You can, for instance, think of positive thoughts. These thoughts can make you happy enough to get you going.

You can consider traveling around the country, or better yet, you can visit other countries. Just make sure proper arrangements are made before the travel for an easy and trouble-free journey. If you want, you can just hang around the house and be with your family. You can invite your family to go shopping, watch movies and maybe go on a picnic. If you are the type of person who loves extreme sports and adventures, you can try outdoor activities such as camping, trekking, climbing, biking, swimming and the like. Regardless of what you choose to do, the important thing is that you are enjoying the moment.

But if you feel like you want to dance the stress away, there are many avenues that you can consider. You can go to dance schools if that is what you really like. Dance schools will appreciate your talent and support it all the way. If you are not into dance schools, you might want to consider discos, night clubs and the like.

In considering a disco place, you can start by identifying night clubs within your area that offer accessible and safe night life. For sure there is a district somewhere in your place where discos and night clubs thrive. It is up to you if you want to dress up. But of course, you would want to look great wherever you go, right?

When clubbing, it is a good idea to bring some friends and loved ones. With that, your disco or night club experience will likely be memorable.

If you are worried about the entrance fees, then you might want to know that there are clubs that offer cheap entrance fees. These are just a small price to pay if you really want to have fun. If you are hungry, food and drinks are served. Given the fact that there are many disco places out there, you should consider which disco is better. In order to determine that, you should consider the following:

1. Disco light effects are remarkable. For a business owner, lights somehow change or affect the mood, and if you utilize it well, many customers will patronize you. If you seek to have the best disco experience, look for discos with stage lights, LED lighting system, lasers and the like.

2. DJs play the music. You know that without music, discos are boring. DJs should be creative and upbeat so that they can play well. They should have different equipment such as mixers, sound systems, controller, audios and other crucial electronics.

3. Special effects like fogging machine and the like. With these machines and lights, surely you will have a different clubbing experience.

These equipment will surely make your life more colourful and groovy. Don't be afraid to dance or go to night clubs because you have the right to have fun.

Francisco Perry is an enthusiastic writer of EllumiGlow.com who likes to share information on nightclub lighting and dj lights as well as related products.

The Art of Singing

No matter what style of singer you may wish to be, it is very important to understand how to look after your voice and most importantly understand how your voice works. You wouldn't dream of entering a Triathalon without months of training for the event, and yet with singing many of us just expect our voices to be able to tackle anything we throw at it without any training at all.

If you'rr serious about singing and want to get the most from your voice, its really important to invest in singing lessons. First off you will learn about the correct breathing techniques to fuel your voice. This is vital,otherwise it's like putting Diesel petrol in a unleaded car, you can imagine the output you would get! Through singing lessons you can learn to stretch your range, smooth out breaks in the voice, improve tone, diction and overall sound. Then once you have this basic understanding and know your voice, you can truly make the most of it and sing the style that you wish, too. How can we expect to improve our voice if we don't understand what is causing the problem in the first place! Your voice is your instrument and therefore you need to first learn about how to play your instrument to get the best possible sound from it.

Of course the next stage once you have learnt the essential technique's is to practise, get your voice stronger, more agile and challenge it to do new things. This is where the fun starts. The hard work starts to pay off as you see yourself achieving and singing the songs you thought you never could, or struggled with before. Then we start to add the essential layer of performance. This will obviously vary depending on the style of singing you have chosen to specialise in. In Musical Theatre for example, there is a strong emphasis on the dramatic communication of the story through the songs. But even with commercial music the artist still needs to find that connection with their audience as they sing. The listener should be taken on a journey through the use of lyrics and musical style of your singing, be it heavy rock or classical it should make no difference, finding that connection is what counts. Of course this requires the singer to be both confident and to let go and go to that vulnerable place and give everything to their performance. For some this will be a natural thing,they may love to escape to this place when they sing. For many it can take years to get to the place where you are no longer thinking about remembering the words, worrying about the high notes or your singing being affected by the nerves brought on by large quantities of people looking at you! Singing is one of the hardest things to do when you are nervous as the first thing to go is your breathing. You freeze and stiffen up,you stop breathing correctly and from then on everything else goes to pot! That's where the more practise performing in front of others you can do the better.

For singing lessons with a vocal coach in Auckland, visit http://www.vocalising.co.nz Claire offers singing lessons for all ages from her Takapuna home. Learn to sing and get the most from your voice.

http://www.vocalising.co.nz

Drum Practice Tips

Many times when we're practicing, the way we're using our time could be spent more efficiently. For example, when you're playing a new groove and you're having trouble with one small part of it each time it comes around, you can get way more out of your practice if you would focus in on only the problem spot.

You see, music is a language, and when you began to speak English (or whatever your native language might be) you started with short, simple words. You didn't say, "Mother, if you would be so kind as to bring me that toy automobile over there, I would be forever grateful and in your debt." You said, "Momma" and then "car" and then "Momma, car," etc., until you could create a more complex sentence with all of the nouns, and verbs, and adjectives, and so on.

And this is what we tend to do when we're practicing a groove. We want to get the whole thing down RIGHT NOW. I understand, but if you slow it down and break it down, you're going to have a far better result far quicker. Which is ultimately what we want, we just don't see the quickest way of getting there naturally on our own.

This brings in an idea from yesterday's blog - PERFECT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT (which will always be typed in ALL caps, btw). So if you can play most of the groove, and you're just stumbling on one little part, we'll need to use what I call the "zoom in, zoom out" method. This means that we'll take the part of the groove that you're struggling with and focus only on that. For example, let's say we're learning the groove from Brain Stew by Green Day. (See also, Last Resort by Papa Roach.)

For many drummers, playing this groove is a piece of cake (the method still applies to whatever you're working on), but beginners tend to have trouble playing the double sixteenth notes on the bass drum while keeping solid eighths on the hi-hat. So we'll isolate that part and work ONLY on the problem spot.

It may even be helpful to only play one of these patterns at a time. Both, Bass, Hat. Over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over some more. This is getting good at the word, rather than struggling to say the sentence. Dig it?

So once you can perform this effortlessly, you'll go back to trying the sentence. If it goes smoothly, and you can now play time SOLIDLY throughout the groove, great! You've got it down, and you're ready for a new challenge. That was super quick! If you're not successful with it yet, that's OK too. All you need to do is zoom back in on the challenge spot, and drill it again. Once it feels comfortable again, then go back to trying the whole groove, and repeat this back and forth process until you can perform it smoothly.

To learn more, download my FREE 29-page ebook here.

Aaron is the owner of http://www.TheCompleteDrummer.com where he provides drumming lessons and tips.

Selecting the Right Bass Strings

Regrettably, nobody can tell you which bass strings to pick or that will play and sound best to you on your bass. There are several variables which will give your bass a particular sound - the wood your bass is manufactured out of, the strings, your pick ups, as well as your amp or the effects you use, etc. That's why I concentrate on my technique and style because even playing in a different surrounding your sound will vary but your technique and style will remain.

Now, with that said, I can show you the method that I used/use for choosing my bass strings. I pretty much just keep it fairly basic. There are two main factors I like to take into consideration when choosing the type of bass strings I want to use.

1) How they play and feel under the fingers. Do you like a rougher feeling string or smooth and do you prefer a thinner string or thicker? Now granted some of thickness of the

string will fall under the sound of the string but you have to like how they feel as well, find the balance.

2) The sound of the bass strings themselves. Do you like a bright and punchy or more of a warm bassy sound, or maybe somewhere in between.

But of these two I get number 1 locked in, because as I said I focus on my style and technique because my sound will change, as I mentioned above as well as the biggest reasons my sound will change, me. My tastes and moods at different times in my life is always a variable, I may want it bright and punchy but somewhere down the road I may not. But the feel and playability needs to be there, so I can properly express myself. I don't concern myself with the brand name or anything like that at this stage, although I do have my favorites that I have used for years however for me regardless of what brand I play I maintain these following steps:

1) Identify The Scale Length Of Your Bass.

This really is vital since you will need the correct size of string for a proper fit on your bass. Unless you have the right length you may not be able to string your bass correctly, if at all. To determine the scale length, use a tape measure and measure from the nut ( string saddles just before headstock) to the twelfth fret then multiply that number by 2.

(You can measure from the nut to the string saddles on the bridge but it isn't really advised, since for intonation purposes the length will from string to string. )

These are the typical scale lengths:

Short Scale - 30 inches

Long(or Standard Scale) - 34 inches

Extra Long - 36 inches

2) Select the Gauge Of Bass Strings.

The gauge of the bass strings refers to the thickness or the diameter of the string in inches. The gauge of the bass strings will have an effect on the tone and feel and playability of the bass. Heavy gauge bass strings have excellent tone but require more finger strength. A light gauge string loses a little tone which is great if you are a string bender. The following table lists the gauges contained in typical bass string sets.

Typical Sets:

Extra Light. 040. 050. 075. 090

Light. 040. 060. 080. 100

Medium. 045. 065. 085. 105

Heavy. 050. 070. 085. 110

These are typically the standard bass string set and gauge combinations, but there are numerous other combinations to accommodate all techniques, styles and alternate tunings that would only confuse things at this point.

3) Lastly, Select Type of Bass String

Roundwound - This is the brightest sounding of the windings and is the most widely used type of strings. Their feel is rougher due to the grooves, which often cause more finger noise to boot. Roundwound bass strings are widely used in virtually all styles of music. They are popular for the slap bass technique, popping and tapping where you may want a brighter tone and clearer definition of the notes.

Flatwound - These strings have a ribbon-like winding wound around the core string; they have a more mellow tone to them. They feel smooth and have very little finger noise since they have fewer and shallower grooves. You might like them if you play jazz and reggae where you may want that more mellow tone. Also, it would be advisable to use flat wounds if you play a fretless bass.

Halfwound - Are between roundwound and flatwound bass strings in the terms tone and feel under the fingers. They have decent brightness and a lot less finger noise. Halfwound strings are basically a roundwound with the roundness polished or ground off.

How I Choose My Bass Strings.

When you first go through the above steps, select an inexpensive set (unless money is no object). You can find good sets around $20 to $25; I would steer clear of any over $30. Once you find your preferred gauge and winding, then go a head and try the different brands of bass strings and the different materials used to make them such as nickel, stainless steel, alloy, etc.

This is how these steps apply to me:

1) Bass Scale Length - Long Scale. All my basses are 34 inches.

2) Bass String Set Gauge - I use medium. 045. 065. 080. 105; they work great for me when I play metal, funk, country, or jazz.

3) Bass String Type - Roundwounds are my choice; I just love how they feel and sound.

The key is to not make this more complicated than it needs to be, have fun and don't make it a chore. Don't let anyone tell you how you should sound over all, this is your voice; leave room for compromise for the sake of the song but don't sell out; if you do, you won't be happy. Hope this has been helpful and that it enables you to enjoy the bass more.

The Great Thing About Rock And Roll

There was a reality show that split this particular season's contestants into teams according to race. What was interesting is that one of the Hispanic team contestants claimed that although is family is Hispanic, he doesn't consider himself part of any particular ethnic group, his race is Metal. He is what is known as a "Metal Head", a fan of Heavy Metal music.

That's the great thing about rock and roll, in fact, it's one of the great things about America. You have a choice of who, or at least what, you can be. You may have been born into a particular ethnic, religious, national or sociopolitical family group but that doesn't mean you have to stay there. Although your race or ethnic group might be difficult to completely deny, you do have a plethora of counter culture, religious and political groups and sub -genres to which you may claim membership. Since you choose to be a member of these groups and are not born into them, the members are much more open to accepting members from different geographical locations and customs.

Besides the sub cultures of Urban Cowboy, Surfer, Low Rider, Greaser, Gang Banger, Red Neck, Trekkie and the other social cliques that many times start in Junior High School, rock and roll offers such romantic and exotic lifestyles as Punk, Gangsta, Metal Head, Dead Head, Parrot Head, Hippie, Emo, Grungie, Mod, Rocker, Newwaver and Prog fan, to name just a few. A great thing about these social groups it that unlike some cults you can easily switch between them according to your changing taste, level of intellectual and spiritual development and to impress a girl.

Some people change their lifestyle as often as they change their clothes, literally. I grew up with a friend who was a surfer, then a biker, then a hippie, then into Prog, then Disco, then Punk, then Metal. The last time I saw him he was into going to the symphony with a picnic basket of gourmet food and fine wine.

I think that's just fine and it must be fun to feel a part of the times, be in style and hip to the newest thing, but I wouldn't know. I may not be trendy but I'm nothing if not consistent. No matter which lifestyle you may choose during the course of your life, most of us end up being just Mom and Dad so let your freak flag fly while you can.

Neal Warner is an artist, writer, musician, member of the multimedia band, The Tooners, founder of Director's Clip, The Music Video and Internet Video Sponsorship Site ( http://www.directorsclip.com ) and Rock & Roll Rehab, The Satirical Self Help Program For the Control of Rock & Roll ( http://www.rocknrollrehab.com ).

Rihanna

R&B star Rihanna is a multi platinum R&B recording artist famous for her smash hit R&B songs and stunning music videos. Born Robyn Rihanna Fenty in Barbados on February 20, 1988, she released her debut album "Music Of The Sun" in 2005. It featured collaborations with J-Status, Kardinal Offishall and has hit Rihanna songs & Rihanna music videos "Pon Da Replay" and "If Its Lovin That You Want", helping her album to debut at number 10 on the Billboard Album charts selling 69,000 copies in its first week of release.

Rihanna released her sophomore album "A Girl Like Me" in 2006. It featured collaborations with R&B singer Ne-Yo, Sean Paul. The album debuted at number 5 on the Billboard Album charts selling 115,000 copies in its first week of release. It features her songs "SOS", "Unfaithful", "We Ride" & the fourth official single release "Break It Off" which featured another excellent Rihanna music video helping her album to sell over 1.5 million copies in the US alone.

Rihanna released her third studio album "Good Girl Gone Bad" in 2007. It featured collaborations with Hip hop star Jay Z, Ne-Yo, Stargate, Timbaland & Tricky Stewart. It debuted at number 2 selling 162,000 copies in its first week of release and had popular songs & videos "Umbrella" featuring Jay Z, "Shut Up And Drive", "Hate That I Love You", "Don`t Stop The Music", "Take A Bow", "Disturbia" & "Rehab". It became her biggest selling album to date selling over 2.6 million copies in the US alone.

Rihanna released her fourth studio album "Rated R" on November 20, 2009. It featured collaborations Hip hop star Young Jeezy, Will.i.am & Rock Star Slash and included hit songs & videos "Russian Roulette", "Hard", "Rude Boy" amongst others. This album with best*RnB songs debuted at number 4 on the Billboard Album charts selling 181,000 copies in its first week of release. The album has sold over one million copies in the US alone, giving Rihanna another Platinum selling album, also peaking at number 9 on the Official UK Album charts.

Rihanna released her fifth studio album "Loud" on November 12, 2010. This album debuted at number 3 on the Billboard Album charts selling 207,000 copies in its first week of release. It also featured high profile collaborations with Hip hop superstar Eminem on the sequel to their hit "Love The Way You Lie", Drake & rap sensation Nicki Minaj. The album has sold over 1.5 million copies and has hit songs & music videos "Only Girl (In The World)", "What`s My Name" featuring Drake, "S&M", "California King Bed", the dancehall flavored "Man Down" and her final single release "Cheers (Drink To That)".

Rihanna released her sixth studio album "Talk That Talk" on November 21, 2011. It featured collaborations with Hip hop legend Jay Z, Alex Da Kid, Stargate and Calvin Harris and boasts of the hit song & music video "We Found Love" which peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts. Rihanna released her second single "You Da One" on November 14, 2011. This hugely infectious Rihanna song also featured a stunning music video. Rihanna is also expected to release more singles & more music videos in the months to come.

Interested to know more about your favourite hip hop stars?

Artist profiles, hottest music videos, latest hip hop music news & gossip and lots more, only at Urban-Nation.com.

Hayden Griffith is a freelance writer from London specialising in writing hiphop r&b music and UK Grime music articles. Over the years he has developed an extensive knowledge of urban music and urban music artists and is considered one of the leading authorities on this subject. With a passion for Hip hop and R&B music since childhood, Hayden Griffith brings great knowledge and a great understanding of this exciting music genre and his articles are both informative and entertaining too.

Steps to Know Your Piano Notes

Learning to read music and recognize piano notes takes some practice, but it isn't difficult to master. Here are nine tips to get you started:

    * The notes on a scale fall between the letters A through G, and are repeated endlessly. Middle C is the C which falls in the middle of the keyboard if you are sitting in the center of the piano.

    * In Western music, the notes of the scale are written on a staff consisting of five lines. These lines are numbered one through five from the bottom of the staff. The notes can be placed on the lines or the spaces between the lines.

    * Learn the difference between treble and bass clef. On the piano, the treble clef notes are the keys from the mid to high range of notes, starting with middle C. The bass clef notes are the keys on the piano from the mid to low range, also meeting at the middle C. On sheet music, the treble clef notes are on top, while the bass clef notes are on the bottom of the staff.

    * Learn the letters that correspond with each note, or key. Notes range from A to G. Try these pneumonic devices to remember where the notes fall on the treble clef: On the treble scale, the notes ascend on the five lines as E, G, B, D, F, or Every Good Boy Does Fine. Notes on the treble clef four lines ascend in the order of F,A,C,E, or Face.

    * Use these pneumonic devices to learn the notes on the bass clef: the notes on the five lines of the bass scale in ascending order are G,B,D,F,A, or Good Boys Do Fine Always. Notes on the four lines of the bass clef in ascending order are A,C, E, G, or All Cows Eat Grass.

    * Learn the difference between sharp and flat notes. When the black note occurs above the white note, it is a sharp. When it occurs below the white note, it is a flat. Black notes can be both sharps and flats, depending on how they are played in a piece.

    * Pay attention to scales. If you know what an F looks like, they you can assume that the next note is G. If you're unsure of a note, consider the note nearest to it that you do recognize and count up or down.

    * Begin to see a sheet of music as a whole composition, rather than individual notes. For example, when you read, you don't consciously think of each note. Instead, you read words. So it is with playing the piano. In order to become fluent, you must "read" the whole piece. Practice playing scales, followed by chords. Both these exercises will improve your fluency and help you learn the notes.

    * Try to play a simple piano piece without looking at your fingers. Use your ear, the fingering provided on the music and your intuition. This exercise will train your brain and fingers to find the notes automatically.

Yoke Wong is the founder of PianoMother, a leading piano educational publisher. Her piano lessons DVDs and downloadable online courses, including Definitive Piano Improvisation course, This article is about piano notes  , find more at http://www.pianomother.com.

Music Has Good And Bad Health Consequences

Have you ever noticed when singing a song that the words seem to just pop right out with very little effort to remember the lyrics? If so, you are not alone. Studies have been done trying to answer the question of how people remember songs; by lyrics, melody, or title. The answer has a similar result that learning styles do with determining the best way people learn.

For example, do people learn better through auditory means - hearing the information; by kinesthetics- a hands-on approach; or do they learn through the visual spectrum - reading about it?

In this regard, the majority of people learn from a more hands-on system where they are actively involved in the process of learning. Auditory and visual components are drastically less in numbers of who learn in these two latter methods.

Likewise, those who remember songs do so by the melody more than by the lyrics or title. The mind works in such a way that memory uses mathematics a great deal to remember sequences, timing of beats, or a rhythm. Another example is the human heart. Listening to music that is perceived as fun, happy, or otherwise a positive experience, the stress levels are lowered and blood vessels open up. This is medically proven as a healthy outlet.

On the other hand, those who listened to music that they did not like or found to cause strong emotions of frustration, anger, or anxiety of any kind were found to have blood vessels constrict; the same effect as blood pressure increases. This would be a more unhealthy result.

Up-beat music that has a beat where you feel like dancing, playing the drums on the steering wheel or a table top, or bursting out in singing along with the radio or IPod all are considered positive attributes to connecting music with your health.

As you can tell, music has important affects on your health by influencing your emotions, your memory, and your ability to feel stress or be happy. Coming back to the topic of being able to remember songs, all of this information is directly related to your ability to recall certain songs and their respective lyrics. It may even surprise you sometime when driving down the road and hearing a song for the first time in decades and you jump in singing to the music as if you have been listening to it all of this time.

In short, your ability to recall music is tied to how you perceive it as a like or dislike. Enjoying the music creates a certain chemical reaction that helps the blood vessels open up and you are relaxed in the sense that you feel no stress or anxiety.

The next time a song is played that you like and can sing along with, or if you happen to be hearing the song from a live band, think about how easy it is to follow along. Likewise, try to listen to a song that you absolutely despise and pay close attention to how it makes you feel. Does your pulse increase and do you feel a bit of stress or anxiousness? This could be a fun exercise to help you find ways to improve your health that includes the music you include in your life.

By James R Eberts

James is a research and creative writer for EverDream Web. James specializes in educational and informative articles that are readable and have contextual integrity.

This article was sponsored by the Counterfeit Music Company corporate and wedding band based in Denver, CO.

Learning How to Sing Like Popular Singer

Popular singers usually take vocal coaches when they were a child. However, it doesn't mean that you also have to take vocal coaches to be a professional singer. Learning how to sing at home can be a great alternative. It is an easy and less expensive way to master singing techniques. People can't underestimate your effort since some popular singers also gain popularity without taking vocal coaches. Do you know that Justin Bieber didn't take any vocal coaches? This Stratford boy has natural talent in music and he works hard to develop it. There are also many other singers who learn singing by themselves and they are successful in the music industry.

The success of young singer like Justin Bieber really inspires the young generation. Many teenagers try to do they way he learns music and upload their performance videos on YouTube. Do you want to know how to sing like popular singers? Below are some steps to learn singing like professional singers in the music industry:

1. The singers usually started their career by performing their singing talent as often as they could. For example Justin Bieber, he joined local singing contests and created homemade videos to be uploaded on YouTube. Thus the first step you have to do is performing your singing talent as often as possible in many occasions. It is important to train yourself to sing in front of different audiences.

2. The next step to do is increasing your vocal range. You need to know that your vocal cords consist of muscles. You need to train these muscles regularly so that they get stronger. Play a piano in a middle C and start singing to the note. Go to higher and lower note as far as you can. This is a warm-up that you should do before practicing.

3. Practicing vocal control. Practicing singing is not only about increasing vocal range but also controlling your vocal. As a singer, you need to have the ability to hit the note correctly. You can control your vocal by singing arpeggios; they are notes of a chord played in rapid succession. You can learn from YouTube about arpeggios.

4. Last but not least, practice songs*that are familiar for you. You can sing your favorite songs and match the notes. Practicing songs will help you learn how to harmonize and finally you can sing just like your idol.

When practicing singing, you can't tell if you have sung the song well. To know how good your vocal is, ask your family or friends to watch your performance and give critique.

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Tips to Become a Professional Wedding DJ

If you have decided to become a wedding DJ, you may have to work hard in the beginning to establish your name. If you get an offer to DJ, a small party or occasion does not reuse the offer as it may be the first stepping stone for getting success to become a professional wedding DJ. You may work under some trained wedding DJ for few months to get training and experience. To become a successful wedding DJ you have to give away your sleep as you have to work at night.

It is important to understand the tastes of audiences at different weddings, and you should have an ability to judge the moods of people at a wedding. Certainly, it is very important to fix a meeting with the couple of few days before the actual wedding to know about their guests and tastes. Get an idea from the couple about the theme and various songs which they would like to play at their wedding. Some couples like dancing songs whereas others like to play a mixture of dancing songs and emotional songs. Thus, you have to prepare a list of songs which you have to play at different weddings. Every time, you have to prepare yourself.

To become a professional wedding DJ your equipment should be in a good working condition. You can give your best performance if all your equipment were in a good condition. Check all the equipment before you go to DJ a wedding. If possible carry a separate set of equipment along with to meet an emergency.

Another important thing that people look in professional wedding DJ is registration with Disk jockey association. So, get membership of Disk jockey association so that you are easily recognized as a professional and certified DJ. You should have a liability insurance to cover any damage that may occur during the event.

Never forget to sign a contract with the wedding couple in which all the terms and conditions are written. It is important to get a claim if any damage to your equipment occurs during wedding by any guest.

As you will start getting contracts to DJ a wedding, you will understand the taste and demands from different age groups. The only thing is that you have to keep yourself updated with latest songs that may be liked by people of all age groups as people from all age groups are present in a wedding and you should have potential to make them happy and contented with music and your voice. If at any stage, you think you lack the capability to DJ a wedding does not accept the offer as it may ruin your image in the future. Keep video clips of your previous performance ready to show it to your clients so that they can easily make their decision to select as a DJ for their wedding.

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Healing Benefits of Music

Music is a powerful, wonderful force of nature, creating visceral, primal connections to the mind, body and spirit. Music can elicit the most powerful of responses of every kind of emotion from love to sorrow to joy to desperation and everything in between.

It affects everyone differently. It is a very personal experience, and what affects one person profoundly, may have absolutely no effect on another whatsoever. It can bring one to tears, or laugh out loud with joy.

Music can also be a great source of healing. It can calm and soothe, rejuvenate, energize, relax, inspire and restore. Music can have an amazing transformative effect in harmonizing our body systems. In fact, studies have shown that using music with the intention of healing has brought about positive effects on the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems.

Music healing has been a powerful force for centuries and has the ability to promote harmony and well being. Native Americans have for centuries used music healing in the forms of chanting, singing and drumming as part of their healing rituals.

Music has the ability to reach into our souls, and help us to connect with our true selves and to heal from within. One of our greatest gifts is the sound of our own voice, and one of the highest forms of vibrational healing is through chanting or toning. Some music that is very useful for healing mind, body and spirit are some New Age Music, Gregorian chants, drumming ( like the beat of the heart, the drum has a regulating effect on the human body that is soothing and hypnotic), singing bowls and many, many others, all of which produce audio vibrations.

Professionals in the field of music and sound therapy believe that such audio vibrations can affect us in many ways. One profound way is called entrainment. This is a phenomenon in which spirit and mind become in sync with music as the body becomes aligned with the rhythm, melody, and lyrics of a song. Have you ever felt that nostalgic feeling you get when you hear a song that brings up a memory stored deep within your psyche? Feeling it all flood into your consciousness on all levels, filling you up with emotions of the past? Such is entrainment.

The natural link between music and healing is an excellent resource for connecting members of a family. Whether you have professional drums available to you or just pots and pans, or whether you have the voice of an opera singer or you are tone deaf, the results of intent healing will not differ. You also do not need any musical training or background-and the more you practice, the better you will get!

Want to give it a try? Begin by assembling your family and/or friends in a circle, along with their drumming device of choice. Take care not to hurt your hands by over slapping or exerting them (using sticks is a great alternative). Have everyone begin by actively sustaining a repetitive simple basic rhythm between the members, allowing time to pass until a sense of belonging is felt among everyone-in other words, rhythmic entrainment.

Next, allow yourself to intuitively release "your" sound. Any note, pitch, timbre, or frequency will suffice. This may be more difficult for adults due to environmental conditioning. The important thing, however, is not to judge yourself; know the cacophony that comes out of your vocal chords is the perfect sound for you and the group's healing process.

You might also want to experiment with a sacred chant called Om Shanti where you sing Om with one long breathe followed by Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. This chant comes from both the Hindu and Buddhist practice. Om is translated as the past, the present, and the future, a sound that represents reality and Shanti simply means peace. When Shanti is repeated three times it is believed that you are chanting for peace within body, mind, and spirit.

So, anytime you want to change the resonating frequency in your body, music is a great tool to use. And it is fun! As you allow your body to respond to the frequencies of different melodies and rhythms, you will feel different physical responses. Breathe deeply and relax. There will be differences in your heart rate and blood pressure!

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The History Of Classical Music

When kids go to music class in school, they often do not understand why it is important for them to study the history of classical music. The truth is that, although it may sound vastly different, classical music is the basis on which all other popular music has been built. Without it, we would not have all of the many genres that we enjoy listening to today.

The roots of classical music can actually be found in early Christian music, which takes many of its influences from ancient Greek music. The Greeks created instruments such as the aulos and the lyre, which led to many of the instruments found in contemporary orchestras. Unfortunately, there is not a great deal of music from the early period of classical music still available.

The Renaissance period, which took place between 1400 and 1600, was marked by more instrumentation than the past. In fact, the music of this period is the first time that bass instruments were introduced into the compositions. This is also the time in which musical notation was developed, allowing generations to come the opportunity to enjoy the compositions that were written at the time.

The period of music beginning in 1905 and leading up to the present is known as modernism. This period is generally known for rejecting all of the conventions set up during the previous musical periods. During this time, artists developed new music theory and techniques for various instruments. Many of these developments have made their way out of classical music and into the mainstream tunes that people listen to every day.

Classical music may not be as appealing to the modern day ear as other genres, but it is important for everyone to know its history. Classical music set up all of the conventions and tools that were necessary to create music as we know it today. If someone listens carefully, they will be able to hear its influences in all of their favorite songs.

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Six Pieces of Classical Music Kids Will Enjoy

Listening to Classical Music with a child can be an enjoyable experience, but what should you listen to that will keep their interest and help boost their imagination? Here are six suggestions for Classical Music you can listen to with kids.

1. Peter and the Wolf - written and composed by Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953)

One of the most beloved works for children the first recording of this piece was done in 1939 and there have been numerous CDs, DVDs and adaptations since then including a Disney adaptation in 1946 that Prokofiev himself helped to inspire. Prokofiev wrote the music and text for this piece and instruments in the orchestra help to tell the story.

Help your child to identify each instrument and to identify the musical theme (melody) that represents the different animals. Here are some hints as to what instrument(s) represents which animal:

Bird - Flute

Oboe - Duck

Cat - Clarinet

Grandfather - Bassoon

Wolf - French Horns

Hunters - woodwinds

Peter - Strings

2. Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saens

There are fourteen movements in this piece each depicting a different animal. Talk to your child about how Saint-Saens represents each animal and see if you can figure out which animal is represented in each movement without looking at the recording notes.

1) Introduction and Royal March of the Lion

2) Hens and Roosters

3) Wild Donkeys, quick animals

4) Tortoises

5) Elephants

6) Kangaroos

7) Aquarium

8) Characters with Long Ears

9) The Cuckoo in the Depths of the Woods

10) Aviary

11) Pianists

12) Fossils

13) The Swan

14) Finale

3. The Planets by Gustav Holst (1874-1934)

Each of the seven movements represents a Planet in our Solar System and the corresponding astrological characteristics. Earth is not represented as it is not recognized in astrology practice. Another interesting note is that The Planets was written between 1914 and 1916 and Pluto was not discovered until 1930 so it is not represented in this musical work. Lucky for Holst as Pluto has also since been reclassified as a dwarf planet.

Mars, the Bringer of War

Venus, the Bringer of Peace

Mercury, the Winged Messenger

Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity

Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age

Uranus, the Magician

Neptune, the Mystic

Have your child do research on the planets and then discuss how Holst represented their characteristics in the music.

4. Flight of the Bumble-Bee by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)

You can figure out from the title what this piece was written about. I have heard this played on just about every instrument from flute to tuba. The piece is actually from an opera called The Tale of Tsar Sultan, but the piece is more popular on its own and segments of this piece have been used by everyone from Michael Jackson to Walt Disney.

5. William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)

This Overture is the musical introduction to the opera of the same name. The overture musically tells about life in the Swiss Alps which is the setting for the opera. This piece should sound familiar as it has been used numerous times in popular culture. It has been featured in Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse cartoons and advertisers have used it to promote Reebok shoes, Honda Civics and Dove Soap just to name a few. The most famous use of it is probably for the theme song for the show The Lone Ranger.

6. Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven (baptized 1770-1827)

This is actually the Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor but has become known as the Moonlight Sonata. It is probably Beethoven's most popular piano works. The piece was not called the Moonlight Sonata until after Beethoven had died. A German music critic, Ludwig Rellstab, said the first movement was like the moonlight shinning upon Lake Lucerene (a famous lake in Switzerland). Many music critics disagree with this interpretation of the piece and feel it is more like a funeral march, but that is the beauty of music, you can chose to imagine what ever you want when listening to a piece. Ask your kids what they visualize when they close their eyes and listen to this piece.

There are no right or wrong answers when it come to a person's own interpretation of classical music. Since kids have such vivid imaginations it is fun to listen and discuss classical music with them.

C A Fox is a musician, entrepreneur and parent. Visit http://www.mommyfoxenterprises.com for more resources.

Nuances of Hindustani Classical Music

Book: Nuances of Hindustani Classical Music
Author: Dr. Hema Hirlekar
ISBN: 9788178062068
Page: 200
Price: INR 395
Publisher: Unicorn Books

For those who listen to Hindustani classical music or those who are looking to improve their knowledge for better appreciation of the music, 'Nuances of Hindustani Classical Music" written by Dr. Hema Hirlekar is the*ideal choice.

Hindustani classical music has become very popular in the last few years. Concerts held all over the world are packed to capacity. Statistics reveals that only a handful of audience truly appreciate the classical music with any degree of knowledge. This book aims to lift the rest to total enjoyment at par with the handful circle.

The canopy of Hindustani classical music is vast. There are many books in the market that explore Hindustani music from different angles, sometimes focussing on just one part such as Khayal. Refreshingly, Hema Hirlekar has produced a unique blend that is at once easy for a raw listener yet comprehensive for highly initiated. It is organised for extremely easy understanding of the musical terms, the music, the genres, the gharanas, and the concerts.

Some special features of the book:

* It explains all aspects of Hindustani classical music ably supported with lively anecdotes.
* It carries a useful glossary of prevalent terms and explanations, and not just with dictionary meanings.
* A dedicated chapter on how to appreciate music, what to expect from a concert and what, when and how to listen, is included.
* An interesting take on popular raags unlike in any other book, describes the raag, its features, moods, rasas, and related popular songs sung at specific times.

The recommendations by renowned vocalist Pt. Vikas Kashalkar, classical flutist Pt. Keshav Ginde and dean of music faculty, Delhi University Dr. Anjali Mittal make the book stand out from the rest. A CD revealing the finer points of the music accompanies the book.

Binay Srivastava

How Classical Music Benefits Children With Learning Disabilities

We have long known about the ability of classical music to provide pleasure and stir up deep emotions. Undoubtedly, music has a powerful impact on the brain. Studies have shown that classical music can also help children with special needs through a variety of significant improvements including reduced stress, increased IQ, and improved ability to concentrate. Further, music can make children feel more positive and improve their creative thinking. The bottom line is that classical music can make a huge difference in the lives of those with disorders like autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, ADD and ADHD and mental retardation.

The Mozart Effect and the Power of Music

The term "The Mozart Effect" has gone mainstream, as now there are a variety of products including everything from CDs to toys that use Mozart's music to improve a person's ability to perform mental tasks. A wide variety of experts theorize that listening to Mozart can actually boost intelligence too. Don Campbell who wrote The Mozart Effect: Tapping the Power of Music to Heal the Body, Strengthen the Mind, and Unlock the Creative Spirit has declared that the Mozart Effect is "an inclusive term signifying the transformational powers of music in health, education, and well-being."

An issue of Nature Journal in 1993 published remarkable findings from studies at The University of California at Irvine. In one study, group of students listened to Mozart while a second group listed to a tape with suggestions for relaxation. A third test group just had 10 minutes of silence. When these students were given a test on spatial IQ, those who listened to Mozart showed to have a significantly higher spatial IQ.

Some scientists speculate that complicated sounds like classical music boosts the operation of firing patterns in the brain's cortex. Studies have also shown that those even with Alzheimer's disease do better on spatial IQ tests after listening to Mozart. One of the reasons that classical music is so powerful in contrast to other forms of music is that it has sequences that repeat throughout a musical piece. Often these sequences appear about every 20 or 30 seconds. Due to the fact that brain wave patterns also take place in 30-second cycles, this type of music can provide the most powerful type of response.

The Mozart Effect has very real implications for those with learning disorders. Listening to classical music will not only boost IQ, but it will also help children concentrate better and memorize new information. When a child hears classical music, it can create the ideal conditions for learning and creativity.

One additional boost to the implications of classical music's positive impact on learning and the brain occurred in 1998 when the governor of Georgia Zell Miller included over $100,000 annually in the budget for the state for tapes and CDs of classical music for all of children born in Georgia. He was persuaded to take this bold step due to the various studies that listening to classical music spurs intelligence.

Music Therapy

Classical music can positively impact everything from emotional development to motor skills to cognitive functioning. There is an entire field of psychology called Music Therapy where therapists improve the health of their clients through using music. Professionals like teachers, physicians and psychologists regularly refer children for music therapy. Music Therapists can even help rehabilitate people who have had strokes through the power of music.

Kids with learning disorders like ADD, ADHD, and autism can benefit from Music Therapy, as it will help them to feel calmer and less impulsive. Further, many children will feel more comfortable opening up about their feelings when they are exposed to music. At this point, therapists ban help children to overcome their frustrations and assist to boost their self-esteem.

Distractions and Music

One thing that many children with learning disorders have in common is that they are easily distracted. Different noises can take their attention away from a task at hand. However, when classical music is used therapeutically, it changes the way the ear functions and stimulates the brain.

Children with a variety of learning disorders including autism are experiencing positive results from Tomatis Listening Therapy. During therapy sessions, classical music is sent into the right ear and the sound is also vibrated through the bones in the body. One of the goals of this therapy is to get the ears in sync and re-balance the system. The philosophy behind this treatment is that it can allow its recipients to begin performing to the best of their abilities.

Many children have also improved their ADHD conditions through learning to play a music instrument. The act of practicing playing classical music and listening to it at the same time can teach kids to lengthen their attention span.

The Calming Ability of Music

When children with special needs listen to classical music, it provides a positive and relaxing experience. Remarkably, classical music can also reduce stress and ease frustrations. Further, it can reduce muscle tension and slow down the heart rate. When these changes occur, the mind is more open to learning and also to communicating with others.

One study at the Baltimore St Agnes Health Care by Raymond Bahr, MD showed that when doctors played classical music for their heart patients it had the same impact as a 10 mg dose of Valium! The implications of this study for those with special needs are clear. When children with autism, cerebral palsy, ADD, ADHD, and mental retardation are able to relax and calm down, dramatic changes in their behavior become possible.

Listen to a sample of how classical music can help your child with any learning disability such as autism, Down syndrome, or any other special need by visiting http://www.4yourchildssuccess.com.

Introduction to Indian Classical Music 101

The system of Indian classical music known as Raga Sangeet can be traced back nearly two thousand years to its origin in the Vedic hymns of the Hindu temples. Unlike Western classical music which has written scores, an Indian classical performance is based on improvisation, and anywhere from 10% to 90% of the performance could be extempore, depending on the creative imagination of the artist. The music is rendered orally to the disciple by his guru, popularly known as guru-shishya (teacher-student) parampara (tradition).

The very heart of Indian music is the raga, the melodic form upon which the artist improvises his performance. A raga is a scientific, precise, subtle and aesthetic melodic form with its own ascending and descending movement consisting of either a full seven-note octave or a series of six or five notes.

Every raga is characterized by its own particular mood. The acknowledged order of these nine sentiments, or emotions, is as follows: romantic and erotic, humorous, pathetic, anger, heroic, fearful, disgust, amazement and peaceful. Each raga, in addition to being associated with a particular mood, is also closely connected to a particular time of day or a season of the year. Thus through the rich melodies and rhythm of Indian music, every human emotion, every subtle feeling in man and nature, can be musically expressed and experienced.

In terms of aesthetics, a raga is the projection of the artist's inner spirit: a manifestation of his most profound feelings and sensibilities. The musician breathes life into each raga as he unfolds and expands it so that each note shimmers and pulsates with life and the raga is revealed vibrant and incandescent with beauty.

The tala, or rhythmic cycle of a raga, plays an equally important role in expressing the mood. There is a unique relationship between melody and rhythm. The intricacies depict the complexities and sophistication with which they are woven together. The division in a taal and the stress on the first beat, called sum, are the most important feature. The most exciting moment for a seasoned listener is when both the musicians, after their individual improvisations, come back together on the sum.

Today, Indian classical music is a permanent part of Western culture. Many composers and musicians have been influenced by our music. The openness, will to learn, and sincere enthusiasm of Western audiences are a continuing source of inspiration and delight. Indian music is one of the highest forms of music existing and nourished through its rich cultural heritage.

Shilpa Rao is a professional Indian Classical Music [http://www.articlestonurture.com/classical/music.html/1] artist. Learn basics of Indian Classical Music system at [http://www.articlestonurture.com/Category/Music/109]

Benefits of Playing Classical Music to Your Baby and What Music to Play

Newborns react to music as well as aural simulation from when they are in the womb and all throughout their development; this is particularly effective until the age of roughly three. This is because during fetal development, it is the auditory system that is formed first, and the ear is the first sensory organ that develops a connection with brain. Due to these reasons, the infant's ability to respond to music and sounds grows stronger.

What Songs to Play

A newborn baby is able to be acquainted with familiar songs and tunes and identify the voice of parents. Babies of up to one year however like sounds at which they can physically move to, as there is a strong connection between a baby's hearing and motor ability.

Benefits of Classical Music

Classical music is also particularly effective when played to babies. It can have:

    Benefits to language skills: According to senior child development researchers and researchers at the Chicago Children's Museum, there is a powerful connection between musical ability and language development. Music heard by small babies can help them to develop language skills in more efficiently and at a more complex level. Listening to complex classical tunes can help them identify words with similar sounds such as 'I' and 'Y'. Classical music helps babies to build up auditory memory and enhance the ability of the decoding auditory data.
    Soothing down physical effects: Classical music can have great positive effect to the physical health of babies. It also makes their bodies and muscles become relaxed and well rested. Even the heart rate of babies responds positively to this situation. Therefore, slow yet soothing classical pieces of music can help these even the most fidgety of babies to relax, reduce physical pressure and get rid of their tensions, especially during bedtime.
    Effects on mood: Listening to multiple types of classical music can help babies to lighten up their mood. Their body develops endorphins that are considered natural relaxants and are released from the brain. Development of such relaxants helps their bodies to reduce pain, promotes calmness and improves mood.
    Diminishing birth trauma: The entire process of being born to a completely new world can be both stressful and frightening for newbie. According to famous doctors, soothing classical music can help newborns to get out of this trauma easily when they are first born and in the following weeks. When babies are in utero, they are able to listen to their mother's heartbeat. This sound is familiar as well as comforting for them both during and after birth, replicating this with a slow piece of music helps the effect to continue.

Besides these vital benefits, babies have a natural tendency to respond positively to music. It is also very entertaining for them as well. Whether you want your child to be the next Einstein, or just to get a good night's sleep, play music, let them enjoy, dance, move and even parents will find themselves starting to experience the benefits.

For more of more tips and advice, including what some industry experts don't want you to know about a certain baby clothes brand, and a very famous diaper brand visit our website, thebabysite.net.

Elcamphane Peace is a mother, grandmother and contributor to thebabysite.net

Imagination in Indian Classical Music

Khayal literally means imagination, thought or fancy. Khayal is that vocal genre of all North Indian vocal styles which gives its performers the greatest opportunity and also the greatest challenge to display the depth and breadth of their musical knowledge and skills. Khayal has dominated the performing art for past 150 years. Khayal is the genre of improvisational music, and hence it is the study of artist's creative individuality and ability to render a unique khayal at each performance. Despite the presumed freedom in khayal singing, it is structured upon three main characteristics: (i) the raga (melodic mode), the taal (meter) and the cheez (composition), (ii) the types of improvisation which are acceptable for khayal such as alap, taan, boltaan, sargam and nom-tom, and (iii) the placement of these material for creation of aesthetically and technically balanced performance. Khayal is not only a distinguished, richly evolved improvisational music genre, but also a study of cultural history of India since thirteenth century onwards.

Legend, scattered commentary, and speculations suggest that khayal originated with Amir Khusrau (1251-1326). Born in North India, Amir Khusrau was a poet as well as a composer and a great musician of his time. He enjoyed importance at the courts of the Khilji rulers in Delhi. Khayal's origin may have been attributed to Khusrau because of the rapid fusion of Perso-Arabic and Indic musical systems during his lifetime. After Khusrau, the next prominent figures in the history of khayal are the sultans of Jaunpur - Muhammad Sharqui (1401-40) and Hussain Sharqui (ruled 1458-99), who were contemporaries of Babur, the first Mughal ruler in India. The precise role of the Sharqui sultans with respect to khayal is unclear; some scholars suggest a patronage role for them. Most historians are of the opinion that neither Amir Khusrau nor any of the Sharqui sultans was the innovator of khayal, but that khayal was an outcome of the gradual process of evolution that was at work during an era of Indo-Persian amalgamation.

For khayal, the first musical evidence of court support is noted at the Delhi darbar (court) of the eighteenth century Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah Rangile (ruled 1720-48), where the musicians Nyamat Khan (Sadarang) and Firoz Khan (Adarang) composed songs that have been transmitted to the present time. It is believed that Sadarang and Adarang also formalized the structure of modern day khayal. As khayal continued to evolve in the courts throughout North India, distinct performing styles emerged into different gharanas. Three major khayal gharanas carrying the names of the princely states in which they were originally fostered, are Gwalior, Rampur (Sahaswan) and Patiala. Later Agra, Kirana and Jaipur gharanas also became prominent centers of khayal singing. Today this style of classical vocal music is even adopted by some of the instrumental gharanas such as Ithawa. Throughout most of its existence khayal has always been the music of elite patrons. Only in the twentieth century has any other group attained significant involvement in khayal.

The rendition of a khayal recital is typically divided into two parts: Bara (great) khayal and Chhota (small) khayal. During bara khayal, the artist is expected to cover a range of subjects, ideally giving importance to all musical elements such as melody, rhythm and technique, with a slow and contemplative beginning to invoke the very mood of the raga. The lyrical as well as melodic content of bara khayal compositions are devotional or romantic, and they are set in vilambit laya (slow tempo). Bara khayal is followed by a madhya or drut laya (fast tempo) in chhota khayal. Here the artist carries the mood created during the earlier part of the recital to its crescendo. The acceleration is maintained during the performance with increasing complexity of taans and interplay with rhythm. The compositions written for chhota khayal have syllabic text settings appropriate for the faster tempo. The performing ensemble for khayal consists of a lead soloist, an accompanirt on a melody producing instrument such as harmonium or sarangi (bowed lute), a tabla (drum) player and one or two tanpura players to provide continuous drone. A possible addition to the basic ensemble would be a supporting singer. The role of the accompanists is to complement the lead vocals by repeating ends of phrases during short breaks.

The other forms of Indian classical vocal music include dhrupad, dhamar, tappa, tarana, thumri, hori and bhajan. Of all, dhrupad is considered to be the oldest classical vocal form. It is generally accompanied by tanpura and pakhawaj. Dhrupad compositions are set in a 12 beat rhythmic cycle. Dhamar compositions are akin to dhrupad and enjoy an identical status. They are set in a 14 beat rhythmic cycle. Because of their structured style of singing, both dhrupad and dhamar do not allow as many elaborate and extempore improvisations as khayal. Tarana is a style consisting of particular syllables woven into rhythmic patterns as a song and it is usually sung in the faster tempo. The creation of this style of singing is believed to have originated to bring out the tantrakari, or the discreteness of instrumental music, in vocal music. Tappa has its origin in Punjab. Its beauty lies in quick and intricate display of permutations of notes. Thumri is believed to have originated in Uttar Pradesh. It is the lighter form of Indian classical music. Its most distinct feature is the amorous subject matter that picturesquely portrays the play of Lord Krishna with Radha. It can be viewed as an unconstrained form of khayal singing. Hori compositions are mainly sung in the style of thumri and are associated with the festival of hori (the festival of colors). The mood is joyous and playful, illustrating the divine leela of Lord Krishna. Bhajan literally means pray (bhaj) the lord (narayan). Bhajans are devotional songs based on light classical music. It is a popular form of singing today.

Shilpa Rao is a professional Indian Classical Music [http://www.articlestonurture.com/classical/music.html/2] artist. Learn basics of Indian Classical Music system at [http://www.articlestonurture.com/classical/music.html/2]

Classical Violin Music For Beginners

Classical music dates back to the Baroque era (1600 to 1750) that followed the Renaissance and was subsequently followed by what is known as the classical era. Baroque composers included Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Monteverdi, and many others you've no doubt heard of. It was during this period that music and instrumental performance expanded in both scope and complexity and opera was established as a new musical genre. The violin has the unique ability to convey emotion and is said to produce notes closest to the human voice in tonality.

Classical violin is typically associated with the orchestra and orchestral groups such as the string quartet in which all the members of the instruments family play a part. This instrument family includes the stringed instruments the viola, cello, and double bass and they all play a role in the orchestra. The violin is the real star of the show however and represents the largest number of musicians typically in two sections. The sections are known as first and second and classical composers generally specify the first violins to play the melody and the second are assigned the harmony or other deviations such as playing the melody an octave lower than the first.

Some well known classical violin pieces include:

Tchaikovsky's concerto for violin in D major

Zigeunerweisen by Pablo Sarasate

Three Violin Concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach

Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor by Max Christian Friedrich Bruch

Violin Concerto in D major by Ludwig Van Beethoven

Concerto for violin in D major by Johannes Brahms

Although the violin was not initially well accepted as a valued musical instrument, it soon proved to be the showpiece of the orchestra. Into the 1800's many virtuosos proved the instrument worthy of its stature in the orchestra and in the hands of such masters as Paganini and Sarasate, The violin truly had a voice.

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The Importance of Classical Music in Parenting

Today, if you know a couple who is expecting a child, chances are, they have heard the effects of classical music to an unborn fetus. But, what is in these classic tunes that enhance the brain development of babies inside the womb?

Well, music is a broad term. If you simply let your fetus hear rock or pop music, they are more likely to adapt the song they frequently hear. On the other hand, it is different with classical music. Popular composers of the olden days like Mozart, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky are known to have a complex ability of creating music without the beauty of words. During those days when digital tools used in enhancing songs were not yet invented, you have to be a very brilliant person to come up with a series of keys and create a tune. But, these brilliant men did not just create a tune -- they created a masterpiece, just like Vincent Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso.

Are you still wondering what their music has to do with the development of an unborn baby's brain? Well, according to research, classical music involves a series of complex musical framework. Just as you would when you hear a song playing repeatedly, babies can follow that complex structure which claims to enhance the baby's brain development. Even neonates react to the complexities of this classical music through recognizing the tunes even if they have never heard of them before.

The experts believe that the intricate structure of classical music is the key in enabling the unborn child to improve his problem solving skills. It is due to this fact that classical music has a different effect on a baby's brain instead of the other kinds of music. On the contrary, while classical music may be helpful in the brain development of a baby, it does not follow that the other unmentioned types of music have no good effects whatsoever. As a general rule, if babies are exposed to various types of music during the early phases of their lives, the pathways of their brain becomes more inclined to music. This can be shown through our high regard to music as something that can soothe our nerves, help us breathe, and cool us down during moments of stress.

Now, if classical music and other types of music aid in the development of your baby's brain, does it mean it could actually make us smarter as well? Basically, adults can also be smarter, but only in terms of solving spatial problems. The truth is that the pathway in our brain that is triggered when we listen to classical music is responsible for our spatial reasoning. The brain is perhaps the only part of our body that the more you make use of it, the more it becomes stronger. In any case, the part of the brain responsible for spatial reasoning is stimulated each time we hear classical songs, and this enhances the brain's capability of solving spatial problems we typically face every day.

Nicole Patrick enjoys writing for Worshipguitarclass.com which offers Christian Guitar lessons and guitar theory as well as a host of additional services.

Modern Classical Music

Classical music in strict terms is music that was written and composed during a very specific time period. This time period is 1750 to 1820. What is it that sets this particular period apart from the Baroque period which comes right before or the Romantic which is the period right after? These are not just random dates that some forgotten historian chose, but rather refer to the actual way that the music was composed.

In literature, there are a number of recognized styles of writing. A limerick or a Haiku are both poems, and yet each one has a very strict format and layout. This same principle applies to music. Pieces written during the classical period have a very distinct structure and layout as well. A person who has classical music training can recognize the differences between pieces in the same way that a person schooled in literature can tell you the exact difference between an English sonnet and an Italian one.

So what happens when you have a piece of music that follows this exact format, but was written during a later period? Do you call it a piece of classical music, or maybe, a modern classical piece?

One of the latest trends in the world of video gaming is to have background music that is written in the classical style. These are not simple tunes, these are pieces that are written to be preformed and played by an entire orchestra. The people who are composing the music are those that have been educated in the field of music and are following the format of the classic composition. The creators of these pieces are not only wonderful writers, they are often musicians themselves.

A spin-off of this trend is a change in the productions being held in theatres and auditoriums all around the globe. People are flocking to these pl`ces to go and see concerts that are played by the orchestras. These productions are much more than a listening experience. Many of the productions involve huge screens with videos and lights. One special tour even permitted audience participation. Select members of the audience were given the chance to show off their gaming skills against others on the big screens while the entire audience watched and cheered. Prizes awarded to the best gamers at each performance.

The modern classical piece may not be exactly what Beethoven had in mind when he was writing his great works, but you can imagine what he would have been able to do with all the new resources and advancements. Who knows, he might have written his twentieth symphony as an elf battle theme.

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Listening to Classical Music Will Not Make Your Child More Intelligent

Will listening to classical music, make your child smarter? That question has been around for many years. Years ago when these studies began to be conducted, they were only done on adults. The results were that they only had a small effect on short term memory.

While there is no dispute that listening to classical music is very relaxing, it will not make your child smarter. Past studies have concluded that listening to classical music has increased the motor skills in children. However, other studies have also been conducting with reading, memory exercises and consistently putting puzzles together with the same result.

Independent studies have also been conducted that show that listening to this type of music has had an effect on the intelligence of children. It is not reliable and the result have been too insignificant for this theory to be fact. The test have only shown to make a difference for about 20 minutes. Talk about short term memory.

Whether your intention is directed towards unborn children, infants or toddlers making them smarter will simply not happen in this way. Does this mean that classical music is useless for children? Absolutely not! Classical music is most definitely soothing and relaxing. We can all use a little relaxation in our lives. This also applies to children. A misconception is that children do not have stress in their lives. That is simply not true. It is just a different kind of stress than us adults deal with on a daily basis.

In conclusion, I would like to state that while the debate will surely go on for years to come, I would recommend for you and your child listen to classical music. While it will not make your child smarter, it will relax the both of you. Not to mention the precision that goes into producing such a piece may arouse your child's interest in music of a classical nature for a lifetime.

I am a firm believer that no one single thing will make your child smarter. It is several different things that will accomplish this. A few examples are music, memory based activities and childrens books. I am a father of 4 children.

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Operatic and Classical Music in Dublin

Dublin, and Ireland in general, has a rich history of music. It is one of the countries whose folk music persisted in a relatively pure form after the major World Wars. An educational visit to a traditional pub or the Irish Traditional Music Archive will open up an interesting world for students. They will learn how the folk music of Ireland was often played for dancing and lends itself well to upbeat tunes played with traditional instruments such as the fiddle, harp, flute and whistle, and the Uilleann pipes. But the Irish music scene is not all about folk music.

Grand Opera

Though traditional Irish folk music has played, and continues to play, an important role in the country's social history, the music of Ireland has not stagnated over time. In fact, in 1941, the Dublin Grand Opera Society was formed to bring traditional European opera into the city. An educational visit to the headquarters at West Wing 3, Adelaide Chambers, Peter Street, will take students through the history of opera in Ireland. Irish opera began by originally casting local talent, then hosted German, French, and Italian companies through the seventies. The company was threatened with removal of funding if they did not appoint an art director in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The first incumbents of the position were British, and throughout the nineties the voluntary basis of the administration was gradually replaced by paid positions. In 1992 it was renamed Opera Ireland. The society now produces several grand-scale operas, mostly at the Gaiety Theatre. It is in the process of working with the government and Ireland's touring opera company, Opera Theatre Company, to establish Ireland's first National Opera Company, which will make opera more widely available in Dublin and throughout Ireland.

The Concert Hall

The National Concert Hall (NCH) is located at Earlsfort Terrace in Dublin, and music students will find a visit there most educational. Visit not only for the music, but to see the building itself, which was originally built in 1865 for the Dublin International Exhibition. It was later made part of the University College Dublin, and in 1981, after the college moved campuses, the building was converted and reopened as the NCH. The NCH has three main performance areas: the Auditorium, which seats 1,200; the John Field Room, which seats 250 and is often used for small recitals and as an exhibition space; and the Carolan Room, which seats 100 and is often utilised for pre-event talks. After a wander around the interesting structure, students can stay and listen to the NCH's resident RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra recently appointed a new artistic team, with Alan Buribayev as Principal Conductor.

Chamber Music

If students are on an educational visit to learn about the history of operatic and classical music and hear various performances while in Dublin, then the National Chamber Choir (NCC) is a natural inclusion. The NCC was founded by Karina Lundström and composer and conductor Colin Mawby, in 1991, as an independent, professional ensemble. In 1996, the NCC became the Choir-in-Residence at Dublin City University, which guaranteed its continuation as well as providing a venue for concerts. Since its creation, the NCC has added significantly to the collection of choral music in Ireland through its commitment to commissioning and performing new works. It is worthwhile for students to hear them either in their university home, or on tour in and around Dublin.

Angela Bowden works for STS (School Travel Service), the UK's largest educational travel company, providing school trips for secondary schools, primary schools and colleges. An educational visit with STS can encompass art/design, foreign languages, history, science/nature, geography and more, to worldwide destinations.