Oct 17, 2010

Recording Studio Software - Mixing House Music

I want to spend my lifetime loving you listening to such a remarkable music production, sounds great. What about your own creativity guys? Friends! If you also feel like to produce some ever memorable production, then get up, no more worries, indeed they are going to be ended in a while. Here, is the solution and the ever great music creation tool; the recording studio software. Now you are soon going to become a master-mind in the vicinity of music creation.
Today, with the development of computer and IT, it is no more a big challenge to make your own studio for recording. It is recommended to use this studio software especially for those who can't afford the cost to make a dedicated room for recording. The advantage of such recording software is that its portable since it's a software. Just install it in to your systems and make the whole system shift able anywhere you want. You don't need a dedicated room for this. Even if you have decided to perform live in shows to gain popularity, then there, you will definitely require a music system. If it were not a portable one, you would have to suffer a lot to make them shift to the performing stage. But friends! The recording studio software has made it so simple for you.
The whole system is so simple. The things you need have greatly been reduced. You only need this software, being installed in your computer system. The only hardware component is the microphone and its interface. So just record the voice, guitars etc separately and mix them later according to the harmony of the song.
So you are going to perform live in a show? That's nice and somewhat impressive. But will you do it with the old systems? If yes, then you are going to suffer a lot. So make the things simpler and easy to use and to carry with. Besides studio recording, you can also record the live performances and selling them to gain money.
Money always echoes cool if you are gaining it. The same word sounds sometimes irritating when you are losing them. So to gain the money more efficiently just employ the recording studio software. Friends! Just go and rock the stage on live performance to make your fans.

Oct 12, 2010

Learn to Play Guitar - The Right Amp for You

When learning to play the guitar it is always helpful to use the best quality equipment that you can afford. Having a good quality guitar played through a poor quality amplifier will not sound very good. On the other hand, having a poor quality guitar played through a good quality amp will sound a whole lot better.Each type of amplifier has it's own strengths and its own weaknesses. There are basically 4 different types of amps tube,solid state,hybrid and modeling amplifiers.
Tube Amplifiers are the first of these and have been in use the longest. All the other types have been modeled after the tube amp. Glass vacuum tubes in its power and pre-amp sections gives these amps a warm natural tone and has a great deal of sustain and power. One of the problems with this type is that over time the tubes wear out and the sound quality may change. The tubes also retain a lot of voltage and may need a technician to change and dispose of the tubes.
Solid state amplifiers do not have parts that will wear out as easily as tube amps and therefore will sound the same each time they are turned on. Transistors as opposed to tubes in the pre-amp section are what power a solid state amp. The use of transistors make this type more reliable, however you may lose some of the tone. It is generally a little grittier and a bit more sterile on the lead and overdrive tones. Solid state amps tend to be less expensive than tube amps.
In order to replicate the tone of the tube amp a Hybrid was developed that uses a tube pre-amp section combined with a solid state power section. The hybrid amplifiers cost a little more than a solid state amp but are generally less expensive than a good quality tube amp.
The fourth type is the Modelling amp. With a built-in digital processor these amps can replicate the many sound set ups of different amps, cabinets, mic placements and even the sound of different rooms. They come with a large amount of guitar effects built-in as well as a digital tuner and a direct line for recording purposes. Using a foot control, you can switch from one effect to another very easily. Although they don't quite have the same sound as a tube amp, they are getting closer and closer with each new development.
That's the 4 types of amps and each has it's pluses and minuses. Whether it be cost or quality of tone there is definitely one that is right for any guitar player.

Oct 10, 2010

No More MySpace Free Tunes?

The word is out that the companies who control MySpace Music are looking at changing the site into a paid subscription model. Is this really any surprise, considering the fact it's operated by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. in conjunction with the four major record labels? Murdoch's been an avid proponent of making users pay for online media content for sometime, and we all know how reticent the big labels have been to embrace anything that doesn't involve monetization when it comes to the distribution of music files.
While MySpace itself has been struggling to retain its relevance in the social network milieu, losing the battle big time to sites like Facebook and Twitter for the hearts and minds of the critical teen to 30-something demographic, its MySpace Music offspring has never lived up to its promise of becoming an entertainment hub.
Morphing itself into some kind of Facebook wannabe and losing heaps of money in the process obviously wasn't the answer for MySpace. To add injury to insult, because they've lost ground with Web users to other sites their ad revenue from Google Ads is likely to go way down once their current deal with that Internet behemoth runs out soon. And the ad-supported online music service option they might have considered, in which users are forced to endure advertisements before being able to stream or download "free" song files, is probably a non-starter given that virtually every site that's tried such a model has failed and disappeared.
So, now they figure they've got a better chance to gain traction by replacing MySpace Music with a subscription service? Well, good luck to them.
While I don't give them much chance of success whatever route they take, the good news for all music loving plebes, both in and outside the industry, is that MySpace Music is a non-essential piece of the digital music landscape. And if, as is promised, they keep the social networking aspect of Mother MySpace intact and continue to give artists the ability to stream file samples and video clips to users for free, then all will be right with at least one corner of the digital world.

Oct 7, 2010

Home Music Studio Awesomeness - Virtual Instruments

Home music studio excellence is no longer a matter of money like it has been for so many years. Nowadays, you can produce professional audio right from your laptop, and certainly from any desktop computer, for dirt cheap prices. Boy, I sure wish these prices existed when I was just getting started! But I digress.
Once you have recording software on your computer, you will need a midi keyboard to hook up to a USB port or sound card midi jack. You can get a wide range of midi keyboards from as little as $50. Try Radio Shack or your local music store.
Now let's talk about sounds. I'm sure you're familiar with the typical sounds a computer plays when a midi file is launched. These are computer-y sounding cheesy "instruments" that come built into most sound cards. Let me state right up front that these are NOT the sounds I refer to when I say "virtual instrument." Oh no. What I want you to know about is the host of real-sounding software instruments available to load up on your computer and then play with your midi keyboard. If you can think of an instrument, odds are you can find a virtual version on-line somewhere.
What is the difference between the cheesy sounds on your sound card and the virtual instruments I'm talking about? The major difference is that a virtual instrument can (usually does) sound indistinguishable from the "real" version of the instrument. At least to most people. Try this experiment (for which you won't even need the keyboard). Find a simple midi file on the internet. They are everywhere, just type "midi file" into a search engine and download one for a tune you know. Nursery rhymes work well...just something simple. Double-click that file (midi files have a ".mid" extension) and listen to it play through your soundcard's piano sound.
Now we'll listen to the same midi file played through a free virtual instrument. There are several types of virtual instruments out there, the most popular of which is probably a "VST" (virtual studio technology) file. So we need to download something called a "VST host" from the web. There are several free ones to choose from (yup, type "free VST host" into a search engine). A VST host is just a piece of software that can play VST virtual instruments. Once you have the host program installed, you'll need to attach or "load" an instrument. For this let's use a free VST instrument called "4Front PIano Module" (you guessed it...search engine again;)). Once that is downloaded, all you have to do is load the 4Front Piano from within your VST host program and you're ready to rock. Import the midi file you played earlier on your sound card into the VST host (with the 4Front piano loaded up) and hit "play."
Hopefully you'll notice that the piano sound coming from the virtual instrument, 4Front Piano Module in this case, sounds vastly superior to when you heard it coming from your sound card's factory instrument. And this was just a free instrument! For a few bucks, you can get an even better sounding VST piano to plug into your VST host and play that same midi file.
Want to hear the same notes on a different instrument? Trumpet, maybe? Or violin? Download some trumpet and violin VST instruments and try those in your host program. You can play that same midi file through any midi instrument you can find! The possibilities are just about endless.
Eventually you'll learn to create your own midi files (another article I'm afraid) to play back through a virtual instrument, and then mix that instrument in with actual audio files you've recorded to create a rich ensemble. Use virtual bass guitar and virtual drums along with real electric guitar and real vocals to turn yourself into a rock band. Are you starting to see how this can be life-changing if you are a musician?
If you don't already have a home music studio, this can be your start. If you do have one but didn't know about virtual instruments, this will take your productions to a whole new level. There is not reason (at least no monetary reason, since the example here used only free stuff) to give this a try right now! You'll be amazed and inspired. I know I was.
Learn to record and produce professional-sounding audio from home. Home music recording or voiceover recording, fun and short video tutorials show you how. We'll show you how to start with a $0-$5 budget, and then how to improve your studio for a few dollars at a time as your knowledge and confidence increase. 

Music: 10 Things I Learnt From Starting a Music Group

The fact that you sing well or are gifted at something does not mean that doors of opportunity are going to open automatically for you. You have an opportunity here, to learn from my personal experience how to overcome challenges that talented people face in breaking through to the next level. What starts out as a hobby or a pastime can evolve into a big thing and lead to the discovery of a greater purpose. This article gives talented ly musicians, hope and practical insights. I am a singer songwriter, producer and pioneer of a music group.
I share ten lessons which are helpful, if you are interested in taking your music to the next level:
  1. You can start where you are with what you have. I started singing a capella (music without instruments) at weddings, parties, churches and conferences with four of my friends who had a similar passion. The biggest limitation for most artistes in our country was and still is, musical instruments for live shows. We used our creativity in order to get round this problem.
  2. The power of vision will sustain you in the long - term. What started out as a bunch of friends hanging out with nothing else but good voices and a passion for music, turned out to be a soulful a capella quintet. We have been in the music industry for at least a decade and officially released three musical albums and have featured in many live concerts.
  3. You need to manage group dynamics if you work with other people. In order to remain in the game. When personnel left the group, we had a policy of finding replacements.
  4. You need to master and perfect your delivery before you aspire for the next level. We sang for a number of years before we started doing studio recordings. All along we had been getting our name known and getting our voices and style of music perfected.
  5. Partnerships are important if you are going to do anything meaningful. We realized our need for exposure so we would partner with other musicians who had more experience and larger audiences and did concerts together. Each time we recorded an album we had a mentor, we had a financer and we had songwriters contributing to our albums.
  6. A good name that means something to you and your fans is a good place to start. We gave the group a name which when translated from its Hebrew origin means a place of permanent praise. This is in line with our aspiration of singing praise music that glorifies God..
  7. Choosing a style that you are comfortable with, ensures that you do a good job and enjoy yourself in the process. You may not want to be tied down to a particular style. What we did was to fuse local styles of music with jazz, soul, church music influences whilst maintaining our trade - mark four - part harmony sung in without instruments or accompanied by instruments.
  8. Dedication is necessary if you are going to succeed. I know of many people who have abundant talent but are not willing to do what is required to nurture that talent and explore its full potential. I learnt that people whose excellence goes unrecorded remain ordinary.
  9. You will not be remembered if you do not record. It does not matter how good you are. No-one will remember that you had a great voice or musical ability many years later if you do not have a recording.Your idea must cease to be an idea and take on its shape and form as it is implemented.
  10. You have the potential to become a strong brand or household name. When you become serious, you will be taken seriously. We are no longer just a singing group but a brand which evokes positive emotions in gospel music lovers in my home country.
Fitzgerald Mujuru is an author motivational speaker, marketing consultant and musician. He is the author of soon to be published book, "Power Thought For Today" motivational series. He is the pioneer of Jeduthun Music which has been recording and doing live shows in the last ten years. You can visit him onhttp://powerthought4today.wordpress.com

Michael In Foreverland - A New Tribute Book on Michael Jackson's World

These three words: Michael In Foreverland - are all over the Google and Yahoo Search Engines. A story about Michael Jackson's extraordinary life. A life full of adventures and wonderment.
Michael Jackson was a True Humanitarian who truly cared about Planet Earth, the Animals and Children. He envisioned his World to be as he created his World and shared it with only those who BELIEVED!!
Michael Jackson's Earth Song was like the Avatar movie, where the Navi people were very sad when their Home Tree was destroyed. They were brave and fought to the very end. Even the Animals fought back to save their land.
If we all saw the World through Michael's eyes - we would see Beauty all around. A World of Peace, Love and Harmony. Michael loved to laugh and smile. He was curious about the World around him and had a childlike enthusiasm for life that most of us lose when we grow up into Adulthood. He loved Disneyland, for his world was much the same.
Michael's closest friends that stood by him and who believed in him were Elizabeth Taylor, Brooke Shields and Lisa Marie Presley.
In Michael In Foreverland, you will take a journey into Michael's World and get a glimpse of his Genius Mind. Michael believed in legends and fairytales. He loved to read books and to watch old classic movies with Humprey Bogart.
And although Michael Jackson is no longer with us, he will live in our hearts forever. Michael will stay young forever and live forever in "Michael In Foreverland." The World is a better place because of the contributions that he made through his songs.

Oct 5, 2010

Top Ten Rock Love Songs

Are you looking for some rock ballads for your wedding? Or maybe just a romantic night with your special loved one? Well I have found some love rock songs and ballads. I know that not everyone likes that mushy country and r&b music. I like to hear the guitar riffs and feel the emotion of the music. Here is my list of great rock love songs and ballads.
1. More Than Words by Extreme: This song was released in 1991, this is the epitome of stating that you need to show how much you love someone not just say it. After all, actions speak louder than words.
2. Open Arms by Journey: Released in 1982, this song is about couples reconciling and going into "open arms". Putting it all aside to try and work things out because you want to be together.
3. Take My Breath Away by Berlin: Mostly recognized from the movie, Top Gun, this song just literally states that love can take your breath away. Love is that powerful.
4. Angel by Aerosmith: This song is about a guy realizing that a girl is his angel and he needs her to come save him. He needs her in his life. This song was released in 1988.
5. Your Body Is A Wonderland by John Mayer: Catchy tune that says this guy respects his girl and her body. He wants to explore it more.
6. Your Guardian Angel by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus: Really awesome and powerful ballad that says I will always be there and never let you fall. This is the ultimate devotion. This song always makes me cry. It was released in 2006.
7. Can't Fight This Feeling by Reo Speedwagon: This is the best song for best friends who have become lovers. The guy decides to tell the girl that he can't fight his feelings anymore.
8. When I Look Into Your Eyes by Firehouse: The eyes are the pathway into your soul. They let the love in and out. This song was released in 1992.
9. Nothing Else Matters by Metallica: This song is about saying that even when you are far apart, you can still be close together because nothing else matters.
10. I Don't Want To Miss A Thing by Aerosmith: From the movie, Armageddon, starring Steven Tyler's daughter, Liv Tyler. This song teaches us to make every moment count and to make sure we let our loved ones know that we care. We don't want to miss valuable time with them.
This is my list of rock love songs and ballads. Hope you enjoy.
Rock on and let the music flow. I love rock music and it is all I listen to. Love can be found in all types of music.

Oct 4, 2010

What You Need To Know Before Learning Guitar

You might be reading this article because you have decided that you want to start learning the guitar, or that someone you know has decided to. Playing guitar is very rewarding and it does look pretty easy to do when you watch other people play. The truth is that it is not that hard to play guitar, if you are ready to accept one thing. It takes time, practice and dedication to learn. Don't expect to pick up the guitar and instantly become Jimi Hendrix - it never works like that.
The best way to start to learn is to get some lessons from a qualified teacher but sometimes this can be a problem in itself. You need to make sure that they have lots of experience, have got a properly recognised qualification (in teaching guitar) and have the interests of the student at heart, not a desire to make money from you.
The problem with some guitar tutors is that they only teach one style or method. Classical as opposed to chords for example. If you have an idea of what kind of music you would like to play, before you look for a teacher, you will be better prepared to choose the right one. Most new players would like to learn how to play chords, rather than fingerpicking melodies. Or perhaps the student would like to learn how to read and write music, so they can start producing their own songs? Most kids want to be able to play rock music and blistering solos until their parents ears bleed. But what ever your motivation is to play the guitar, finding the right teacher for the job is very important and can make or break the learning process.
Some people might decide that getting a guitar teacher is a little beyond them when they start and choose to teach themselves. This is very possible and can be very rewarding. In fact, some of the best guitarists in the world are self-taught - so there is your evidence that it works. There are plenty of websites and resources on the Internet that a student can learn from. Some contain video instruction, whilst others will give you the chords to play along to your favorite songs. Have a look around and see what you can find - there is something for everybody.
There are also plenty of books available to someone who is learning the guitar. Unless the player is a child, I would recommend getting a book that has well-known songs in, rather than small melodies that are played on one or two strings. If you know the songs, which will most likely be simple songs by The Beatles or folk style ballads, it will make playing that much more enjoyable, especially if you are an older student.

Making Money, Making Music

Music, money and fame! That is the goal of nearly every musician. 'Making money, making music' is a kind of dream to most aspiring musicians. Most musicians possess the 'music' part quite inherently. However, at some point of time in the life of every musician, they look forward to making money with their music.
Some would consider a 'formal' career made in the music industry while others would take it in any way they can get it. Once a person finds something he/she enjoys doing, he/she inevitably wants to make money by exploiting that talent.
The activity hardly becomes a job and more of a game. Music and money go hand in hand which most musicians are not aware of.
Musicians seem to be some special breed. They would do anything to keep away from the serious business world. Any young musician believes that he/she would join some music band, write a few songs and obtain a free recording contract.
But, one does not need to be a rockstar or even a superstar to make money from music. Creating small jingles for businesses or advertisements is an excellent option for making money from music.
Then why the stigma? That's the kind of lifestyle thrown at musicians from music videos. Any self-sufficient musician who is passionate about his/her craft would always be researching about their contemporaries or some other popular artists.
These budding musicians are well aware about what is going on in the music arena. This is a very important to be kept in mind if a person is eager to make money by making music.
Unfortunately this is the situation in which all independent musicians are exposed to.
The most depressing part is that there are some great independent musicians who lose their wish to play music at all if they fail to get any recording contract. 
This is just not the end.
In reality real money could be made by the musician at times he/she steps out of the realm of the recording contract. By making small jingles for business organizations or some advertisement, these budding musicians can earn a lot.
Freelancing makes a lot of money than having a fixed job, especially at the time of looking for a job.

Playing Through the Blues Review - Has It Been the Real Thing?

Blues guitar is a very favorite starting place for beginner guitar player and so I have regularly been asked by a lot of new guitar player if Playing through the Blues does what it sets out to do.
Playing through the Blues was developed by Griff Hamlins, a qualified guitar player as well as instructor of at least 20 years. The program is made for both beginner as well as more advanced guitarist.
The course starts with the basics in guitar chords, scales, finger picking and also legato methods. Explicit goals are actually indicated at the onset of every single session therefore you are aware what you are required to accomplish before you have the sufficient skills to move on to the subsequent lesson. There is a steady advancement via 1 lesson to another. This accumulation in competence on the foundation set formerly makes the learning curve very manageable. The video and spoken instruction manuals helps make it far easier to understand, see as well as hear exactly what the proper tactic must appear and also sound like.The teaching software has a decent level of emphasis on beat playing to help demonstrate the relationship involving the two methods. This sort of guitar teaching system functions extremely well to highlight how you must play so as to draw out the finest as the lead guitar player.
You will not be inundated by music jargons and theories. The jargons as well as concepts if used in Playing through the Blues are explained in succinct language therefore you will not come to feel overwhelmed.. Regardless if you are 12 year old or 60 year old, you will be able to fully grasp and then gain from this online guitar course. The course material is considerable and include guiding your thoughts to think like excellent Blues guitar player such as Eric Clapton in order to get yourself in the right train of thoughts.
This particular guitar teaching software consists of videos of excellent quality and audio materials in addition to written materials and they are really effective in displaying chord/scale partnership in blues guitar. This guitar teaching system also effectively shows exactly how to master blues bends and just about all the unique blues fingerings. Included is additionally a repository of innovative ways for turnaround and licks.
You will also pick up lots of pointers on how you can solo quickly across the entire fretboard, have fun with minor blues, pinch harmonics and hammer-ons. Just like all musical instruments, practise makes perfect. Playing through the Blues will remove a whole lot of the pain and also obstacle regarding learning blues guitar aside and help to make your learning time so much more satisfying. And if you simply schedule 20-30mins each and every day practising along with the particular lesson program developed by Playing through the Blues, you will absolutely grow to be a good blues guitarist.The particular guitar teaching software includes a life time update, therefore this will make sure that you are constantly kept informed on any unique Blues approach. Playing through the Blues definitely set itself apart from other Blues guitar instruction, and so should you want to become the upcoming blues sensation, this is undoubtedly the best place to begin.

Oct 3, 2010

The State of Somali Music

Somali people have a rich musical heritage centered on traditional Somali folklore. Somali songs are usually the product of collaboration between lyricists (midho), songwriters (laxan), and singers (Codka or "voice"). Bands such as Waaberi and Horseed have gained a small following outside of the country. Others, such as Ahmed Cali Cigal and Maryam Mursal, have fused traditional Somali music with rock and roll, bossa nova, jazz, and other modern influences.
However, the current state of Somali Music although hampered by a non existent uncooperative government has managed to flourish fantastically with an array of talented new singers such as Aar Maanta and Farhia Fiska coming to the stage. In addition, legends such as Nimco Yasin and Hassan Aden Samatar are still keeping us entertained. However, there are two issues that need to be addressed in Somali Music and it needs to improved. I hope to discuss these issues in this article whilst providing plausible remedies.
Singers Copying Lyrics
I think we are all aware that lyrics used in the past are being used again but what we are not aware of is its reason. What we seem to do is place blame on the singers themselves. Granted they may partially be to blame but what we have to understand is that there are hundreds of singers and not enough lyricists. We currently have a count of 330 artists at somali-music.com and this isn't by no means a conclusive number. The number of lyrists that we are aware of can be counted on our fingers. The ratio difference is too wide.
Simply put, we need more lyricists and a smoother collaboration process between singers and lyricists.
Somali Music Videos
Another issue is the production of Somali music videos. The majority of Somali Music videos comprises of the singer standing in front of the video camera and swinging from side to side for the duration of the song without any activity. There is no story in the music video, there is no change of scenery except for those computer generated graphics. If we compare Somali music videos to what the rest of the world produces we are far behind.
This is something that the majority (not all) of Somali artists have been doing for a while and this needs to change. Again, we can not say it's the fault of the singers it is more likely that the producers and technical producers not being as advanced technically as we like them to be. Having said this, there is a fantastic array of Somali music videos that are produced and directed well but these are in the minority.
Lack of Resources
It is evident that there is a lack of resources within the Somali Music industry. Many musicians do not see singing as a career. They dabble in it when they can but they do not see it as a full time career for them and this is because there isn't a large enough financial reward and media attention for them to pursue it fully as a career.
Lets put the lack of resources into perspective by comparing the Somali Music industry to the rest of the world. A music video that Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson produced for their song "scream" cost $7M. We can say for sure that this has not happened within the Somali Music industry, in fact the whole industries worth may be less than this. The blame here is with the Somali government or lack of government.
In the past, when a strong Somali state with a government existed, singers looked forward to performing in theaters such as the Chinese built Somali National Theater which gave potential musicians a source of motivation to sing at a respectable place and to become an experienced singer. Dance and vocal training existed for potential singers too. The same can not be said for today's potential musicians and it is evident in some singers dancing technique.
If we look at the past and use Saado Ali Warsame as an example, she is a fantastic dancer and a talented singer and a great basis to compare other Somali artists. If we have a look at some of her videos, we can see she is clearly talented and the video has been choreographed well by trained professionals. Abdi Salaad Beerdilaacshe also shows us his a skilled twist dancer!
It is true that some people are more gifted in dancing and can come naturally however dancing is something that can be learned and improved upon. It would be great to see a little more action and movement in Somali Music videos in terms of dancing. It is feasible to say that better music videos will highlight the singers ability to dance.
Conclusion
Although this article points out flaws in the Somali Music industry it does not in any way intended to be inflammatory. It is simply written from a group of people who admire Somali Musicians and want them to rise to the top. A negative light has been shone on the Somali Music industry, this is not to say its all bad.

How to Look Major on Minor Money - A Garage Bands Guide to Style

So your garage band is ready for more than YouTube and it's time to do professional recording and photo sessions to get a solid image for touring that booking agents can use in promotion. That' means it's time to work on your band style as well as your music
So how do you up your image and style ante without using a lot of money?
The local Savers thrift store is a treasure trove of good, vintage, stylish clothes that can stretch the visual appeal of the band while also stretching the budget.
Your local vintage shops and thrift stores can have fun, funky, stylish clothes that are inexpensive with plenty of wear still in them. This can be a great place to start for clothes and make a little wardrobe budget go far. Consider incorporating a thrift store run in each of the cities that you play in for greater diversity.
The next style option is to partner with a fashion design student. The fashion design student gets their designs in front of the public or in photos and you get something original to wear to help define the personal style of the band. To find these fashion students visit the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise website or your local community college and university. The fashion department is usually cataloged under the art department. Popular indie music fashion designer Angela Johnson came out of the FIDM school and also teaches at a local community college in Arizona. The style talent is around you, you just need to tap into it.
Social media sites are perfect for finding new style talent also. There are several meetup.com fashion groups, and of course Facebook is full of fashionistas also, just post a request and see what type of style trade you can make.
Your hairstyles can be a signature part of the band and music you become known for. You never know when big rocker hair is going to come back in style, so best get prepared now. Whether you need a cut,color,perm or weave, these services are best left to the professionals.
If you don't have professional budget for these services the beauty schools are a great option. All services are performed by students learning with a professional stylist as an instructor. I suggest you take a photo of your hair vision along to the appointment to help inspire the creativity of the student stylist.
These services are more than half off of what you would pay in a salon.
A little makeup goes along way on stage and in your photo shoots. Your most important step to look great in a photo is to take good care of your skin. Slather on a little lightweight moisturizer with SPF to get things started. Follow with spf lip balm because cracked chapped lips never photograph well. Just before a photoshoot prep your skin by using an oil absorbing matte powder to tone down shine before the flashes start popping. You may want to use the face powder on stage on the sweat level during performance.
Eyeliner, or in some cases it is called guyliner is worth the effort. A smudgy smokey eye photographs beautifully and holds up fairly well on stage under hot lights. Most importantly it "pops" the eye and makes them stand out more. Experiment with different brands of pencils, creme or powdered eyeshadows as eyeliner.
Remember, a little makeup goes along way in a more polished and professional look. You decide your level of cosmetic comfort somewhere between Duran Duran and Twisted Sister.
Congratulations on your budding music career and shaping a style of your own.

Underneath the Bad-Girl Image Lindsay Lohan Is a Talented Recording Artist

Lindsay Lohan Songs aren't played much on the radio today. However America's bad-girl still finds a way to make news on the radio. Today Lindsay Lohan is known less for her singing and acting and more for her partying lifestyle.
Lindsay started her big career in Disney's remake of The Parent Trap. This movie was just a springboard for her career. Soon not only was she starring in movies, but she was also singing on the sound track. The was several years where America's little princess could do no wrong.
Lindsay's teenage years were rough for her. If Lindsay's music video, 'Over' was any indication of her time at home with her family it must have been very traumatic. The music video features her hiding in the bathroom. The video also stars her little sister Ali Lohan praying with a rosary. An actor playing Lindsay's mother and father, Dina and Michael Lohan are shown arguing in the living room. This is all taking place in a department store window with people watching from the street.
In all Lindsay has released 2 albums and another has stalled as of recently. She also has had 8 singles released with a couple making it to the billboard 100.
Lindsay undoubtedly has overcome some very rough emotions in her young life and it is obvious she still has some rough road ahead of her. Often times people do forget how much of a talent is being put to waste. In time hopefully Lindsay Lohan can overcome her addictions and get back to entertaining America the right way.
For more information visit Lindsay Lohan Songs

Oct 2, 2010

Drake - The Famous Name in Rap Music

Music is the ultimate source of entertain for everybody. It's a part of human life nowadays. In fact, music is the medicine for soul. The love for musicians and singers among people is beyond limitless which clearly reflects the popularity of them and their prominence.
There are several music genres. Whenever people talk about rap, a name comes in everybody's mind. That's none other than Drake. Yes, Aubrey Drake Graham is among the leading name in rap music. Who can forget hits like "Thank me later", "So far gone", and his first mixtape "Room for improvement", and many others?
Rise of Drake - The New Rap Star
After his first mixtape (Room for improvement) release in 2006, he has never seen backwards. The response of audience was far more than anybody's wild guess. Although, it was only available through his official MySpace page and his website, but it became instant hit. With this success, the new rising star has ventured into world rap.
Drake - First Unsigned Canadian Rap Star on BET
Soon after "Room for improvement" in 2007, Drake released his next mixtape including a single "Replacement girl" by him that also featured Trey Songz. The video of "Replacement Girl", was featured on BET (Black Entertainment Television). It made him first unsigned Canadian rap star whose video was featured on BET as "New Joint of The Day".
Drake became a popular name among music lovers, right before signing to a major record label. The immense positive response for his two previous mixtapes, Room for Improvement and Replacement Girl, Drake's voice became an easily recognizable voice among music lover.
His popularity was clarified with the release of his next mixtape "So Far Gone" in 2009. Drake again released this mixtape through his blog. The album was available for free download and it witnessed more than 2000 downloads in first two hours of its release. Some of the singles like Successful, and Best I Ever Had were the most popular tracks. After getting immense applaud from underground music lovers, this album also made its way to radio.
Recently, the first official debut album of Drake "Thank me later" was released on June 15, 2010. It was scheduled to release in late 2009, but due to some reasons the release got delayed. With the success (as anticipated) of "Thank me later", Drake became the first hip-hop artist who sold the most record in one week.
However, it is just the beginning. Drake has millions of lovers from all over the world. He has just begun his official journey to music world and his fans are sure he will achieve heights of success and popularity. To enjoy his music, people can download most of his songs from Internet. There are some websites which are offering Drake songs in best quality.
Watch the latest Music Video from your favorite artists for free. Get up to date Celebrity and Music News. Read the lyrics - millions of Drake songs music videos, playlists, charts, photos, artist biographies, latest music releases and a great community. For more information please visit: Drake.

Oct 1, 2010

Types of Meditation Music

Meditation is a technique that one uses to calm the mind and live a peaceful life. It also assists in motivating a person, managing mental stresses and lifting up emotional and physical states in people.
Back-ground music during meditation is not compulsory. Such music could be listened to, played or hymned to create the necessary ambience. Since there are many techniques used in meditation, there are as many varieties of music also. Some of the musical types available are:
Classical: This music is soothing and comforting to hear. People find it easy to concentrate more effectively. Some such tunes include compositions by Ludwig Van Beethoven, Markus Stocker, Mozart, Abbey Simon and so on.
Georgian chant and primordial sound: Here, singing is practiced in a low tone. Many religious people have been using this for centuries. Most of these tunes have been coined in the period 900-1300 A.D. Primordial sounds are used to set the correct mindset post meditation. 'Om' is the most popular sound.
Sounds from nature: Meditation is best done in the natural surroundings like hilltops, gardens or forests along with their natural sounds which are regarded the best for a peaceful mind. Music tapes and CDs are available which will allow people to have the same ambience of sound along with classical music in their living rooms.
Instrumental music: Soft music played on instruments like piano, violin, chimes, flutes or harps are best suited for meditation.
Christian music: This is a blend of instrumental and Christian music used during prayer time in churches. One can use the same even while offering prayers at home.

Sep 30, 2010

Favorite Classical Wedding Music and Traditions

For any culture, wedding ceremonies play an important part of our heritage. They hold many traditions that have been handed down and built upon for generations. In this modern society, especially in western cultures, wedding ceremonies are often celebrated on different venues such as the beaches, parks, riverbanks and even at a sports stadium but for a more traditional setting, church wedding are still popular for couples. Apart from the theme and location of your wedding ceremony, a properly chosen and meaningful music in your wedding program can add to the overall feel of your ceremony giving it a touch of class. The perfect music will also facilitate in creating a quixotic and festive ambiance that can be timeless and be remembered by your guests.
In traditional church weddings generally choose songs that belong to the classical music genre, popular classical wedding music are those composed by Mendelssohn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert.
Classical music has a vast range of music repertoire, most couples choose songs and compositions belonging to the Romantic Period (1828-1900), though there are pieces by Mozart of the classical period and Pachelbel of the Baroque period that are among the crowd favorites. Such diversity may mean that in most occasion, theme or location it is possible to be able to choose songs that appeals to the couple's taste and personality.
Here are some of the rationales in selecting classical wedding music for your nuptial celebration:
Mood and Tempo.
Classical music can be solemn, mysterious, romantic and passionate. If you consider playing a slow classical music, this would set your guests' moods to be more conscientious during the most important part of the ceremony ensuring that all attention is focused on the couple. While fast songs would prompt guests to be on a festive mood and celebrate this joyous event with the newly-weds.
Meaning.
Classical songs are meaningful and evocative, having the perfect song selection and play list can add to the importance and value of your wedding day that will be remembered for a lifetime. Classical music has a distinct characteristic that can invoke your guests into being part of the ceremony. Selecting the perfect songs is vital as the newly weds will associate such songs to their wedding every time the song is played.

Christmas Pop Songs From The Original A Very Special Christmas Album

Since the late 1980s pop music stars have been contributing to the continued strength and growth of the Special Olympics. With their musical talents, pop musicians from different genres such as Willie Nelson, Run-D.M.C., and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers have performed on the A Very Christmas series. Today, more than 20 years since the original album release, the series is known as the largest music philanthropy, raising more than $100 million for Special Olympics.
Today the series includes seven titles with the latest version released in 2009. The original series title, A Very Merry Christmas, released October 12, 1987 included well-known and established pop music icons such as Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, and Eurythmics.
A Very Special Christmas Artists and Songs
The original album of the series, A Very Special Christmas, features fifteen well- known pop musicians including The Pointer Sisters, Eurythmics, Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, The Pretenders, John Mellencamp and Sting. Also included on the series first album are Run-D.M.C., U2, Madonna, Bob Seger, Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi, Alison Moyet, and Stevie Nicks.
The songs on the album include classics the kid in all us enjoy such as "Santa Claus is Coming To Town", "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus", and "Run Rudolph Run". Also featured on the album are seasonal musical carols such as "The Little Drummer Boy", "Silent Night", and "Do You Hear What I Hear". To resonate the joy and wonder of the season are the songs "Winter Wonderland", "Merry Christmas Baby" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas".
Two of my album favorites are "Merry Christmas Baby" performed by Bruce Springsteen and "Silent Night" performed by Stevie Nicks. Their renditions are true to the spirit of the songs intent while still delivering in the artist's own unique way. This can be said of many songs of the songs on this album, these two being my favorites.
Benefits We All Share
The late Eunice Shriver had a vision for all intellectually disabled persons to know more about themselves and their abilities through sports. On that day in 1968 when Eunice Shriver called the first international Special Olympics Summer Games from Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, the nation was never to be the same. Today her vision is far reaching in more than 180 countries including China, Romania, and Afghanistan. Through her efforts, the aid of many others, and the sale of the A Very Special Christmas series, lives are continuing to change for the better.

Fastest Ways To Create Fabulous Music

Today the music mixing software come in a variety of different ways and specifications; all of them aim at providing the mixing features. These software provide many amazing and awesome features for musicians and DJs to work with, by assisting them to cut and paste different audio collection together. You can also amalgamate different audio together. This results in entirely different and fresh music stuff.
In fact, the music mixing software is the fastest and probably the most efficient way to create wonderful and fabulous music. One of the most amazing features of such music mixing software is the creation of loops. Loops are basically the fan effective to make brand new music by combining and also changing different parts of different audio tracks. As a result you will get a complete new and amazing stuff of your own choice.
Since all the audio tracks differ in rhythm, so it's important to match the audio rhythms of different sound tracks. The good software will definitely create perfect matching between two different tracks. Therefore, by making use of an excellent music mixing software, you can put on words or tune from one track to the base of a different audio track. This provides you an excellent way to create an exclusively new and splendid music.
The music mixing software enables you to become a great DJ or music producer as it provides you with the some easy ways to produce new and fabulous audio tracks. By virtue of which you can create different tracks of your own choice from the on-hand old tracks. The software simply lets you to become great at mixing of different audio tracks with perfection.
The software has so many different attributes and features that your music creativity will surely not going to be wasted. You will get more than your expectations from these software. It enhances your music skills by giving you a vast collection of different aw-inspiring and the easy-to-use features. The first step in music mixing is the selection of track to work with and then deeply think what to do with the track. After that, you need to load that track or may be number of tracks in to a first-rate software that will allow you to create the music of your own selection in quite a quick way.
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Sep 29, 2010

Guitar Lessons for Beginners

For people who want to learn to play the guitar, follow these guidelines below and become a guitar player in no time. So now let us begin.
First thing on this guitar lessons for beginners is a run-through on the parts of a guitar.
Basic parts of a guitar include:
  • the body - holds all the parts together and has a hole in the middle
  • neck - the long stick with many divisions
  • the frets - the dividers on the neck
  • tuning pegs - the six heads at the base of the neck
  • bridge - the steel bar found at the body of a guitar
After you have familiarized yourself with the parts of the guitar, the next agenda in this guitar lessons for starters is for you to learn strumming.
Strumming is done by hitting all 6-string of the guitar with your fingers repeatedly. Strumming has two strokes, the up stroke and the down stroke. Practice this with variations and find what you like most.
Next thing to know would be the chords.
Learn the basic A, B, C, D, E, F and G then try playing these with a song you are familiar with. Find the simplest song to play, any song that is made of 2-3 chords. Finishing the song would mean you have completed your first song ever! So congratulations to you!
After you've been able to play a nursery guitar song, to advance in this guitar lessons for novices, you now have to learn the chords sharps and flats then proceed to harder ones like minor 7th. Remember not to skip a step and master the initial steps first because this will serve as your foundation. Mastering the basics makes learning the variations fairly easy. Start with open chords first before proceeding with closed chord because closed chords require more skill.
Subsequently, scales should be learned. Basic scales are the major and minor scales. Intermediate levels are the pentatonic, Phrygian and many others. After learning scales, you can proceed to variations and then you are basically done. Remember to take it step by step as learning is not a fast thing. If you really want to become magnificent, then work really hard.
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Easiest Ways to Mix Like a DJ

If you have ever wondered how to mix like a DJ you will learn soon enough. DJ's have a very difficult job and you should admire their skills greatly.
First, you will need a music mixer software for you to start mixing. There are a lot of music mixer software online; you have got to choose carefully though.
After you purchase your music mixer software, head to a local music store. Try to pick one that is your favorite and has music that you actually like. Select two great tracks. Not one, but two. Make sure it is not too complicated otherwise you will get in over your head with trying to mix it.
Now you will need to go someplace with a DJ setup. This may be your home, a friend's, or your teachers. Make sure everything is set up correctly. Hopefully by now you have at least tested it and you know generally at least one thing about it. (After this information sets in you may also want to look on YouTube at the DJ Learning Videos. It may help the picture in your head and may help you improve.)
Put both records onto the decks. (Not your deck outside! The decks on the DJ station.) Set the cross spinner in the middle so you can hear the records together. Pick a record and start it spinning.
Now listen to your record. Listen to the beat. Does it even have a good bass beat? If not you need a new record. Otherwise you will have trouble all the way through. Take your finger and start spinning it in reverse to the beat. Pause this record and start spinning the other one. As the beat gets closer you need to start the other deck also. Then as the beat gets there you need to drop the deck. The beats will start together and sound great.
This may have resulted in disaster. DO NOT WORRY! This is pretty common. Just start again and keep on trying otherwise you will not get it. If you got it on the first try, then good job to you! Keep on practicing this easy piece until you master it and feel confident enough to go onto the harder stuff. I recommend that when you do feel confident enough you should go to the music store and ask which record or records they suggest you try next so you do not get in over your head. Good luck and make sure that you start easy and then progress. I hope you become an amazing mixer.
If you are still unsure about mixing, do not fret. Robert Taylor is a professional mixer and he teaches students how to start mixing from the very beginning to the advance level. He will guide you step by step until you have master it. Don't believe? Visit him at http://www.audioemperor.com/

The 10 Best Karaoke Songs To Sing

Karaoke symbolizes a freedom that hardly any other activities in the field of entertainment can offer. It offers people the courage to come up in front of an unknown audience to sing songs even in the face of potential shame.
The selection of music for most karaoke sessions relies on the type of audience you have. The majority of people favor a pop or rock song, whilst others decide on country music. Even a few groups are brave enough to hold opera karaoke sessions. Karaoke CDs are available in all these ranges, and therefore it is very difficult to identify a list of the top 10-karaoke songs. Some people may think it is the best songs, and other might think it is absolute trash.
On the other hand, when you play music for a big audience, it is vital that you cater for everyone's tastes. Otherwise, the crowd will be bored in a matter of minutes. Usually the fast contemporary tracks are a huge hit at any party. Ideally though, there should be a blend of tempos for the best entertainment. You should also have an equal allocation for male and female solos and duos. If your crowd likes to sing, you must have songs that let the superior singers show off their voices. Also, have some songs for those that are not so good, and have to keep up appearances.
The top-10 karaoke songs to sing are based on the accepted view and requests made at karaoke bars all over the world. What will follow below is a list of the 10 best karaoke songs to sing.
1. Summer of 69 by Bryan Adams
2. Hotel California by the Eagles
3. What a wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
4. Imagine by John Lennon
5. Girls just wanna have fun by Cindy Lauper
6. I will survive by Diana King.
7. Jailhouse Rock by Elvis
8. Man, I feel like a woman by Shania Twain.
9. Summer Love by John Travolta and Olivia Newton John
10. A whole new world by Peabo Bryson and Celine Dion
There are more songs that you may not have at your karaoke event, but is worth putting in. In the end, it is up to you to read your audience and select the right music for the evening. Some songs might not have made the top 10 list, but they are also very popular at most karaoke events. Take "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond. Some might see it as clichéd, but most crowds just love to sing with the "bah bah bahs". This ensures that it remains a very popular karaoke song. One well-known song for singing along with is "Livin on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi. People just love to join in at the "whoaaa-ohhhhh, livin' on a prayer" part. Although well worn in, these songs are still must haves at every karaoke event.

Improving Singing With These Simple Steps

The best way to significantly improve your singing is to allow yourself the freedom to just relax. If you tense up, get nervous or over think it, these feelings ultimately affect how you actually sound. You cannot properly relax your mouth, throat, shoulders and stomach if you are stressed, worried or anxious.
Once you have blocked everything else out and you feel your body relax, you need to focus on your posture. You want the breath to flow freely out through your mouth. If you slouch your shoulders over or tuck your head in, you are disrupting your breath in a negative way. You may find yourself tense back up again when you start focusing on your posture. If this happens, start over again and concentrate on the relaxation. It will all come together eventually with a little practice.
Learning how to properly breathe can make all the difference in the world in your sound. Do you find yourself getting winded or not being able to hold that last note? That all has to do with breathing. Chances are, if you run out of breath or cannot control your voice, you are breathing from your chest. This may sound like the logical thing to do if you are new to singing but what you really want to learn to do is breathe from your diaphragm. This muscle is so much stronger than those in your chest so when you learn to use it properly, you will be quite surprised at just how much air you have leftover. It may feel awkward at first but with practice, it will become natural.
It is also crucial that you thoroughly warm up before singing. Skipping out on your warm up makes your practice session somewhat worthless. If your voice is not warmed up, it cannot possibly be used to its full potential. In fact, you do more harm than good because without a warm up, you can easily injure your voice. Humming, singing scales and reciting tongue twisters are all excellent vocal exercises to engage it when you have a goal of improving singing.

5 Things To Remember - Promoting Your Music Through YouTube

Making a living as a recording artist can be a tough way to earn a buck. The dream of playing for millions of fans will always be just that if you do not take proactive steps in finding and keeping an audience. Today YouTube is one of the best places to turn to build a quick following. But before you take to the popular video sharing service, keep in mind that the same rules of marketing still apply. In other words, you can't just throw your video up on the site and expect great things to happen overnight. If you are considering this step, you need to start with your content and keep the following five considerations in mind.
Production values matter. You've got a good band, clever lyrics, and Internet moxie. So this should come easy for you, right? Think again. Your song may only last 3 to 5 minutes, but the work that goes in to a proper take could last longer and cost more. Make sure that you are filming with a quality piece of equipment. Shoot for high definition quality if possible. This is your chance to be seen by millions of potential users and build a following that will fill your live shows to capacity. Give your audience a reason to attend by putting forward the best possible representation of yourself. Make the finished product flawless, easy to hear, and pleasing to the eyes.
YouTube is a gateway. In other words, it is not the only place online or in the brick and mortar world where you must turn if you plan on making your music into a career. YouTube is perhaps the best place to get started, but if you don't have your own website, you're going to have a tough time reaching sales goals in the digital world. Allow your customers to find you where it is most convenient. That means getting listed on Amazon and the iTunes Store. It also means building a relationship with your fans.
Technical knowledge is a must. In particular, you want to name your music to be easy to find on YouTube. That means having some knowledge of keywords and social media to make sure that your song shows up in the YouTube search results, and that your Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace friends know where to find you.
Viral marketing works. And it doesn't have to be confined to the online world, though more and more, virtual and tangible worlds are intermingled. Get out into your community and let people know about upcoming shows. Harness the power of your friends, their friends, and their friends' friends.
Once you have a product you believe in, YouTube and the power of the web is a great way to turn your dream into a reality.

Sep 28, 2010

Buy Music Videos Instead Of Free Download

These days you should always buy music videos when you are looking to purchase a video for entertainment or for instructional purposes. Time and time again you here of horror stories from consumers who downloaded a free video and find themselves with major complications.
When you buy music videos you are guaranteed quality and clarity. You won't have any viewing or audio problems like you might face with a free version. If you are looking for a video of your favorite music artist or trying to learn a new musical instrument you will definitely want the best quality of video and audio available.
Another important reason to buy music videos is that you won't have to worry about unauthorized duplication laws and viruses. Many free versions of videos may be in violation of distribution laws, which you definitely don't want any part of. No sense in having any legal issues do to a music or instructional video. Secondly viruses, many free versions of video will come with a virus that will infect your computer and in the end will cost you more money than if you had just purchased the video in the first place.
In my experience it's much safer and practical to buy music videos. You will have a clear head knowing that your version is legal, as well as knowing that you will not be downloading any unwanted files like viruses. Viruses can be pretty expensive to remove, much more expensive than it is to buy music videos.
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