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You are here: Home / Archives for Music

Want To Learn To Be A Musician?

July 3, 2013 by Chris

A world without music, for some, is the equivalent to a book without text – it’s pointless, and it just doesn’t make sense. Music resides within almost everything we experience; from that featured in TV programs, advertisements, and movies, to the radio playing while at work, and singing nursery rhymes to our children.

As well as music being an unstoppable part of how people live, it can also be an intricate part of the life some people build. Music is relaxing, relatable and sometimes even used as a cheap substitute to therapy. But for some, it is not just how they live, it is considered who they are.

Being a musician

MusicianThere is a growth in the number of people, specifically young people, who aspire to be musicians. What better way for someone to earn a sufficient amount of money doing something that they love? A music skill is often seen to be God-given, a natural gift, and a destiny.

However, although some people have an unlearned talent, that by no means eliminates the concept of people learning a musical skill of some kind.

Music teaching is a rapidly growing industry. Tutors offer everything from teaching people to play musical instruments, teaching composition and music theory, vocal training, and song writing lessons, and sharing knowledge about the music industry and other relevant opportunities. Some tutor services specialize in specific teachings.

For example, Pro Music Tutor offers services for guitar and saxophone techniques. Tutorials, videos, and written theory are vastly available at a variety of costs, with a number of different teaching styles and learning techniques.

The benefits of learning music

MusicResearch on music education has shown a number of additional benefits to learning music. PBS addresses some of those benefits, and includes research that has found music education to facilitate learning of other subjects, tapping into a multiple skill set. Music is said to help a child’s language development, increase IQs, and result in higher test scores.

Music also allows people to learn about commitment, given that learning a musical skill, or practicing and developing any unlearned talent requires time and discipline.

She Knows acknowledges that learning music, specifically in tutor groups, also allows people to learn and develop social skills, as well as respect, patients, team work, and confidence. Benefits also include development on more personal levels, such as fostering creativity and expression through music.

Whether parents would like their children to academically excel, and feel as though music will contribute to that, or a teenager has a new found desire to be in a cool band, or even if an adult would like to meet new people in a choir or as part of an instrument learning experience, there is something for everyone.

Music covers a wide variety of services, such as guitar lessons, with sites like Pro Music Tutor even allowing you to go online and download lessons yourself, in addition to simply having a listening experience. Whatever the reason a person chooses to learn music, the opportunity to have fun exists. Outside of the fun and enjoyment are a number of additional benefits that are great bonuses added to music learning.

Attached Images:
  •  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://officeimg.vo.msecnd.net/en-us/images/MB900387487.jpg
  •  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://officeimg.vo.msecnd.net/en-us/images/MB900409063.jpg

Nidia Guerra loves music. Having experimented with a number of instruments, Nidia understands the discipline required to learn a music skill, and the benefits of doing so.




Filed Under: Music, musical instruments, Musicians, Practising Techniques Tagged With: Music, music skill, music tutor, musician, natural gift, teaching

Things To Know When Beginning A Career In Music

June 3, 2013 by Chris

The internet has not only impacted the way people shop and find information but also the way people pursue careers. The internet began to make a slight change to the music industry just a few years ago when Justin Bieber, now a global superstar, as we all know, was discovered. Bieber decided that posting videos online and getting thousands of views was going to be his best opportunity of success. Thankfully for Bieber, one of those viewers happened to be a musician’s manager.

Beginning a career in the music industry is difficult and might even seem impossible to some artists.

However, as with everything else, the music industry is always evolving, thus resulting in the process and road to success many aspiring musicians will face.

It Takes Time

Whether you are a solo artist or a member of a band, getting involved and seeing success in music can take a lot of time. The key is to be patient, however, as it is very easy you may lose motivation and stop practicing or meeting up with band mates. Patience doesn’t just consist of waiting around for something to happen and not doing anything about it.

You must be and stay active; every day should consist of an effort to better improve yourself as a musician. Just have belief in what you are doing and keep moving yourself forward. If you’re good, you will be discovered.

Have an Open Mind

Whether it is about your strategies or even music genre, focus on looking at your position and even strategies from another point of view. When putting together ideas to promote and market yourself or band, an open mind will allow you to expand your resources.

If you are a solo artist and play an instrument, consider teaching kids or adults on how to play an instrument. This will allow you to gain some publicity and more people will hear about your solo career.

However, make sure you tell all your clients about your side career and in fact, if you have a gig or performance, be sure to invite them and kindly ask if they wouldn’t mind spreading the word a bit.

The Internet

Whether you are experienced or just a newbie looking to get started, make sure you turn to the internet. As an experienced artist, you would be able to post videos of your music, or even you performing live in front of the camera.

While YouTube might seem like the obvious choice, building a following on Twitter or Facebook, for example, will help you to reach the best possible audience. In addition to this, produce some t-shirts featuring the URL of your pages, and whenever you start to play gigs ensure that your social media is featured heavily on flyerr and posters at your gigs. If you want to be creative, you can even put your hashtag on your drum kit!

However, if you are new, then why not try to learn guitar online or even another instrument. The internet offers numerous resources for both newbies and existing artists.

Robert is a professional musician. At a very young age Robert decided to learn guitar online by watching various videos and as he became older he received professional training.

Filed Under: Musicians Tagged With: Artist, band, Beginning, career, gig, instrument, internet, Know, Music, Open Mind, performance, time

Top 5 Best Websites To Download Free Music

February 21, 2013 by Chris

I love my music !The Internet today makes it easier than ever to download just about any song you want for free. However, finding a site with an extensive selection of free music downloads is few and far in between. There are however, sites out there that offer music for purchase with an occasional song for free download. And there are some sites make you pay a monthly subscription for a wide music selection.

But, the problem with free music is, that it’s not always legal. When you download music for free you are not supporting the artists, labels and retailers who distribute the songs. For that reason, I want to emphasize that there are dozen of websites out there that allow you to listen to music freely and legally without downloading it. Like Pandora or Spotify for example.

If you’re like the rest of us, and you absolutely must download music, there are safe and legal sites available that you can use. Sites that will not spam your computer with advertisements, fake links or viruses. From the latest pop music to classic rock hits, download Mp3 songs for free using these five music websites:

1. mp3skull

If you haven’t already, you definitely want to use this website. It’s great for downloading, listening and searching for your favorite songs. mp3skull has a database of multimillion quality Mp3 links. The site even provides you with embed link to post music to your blogs and personal websites.

2. emp3World

While this site may be ten years old, it still provides the best and latest songs for free. The interface is simple, it loads rather quickly and there aren’t many annoying advertisements. This site gets two thumbs up!

3. Mp3Raid

Mp3Raid is a search engine that is dedicated to indexing and organizing music that has legally be posted on the Internet. You can easily listen to songs before you download too. While the interface is a bit unorganized, the overall task of searching for and downloading songs is rather easy.

4. Zippyshare.com

Another one of my favorite sites to download music from is Zippyshare.com. This site is easy to use with a very straightforward interface. Songs are 100 percent free and you can listen to the full song before you download it. Definitely worth bookmarking on your Internet browser!

5. Beemp3

Also a music search engine, Beemp3 can be used for locating an mp3-file over the Internet. The only catch is that the site does not actually host the files themselves. This site just searches through the Internet and indexes all the new mp3 songs.

Everyone listens to music. When we’re happy, sad, and anxious or somewhere in between, music is an expression of emotion. What’s better is if we can get all the music we want for free. And without too much hassle, like irritating pop ads and sign ups. There’s a safe way for downloading music there, choose wisely.

Attached Images:
  •  License: Creative Commons image source

Laura Wolfe is a freelance writer for several music publications. She usually uses KoyoteSoft.com video converter free software for her favorite YouTube videos. She loves having her favorite songs and videos at her fingertips.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Music Tagged With: Beemp3, best, database, download, emp3World, free, mp3, Mp3Raid, mp3skull, Music, songs, websites, Zippyshare.com

The way we get our music sure has changed over the years

September 17, 2012 by Chris

I don’t know how many of you remember when the only way you could get new music was to go to the record store and buy a record or even dare I say this – a 45. Do you remember the terms LP, EP and 45’s? Of course while you were at the record store you could also buy music on cassette tapes as well.

I can remember trying to make my own cassette tapes by trying to record music off the radio or taping records as they played. When I was young I didn’t have my tape recorder hooked up through the stereo so the recordings were not very good!

By the time I was a young teenager CDs were starting to come into the picture. I don’t think any of us thought they would last at the time. That kind of reminds me of the Beta video. Little did we know that CDs were here to stay and were only a harbinger or things to come in the form of digital music.

It’s so easy to buy music digitally now I bet that almost all the people who read this post have purchased at least one song or album digitally if not hundreds. Have you ever wondered how the online music industry has evolved over time? Here’s some interesting information about it.
.

Via: Kaza Gold

Filed Under: Culture, Entertainment, Items to Try, Music, My experiences Tagged With: 45s, album, beta tape, beta video, buy music, cassettes, cds, digital music, digitally, ep, evolved, harbinger, internet, lps, Music, music history, new music, online music, online music industry, record music, record store, song, tape music, teenager

Taste of the Danforth 2011

August 7, 2011 by Chris

We decided to check out the Taste of the Danforth this year and it was … well, busy as usual. The weather was fantastic! It drizzled a little bit during the visit which brought out that high humidity that I love so much. The sounds, smells and overall atmosphere is quite intoxicating to take in, in such a short period of time.

We live about a 15 minute walk away, but it seems to take much longer due to the fact that some 1.3 million people who show up every year to the Taste of the Danforth, were right in front of us. If you ever get the opportunity to visit the festival, I highly recommend going … unless you hate crowds and good food!

This year we came armed with a decent sized back pack to put some of the zillion or so delicacies that we were bombard with from every direction in, to take home with us for later consumption. Greek food (obviously), Ethiopian, Taiwanese, Japanese, Irish, British, the Islands, Mexican, to name only a few, food stands are everywhere. Calories as far as the eyes can see. We bought a little bit of food to taste as we walked along the 3 km stretch of closed off roadway and then as I said bought a little bit more to stuff in my backpack to eat today!

The journey lasted around 3.5 hours. The dogs they aren’t a barkin’ all that much but as for my wife’s … It was just plain fantastic to get out of the ‘olde house for a while and finally enjoy some of the spectacular local events that are held in the little city of Toronto.

I’ve got some pic’s on the camera phone that I’ll upload sometime soon but I can’t find that damn USB connector. Am I the only one in the world to loose that thing from time to time?

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Culture, Entertainment, General, Great Bands, Home and Lifestyle, Music, Musicians, Recreation, Toronto, Toronto Bands Tagged With: culture, festival, food, greek, Music, taste of the danforth 2011, the danforth

Old school Record show

March 26, 2011 by Chris

Since we’re starting to put our vinyl records collection into a digital format to put on our new iPod, I couldn’t help but notice that there will be a vinyl record show coming up right down the street from us on Sunday March 27 2011. It’s run by The Record Guys and it looks like it will be a blast. This event is in it’s 3rd year I think so they’re not some fly by night operation.

… the show has become a haven for collectors of all ages whose love of Vinyl, CDs, Paper Goods and other music collectables just can’t be quenched.

Just looking at our old record collection brings back such fond memories. We only took a quick look at our collection downstairs and they look to be ok. We have them in these thick old computer boxes that I got when I worked at this computer company called Kortex Computers, and put them on top of an old skid that places them around 8 inches off the ground.

So if your looking for something to do this weekend in the East End of Toronto this weekend then drop me a comment on this post and we’ll head off there for a blast!

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Entertainment, Great Bands, Music, Musicians, Recreation, Toronto Tagged With: broadview ave., collection, danforth ave, march 27 2011, Music, record show, rock, sales, the record guys, things to do, Toronto, vinyl

Where do you view music video’s?

March 26, 2010 by Chris

Where do you see you favorite band’s music video, on the internet (Youtube or other internet sites) or on TV? I have to admit that I view pretty much all music video’s on youtube more then on TV. I’m just not all that interested in the programing of today’s music stations except maybe for AUX TV or HDNet concert series.

Way back in the day you could only see band video’s on dedicated music channels like MTV, MuchMusic … Where did you first see Micheal Jackson’s Thriller on? For me it was at a buddy of mine when we were watching the Toronto based MuchMusic channel. To be honest with you, I never ever come across this station while I’m TV surfing. In today’s world, Music video’s seem to be a endangered species on TV but with the advent of the internet they appear to be thriving.

Most company exec’s don’t think that this means the end of music video’s, it just that today’s bands are using a different form of media in which to launch their products to you. As well as, we now have the power and options to view them anywhere and at our convenience. An example of this is with your cellphone. When I was a kid in the early 80’s, cellphones where mainly used for business people or for those people who had more dollars then sense. Man have things changed since then!

“Now that MTV has actually come out and literally said, ‘We don’t play music videos anymore’ … people don’t have to make videos to fit into the MTV mould, and that mould was you essentially had to make a commercial with your song in it,” Canadian Press

So my question to you is where do you view your favorite music video’s?

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Entertainment, Music, Recreation, Television, Video Tagged With: Aux TV, concert series, HDNet, itunes, Music, music videos, video sites, video websites, videos

A Wheel Chair access Mosh Pit

January 11, 2010 by Chris

I’ve never been in a Mosh Pit before but it sure looks fun! A Mosh Pit looks like something that you should experience at least once in your life, if your in GREAT shape that is. This pic shows that it’s open up for anyone and isn’t that what life’s all about?! Has anyone out there been in one before I’d love to know what it is all about!

God that looks like a blast doesn't it!

God that looks like a blast doesn't it!

Keep on Jammin’


Filed Under: Concerts, Culture, Entertainment, Humor Tagged With: concert, funny pics, live music, mosh pit, moshing, Music, wheelchair

Merry Christmas from me and THE RAMONES!

December 25, 2009 by Chris

I hope that all of you out there are having fun during this holiday season and don’t drink and drive cause it ain’t worth it!

So Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice) and to everyone reading this blog!

Keep on Jammin’ in the New Year

Filed Under: Culture, My experiences, Songs to play Tagged With: Eid al-Adha, happy hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Music, Ramones video

The Ramones Museum in Berlin looks like fun

December 19, 2009 by Chris

The Ramones are the forefathers of what genre? Some might call them new masters of garage rock minimalism. Others refer to the Ramone’s unique sound as either punk, new wave, power pop, or even surf punk but I just call them a GREAT Rock & Roll band!

So where did this idea for a post come from you say? To be honest with ya I was going through the paper the other day … while waiting in the ER at work as a patient this time around! I threw out my back a little bit while moving a VERY LARGE SET patient in a stretcher to his room. The Star (a big newspaper in Toronto) hands out free papers for patients and friends for free. I found an article in the Travel section. It was about what to do and see in Berlin, if your ever there, then this article about the Ramone’s Museum jumped right off the page at me. Check out the exhibits on the site, their really neat … I think you have to be a die hard Ramones lover to appreciate them.

My God they pulled off some great albums, 24 I think in total! The one’s that I had at one point in my life were Ramones (1976), Rocket to Russia (1977) and End of the Century (1980). I know that it’s hard to picture any of these musical creations in a vinyl collection such as mine but I knew they were a true stand out band that had their eyes wide open about the world in which they/we live in.

Tunes like Hey Ho … Let’s go!, Rock & Roll High School (I fell in love with that little riff just before the chorus, that was my idea of speed guitar soloing!!!), I wanna be sedated, Pet Sematary, Do you remember Rock and Roll Radio and a ship list more!

The thing that ties the Ramones way of life or legend together the most is not a song, album or scandal but the bar that seemed very close to their hearts and that of coarse was CBGB’s in New York city. I just drove by the place in a cab the couple of times that I was in the New York city and that was the closes that I ever got to the place! CBGB’s has such a close relationship with the band that they hold a Joey Ramone memorial ever year for the God father of Punk (or whatever you yourself classify them as being).

I’ve never been to Germany before but has someone out there been to this historic city and went to see the Ramones Museum? Is it worth going to even though you may not be a HUGE Ramones fan? Just wondering!

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Entertainment, Great Bands, Music, Musical influences, Musicians, Rock History, Video Tagged With: band, berlin, berlin museum, Do you remember Rock and Roll Radio, hey ho ... lets go, I wanna be sedated, Music, music museum, Pet Sematary, ramones, ramones museum, rock, rock and roll high school, the ramones

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