1st Piano

The Apple iPod Touch is an advanced new generation iPod that incorporates new technology to offer better and more comprehensive features to music lovers the world over. It is an innovative gadget that can be used for media playing, web browsing, and photo viewing. A multi-touch wide-screen makes the experience of using the Apple ipod touch a memorable one. The Apple iPod Touch comes with small dimensions. It is somewhat taller than the iPod classic, and the form factor is comparable to an ipod rather than an iphone. Apple iPod Touch Comes with a flat face and a polished stainless steel back. The Apple iPod Touch comes with a 163 pixel per inch display and the screen resolution is 480 x 320. There is a single home button to control the different functionalities that are on offer. Some useful features that are a part of the Apple iPod Touch include calendars, contacts, and a clock. One can use the Click Wheel to select a four-digit combination which is useful in protecting ...

By Eben Goresko Over the years of working on pianos (I have been a registered piano technician and a performing pianist for over 25 years) and in talking with my customers I have seen over and over again that buying a quality piano can be a challenging and daunting task. So I finally decided to put together this information together - to share with you the essential keys I have learned over the years to make sure you buy a quality instrument that will bring you pleasure for a lifetime. Buying a Piano - You Get What You Pay For Never get a piano simply because it is cheap or free. In the absence of an accurate appraisal, you may succeed at first with an inexpensive front end acquisition that soon after turns into a rear end headache. I have seen too many people under such circumstances giving up on their excitement and enthusiasm towards playing the piano simply because they made a poor buying choice. You should consider the purchase of your next piano to be a major acqu...

By B Shelton Imagine being a proficient musician, not just able to play piano but able to play any piece of music you want to play. Sound like a pipe dream? If you have always had the itch to perform but don't want to invest a lot of time into lessons, I have great news: you can learn to play songs on the piano in relatively no time at all. Pop music, for example, can be played in a simple chord-based method. You could teach yourself to play some Top 40 hits in a matter of minutes once you understand the basics. Now, some genres will take longer than others. Jazz and Classical piano music, for example, requires the greatest amount of discipline, talent, and commitment. These arrangements tend to be complex, note heavy, and expressive. Yes, you can learn to play classical piano, but be prepared to invest your time into learning to play it correctly. That said, you will find how easy it is to accelerate the learning process and reach your goal as soon as possible. D...

Seeking music engineering schools? With multiple programs offering fundamental music education, students can gain a comprehensive education in music recording, audio and sound engineering; in addition, in state-of-the-art recording studios, music students can also learn how to operate digital audio work stations as well as regular control panels. Music engineering schools are also referred to as recording engineering schools or music production schools, and offer versatile courses with hands on training to give its music education students comprehensive experience and knowledge on how to operate a wide array of audio equipment, computers and software used in recording sessions. Learning how to facilitate professional recording equipment in a studio setting or control room, music engineering schools instruct students how to manage and control the studio control panel. Whether learning about new music, or how to manipulate beats, breaks or grooves, music engineering school...

By Thomas Morva On a par with programs in art, theater, dance and other areas of study, correspondence courses in music are also available. Music courses by correspondence offer students much flexibility to engage in self directed study. A number of music schools offer complete correspondence courses in sound engineering and music production, with a well-rounded industry curriculum. One can register for fundamental or advanced music courses. The fundamental music programs include basic music theory and operation of musical instruments. Advanced courses are specifically designed for music majors having a good background in theory. In this phase, students learn about music analysis and listening strategies, music styles, and composing styles. In music courses by correspondence, students and instructors interact and exchange study materials through postal mail, telephone or e-mail. Each course has two or more examinations prior to the final exam. The final exam covers the en...

1. Dust your piano regularly. Nothing will keep your piano looking nicer than the simple use of hand duster. 2. Keep the piano lid closed when not being used. This will prevent from dust getting inside the piano. 3. Do not place your piano next to a window or where sun light might be able to enter. Sun light will lighten and damage the finish. 4. Clean those dirty keys with a damp cloth and wipe off the keys quickly. Never apply any liquid directly onto the keys. 5. When having guests, put up the lid on the piano to prevent people by placing their glasses on the lid of the piano. A piano is to be played not to place drinks. Otherwise round rings may appear. 6. Keep the humidity between forty and fifty percent. Nothing will make a piano go out of tune faster than the fluctuation of humidity. 7. Tune your piano regularly. Typically when the heat is turned on and the heat is turned off will make the piano go out of tune. If not twice a year than once a year should be adeq...

By Dr. Alice Cash The Mozart Effect: What is it about? A few years ago there was quite a bit in the newspaper and popular magazines about "The Mozart Effect." Many people believed that simply listening to the music of Mozart would raise their I.Q. and marketers went to work churning out CD's of Mozart's music for nearly every conceivable daytime and night-time task. As a professional musician and a musicologist, I had a little problem with that idea then and I still do. However, after talking with my friend Don Campbell, author of "The Mozart Effect" I believe that he did not try in any way to mislead the public into thinking that it does. His definition of "the Mozart Effect" is simply the use of any music at all for any healing purpose at all. That's a pretty widely encompassing concept. Because I did believe in this I submitted two stories from my own music medicine practice which he did subsequently incorporate into the book. ...

By Luzviminda Malibiran Recital Preparation! At the end of the school year, I like to provide an event for my music students to "show off" their favorite musical pieces for family, friends and loved ones in a supportive, loving atmosphere that is safe and nurturing. Many students have worked diligently on musical repertoire for the past 9 months and are ready to share their progress with others and celebrate their musical growth and prowess. It is important that this experience be a positive one- building each musician's self-esteem. So many times, however, I have observed over the years that music students and their families do not fully understand what is required of a "performer." I grew up in a home of physicians that knew nothing about playing music. My parents just wanted to make sure I learned to play piano, but they had no previous knowledge or training on how to assist me with my musical development. I see many students now in my same situ...

The idea that studying music improves the social development of a child is not a new one, but at last there is incontrovertible evidence from a study conducted out of the University of Toronto. The study, published in the August issue of Psychological Science was led by Dr. E. Glenn Schellenberg, and examined the effect of extra-curricular activities on the intellectual and social development of six-year-old children. A group of 144 children were recruited through an ad in a local newspaper and assigned randomly to one of four activities: piano lessons, voice lessons, drama lessons, or no lessons. Two types of music lessons were offered in order to be able to generalize the results, while the groups receiving drama lessons or no lessons were considered control groups in order to test the effect of music lessons over other art lessons requiring similar skill sets and nothing at all. The activities were provided for one year. The participating children were given IQ tests ...

Most can agree that ballet is a beautiful variety of dance, but it is also a delicate art form. The performers are often times telling a story with their movement, and the costumes, or clothing they wear play an integral part in the unfolding of the story. During practice, the ballet dance wear is usually less delicate and more practical, however, during recitals, and performances, dancers can go on stage in anything from an all black body suit, to very complicated skirts, tops, and leggings! The type of dance known as En Pointe, is unique to ballet and has very specific shoes that resemble classic ballet slippers until you see the toe. There it is flattened and very sturdy so that a dancer can stand literally on their tip toes. Dance wear has certainly come a long way and there are several varieties offered to fit any needs. Rehearsal or practice for ballet doesn't usually require full on costuming unless it is a dress rehearsal. Common attire for dancers in class is...

The bamboo flute makers of Ban Laos or Bang Sai Kai, as it's officially known, are descendent's of migrants from Laos who have settled in Bangkok since the Rattanakosin days when the capital was established more than 200 years ago. Laos communities have lived in Thailand for centuries. Long before the days of nation states and national boundaries, there was frequent migration across the Mekong River. Most of them settled in north eastern Thailand that's contiguous with present day Laos. It's no coincidence that the north-eastern Thai or Issarn dialect sounds very much like Laotian. The bamboo flute makers in Ban Laos (Laos Village) however started off as musicians when they first settled on the Thonburi side of Bangkok. Later, they took to making flutes instead, an instrument as old as music. The wisdom of this cultural heritage of two centuries has been preserved to the present day. I asked the first group of villagers for the location of the bamboo flut...

Did you know that one of the easiest ways to get into piano improvisation is by using a left-hand ostinato pattern? This is because the ostinato takes care of the harmony aspects. Now all you have to do is improvise a right-hand melody. The cool thing about ostinato patterns is that there are literally millions of them! That's right! You can experiment with the time element and come up with something unique every time you sit down to play. Of course, those of you who have been reading my articles for some time know that I don't suggest you try and come up with something. The best way is to just play! For example in the lesson "Giant Sequoia" we have a left-hand ostinato pattern that uses 2 chords - A minor and F Major. We use the entire left-hand spanning an octave and we've created a nice harmonic backdrop where we improvise our melodies. The key of the piece is A aeolian. This is a minor modal scale and gives the piece a somewhat sad, yet poignant ...

In a lovely description of heavenly sounds that may captivate the mind, and capture the human soul, this provocative poem embraces the venerable notion that music is, none other than, .... the sacred sound of angels. As precarious as this may seem, if this is indeed so, .... then would it not also be true that poetry may be heard from across the whole of the sky? In a great example of the immeasurable spirit of the sound and meaning of Li Bai's illustrious words, .... our venerated poet writes, From whose house does the secret sound of a jade flute fly, Its lost .... amidst the spring wind which fills Luoyang city. Yet in the middle of the night I remember hearing a willow break. So who .... would not begin to have feelings for his home. Secret Sounds Lost in Luoyang City Perhaps another bittersweet moment in the life of our long lost poet, this poem calls to mind all of the sweet sounds that may elevate the human spirit, .... and release all of the natural rhythms...

Have you ever wondered why some piano students really sound great? Have you thought "she has talent", I wish I could play like that? Although talent does play a part in musical performance, it's the 3 D's that make the real difference! Here are some examples of people with talent who applied the 3 D's to achieve excellence: • Duke Ellington- spent his life performing 6 nights a week while spending part of every day composing and arranging for his band. • George Shearing- spent one week at home practicing and working on arrangements for every week of performing in jazz clubs around the world • James Levine- at age 13 started traveling from Cincinnati, Ohio to Vermont, Colorado and New York (Julliard) to study piano with top level teachers. You can guess that they expected him to practice, practice, practice. • Billy Joel- from a young age liked classical music and reluctantly took piano lessons because his mother insisted. He was teased by the neigh...

1. Use a reputable string instrument dealer in your area. Check with a music school or with local violinists who can recommend a dealer. 2. While I suggest buying a cello, because it represents a greater commitment on your part, you can also rent cellos from dealers for about $50.00 a month. 3. Get the right size for you. Cellos for small children are available in a ¼ size. They are also available in half, three quarter and 4/4 sizes (the last, for adults.) 4. The age, national origin and reputation of the maker strongly affects the price. Cellos are available from about $500.00 to six million. If you cannot afford a fancy name, do not worry. Choose by the cello's sound and condition. 5. Do nots: Do not buy over the internet. You cannot see or hear it, and will have difficulty returning it if necessary. Do not buy a plywood instrument. The body should be made of maple for the back and ribs and spruce for the front. Do not buy a brand new instrument, unless you are sur...

By Clyde Lee Dennis The exceptionally talented Pop artist Richard Shindell has released him CD entitled Vuelta. I am very confident and happy to announce that I believe Richard Shindell fans, and Pop fans alike will be pleased with this one. With the release of Vuelta Richard Shindell's artistic excellence is on full display as Shindell has once again delivered a brilliant collection of tracks that could very well be him best work to date. It's a rare day indeed that I get a CD from an artist that I can truthfully say does not have a bad track in the bunch. I'm more than happy to announce that's exactly what I must say about this one. There simply is NOT a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all. Pop music fans will recognize some of the well known contributors on the project including Lucy Kaplansky and Dennis McDermott plus a few other notables as well. Overall Vuelta is an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up...

By Clyde Lee Dennis David Sanborn, the richly talented Jazz artist has released him latest CD titled Closer and Wow! It's really a good one. It's a rare day indeed that I get a CD from an artist that I can truthfully say does not have a bad track in the bunch. I'm more than happy to announce that's exactly what I must say about this one. There simply isn't a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all, with each song standing tall on it's own. The nice thing about a CD like this is when the talent is this rich even if Jazz isn't your favorite style you still can't help but appreciate the greatness of the artist. Overall Closer is outstanding from beginning to end. One of those CDs that after a few listens the songs are just etched into your memory. A must have for the Jazz fan. Really spectacular from beginning to end. While the entire album is really very good the truly standout tunes are track 1 - Tin Tin Deo, track 3 - Don't Let M...

By Rajan Kumarr Christmas songs have become a symbol of holidays for people living across the globe. Christmas being the time of fun and frolic, has made funny Christmas songs quite popular among kids as well as adults. The actual sentiment behind singing song is to commemorate the birth Of Lord Jesus Christ, who later in his life became the savior of mankind. For such a stupendous cause,the origin of funny Christmas songs in the ancient times is out of context. But, humor is the spice of life. Since contemporary generations added that fun element to it, ancient songs have got a new dimension to it. The characteristic trait of funny Christmas songs is it's joyous music and easy to remember lyrics. The song called Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer was never so popular since it's funny version was released. Many parodies of religious carols can be seen on television and theater shows. Some of the timeless classic funny Christmas songs are here just for you. All I Want...

Your guitar will certainly give you more consistent quality sound along with a much longer life span if the correct care and attention is provided. Purchasing some accessories that are essential for the care of your guitar is vital if you are serious about playing the guitar. There is a well known saying that is certainly true, and that is "a guitar player is only as good as the sound and quality of the guitar he is playing". A hard shell case is the first item which should be purchased, in order to ensure the safety of your guitar during transportation to and from different locations, where you will be playing your guitar. A soft or cloth "gig bag" is something which many people use for their guitar, these bags zip up and offer protection to the exterior surface of the guitar. The only problem with this type of bag, is that during transportation, the tuning nuts on the end of the guitar neck can move which results in the guitar becoming out of tune, a...

I dropped music from my life for 47 years, while I taught English and raised my family. Although I missed music intensely, I said, like many other people, that I had no time for music making. What I really meant was, "I don't have time to practice enough. I can't play as beautifully as I would like to. So I am quitting this field totally." Only in my 60's, after I retired from my job as a teacher of English, did I go back to studying and playing the cello. Hearing that I've gone back to playing music, people often say, "Oh, I love the sound of a cello! I wish I could do that. But I KNOW I can't." Music is absent from their lives. Listening to their sad voices, I feel very sorry for them and very frustrated. Why are people so afraid of trying to play music? So sure that they can't? Without ever trying, they've denied themselves this opportunity. Sometimes it's because they never had any musical instruction in childhood and...

My Flute My first intermediate flute was a Gemeinhardt 3SHB. Now Gemeinhardt's take a lot of heat by professional flutists, claiming they have a shrill sounding tone. I did not notice this on mine but of course I was in High School. When to Buy Buying for a Student: I bought my intermediate flute when I started taking private lessons, 10th grade. I would suggest buying an intermediate flute when the your child enters high school and shows an interest in the flute. If your child does not show a serious interest in the instrument, then you shouldn't buy them one. Buying for yourself: I bought my intermediate flute in the 10th grade, which means that I had been playing for 5 1/2 years. I would suggest that you buy it no sooner than 3 years. Make sure you need a better flute. At a recent masterclass with James Galway he picked up a beginner flute from the audience and played it just as good as his $20K flutes. At this level, as long as you buy a flute that has no me...

Music has its own unique appeal, which transcends boundaries and touches every single soul. The most versatile amongst all instruments, which have transformed the entire musical landscape globally,is the synthesizer. Synthesizers have the magic to bring life to any performance. History of synthesizers is replete with interesting twists and turns. The mid 80s proved to be a booming phase for this magical instrument. The history of electronic music reached a new height with the emergence of the synthesizer. Some of the synthesizer models which absolutely proved to be the delight of musicians are as follows CZ-2600S CZ-3000 CZ-101 CZ-230S CZ-1000 CZ-5000 CT-6500 Types of synthesizers Synthesizers are primarily of three different kinds, which are as follows Analog Digital Software There are also synthesizers, which are a combination of the above-mentioned kinds known as hybrid synthesizers. There are many synthesis methods, which have gradually evolved over the years. Som...

Playing the Native American Flute: Lesson Three If you have gone through the first two lessons and have experienced the thrill of hearing real musical sounds come from your flute you will be more than ready to develop some new skills. In this lesson I will show you how to add variety and dynamics to your playing. First, make the sound tah by touching the tip of your tongue to the top of the pallet of your mouth and blowing some air pressure against it as you suddenly let the tongue go slack. It's a tah like the beginning of the word table. Do you feel the air blow outward explosively? Try it again – make the sound tah, tah, tah out loud. Now, do it again silently. Put your flute to your mouth and with all holes closed. Make a silent tah into the flute as you sound the fundamental note. Now sound the fundamental by just blowing into the flute. Do you hear the difference between these two sounds? The one made with a tah is sharper and quicker than the plain blowing int...

If you're a beginning or intermediate pianist interested in learning and playing hymn tunes -- particularly those relating to the Christian faith -- there are several issues working in your favor. First, as the words and tunes of hymns generally date back to pre-20th century times, most hymns live entirely in the public domain. For this reason, thousands of free hymns and gospel songs in the form of sheet music and music books, both popular and obscure, are readily available from countless publishing sources. Of course, prospective hymnists will still have to pay for comprehensive, paper-based collections of hymns. However, with the growth of the Internet it is now possible to find extensive collections of free hymns in all corners of the Web. Meanwhile, before embarking upon a serious study of hymns, it's important for the pianist to build a solid foundation of historical understanding. After all, devotional music goes as far back as Christianity itself. Accordin...

By Susan Jan For those of you not too familiar with what a cello looks like or sounds like, just imagine the sound and image of the violin, and then amplify the size and the sound texture many times over. Although the cello and violin differ quite a bit from each other, they also resemble each other in quite a few ways. The cello originated in Italy, and this string instrument is a member of the violin family. In terms of size, the cello is larger than the violin while smaller than the bass. The cello is considered as one of the most complex instruments created. It is made up of various materials, such as wood and also steel, rubber and metal. It has a unique shape, with a wide breadth on the top and bottom and a narrow middle. This instrument produces a rich alto sound that is beautifully suited for special occasions. However, it is quite difficult to play a cello particularly for beginners. Do not expect to produce a very pleasant sound when first starting out. You ...