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Wednesday 30 January 2013

Effects of Music on Happiness

Each of us has paraphrased the William Congreve line from his play, The Mourning Bride: "Music hath charms to soothe the savage beast (actually, breast)." But what is the empirical evidence to support this statement, and, in turn, what impact does music have on our stress levels and degree of happiness, as well as our health?

A study more than a decade old, by researchers at the University of Texas at Tyler (Hubbard, 2001) states that "tones at a faster tempo were rated as happier, brighter, faster. Similarly, higher pitch tones and ascending tones were rated as happier, brighter and faster. So much for statistical clarification. Some music, simply stated, is more upbeat, and evokes a more lively feeling.

   
But the feeling of happiness does not necessarily mean that we feel better, feel less stress or experience improved health. Other studies do, though, confirm those effects. The question is, does the happiness evoked from specific music experiences translate into general wellbeing?

The Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine reported (2001) that "all types of music were capable of reducing heart rates and blood pressure, and of controlling stress. The researchers who performed the experiments believe that the beneficial effects of music are related to the patient's ability to choose the music. In other words, when people get to choose the music, they appear to be more relaxed." Again, this is intuitively obvious. When we are in control of a situation, we are less likely to be stressed by it, and, in turn, our heart rates and blood pressure should decline.

A corollary result of this study found that music could reduce the stress associated with eye surgery. This is less intuitive, but consistent with other studies on the correlation between music that we enjoy and a feeling of wellbeing.

Is some music more likely to affect us positively? Again, the answer is intuitively clear: yes. We all are aroused, soothed, excited, pleased, saddened or emboldened by specific songs, music or genres of music. I, for instance, find blues very enjoyable and calming, when the very name suggests that I should be saddened. On the other hand, I do not care for jazz, and feel more tense when it is played. Electronica and New Age music relaxes me late at night, while classical music improves my concentration. Lynn Anderson's "Rose Garden" and Bony M's "Brown Girl In The Ring" evoke similar feelings, since both are associated with particularly memorable times in my life.

Some songs, for others, send shivers down the spine, or produce goose bumps. These are not universal responses. Researchers state that no external stimuli will automatically turn on stress (or happiness) responses, unless we choose to let it. For many of us, though, those responses seem automatic. Stress reaction always depends upon how an event interpreted or perceived.

The University of Maryland School of Medicine insists that listening to your favourite music is good for your cardiovascular system and provide a healthy effect on blood vessel function.

Find-new-music.net Review: The New Music Centre of the 21st Century


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Music is a great source of refreshment in your busy life. It offers you relief from your stress. It can change your moods and emotions. It can activate you for a better performance. There are a number of music channels offering you music to energize your nerves. There are thousands of people around the world who write and share about music they love. Everyday, new musics are coming out attracting the attention of the world. The website find-new-music.net takes you to an updated wonderful world of music, offering you the latest and most exclusive music albums, singles and videos.

Find-new-music.net is indeed a unique music website of the 21st century

The website find-new-music.net makes you enthusiastic and elivens your enervate mood, offering you the top songs, videos, albums. You get all genres of music and you may choose what suits your taste and need. You can enjoy here an eclectic mix of pop and rock with some other tasty bits tossed in or a dash of oldies, world-beat, jazz and many more. Discover evocative music everyday to refresh your routine boring schedules.

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Find New Music has an incredibly important part in your life since it enhances your pleasant mood and leads you to succeed in life. Find New Music makes you find music worth listening to. Make your day active with the intelligent mix offered by the site. You have an easy access to all new top class music and videos. You can also enjoy them on the iPhone, Android and Windows Phone. Enjoy the site’s music on Facebook for exclusive offers, the inside scoop on latest and most exclusive music albums, singles and videos.

SOURCE : http://expertscolumn.com/content/find-new-musicnet-review-new-music-centre-21st-century

Rock singer Morrissey postpones six more shows due to bleeding ulcer

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - British rock singer Morrissey is postponing six performances on his U.S. tour due to a bleeding ulcer, his spokeswoman said on Sunday.

"Morrissey is expected to make a full recovery and thanks everyone concerned for their support during this time," his representative Lauren Papapietro said in a statement.

Morrissey, the former lead singer for 1980s alternative rock band The Smiths, checked into Beaumont Hospital on Friday in the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak, Papapietro said.

She declined to say if he remains hospitalized.

Due to his bleeding ulcer, Morrissey is postponing his upcoming shows in Asheville, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; Atlanta, Georgia; Lawrence, Kansas; Clear Lake, Iowa; and Lincoln, Nebraska, Papapietro said.

He plans to resume his tour on February 9 in Las Vegas.

Due to an illness in his band, Morrissey, 53, canceled his show Thursday in Flint, Michigan, and postponed a Friday night performance in Minneapolis and another engagement set for Saturday night in Chicago, Papapietro said.

Morrissey, whose hits include "First of the Gang to Die" and "Irish Blood, English Heart," toured North America last fall, played some shows in Australia and New Zealand in December and returned to the United States this month.

He kicked off his latest tour with a performance of his unreleased song "Action is My Middle Name" on "The Late Show with David Letterman" in New York.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Kevin Gray and Stacey Joyce)

Justin Timberlake Will Perform at the Grammy Awards

 By Sierra Marquina
The 'Suit & Tie'  singer is bringing his sexy back to the 55th GRAMMY Awards on March 19th 

Justin Timberlake not only just released his first single in seven years 'Suit & Tie,' but the six time GRAMMY winner is set to perform on the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast!

Talk about actually bringing sexy back. JT’s performance marks the first time in four years the singer will grace the GRAMMY stage and marks his debut performance for his upcoming first studio album in seven years, entitled The 20/20 Experience, which drops March 19.

Along with Justin, other performances include: Jack White, Carrie Underwood, The Lumineers, The Black Keys, Taylor Swift and fun.

Hosted by LL Cool J, the GRAMMYs air February 10 on CBS  at 8pm.

SOURCE : http://www.at40.com/news-article/justin-timberlake-will-perform-at-the-grammy-awards/24423

Tuesday 29 January 2013

What Is Pop Music?

Music is a staple of American life. It plays in the background of stores and shopping centers. It is intricately tied to our entertainment and nightlife and many cultural icons have sprung up because of the music world. There are several different genres or styles and pop music is one that is popular to dance or go clubbing to. Pop music like pop culture is generally tailored toward the tastes of the young.

Is It Difficult To Get Ahold Of Pop Music?

The good news is there are many sites that make it easy for a person to get a chance to try out new music. If you haven’t experienced pop music or are unsure if you like the little bit you may have heard then you should consider checking out musica gratis en linea, which is Spanish for sites that you can get free songs. This will give you a chance to try out a new style like pop without having to part with any money. Paginas para bajar musica gratis, or pages for free music in English are all over the net offering people the chance to get ahold of some of the favorites or try something new without paying.

What Does Pop Sound Like?

Quite often pop is music that is put together technically which is to say that it is commercially recorded. It is usually tailored toward the youth market and consists of simple short songs that are enhanced. Many remixes fall into the category of pop. It has gotten its roots in many forms of music but is most heavily influenced by rock and roll and the style of rock. It is usually aimed at the singles chart. Craft is often emphasized over artistic vocals or styling. The sound usually emphasizes rhythms and refrains so people can easily dance or sing to their favorite music.

Developmental Influences

One of the most famous icons of the pop culture and music is singer Madonna. Some roots to pop music include gospel, soul, country, jazz, r&b, dance, rock and even classical. It’s simple to say that pop music can draw influence from any number of other styles of music. This is in part because it is created to please as many people as possible. With the advances of technology it was a given there would be cross over into the world of art and this influenced pop music. With this style the emphasis is usually on production, technology and recording over performing live.

If you are interested in finding out if this style is for you take a little time and check out musica gratis en linea, which is Spanish for free music, so that you can get a sampling or even some of your favorites without having to spend the big bucks. Don’t be put off by doing a little online hunting because it is quite easy to find paginas para bajar musica gratis, or pages devoted to free songs in English. Within a few hours you could be listening to some of the most popular songs on the radio.

The best music to help you sleep

Soothing, calming, relaxing music can help you slow down brain rhythms and achieve a deep sleep. It's no joke tossing and turning all night, your mind racing with a myriad of unwanted thoughts. Problems become amplified at night and grow out of proportion causing insomnia and sleepless nights. You can use music to aid you in achieving a good nights sleep, and the best music to suit you will undoubtedly be that which has a slow, gentle melody.

Popular sleep inducing music can be found in the form of binaural beats, which calm brain frequencies and sooth brainwaves. Binaural music is easily purchased over the Internet, or is available to buy in many health-food shops, or those geared towards customers emotional well being and mental health.

If binaural beat music seems too much like a new age therapy to you, which is something you're not in to, consider choosing other types of slow, gentle music to help you nod off. We've always known that such music can help with the achievement of wonderful sleep, which is why humans have sung children lullabies for hundreds of years. There's no reason why you can't find more grown up forms of lullabies to provide you with a healthy nights rest.

The music you choose will depend greatly on your personal taste. Whether you're a heavy metal fan or a lover of classical music, there's plenty of music for you to make your choice from. Handles Water Music is popular for inducing sleep, as is oriental instrumental music. Picking music which fits in with the type of music you usually like, will help sooth you, rather than grate on your nerves.

Fast music should be avoided, as it stimulates brainwaves and increases adrenalin. The best music to help you sleep will have deep tones, as opposed to high pitched ones, and have gaps in-between beats, encouraging you to match your breathing with it's slowness.

Consider the types of instruments which you best feel promote a feeling of peace and tranquility. It could be the the mournful, dulcet tones of slow saxophone music that makes you feel relaxed, or gentle, tinkling stringed instruments which leave you feeling content and sleepy. Instruments to avoid are often those which bang, as opposed to lilt. Drums and cymbals, for example, are not good providers of peaceful music which could lull you into a state of sleep.

Music which is best to help you sleep is that which gives you pleasure while calming your nerves, and leaving your mind soothed and contented. Hypnotic rhythms, slow binaural beats and gentle, deep toned instruments are generally used in good musical creations which will provide you with sleep.

Source : http://www.helium.com/items/1997962-the-best-music-to-help-you-sleep

Sunday 27 January 2013

Music Camps are the best platform for the music lovers

Nothing can stimulate your body, soul and mind but music can do it instantly as music enlightens the hidden feelings of the people. Music lovers always find a music camp where they can relax in the loving environment. The musical camp plays a vital role in the music loving peoples' life. Apart from relaxing your mind, you can learn how to play music in different musical concepts. If you want to make a career in the music industry then there are some reputed music camps which give you a good start in this field. These camps give you a chance to develop your emotional, intellectual and social growth of the mind. When it comes to building a good music into your soul then these camps help you a lot as by these camps you can build a leadership and confidence skills. If you are a music lover and live with the music all the time then these camps are the best place for you. These camps give you opportunities to play, listen and learn the music with many other persons who are already associated with music camps. You can take part in these camps by which you stay with other music lovers and build the fair relationships with them. If you are a keen learner of music then you must search out the music camps either nearby your home location, local music camp or outside from your place. There is a more popular music camp in Mokena; it is the best platform for the fans of music.

You can go in these types of camps; generally these camps happen in the winters or summer seasons. It does not matter that how you are old as there is no age limit, you can go anytime whatever your age. You will surely enjoy with these camps if you are a great fan of music and also want to make an identity in the music field. There are many other kinds of music camps that also provide training for music. These camps explore your music knowledge at an extensive level. Before joining any music camp, you should ensure that what is the focus of these camps and what they will make you learn. Take a look at the working of these musical camps as being they are having a good instructor to give the knowledge about musical instruments like guitar, piano or other latest equipments. These camps generally organized for a limited period in seasons like two or four weeks.

Thursday 24 January 2013

Why Rock Music Won't Make A Comeback

The demise of Rock Music has been well-documented and the only reminder of this genre are from the few "classic rock" radio stations around the country. Pop Music is the new genre of today's generation and Rock's last great band was in the early 1990s with Guns and Roses and Nirvana. Since then, music has consisted of pop music and hip-hop and there's no looking back because "rock and roll" may be dead (or in a 20 year coma, in this case) and it will never make a comeback.

The Music Charts Tell the Story

All non-believers, who don't think that "rock and roll" is dead, should take a look at today's music charts. Whether its Billboard or Rolling Stone or America's Top 40, the top of the charts are ruled by such artists as Rihanna, Lil' Wayne, Kelly Clarkson, Bruno Mars, and LMFAO, not one rock artist in the bunch.

If there was a "rock artist" in the top 40, many fans point to U2 or Coldplay or Maroon 5 or Hot Chelle Rae as the closest thing to represent rock and roll. These fans are surely mistaken because these bands have been sanitized to become pop music groups, playing "bubble gum" music for the masses.

If fans are going to talk about Rock Music, then we're talking such heavyweights like Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, and Nirvana just to name a few.

Back then, rock music was commercially-viable and had a heavy presence in the music charts but that hasn't been the case for the past 20 years.

Most important, rock fans who grew up in the "baby boomer" generation (born between 1946-1964) are getting older and with today's radio playing more pop music, their children will never know about Rock Music. These children will grow up looking at Rock Music in history books, thinking that the music is a "distant memory" and no longer relevant today.

All Music Has Been Turned into Pop Music

Today, the Pop Music has been represented by the likes of Lady Gaga, Mary J. Blige, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Lil' Wayne, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, and Rihanna.

Nowadays, record companies (only a few of them) have gone away from cultivating rock acts and moved to a factory of pop music stars. The individuality of a rock star has been made more into a "Barbie/Ken-type of singer" singing pop songs.

The primary goal for all talent scouts is to look for singers who will be a potential success in the mainstream. Most talent coordinators are not ashamed to say that they will only look for artists who fit the "commercial-appeal" category. Although the judges on the music reality shows like "American Idol," "America's Got Talent," and "X-Factor," praise the "individuality" of an artist, they are really looking for a mainstream artist above all else.

In other words, a talent scout would normally turn down a group or artist who would resemble a Jimi Hendrix or Led Zeppelin or Marvin Gaye and settle for another Britney Spears or Usher or Spice Girls.

The Future of Rock Music

Rock music was a force from the 1950s to the early 1990s but the genre was overcome by the commercially successful Pop Music. The only resemblance of rock music today has been reduced to "Classic Rock" in which the Rolling Stones, Rush, Neil Young, Steve Miller Band, AC/DC, Def Leppard, the Eagles, and Journey are still performing. Most of the band members average 60 years old and above. Most of these groups have released new albums, backed with a tour, but the records usually debut high on the charts but fade quickly and never heard from again.

The Classic Rock acts will soon reach their demise with no replacements in the future. Record companies and talents scouts have turned up their noses to look for any rock acts whatsoever. In the age of "did it, done it," a future rock star or band has to be above-exceptional in order to receive any notice from a talent scout.

The future of Rock Music will lie in the hands of independent rock acts and their fans. College students have done their best to keep the genre alive with local College rock stations. This segment is the lifeblood of independent rock and the genre's biggest fans. However, if there is "a saving grace," the social network may be the place where rock music as a whole can thrive. Nowadays, a rock artist or group may find a following from Facebook or Twitter and all it takes is a "movement" from this medium for a star to be born.

Pop Music Rules, Rock Music On "Life Support"

Record companies manipulated the rise of Pop Music and caused the demise of Rock and Roll. Many industry experts predicted the downfall of Rock and the record companies did not do a thing to prevent it. They failed to cultivate a new breed of rock stars and instead turned to commercial pop acts to boost their profits. The move is likened to a film company stopping itself from making "independent small films" and solely promoting "big budget films" with more commercial-appeal to the masses.

Music today has sapped itself of its "individuality" and turned to the mass appeal of today's pop stars who churn out corporate-approved songs for the masses.

Rock Music won't make a comeback and the record companies won't do anything to revive it. It's only a matter of time when rock fans may have to declare it "dead" then regulate it to history books and the hall of fame.

Source:- http://www.streetarticles.com/music-industry/why-rock-music-wont-make-a-comeback

Monday 21 January 2013

Five Factors to Break Into the Spotlight of the Music Industry as an Unsigned Band

I have previously done some unpaid work as a music journalist for a small-time magazine, covering gigs, new releases and upcoming bands. Situated in an office Leeds, I was creating semi-weekly issues and writing an online blog.

Before I start, I should mention that Leeds is a superb place in which to work and I thoroughly enjoyed all of my time working there as a music journalist; however it can be very expensive to live in Leeds city centre, as rents are increasing and there is a lack of supply for young professionals.

These are my five top factors to ensure success within the music industry, no matter the age of the band, current popularity in the scene or history of gigs.

5. Sign up to a plethora of online blogs and magazines Even though NME and Kerrang are industry leaders in terms of music magazine publishers, there are a number of alternative magazines with unique stories with which you can retrieve reliable news and information from. Independently-written online blogs also tend to provide current and immediate news before any other magazines; you should however check that the writer of the blog is using reliable sources. This can help to increase publicity of the band and experience success.

4. Make use of Last.fm to get your music out there and promote your band: Much more than just a website that details what you are listening to, Last.fm is a powerful tool as it gives you the opportunity to build a band page, upload any songs that you have recorded and stream them, as well as linking to music stores, netting you a small profit. Whilst other social-networking sites allow you to create band pages, Last.fm is definitely the easiest and most generally recognised way to get your band out there.

3. Post blogs about it: Whilst it might seem counter-intuitive to display writing skills online instead of music, it is a fast and effective way to improve SEO rankings and fully publicise your band. An important determining factor of band popularity is Google and an effective SEO strategy can be very beneficial - however, try and write your blogs on music news or activity, as opposed to a personal account, as this will be more engaging for the reader.

2. Sign up to as many newsletters/small bands and attend festivals: Even though they do not hold the same power as larger bands, small groups are a fantastic way of improving your chance of success by latching onto their potential popularity. The partnership can also make agreeing a support act much easier. It is vital to build a fanbase in your own region to begin with. My experience working an office in Leeds has given me a lot of access to regional bands and into the future of music.

1. Network in the industry: Much like working in a small business, a great deal of success is defined by who you know and your relationships. It is a good idea to attend networking events for the music industry and speak to music experts. Even an e-mail address or telephone number can be your ticket to breaking into the music industry.

Whilst a great deal of success will depend on the quality of your music and the originality you have (unless you are spotted by a talent scout), these tips can significantly improve your band's potential.

Source:- http://www.abcarticledirectory.com/Article/Five-Factors-to-Break-Into-the-Spotlight-of-the-Music-Industry-as-an-Unsigned-Band/980351#.UPZyPqyi_IU

Friday 18 January 2013

The Music That Forged The Counterculture Revolution Of The 1960s

The counterculture revolution of the 1960s is one of the most significant steps in western cultural development of the 20th Century. From the very beginning trickle of its inception, to its height during the Vietnamese war, music was a big source of its driving force, contributing to the achievements that it helped to bring about, but also laying some of the foundations for its downfall.

With a focal point around the United States and the United Kingdom, it’s influence spread throughout western civilisation and beyond, but where it all began is hard to say. However, the most important ingredient in its development was the burgeoning distrust of the established order of things, and in particular the senators, congressmen and presidents that pulled the strings. The heightened tension of the cold war, the fear of the bomb, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, racial segregation and voting rights, the persecution of communists and the Cuban communist regime, police brutality, the Vietnamese war and the increased use of psychedelic drugs all coalesced in the 60s and early 70s to fuel the fire for the counterculture movement.

Music was at the heart of it all, from the folk movement led by the likes of Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs and Dave Van Ronk to the release of “Revolution 1” on the Beatles’ White Album. The music gave the children of the counterculture revolution new sources of inspiration and a centre around which to base their dissatisfaction with the established order of play.

In addition to the songs and bands that talked about protest in one way or another, there were also those that talked about freedom in general, pushing the rules of convention to their outer limits. The Velvet Undergrounds lyrics for example include references to transgender, homosexuality and drug use in a way that had never been seen before, while bands like the Beach Boys are cited as big proponents of peace, love and understanding.

One of the biggest things to develop out of the counter culture of the 60s and early 70s is the large-scale music festival. Folk festivals were well established in the early sixties – Bob Dylan’s electric guitar at the 1965 Newport Fold Festival has taken on near legendary status, for example – but it wasn’t until the Monterey Pop Festival, which launched Jimi Hendrix to the big stage, the Isle of White Festivals and Woodstock that the idea really took off. The fact that this type of festival has become so widespread in recent years is a testament to the musical legacy of the 60s.

The counterculture movement ground to a halt around ‘73 & ’74 with the end of the Vietnamese War, Nixon’s presidential resignation and the implosion, corruption and exploitation of the free love era. Whether it ended with the removal of things to protest for, the move away from psychedelic drugs as the hit of choice or the disenfranchisement with the excessive hedonism that typified the latter parts of the movement it’s hard to say for sure, but the impact of everything that occurred during that period is still being felt today, including the music that helped to produce it and that it helped to produce. Civil rights became universal, new forms of expression became acceptable, wars were ended and music was made.
counterculture of the 1960s

Tuesday 15 January 2013

Learn Guitar - Tab Or Sheet Music?

Many guitarists are adamant that the only way to learn guitar is by learning to read sheet music. Some even go so far as to say that if all guitar tab was removed from the world the level of guitar playing would be much higher. The main objection to that idea is that many famous guitar players never learnt to read sheet music. Some even have trouble with tab. Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Tommy Emmanuel and Jeff Beck are shining examples. Of course, all these guitarists were following their own idiosyncratic ways of expressing themselves through the guitar rather than learning a broad range of music but there are still those who are thinking of a whole world of music that is closed to people who have not learnt to read notation. What would possibly be raised if tab were eliminated would be the level of communication between guitarists because we would all be speaking the same langusage.

But it is highly unlikely that guitar players who have more of an instinctive approach to the guitar will ever take the trouble to learn theory and standard music notation. At the same time the people who have made the effort to learn to read music will continue to feel that they have a greater understanding of the guitar and the ability to learn new music faster than guitarists who do not have a background of theory at their fingertips.

You could say that the bottom line is what works for the individual. If you can play guitar but can't read music, does that make you an inferior guitarist? A weakness with learning from tabs is that timing and rhythm can't be learnt from tabs but some people write tabs incorporating the elements of sheet music notation that show note values and timing, and this kind of notation is very easy to learn.

There are those guitar players who see sheet music notation as a language that was invented by keyboard players and is not very well suited to the guitar. It should be noted that without learning musical theory as well, learning to read music is just a part of the language of music and is not a great deal more useful than tabs. Also the amount of music theory a guitarist learns is in proportion to his interest in music in general but will not necessarily make him a better guitar player than a guy who doesn't read music.

It has often been pointed out by guitar players who play in an open or alternate tuning that if you are used to reading and playing music in standard tuning you might find it very difficult to sight read a piece written in an alternate tuning using standard musical notation. If this is true it would suggest that reading standard music is not the key to universal understanding of the guitar.

Source : http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/Learn-Guitar---Tab-Or-Sheet-Music-/185149?id=185149&act=&wtsLang=id

Earbits: No Advertisers, No Restrictions - Just Great Music

About five years ago, the only online radio stations that most people where familiar were Pandora or Yahoo Radio. Over the last few years we have seen dozens of radio services, both start-ups and traditional FM stations, entering the online market in hopes of grabbing the ears of music lovers.

Enter Earbits: an online radio station/marketing platform that boasts a healthy selection of known and unknown artist on their commercial free network. If Pitchfork had an online radio format it would probably sound like Earbits. The platform in great way for artists to be found by people looking to discover "the next big thing" and with 3 million tracks available you are bound to find something that you can hold on to. Below is an interview I had with,Earbits CEO, Joey Flores a former Taco Bell employee turned media maverick.

How do you guys differ from other online radio services currently available?

Earbits is a marketing platform for bands/labels disguised as Internet and mobile radio which everyone can enjoy for free, without ads. We work directly with bands and labels from all genres, treating them like our clients and sponsors. That means the more than 3 million high-quality tracks across 180+ channels we've already played this year are coming from labels and bands that have asked to be on the platform.

Earbits streams hours of great music without commercials; it offers true music discovery and a direct connection to artists through their Facebook page. Earbits is flexible and supports the listener, bands and the music community differently than other radio platforms - skip, share and interact with your friends and the artists at anytime. At the end of the day, we differ in that Earbits is all about the music - no advertisers, no restrictions - just great music.

Because most of the artists that you play are indie, do you think Earbits appeals more to that audience that supports indie music?

Earbits offers both casual listening, sharing of music and true music discovery in every genre from blues to metal to country. We appeal even more to people that like discovering new and emerging music, but certainly you don't have to be an audiophile to love Earbits.

On Earbits, you will hear a few well-known artists as well as many brand-new-to-you bands. Listeners enjoy immediate discovery of several great artists that they've never heard of, and get really excited about it. A lot of times these aren't people who go out of their way to support independent music. They're just regular music fans that are surprised that so much amazing music is out there, that simply is not heard in other places.

Are there any success stories where a band leveraged your platform to pick up a recording deal, more airplay or a tour sponsorship?

Earbits has proven that it is a powerful and successful marketing platform for bands. We've helped one of our artists get her songs licensed for a short film on BET. Recently we partnered with Spectra Records to help them identify new talent to sign. As of now, three artists we highlighted are in contract review with Spectra.

We envision a future where Earbits finds talent, proves through our data that people love their music, connects them with the right label and other partners to get a deal done, and then helps those partners market the artists on a massive scale through our platform.

With all the different apps and music curation services being created, how does a company like Earbits separate itself from the masses?

High-quality music - check. No ads - check. Share music you find with friends - check. Connect with the artist and learn more - check.

Earbits brings to the table many things that are not offered elsewhere - free, true music discovery without ads, limitless skip and easy sharing capabilities and a direct connection to the band to keep up to date on their latest album, tour or news.

Everything on Earbits is about the music you're listening to right now and having the option to learn more, share that music or converse with the performer. We're not trying to send you off to some sponsor's website, and we're not interrupting your listening with commercials about things you don't care about. We're also creating a much closer connection between the listeners and the artists. You'll often see a listener Tweet about a band they're listening to on Earbits, and then the artist will Tweet back, and next thing you know these two people are talking and connecting on a whole other level.

In general we have a lot of social tools that allow you to share what you're listening to with your friends, and we've got some great new features planned that will make Earbits even more social than it already is. It's really just a much richer experience than playing the same old music sandwiched between commercials for cars and hamburgers.

What is the long-term vision for Earbits?

Earbits has always been about helping great musicians market themselves without spending a lot of time doing it. We want any high quality artist to be able to upload their material and get the results they deserve based on the quality of their art. It means that a brand new artist with a great-sounding, three song demo could use it to drive awareness to their Kickstarter project and finance their full album. Meanwhile, someone who already has three albums can identify exactly which tracks convert the most live show ticket sales and use Earbits every time they go on tour to help pack the clubs they play.

The long-term vision is that we'll be able to do this on a massive scale for hundreds of thousands of artists, and the benefits they get will be tied to how good their music is, not how much time they spend trying to work the system. When an amazing band can go from a demo to a stadium on Earbits, we'll consider taking a vacation.

At the same time, we strive to offer a free, simple and elegant no-ad music listening platform. Love letters from listeners also boost our moral, letting us know we are headed in the right direction.

Monday 14 January 2013

New Feature: Browse All Arrangements of a Song


As a musician, you know not every arrangement is the right one for your particular needs. Perhaps you need a song arranged for a particular instrument, as performed by a certain artist, or in a specific notation like tab or leadsheet format, etc.

With all these different possible iterations of a song, finding the right one in our search results can be a rather involved task. Sure, the categories on the left side of search results are useful for helping to narrow things down, as are the descriptions in the search results and the instant previews of the sheet music, but even then it can be difficult to find the right one.

This is why we’re happy to announce we’ve recently added a new feature to our site to make it easier to browse all arrangements of a specific song.  Now, once you’ve found the song you’re looking for, if the sheet music isn’t quite the arrangement you wanted you can easily see all the other arrangements available – directly from the product display page.

Here’s how it works:

1. Go to a product display page on our site (example: this arrangement of “Hallelujah“).
2. Look in the column to the right of the sheet music preview.
3. If additional arrangements are available, you’ll now see a text link that says “Or, see other arrangements of this song.”
4. Note: This link will be located under the keys for transpositions, or if no transpositions exist, under the Quick Details section.)


5. If more arrangements are available, just click the “Or, see other arrangements of this song” link.
6. You’ll get a window listing all other arrangements. You can preview them using the magnifying glass or go directly to the product by clicking the row listing the arrangement.

We hope this new tool helps make it easier for you to find the arrangement right for you. Of course, not all songs have multiple arrangements – but now that we’ve made it easier to browse them we’ll be better equipped to start offering more arrangements of specific songs on the site.





Sunday 13 January 2013

Sourcing Your Favorite Country Music Online

Many music genre's, country music included can be easily sourced online enabling you to find the best country music online. This is due to the digital age of music, where music is on big computers ready for instant download, often with massive online music stores distributing their music. No longer are physical CD's the only source of supply with the digital age. For example if you were looking for the latest George Strait album, you could simply type into Google "Buy George Straits Latest Album" and there would be hundreds of results.

There are easier ways than going through search engines to find your favorite country music on the internet, however. For instance, if you know the artist's official website name, you can simply type in that URL and go directly to the site. On most artist websites, you can find out about tour dates, CD releases and informative tidbits about the artists.

You can also download your favourite country music online through the likes of iTunes, Google Music and Amazon Music (for a price). Sometimes you can even source rare songs that you can't find anywhere else through these hubs, so it's worth a quick look.

If you're not quite ready to buy your favorite country music on the internet, you can go to a video site and watch official videos and concert performances for your favorite country artists. For example, YouTube features plenty of music videos. Also, the bigger cable music channels, such as GAC and CMT, also have websites that show videos and include artist biographies. If you like, you can go to one of these and find out plenty of information.

When you're not necessarily in a buying mood, you just wish to source some new country music online and research into whether an album is worth purchasing, then you can just visit some fine country music review sites such as Country Standard Time or Roughstock. You will learn more from reviews on the latest artists and their respective albums and where you wish to purchase their albums or just separate songs. There's also plenty of interviews with the singers and bands themselves for you to enjoy. And if that's not enough you can also get a great deal of information from general interest sites on country music online too. So if you go to the likes of People Magazine or the Rolling Stone, you could learn more there.

So it's now not a case of needing to wait for new country music magazines to come out to get the latest news, song reviews and interviews, you can get it all online at your home computer. So, with that said you don't need to wait any longer, start searching right now for your favourite country music online and take advantage of all it has to offer.

Source : http://www.abcarticledirectory.com/Article/Sourcing-Your-Favorite-Country-Music-Online/1588023#.UPOYtqyi_IU

Tuesday 8 January 2013

5 Awesome Continental Music Acts

This week on NME.com, Cascada’s dreadful rendition of ‘It’s Christmas Time’, is still one of the most popular single reviews. As a Danish resident, this upsets me. Europe has so many excellent musical acts, yet the one receiving the most attention is vom-inducing Eurotrash. Therefore, I present to you five examples of decent European music. A few of these acts have won prestigious awards in their own countries, but have never been heard of in the UK. So before I receive another rude and unnecessary comment about Aqua, read this blogpost and think about Treefight For Sunlight. Let us know your favourite continental acts in the comments; Europeans and Brits alike!
Denmark’s Treefight for Sunlight

If you’ve thought about Denmark lately, it’s probably to marvel at their gripping crime thrillers and woolly jumpers, or because you’ve been listening to Alphabeat’s ‘X-Mas (Let’s Do It Again)’. However, it turns out the happiest nation on earth has more bands to offer than Alphabeat and Aqua. Cue Treefight for Sunlight, an indie pop quartet whose 2010 debut ‘A Collection of Vibrations for Your Skull’ won Danish Album of the Year. Their neo-psychedelic style guides you through several layers of irresistible, piano-driven pop melodies and curious, unpredictable structures.
France’s BB Brunes

Like all good Frenchmen, BB Brunes’ frontman Adrien Gallo loves to smoke. That’s why he named the band’s most successful single “Nico Teen Love”. Alex Turner and Luke Pritchard style cool hangs around this band, and all members are considered heartthrobs in their home nation. Drawing inspiration from The Strokes and The Clash, their rock pop tunes are infectious and catchy. Their irresistible guitar riffs and hooks have also made this band previous winners of the “Victoire de la Musique” (2009). Incroyable!

Italy’s Colapesce

If the previous two were a little too upbeat, indie minimalist band Colapesce may be more suitable. With their host of singles from the past year, Colapesce are proving highly successful in the Italian blogosphere. Minimal drum beats, cloudy synthesisers and morose acoustic guitar plucks all support gentle, whispering, Italian vocals that pull you in to the dreamy pop music. If you don’t speak Italian, fear not: just listening to their continental vocals will have you feeling sophisticated. Also, it would appear the Italian “Ch” and rolled “R”s are perfect for giving an extra flavour to acoustic pop.

Listen to: ‘S’illumina’, ‘Oasi’


Germany’s Apparat

Apparat creates atmospheric and ambient soundscapes that have made their way onto Skins, and won him a prestigious German Quartz Award. Compelling synths and samples swarm over guitar distortion and steady drum beats, to accompany effected minimalist vocals.


Sweden’s First Aid Kit

This Swedish sister duo has had a successful year, with second album ‘The Lion’s Roar’ reaching number one in Sweden, and number 35 in the UK. They’re all things acoustic, woodsy and folk, with a heavy emphasis on trying to achieve the most hauntingly beautiful vocal harmonies since ABBA. Having toured with Bon Iver and performed with Fleet Foxes, they were the folk crush of 2012. Simple but enchanting melodies with voices like bells to accompany them, anyone with an ear can appreciate First Aid Kit’s talent.

Listen to: ‘Emmy Lou’, ‘The Lion’s Roar’

Music & Emotions: Can Music Really Make You A Happier Person

How many times have you turned to music to uplift you even further in happy times, or sought the comfort of music when melancholy strikes?

Music affects us all. But only in recent times have scientists sought to explain and quantify the way music impacts us at an emotional level. Researching the links between melody and the mind indicates that listening to and playing music actually can alter how our brains, and therefore our bodies, function.

It seems that the healing power of music, over body and spirit, is only just starting to be understood, even though music therapy is not new. For many years therapists have been advocating the use of music in both listening and study for the reduction of anxiety and stress, the relief of pain. And music has also been recommended as an aid for positive change in mood and emotional states.

Michael DeBakey, who in 1966 became the first surgeon to successfully implant an artificial heart, is on record saying: "Creating and performing music promotes self-expression and provides self-gratification while giving pleasure to others. In medicine, increasing published reports demonstrate that music has a healing effect on patients."

Doctors now believe using music therapy in hospitals and nursing homes not only makes people feel better, but also makes them heal faster. And across the nation, medical experts are beginning to apply the new revelations about music's impact on the brain to treating patients.

In one study, researcher Michael Thaut and his team detailed how victims of stroke, cerebral palsy and Parkinson's disease who worked to music took bigger, more balanced strides than those whose therapy had no accompaniment.

Other researchers have found the sound of drums may influence how bodies work. Quoted in a 2001 article in USA Today, Suzanne Hasner, chairwoman of the music therapy department at Berklee College of Music in Boston, says even those with dementia or head injuries retain musical ability.

The article reported results of an experiment in which researchers from the Mind-Body Wellness Center in Meadville, Pa., tracked 111 cancer patients who played drums for 30 minutes a day. They found strengthened immune systems and increased levels of cancer-fighting cells in many of the patients.

"Deep in our long-term memory is this rehearsed music," Hasner says. "It is processed in the emotional part of the brain, the amygdala. Here is where you remember the music played at your wedding, the music of your first love, that first dance. Such things can still be remembered even in people with progressive diseases. It can be a window, a way to reach them."

The American Music Therapy Organization claims music therapy may allow for "emotional intimacy with families and caregivers, relaxation for the entire family, and meaningful time spent together in a positive, creative way".

Scientists have been making progress in its exploration into why music should have this effect. In 2001 Dr. Anne Blood and Robert Zatorre of McGill University in Montreal, used positron emission tomography, or PET scans, to find out if particular brain structures were stimulated by music.

In their study, Blood and Zatorre asked 10 musicians, five men and five women, to choose stirring music. The subjects were then given PET scans as they listened to four types of audio stimuli - the selected music, other music, general noise or silence. Each sequence was repeated three times in random order.

Blood said when the subjects heard the music that gave them "chills," the PET scans detected activity in the portions of the brain that are also stimulated by food and sex.

Just why humans developed such a biologically based appreciation of music is still not clear. The appreciation of food and the drive for sex evolved to help the survival of the species, but "music did not develop strictly for survival purposes," Blood told Associated Press at the time.

She also believes that because music activates the parts of the brain that make us happy, this suggests it can benefit our physical and mental well being.

This is good news for patients undergoing surgical operations who experience anxiety in anticipation of those procedures.

Polish researcher, Zbigniew Kucharski, at the Medical Academy of Warsaw, studied the effect of acoustic therapy for fear management in dental patients. During the period from October 2001 to May 2002, 38 dental patients aged between 16 and 60 years were observed. The patients received variations of acoustic therapy, a practice where music is received via headphones and also vibrators.

Dr Kucharski discovered the negative feelings decreased five-fold for patients who received 30 minutes of acoustic therapy both before and after their dental procedure. For the group that heard and felt music only prior to the operation, the fearful feelings reduced by a factor of 1.6 only.

For the last group (the control), which received acoustic therapy only during the operation, there was no change in the degree of fear felt.

A 1992 study identified music listening and relaxation instruction as an effective way to reduce pain and anxiety in women undergoing painful gynecological procedures. And other studies have proved music can reduce other 'negative' human emotions like fear, distress and depression.

Sheri Robb and a team of researchers published a report in the Journal of Music Therapy in 1992, outlining their findings that music assisted relaxation procedures (music listening, deep breathing and other exercises) effectively reduced anxiety in pediatric surgical patients on a burn unit.

"Music," says Esther Mok in the AORN Journal in February 2003, "is an easily administered, non-threatening, non-invasive, and inexpensive tool to calm preoperative anxiety."

So far, according to the same report, researchers cannot be certain why music has a calming affect on many medical patients. One school of thought believes music may reduce stress because it can help patients to relax and also lower blood pressure. Another researcher claims music allows the body's vibrations to synchronize with the rhythms of those around it. For instance, if an anxious patient with a racing heartbeat listens to slow music, his heart rate will slow down and synchronize with the music's rhythm.

Such results are still something of a mystery. The incredible ability that music has to affect and manipulate emotions and the brain is undeniable, and yet still largely inexplicable.

Aside from brain activity, the affect of music on hormone levels in the human body can also be quantified, and there is definite evidence that music can lower levels of cortisol in the body (associated with arousal and stress), and raise levels of melatonin (which can induce sleep). It can also precipitate the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkiller.

But how does music succeed in prompting emotions within us? And why are these emotions often so powerful? The simple answer is that no one knows yet. So far we can quantify some of the emotional responses caused by music, but we cannot yet explain them. But that's OK. I don't have to understand electricity to benefit from light when I switch on a lamp when I come into a room, and I don't have to understand why music can make me feel better emotionally. It just does - our Creator made us that way.

Korean pop rides "Gangnam Style" into U.S. music scene

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "Gangnam Style," the catchy Korean song by rapper Psy, may have danced its way into the American charts but the Korean pop industry isn't horsing around when it comes to capitalizing on the singer's phenomenal U.S. success.

With "Gangnam Style" topping the current Billboard Digital Songs chart and becoming the most-watched video on YouTube ever with more than 800 million views, fellow Korean pop, or K-pop, artists are positioning themselves for similar U.S. breakthroughs.

Korea's pop music industry is thriving. Over the past two years, a handful of K-pop acts including girl group 2NE1, boy band Super Junior and nine-piece band Girls Generation have embarked on mini-promotional tours around the United States to build their audience.

"Psy has opened doors and is shining a spotlight on K-pop. People are paying attention to what's being done there," Alina Moffat, general manager at YG Entertainment group, which manages Psy, told a recent entertainment industry conference in Los Angeles.

Psy's vibrant music video, featuring his invisible pony-riding dance, also featured K-pop artists Kim Hyun-a of girl band 4Minute, and Deasung and Seungri of boy band Big Bang, all of whom are attempting to crack the U.S. market.

"YouTube has really changed the awareness of K-pop. Both American kids and second-generation Korean American kids are discovering it," Kye Kyoungbon Koo, director of the Korea Creative Content Agency, told a panel at a Billboard and Hollywood Reporter conference in Los Angeles in October.

MARKETING THE NEXT BIG THING

For U.S. companies looking to invest, K-pop is being marketed as the next big thing, boasting young, stylish and influential artists who command devoted fan followings.

Moffat said car companies and mobile phone brands were among those being courted at KCON, a convention held in October in Irvine in Southern California that showcased K-pop artists.

"Kids are coming, they're engaged, they want to spend money and sponsors saw that," Moffat said.

Whether Psy or other K-pop artists can command a global following to rival Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber or Rihanna remains to be seen, but John Shim, senior producer at MTV World, believes it is the right genre to compete with pop music's biggest names.

"K-pop admittedly is a very niche genre but I also think it's the best equipped of Asian pop to cater to the U.S. audience," Shim told Reuters.

Psy has helped to break down language barriers, keeping "Gangnam Style" in its original Korean form instead of adapting it to English when it became an international hit.

The singer told Reuters he was persuaded to keep it that way by his manager Scooter Braun, the talent scout responsible for Justin Bieber's success, who signed Psy to his record label.

"I thought, 'Should I translate this or not?' because (the fans) have got to know what I'm talking about, and lyrics are a huge part," Psy said.

CHATTING IN ENGLISH

But industry executives say at least one member of each K-Pop group is usually taught to be fluent in conversational English.

"The investment in language is costly, but effective," said Ted Kim, president of South Korean music television channel Mnet. "It really matters that Psy can go on the Ellen DeGeneres TV show and have a conversation."

Psy said he was proud his song succeeded in Korean, but he now wants to branch out into English.

"'Gangnam Style' is not the sort of thing that's going to happen twice. I've definitely got to make something in English so I can communicate with my fans right now," the singer said.

In Korea, bands such as SM Entertainment's Super Junior and Girls Generation have became branding powerhouses, scoring endorsements ranging from cosmetics, fashion, video games, electronics and beverages.

In the United States, companies such as Samsung have already jumped on the K-pop train, sponsoring Korean boy band Big Bang's U.S. tour.

But while the genre is gaining steam in the charts, it has yet to spill into ticket sales for tours, according to Gary Bongiovanni, editor in chief at Pollstar.com, which tracks concert sales.

"Psy may be able to sell out arenas in Asia, but not yet here. For the American audience, he has to prove that he's more than a novelty act," Bongiovanni said.

"K-pop has to prove itself before large companies spend money on it," he added.

Stay In Harmony Longer With Excellent Guitar Strings

Presently it's so simple to learn to the simplest way to change guitar strings. We will learn it easily with assistance from Internet or professional guitar players. Learning how to modify guitar string is far much easier in comparison to playing it. In short we can say that swapping guitar string and the way how to change it is not a difficult job.

Having an outlined string changing process will help you change your strings faster, stay in tune even longer, and play with strings that last longer as you practice your guitar.

Realize what sort of Guitar You are Playing : There are usually three sorts of guitars that you'll find when needing to change strings. It isn't a very good idea to just swap one string as this will affect the standard of sound that comes out of any guitar.

The only exclusion to this principle is if you've recently modified all of your guitar strings inside a day to a week dependent on how much you practice your guitar. Change Your Strings One String at a Time : if you should happen to have got a fresh guitar than take a mental note as to how your strings look at the time.

We'll look at some of the crucial tips which may help you in discovering electric guitar playing talents in fast time.

The first thing you need to do is to pick the kind of teaching you want. It is possible to as an example, go and find out playing the guitar from a pro tutor. Or, you can join a Web music college and master it from there. You want to recollect , it really is something that's natural and would vanish with the passing of time. You shouldn't expect fast results when you are mastering electric guitar.

Making a point to schedule your time in such a way that you actually allow a specific time slot for your guitar practice. You're now going to arrange your strings by stretching them out. Move your right hand and put it at the Bridge of your guitar where the strings are strung. Squeeze / Pinch one string at a time, lifting up the guitar string until you hit the nut of the guitar.

By squeezing / pinching of the strings this could put your guitar strings untuned again.

Re-tune your own guitar and you'll find that your strings will stay in tune much better than if you had not prepped your strings formerly. A strategy to slow this method down is by cleaning down your strings with a soft fabric before and after your guitar training. You may get these guitar cloths at any guitar retailer.

As it is debated before that modifying guitar string typically depends on the proper way to change guitar strings because when changing the strings we wants perfection.If the 1 changing it do not know the way to change the strings, they'll ruin the guitar as well as the overall performance.

Source : http://www.amazines.com/Music/article_detail.cfm/2727795?articleid=2727795

Monday 7 January 2013

RAP MUSIC AND ITS PLACE IN THE MUSIC WORLD


It is a musical style that has set aside all trends and clichés and emerged as the voice of an entire community of people united by roots and origin. Rap is the urban poetry of lyrical resistance, the power that unites and expresses the thoughts of music lovers in big cities. And that is what makes it so different from all the other musical genres. It doesn’t speak only to the mind and emotions, but speaks to the society as a whole and the environment that is all around people. Rap is neither tender like classical music, nor suave like country songs or glossy like the pop genre. It is harsh and built to convey the pain and emotion of situations, a style that simply embodies free expression of radical thoughts and the realities of the world that surround us.

In its simplest form, Rap is just a combination of speech and music. In fact, it would be better to say that rap is actually speech that has been laid on beats and rhythms. It falls into a sort of gray area when you try to place it as a part of speech or prose or poetry or song. Its roots can be traced back to Africa, long before hip hop even came into the picture. The ‘griot’ people of West Africa have been delivering their stories in this format for centuries, using drums and very few other instruments to provide a rhythm to their songs while Blues music finds its roots in the work songs and emotional expressions of slavery and the unmistakable influences of West African musical traditions.

But modern day rap is an integral part of the hip hop culture, with the two terms often being used interchangeably. It started being used as a part of the hip hop musical movement that was gaining momentum in the early 1970s. Veterans like DJ Cool Herc and Grand Master Flash were the first to use rap with the new style beats and rhythms that are now its signature style. In the parties in the Bronx, rap was introduced and gained popularity with the youth of the African American and Latino communities. Soon this style became a part of their identities. New rap songs started being churned out every day and the revolution that started took the music world by storm.

Today, rap and hip hop are one of the most popular musical genres in the current music scenario. Although, it did start out as an all-African American movement, rap is now listened to, followed and practiced by people around the world, despite of their ethnicities and roots. Latest rap songs and rap music videos are topping every chart and the movement has gifted the industry with many talented artists in the likes of Eminem, Jay Z, Dr. Dre, Rihanna and many many more.
It is a style that can be and is being used in fusion with other music genres like rock, pop etc. And as the staunch follower of the genre would say, Rap is not just a style of music. It truly is a frame of mind!

Friday 4 January 2013

Congress Passes Bill Standardizing Airline Rules for Musical Instrument Storage

Traveling musicians got a big boost from Congress last month with the passage of a sweeping Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill that includes new universal standards for storing instruments in flight. Pending issuance of final regulations, the amended law will, among other things, allow travelers to carry aboard any instrument or related gear that can be safely stored in the cabin, rather than risk it being damaged in the plane’s cargo hold or during baggage handling.

Included as an amendment to section 403 (“Musical Instruments”) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (H.R. 658), the bill provides airport personnel with specific guidelines for carry-on instruments — including when musicians may purchase a separate seat for an oversized or fragile instrument — as well as weight and size limits for storing a larger instrument in a plane’s cargo area.

Calling the amendment “great news for professional musicians throughout the U.S. and Canada,” American Federation of Musicians (AFM) President Ray Hair said that passage of the new rules would help end the confusion over musical instruments as carry-on baggage.

"BMI salutes the passage of the Airline Musical Instrument Carry On Luggage Act and is proud to have assisted in its passage,” said Fred Cannon, BMI Senior Vice President, Government Relations. “We would like to thank Hal Ponder, lobbyist for the American Federation of Musicians, who spearheaded the industry efforts on this bill. This legislation will assist all traveling musicians by allowing them to protect their instruments, knowing that there is a standardized national policy regarding how these instruments are handled by the airlines."

Just in Case
Under the new rules, travelers who want to avoid having their Stratocaster wind up under a pile of Samsonite will now get their wish. Guitar-sized instruments or smaller will be allowed on board at no extra charge, as long as the instrument can be safely stowed in a baggage compartment or under the passenger’s seat (hence, Strat carriers may want to consider using a gig bag rather than a Fender-sized hard case). Instruments that are too large to be safely stored overhead/under a seat but do not weigh in excess of 165 pounds (including case) may still be carried on board; however, the owner will have to purchase a separate seat in order to accommodate the instrument. Owners that want to transport larger instruments as checked baggage will be allowed to do so assuming the instrument weighs 165 pounds or less and the circumference of the instrument (with case) does not exceed 150 inches.

Professional music organizations including BMI and the AFM have been pressing lawmakers to adopt a single standard for air carriers in order to better serve musicians traveling with large, valuable and or sensitive vintage instruments. To date, airlines have maintained divergent policies governing in-flight instrument storage, and rule enforcement has often been inconsistent and arbitrary. Passengers report being denied carry-on privileges by the same carrier that had previously granted such access. These issues have sometimes resulted in missed flights and canceled engagements, according to musicians’ rights advocates.

Last year the Senate and House issued separate carry-on proposals for the reauthorization bill, with the Senate’s version allowing musicians to purchase a separate ticket for oversized instruments, while the House merely suggesting that instruments be stowed “in accordance with the requirements for carriage of carry-on baggage or cargo set forth by the Administrator.” In a subsequent conference committee, however, the House agreed to adopt the Senate’s language.

Before you run out and buy an adjoining seat for your favorite sitar, though, take note: the new FAA rules won’t go into effect until final regulations have been issued, which, according to the bill, will be “no later than two years after the date of enactment.”

Thursday 3 January 2013

How The Online Guitar Lessons Can Create A Sense Of Music

Music is liked by all no matter it is the young generation or the elderly people. Playing a musical instrument is not a child's play. It demands determination, dedication, patience and urge to learn each and everything about the instrument. Other than this, it is a fact that you need to keep on practicing if you want to become efficient in handling the instrument.

Every field has been advanced with the change of time and technology. We cannot name a single field that has not been affected by the changing world. Like all other fields, music has also been revolutionized. It has now become easier to learn music as technology has eased everything. These days, a large number of music schools are providing guitar lessons so that people can learn playing guitar online. You can select any music program by checking the price, market demand, teaching methodology, repute of teachers etc. It is believed that when you learn anything subject of music from the music producers, then you may get confused as it would be hard for you cope up with their rhythm as it may be different from that of the traditional beats. When you have got the facility of taking the guitar lessons online, then you need not to worry about anything as you will be provided with ease and flexibility of taking classes with trained music teachers. You can term these prospects as the live music resources. Students are also provided with the fee concession prospect for a specific time period. Such prospects can help the schools to gather more students. Music tools are used captivate the students to get into the soul of the music. The musical gadgets are very fascinating. These days, the trend of the online classes has got popularity in the young generation. No doubt, this has gifted many talented musical professionals to the music world who might be belonging to jazz, pop, classical and other types of music.

If you want to learn music online, then you need to subscribe with any of the music lesson websites to set the timings and number of sessions for learning. The students and teachers are able to save much of their time as learning and giving lessons online is a hassle free task. When we talk about the features of a guitar, it has 6 strings fixed on it. Music is produced by these strings by following the notes that are given by the music producer that produce a well organized and harmonized tone. Repetitive classes are offered to those students who are unable to grasp the lessons from the first class. In this way, they are able to carefully learn what they are taught. The students who learn music skills from the online sources later emerge as the professional music producers. The students who want to get well equipped with the music skills need to be aware of the live music information. These online sources can be much useful for the students who want to learn much in less time.

Wednesday 2 January 2013

With Sirius Portable Satellite Radio You Can Have Your Music, News, Or Talk Radio Anywhere

Do you remember the days when it was almost impossible to be able to listen to a good mix of the music or other radio programming that you wanted anywhere and anytime? I do, and believe me if you value your news and talk radio the way that I do it is a time that you do not want to return to. In those days I spent more time flipping channels and between AM and FM to try and be able to access the content that I desired than I did listening. Since Sirius portable satellite radio entered the mix a few years ago this is no longer a problem.

I absolutely love being able to have instant access to news, music, or talk radio at any time. I personally use the Sirius Stiletto 2 which provides me with more features than I could ever use. This thing brings me all of the programming crystal clear no matter where I am. This Sirius portable satellite radio makes the trip from my house to my car to my job everyday.

The whole family enjoys the satellite radio when it is at home. My wife enjoys listening to Martha Stewart Radio, my kids love the Disney programming, and on the rare occasion that I get my hands on my Sirius portable satellite radio at home I get the news and talk radio that just is not available on the FM or AM dial.

This thing is also priceless on the commute. I spend at least 2 hours per day in my car on the way to and from work driving through mostly rural areas. If it were not for this Sirius radio I would have to change radio frequencies several times to find the programming that I want, if I could find it at all.

My favorite feature on this Sirius portable satellite radio is the built in mp3 player. Like most people I have my favorite talk radio hosts and newscasts that I feel like I have to hear everyday. With the Sirius Stiletto 2 I do not have to be by the radio when they are on. With this Sirius portable satellite radio I can record up to 100 hours of programming! So if I have to be in a meeting or doing honey dos I just set my Stiletto 2 to record my favorite programs so that I can come back and listen to them when it is convenient for me.

This Sirius portable satellite radio can be purchased in a package that includes the home or car installation kit or can be purchase as a stand alone unit. I personally have found it well worth my money to purchase the Stiletto 2 with the available car kit. I also added on the home kit to complete my ability to use this great satellite radio everywhere. There are also many other great accessories available for this receiver.

As you know there is a small monthly service fee to access the Sirius satellite radio network but I have found it well worth my investment. For the price of about one and one half lunches at McDonald's I am able to pick and choose between over one hundred channels that deliver content that you just cannot find on the AM FM radio consistently.

As this is a review I should point out the bad points of a Sirius portable satellite radio, but I honestly have no complaints with my device or service. I could not be more satisfied. If you are passionate about the quality of information or music that you receive on the radio this is the only way to go.
 
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