First Sheet Music

The Historic American Sheet Music, Rare, Book, Manuscript and Special Collections Library at Duke University struggles with the definition of sheet music. Though some might desire to relegate the use of the term “sheet music” to popular or modern music, The Library at Duke has discovered that “Especially in the mid-nineteenth century, a publisher may have issued sacred and secular songs, Lieder, opera excerpts, potpourris, waltzes, marches and descriptive etudes side-by-side.” They go on to describe sheet music as the mere physical product of recording music on paper. Sheet music can also be described as a “score”. However it is described, sheet music is the way in which a reader (one who reads musical notation) can play a piece of music.

Sheet music provides a special kind of potential entertainment. Musical scores, specifically those written for or including the piano, were very popular at the turn of the century as many private homes had pianos. Before radio became the preferred form of entertainment, regular people had to create their own entertainment. A new set of sheet music was like a new TV show, and allowed anyone who could play to entertain themselves with a new piece of music.

Another popular and now defunct function of sheet music was as a carrier for art. In some cases, the art on the cover of the sheet music was as interesting and desirable as the music found inside. Music publishing (in America) began in the 1790’s. At that point it was not big business because unlike a century later, the average consumer did not have a piano in the house and, as America was still expanding, shipping was difficult and costly. It wasn’t until after the Civil War that the visual art on the cover of the sheet music became as important as the audible art found on the inside. One particular artist, E.T. Paul because particularly well known for his song choices and cover art. He began by commissioning color lithographs for his own pieces of composition. It is believed that much of his (wild) success was due less to the content of his music and more to his topic choice and choice of cover art. In the same way that cover art revolutionized the sale and advertising qualities of sheet music, cheap alternatives for shipping took this fledgling American industry from being strictly regional to being able to reach all over the country.

Definition Of Music

The broadest definition of music is organized sound. There are observable patterns to what is broadly labeled music, and while there are understandable cultural variations, the properties of music are the properties of sound as perceived and processed by humans.

A more conservative definition would be: Music is harmonious sound created by the playing of instruments as a whole or individually. It is a direct expression of human emotions designed to manipulate and transform the emotion of the listener/listeners. Music is designed to be felt unlike sound which is heard.

Greek philosophers and medieval theorists defined music as tones ordered horizontally as melodies, and vertically as harmonies. Music theory, within this realm, is studied with the presupposition that music is orderly and often pleasant to hear. However, in the 20th century, composers challenged the notion that music had to be pleasant by creating music that explored harsher, darker timbres. The existence of some modern-day genres such as death metal and grindcore, which enjoy an extensive underground following, indicate that even the harshest sounds can be considered music if the listener is so inclined.

20th century composer John Cage disagreed with the notion that music must consist of pleasant, discernible melodies. Instead, he argued that any sounds we can hear can be music, saying, for example, "There is no noise, only sound,"[2]. According to musicologist Jean-Jacques Nattiez (1990 p.47-8,55): "The border between music and noise is always culturally defined--which implies that, even within a single society, this border does not always pass through the same place; in short, there is rarely a consensus.... By all accounts there is no single and intercultural universal concept defining what music might be."

The composer Anton Webern stated "With me, things never turn out as I wish, but only as is ordained for means—I must", which sets out his view of the underlying generative process of music. The German philosopher Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe believed that patterns and forms were the basis of music; he stated that "architecture is frozen music."

Music To Meditate By

Some people prefer to meditate silently without any music but there are others who prefer to meditate with music. Different people like different music to meditate by. Some like to have music playing in the background while they meditate while others like the form of meditation that involves making music to meditate by.

Meditation is a simple and easy art and even children can easily practice it. With music to meditate by meditation can be made even more interesting for children. You get a choice of meditation music that is especially meant for children.

Whatever form of meditation you choose, it is important to remember that music to meditate by should be simple, calm, soothing and peaceful. It should induce feelings of inner peace and help you to focus. Loud music to meditate by is destructive and unproductive. It is distracting and creates feelings of chaos. The most popular musical instruments associated with meditation include the sitar, flute, Tibetan singing bow and the tambora.

While some people use music to meditate by, there are many musicians who use meditation to calm themselves and to stay focused before any major performance. If you are using music as a means of meditation, you should try and stop doing everything else and just focus on the music in order to get the full benefits of the music. It also helps you to enjoy the music more.

If you are looking for music to meditate by, there are plenty on online websites that offer different kinds of meditation music that you can buy. Some websites allow you to listen to a sample of the music so you can decide if that is what you are looking for. There are even a few websites that offer free mp3 downloads of music to meditate by. Just do an internet search on meditation music and you are sure to find something that is just right for you.

Piano – Thank You For The Music

A piano, short for Pianoforte is probably one of the finest musical instruments ever created by man. The sound of a pianoforte can create a wonderful melody that can stir hidden emotions, make us feel elated or sad and transport us into a private world of dreams and fantasy. A musical instrument that traces its history back to the earliest stringed instruments, the pianoforte has been a symbol of grace and refinement for centuries in the western world.

The predecessors of this grand instrument were at best crude attempts to make a stringed keyboard instrument. But the piano as we know it today was created by Bartolomeo Cristofori de Francisco of Padua, Italy in around 1700 and only three of the original Cristofori pianos from 1720s exist today. The development of the pianoforte benefited the most from centuries of improvisations and development on the Harpsichord, an instrument on which Cristofori himself was an expert.

Playing a pianoforte can be an exhilarating experience and across centuries people have had the desire to own the best pianos built. There have been an equal number of companies and individuals that have crafted the best pianos to relay the most soothing sounds possible. Some of the best known pianos are built by Steinway, Baldwin and Chickering among others.

Two factors have contributed greatly to the evolution of this instrument to its present form. One was the demand for a more powerful sound by composers and pianists and the other was the Industrial revolution that gave manufacturers the high quality raw materials like steel to cater to that demand. Today pianos come in two types: the grand and the upright. Technological development has given us a third kind – the digital pianos.

Since its invention, this instrument has become an important part of music compositions and as a solo instrument everywhere. It is a delight to the player, composer and to music aficionados world over. That is why it is no wonder everyone wants a part of this history in their homes.

Mozart’s Music

The music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is perhaps the most well-known of any composer the world has ever seen. Almost everyone has heard of how Mozart was composing music by the age of five (some urban legends even claim it was at age two) and performing before kings and queens, dukes and duchesses, before he was seven years old. He created more than 600 compositions, from operas to sonatas to full symphonies, and died tragically, mysteriously, before his 36th birthday in 1791. Some of his more famous pieces of music include Eine kleine Nachtmusik (A Little Night Music, 1787) and the operas Don Giovanni (1787) and Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute, 1791).

The movie Amadeus (1984) put into popular parlance the idea of Mozart as an immature and spoiled musical prodigy, given to fast living and obnoxious, braying laughter. It also portrays him as having been tormented by a brooding, jealous rival composer named Salieri, who may or may not have killed him. History paints only a slightly less dramatic picture. Born in 1756 in Salzburg, Austria, Mozart was the only son of a professional musician who very early on recognized the boy’s extraordinary musical talent. Today’s critical and politically correct eyes may look with disfavor on the way that Leopold Mozart exploited his son’s musical genius, but at the time it was neither uncommon nor unacceptable to parade child prodigies through the courts of Europe. The young Mozart spent his boyhood at the feet of kings and queens, performing and composing and perfecting his unique musical vision.

He also spent his childhood suffering from various illnesses—tuberculosis, tonsillitis, and typhoid are just some of the many ailments he is said to have suffered. He was a sickly child and each bout of poor health left him reduced in vigor, more frail, and more susceptible to what would, ultimately, kill him. Legend has it that he was poisoned, but recent, more scientific explanation has it that he died of rheumatic fever, even while working to complete one of his greatest musical accomplishments, the Requiem.

Mozart’s music, like his life, defies easy classification. As a product of what historians term the Classical Era (1750-1825), he perfected the prevalent musical forms of symphony, opera, and concerto, and yet he also turned them on their heads. The upper-crust audiences for whom he played were jarred by his complex, mysterious, sometimes raucous music, accustomed as they were to lighter, more frivolous pieces. In 1782, the Emperor Joseph II even told Mozart that his German opera had “too many notes.”

Such a characterization of Mozart’s music may well seem absurd to us today, who have been conditioned to think of Mozart as an unparalleled genius. Even before birth, babies are rocked to sleep by Mozart’s music being piped into their mothers’ wombs. We relax to his music, we grow to it, we learn through it; his music enriches and inspires our lives.

How To Benefit From Music

In an effort to stay fit and healthy, people nowadays are becoming more and more conscious of their food and are following strict exercise regimens. The benefits of healthy food and exercise are well known. However, there is one more fact that people are not aware of. It is the positive impact of music on health. Young or old, music is an effective means of managing stress and hence can be an important effective tool to facilitate healthy existence. Music can play an important role throughout our lives. Music is based on sound waves that lie between our voice and the meditative brain wavelengths and as a result it can be a medium that can connect us with our higher conscious thereby relieving us of anxiety and tension.

Educationists have long known the benefits of music. Ability of playing musical instruments and making music improves our analytical abilities. In the process of learning music, the reading of musical notes and musical notations works towards stimulating the processes linked with solving mathematical and analytical problems and do extremely well in sciences.

The minds of young people are filled with eternal hope, which reflects in their musical creations. This can be clearly seen while watching them learn to play musical instruments and perform. The combination of young minds and the music evokes joy and hope. Unlike the people who have earned gray hair, the music of young people serves as a reminder to the fact that nothing is impossible.

There have been a lot of studies conducted on the influence of music. In the elderly people, music has been shown to not only reduce tension and anxiety but also the feeling of isolation and solitude. And a surprising revelation of this study was that the subjects enrolled for this study showed an increased production of human growth hormone, which has a positive effect on side effects of aging like wrinkling, osteoporosis, general aches and pains and even sexual function.

Health practitioners can draw an important inference from this study. It shows that group activity and interaction with other is important for a healthy living. It proves the long held belief that music is a means to link with our higher selves and thereby help us lead a healthy life that can be enjoyed to the fullest.

Do I Need Music Software?

Well answer some more questions… Do you like music? Do you find it convenient to download and store music on your computer/ipod(or other type of mp3 player)? Do you hate how long it takes to download music? Do you like to make mixes? Do you find it difficult to keep your collection organized on your computer? Well… if you answer yes to several of these questions than you probably would find it worth your while to invest in some good music software.

Music software is software that makes downloading and listening to music much much easier. There are many services that can be offered by a software package but the basic service of music organization is always there. These programs are set up to evaluate the song(s) and automatically will organize them according to predetermined preferences. The organization is such that you can browse by category, artist, date downloaded, name of song, etc. It also will allow you to do a directory wide search keeping all of the titles on the tip of your finger for maximum enjoyment possibilities.

Other services that music software packages will often provide are links to good sources of online music and account information banks allowing you quick and easy access. Download accelerators are a common feature. Mix creation wizards are a cool and relatively new addition to the digital music world. This is in essence a tool that allows you to automatically create a mix using the entirety of your music collection and answers to questions that you provide it. For instance if you would like to make a 70’s greatest hits compilation than you can order it up and it will happen automatically.

So where would I get music software? Well there are many ways. As usual there is a ton of sites that offer all manner of this popular product. You can also go to most computer stores/technology stores and find good products. My advice is to go online and look at a bunch of reviews and try to select one that has the capabilities that fit you best. Be confident with whatever you buy too because these are great little programs and they aren’t that expensive for the increased power over your music collection.

Music For Manifesting

Each week when I begin my workshops, I play a different song to emphasize the importance of music in our lives. Just as what we think, say, and do creates the experience of our lives, so too do the conscious choices that we make with music.

So, just as you consciously choose the words you use, the stories you tell yourself, the visions you hold, the way you respond to life as it unfolds, I encourage you to begin to choose to support yourself with music for your life.

Music that inspires you. Music that makes you feel strong, competent, capable, invincible. Music that recreates feelings of loving and being loved. Music that makes your spirit soar with delight and joy. Music that will lift you up to your highest potential for passion, freedom, success, and prosperity.

Here are some of the songs that I like to share with my groups.

“Gonna Fly Now”, more commonly known as the Rocky Theme from the series of Rocky movies, may fill you with strength, power, and a feeling of victory. Or perhaps it brings to mind, as the story goes, that Sylvester Stallone was down to about $50 in his pocket in New York City when he wrote the screenplay for the original movie in 3 days and then held to his vision by refusing to sell the rights until he could play the title role.

The theme song for the movie Titanic, “My Heart Will Go On”, may remind you of the story of a woman who chose to break free from a life of oppression to live the life of her dreams with passion. The song might also remind you that this was the most expensive movie ever made at $200 million and still holds the record as the #1 lifetime grossing film.

The theme song from the Harry Potter movies may inspire you to feel playful, reminding you of the magic and miracles of life and the extraordinary potential we all have to step into our power. On the other hand, you might also be subtly reminded of the author, J.K. Rowling, who created the passion of her life while she was on social welfare and then was catapulted to fame and fortune almost instantly. Said to be richer than the Queen, her net worth has been estimated to be over $1 billion.

Or maybe your heart jumps for joy with the theme song from the movie Flashdance, “What A Feeling”, sung by Irene Cara. You might remember the powerful scene as a welder moved into her dream of becoming a professional dancer. As you listen to the song, you might also be inspired by the words: “I can have it all. I can really have it all. What a feeling! I can have it all. Please believe it. Take your passion and make it happen!”

On the path of being a dynamic, powerful creator you might choose to tap into “I Believe I Can Fly” by R. Kelly with the words: “There are miracles in life I must achieve, but first I know it starts inside of me. If I can see it, then I can be it. If I just believe it, there's nothing to it. Oh, cause I believe in me. If I can see it, then I can do it. I believe I can fly. I believe I can touch the sky. I think about it every night and day, spread my wings and fly away. I believe I can soar. I see me runnin' through that open door. I believe I can fly!”

Music is made for manifesting! As you hear the beginning notes of a favorite song, reminding you of a particular time in your life when you were full of love, hope, strength, accomplishment, or freedom, your mind automatically recreates a vision of that time, your body responds on a cellular level, and your emotions transform your experience in the moment. Instantaneous. Automatic. Effortless. For fun and for free.

Choose to surround yourself with music that will inspire you to live the life of your dreams, rich in every way!

YOU deserve it!

Each week when I begin my workshops, I play a different song to emphasize the importance of music in our lives. Just as what we think, say, and do creates the experience of our lives, so too do the conscious choices that we make with music.

So, just as you consciously choose the words you use, the stories you tell yourself, the visions you hold, the way you respond to life as it unfolds, I encourage you to begin to choose to support yourself with music for your life.

Music that inspires you. Music that makes you feel strong, competent, capable, invincible. Music that recreates feelings of loving and being loved. Music that makes your spirit soar with delight and joy. Music that will lift you up to your highest potential for passion, freedom, success, and prosperity.

Here are some of the songs that I like to share with my groups.

“Gonna Fly Now”, more commonly known as the Rocky Theme from the series of Rocky movies, may fill you with strength, power, and a feeling of victory. Or perhaps it brings to mind, as the story goes, that Sylvester Stallone was down to about $50 in his pocket in New York City when he wrote the screenplay for the original movie in 3 days and then held to his vision by refusing to sell the rights until he could play the title role.

The theme song for the movie Titanic, “My Heart Will Go On”, may remind you of the story of a woman who chose to break free from a life of oppression to live the life of her dreams with passion. The song might also remind you that this was the most expensive movie ever made at $200 million and still holds the record as the #1 lifetime grossing film.

The theme song from the Harry Potter movies may inspire you to feel playful, reminding you of the magic and miracles of life and the extraordinary potential we all have to step into our power. On the other hand, you might also be subtly reminded of the author, J.K. Rowling, who created the passion of her life while she was on social welfare and then was catapulted to fame and fortune almost instantly. Said to be richer than the Queen, her net worth has been estimated to be over $1 billion.

Or maybe your heart jumps for joy with the theme song from the movie Flashdance, “What A Feeling”, sung by Irene Cara. You might remember the powerful scene as a welder moved into her dream of becoming a professional dancer. As you listen to the song, you might also be inspired by the words: “I can have it all. I can really have it all. What a feeling! I can have it all. Please believe it. Take your passion and make it happen!”

On the path of being a dynamic, powerful creator you might choose to tap into “I Believe I Can Fly” by R. Kelly with the words: “There are miracles in life I must achieve, but first I know it starts inside of me. If I can see it, then I can be it. If I just believe it, there's nothing to it. Oh, cause I believe in me. If I can see it, then I can do it. I believe I can fly. I believe I can touch the sky. I think about it every night and day, spread my wings and fly away. I believe I can soar. I see me runnin' through that open door. I believe I can fly!”

Music is made for manifesting! As you hear the beginning notes of a favorite song, reminding you of a particular time in your life when you were full of love, hope, strength, accomplishment, or freedom, your mind automatically recreates a vision of that time, your body responds on a cellular level, and your emotions transform your experience in the moment. Instantaneous. Automatic. Effortless. For fun and for free.

Choose to surround yourself with music that will inspire you to live the life of your dreams, rich in every way!

YOU deserve it!

Each week when I begin my workshops, I play a different song to emphasize the importance of music in our lives. Just as what we think, say, and do creates the experience of our lives, so too do the conscious choices that we make with music.

So, just as you consciously choose the words you use, the stories you tell yourself, the visions you hold, the way you respond to life as it unfolds, I encourage you to begin to choose to support yourself with music for your life.

Music that inspires you. Music that makes you feel strong, competent, capable, invincible. Music that recreates feelings of loving and being loved. Music that makes your spirit soar with delight and joy. Music that will lift you up to your highest potential for passion, freedom, success, and prosperity.

Here are some of the songs that I like to share with my groups.

“Gonna Fly Now”, more commonly known as the Rocky Theme from the series of Rocky movies, may fill you with strength, power, and a feeling of victory. Or perhaps it brings to mind, as the story goes, that Sylvester Stallone was down to about $50 in his pocket in New York City when he wrote the screenplay for the original movie in 3 days and then held to his vision by refusing to sell the rights until he could play the title role.

The theme song for the movie Titanic, “My Heart Will Go On”, may remind you of the story of a woman who chose to break free from a life of oppression to live the life of her dreams with passion. The song might also remind you that this was the most expensive movie ever made at $200 million and still holds the record as the #1 lifetime grossing film.

The theme song from the Harry Potter movies may inspire you to feel playful, reminding you of the magic and miracles of life and the extraordinary potential we all have to step into our power. On the other hand, you might also be subtly reminded of the author, J.K. Rowling, who created the passion of her life while she was on social welfare and then was catapulted to fame and fortune almost instantly. Said to be richer than the Queen, her net worth has been estimated to be over $1 billion.

Or maybe your heart jumps for joy with the theme song from the movie Flashdance, “What A Feeling”, sung by Irene Cara. You might remember the powerful scene as a welder moved into her dream of becoming a professional dancer. As you listen to the song, you might also be inspired by the words: “I can have it all. I can really have it all. What a feeling! I can have it all. Please believe it. Take your passion and make it happen!”

On the path of being a dynamic, powerful creator you might choose to tap into “I Believe I Can Fly” by R. Kelly with the words: “There are miracles in life I must achieve, but first I know it starts inside of me. If I can see it, then I can be it. If I just believe it, there's nothing to it. Oh, cause I believe in me. If I can see it, then I can do it. I believe I can fly. I believe I can touch the sky. I think about it every night and day, spread my wings and fly away. I believe I can soar. I see me runnin' through that open door. I believe I can fly!”

Music is made for manifesting! As you hear the beginning notes of a favorite song, reminding you of a particular time in your life when you were full of love, hope, strength, accomplishment, or freedom, your mind automatically recreates a vision of that time, your body responds on a cellular level, and your emotions transform your experience in the moment. Instantaneous. Automatic. Effortless. For fun and for free.

Choose to surround yourself with music that will inspire you to live the life of your dreams, rich in every way!

YOU deserve it!

Music For Self Improvement

Would you like to pop in a CD and have a better quality of life, and even self improvement? There are three ways you can use music to accomplish this.

Music For Motivation

Put on energetic music, and even doing housework seems less like work. Using music to motivate yourself or change your mood is an area where you can trust your experience and experimentation. When you find the music that energizes you, relaxes you, or makes you happy, keep it ready for when you need it.

Music For Intelligence

Music creates neural pathways in your brain that stimulate creativity. Studies show that music trains the brain for higher forms of thinking. In one study, three-year-olds were split into two groups. The first had no special training in, or exposure to music. The second group studied piano and sang daily in chorus.

Eight months later the musical three-year-olds were much better at solving puzzles. They also scored 80% higher in spatial intelligence than the other group. There's also anectdotal evidence that listening to music, especially from Mozart's era, can help you study and learn better.

Hopefully there will be more research. In the meantime there's no reason not to do your own experimentation. I've heard that Stephen King writes with loud rock music playing, so the benefits of music may be according to your own tastes or brain-organization.

Music For Brainwave Entrainment

Want to listen to some music, and get smarter, or have instant easy meditation? There are products now that "entrain" your brainwaves, in order to put you in a meditative state. Music is embedded with beats and pulses that entrain your brain waves to a specific frequency. Put in the right CD or MP3 for your activity, and you get better brain function. Science? Partly.

Brain wave frequencies vary with mental state. Daydreaming and light meditation take place in the "Alpha" range of frequencies, for example. So if you listen to music containing beats at a frequency of 10 Hz you will generate more brainwaves at a 10 Hz frequency and enter a relaxed Alpha mental state. Do these things really work?

Yes. I've found two products that put me in a peaceful state unlike any other music or meditative practice. Studies will prove the effects (some have already), and disprove the wilder claims. Given my results, however, I wouldn't wait for more research. Many things work long before the scientific proof arrives.

If you are skeptical, you can wait for more evidence of the benefits of brainwave entrainment. Meanwhile, why not try classical music when you study, just to see if it helps? Experiment with music - Mozart isn't dangerous.

Making Music With Your PC

Up until a few years ago, making music meant a massive investment in time and money. Those days are fortunately gone now, you can use your computer to record and edit your vocals or instruments, and burn a CD of your work afterwards, ready to be played on your CD player.

In order to make music with your computer, the minimum you need is a soundcard and good software. Modern computers usually ship with a built-in soundcard already, which is sufficient to start with - just connect an amplifier or headphones to it. Nearly all soundcards have Mic In/Line in connectors as well, so if you wish to record vocals or instruments, you only need to purchase a microphone and connect that. Although some soundcards come bundled with a microphone already, those are usually of poor quality and not suitable for decent music production. Thus a good idea here is to seek advice in your local music store.

Next you need to find good music software. Fortunately there is a lot of applications available for all common computer platforms, no matter if you are using Windows, Linux or Mac OS X. To find good applications for your platform, type something like "Music Software for PC" into your favourite search engine.

A good idea is to start with free software, then move on to commercial software once you got the hang of it and your requirements grow. You might also want to look at the applications that are given away for free on cover CDs of music magazines, or those that come bundled with your soundcard. Some music software developers give away older, discontinued or feature-limited versions of their software for free. Often such software is a lot more capable than software which has always been distributed freely.

The Music Of A Wedding

Wedding songs can be a lovely addition to a wedding. Which wedding songs should you use? Do you need a soloist for the wedding songs? How do you go about finding wedding songs that are appropriate for the ceremony or reception? These questions about wedding songs will be addressed in this article.

Many wedding sites have ideas and suggestions for wedding songs. Online wedding sited may list wedding songs that are appropriate for every type of wedding. Wedding sites may also have lists of musicians in your area who can perform the wedding music.

If you are planning to be married in a church or other religious facility the pastor or minister of music will be able to answer any questions you have about wedding songs. You will need to decide which wedding songs you want to use. It will also be important to think about whether you want to have the guests sing any of the wedding songs or if you would prefer to have a soloist.

There are many people who choose to have wedding songs sung by a soloist or small group of musicians. This decision is one that should be made with some thought. Cousin Alfred may have offered to sing wedding songs at your wedding but it would be a good idea to make sure you are a fan of the guys voice. Have you ever been to a wedding and wondered what the bride or groom was thinking when they agreed to have that particular soloist sing?

There are also times when the bride or groom plans to sing one of the wedding songs. Some people can pull this off and others find the experience far too sentimental. If you are not sure the wedding song can be sung without a breakdown by either bride or groom you can always have the song sung at the reception instead. This is often a less emotional choice.

You may wish to have a group sing wedding songs at the reception. This is a more relaxed arena for wedding songs and you may find a much wider choice of selections. Before you hire a band to sing at the wedding reception, listen to their music and make sure you like their sound and the choices they offer.

There are many ways to incorporate wedding songs into your wedding day.

Music Inside Us

Everyone of us has music inside. And it is not an abstract statement, but scientifically proved fact. Molecules of DNA "sound" inside us and it is very important if music from outside is in keeping with music inside us.

Scientists pay great attention to researches concerning music’s influence on human beings. Attention to such researches has increased recently and their results are interesting and convincing. For example, after listening classical music cows have increased their yield of milk and mimosa and petunias have grown faster and burst into bloom 2 weeks earlier. 120 breast-feed mothers took part in experiment in Japan. Some women listened classical music, other women listened pop and rock music. In first group the amount of milk increased in 20 per cent, and in second group - reduced twice.

Such researches are the attempt to synthesise science and art (music). But in ancient India science and art were considered to be the parts of single creative power. All knowledge of ancient India one can find in the Vedas (Holy Indian Scripture) and one of four main Vedas Sama-Veda is entirely dedicated to music. According to the Vedas the creating of the world started from the primordial sound "OM", which appeared while division of the Almighty (Sadashiva) and his creative energy (Adi Shakti). "OM" was the foundation of the universe and the first musical sound.

Human subtle system consists of 7 main chakras (energetic centres) and 3 channels, which rule mental, emotional and physical life activity of person. 7 chakras of our subtle body revolve with certain frequency and form an octave, which consists of 7 tones of proper altitude. Intervals between them should reflect intervals between chakras. These tones were called musical sounds - notes (’svars’ in Indian music). They sound - sa, re, ga, ma, pa, da, ni and they are in keeping with chakras - from first till seventh. 5 notes can change (fall and rise), creating 5 additional sounds (left and right aspects of chakras). Thus, these notes are built-in subtle body and represent the ideal "repository" of information, the repository of those feelings, emotions, wishes and thoughts, which composer or performer has.

While listening music a person receives some influence on subtle level, which later appears on physical body. Same notes can bring destruction or good, it depends on the inner condition of person. For example, anger, aggression, drug intoxication and so on, which have power over the mind of composer or musician, will find the reflection in his music. There are some styles and forms in music which reflect only such bad qualities. Such music may do harm not only the musician, but also a person who listen to it. Clear, inspired people, who have lucid mind will never create such music. They created only folk music with great variety and classical music which has its roots in folk music.

Let’s listen to music, which is in keeping with music inside us.

Karaoke Music

Karaoke bars are quite popular these days. People come here to hang out and have fun. The word “karaoke” is derived form a Japanese word and means “empty orchestra”. It started in Kansai, Japan, in 1984, and spread to worldwide popularity. Music of any popular song is taken but the voice of the singer is absent or reduced. So, anybody who is interested can sing along using a microphone, usually the lyrics are also displayed .Some restaurants also have adopted this concept and they either have their in house singer or sometimes even visitors can sing.

Before karaoke music came in cassettes only but with technological advances they were replaced with CDs, VCDs and DVDs.KTV boxes were set up for people to entertain their friends or just to have fun. KTV means karaoke music video where the lyrics are displayed along with the audio track. It has become quite popular in US, Canada and other Western countries. People love it and it is a good source of entertainment.

Karaoke music popularity:

Karaoke music business has also picked up very fast and now one can find karaoke nights every day in almost every restaurant as it drives people to the place. Small karaoke box have been replaced by hi-fi sound equipments and to make the atmosphere catchier they even put lighting effects and have dance sessions. Now almost all kinds of music are available from rock to pop to hip hop and even religious hymns. The fun part is watching even those timid and shy ones, after consuming alcoholic beverages become bold and march towards the microphone and sing their hearts out ,sometimes even humiliating themselves.

Karaoke Machines:

Computer karaoke is also quite popular among the youngsters. Those who are shy to perform in front of people can now be a star and sing in their own room and also for those who want to improve their skills can also have practice sessions quietly in their room. You can pick karaoke softwares which can provide the means to hear music and also see lyrics on the screen. Quite a number of websites also offer this entertainment for their karaoke fans. All you need to do is download the files, load the song in your computer and you are set to begin.

A simple karaoke box consists of an audio input, an audio output and pitch controller. Some bars also have low end machines where they try to suppress the voice of the original singer so that you can hear only your voice. These machines are cheap. But those high in built machines have a technology that can electronically change the pitch level according to the key the singer chooses for the song.

Next time you step into a karaoke bar do not shy away thinking you will be the laughing stock. People come here to have fun and you will be surprised to see everyone cheering for you. Explore your singing talent! This is a terrific way to wind up your soul and just relax. After a hectic day if you are looking for a place to enjoy and meet new people, this is the place to be. Some karaoke bars also hold karaoke nights, where all wanna be singers show off their talents, if you are one of them, go ahead and show everyone what you have!!

Music And Depression

What is music? All sounds are comprised of sound waves. What distinguishes music from other sound waves is the manner in which the sound waves vibrate and decrease from loud to soft. Dropping a metal pan on the floor presents jarring, erratic vibrations. Striking a note on a piano chord presents a softer more uniform and smooth transition from loud to soft. Obviously, a musical note is going to be much more pleasant to the ear.

There’s an old adage about how “music sooths the savage beast.” Not only is this true, it is actually an understatement. Music plays such a profound part of our lives, that we will barely scratch the surface here, but let’s give it an overview.

All of us grew up with certain songs or instrumentals that strike a chord that reverberates through our entire being. For example, when I hear “A Summer Place,” it immediately carries me back to summer months in the fifties. The experience is so profound that I can remember the feel of the sun on my face, the smell of hot dogs cooked over an open fire and the laughter of friends and family.

There is a theory that certain notes or chords resonate with a vibration that is particularly harmonious to specific people. Have you ever heard a song that gave you “goose bumps?” If so, then you give validation to this theory. When this occurs, the music has a profound affect on the subconscious. Add intense emotion to the equation and you have one powerful, indelible, blueprint on your subconscious that will follow you the rest of your life.

For example, let’s say that you receive news of the death of a loved one while a specific piece of music is playing on the radio. That particular music may have a lasting impression. Years later, for no apparent reason, you may find yourself immediately thrown into a state of depression upon hearing that same tune. The same can be true of “positive” feelings as described in the story above.

The subliminal effect of music is a proven fact. How often do you find yourself humming a fragment of a tune that you can’t identify only to discover that it’s a new “commercial” message you heard on your television. The advertising industry pays huge amounts of money to conduct research into why and how music works on the subconscious mind. This is also the reason why you see the recent trend by large companies to reconstitute classics originally performed by some of the greats of stage and screen.

Just for fun, the next time you find yourself humming a tune, try and remember when, where and under what circumstances you heard it for the very first time. The exercise will probably help you to better understand how past events have shaped your musical preferences. And, I’ll wager that the next time you hear “A Summer Place,” you will remember reading this article.

Happy Listening!

What Is Country Music Anyway?

When many people think of country music, they think of sad songs about lost loves, broken down trucks and runaway dogs. In their minds, they are hearing all of these woes sung in the traditional twangy country accents of the south. However, these perceptions of country music are far from where this style of music has evolved. Today, country music is one of the most popular genres of music, normally outsold only by rock and pop genres.

Created in the late 19th century, country music has under gone many changes over the years. There are now many sub-genres to this type of music, with some of the sub-genres being commonly played on top 40 radio stations.

To understand country music, it is helpful to know about the instruments commonly associated with it. In country music, one of the most common instruments used is the fiddle (or violin). Some of these instruments can be expensive, but most are relatively inexpensive and are very easily transports since they tare light in weight and not overly large. When country music first ‘hit the scene’, the fiddle was practically the only instrument used as accompaniment. However, as the country music style became more popular, the addition of other accompanying instruments became normal. The banjo became popular in some country music pieces in the mid 1800s, while the guitar did not break into the country music scene until the early 1900s. Electric guitars did not become a regular instrument in country music until much later in the 50s. Other various instruments used in country music are the piano (introduced in the 1930s) and the drums (used since the 1960s). Rarely used, but distinctive sounding instruments are used in certain country songs: the accordion, the harmonica, and the washboards.

Country music has roots in several different styles of music. Its beginnings started with the settlers that came from Europe. During that time, many couldn’t read or write, so songs were created to pass history down from one generation to the next. Although country ballads have changed a great deal, going from the original songs about objective, though gruesome, events to more personal, subjective ballads without all the gore.

Today, the sound of country music can sometimes be very similar to other genres of pop and rock. Some country musicians, like Shania Twain, have many songs playing on stations that aren’t considered “country”. There are also musicians, like Sheryl Crow, who are considered pop/rock, but have songs popular on country stations.

Music Phones

You sometimes see cell phone manufacturers talk about music phones. What is it then? A music phone is a phone optimized for playing music. The idea with music phones, smartphones and camera phones is that one would have only one device instead of many. A music phone combines a cell phone and a portable music player. Every major cell phone manufacturer has them.

Sony Ericsson introduced the Walkman phones, Motorola launched the ROKR iTunes and Nokia delivers music phones under the XpressMusic phone brand.

More than 100 million music phones were sold in 2005 and that is more than double the number of portable MP3 players and some 12 percent of cell phones sold in 2005 were music phones.

Music Phone Characteristics

Here is some typical characteristics of a music phone. When comparing music phones look at these key features.

- Large memory (hard disk)
- Support for poular audio formats (MP3, AAC...)
- Good sound quality
- Support for the standard headphones 3.5mm jack
- Dedicated music keys
- Good music software (for PC and Phone)
- Easy to upload music to phone (via bluetooth or USB)
- Easy access to OTA (over-the-air) downloads
- Extended battery time
- FM radio

Music Phones 2005

Here is a couple of examples of music phones released in 2005.

Nokia 3250

This phone has dedicated music keys and can store up to 1 GB (Gigabyte) of music and offers 10 hours of music play. You can transfer music with the Nokia Audio Manager. The music player supports standard audio file formats such as MP3, WMA, M4A and AAC. It has a FM radio. Retail price of 350 EUR before subsidies or taxes.

Sony Ericsson W900i

Sony Ericsson W900i is a 3G phone and you can download, transfer, manage and play music from over-the-air (OTA) music download services. Transferring audio files from a PC to the phone is done with the Disc2Phone PC software supplied with the phone.

The W900i's internal 470 MB memory provides space for between 120 and 240 songs. You can increase the storage capacity with a bigger memory stick (available up to 2GB). This phone supports music files like MP3, AAC, AAC+, MIDI, WAV and XMF. It has a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Rap Is More Than Music

This is a style that stays aside all the other music trends. Not aside, but somewhat deeper. The reason is it is a reflection of the race, the plurality of people united by roots and origin. Rap is the culture of Afro-Americans, the continuation of their language and traditions. Rap is a mixture of speech and music, actually it is speech laid on music or beat it’s better to say. And when we claim that people are united through music, meaning every single human being on this planet, rap unites the ones close to blood by music and then everybody else, either welcoming or being hostile to a newcomer. What attracts people in rap? Is it catchy? Maybe. Those non-natives to rap often state the flow of speech is too quick and it is difficult to differentiate the words. Sometimes it seems rap music is only for those from the cradle. Foreigners are not invited.

Rap is classified as urban poetry of lyrical resistance. Thus it is not the music for village like country music. It is the gathering power of those united by music in big cities. The aim is to resist the grieves because misfortunes are more dramatic and numerous in urban areas.

Rap does not only speak to the mind and emotions, but speaks to the society all around people, for people. If the words or courage to say those words are not there, the subconscious takes over and the Rap lyrics kick in.

But once captured by the beat, most people - mainly younger ones - begin to hear the words, and the words may describe just how they are feeling that day. If the boss came to work with an agenda to screw everyone, some people will "feel" the words and the beat, especially when enclosed in a car doing 70 on the freeway. It’s something about riding with the music turned full-blast that has a way of absorbing the mind and supplying a means of temporal escape.

Some songs have innocent words that impress upon the mind to be released later at the water cooler. Some choruses are catchy and when sung by certain artist will stay within the subconscious long after. Various rappers have unique voices that some people find attractive or along the same vocal tone as their own voice, which it makes it easier to sing along.

First goes the beat, and then goes the lyrics! It is not as smooth and tender as classical music, not as glossy as pop, but it has the scream of pain of real emotion of the world’s harshness. One may even state that rap is the most pain expressing music style. Those who sing it or it is better to say read it revive their feelings not only concerning love, as most of the other styles do. Their message is about life and the problems, especially the ones of the Afro-American people. The music of pain and oppression, rap is a remedy to the latter. Let all the pills be like that!

In The Music Business...

Living in Nashville, I meet a lot of people who are "in the music business."

But 99% of them are not really in the music business. It's not because they're not making a living at it...lots of people have other ways of paying the bills. In fact, like my friend who owns a gas station yet doesn't make his living selling gas, many "full-time musicians" are doing the same thing with t-shirts, licensing deals, and other income streams rather than music.

Forget those people though... I want to talk about the people, regardless of how they make their living, who only claim to be "in the music business." I want to talk about the folks who talk big and dress the part, but just pretend to be doing this for real.

As many of you guys know, I'm a big fan of yoga. I've been practicing for seven years and do it daily for at least an hour. And not only that, I subscribe to a couple of yoga magazines, I take workshops, I've got all the props here, I've got a shelf full of books, and all the other things you'd expect somebody who is interested in yoga would have.

So I find it amazing that people who are "in the music business" aren't doing something similar.

Before I locked the doors on my music business consulting program, the first thing I'd do when a new client would come though is send them a box via UPS which contained several of my music business books, hours of recorded conference calls, seminars on CD, and a lot more information on the business to really give them a jumpstart on things. All in all, it was probably $800 worth of stuff.

During this time, I had a moneyback guarantee. If you'd work with me for six months and what I told you to do didn't help you to sell more music, get more people to your shows, and make more money, you'd simply send everything back and I'd give you back not only everything you'd paid to me, I'd also throw in a check for an extra $50.00 just to say thanks for giving me the opportunity to work with you.

While I was doing this, I only had two people (out of hundreds) return their stuff to me. And both of those packages, contained the books, the conference calls, the seminars, and whatever else I'd thrown in...still in the shinkwrap.

Now, I supposed I could have called these people up and said, "You guys have to actually open my stuff and use it for it to work." But the truth is, I've seen enough folks like this to know you can't do anything to help them if they're not going to help themselves.

Don't move the lazy. It's one of my 14 Qualities of Successful Musicians, Songwriters, and Music Business Professionals. And it's why most bands never get the attention they think they want.

If you're "in the music business," wouldn't it make sense that you'd want to read up on everything that the music business involves? If you don't, you might want to think about how bad you really want this.

Music Maestro Please

Neil Armstrong walked on the moon and declared - One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. The first human foot print was placed on the moon and will forever be a monument to the ingenuity of the human race. That one small step by Mr. Armstrong is an exceptional feat of humanities ingenuity, however, there is one small step backwards that very few human beings will ever experience in their life on earth and it is far more meaningful than walking on the Moon. What is it? Well, let me explain.....

Some children become the center of attraction as-soon-as they walk into a room. Whilst other children hide behind books or just sit as quietly as a mouse so nobody will ask them to perform any childlike magic. As children grow into adulthood, it is not always the pushy kids who make a success out of life. I guess success is the hardest commodity for anyone to define per say. It all depends on a persons standards, goals and inner feeling of prosperity. Certainly, money alone is no criteria for success. Neither is fame, for history has taught how the mighty have fallen.

When a human being matures into adulthood they have a self image that is projected throughout their lives. The intellectual image that is set in the mind from childhood becomes the ‘‘real person" and although it contains many role plays, the identity image is fixed like a girder in cement. The human mind mistakenly interprets the world it sees by the reference points it has built-up over many years.

The ego/intellect becomes so real that any attempt to dislodge its hold on the mind is met with a fierce conscious defiance. A personal ego/intellect will never willingly give up its ground that has been cemented in place by all the reality that has been absorbed throughout its sight, hearing, touch, taste and feel in a three dimensional world. This is all it knows...This is all it believes to be correct, moral and principled or visa-versa. A small amount of the input is authentic, but a large percentage is bogus information.

The informed and educated adult intellect/ego feels it has a sound basis for projecting its own input into the human mish-mash of opinions, beliefs, notions, perceptions, concepts, thoughts and knowledge. Often this is backed-up by scholastic degrees and awards. How sound are all these beliefs and convictions?

Well, the results of a persons life will speak for itself. It is not the opinion of others who will determine whether a life on earth was worthwhile and authentic. Rather, it is only the person themselves that can give an honest appraisal as to the richness, fruitfulness, prosperity, comfort, joy and tranquility of their life.

The question to ask oneself is: Have I truly been the maestro of the orchestrations in my life or have I let other people conduct all my compositions without any of my own legitimate personal input. Indeed, what does it mean being the maestro of one's own life?

To find the answer to that question a person needs to be able to take one small step backwards in time and space, so that they view their own life as an observer, rather than the participant. To be able to get a constructive view of ones own life the person needs to determine accuracy's as an alternative to misrepresentations and that is impossible if we believe we already know the answer by the sole view of our own intellect/ego.
Confused? Of course you are and it is normal reaction when something does not make any sense...Because, who is it in your mind that is interpreting this article you are reading?

Why lo and behold, it is your very own intellect/ego and it may strongly disapprove of what it is reading. After all, how can it possible admit to being a false participant in your life when everything seems so steadfast and credible from its point of view.
So, are you the innocent victim of a case of mistaken identity built by your ego/intellect or do you have the potential to become the majestic maestro of your life concert?

Being the conductor of a social orchestra means encompassing the super-vision of every player you meet and greet. With baton in hand the maestro will generate music that warms the heart and soothes the soul. Of course, conducting great music is to no avail if there's no audience in the theater to soak up the symphonic ambiance.
There is;
A time for sitting in the audience
A time for playing in the orchestra
A time for composing music
A time for becoming the maestro

Sitting in the arena of life fashions every human being as the audience and no matter how great their position in society, most of the time they are listening to other people perform their roles. At some point most people will be given a chance to play their instrument, i.e., Get up out of their seat and 'make their presence felt' through their career, family or other society roles. For instance, even the humblest of shop assistants have the chance to perform to many customers each and every day. That is their audience and they can charm them into enjoying their purchase or bore them into leaving empty handed.

As life progresses and they become more experienced there will be an opportunity for them to take the baton and become the maestro. It is their turn to take charge and make their purpose in life ring with the harmonious bells of true prosperity...The more they please their audience the better the acclamations and kudos. Monetary wealth will be accumulated with no effort because that was not the sole purpose of the works... Enjoyment of the job-in-hand and helping others to also enjoy, was there primary reason.

By taking the one small step backwards you will make a gigantic leap towards the most incredible life on earth you could ever imagine. A life that embraces all things bright and beautiful no matter how much darkness and ugliness they contain.

•• Seeing the good in the people that normally irritate and vex.
•• Extracting positive energy when doing tasks and chores that would normally transfer negative fatigue
•• Enjoying the disappointments and expectations that did not materialize as anticipated.
•• Loving exploring the unknown challenges that seem so far out of reach at this moment in time.
•• Holding out the mental arms of compassion and grace so that the burdens of depression and worry can be lifted from other peoples lives

The baton of time is swinging over your head. It is held in place for you by the master maestro of the universe. Before you can accept the baton you need to take that one small step backwards and become directly in-tune with universal intelligence. By serving your authentic purpose of life you become the instrument of the genius of the soul. Now, the intellect/ego has a true foundation to soak up all the learning and education is has absorbed over the years and put it to good use for the betterment of humanity.

The transformation may not be that apparent to most people, but you will know the difference you feel and the bliss you experience every moment of every day. You may not obtain fame and fortune, but you recognize you hold the wise treasures of the universe in the center of your heart. You possess the wisdom gems of the cosmos in the center of your gut ... And you know beyond doubt, you carry the infinite-sacred-divine in the center of your mind....
Music maestro please!
******
"You can bend it and twist it ... You can misuse and abuse it...But even God cannot change ... The Truth."_Michael Levy.

Wedding Music Tips: How To Choose The Best Wedding Music

So you've exchanged vows, and have said your 'I do's, now it's time to head out to the reception and party like you've never partied before. If you want live music playing in your reception, then you would want to hire a live band. But first, you must check with people that rent the venue where you're going to hold your reception, to see what type of live music they allow. Some venues have stringent restrictions when it comes to live music.

The type of music that you choose to play in your wedding should be an expression of both the bride and groom's personality, personal taste, and the overall theme of the wedding.

It's very important to select the right music, because the music will become a pervading presence all through out the wedding, and right down to the reception. Music creates an atmosphere. It will set the mood of your wedding.

During the wedding itself, the choice of music usually depends on the wedding. Most church ceremonies don't allow secular music. They stick to more traditional, or religious music. A man and a woman duet is usually sung during the ceremony. A church organist usually provides the majority of the music.

For the reception, the bride and groom has a choice of recorded music, or live music. If you opt for recorded music, it would be best to hire the services of a DJ. The best thing about this, is you can request to have all of your favorite songs in the playlist. Ask your friends if they know any good DJs that are willing to play for wedding receptions. If they don't know any, you could always just search the yellow pages, internet, or even contact your local radio station.

Once you've settled on a DJ, have a one-on-one discussion with the DJ. Just to explain what type of entertainment and mood you want to have during the reception. Also discuss, the selection of music that you have in mind. Ask if the DJ's familiar with wedding protocol. If not, you might want to brief the DJ first about the sensibility of the event.

On the other hand, choosing live music offers you a choice of hiring a band, soloist, instrumentalists, jazz group, etc. It all depends on what kind of theme you have in mind for you wedding.

For more formal weddings, classical groups, piano soloists, and instrumentalists are more appropriate. It would not be a bad idea, to also consider the sensibilities of your guests, to ensure that everyone has a good time!

If you want to have a rocking good time for the reception of your wedding, then hiring a band is the way to go! The energy of a live band gets people going. There's nothing else that spells a rocking good time better, than a rock and roll band.

Before hiring a band, ask them if you could listen to their music first. This will help you decide if that particular band is just right for you. Also discuss, if the band will do emcee duties, as well as provide the music.

It's best to hire a band that has had previous experience with wedding receptions. This way, they'd know what to expect, and will be able to provide the proper entertainment that's fitting for the occasion.

You always want to keep the music going, so include some background music even when the meals are being served, or when the bride and groom are doing their rounds of greeting, having their pictures taken, etc. This will also maintenance the atmosphere of the wedding all through out the reception. So choose wisely, because your choice of music can make or break this occasion!

A Comparison Of Disc Music Boxes And Cylinder Music Boxes

Cylinder music boxes were once a means of providing live music without performers. The music produced was like an ensemble of harpists or bell choir. It was not without its limitations, however. Back in those days, a music box came with some specific sounds, and those were the sounds you had to listen. So, in order to provide some new tunes and improve the music quality of these music boxes, a shifting cylinder was invented.

There were two sets of pins on the cylinders. As one of the sets of pins on the cylinder rang the resonating "teeth" of the "comb" the other sets of pins passed quietly between the teeth. When the song was over, the cylinder would turn over, making the next set of pins to line up with the “teeth”. What was the result of these actions? Well, on some music boxes, you could even get 12 different sounds. After a few years, a new type of cylinder was invented: the interchangeable cylinder. These interchangeable cylinder music boxes had the great advantage of being replaced, with a new cylinder with new tunes. These cylinders were normally made of strong materials, like metal and powered by a spring. In some of the last models, the cylinders could be removed to change melodies, thanks to an invention in 1862, and in some exceptional models, there were four springs, to provide continuous play for up to three hours.

But, because people weren’t satisfied by the performances of these cylinder music boxes, as new devices appeared, the limitations of the cylinder led to the development of Symphonion disc music box. These types of music boxes firstly appeared around 1880 in Leipzig, Germany. They had the great advantage of producing more sound and being more affordable. How did they work? Well, a different technique was developed to punch projections into a durable steel disk and these were used, to pluck the comb. The disc music boxes were then capable of playing 24 or 27 inch discs. To understand better, you should know that a 24 inch disc could play a 2 minute song. So, the music boxes were specially designed to play separate song discs, and this way with just one music box you could listen for several plays.

Because of improving science and technology, most today don't turn to music boxes for their regular music fix. People purchase music boxes today not to replace their mp3 players and Ipods. It is a way of enjoying music of yesterday and relish in the beauty and art of the days gone past. Yet, for those who are fans, old clocks and watches with small musical pieces are highly recommended. Old wood disc or cylinder music boxes are becoming a rarity these days, and can be considered valuable antiques. Just visit a museum and see some models. From time to time, you can even see them sold online. The music and the craftsmanship of these amazing music boxes will leave you with the yearning to buy one afterwards.

Wedding Music Tips: Why Your Wedding Day Music Is So Important

Many couple like to enjoy music at their wedding; the music can be played throughout the ceremony as well as the reception so you have to think about that as well. Many couples play the traditional "here comes the bride" on the organs or the piano at the ceremony as the bride is walking down the aisle with the man that is going to give her away which is usually the bride’s father but any important male in her life can be nominated as the person who gives her away! Music can be traditional, jazzy, and funky or indeed anything you want it to be.

During the ceremony wedding music is allowed to be played but only at the start you need silence for the exchange of the vows and making the marriage legal, after the ceremony when you are leaving the church or garden or office, in fact anywhere that you have been married, many newly weds play a lively happy song to guide them out of their venue and on to their wedding reception.

At the wedding reception entertainment and music is a must, whether this comes in the form of a DJ, live band or even a comedian there should be great music and good food, with lots of people dancing. It is traditional for the newly weds to have their first dance as a newly married couple before any one else has a dance on the floor, this is where you usually pick a favourite meaningful song that has a lot of significance to you and your partner as it serves as a memory reminder, whenever you hear that song from now on your mind will flash back to your first wedding dance with each other and your first day as a married couple.

Wedding music is important, it helps people to be happy. Music is an aphrodisiac and makes people feel good. And to be honest it will bring lots of laughs and happy memories as when the guests and family start to have their drinks their dancing becomes more frequent and enjoyable. A wedding brings families of the bride and groom closer so they could even dance together to help it along, making sure that everyone has a great time and a good dance is imperative to your wedding. Not only your guests of course, you and your new husband or wife got to be sure they are having the best day of their life!

Sheet Music / Printed Music

Modern sheet music notation (also known as ‘Printed Music’) now comes in many different formats including the recent invention of digital sheet music (available free to download illegally as well as legally for a fee), often downloadable and printable in the .PDF Portable Digital Format. It can be argued that at least in the Western world there is the beginnings of a move away from the paper book format. Sheet music is different to Tablature (a.k.a Tab or Tabulature) which is another form of musical notation, which tells players where to place their fingers on a particular instrument rather than which pitches to play. This is a popular form of sheet music for beginners learning to play guitar.

If a piece of instrumental music is intended to be performed by more than one musician, each performer will play from a separate piece of sheet music, called a part.

Sheet music is issued as individual pieces or works (e.g. a pop song or a Mozart symphony) or in collections (e.g. works by one or several artists)

When the separate instrumental and sung parts of a musical work are printed together, the resulting sheet music is called a score. A score usually consists of musical notation with each instrumental or vocal part in alignment vertically (meaning that concurrent events in the notation for each part are arranged orthographically). The term score is also used to refer to sheet music written for only one performer.

Sheet music comes in a variety of formats:

• A full score contains the music of all instruments and voices in a musical composition lined up in a fixed order.

• A miniature score is like a full score but smaller in size.

• A study score is often the same size as (and often indistinguishable from) a miniature score, except in name. Some study scores are octavo size and are somewhere between the size of full and miniature scores. Study scores can include extra information about the music and markings for educational purposes.

• A piano score (a.k.a. piano reduction) is a transcription for piano of a piece intended for many performing parts, e.g. orchestral works; this can include purely instrumental sections within large vocal works (see vocal score below).

• A vocal score (a.k.a. a piano-vocal score) is a reduction of the full score of a vocal work (e.g. opera, musical, oratorio, cantata etc.) to show the vocal parts (solo and choral) on their staves and the orchestral parts in a piano reduction (usually for two hands) underneath the vocal parts; the purely orchestral sections of the score are also reduced for piano (without the spoken dialogue). If a portion of the work is a cappella, a piano reduction of the vocal parts is often added to aid rehearsal (this often is the case with religious music).

. A choral score contains the sung parts without accompaniment.

. An organ score contains staves for the sung parts and reduces the orchestral parts to be performed by one person.

. A ‘vocal selection’ is a collection of songs from a given musical.

• A short score consists of a edited version of a work for multiple instruments to just a few staves.

• A lead sheet contains only the melody, lyrics and harmony, using one staff with chord symbols placed above and lyrics below. It is commonly used in pop music to capture the essential elements of song without specifying how the song’s arrangement or performance.

• A chord chart or "chart" contains next to no melodic information but provides detailed information on harmony and rhythm. This is the most common kind of printed music notation used by professional musicians.

Listening To Today's Music, To Make Your Own Music Better...

If you listen to today's music on the radio, you will hear a wide variety of songs and beats. You even nowadays hear people singing over hip hop beats, and people rapping over r&b beats! The two genres are blending a lot in today's music. One of the mistakes that many underground rap artists make is, they are so concerned about being what they call "real" as in being gangsta or hard.

It seems like they are more concerned about being "real" then they are about selling records and making money. So they use only beats that are hard and "gangsta" sounding. They talk about shooting and killing over these hard rap beats. It's ok for them to do this if this is what they want, but every song on the album can't be that way if they want to be a successful multi-platinum selling artist. If you want to get your music on the radio, and on BET or MTV, you have to have at least a few singles, that are more commercial.

A lot of artists don't do this, and they miss out on a whole entire market of possible customers! The goal is to capture the attention of these people through mass media such as the radio and tv, so that they will purchase the album. Once they buy the album, they will then have access to the rest of your different styles.

Keep This in Mind:

People in the streets will burn your CD! Listeners from the Radio and T.V. will buy your CD!
Which one do you think will get you to Platinum Status Faster?
My artists are going to sell 200,000+ CD's this year! How about you?

So the point is, if your goal is to capture as many sells as you can, then you have to make music that everybody can listen to. You can't make music only for the streets. You have to make it for the streets, the club, the radio/tv, and for the car. That way, you can receive sells and money from all of those different markets, instead of just from the streets. Today's hit music has one thing in common: No matter how stupid it may sound, it is catchy. Don't believe me? Listen to Laffy Taffy! It may get horrible ratings from a lot of Hip-Hop Heads, but the girls love it, and it sticks with you. Think about it: How many times have you talked about it with someone since the song came out? How many times have you listened to it when it came on the radio just to see how stupid it was?

Free Music Appeals To Music Lovers

All good things in life come free, so you are entitled to get good things like your favorite music free too. Anyone who loves music will second this opinion, I am dead sure about that. Music has a universal appeal, so no matter where you are, you are bound to come across a person who loves music. Remember loving music does not mean that one just loves to listen to them; you will find that most people hum the latest tune in their own way. Today there are many big names involved in the field of music production and today if you want to listen to songs of your favorite band or singer it is not so difficult. You can listen to all the latest music in the radio and satellite television has also made things easily accessible to you. So whether it is Beyonce, Akon, Shakira or any other signer you can listen to the tunes of all these signers.

As I mentioned earlier listening to music is not at all difficult, but what is annoying for music fans is that they cannot listen to the music at their own sweet will. Surely you will have to wait for the radio station to play that music or the satellite television to broadcast that song, so that you can see that. Now here is the scenario where free music can come to your rescue. The web has many sites that offer music lovers the option of downloading music for free; in fact there is an overpopulation of such sites. Most of these downloads are legal, so you do not have to feel guilty whether you are downloading the music of your favorite band or singer. However just take a closer look at the site to find out if they downloading are legal or not.

Music as I said earlier has no boundaries and if you are a true music lover, you will surely find out the means through which you can get free music. The internet has made things so simple for all of us, that all we need to do is hit a few buttons with our mouse and everything is right there for you. So whether you love to listen to classic rock music, country music, hip hop, instrumental, jazz, movie soundtracks, pop, reggae, rap, rock remix or wedding music you just need to find that in the web. All the sites have a huge database of music covering various categories. So if you know the name of the band or the singer, you can easily get the music and download it and listen to that in your MP3 player.

There are some sites that specialize in offering music of certain categories. So if you are a music fan that loves to listen to that old music of the 80’s of before, you can get it in those sites. Free music downloads have come as a boon to all those music lovers who love to listen to music of any kind at their own convenient time. You are indeed free to download all those free music from the web.

How Can I Find Work In Music How Can I Find Work In Music When There Are Only 25 Music Careers?When There Are Only 25 Music Careers?

The Music Industry is not only limited to 25 music careers and - is not just for singers, rappers, musicians, dancers, song writers, producers, etc. that are super talented. (and some not so talented) It's also for those that love a behind the desk job, or hands on work or technical electronics or the office executive and so on and so on.

Many pass over the thought of themselves actually working in the industry due to the common mindset... "if one has talent they have a chance in music." If one wants weekly (or bi-weekly) pay with benefits one seeks a normal job in the 9-5 workforce. This is simply false. Most people love music to some extent. Those that are paying attention to their future and careers know or at least wish they can be involved with something they love.

Many will admit they believe they don’t have what it takes to make it in the music industry and some will admit they don’t have a desire to be a musical artist. But many will also admit they need a job, and for longevity’s sake will admit they need a career they love. They love music and need career involvement in something they love.

Well... it just so happens that the music industry employs millions all around the world in positions that are not directly artist related or even behind the scenes artist related. The fact is there are over 120 different careers with lucrative futures in the music industry. Now multiply that by the thousands of record labels, advertising agencies, law firms, and so on all over the globe. These careers range from secretaries all the way up to C.E.O.’s of major music corporations. Do you like manual labor, advertising, practicing law, or preparing clothes? If so the music industry has something for you and so much more!

The music industry has involvement in almost every facet of our everyday lives. The music industry alone is responsible for offering some of the most exciting careers known to mankind. These careers are no harder to find than any other types of job as long as you’re willing to look. Yes, of course some jobs require training and hard work and some don’t. But that’s nothing someone seeking a career wouldn't find even if they were applying for a job at the local telephone company or the like. But! How many people really LOVE their jobs at the telephone company? Or rather how many people love their telephone company job when they can be doing the same thing in the music industry while waving to one of their favorite music artists as they walk down the record label’s hallway for a 2:00 pm appointment with the record executives?

You don’t have to settle anymore with the thought of just getting by in your 9-5 job that you either don’t think much about or that you even hate. You should be searching and conquering a job/career in an arena you can identify with. It doesn't have to be in music but it should be in you! If you do identify with the music industry, remember there aren't only 25 music careers. There are as many as you need to be happy.

Discover How History Of Music Will Make Your Music More Luminous

When I first started studying the history of music, I did not know what I was getting into. I had a notion that music history was somewhat of a trivial pursuit...

Honestly, I only followed my history of classical music course because I needed the credits. I am sure some of you out there can relate to that. I did not know how fully interesting music history could be. You see, in our culture many of us do not really study to comprehend music. For much of the world, music is a language, but for us it is a thing that we consumed passively.

When I started to study about the history of Western music, however, it changed all that for me. I have had some experience using musical instruments, but I have never mastered one enough to really comprehend what music is all about. This class showed me.

When a lot of us think about the history of music, it means the history of rock music. We presume that the history is plain because the music is plain. In fact, neither is the case. The history of music, whether you're talking about classical music, rock music, jazz music, or any other kind, is always complex. New chord structures are set up carrying with them new forms of understanding humanity. New rhythmic patterns are established, carrying with them new methods of understanding history. And music shows all of it.

History of music nowadays is even more interesting. Even when the class was ended, I could not stop learning about the history of music. It had stimulated my appetite, and I wanted more. I acquired all the music history volumes that I could discover. I even started to examine forms of music that had not interested me before in the hopes of improving my musical knowledge further. When I was in school studying toward a very different subject - a degree in engineering - I had thought about giving it up and going back to obtain a degree in musicology. That is how much I am fascinated by the subject.

If you have never taken a course in the history of music, you don't know what you are missing out on. You do not miss what you don't know about in a way but then again... Believe me the CDs will never sound the same to you again. Actually not only the Cds but any type of media you are or will be using to play your favorite music. The whole thing will seem much more rich, much more luminous, and much more important. A new song can reflect a new way of being, and a new way of imagining existence in the world. This is what learning about the history of music means to many of us. Just try it and you will see.

Listening to music now has a whole new meaning. You can imagine all the different types of musical patterns there are in the world. It make your musical mind really expand.

Changing The Way We Listen To Music With The MP3 Music Player

Not so very long ago most of us who are old enough to remember probably had a collection of vinyl albums that reflected our wide taste in music. Such technology was all we knew and, with the help of a record player, we could enjoy our songs without having to wait for them to come on the radio. Today, technology is so different that it barely resembles its former self. Music lovers of today carry around portable devices that store all of their favorite songs in a piece of equipment that is barely larger than our thumbs. The MP3 music player technology initially appeared in the mid-1980s but we would not see the player in its present state until the late 1990s – 1999 to be exact. But when it made its appearance it would change the world of music forever.

The MP3 music player utilizes media formatting technology to convert existing audio files to the MP3 format. The MP3 format consists of compressed audio files; audio that has been compressed into very small files that can fit into the MP3 music player. And it achieves this compression without sacrificing the audio’s sound quality. In some instances, depending on capacity of the particular MP3 music player, users can fit thousands of songs within its confines. Better still, because of its size the MP3 music player is a portable unit that can fit in handbags and coat pockets. Users have access to their favorite songs no matter where they are and what they are doing. And as their taste in music changes or expands they simply add additional songs to their MP3 music player collection.

The MP3 music player is able to capture audio files through the use of the computer. The most popular variation of the MP3 music player – the iPod – made linking to the computer simple and convenient for users. So much so that most MP3 music players that are sold today are done so because of their compatibility to Apple software – the company that manufacturers iPod.

On the computer, users can either upload their favorite CDs that can then be downloaded onto the MP3 music player; or they can purchase songs online and then download them to the unit. Apple’s iTunes is the most commonly used musical resource for purchasing and downloading songs.

But aside from the convenience in downloading, the MP3 music player is universally revered for its portability. It can be plugged into your vehicle and played through your car’s audio system, plugged into headphones and played while you exercise, or plugged into portable speakers and played throughout your home. In any case, the MP3 music player is the most comprehensive piece of equipment available on the market today to play music.

House Music Is Fast Catching Music Lover’s Fancy

The kind of music that refers to a style of electronics dance music is known as house music. The earliest form of house music was played in the early to mid 1980’s. House music was developed by club DJs in the city of Chicago in United States. The influence of certain elements like the funk infused dance music style and disco style can be seen heavily in house music. The origin of the name house music is uncertain. Some suggest that the name is derived from the name of the club called The Warehouse. In the late 70’s and early 80’s warehouse parties that were held underground were very popular in the city of Chicago. Now one of these underground parties that were frequented mostly by Latino and black gay man was known as the warehouse.

The Dj at The Warehouse Frankie Knuckles mixed European synthpop music with mixed classic disco music, punk recordings, industrial music and the new wave music for people who were regulars there. Frequent clubbers referred this music as House Music and thus the name cam into being. But as mentioned earlier this is disputed. Musician Larry Heard claims that the term House Music comes from the fact that most of the Djs records the music at their house. Generally these Djs use drum machines and synthesizers to record the music at their house and hence the term House Music came in to being. Dj Chip E has another story to tell behind the popularity of the name House Music. Chip claims that the name came from the method of recording at a studio. However none of the claims are conclusive.

House music developed in houses, clubs and garages where mostly teenagers and local club goers used to assemble. The popularity of house music increased when the music was played in commercial radio. House music was much longer and conceptual then any other type of music and also this music was not meant for widespread commercial use. Basically house music combined the traditional elements of the musical instruments to give it a more humane touch. The house music scene is very popular worldwide even today as many musicians have made huge contributions towards this. Many new generation producers and Djs have emerged in the house music scene and their main purpose is to make House Music popular.

House Music is popular these days and this music can be seen to be catching up in Detroit, New York, Atlanta and some other cities in America where people of racially mixed origin reside. It is not only in USA that the music is catching up but also in several countries worldwide like Germany, Australia, Canada and Scandinavia. Recently the Mayor of Chicago proclaimed that 10th of August to be celebrated as house Unity Day in the city. The craze for House Music is one the rise and this is evident worldwide.

Free Music Plays A Major Role In Every Music Lover’s Collection

How many times have you hunted every music shop in the vicinity for a particular song that you just cannot seem to get out of your head? Every music lover can identify this situation as a part and parcel of his daily life. However, the internet is all set to change the scenario. The advent of a host of music related websites and the emergence of free music has brought about a revolution in the world of music. Now gone are the days when a student would save a considerable chunk of his pocket money to buy an album by his favorite artiste. All he needs to do now is surf the World Wide Web for websites offering his kind of music and just the click of a mouse can download his favorite track onto his computer, absolutely free of cost.

Many music lovers may harbor the notion that any music that is freely available will definitely not have a good sound quality and worse, the track may even be incomplete or just a promotional offer. It’s time to shed these misconceptions and log onto the virtual world where music is big business. Numerous sites offering free music spread across diverse genres will flood your senses. An elusive musical number from yesteryears may be hard to find in a music store. The internet offers the option of not only downloading the free music but also the lyrics and chords, in case you want to strum the guitar while crooning with your favorite artiste. Easily available in MP3 format, free music is all set to rock the music world.

A huge collection consisting of all songs by their favorite artiste is ‘a dream come true’ for any music enthusiast. Free music on the internet has made this a reality. You can easily surf the web for sites offering your kind of music and not only do you get every information on the artiste, the albums, other albums in this genre but you also have the option of exploring other genres. You can also download any number of songs according to the storage facility in your computer and the download speed of your internet connection. A speedy broadband connection helps you take the maximum advantage of the free music that is so easily available.

Free music that is available on the net is mostly uploaded by fellow music lovers from their cd. It promotes the concept of expanding the music lover’s community by sharing your collection with like-minded individuals. This trend is very positive for widening the circle of music lover’s across the world. As this free music is made available on the websites with the objective of sharing it with as many people as possible, a music enthusiast should have no guilt about downloading such music free of cost. However, the internet like any other place is prone to tricksters and frauds and it is always advisable to be sure about the website from where you are downloading your music to ensure good quality of the tracks. Any popular website though, will ensure that you get the best quality sound whenever you opt to download free music from their sites. So go ahead and add your favorite songs to your music collection, all thanks to free music.