Archive for March, 2007

Aguilera delivers more sizzle than soul

Saturday, March 31st, 2007

Growing up is hard to do. Ask anyone, or buy a ticket to Christina Aguilera’s “Back to Basics” tour. After achieving stardom as a clean-scrubbed Mickey Mouse Club alum and making a multi-platinum stab at sexed-up post-adolescence, Aguilera is now plumbing — or rather gesturing toward — the vintage soul and classic pop that befits a married and only vaguely tarty woman.

The good news is she’s got the drive and the pipes to pull it off. The bad
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Buying A Fairly Used Instrument Posted By : Stacey Day -

Saturday, March 31st, 2007

Buying A Fairly Used Instrument

People sometimes end up in hardship or they are simply tired or bored with a particular instrument and will want to get rid of them. On the other hand some people simply sell because that device has developed a fault. So you must be on the alert. There is no doubt that acquiring one in a situation where the owner is bored with it or where he is plunged in hardship is a rewarding venture. You thus
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How to buy a keyboard (Part 1) Posted By : Michael David Shaw

Saturday, March 31st, 2007

How To Buy A Keyboard (part 1)

You want to learn to play a keyboard or maybe your partner or your children want to learn and you need to buy a keyboard but where do you start.

If you follow my recommendations, buying your first keyboard will be an easier experience. Prices for keyboards range from about ?100.00 to ?5000.00 or more. In this article, we will deal with keyboards that are more than adequate for beginners.
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Semi-tones and tones on a piano, organ and keyboard Posted By : Michael David Shaw

Saturday, March 31st, 2007

Semi-tones And Tones On A Piano, Organ And Keyboard

Semitones and tones are distances from one key to another key on a keyboard. For example if we play middle C on the keyboard and then play the next white note to the right which is D then that distance is one tone. For those of you not familiar with a keyboard then get my Lesson 1 e-Book at Mikes Music Room which will show a 61 note, keyboard with the correct notes names printed on each key.
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Getting Started For Musical Instruments Posted By : Stacey Day -

Saturday, March 31st, 2007

Getting Started For Musical Instruments

It is obviously evident you have now made your choice to buy a musical instrument. Its purpose can either be for exercising what you already know or what you want to know. With money at hand, do not be very eager to rush to a seller. Think before you act. Whether you are aiming at getting an entirely new instrument or a fairly used one, think of the following ideas.

The best
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Steve Cole “NY LA” Smooth Jazz Music CD Review

Saturday, March 31st, 2007

Talented Smooth Jazz artist Steve Cole has released his most recent CD on the Warner Bros. Records recording label, entitled NY LA.

Steve Cole has been a super star in the Smooth Jazz genre for quite a while now and NY LA is an excellent illustration as to why.

These days it’s a very rare CD on which every single song is good or better than the one before it. This CD is certainly one of those rare CDs.

Overall NY LA is excellent from beginning
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Jeff Kashiwa “Peace Of Mind” Smooth Jazz Music CD Review

Saturday, March 31st, 2007

Richly talented Smooth Jazz artist Jeff Kashiwa has released his latest album titled Peace Of Mind and Wow! It’s good.

Peace Of Mind launches with an outstanding track, Wait And See, that I suspect will be heard on radio stations everywhere, and deservedly so. It’s a really nice track.

The nice thing about a CD like this is when the talent is this rich even if Smooth Jazz isn’t your favorite style you still can’t help but appreciate the greatness
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Steve Oliver “3-D” Smooth Jazz Music CD Review

Saturday, March 31st, 2007

The exceptionally talented Smooth Jazz artist Steve Oliver has released his CD entitled 3-D. I am very confident and happy to announce that I believe Steve Oliver fans, and Smooth Jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one. With the release of 3-D Steve Oliver’s artistic excellence is on full display as he has once again delivered a brilliant collection of tracks that could very well be his best work to date.

This one grabs your attention
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Warren Hill “Popjazz” Smooth Jazz Music CD Review

Saturday, March 31st, 2007

Warren Hill, very talented Smooth Jazz artist has released his latest album titled Popjazz and Wow! It’s really a good one.

Unfortunately, it’s not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can’t force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Popjazz. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start
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Practicing Technique With An Easy Guitar Song To Learn

Friday, March 30th, 2007

When it comes to learning an instrument, practice always makes perfect. It’s not enough to understand the technical skill required to play; you must also integrate that technique into your playing so that it becomes habit. Only then can you begin to infuse your own personal style and personality into your playing. When it comes to playing the guitar, especially, learning important finger positions can prove tricky; but when you find an easy guitar
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Kim Waters “In The Name Of Love” Smooth Jazz Music CD Review

Friday, March 30th, 2007

In The Name Of Love is the latest release from Smooth Jazz Star Kim Waters, and is another great one by this talented musician.

Kim Waters has been a super star in the Smooth Jazz genre for quite some time now and In The Name Of Love is an excellent illustration as to why.

One of the refreshingly nice things about this CD is the way all of the participating artists seem to be really enjoying themselves. Combine that with the overall presentation
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Steve Cole “Spin” Smooth Jazz Music CD Review

Friday, March 30th, 2007

I can describe the latest release from Smooth Jazz sensation Steve Cole for you with just one word… Outstanding!

Steve Cole has been a super star in the Smooth Jazz genre for quite some time now and Spin is an excellent illustration as to why.

These days it’s a very rare CD on which every single song is good or better than the one before it. This CD is certainly one of those rare CDs.

Spin is a first rate CD, delivering a little something
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Nelson Rangell “Look Again” Smooth Jazz Music CD Review

Friday, March 30th, 2007

Very talented Smooth Jazz artist Nelson Rangell has released his latest CD titled Look Again and Wow! It’s good.

The CD launches with an outstanding track, Look Again, that I suspect will be heard on radio stations everywhere, and deservedly so. It really is a very nice track.

Look Again has a pleasantly varied, mix of 11 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly superb artist. Most of the songs display a lot of the kind emotion
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100 Tips to Market Your Music - Part 2

Friday, March 30th, 2007

Even if an artist has an outstanding talent, record deals do not fall out of the sky and land in your lap without music marketing. In this Internet age, A&R at most record labels is not what it once was, so those reps are looking for artists that already have CD sales, a great fan base, and already have the look and feel of being made even more marketable.

We started a list of marketing tips in 100 Tips To Market Your Music and continue more
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Learn Lead Guitar

Friday, March 30th, 2007

Someone who plays lead instrument is the most advanced player of their instrument in their ensemble. There are various aspects which need to be covered while anyone wants to learn lead guitar.

First and foremost the most important is to master the various scales and modes.Even self made runs and scales help an individual enormously while trying to pick up any lead.Many a times we see that an individual is quite good when it comes to picking up
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100 Tips to Market Your Music - Part 1

Friday, March 30th, 2007

Marketing is all the activities and processes of planning, communicating and executing a product, with a price, the promotion and the placement of an item to an end user. Your music is your product which you are then supplying to the end user - the music fan. Between you and the fan is a big space on how to bridge this gap. You may think that if you just get a record deal with some label, your prayers are answered and this instant bridge is built
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You Really Can Learn to Sing

Friday, March 30th, 2007

Most of us have probably heard a beautiful song on the radio or at a live performance and wished that we too could sing with such a pleasing voice. Perhaps you were inspired at the moment to take singing lessons to learn how to sing, but then shelved the thought because you felt you did not truly have the potential to sing well.

But if you have a genuine desire to learn to sing, don’t give up, and never think that you’re a hopeless case! Contrary
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Hanson - Where Are They Now?

Friday, March 30th, 2007

I will admit it: I have “MMMBop” on my Ipod. Now, it’s not like I absolutely worship Hanson - I don’t have their poster on my bedroom wall or, at least, I don’t anymore - it’s just that I kind of like their music. Love ‘em, hate ‘em, or make voodoo dolls of ‘em in your spare time, it’s hard to deny that this trio can carry a tune. But, since the craze of “MMMBop” has ended, where exactly have they been carrying one?

Made up of brothers
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Getting Inspired for Making Intuitive Music

Friday, March 30th, 2007

Do you ever wish you could make music like the artists you admire? Sometimes it seems impossible to be as good as the pros right? Wrong! You can do anything you put your mind to. All it takes is trust and inspiration.

I’m sure you’ve probably heard about the law of attraction by now. It states that whatever you’re habitually thinking and feeling is what your attracting into your experience, or put simply, like attracts like. Well the same principles can be applied to your music.

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Show Off Your Piano Skills

Friday, March 30th, 2007

Showing off your piano skills is not a tough job, but is not that easy either. Most people learn piano playing by playing just the written music- playing the exact notation. This leaves little room for creativity, and, therefore, little room to show off, right?

To show off your amateur skills, instead of following the harmony note by note, follow the chord symbols written above the harmonies, bridging the gaps with whatever you desire. Playing
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Apple offers iTunes users deal in bid to push albums

Friday, March 30th, 2007

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Apple Inc., the company that popularized selling songs online for 99 cents apiece, now hopes to buoy interest in albums, giving customers credit for purchases of full albums from which they have bought individual tracks.

Apple introduced the Complete My Album feature yesterday on its iTunes Store. It now gives a full credit of 99 cents for every track the user previously purchased and applies it toward the purchase of the complete album.

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Switching Schullers and dazzling in Ravel’s dawn

Friday, March 30th, 2007

It’s a tricky formula with some inherent tension. Orchestral seasons are methodically laid out years ahead of time, but their smooth execution depends on the folkways of divas and temperamental soloists, not to mention the fickle rhythms of the compositional muse. The BSO caught a series of tough breaks this month, with the successive cancellations of Martha Argerich and Karita Mattila , two of the season’s biggest stars. Then, the world premiere
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For Bloc Party and fans, this is what dreams are made of

Friday, March 30th, 2007

All rock ‘n’ roll audiences are not created equal.

While a sense of community is one reason many concertgoers seek out their favorite bands live, if that isn’t achieved, it doesn’t automatically diminish the enjoyment of the music.

When that particular fever does grip a crowd, however, the extra juice it adds can lift a band to greater heights.

Wednesday night at the Orpheum Theatre, Brit rockers Bloc Party were greeted with the type of all-singing, all-clapping, ecstatically gesticulating audience that dreams are made of.

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Putting his stomp on the Boston club scene

Friday, March 30th, 2007

“Stomp” is a word Frank Morey uses often when talking about the active ingredient that propels his barroom-ready roots music. Catch him at any of his gigs around town — make that towns; he currently holds down residencies in Cambridge, Boston, and New York City — and you’ll realize it’s something he likes doing even more than he likes talking about it.

“As a writer and performer playing bar rooms, you kind of have to put a ’stomp’ to everything,”
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Rocket Piano Review Posted By : Rocket Piano Review

Friday, March 30th, 2007

Rocket Piano Review

This Rocket Piano review will give you an overview of what to expect with this program for learning how to play the piano. If you are considering it as a possible learning tool, then you should read on to find out my thoughts on the program.

It is a common aspiration to be able to play an instrument, and the piano is one of the most popular. Unless your parents forced you into lessons as a kid,
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The structure of a chord (triad) for Piano, Keyboard and Organ Posted By : Michael David Shaw

Friday, March 30th, 2007

The Structure Of A Chord (triad) For Piano, Keyboard And Organ

There are many types of chords but in this article, we will deal with major triads and minor triads and how to construct them.

First, let us deal with the language used to identify major chords and minor chords. If you are familiar with sheet music and you see a C chord symbol above the staff. All you will see is “C”. This means, play a C major chord with
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Learn lots of left hand chords quickly (for organ players) Posted By : Michael David Shaw

Friday, March 30th, 2007

Learn Lots Of Left Hand Chords Quickly (for Organ Players)

All keyboard players can use this method of learning chords if you are prepared to play your own bass notes to match the chord.

Keyboards with the “Auto-Chord” feature cannot use this method because the keyboards computer selects the bass note for the chord you are playing. For example if you play an F6 chord on a keyboard using “Auto-Chord” the keyboards
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How to play the organ on stage with a drummer and a singer while having a heart attack. Posted By : Michael David Shaw

Friday, March 30th, 2007

How To Play The Organ On Stage With A Drummer And A Singer While Having A Heart Attack.

It’s a strange title isn’t it, but I did have a heart attack while backing a singer on stage very recently and I thought I would share my experience with other musicians, who I know, have thought about, what if I had a heart attack while on stage.

First, let me say that having a heart attack is a very serious business and I nearly
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Am I too old to learn to play a musical instrument? Posted By : Michael David Shaw

Friday, March 30th, 2007

Am I Too Old To Learn To Play A Musical Instrument?

I have been teaching Keyboard and Organ for nearly thirty years, my youngest student was Four years old, and the oldest was Eighty years old.

So the simple answer to the above question would be No. Maybe the question should be, would I like to learn to play a musical instrument? It is fairly probable that you are not going to become a concert pianist if you start
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How to find 11th Chords from minor7th Chords (Piano, Keyboard and Organ) Posted By : Michael David Shaw

Friday, March 30th, 2007

How To Find 11th Chords From Minor7th Chords (piano, Keyboard And Organ)

When starting to learn chords, most people will start with the basic major and minor chords, then on to 7th and minor 7th chords. You might be surprised to learn that when you have mastered all twelve minor 7th chords you have also potentially learned twenty-four 11th chords.

I love the sound of 11th chords; they somehow manage to give a big sound
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