1st Piano

Most players seem to have either questions or a misunderstanding on why and how to use their guitar and amp tone controls, so don't feel bad if you do too. Sure they're the place that you shape your overall guitar tone (amp tone too), but tone controls can be so much more.   First of all, you want to adjust the tone controls so that all the notes of your instrument speak evenly.  That is, no note or group of notes are way louder or softer than any other.    On a guitar this might sound something like the low end is really too boomy when you play a Les Paul or something with humbucking pickups through your amp setup, but it's nice and even with a Strat or something that has single coil pickups.  Or the other way around where the Paul sounds balanced while the Strat sounds light on the low end.  In this case, adjusting either the bass or mid controls on the amp will make sure that all notes are equal in level.   Another situation might be ...

Jingle singers are a sub-field of session singers, which is just an abbreviated term for "recording session singers". Session singers includes background singers for recordings, demo singing for songwriters, duet, solo and group singing for all kinds of media projects, and for which a singer is paid a set fee or residual schedule. What is the typical compensation for singing jingles? The niche of jingle singer has been drying up for many years. In times gone by, every product on the market had its own jingle -- usually with a memorable melody AND lyric -- which meant it had to be sung. Now there are few signature jingles you see on TV, and those are often just instrumental tracks. Nevertheless, jingles are still sung, and a whole lot of money is still made from them in residual income. There are local, regional and national jingles. $12,000 and more from a single 13 week run of a national spot is common. For jingle singers, joining the singer's union AFTRA...

By Darren W Chow If you're shopping for a new MIDI keyboard controller, you probably have done your research on what to look for in a good model. You also know what type of controller will fit your needs best. Before you head off to make a purchase, though, you should look into the most user unfriendly models out there. Knowing which models are widely considered unusable will give you a good starting place for things to avoid, as well as an idea of what to look out for in other models. Here are three models to definitely avoid and why you should steer clear of them. Edirol PCR50 The Edirol PCR50 is a compact, supposedly versatile keyboard controller. However, user reviews speak volumes to the opposite. This inexpensive model has been reported to have a toy-like feeling to it. From the keys to the knobs, the unit offers little in the way of sturdiness or stability. Aside from the fact that users report the unit feels like it will fall apart at any moment, it doesn...

By Judy Rodman So you decide to take voice lessons. How many should you take? The short answer: as many as it takes to get you voice where you want it to be. The longer answer: it depends on your needs: * If you are looking for a vocal assessment as to how you are singing right now, one lesson should do it. At this assessment lesson (one or two hours is recommended), you should get a professional opinion as to how well you're singing right now, and what it might take to get your voice ready for where you want to go. You should also get help with your weakest area(s)at the first lesson... so no matter what, you will get real and immediate benefit for whatever money you spend on vocal training. * If you have vocal problems such as straining, weakness, breathing issues and/or performance communication disconnect, you should take as many as you need to conquer those problems. At the first lesson, major problems the vocal coach notices should be spelled out for you. * I...

The proper placement and setup of your audio equipment speakers and home audio equipment is important. We all enjoy the sounds of the movie theater at home. When we can actually feel the thumping in our chest from low frequency sounds, or hear each one of a million pieces of glass hit the ground, it adds to our entertainment. If you setup and place your audio system and speakers improperly, you are not going to be able to enjoy all the features of the system you purchased. If you are like most people, you purchased an audio equipment system with as many features as you could get. These features are important for your enjoyment of your system, but do not guarantee great sound. Rather, you should take some time to understand some concepts of sound acoustics to get the most from your equipment. There are many different ways to setup up an audio system in a room. There is not just one way that is best. That is because each room where a system is placed has its own individua...

The Djembe is a skin covered drum which resembles the shape of a large goblet and is made to be played best with bare hands and a lot of force behind it. Most Djembe Drums are traditionally carved and each have their own meanings and even stories behind them if you were to translate them. Djembe Drums are actually named after their original wood source, the Djem tree, which is mostly found in Mali, which is in West Africa, and was at one time used in the making of Djembe shells. Dating back to the 13th Century, the djembe is the drum of the Mandinka people, and the great Mali empire. The word djembe is pronounced (JEM-bay). It is sometimes called jembe, djimbe, yembe, or jenbe. In Susu it is called sanbanyi. (The Susu are descendants of the thirteenth century Mali empire, who mostly live in Guinea now, but are spread throughout west african nations.) The traditional way in Africa to play a Djembe Drum is actually by standing but in a lot of photos you will see someone sit...

Lifting the soft palate is something that classically trained singers have to do to magnify their vocal sound richly and carry volume. But contemporary singers as well as speakers need to learn this inner lift as well. To 'lift your soft palate before you sound your voice is the only way to find your vocal 'sweet spot' where you experience full resonance without strain. So how should a singer lift the soft palate?     * First of all, you can use the 'inner smile', a time-tested vocal technique which feels like the beginning of the yawn. This is not to be confused with the tight, horizontal external smile. Think Mona Lisa.     * Imagine a ping pong ball on the back of your tongue. This will cause the soft palate to lift, as well as loosen the jaw and relax the base of the tongue.     * Get your eyes and nose into the act: Remember that the back of the nasal membrane goes on back behind the eyes and continues above the soft pal...