Little About Indian Classical Music

Sitar, sarod, tabla, sarangi or dhrupad, khayal, ghazal or raga, tala, gharana- these are known the world over today. They represent Hindustani Art Music - in reality, a part of Indian Classical music. The terms North Indian Classical Music or Shstriya Sangeet are also occasionally used.

Indian music has developed through very complex interactions between different people of different races and cultures over several thousand years including the Vedic chant tradition dating back to approx. one millennia BCE, the equally ancient Persian tradition of Musiqi-e assil, and also the existent folk traditions prevalent in the region.

However, references to music in ancient texts, aesthetic formulations, and depictions and written discussions of musical instruments offer clues to the Indian music history.

Indian classical music allows for a much greater degree of "personalization" of the performance. Thus they do not represent mind of the composer but a universal idea of the world. They transmit not personal but impersonal emotion.

A difference with the western classical music is that Indian music is monodic, not polyphonic. Hindustani (North Indian) ragas are assigned to specific times of the day (or night) and to specific seasons. Many ragas share the same scale, and many ragas share the same melodic theme.

For most historical eras and styles, surviving treatises explaining musical scales and modes provide a particularly important means of recapturing at least a suggestion of the music of former times. Tracing the musical theory of the past makes clear the position of the present musical system.

You're Being Manipulated - How Music Affects Your Buying Habits

If you think music doesn't affect you, you'll be changing your tune after reading this. This is a true story of a recent study from Leicester University in England.

You're off to the supermarket and decide to stop by some shelves offering French and German wine. You make up your mind to buy a bottle of the French wine.

While checking out, you're asked why you picked the wine. You respond "The label looked great", or "I liked the price". Then you're asked if you noticed the French accordion music that was playing when you took that bottle off the shelf. You say that you did. Did it affect your choice of wine today? No, of course not, you answer.

That's funny because on the days that French music is played nearly 80% of shoppers chose the French wine. On the days that German music the Opposite happens.

In other words, this study found that if you bought some wine from their shelves you were 3 or 4 times more likely to choose a wine that matched the music than the wine that didn't match the music.

Guess what these wine-buyers responded when asked at the checkout if the music influenced their choice. Only 1 out of 44 customers said that the music was the reason they bought the wine. That's 2%!

The influence of the music was Huge but the customers Didn't Notice or Believe that it was affecting them. It only took a matter of minutes or seconds for music to get into these people's brains in a powerful way.

Similar experiments have shown that classical music can make people buy more expensive wine.

Here's another study to chew on. Most of us go out to eat at least once a week. Do you know which music makes you spend more when you're at a restaurant?

In this study, a British restaurant played pop music, classical music and no music over the course of 18 evenings. Average spending prices per person were calculated for the following categories:

Appetizers, Main Courses, Desserts, Coffee, Drinks from the Bar, Wine, Overall Beverage Bill, Overall Food Bill, and Total Amount Spent

They also measured the total time people spent in the restaurant. Here's what they found.

There was a Significant difference between evenings when classical music was played and no music or pop music were played. Classical music resulted in higher spending. Across the board in all categories. Other restaurants here and abroad have had similar results.

What does this mean? It's pretty simple. Classical music relaxes and makes you feel good. And feeling good makes you want the best.

That's why so many successful people listen to high frequency classical music. They know it helps them work better, think better, and get higher levels of energy. They know it won't deplete them, get them distracted and raise their heart rates, like hard-hitting low frequency music does.

The amazing effect that music has on your mind and body is being proven in study after study. It's information that should not be ignored. Especially these days, when we're exposed to music anytime we enter a building.

Copyright 2006 Tania French

Composer Tania Gabrielle French has enjoyed performances and radio broadcasts of her music worldwide by Grammy Award winning artists. Her popular newsletter tells all about the secret effect of music on your mind and body. Subscribe now at http://www.artabundance.com © 2006 Tania Gabrielle French. All Rights Reserved.

How Classical Piano Sheet Music Contributed to the Rise of Romance

Romantic music is a term that describes a particular style of classical music that arose in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This music was related to Romanticism, a literary and artistic era, beginning in the late 1800s, primarily in Europe. The term "romantic" used in classical music does not necessarily refer to romantic love, although a romantic theme was present of much of the classical piano sheet music of this era. Romantic music is easily identified by its emotional expression and ability to evoke deep feelings. There was an emphasis on lyrical, song-like melodies, as well as rich harmonic qualities. There were many composers during this period; however, a few stand out among the rest.

Ludwig von Beethoven

Ludwig von Beethoven was a composer and pianist from Germany. He was a crucial figure as the Classical era gave way to the Romantic era. He is considered to be one of the best-loved and influential composers that ever lived. Many of his compositions remain favorites among music lovers today, such as "Moonlight Sonata," and "Fur Elise."

Franz Schubert

Franz Schubert was another well-known composer during the Romantic era. Although his life was tragically cut short, his beautiful melodies, accented by passion, nature imagery and poetic style, are remembered and loved to this day. One of his most popular compositions was "Piano Quintet in A major," also nicknamed "The Trout."

Fredric Chopin

Fredric Chopin was a famous Romantic composer from Poland, considered a child prodigy by the age of eight. Chopin was considered to be the master of piano for his generation, and he, more than any romantic composer, used the piano as an emotional tool. Chopin was famous for his waltzes, such as "Les Adieux," as well as pieces like "Revolutionary Etude, Opus 10, #12."

Classical Piano Sheet Music At Your Fingertips

These are just a few of the most well known composers that identified the Romantic era of classical music. Fortunately, for pianists of our day, the beautiful and memorable compositions of these men are kept alive primarily through classical piano sheet music. Sheet music has the advantage of being easily ordered online, or downloaded right from your computer for printing at home or office. Sheet music is a valuable tool for learning to play classical romantic sheet music. A copy of the original score is right at your fingertips, along with all of the symbols for dynamics, tempo and even side notes about how the piece should be approached. Check out online music storesfor a great selection of Romantic classical piano sheet music.

Romance in the Modern Day

As you can see, The Romantic era of music refers to a period and style of music, but it is much more. Romantic style music evokes both passion and emotion in those who take advantage of its beautiful melodies and rich harmonies.

The next time you sit at the piano to serenade that special person, pick up a piece of Romantic classical piano sheet music, such as "Moonlight Sonata," and bring the romantic mood to a whole new level. And, don't forget the roses!

The Ethereal Sounds Of Classical Music - Learn The Violin

The Violin has always been one of the most popular musical instruments to play and has seen a resurgence in the last few years with more and more people beginning to learn the classical style of music.

Since the renaissance the violin has been a main component of most classical music scores and this continues to be the case even today.

Belonging to the bowed stringed instrument family the violin is played by gently allowing the bow to fall down and across the strings on the main violin body under the weight of your arm. The bow string once made from horse hair is generally a synthetic substitute today.

'Pizzicato' is the term given to the playing of the strings with your fingers, but the more common usage for your non-bowing hand is to create the notes using the strings on the violin body.

Even if you've never been particularly musical in the past, there's nothing to stop you learning the violin at any age and there are more ways to learn now than ever, thanks to the internet.

Let's delve deeper into the various routes open to you.

One of the more traditional ways to learn violin would be at an educational institution such as a school or college, however this route is usually a full time student role and if you've already left school, then this option might seem a tough step especially if you have to work nine to five.

If you live in a reasonable size town or city, you might find night classes available where you can take up the violin. Costing less than a place on a full time learning course and taking less of your spare time, this option would be valuable as long as it exists in your area. You should also find there are less people in the class so more one on one tuition.

Hiring a personal teacher should get you playing faster than any other option, as the instruction will be solely focused on you and you'll be driven to succeed. The downside to this option is the cost and the risk of you not being compatible with your instructor, especially if they don't appreciate your learning needs. This route must be managed well from the word go.

Some classes to learn the violin are now taught online, but this just basically mimics what you'd learn in class. Instead of going along to a college, you'd log on and learn from the comfort of your own home. Make sure to find out how reputable these online colleges are before you enroll, unless the process is much less informal.

Online books and e-books offer the latest promise of future violin stardom. For a small monthly membership fee or one-off charge you can purchase an e-book written by violin experts that include tutorials, assignments and pre-recorded videos. A very valuable learning tool for people with busy lives, as you can pick up and put down the course when it suits you, although you will therefore need to manage your own motivation and time to keep on track with the learning.