This article mainly involve itself with the procedure of playing classical guitar and reading Sheet Music. The preeminent tactic to understand playing a classical guitar is to submit to some self-help books or taking classes from a full-time guitar teacher educator.

Before you study how to play the guitar and your first notes with guitar lessons Melbourne, you need to discern what they are and their meaning.

Let’s take a peek:

Guitar Lessons Melbourne- The Importance of your Notes

The Whole Note

The ‘Whole Note’ forms the foundation of all Music entry and almost all your guitar playing will be based on operating it.

Whole note divided by 2 will give you a ‘half note’. Additional divided by 4, it will present you a ‘quarter note’ or ‘crotchet’. Divided it by 8 and you’ll obtain an 8th note or a ‘quaver’. Dividing it further will find you 16th notes (semi-quavers) or 32nd notes (semi demi-quavers).

The value of these notes, their timing and how to apply them to form rhythm will get clearer once you begin playing your guitar in the most basic timing, i.e. 4/4 timing. 4/4 timing is the most central of all timings as this is what the normal human ear is used to hearing. Consequently it is also termed ‘common time’ or ‘cut time’.

Once you get familiar with playing in 4/4 timing you’ll effortlessly know strange timings such as 3/4, 6/4, 7/4/, 5/4 etc.

Discern your strings before you practice on them

A regular classical guitar is generally six-stringed, i.e. the top-most string to the bottom-most about e,a,d,g,b,e. These letters will classify the sound of your notes. Play each of the strings (open) individually on a well-tuned classical guitar. Playing them repeatedly might get a little monotonous but is a need.

Well, great guitar playing never came unconscious and never ever came painless!

Melbourne guitar lessons- One, Two, Three, Four

Put the metronome on to a contented pace and commence playing the notes from the top of the fret to the bottom. Play 4 notes on the ‘e’ string and then progress to the next one. Accomplish the cycle and come back to playing the next four notes on ‘e’.

Remember to go on a comfortable momentum. Move further on and you won’t reap anything.

After you are comfortable with this practice (at your current speed), start playing ‘One, Two, Three’ and ‘One, Two, Three, Four, Five’ as well too.

Well, this is just the initiation with Melbourne guitar lessons. We’ll bring you some more exercises and insights into guitar playing in our next article! Play perfectly.

Massage music

The chief goal of massaging is tostimulate the different energy fields in the body by applying force in an appropriate magnitude and direction. It does not just involve applying force but also involves transfer of energy during the massage which induces the energy activation process. If we look at ancient Ayurvedic or Chinese or Thai scripts, the concept of massage music is nothing but activating positive fields in our body. Thus, even the person applying massage is also an indisputable factor. The success of massage therapy is based on the positive field activated in that person.

Actions performed during the massage guides your blood flow thus supplies good amount of oxygen to the body part under action. This is action rejuvenates the working phase of that body region. We all know that every substance has its own electro-magnetic field. Our thoughts & emotional guidance system persistently affects this electro-magnetic field around us. Mere act of touching any live substance in this nature can stimulate an interaction between the two substances resulting to the modification of the nature of field around us. This either creates positive or negative effect on our body as well as on the other substance. This explains our reaction towards other persons like getting pleased or the other way around. This concept shows that a person performing massage should not only be physically healthy but mentally as well as emotionally healthy.

Massage music, when combined with a massage therapy works as catalyst. Perfect massage music aligns the person to generate and accept more positive field by activating our positive emotional guidance system. In this way, the person can absorb all the energy as it selectively emits only the positive part of the electro-magnetic field. This selective release differentiates every massage attendant from one another.

The concept of any kind of energy transfer from one substance to another, flow of energy is more in a direct contact method and then indirect contact method like sound, smell, vision comes in to picture. The main goal of the sound is to immediately take control of your emotional guidance system. Just remember those moments when you are fully tired & exhausted and how you felt relaxed and renewed when just by simply listening to your favorite massage music CD.

08 February 2010

Looking at the Piano

Before you jump head first into playing the piano, it’s important to get a better feel of how it works. First off you have to take a look at all the various forms of pianos that are out there. Upright pianos have a certain appeal that offers vertical options that are large, heavy, and even tall. They can be around 36″ to 51″ high. Now, if you’re looking for a shorter version like Spinets, these are 36″ to 39″. Studio vertical pianos are 44″ and higher.

Then again you may get the chance to play on a grand piano, which of course usually sounds better. These are considered more horizontal pianos that are around 5-9 feet in length. You will also see that the strings are horizontal as well. If you look at a vertical piano the stings are set up in a vertical position.

When you sit on your stool, there will be a music rack that allows you to place your sheet music on it. There are various styles that range from ones that fold down or possibly slide into a slot. When it’s time to play just place your sheet music there. Obviously you will be sitting on some sort of bench that allows you to reach the keys at any part of the piano. Be careful though, if you sit too far or too close, you might not be able to reach them all.

If you look below the keys around your feet area will be a set of pedals. No, this isn’t the brake or gas, but they are considered to be used by those more experienced at playing the piano. Beginners need not apply, but the use is for sustaining sound or cutting them short.

Above all else you have to understand the keyboard. After all, this is where your music will come from those white and black keys running left to right. However, they don’t alternate every key, which is something most people mistakenly believe.

If you look closely, you will see that the black and white keys form a pattern that repeats from one end of the keyboard to the other. The pattern consists of 7 white keys and 5 black keys in a particular order. From the beginning of one such set of keys and ending on the beginning of the next set, an interval is formed. Intervals are just the musical distances between two sounds. This particular interval is called an octave.

If you hit each note from left to right you will see that the setup order is from lowest to highest. In order to reach a full step you have to go up or down two half steps. It sounds difficult now, but after a little practice you will notice that it comes very easy.

Try other intervals to hear their sounds. Always pay attention to how many half or full steps you are taking. Do the same intervals at several different places along the keyboard. Try octaves. You can do this by picking out a key and playing the next key up that is in the same position in the next pattern group. Soon, you will be playing octaves with ease. This is very important to all kinds of piano playing.

If you can get a better understanding for the piano in the beginning, it will be much easier to learn how to make music. In a short amount of time you will see yourself being able to play simple songs. All it takes is a little effort and drive on your part to make it all happen.

Price is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing recording studio furniture for your home. Luckily, there are a few ways to find good quality, cheap furnishings that will be key for your personal recording studio. Here are a few useful tips to help you get started without costing a ton:

Surf the web - Besides shopping in regular music stores, you can make great studio furniture finds at different online stores and auction sites. Use eBay to find great sales on both used and new products. If you are just starting out, recording studio furniture shouldn’t eat up more than 15% of your budget. Save the crocodile skin producer’s chair until after you produce your first platinum record.

Also, you want to keep functionality in mind here. Select pieces that will establish a cleaner recording atmosphere and be comfortable. Every now and then when you buy the more expensive piece, you end up buying features that you don’t need.

Keep it simple - Simplicity is key when choosing home recording furniture. It’s a smart idea to get studio specific furniture because your racks and desks will be holding the weight of your most valuable equipment. Cover the essentials first; including a sturdy desk for your mixer and pc, an erogonomic studio chair, and component racks for the recorder and amplifiers. You can also make do by getting creative using doors for tables, cinder blocks, or even portable chairs if you’re on a restricted budget.

Plan for the future - If you’re planning to expand your studio at some point, keep this in mind when purchasing items like an effects rack. For example, when selecting a rack, make sure that it has extra spaces for later expansion. With good preperation, you will not need to re-buy many items,which will reduce expenses in the future.

In this time of economic turmoil, it’s wise to find ways to save money. For budding recordists and musicians, this simply means getting inexpensive yet functional studio furniture. Remember the effective tips given here and you will be on the right path.

To learn more about recording studio furniture, visit Mark’s website http://www.homerecordingstudiosecrets.com. Mark Sloan is an author and recording artist with years of experience working in home studios. His mission is helping new artists get started on the path to music success.

07 February 2010

Advantages of Children Piano Lessons

There are a lot of articles about benefits of music lessons for children, but usually they speak of nothing more than “music lessons are good”. In this article we try will discuss about some of the real benefits of singapore kids piano lessons. We have divided them into three important areas: the physical benefits, character development benefits and general benefits.

Physical Benefits of kids piano lessons

Playing the piano has a direct effect on the agility and concentration skills of your child. It develops the child’s motor skills, improve his reaction and thinking time and become more educated in general. Playing the piano iinvolves the operation of both parts of the brain and thereby gives you your regular much needed brain exercise. Singapore kids Piano lessons also have a huge positive influence on memory and concentration; while playing, you not only have to remember lot of things, but you also need to play it right, and naturally it trains your kid’s memory. Different researches indicate that kids that play piano show better results on different tests.

Character Benefits of kids piano lessons

Playing the piano builds character. If your kid starts taking kids piano lessons in singapore from early age, it will have a huge influence on him. Scheduled lessons will help him to make his life more organized right from the beginning. He or she will get used to do something and also, if motivated right, feel special. Encouraging your kid to learn and play for his family will raise the self-esteem of the child and make the child more self-confident. Even if at some point the child will be unhappy with the lessons, over the years he or she will understand the huge positive influence of the piano. Lot of great scientists, politicians and artists who played the piano as a hobby made numerous statements about the positive influence that the piano had on their lives.

General Benefits

If you plan to raise an intelligent and educated child – music education is essential. It is a science in itself and while others think unimportant at first, will prove a highly enriching experience in the long run.

An important thing is that your child will get a good hobby or in some cases the piano can become his or her passion. Stepping away from physical benefits piano might become the cornerstone in the future life of your child. He will always have it for multiple use, not least of which is to relax himself after a hard day in school or work, which will be much better alternative to a drink or some inane movie. There are a lot of theories that show that music has a very positive influence on people. So when you decide to take your kid to a piano teacher this might become the first step to his lifetime friends – the music and the piano.

One more advantage worth mentioning is how it can give your child the foundation needed for a future career in professional playing as evidenced by many popular pop and rock stars who have had piano lessons in their childhood. These children piano lessons also can become the foundation for classical music playing that will help them achieve a successful career in the classical music scene.

07 February 2010

Why Play The Piano?

You probably already know that singapore piano playing is an exciting talent to develop. If you are a jazz enthusiast, you may have listened to piano music from great artists like Count Basie or Duke Ellington. You might like modern jazz piano players better and there are many who have won the hearts of audiences everywhere.

One piano player who crosses many genres is Jim Brickman, who often plays his own compositions. Brickman’s music can usually be heard not just from jazz radio stations but also where pop, inspirational and new age songs are played.

You might prefer listening to rock keyboard players. Some of them have been: Rick Wakeman of Yes, Tony Banks of Genesis, Dennis De Young of Styx, and David Sancious who played for Springsteen, Santana, and Sting. Rock piano players include Elton John, Billy Joel, Carole King, Paul McCartney, and Carly Simon.

Even if you have never liked classical music before, you might begin to enjoy it once you have started to play the piano in singapore. It presents a challenge and is very satisfying to master. Some of the greats are Bach, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Schubert, and Brahms.

If you are like many people who hear these great musical works of art, you will want to emulate them. You have the option to play with a band or go solo, depending on your dreams and dedication. You can certainly learn to play the piano well enough to entertain yourself, your friends, and your family.

There are a lot more other advantages to learning how to play the piano. One is relaxation. When you are feeling down and out, you can count on your music to lift your mood. If you are angry, playing the piano can release your frustrations. Your playing will bring calm and assurance if ever you are anxious about something. If you are feeling down, you can start with slow songs and build up to more up-tempo, happier-sounding songs. This has the power to dispel any sad thoughts.

If you do end up playing professionally, you can gain a source of income from your piano playing. Some piano players earn very little – just some tips from a jar on their piano bar instrument. Other piano players can earn fantastic amounts of money if they are talented enough and lucky enough.

Another reason to learn to play piano is to develop discipline. If you are like many people who undertake an endeavor but loose interest quickly, then the piano might just be the thing for you. It will satisfy your needs at different levels, that you feel inspired to continue playing and working at it.

Learning to play the piano is easier in some ways than learning other types of music. Vocal lessons will teach you more about pitch control and definition. You have to worry about being just a touch above or below the note. With a piano, you only need to worry about it if your piano gets out tune. This seldom happens and can be fixed by a piano technician.

The main reason anyone should learn to play the piano is for their own fulfillment. Most people will be happy when their full potential is reached especially when they’ve worked really hard for it. You will feel joy when you play a composition well. You will feel happier for having embraced music in your life.

07 February 2010

How to Buy a Guitar

Now that you have a fair idea of what options and guitars are available to you.  You are ready to go into the music store and buy your first guitar before your guitar lessons. It is truly exciting to be making your very first guitar purchase but you have to do some things first before you make that final decision.

First, be patient. You do not have to make a decision to purchase the guitar right away. At least two visits to the music store should give you all needed information. Another thing to remember is to not allow any sales person to intimidate you.  You are the customer and you are the one in charge.  You should also do some research before you buy your first guitar. You will find loads of information on the internet about guitars.  If you are armed with knowledge, you can use that knowledge to your advantage.

Also, remember to recruit help if you need it. A friend or family member who knows guitars will be very helpful in giving you advices when shopping for guitars. So take the time to persuade somebody to accompany you. If you cannot find someone to help you with your guitar shopping, you may ask the store employees for their opinions. Don’t be shy about asking questions. You can really get a reasonable deal if you are patient enough. Alternatively, you take guitar lessons, ask the sg guitar instructor to follow you for the purchase.

If you are just a beginner guitarist, it will be natural to feel intimidated in trying out guitars in music stores.  There may very well be other guitarists in the store who think they need to show off their skills. They feel inspired to impress with their guitar licks and chords.  This can be intimidating; of course you’d like to be able to show off like this as well. But, you have to stay focused. Your goal is naturally to find the best quality guitar for your money.  

In the store, browse their products deliberately until you have checked out everything to your satisfaction. The music store people should provide a comfortable stool for you to use.  They should also give you a pick but it is probably best to bring one of your own. If you’re trying an electric guitar, be sure that the amplifier the store will attach to it will be similar to the one you are using at home. 

To hear the sound quality of a guitar, don’t be afraid to strum the strings hard.  Listen to the guitar’s sustain and listen for problems such as buzzing strings.  If you cannot hear the guitar well, ask to be put in another room or to be moved to a part of the store that is quieter. If you encounter objections from store managers when you try out their guitars, then just hand the guitar over and leave. You deserve better service and should be allowed to try the products for their quality. It is highly essential that you first listen to how the guitar sounds before you consider buying it. 

You should also keep in mind that when trying out a guitar you don’t need to play something complicated.  Play something you are used to playing.  Concentrate on how the guitar sounds and feels.  Do not pay attention to the people who may be listening to you.  Play every fret on the neck of the guitar and be sure that you don’t hear any buzzing. Electric guitars should not have pick up noises, try out different pick ups and listen for any unwanted and displeasing noises. 

Check out not just one type but different types of guitars in music stores.  Ask a lot of questions and take notes on each guitar you try out. You have to take a notebook with you and write down the make, the price and other attributes of the guitars. See what type of wood the guitar is made from.  Make a note of anything you like or dislike about each guitar you try. Once you have tried out a few guitars, consider going home first and think about the impressions you got from the guitars you’ve tried. 

After you have played a number of guitars and found some that suit your taste.  Research the companies who make the guitar you are considering purchasing.  There are websites available that can help you familiarize yourself with the companies and their instruments.  The majority of guitar company websites provide specifications for each of their guitars.  You may also find additional information on the guitar you want to buy.  Check the guitar company website for warranty information as well.  The websites will most likely have contact information so you can e-mail or call them with any other questions. 

It naturally follows that owners websites will be singing praises of their guitars, so it is important to also find honest reviews elsewhere.  The web has many, many sites that have user reviews of guitars. When looking at these reviews take note of the amount others have paid for their instruments and seriously look at any criticisms. Be very wary of those who tell you that their guitar is the best of the best.  A lot of reviewers will not offer constructive criticism.    

Look in your yellow pages to find music stores near you.  Think about visiting each store and trying the guitars they have for sale.  Call the music stores and inquire to see if they carry the type of guitar you are looking for.  If they do have it in stock, have the store quote you a price. There are some stores which have policies of not giving out quotes over the phone.  If you say that you are about to purchase a guitar somewhere else, they will most likely change their mind.  Note any differences in prices when calling music stores. 

If after all your efforts you still don’t feel able to make the final decision, then go to FretBoard, and look for answers there. It is an online bulletin board that offers help and lots of information to other guitar enthusiasts.  Someone should be able to assist you.

For more tips, visit us at guitar singapore.

07 February 2010

Many Ways of Tuning a Guitar

It is highly essential that you tune your guitar. You need to tune your guitar on a regular basis if you want it to sound good and make practice enjoyable. At first tuning a guitar will be difficult but this will change over time. It is advisable that if you know someone that is a guitar player, you can have them tune your guitar for you during guitar lessons. You can also simply learn to do it yourself. You just need more practice and more patience.

There are different methods of tuning a guitar. All are proven effective but some are easier or less expensive than others. This is especially important if you are just beginning to learn the guitar with guitar lessons.

The easier way to tune the guitar is by relative tuning. Relative tuning is comparing the sound and pitch of adjacent strings. The string with the higher pitch is tuned to match the sound of the lower string. In this method, there is the assumption that the lower string is tuned properly. If you choose to use this method, tune the sixth string using the piano or a tuning fork. This will be discussed in detail later on.

The procedure begins by tuning the sixth string. When you’ve finished tuning the sixth string, press it on the fifth fret then pick the string. Follow this up with the fifth string, they should match in pitch. The sound of the fifth string should match the sixth string’s, fifth fret. If the sound does not match, adjust the tuning peg for the fifth string to get a match. Don’t do anything to the sixth string.

If you hear the sound as too low, then tighten the string some more. If the sound of the string is too low, loosen the string. Make sure that your fifth string sound is properly tune to your sixth string, because if not, then your fourth string will also be out of tune.

Right after that, you tune the fourth string, then the third until you’ve done all strings. If there is a tuning mistake on any of the strings, the sound of the whole instrument will be thrown off.

If you own a piano or have access to one, you can use it to tune your guitar by using the corresponding keys as your guide.

To begin, find the E note of the piano and then play the sixth string or E note on your guitar. Turn the tuning peg so that the sixth string on your guitar sounds like the E on the keyboard. Repeat this procedure with all the strings of the instrument.

Another helpful tool in guitar tuning is the electronic keyboard. Keyboards can give you clear, accurate and full pitch that enable you to easily tune your guitar. This way of tuning is very convenient for beginners who have access to a keyboard or for someone who plays in a band with a keyboardist.

You can also tune your guitar by using pitch pipes. You should be able to find these at your local music store. These pitch pipes will give you the pitches of all strings. All you need to do is match the sound of each string to the proper pipe. Pitch pipes are relatively cheap and easy to use. They are small and easy to carry.

More expert guitar players find the pitch pipes inadequate because they don’t give as clear a pitch as the tuning fork, piano or any electronic tuner.

Using a tuning fork is a popular way to tune a guitar and other instruments. A tuning fork is a two prong device that has a stem and is shaped like a U. They are usually made of steel. The tuning fork gives off a certain pitch when it is struck against a surface, causing it to vibrate. The sound of the tuning fork varies according to the length of the prongs.

The standard tuning fork that you can buy in music stores has a pitch of an A note. Tuning forks that emit this sound can be found easily. Tuning forks with the sound of the E note can be found easily as well and they are very useful for guitars. Tuning forks are inexpensive and very handy to carry.

Remember to hold the fork by the stem to allow it to freely vibrate when being used. Strike the prongs hard enough so that they begin to vibrate. Be sure not to strike them on anything that will dent. It is best to strike the fork against your knee. Not too hard to hurt, of course! As the prongs are vibrating, avoid touching them while you gently place the stem on the guitar body. Now adjust the strings to match the sound of the tuning fork.

In order to use a tuning fork properly you will need to practice. It may be difficult to get used to for a beginner, while expert players on the other hand, do not like carrying around different tuning forks.

Many people prefer tuning the guitar by intervals. You will see the advantage of using this method of tuning is by the resulting pleasing sound of your guitar. Intervals will require you to tune strings with the help of the other strings. Once you’ve done this a few times, then it becomes very easy.

To tune by interval, begin with the sixth string and have something such as a tuning fork or pitch pipe handy. To find the A note, press down the sixth string at the fifth fret, then tune the A string. Next step is to tune the fourth string to the D pitch and the fifth string at the fifth fret. Do this again with the G, B, and E strings. Play the E and B chords to see if your tuning is right. Make any adjustments you need to.

Next we have harmonics. Expert guitarist actually prefer using harmonics when tuning their guitars. Harmonics can be hard to learn, but the result is a very accurate tuning.

Instead of holding a string down, below the fret, you touch the string very lightly at the fret This is harmonics. This might not be the best tuning method for beginners, and is not usually recommended for them, but they are mentioned here to complete the list.

There are other methods of tuning a guitar. Slack key tuning is taking a perfectly tuned guitar then detuning one or more of the strings to a lower pitch. When all the strings are strum, the outcome will be a major chord. A tuning method used in rock and classical guitar is D tuning.

This will require tuning of the D string in place of the E string. No matter what type of tuning you use, it is best to tune your guitar frequently.  Strings get out of tune over time especially if you play your guitar a lot and practice a lot.

For more tips, check out us at guitar singapore

Both Kanye West and Chris Brown have been a disgrace to the music industry this year and there I am certainly backing stores in their recent mission to not sell the new Chris Brown album.

Do these two really recieve the treatment they are getting at the moment?

Kanye West

The reason that people are very annoyed at Kanye is for the simple reason of not respecting artists that are certainly better performers than he is. He has made his money and if he cannot respect others he doesnt deserve a single cent more. . The one thing that really got to me and a lot of people was when he went onto the stage and insulted Taylor Swift. The worst thing is that the public decided that swift won the award so he should have dropped it. For far too long the R & B artists have been taking control of the music scene with their very poor music indeed and as soon as a country girl comes in all hell breaks loose. Grow up West, your music sucks!

Verdict: Drop him from the label and shame him, no one who is that up themselves deserves to be in the business. Even President Obama thinks he is a Jackass!

Chris Brown

The stores are not wanting to stock Chris Brown’s new album and he is getting very annoyed about this, poor Chris I feel so sorry for you, loser. Why? Basically what it comes down to is him assualting his ex and not getting a very decent punishment, community service, how harsh. Community service, no normal person would have been that lucky, I personally would have given him five years for his poor music.

Verdict: This is all your own fault for getting drunk and punching your partner.

On top of this neither Chris or Kanye can play an instrument including guitars and drum kits something that Taylor Swift and a rock artist can do without thinking. Perhaps their career will end up in a club using a bit of DJ equipment.

06 February 2010

MJ- This Is IT

Perhaps the last Michael Jackson video to be made (although I highly doubt it) to go along with the song “This Is It” has finally surfaced to the music scene, 2 months after the song was actually released.

Although the song didn’t actually do that well in the charts it would seem the video has made a very big impact on the fans and for a very good reason.

Jackson was one of the worlds best performers and for anyone that has gone to see the film This Is It, you will know that he also incorporated many things into his songs such as guitars, drum kits and even sometimes DJ Equipment. When you watch the film you will see that he only hired the best as all of the performers were amazing and it is a big shame "this wasnt it".

Jackson certainly wanted his stuff to do well and this is also true of the This Is It shows as you can see in the movie. Jackson never shouted or became cross with people doing things wrong he just calmly told the people what he wanted done with his music to please the fans.

Going to see the film does change the way that you look at the guy and has certainly made many people think twice on those terrible accusations that were put against him. These just need to be forgotten now and I think people are realising that they need to remember him for the music and not for anything else he may or may not have done.

It is without doubt that the film will come out on DVD release and if you havent had the chance to go and see it at the cinema I would really reccommend going to see it.