Tuesday 29 July 2008

The Fray: How to Save a Life - Free Piano Sheet Music

Have you been looking around for the Fray's How to Save a Life free piano sheet music? You're now in luck, because I've found a wonderful website that is loaded with free sheet music for you to download. The name of the site is the Sheet Music Info Site, located at sheetmusicinfosite.com. At the site, you can go down the navigation bar on the left side of the webpage and locate practically any kind of sheet music that you would like to download for free.

The navigation bar includes choices for free sheet music by instruments, such as the piano, the guitar, as well as other instruments. The free piano sheet music section of the navigation bar is where you should begin your search for locating the free piano sheet music for the Fray's How to Save a Life song. While you're at it, you can download any other free sheet music from the site that you would like. Sounds like a great place to go shopping for sheet music, especially since it's free.

Making Audible Music For Your Nose With Effective Oil Recipes

There are a lot of benefits to aromatherapy. Perhaps you want to help heal minor problems. Perhaps you want a sensual massage. Perhaps you need to calm down or wake up. Or perhaps you want to smell something pleasing. Whatever your reason, you will soon discover that your nose has its own likes and dislikes. What essential oil recipes work for one person might not work for you, much in the same way jazz music is both loved and hated.

You have to spend some time learning what scents you like and what you don’t. This way you can make your own essential oil recipes that best benefit you. Notes Of Scent Creating your own essential oil recipes can be a lot of fun for many people, like playing or listening to music. With your first essential oil recipes, stick with just three oils until you get the hang of it. Otherwise, they will clash. Also, considering the price of some essential oils, it will be a lot cheaper. There are three kinds of oils that you need in your mix to make it the most effective. These types of essential oils are called notes. You need a top note, and a middle note, and a base note.

You can also make some good essential oil recipes with one top note and two middles. Experiment and see what works best for you. Note what scents bring about what kind of feelings brought up in you. It’s safer to blend essential oils with a carrier oil like olive or jojoba than just to use the pure essential oils if you mean to put the oil on your body. It’s also a lot less expensive! When burning oils for their scent alone, it is best to use the pure essential oils.

Top notes are like the lead vocals of an essential oil recipe. They are usually the first thing you notice. They also don’t last too long, letting the other notes take over. Many fruity and floral scents fall into this category. Common top note essential oils are lemon, bergamot, eucalyptus and orange. Middle Notes Middle notes are like the guitars in a band. They are more subtle than top notes and tend to last a lot longer. Spicy, floral and herbal kind of essential oils tend to fall into this category. Some are listed as middle notes OR base notes, depending on what aromatherapy book you read. Smell them and determine for yourself how long the scent lasts in your essential oil recipes.

Common middle note oils are lavender, geranium, patchouli, rose and rosemary. Base Notes Base note scents are the percussion and rhythm of the scent band. They provide the beat that the rest of the band has to follow. The base note oils linger the longest in you essential oil recipes. Many spicy and woody scents fall into this category. Common base note oils are sandalwood, cypress, frankincense and myrrh. Some also list patchouli and even rose in this category.

Sound Controlling Music Gear

Music is something that knows no discrimination. It is enjoyed by almost everyone in this world. It is in fact a rarity to find someone who does not love music. From time immemorial human beings have been engaged in creating music through a variety of instruments. With the passage of time and the advancement of science and technology, people are now not only creating music with the help of instruments but also enhancing the sound quality through sound controlling music gear.

There are several types of music gear available that help in improving the sound quality of an instrument. These equipment are in high demand amongst the musicians and performers worldwide as they make the audience experience superb sound quality.

The most popular sound controlling music gear are amplifiers, microphones, hi-fi mixers, graphic equalizers, and speakers, to name a few. These equipment have different functions with different technologies and are needed in different situations and for different purposes.

An audio amplifier, for example, is a gear meant to increase low power audio signals to a point appropriate for driving loudspeakers and is the ultimate stage in a characteristic audio playback chain. In this collection of amplifiers, mention may be made of valve audio amplifier, audiophile, single-ended triode, tone control circuits, etc.

A microphone, also referred to as the mike or mic, is an acoustic to electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. Generally, in the case of vocal rendition, the vocal sound is converted into electric signal by a microphone, and then subsequently made to be a part of the entire sound system.

A loudspeaker, or simply a speaker, consists of an electromechanical transducer that changes an electrical signal into sound. The term loudspeaker can refer to individual devices, and complete systems consisting of an enclosure incorporating one or more drivers and additional devices. Loudspeakers are the most variable elements in any audio system, and are responsible for marked audible differences between otherwise identical sound systems.

A mixer is a type of electronic equipment used for combining or mixing, routing and changing the level, tonality and the dynamics of audio signals. There are generally two types of mixers, the analog and the digital.

Another sound controlling music gear often in demand is the tone control circuit. It is an electronic circuit that helps in adjusting an audio signal before it is fed to speakers, headphones or recording devices by way of an amplifier. Often referred to as filters, these circuits help to elevate or assuage the high and low frequencies of the signal.

Multi channel audio is yet another example of a sound controlling music gear that utilizes the techniques for expanding and enriching the sound of audio playback by recording additional sound channels to reproduce the enhanced sound on additional speakers. Popularly known as the surround sound technology, it is the multi channel technology applied to channels surrounding the audience to give them a real life feel.

There are also many other types of equipment that are used to improve the sound quality of musical performances. These sound controlling music gear come in various names and with a range of functions and techniques. Several brands of such gadgets are available in the market as music companies are constantly trying to improve upon their technological and qualitative aspects, offering musicians, performers, and the audience a newer experience of sound quality.

Wednesday 16 July 2008

The Odd Time music - History And Development Drummers Guide.

Though most music is composed and played in common time signatures (2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8, 9/8, 12/8), it's not unusual to find music played or composed in odd time signatures (5/4, 5/8, 7/4, 7/8, 11/8, etc). For thousands of years, odd time meters have added richness to musical genres in every part of the world. Here we will explore the history of odd time meters in popular music, their role in music today, and the correct approach to understanding and playing them.


It is important to understand time signatures, that is, what the numbers in them mean. The top number tells how many beats there are per measure, while the bottom number tells what kind of note lasts for one beat. So, in the most common time signature, 4/4, the top "4" indicates four beats per measure, and the bottom "4" indicates that a quarter note lasts for one beat. Further, the top number may be any number within reason, while the bottom number is restricted to a small range of even numbers (i.e. 2, 4, 8, 16, and less commonly 32, 64, and even 128), with "2" representing a half note, "4" representing a quarter note, etc. In the early periods of jazz and Rock n' Roll, songs were, almost always composed and played in common meters. However, by the middle of the 20th century, odd time meters were often employed in Jazz.

The Dave Brubeck Quartet was among the first to compose songs with odd meters (e.g. "Take Five", by Paul Desmond). Another pioneer was Don Ellis, who used odd time signatures in his Big Band Jazz compositions such as "Strawberry Soup". The early 1970s saw a handful of "Progressive Rock" groups use a wide variety of odd time meters. Kansas, Rush, Yes, Emerson Lake and Palmer, King Crimson, Genesis, Gentle Giant, and Frank Zappa and his Mothers of Invention are a few of the pioneers who continue to influence countless musicians (e.g. Sting with Vinny Colaiuta on "St. Augustine in Hell" and "Seven Days"). Bands such as Dream Theater, Queensryche, Spock's Beard, Fates Warning, King's X, Soundgarden, and Tool all use odd time meters today. In addition, New Age artists such as Yanni and John Tesh expose a very different audience to such meters. With odd time meters, the role of the drum set player continues to be to establish a strong groove with solid time.

There are two practical approaches to counting the 5/4 time signature: subdividing the measure into familiar time signatures or counting all five beats within the measure. In subdividing, the most common approach is to divide the five quarter notes into groups 2 and 3 or 3 and 2. A less common, but appropriate method in some songs (primarily Progressive Rock), is to count 4 and 1 and/or all five quarter notes. This are not only rock patterns but perhaps the most famous odd time Jazz drum pattern (by famed drummer Joe Morello, from "Take Five"). The practical tempo range for 5/4 time is roughly quarter note equal from one hundred sharp to one hundred and thirty two beats per minute.

Classical Guitar: How to improve your Right Hand Playing

Right hand technique is often the most overlooked part of a classical guitarist’s skill yet it is the most important. Improving your right hand will transform your playing from mechanical to brilliant and expressive. Here are some tips and techniques that will help you improve.


Your left hand determines the note and your right hand determines just about everything else from tone, to timbre, volume, texture and all the subtleties of the sound that comes from your classical guitar. Yet it is often overlooked when it comes to practice. If you want to really improve your classical guitar playing you need to start focusing on right hand technique. Here are some tips and tricks on how to do it.

Practice the types of strokes
A lot of beginner guitarists don’t realize that there are two different types of right hand strokes you can perform. The first stroke (and most common) is the free stroke where the finger doesn’t contact anything after plucking the string. The second type of stroke is the rest stroke where the finger comes to rest on the next string down after plucking. Practice your scales and arpeggios using both types of strokes.

Walking across the strings
You can set up your own exercises that will dramatically improve your right hand play and I recommend you do walking exercises at the beginning of every practice session.
Walking exercises are simply exercises where you play across all six strings in varying finger patterns. You can do this without stopping any of the strings with your left hand (open) or you can do scales.

Heres how to do it: Simply pluck down then up the six strings alternating between your index and middle fingers. Easy enough right? You started out with your index finger plucking the bass E string right? Now change that up and start your plucking by using your middle finger on the bass E string! It feels quite a bit different doesn't it? Now do a three-finger pattern using index, middle and ring finger. And of course mix that pattern up by starting with a finger other than your index. This will probably feel a little awkward at first but keep at it. With a simple practice exercise like this your classical guitar playing will improve dramatically.

Free pdf written by a master
There is a series of studies called 120 right hand exercises for classical guitar. Matteo Carcassi wrote these studies and they are in the free public domain. The exercises vary in difficulty so are appropriate for beginners to advanced. You can slowly work your way through them over time. Using these studies is a great way to improve right hand play and also improve sight-reading skills.

A Recommended Book
If you are looking for more guidance on improving your play I recommend you get a book by Scott Tennant called “Pumping Nylon”. I own it and have made it a part of my regular practice sessions. It has a lot of practical exercises for both the right and left hand. In 2006 a new version of this book aimed at beginners was published. There is also a nice DVD version available if you are a visual style learner.

Because the left hand is closer to your eyes, and because most people are right handed focusing on improvement of the right hand is often overlooked. But if you really want to take your classical guitar playing to the next level you should make a conscious effort to improve your right hand technique. Your speed of playing, clarity, and ability to express with the instrument will be greatly enhanced.

6 Tips For Better Guitar Playing

In this article I hope to demonstrate a few tips that will, with any luck, put you on the correct approach to developing into a proficient guitar player. If you can take into account that to play well involves a lot of practice and dedication then these tips will give you a head start. It takes arduous work and perseverance to the learn guitar and there is no fast and easy way, but some procedures are much more adept than others, resulting in quicker advancement. The main chief tip, though, is no matter what you do don't admit defeat


Set Aside Your Own Space
Distractions can play havoc with your concentration and focus, making any practise session worthless. Learning to play the guitar is hard enough so make it easier by finding a space where you can be alone without any outside noise or interruptions.

Equipment
Ensuring that your guitar is tuned correctly is paramount at the beginning of any practise session. Preparation is essential to good guitar playing and it is imperative to make certain that your instrument is in good condition

Understand Your Instrument
Surprising, as it might seem, not all guitars are the same, every one has a different tone and sound. Learn to know and understand your guitar, what every part is called and its different function. Appreciate your instrument and, although it’s an inanimate object, learn to respect and care for it. Even though you might not appreciate it now it will make you a better and more experienced guitar player.

Recognise Your Level Of Expertise
Frustration can soon set in when, after a few weeks of practising and learning, you cant play the same tunes as Eric Clapton or Jimmy Page or any of your other guitar heroes. Realism has to kick in somewhere and the sooner the better. Learning to play the guitar is not an overnight thing. It takes time. Start with sensible goals, leave the advanced playing until later and progression will come with a growth in confidence. Show persistence at this point and you will reap the benefits later and it will be even more rewarding.

Pick Your Style
Being able to play a piece of music made famous by one of your favorite guitarists is an unbeatable sensation. When, and only when, you have completed the fundamentals and you are set to move on to something harder it’s time pick a style of music you like and can identify with. Most songs are generally accessible as sheet music from a variety of sources and it’s another level in your education. This is an exhilarating stage in your progress.

Set Goals
One of the best ways to focus you concentration on you progress is to set mini targets. Pick a time period for when you are going to play your first song in front of family and friends and let them know about it. This helps give a reason for your practise sessions and certainly grabs your attention the closer to the date of your debut performance. Once you have performed and enjoyed being in the spotlight it will give you a boost in confidence. It’s no surprise, but your playing will improve after.

Keep in mind, learning to play the guitar is a continual progression, but should always be fun, and if you continue to advance consistently there is no knowing how talented you can grow to be. With any luck, these tips will prove useful and you will have many years of playing satisfaction.

Tuesday 8 July 2008

Easter Songs For Musicals For Schools Make Great Learning For Kids

Appreciating music at a young age is healthy. It keeps the heart and soul of the younger ones vibrant and alive and can be a very good medium to reach out to kids. Music for Schools Ltd. offers a well composed collection of Easter songs and musicals for schools for children.

Not all schools have the necessary talents to write a really good musical. Many are pressed for time. Music for Schools Ltd. fills this gap. Music is an important part of the educational life of kids in school. Things are never complete without the musicals for schools. The musicals signal the start, mid-year, and culmination of a school year.

Music for Schools Ltd. is offering a collection of songs for your Christmas musical, summer musical, and Easter musical. It does not collect any performance fees and it allows the school to make copies of their musical package, but solely for rehearsal and performance purposes. It gives the schools the right to utilize the musicals for schools in public performances, but only within the confines of the school and its local community.

The Easter musical is set amidst contemporary settings, which includes a television newsroom and the latest happenings in Jerusalem. The Easter songs are composed to fit the rhythm and beat of the young. Upbeat and bouncy, these are the type of songs that kids aged between seven and eleven will identify with. The script is interspersed with inspiring and affecting songs which reflects the tone of this significant celebration.

Music for Schools Ltd. introduces excellent sheet music and full lyrics on the net. The musicals for schools come with a comprehensive CD that features performed versions for rehearsals and backing tracks for the school presentations. The sheet music is carefully arranged for piano, guitar, and keyboard accompaniment.

The Easter songs provide the opportunity for the children to learn about the Easter story through a series of songs. This is a great way for them to think about the biblical event. All the songs in the CD can also be used for school congregations and for other school presentations.

The CD has the sung versions to accompany rehearsals and the prerecorded musical accompaniment for the school performance. The Easter songs can stand alone for performances or can be used as background music for interpretative reading or narrations.

Schools which buy these Easter songs are allowed to save and print or photocopy the lyrics for each song which are downloadable.

Music for Schools Ltd. delivers a fast and quick service at competitive prices. The prompt and efficient service serves as a mark of dedication and commitment for the highest level of customer service. Aside from the excellent service, the quality of the product is superior and second to none. Music for Schools Ltd. offers a wide variety of musical compositions online. There is always something for your every need. The online files are readily available using friendly tools for navigation. With just a click of the mouse you get to see what you are looking for.

By: Hall Andrew

The Essential Mix - 16 Years Of Dance Music History

For the last sixteen years the Essential Mix radio show has chartered the development of the dance music genre. This radio show broadcast on BBC Radio 1 in the UK started out in 1993 and is still running to this day. It has had a huge influence on the music scene and is still just as relevant today. Thanks to the internet it is now listened to all over the world, uniting people of different cultures with the common theme of a love for electronic music.

Originally devised by Eddie Gordan in 1993 who saw an opportunity to create a show that would feature a diverse range of music. The show capitalised on the success of the dance music scene in the UK which was continually growing at the time. Inspired by other similar shows on Kiss 100 in the UK and Hot 97 in New York, Eddie wanted to showcase different DJ's every week with a two hour continuous mix. This was possible as the BBC is funded through tax payers money, hence no need for advertisements interrupting the show. There was no pressure to replicate a club mix as Eddie encouraged the DJ's to be as free as possible with their music selection. This helped create such legendary mixes as Paul Oakenfold's award winning Goa mix or David Holmes' mix from 1997.

Since the first show to present day the Essential Mix has been hosted by Pete Tong. A well respect DJ in his own right, Pete introduces all the mixes as well as being the featured DJ in many shows over the last 16 years. Often the mixes are recorded in the studio, but Radio 1 has also been heavily involved with taking the Essential Mix on the road and recording live from clubs or big events. Initially the live shows started out by touring the top UK clubs, but as house music spread around the globe, the Essential Mix has gone with it. Mixes have now been aired from all over the world - Ibiza, Australia, North America, South Africa, and other European countries. The Essential Mix and Radio 1 have developed a special relationship with Ibiza in particular, broadcasting from the island every year since 1995. This started out as a show taken from a recording of a set at Amnesia, but has grown into Radio 1 practically taking over the island for the Summer. Pete Tong broadcasts his Essential Selection show from Cafe Mambo each week in the summer and Radio 1 is involved in holding huge parties to broadcast extended mixes on the radio.

In 1996 the Radio 1 website started up and this now gives people all over the world the chance to listen to the show, building on the shows fan base. Now in its 16th year the show is still as popular as ever. With many people interested in finding out what music has been played on the show and collecting all the old mixes.

By: EssentialMixArchive

The Fray: How to Save a Life - Free Piano Sheet Music

Have you been looking around for the Fray's How to Save a Life free piano sheet music? You're now in luck, because I've found a wonderful website that is loaded with free sheet music for you to download. The name of the site is the Sheet Music Info Site, located at sheetmusicinfosite.com. At the site, you can go down the navigation bar on the left side of the webpage and locate practically any kind of sheet music that you would like to download for free.

The navigation bar includes choices for free sheet music by instruments, such as the piano, the guitar, as well as other instruments. The free piano sheet music section of the navigation bar is where you should begin your search for locating the free piano sheet music for the Fray's How to Save a Life song. While you're at it, you can download any other free sheet music from the site that you would like. Sounds like a great place to go shopping for sheet music, especially since it's free.


Rock Music And Kids, Is It A Good Combination?

When children are young, it is easy to control the type of music they listen to. Mostly, children listen to what the parents do. Parents may choose to listen to music written specifically for kids, but at other times, the family may listen to whoever set the stereo station last.

The question becomes: Is Rock music safe for children?

Nearly all the best-selling albums of all time are Rock. But is this 'rebellious' genre of music having a positive or negative impact on children and society?

As with just about every subject, there are many pros and cons.

The fact is: Rock is a form of art that promotes creativity and expression. Many songs have very poetic lyrics and send off great messages to people. A big message sent through music these days is world change.

In 1985, Live Aid was put on by many rock musicians from Black Sabbath to U2. It raised over 232 million dollars for famine relief in Ethiopia and was inspired by the song 'The Tide is Turning' by Roger Waters of Pink Floyd.

Even today, many bands put on benefits for a plethora of causes. Several bands have toured in Iraq to perform for our troops overseas. Also many rock benefit concerts were put on to raise money after the 9-11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake.

Bands also promote Christianity in their music, especially in today's day and age. Popular bands, such as P.O.D., Flyleaf, Pillar, and many others, widely and openly promote religion through their music. And other bands, such as Breaking Benjamin and Chevelle, subtly promote it through their poetic and abstract lyrics.

Looking at their generosity of both their talent and money, it is clear that many Artists have chosen to spread joy. Are there other benefits?

Music in general, as well as Rock, can inspire children to pick up a healthy hobby of playing music. Learning an instrument helps a child find a form of creativity they can express in an unimaginable amount of ways. Even if they aren't going to become the next icon, enjoying music can often grant the listener or player an outlet for emotional issues or traumatic events as life progresses.

However, much like all good things, inevitably, you will also find the bad.

Many artists express their feelings through morbid and perverse metaphors and talk about dark taboo subjects. These artists have a breathtaking talent that people should be open to, but they are simply not for children.

Parental advisories can't always be trusted. For instance, the songs 'Digital Bath' and 'Lhabia' by Deftones talks about a daydream of grisly melancholic acts, acted out of boredom. This album has no parental advisory on it at all. Yet, that same band has songs against drugs, racism, and other positive influences, but is also not for young children.

As much as the R.I.A.A. tries to help, they are not the parents of America.

As our children start to discovery their own taste in music, parents need to monitor the content and words. Maybe your child has found a singer or band that they really like. You have listened to the song and approve. Make sure when you buy that CD though, you carefully listen to all of the songs or simply purchase the one song that you approved.

Rock seems to be the most controversial but it also has many positive influences that should be taken in to consideration. There are some negatives that come with it, and those should be filtered out by the parents.

As a family and society, we do not want record companies, or anyone else for that matter, to decide what we feel is appropriate or not. We enjoy the privilege of making that decision. We do appreciate their input, hence the labeling. But, when it comes down to it, we are the parents; we will take responsibility for what our children are plugging in their ears.

So, the next time your child wants to listen to a song they like, instead of immediately refusing, listen with both ears. You will learn much of what your child likes and dislikes. You will gain insight into the thinking of your child. You will also learn what to absolutely deny your child.

By: Chris Lowrey