About Music Blog

When you hear the phrase “starving artist” you generally think of some poor sap painter with only five fans. Four of those fans are members of his family. It has typically implied the world of unknowns, some deserving of recognition and others who should find a new career. We don’t really think about the famous musicians we know and love today. They’re famous after all. How could they be struggling with bills? But politicians, people against music piracy, and some artists themselves have been very forthcoming about the ill fate that has become them in an age where no one buys CDs.

Even in the good ol’ days when people were willing to dish out $18 for a single CD, musicians never made quite that much off album sales. Case in point, R&B group TLC -or so I learned from watching their Behind the Music special. They sold millions of albums, performed sold-out shows, and still had to file for bankruptcy. Granted part of that might have been bad management, spending money on lavish video and concert sets, but they weren’t rolling in the dough as one would expect. Flash forward to today and any money you could possibly make off album sales is almost completely gone. I can’t imagine your iTunes sales are raking in the dough for your personally. If anything, it’s paying back the loan to the record label for studio time.

Artists are not making money off their music these days. Instead, all the money is coming from concerts and merchandise. But unless you’re Lady Gaga or Justin Bieber selling out every stadium in the world, you still won’t make that much money from concert sales. More and more artists are having problems selling out larger venues. The really big name acts and well-established bands seem to be doing okay. But bands I once saw playing medium-sized venues are now playing Terminal 5 in Manhattan. It’s not some small stage in the back of a bar, but there is still a lot less people as say Hammerstein Ballroom. It’s mainly because record labels are afraid of investing too much into an artist. It looks much better to sell out Terminal 5 then only sell 75% of the tickets at Hammerstein.

More people would probably be more willing to go if ticket prices weren’t so incredibly high. Ticketmaster is, without a doubt, a monopoly gauging you with insane fees. If I didn’t have to spend an extra $10+ on an already expensive ticket, I’d be more include to go to concerts and music festivals. Even merchandise at the shows are exorbitant. The t-shirts are always $10 cheaper on the band’s website.

I don’t believe all the music out there today just sucks that badly. Will I stop downloading 90% of my music? No. But these guys do have to eat, right? Most big name bands are not living off bologna sandwiches and living in a van down by the river. Most are well-off. But those moderately famous bands deserve more than just the apartment above their parents’ garage.

Music Ambiance is a member of the AJ Blog Network, a Mecca of blog sites that provided fresh blog content on a daily basis. Check out more posts from Music Ambiance and a series of other fantastic blog sites at http://www.AJBlogNetwork.com.

By Adrianna Noton

Piano lessons are the most common way to enter the world of music, and people have been learning this instrument for centuries for good reason. It’s fun, and with all the notes chronologically arranged, it’s easiest to learn music on. It is easier to move onto another instrument after playing piano.

Traditionally beginners start with easier version of classical compositions and work towards playing harder and harder classical music, but this is no longer the case. Teachers are willing to provide easy versions of pop music that their students are more motivated to play. But aside from the joy of playing and the beauty of the music, there are still more reasons for children, and even adults, to take up piano lessons.

It’s great for children to have a balance of time to play, do school work, and have another outlet that’s a kind of combination of both: piano requires concentration and diligence, but it doesn’t have the same harsh consequences or severity associated with school. It’s great for children to have an enjoyable payoff for their hard work so they can learn the benefits of doing a moderate amount of work every day. Adults have probably had this sensation in their life, but you can never have it too many times! Especially at a later stage of life, adults might even appreciate the gift of music more.

However beautiful, watching a musical performance is always accompanied in some small measure by a pang of jealousy, as one feels the urge to be the one in the spotlight winning the applause and admiration of the audience. It’s great to send children on their way to becoming this performer, or be the adult longing to play this role. Of course, this ambition isn’t necessary. Playing music alone is a tremendous joy!

Presumably the student is inclined towards it and there’s usually a more casual relationship between student and teacher. There is a difference between getting serious lessons at the conservatory of music and hiring a professional music teacher: the former is more rigid and rigorous, which sometimes actually has the adverse effect of making the lessons unappealing. Hiring a professional teacher can be a bit looser, a bit more informal, but it’s essential to make sure they are well steeped in piano technique, theory, and passion. So long as they’re not a high school student looking for pocket money, or a sketchy transient rock musician, the odds are the teacher you’ll land will be perfectly appropriate.

It’s hard to describe the ways playing music increases the pleasures of listening, but it’s true that no musician is the same listener after taking up the instrument. It’s easier to imagine the technical challenges of a piece, but it’s fundamentally not about the crude physical movement of the fingers. The musician perceives the movement of the notes themselves, not the fingers, and their dazzling swaying harmonies are enjoyed on a sensory level, where it should be. Lessons show that the work leads to immense pleasure!

Searching online for local musical teachers? Then make sure to visit Long & McQuade – one of Canada’s largest music stores offering a wide selection of piano lessons Mississauga and various other lessons across all musical instruments.

By Adrianna Noton

The rhythm of the drum is something that seems to be innate to the human species. Whether it’s a consistent, unconscious finger tapping or a very deliberate slapping accompaniment to a tune at a young age, we are wired for rhythm. As a child, you are fortunate to have parents who invest in a large, loud instrument, but you are assured of a great time! Some beginner lessons are a great way to dive head first into this instrument.

Any music teacher first has to get you acquainted with the instrument. A drum kit requires familiarizing yourself with all the parts and the modes of playing. Unlike most instruments where the fingers press down on notes, drum kits use a combination of hands and feet, and your fingers never come in to play. Your right foot controls the bass drum, and there are at least a couple techniques for this—some press down with their toes while others use their whole foot, moving their leg up and down instead of just their foot. The left foot controls the hi-hat.

The teacher can guide the student towards playing in at least two different styles, open or closed. Closed is most common, and this occurs when the player’s hands cross over. The right will hit the hi-hat and the left will hit the snare, but this comes with time. The first object is just to hit each aspect of the kit and become acquainted with its sound. Any music at all has drums behind it, but the first few lessons should take into account what each part does, and how it works.

Next is starting to put them together. At a slow tempo, you’ll start a basic beat. This will usually consist of the bass drum, snare, and a little hi-hat. It can’t be emphasized enough how slow this should be at first. Rhythm is a necessary component of playing any instrument, but it is the cornerstone of percussion. The drummer’s role is to be the bedrock of beat for the rest of the group, and unlike piano or guitar, you pretty much need to be playing with other musicians. Sure you’ll be given a drum solo, but that’s an interlude. So practice, practice, practice slowly so that you can do the first few beats in your sleep, and at increasingly faster tempos. You’ll slowly add to this repertoire and add ornamental figures to it. After you get the basic beat down you’ll likely work on fills, or ways of adding variety in your playing at the end of a measure so your beat doesn’t sound monotonous. You can be a very accomplished drummer and go not much further than these two steps, so long as you really have them down pat!

The next real jump is being able to switch beats in stream. This will give you greater control of the pulse and make your playing more sophisticated. But this is a more advanced stage after mastering basic rhythm. The important thing is to keep getting better and to keep having fun!

Long & McQuade’s Musical Education Center offers piano lessons Vancouver and piano lessons Ottawa. When trying to learn a musical instrument be sure to visit the professionals at Long & McQuade – one of Canada’s largest music stores.

You’ve been thinking about getting the band back together. Your job in the bank is way too routine, and you need an outlet for all that creative energy.

All the guys are for it, and you’ve got a great new lead singer: a girl this time.

The stars are aligned. Every signal is positive. It needs to happen.

The plans are to play in town for a couple of months – you’ve already got a few gigs lined up – and then take the show on the road.

Only problem: not much money to spend on publicity.

You feel certain that people will remember you. It’s just a matter of getting the word of mouth going.

Phase 1: You are going to need to start out with printed flyers. Flyers are cheap. You know someone who knows one of the salesmen at a printing company, and he’s willing to give you a decent deal on your first order for flyers. In return, he gets into the venue for nothing.

Next step: what matters most on the flyer? If everyone knows the name, then you lead with the name: The Electric Cheeseheads.

If you’ve decided to go with a new name, maybe for your in-town gigs it’s better to lead with the names of the band members, to take advantage of name recognition. For your out of town gigs, the new name will have to take top billing: Frogs in a Blender.

Right below the name, you want an image. Your new lead singer is your image, because she’s a girl and because she dresses so…provocatively.

Here, a black and white photo is fine, although color is OK, too.

All that’s left is the time and place of the gig. That goes on the bottom, printed boldly and clearly. If they can’t read it, they won’t show up.

Now, you put those out on telephone poles and in shops and restaurants and let the ant colony do the rest. People will walk by, take a look and, when they meet someone they know, they stop them and do a little dance the way ants do, and then that person will run around telling others and before you know it the whole colony knows.

Phase 2: Once you’ve had a few paying gigs, it’s time to start thinking posters. Posters are important because that’s how you establish yourself as a cultural icon. You have to be on a poster to be considered a cultural icon. It’s an unwritten rule, but it’s a rule all the same.

Your poster is also used to promote your gigs. But on the poster, there’s room for a lot more than on the flyer. If your lead singer is working out, then she goes front and center, surrounded by the guitarists and drummer. The tambourine guy can stand in the back.

Here’s where you need a more amped up design. Best to get the help of a local professional to do the art work. The name of the band will serve as something like a logo, so that will need to be stylized. The layout of the images and text on the poster needs to have a more professional look.

Television used to be called “the vast wasteland” and in a way I suppose they were right. Of course there were always exceptions to this cynical attitude about the world of TV. Whether it was classy Masterpiece Theater style movies on PBS or the aggressive and insightful news coverage of 60 Minutes there was value to be pulled from the spots between game shows, cereal ads and The Beverly Hillbillies. Television had a lot of daily entertainment value but to many that was not a value at all, and among what these critics saw as the frivolity of the medium even the high brow areas of television seemed crumby.

Of course these days television is in something of a Golden Age. Many older people would argue that the era of The Honeymooners and I Love Lucy was the actual golden age. These people are complete and total morons. Instead, we look at the complex television shows populating much of our airwaves or bandwidth as it were. We have sophisticated dramas that refuse to take easy routes through their premises. Shows like Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and Game of Thrones keep us spellbound and captivated without hand feeding us neat endings and predictable plot points. We have comedies grounded in real characters with high rates of jokes that could wiz right by even the sharpest of wits. Shows such as Parks and Recreation, Louie, 30 Rock, Community, and It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, make watching television sitcoms not just rewarding in laughs but occasionally challenging. Even the junk on television be it the Jersey Shore or Gossip Girl attacks their genres with more stylistic know how and depth than their respective areas of the cultural landscape has ever seen.

Of course television being an easy target continues to have it’s detractors. People who do not realize that it is a powerful medium often being used to create some of the best art around. Of course in recent months more and more film makers and especially film critics have paid clear unbridled tribute the advances being made on television. In fact many of your favorite and most respected film makers have chosen to leave the cozy confines of the big budget film world to make their way onto television. Often they even skip the major networks in favor of cable.

This all suggests that television is in a different place now. We have all grown up loving it and understanding it and now finally it is serving us as the smart audience we always sort of thought maybe television could tell us we were.

Entertain me Daily is a member of the AJ Blog Network, a Mecca of blog sites that provided fresh blog content on a daily basis. Check out more posts from Entertain me Daily and a series of other fantastic blog sites at http://www.AJBlogNetwork.com.

The movies being recognized during this year’s award season reflects a certain appreciation of the art of storytelling. Michael Hazanavicius’ “The Artist” and Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” are truly homage to classic forms of storytelling.

“The Artist” may be considered somewhat of a sleeper hit. It is a very daring movie, in the sense that, with the exception of two pivotal scenes, it is a traditional silent film. It was shot using the traditional 1.33:1 “Academy ratio” which was the type of film used in the Silent Movie Era. Although, it was initially shot in color to obtain picture clarity, the color was then filtered and diluted to appear black and white; this movie is a film that strives to be as true as possible to the pre-talkie revolution.

The movie’s recent wins at the Golden Globes for Best Comedy, Best Score, and Best Actor, has given the movie mainstream notoriety, as opposed to strictly art-house appreciation. “The Artist” is a demonstration of appreciation to classic movie-making, specifically that of the silent era. Although Jean Dejardin said that he was specifically inspired by Silent Movie Star Douglas Fairbanks, you definitely see traces of Gene Kelly in his movement and presence on screen. This is not to say the movie is not a strong movie completely separate from its allusions to Old Hollywood. It is definitely a strong movie that features excellent storytelling. What gives the movie added depth, however, is the era in which it is set and the style in which it is told. If this movie was done in color and featured dialogue, it would simply not be as spectacular and powerful a film.

“Midnight in Paris” is a cinematic literary masterpiece. It is undeniably, Woody Allen’s best movie in years. But, beyond that, this is an excellent film, not just a great Woody Allen film. Really, he displays a certain level of humility with the writing of this movie. Although there is some distinctly Allen dialogue and scenes, it manages to surpass that association and proves itself to a modern masterpiece. Like the artist, this movie will especially appeal to a cultured audience, which is something to celebrate. The literary allusions in this are inspiring and a true tribute to Allen’s imagination. This is a film that also celebrates creativity and artistry. It not only pays tribute to Paris, it also honors the great artists who have been drawn there as well as the scope of human ingenuity.

These movies are films that will invigorate and inspire you, and it is heartening to see them being recognized for their achievements.

Entertain me Daily is a member of the AJ Blog Network, a Mecca of blog sites that provided fresh blog content on a daily basis. Check out more posts from Entertain me Daily and a series of other fantastic blog sites at http://www.AJBlogNetwork.com.

It’s not that difficult to realize why so many people in this country, and pretty much the entire world, have a total obsession with celebrities and their every move. In this digital age it’s even easier to delve into the celebrities’ worlds with instant access on Google News and celebrity Twitter and Facebook pages. Celebrities live much more interesting lives than most of us do. They can fly around the world on a whim, go to exclusive parties with P. Diddy, buy kitchens as big as our homes and order takeout every night, and own five luxury cars despite have a personal chauffeur.

Despite what some haters might think, it’s much nicer to be rich and not have to worry about how you’re going to afford your doctor’s appointment and groceries for the week. They can travel the globe and do things some of us can only dream about. And while that jealousy is completely understandable and somewhat normal, I can’t wrap my brain around those who are truly obsessed with everything a celebrity does. Angelina Jolie popping out another kid, okay that’s news worthy. Britney Spears shaving her head again, I’ll glance at an article on that. But Beyonce seen eating at Quiznos, who cares? If you have ever watched one of those television shows like Access Hollywood, they talk about the most absurd news stories. Daniel Radcliffe seen drunk at a bar! Oh my, how scandalous! We’re one step away from a celeb using a public restroom being news worthy.

And while I may find this mind numbing, a waste of time, and an invasion of privacy, there are so many Americans who completely disagree. They want to know all the latest gossip, hear every piece of information on a celebrity they can. It’s part of the reason that every celebrity, mostly washed-up celebrities, have their own reality show. Is your life really that sad that you need to live vicariously through the Hogan family? Really, come on. You find Hulk Hogan’s life interesting? He’s not even a relevant celebrity anymore. But I assume people must be watching since the show is still on the air.

Celebrity worship is part of the reason most Americans are on anti-depressants. We see how glamorous and lavish the lives of other people are and we naturally become dejected about our own lives. Our lives will never reach that level and obviously we cannot find meaning unless we get to party with Lady Gaga every night. It’s sad to know some people really view their lives as meaningless because they’re not part of the 1%. Maybe if our culture wasn’t so engrossed in the lives of others, we could enjoy the lives we were given.

Entertain Me Daily is a member of the AJ Blog Network, a Mecca of blog sites that provided fresh blog content on a daily basis. Check out more posts from Entertain Me Daily and a series of other fantastic blog sites at http://www.AJBlogNetwork.com.

Scandal had a good year in 2011. Then again, when does scandal have a bad year? Regardless, the vacuous world of entertainment oozed with more puss for us, the public, to lap up. Let’s talk celeb news 2011.

Like every year, many celebrities were arrested for driving drunk or under the influence of drugs. Celebrities may be modern American gods but hey, even god has had a few too many and gotten behind the wheel, right? Obviously something was amiss when he (or she) invented the platypus.

Sports also had an eventful year. Many teams won, while other lost. Don’t worry about sports celebs they get the same whether they win or lose. Regardless of how much or how little they make they will lose it all in a pyramid scheme in the five year after they retire. Some people say it’s the repeated blows to the head. Others say when you cost on you athleticism your whole life the rest of your mind atrophies. Regardless, this trend is sure to continue into 2012.

Many celebrities also choose to have babies. This doesn’t exactly strike me as newsworthy (neither does anything celebrity related) but it was reported on none the less. Most of these babies where ugly, some cute, many foreign. The trend of celebrities kidnapping (or adopting) babies from the third world is sure to continue. My predictions for 2012 Mogadishu, Monrovia, and Naypyidaw are going to see a rash in baby theft by celebs. Parents in these cities can only hope they have the privilege of having their child kidnapped by an American celebrity.

2011 saw some great political scandals as well. There was the revelation that Mitt Romney speaks French, the most un-American language since Arabic. John Huntsmen accidently let some Mandarin slip out during a debate. He had to resign from the primaries shortly thereafter. Newt Gingrich came out at a cheating, racist, gay basher (It’s really more that he reaffirmed what we already knew). Another wonderful television moment was when Rick Perry said he would re-invade Iraq. You have got to adore political theater.

Hopefully the political discourse will only grow uglier as we get closer to Election Day. It would make my life easier, and it doesn’t seem like the negativity will let up anytime soon. What will 2012 hold? If we are lucky apocalypse, but it could be something much worse. Here is to the scandal makers of 2012, good luck guys!

Entertain me Daily is a member of the AJ Blog Network, a Mecca of blog sites that provided fresh blog content on a daily basis. Check out more posts from Entertain me Daily and a series of other fantastic blog sites at http://www.AJBlogNetwork.com.

By Byron Dyson

Would you want to try your hand at composing some rap tracks or are you presently a rising hip hop artist? If you’re a fan of hip hop, you have probably considered creating your own rap music at some point, and that’s perfectly understandable. You should absolutely consider finding some rap instrumentals so you’ll have something to write to if you are in fact serious about creating your own rap. This is a great idea, and we are going to discuss more details on rap instrumentals here in this short article so if you’re enthusiastic about rap instrumentals, you should surely take a look at this article.

Rap instrumentals supply you with something to write rap to, which is absolutely excellent. Instead of just rattling off words into thin air, you will have a solid beat and melody to get you started, which can absolutely make the writing process go a great deal smoother. When you are composing rap music, you’re basically writing lyrics, and lyrics go best with music. Rhythm is one of the most crucial aspects of rap music, and you also might discover that you get inspired by the beats that you’re working with, especially in regards to the rhythm.

Another great thing about rap instrumentals is that they can make you look more professional as a hip hop artist, and this is certainly an essential thing. There are so many people trying to make it as rap performers that it is important to stick out if you would like your rap to be taken seriously. Having rap instrumentals or hip hop beats is utterly crucial if you want to get your rap out there for others to hear.

You can get good rap instrumentals and hip hop beats on a variety of places on the net. Some of these internet sites will have the option where you’re in a position to actually preview the tracks before choosing them so you are going to be able to see which beats you are really into before you decide to purchase them. This will absolutely benefit you because you want to be able to understand that you are going to like an instrumental track before you decide to download it. It might even be recommended that you see if you can produce some rap to the samples before you download them simply by listening to the samples. This might be advisable.

In relation to producing hip hop or rap music, rap instrumentals and hip hop beats are definitely something that you will discover to be beneficial. If you’re considering obtaining great beats and instrumental tracks, you need to simply browse around on the internet. Rap instrumentals are offered on numerous web sites. You can download MP3s or purchase vinyl records or CDs that have rap instrumentals on them, whichever format works for you as well as your songwriting process, and that is definitely true.

If you happen to be rap artist and you are considering Hip Hop Beats For Sale, you need to absolutely examine our internet site to find out more about Free Beats.

By Byron Dyson

Being a musician and performer, the most crucial thing that can be done when you want to cover one of your favorite tracks is allow it to become your very own unique version of the song. The greatest thing you’re able to do, for example, if you want to do a Bjork cover is completely re-work the song and do a completely one of a kind version. You are not going to do the song justice if you just copy Bjork because she’s a very unique voice and style. A good thing you can do is be yourself since you are able to do that much better than you’ll be able to be an imitation of Bjork. Use your special sound to make the song appear original.

In case you are wanting to learn more about these kind of approaches, you ought to absolutely keep reading this informative article. It will certainly be advantageous for you to read over this so that you can have these records as we will talk about a number of ideas that you can use the next time you’re playing or even recording a cover song. If you’re a musician, you’ll definitely find it to be a good read.

Altering the instrumentation is among the best things that you can do when you’re working to make a cover sound authentic. As an example, let’s assume you are trying to do a “Hyperballad” cover because this is one of Bjork’s songs. You’ll absolutely want to make it unique as “Hyperballad” is just one of Bjork’s most popular songs. As performed initially, the song includes an electronic arrangement with a lot of bass and drum beats. If you used just piano and vocals or guitar and vocals, for instance, it might make it sound a lot different. This could assist you because it could make the song sound stripped down and simple, and it will be a distinctive cover.

Keeping the vocals, in particular the lyrics, just like the original, though, is important. You want your cover to sound unique, but you likewise want people to understand what the song should be. The song will still be recognizable if you maintain the same basic vocal melody as well as lyrics. Even so, you ought to certainly use your own vocal style and attempt to perhaps include different phrasing or even different dynamics.

Now that we’ve given you an illustration of how to correctly perform a Bjork cover or a “Hyperballad” cover specifically and still make it seem original, you ought to be able to take these fundamental principles and employ them to any musician. Whatever you are covering, you want to be sure that it is a track that you actually love. It’ll definitely be evident to the audience if you’re excited about the tune. Also, ensure that whatever song you decide to cover, it will be something that is fun to you because music is about having a good time.

If you want to see an example of a great Hyperballad cover, check out these acoustic Bjork covers to learn more about tips on how to play a great cover song.