You've always had the dream, you want to go for it, but you hesitate cause you're not quite sure how to enter the market. You know that if given the opportunity, that you would rise to the occasion, do it and be successful! That...]]> Session Singing - Your Day Job

Writen by Tom Gauger

You’ve always had the dream, you want to go for it, but you hesitate cause you’re not quite sure how to enter the market. You know that if given the opportunity, that you would rise to the occasion, do it and be successful! That’s a common theme among singers who want to embark upon a career as a jingle or session singer. As a former talent booking agent with the William Morris Agency, I can attest to the frustration that many feel trying to break into the singing market. In this article I will attempt to describe some ways and ideas that you can incorporate into your singing career and hopefully one day you will look back with a roster of singing clients and artists and jingle houses who have used you on numerous recording sessions.

As a professional session singer myself, singing on numerous sessions and jingles, I can attest to the degree of apprehension that many young artists face today with the ebb and flow of not only competition, but the degree of difficulty marketing themselves as qualified and able singing talent. Let me embrace your desire for singing success, but also encourage you that there is always, as they say, room at the top - And beyond that, there is also always room for those who push and market themselves well. So there is hope and there is room for you to break into the music industry as a session singer and fulfill your dreams. Let’s look at some key concepts to get you there.

First off, what are you doing right now that’s relevant in obtaining and getting you to your dream of becoming a session singer? Are you just dreaming, or have you started a career blueprint for success? I’m very serious about creating a workable game plan to get you to your goals. I wish that success just fell in everyone’s lap, but unfortunately it sometimes takes a lot of effort and push. I want you to, everyday, start working on defining your main goal. Do you want to be an all around session singer, or do you want to specialize in jingle singing and the money that can be made in that market? After you have defined your main goal, understand that sometimes, everyone’s goals take twists and turns in the road no matter how well defined. Sometimes an individual who produces this or that type of music takes a liking to your singer reel and starts giving you all kinds of work. You need to create goals based on today, this week, this month, year and five year goal plans. Make sure that you are very defined in your goals. Now you have to get there - Let’s look at some concepts to get you there.

In any business, image is everything. I heard the story of a dentist who started his business and wasn’t obtaining as many clients as he would have liked to. He decided that he would go out and purchase a fancy convertible parked out in front of his office. You know what happened? - Because his image was of success and because people thought he was successful, his business took off and he became a very successful dentist. Your convertible is going to be your singer demo reel and any bio and pictures that go out with it. Unfortunately, so many individuals want to be stars and the stories go on and on when you are in the music industry about this individual or that individual, who don’t even have the basic marketing items, namely their singing reel, but want you to represent them. These folks want you to spend all of your time marketing and doing all of the work that they could have and should have been done, for free. In terms that anyone can understand, your demo reel has to sound like it was produced by some of the best in the industry. You can not afford to go over to a friend’s house hoping that with a computer, keyboard and a mic, that you can put together a singer demo reel that gets you work. Your demo has to be the quality of that fancy convertible we were talking about. Competition dictates that you absolutely have the best singer demo available. You might want to visit ReelMusician.com for any questions or ideas about singer demo reels, artist bio’s, etc. Many Free e-books and information is also available. Whatever you do, your demo has to shine and you need to look successful like you’ve been doing this kind of work as a seasoned session singer for years.

Your approach to how you contact and follow up with producers, jingle houses and various music industry personnel is going to be key. Some individuals really benefit from actually writing down potential questions and rehearsing their answers and potential questions they might ask the producer before they get started. You will need to have a succinct way in which you keep records of individuals that you talk with after demos have been sent out. Be very detailed including, time, date, type of singing work, response, misc info and of course names and contact numbers. Your weekly goals ought to incorporate how many individuals you are going to contact, follow up contacts, and thank you or birthday cards when appropriate. I’ve mentioned this in other articles, but actually sending out your demo by snail mail is probably more effective then emailing an mp3. While emailing is virtually free, the effort is not as great. People like to get mail, open up their mail and with your picture, bio and incredible sounding and professional looking singer demo package; you have a much greater chance of being called on. After you develop a relationship with certain individuals, you might be able to email a current mp3, but I wouldn’t advise it prior to developing a relationship and their permission.

In closing, you will want to possibly look at multiple singer reels, so that your name and contact numbers cross a potential client’s desk a few times. This is very helpful and sometimes is the factor that ultimately pushes you to success. Don’t be afraid to ask for singing work. Tell them that you are a seasoned singer and want to develop a professional singing relationship with them and plain want the opportunity to work together. Don’t be afraid to push a little, but always with kindness and a great attitude. Please contact us at ReelMusician.com for any questions you might have.

Drum loops and sample loops are a great starting point for building a song. Whether it's on a computer and loop editing software, or just simply playing an audio sample loop on repeat on your CD player, ...]]> Use Drumloops and Samples for Making Up Great Songs

Writen by Andrea Rieniets

Drum loops and sample loops are a great starting point for building a song. Whether it’s on a computer and loop editing software, or just simply playing an audio sample loop on repeat on your CD player, having ’someone else in the room’ is a great buzz. And it’s that buzz that gives rise to wonderful new ideas and leads when making up new songs.

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USING DRUM LOOPS AND SAMPLE LOOPS ON A COMPUTER

When songwriting with a computer and audio software you can lay out your structure and feel quickly. But there are dangers. You can find yourself with a very under-developed idea becoming a producer all too soon; finding drum patterns and string arrangements and harmonies - all over 8 bars! (I also use this method and will talk about it in another article. It requires a very strong time management muscle and I don’t recommend this for newbies to songwriting. The world is dotted with computers in home studios FULL of brilliant 8 bar arrangements loosely referred to as songs).

Load Drum Loops and Sample Loops into Your Computer Library

After loading a library of loops into your onboard sampler you can simply trigger one groove after another - each to a separate track. It is a straight forward process to add samples to your sequencing rig.

Buy a CD of AIFF/WAV samples and load it up. You will be guided by a wizard to load it correctly. You, however, must choose the destination of your new loops library. Go to any existing loop libraries on your computer and read the whole name. In that name will be where those samples/loops are held. For instance

D://Program FilesDigidesignDAEPLug-ins

The Program Files is where you want the new sounds to be held when asked to select a destination in the upload process.

ASSIGNING SOUNDS LIBRARIES TO TRACKS

For happy, healthy songwriting you need to have your basic rig organised so you can hop in fast and get going. I have a songwriting template in my Audio Logic. I load this up and it has in it a preset of instruments I mostly use for composing: audio 1 for voice mike in, audio 2 for guitar line in, Audio Instrument tracks for piano, bass, drums and organ etc…

By playing with a preset songwriting template I can always begin with a known combination and work quickly. As ideas flow I may make a few alterations to the instruments. But I don’t focus on too many changes when I’m first creating a song. My main concern/focus at this stage is to get the whole damned mess out. I don’t get into producing at this writing stage. It’s distracting and addictive. I work horizontally - getting as much of the story and the different tunes laid out across the page.

For me, much of producing music is a vertical process - drilling and dusting down to give underlay and dynamic to a song. In this process producing comes later.

BEGINNING YOUR SONGWRITING WITH AN 8 - BAR LOOP

When using a new sample library start at sample #1 and go through it systematically. Don’t just skip and pick the ones you like or the ones that ‘make sense’ to you. To do this defeats the purpose of using drumloops and samples as starters for songwriting; that is, to go into unfamiliar territory. You’ll be amazed what can come out of creating songs over loops you’ve never heard before. Don’t be too choosey. Give each one a go.

So let’s say we begin with sample loop 1. Open up your songwriting template, assign the drums to your new sample and load sample 1 into your drum track. Select a tempo. What will it be this time - a walk (80bpm), a jog (120bpm) or a dance(160bpm)? This is a rough start point and is all that is needed at this stage.

Trigger the loop for eight bars then LOOP that track so it continues for around 15 minutes. Why 15? I’ll tell you soon. For now simply set the length of your ’song’ by placing the end tab on your screen template at that many bars. Look at the time clock on your software to see how many mnutes it is.

SET THE DRUM LOOP OR SAMPLE LOOP FOR 15 MINUTES - WHY?

I recommend about 15 minutes because the most surprising events and insights happen in songwriting when you keep going. Don’t stop. Even when you feel like it’s ‘all wrong’ and ‘nothing’s happening’.

I can guarantee you that at some point in there will be a gift in the mish mash. And what point is that? When you surrender. When you stop conversing about what the piece is not. Give in. Lean over your instrument and breathe deeply. Even say to the music ‘OK. I’m here. I’m listening.’

Once you begin go right to the end of your 15 minute sequence. Then, and only then, stop. Walk away from the machine and water the plants or clean the toilet. Doesn’t everybody clean and cook when they’re creating? Then return and listen through. I often do my listening through while I’m doing the dishes (in the sink across from my computer). What I’m listening for is something that sparks my attention whilst my focus is elsewhere. (I’ve got to admit I think it’s also an Aquarian thing that I’ve got to get into water often - even if it’s elbow deep in dishwater!)

BRING ON THE DEVELOPMENT MUSCLE

Once you have spilled the beans across 15 minutes of sample loop it’s then time to select the point of interest in the mish mash and start to tease it out gently so the new brilliant song can emerge.

Select the section that grabs you. That is your starting point for your new song. Begin there and start the above process all over again. You might even want to copy and paste this segment into another new songwriting start up template and work from there.

WOULD YOU LIKE A FANTASTIC SELECTION OF SAMPLES TO TAKE YOUR SONGWRITING TO NEW HEIGHTS?

I have compiled the most fantastic selection of Sample and Drum Loop CDs I highly recommend that you begin with a basic drumming one and then be more adventurous in the selection of a style that is COMPLETELY different to yours. It’ll shake things up. And get you writing songs with a slightly different twist to your usual fare.

WON’T I JUST SOUND LIKE EVERYONE ELSE?

Don’t panic about originality! You can produce or play the song live in any way you want to. Later. Using sample loops and drum loops is a starting point to give you energy and support in creating new songs. You can choose to leave the samples in the final mix or replace it with something more simple.

But I promise, you’ll be really excited to hear the fresh little kicks in your songs that have been created over a bed of luscious rhythm and sound.

Andrea rieniets is a singer/songwriter/composer/producer/musical director/community artist in Australia. ‘A rarity amongst Australian musicians.’ Black and White Magazine. Her blog is Crikeymoses! Tips and tools for Creatives - getting your expression and activism out into the world where you live! Andrea’s gorgeous music can be heard at gorgeousworld.com ‘Intensely tuneful songwriter with a swag of techno savvy’ Rolling Stone

If you want to sing your hearts out and have a great time together with your friends, going to a karaoke bar can be the best past time that you can have. Karaoke bars are becoming the coolest hang out place in almost ever...]]> What to Look for in a Karaoke Bar

Writen by Stephen Kreutzer

If you want to sing your hearts out and have a great time together with your friends, going to a karaoke bar can be the best past time that you can have. Karaoke bars are becoming the coolest hang out place in almost every state in the country and more Americans are starting to appreciate the enjoyment they get in singing in a karaoke machine.

But since the craze is new and several business people are only beginning to see the profit in this business, some karaoke bars only put up a karaoke machine and then offer people to sing on stage. This is the traditional way that Americans usually view a karaoke bar. But in order to stay in the game one must offer new and different tactics not only to lure customers but also to make them happier and thus return to the karaoke bar. Here are some ideas that a karaoke bar owner can offer in order to attract more customers and at the same time offer the best karaoke experience in town.

Build a large collection of music genres

You can never tell what your customers may want to sing. If you want your customers to come back, be sure that your karaoke CDs are updated and offer a diverse selection of musical genres. You can even introduce a “rock” night or some kind of gimmick to entice people to go into your bar. Always make sure that you have a back up of your most played CDs. CDs usually wear especially if you use them often, so back up your collection so that you will not have to buy another CD when it fails.

Offer non-alcoholic beverages and a lot of finger foods

Most karaoke singers and their friend usually don’t go to a karaoke bar to drink alcohol. That is the most common mistakes other bars make. They think that people go into karaoke bars to get wasted and sing their hearts out. Usually people who go into karaoke bars are only there to spend time with their friends and sing a song or two. What they usually need are simple beverages and some finger foods they can chew on while chatting and singing, and not alcohol or hard drinks.

If you have space, build ‘karaoke rooms’

Most Americans get shy when they sing around people they don’t know. The good thing in offering an option where a group of friends can get a room is the best way in letting these shy types sing their hearts out. You can even cash in a few extra dollars with this set up and customers will definitely come back.

Service is the key

As any type of business, a satisfied customer will definitely come back. Make sure that your customer service is always at its best. If customers have certain requests or comments, take note of them and apply them immediately if you can. Customers feel valued when their suggestions are heard. Aside from this, give discounts or perks to your regulars. In this way you can keep them coming back and at the same time you can be sure that they will recommend you to their other acquaintances as well.

A karaoke bar can be a really good way in earning money, but be sure that profit is not only your main goal with the business. You should understand the excitement and the relaxation that you are offering and feel the same happiness that your customers feel. So start singing on your own and understand why people love the karaoke craze.

Stephen Kreutzer is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides karaoke bar resources on http://www.yourkaraokeguide.com

Many guitar players only know how to play their instrument but there are times that they forget to clean and maintain their guitar's appearance. It is essential to take good care of the guitar's main parts; wh...]]> Guitar Lessons - Guitar Maintenance Is Importanct

Writen by Bill McRea

Many guitar players only know how to play their instrument but there are times that they forget to clean and maintain their guitar’s appearance. It is essential to take good care of the guitar’s main parts; where the main components for creating tunes and sound are located. The frets and strings need to be maintained regularly to keep them from loosing their tune and form. Here are some tips on how to take good care of the guitar.

1. Polish and clean the fingerboard of the guitar at least every six months. A person may use a soft cloth and apply lemon oil on the bridge and the fingerboard of the guitar. This will keep them from drying out when they are not in use. Always handle the guitar with care when cleaning it.

2. It is important to adjust the truss rod when he changes the string gauge of the guitar. The strings tension may vary if there is a constant change of the climate. The tension tends to tighten if the weather is cold and if the climate is humid, the strings tend to loosen.

3. He may adjust the saddle by using a little piece of cardboard that will raise the strings vertically or he may remove the shims to lower its height.

4. When the guitar is transported, it is important that the strings be loosened. It is essential to pack the peg-head portion of the case with towel or a piece of clothing to protect the body of the guitar.

5. The frets should be polished or he may use a fret dressing that will remove any cloth or lint (from packing materials) remaining on the frets; this may vary with the type of cloth the owner uses to pack his guitar.

6. He needs to make sure to snug the tuners twice a year. Tuners tend to loosen automatically because they are made of wood or metal that creates contraction at different rates. He must be careful not to over tighten the knot to avoid any cracking on the peg-head.

7. He must remember not to carry the guitar with the luggage. There are airlines that allow a person to carry a guitar along with him on the plane. He should not forget to call before going to the airport to confirm that they will allow him to “carry on” his guitar.

Taking good care of the instrument is essential to maintain its features. A person must always realize that he should not only know how to play the instrument but should also know how to take good care of his guitar as well.

Bill McRea is the publisher of Guitar Warehouse the best place to Buy Guitar and learn Guitar Playing Techniques and Guitar Maintenance. Both sites offer free lesson and product sales.

A guitar is the best Christmas gift you can get your child in 2006. There are multiple reasons why. Here are the reasons in detail:

It's Versatile

The guitar is an incredibly versatile ...]]> Why a Guitar is the Best Christmas Gift for Your Child in 2006

Writen by Bill McRea

A guitar is the best Christmas gift you can get your child in 2006. There are multiple reasons why. Here are the reasons in detail:

It’s Versatile

The guitar is an incredibly versatile instrument. There are a few basic types of guitars with almost endless variations in between. There are acoustic guitars, electric guitars, classical guitars, and flamenco guitars. This means that the guitar can be played in a wide variety of styles such as jazz, classical, rock, and popular music. And the type of music you play on the guitar isn’t limited to the type of guitar you’ve purchased.

For example, a simple steel string acoustic guitar can support a range of styles on its own. You can easily play some classical pieces, popular music pieces, and certain rock songs. The electric guitar is the same way. You can play jazz, rock, and you can even get creative and do things such as incorporate certain classical songs into a guitar solo. (Check out Eddie Van Halen’s Eruption solo and you may notice Moto Perpetuo by Paganini making an appearance).

Learning Tool

From a parent’s standpoint, giving a child the gift of a guitar is almost ideal. Here is an instrument that is fun and cool and it also happens to teach the essentials of music and enhance creativity. It also helps them build discipline. It takes time and practice to learn an instrument.

Some schools also have a band that is part of their curriculum. Depending on the school, they may also allow guitar players. Getting your child involved with school sponsored musical activities also teaches him how to function in a group environment. This will help build his self esteem and give him new confidence.

It’s Cool

From your child’s standpoint, the guitar is a cool instrument to learn. Maybe your daughter it so she can emulate her favorite bands. Or perhaps she wants to start writing her own music. Or maybe your son wants to be just like his favorite guitar player. And yes, depending on his age, he may be thinking that playing the instrument will help him get girls. There is a certain coolness factor involved with playing the guitar.

Right from the beginning, ballet and music have been uniquely intertwined. Without music ballet is nothing more than the empty motions of a ritual. Without the movement and rhythm of dance, music looses all vitality. And so, ba...]]> Ballet Music Through The Ages

Writen by Aaron Schuelke

Right from the beginning, ballet and music have been uniquely intertwined. Without music ballet is nothing more than the empty motions of a ritual. Without the movement and rhythm of dance, music looses all vitality. And so, ballet as a doorway to human expression hinges on both music and dance.

Jean Baptiste Lully (1632-1687), the Italian-born French composer who founded the national French opera was not just a court composer to Louis XIV, but also a choreographer who produced court ballets for Moli

Real Name: Curtis James Jackson

Date of birth: July 6, 1975

50 Cent (a.k.a. Fifty or Fiddy as pronounced in African American Vernacular English, born Curtis Jackson on July 6, 1976 in Queens, New York), is a...]]> 50 Cents and His Rolls Royce Phantom

Writen by Cristian Andrei

Real Name: Curtis James Jackson

Date of birth: July 6, 1975

50 Cent (a.k.a. Fifty or Fiddy as pronounced in African American Vernacular English, born Curtis Jackson on July 6, 1976 in Queens, New York), is a popular African American hip-hop artist. Once almost unknown outside his hometown of southside Jamaica, Queens, he is currently signed to Eminem’s record label Shady Records and Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment. The rapper, who was the first to sign to Shady Records, was scouted before knowing Eminem. Eminem first encountered 50 Cent with MTV News reporter Sway Calloway; Eminem apparently had not heard any of 50 Cent’s performances before seeing him in person. He appeared on the 8 Mile soundtrack with an accompanying song and video (”Wanksta”) that immediately went into heavy rotation on BET, MTV, and radio stations across the country. In the opinion of many observers his continued success seems guaranteed by his large underground fanbase and the street credibility he has gained by appearing on almost every major mix tape sold in New York in the past few years.

Early Life

Curtis Jackson never knew his crack cocaine-addicted father, and his mother, a bisexual Queens drug dealer working under “Fat Cat”, was murdered when Jackson was only eight years old. Her death had a major impact on Jackson, the degree of which is speculated over by fans, and her sexuality also played a key part in Jackson’s emotional growth, which he would later reference in the song “Hate It or Love It” off The Game’s album The Documentary), “Comin’ up, I was confused, my momma kissin’ a girl/ Confusion occurs, comin’ up in a cold world”. The same song also contains a mild indictment of his father’s absence, “Daddy ain’t around, probably out committin’ felonies”.

After his mother’s death, Jackson ended up living with his grandparents, where as a teenager he became immersed in the local drug trade. Hustling around his native Jamaica, Queens neighborhood, Jackson went by the name of “Boo Boo”. It was during this period of distributing narcotics that Jackson met fellow Queens native Tony Yayo, who would later become a member of Jackson’s G-Unit group. In June of 1994, Jackson was arrested on felony drug charges. Being a second time offender, Jackson was able to plead out of significant prison time by accepting seven months in a “shock incarceration” boot camp. He would later boast about this period as his doing “seven to nine.”

He became a father to a son, Marquise in 1997. Jackson met up with Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC fame and was signed to his label JMJ. Jay taught him the basics and then 50 left the label in search of someone who could help him achieve his dream of rap stardom. He teamed up with the hip-hop production duo Track Masters who recognized 50 Cent’s talent for incisive lyrics and signed him to Columbia Records in 1999. Although he looks back on this time with displeasure (his biography refers to it as being “locked up in the studio”), the 18 days spent in a studio in Upstate New York produced 36 tracks which later became his breakthrough album Power of the Dollar. “How to Rob”, the humorous ode to robbing a slew of industry rappers (Jay-Z, Puff Daddy, Busta Rhymes (Flipmode Squad), various members of the Wu-Tang Clan, even Track Masters, and many more) was an instant hit for New York radio. Power Of The Dollar was never released, due to his shooting in 2000 and Columbia Records executives decided to drop him, claiming the shooting was negative publicity.

His Car

In the world of hip-hop, cars maketh the star, and there is no star bigger than 50 Cent at the moment. But ‘Fifty’ ain’t happy with what’s in his garage, and he has plans to turn the car world on its head, literally. 50 Cent is about to make his Rolls-Royce Phantom a drop-top, even before the company does the work for itself…

“I just want something everybody else doesn’t have,” declares the megastar backstage at a one-off UK concert at Rockingham race track. He then unleashes a tidal wave of how and why he is going to butcher his Phantom. “I don’t care if it messes up the electrical system. The roof is gonna be gone. I want something more sporty. I’m not an old man. That’s why I wanna chop the roof off it. I’ll leave the TVs. They had TVs in the package I got. It’s fully loaded. I’ll leave everything that’s in there. I’ll just cut the roof off. Make it into a ‘vertible.”

The man to whom 50 will turn for this ultimate chop-top is Funkmaster Flex, New York car artiste to the rap stars. The Bronx-based customiser, 50 Cent’s motoring mentor and restorer of the singer’s ‘65 Chevy Impala and ‘84 Buick Regal has been trying to talk the megastar out of what some will regard as sacrilege.

“I don’t think is such a good idea and it’s going to end up costing him almost as much as the car,” predicts the host of the ‘Ride With Funkmaster Flex’ cult TV show. Rather than hack the roof off the Phantom, Flex thinks it would be better to try and buy a production example of the stunning 100EX convertible concept car when it goes on sale in 2007. An idea 50 is having none of.

“They won’t give me one,” he tuts with the air of a petulant teenager. “Having me drive a Rolls-Royce is great for [promoting the company], but they don’t see eye to eye with the kid yet.”

50 (I have been warned not to call him Mr. Cent!) is flexing his considerable muscles. Less than three years since being drop-kicked to the top of the hip-hop parade with a plug from Eminem, 50 is enjoying the power of fame and spending a $100 million fortune which would run many a small country.

Fame and fortune has come at a price. In 2000, Curtis James Jackson III was shot outside his grandma’ New York house. Now there are more bullet wounds in his body than fingers on one of his blinged-up diamond-encrusted hands. One 9mm shell even went through his front teeth. Every time he grins I try and spot it. So far I have failed.

Specifications of Rolls Royce Phantom

Model year: 2005 Make: Rolls Royce Model: Phantom Style: RWD Base Price: 328750$ Drive Type: Rear Transmission Type: 6-Speed Automatic Engine Type: V12 Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 453 @ 5350 Torque (ft-lbs @ rpm): 531 @ 3500 Performance: 0 - 30 (sec): 2.3 0 - 45 (sec): 4.1 0 - 60 (sec): 5.9 0 - 75 (sec): 8.8 1/4 Mile (sec @ mph): 14.3 @ 98 Top Speed: 150 mph

http://www.topspeed.com
Images: http://www.topspeed.com/news/50_cents_and_his_rolls_royce_phantom-ar2363/images.html

First off let me put this out there, I am a closet metalhead. Although I was raised in the trenches of punk rock and came of age to the freaky-deaky Dead meets punk sounds of groups like The Mea...]]> Speakers For The Dead "Prey For Murder" - Music Review

Writen by Eric Nielsen

First off let me put this out there, I am a closet metalhead. Although I was raised in the trenches of punk rock and came of age to the freaky-deaky Dead meets punk sounds of groups like The Meat Puppets, I’ve always had a secret jones for the metal. Many a night I can be found sludging along to Motorhead, Slayer and even darker fare such as Mayhem and Xasthur. Metal, Punk and Hardcore have always shared an uneasy alliance. The haircuts may differ but they all tend to appeal for similar reasons. The riffs, speed, distortion, distrust of authority and image of all of these genres blare out at the listener’s psyche and body. The tone of the music demands the demented Tourette’s syndrome like gyrations associated with the mosh pit. Heavy music is also cathartic. We listeners hear ourselves up there or in there. We hear our pains, fears, hatreds and excitements magnified and given form. Heavy music gives size and potential to our strongly felt impulses. It reflects them back at us while also projecting them out at an often hostile and dangerous world. Of course the other side of this equation is our human fascination with explosions. Who doesn’t like to stuff an M-80 into G.I. Joe’s head and blow it to shreds? In light of these sentiments I come to consider the music of Speaker For The Dead’s new album, “Prey For Murder” (Magna Carta Records).

At first blush the requisite, and perhaps overused, elements of the metalcore genre are all present. The scorched out vocals, the motoric blasting drums, ominous tempo shifts and thematic tone of the album could come from and number (perhaps all?) of the bands currently in rotation on MTV2’s “Headbanger’s Ball”. The playing is excellent throughout and in particular the rhythm section of Gary Shipman (drums) and Rob Slocum (bass) score high marks for their solid bottom end and tone. Vocalist Curtis Shamlin is at his best when he strays from the screechy histrionics. He actually manages to convey more power when singing in his own quite strong and full voice. Towards the end of “I’ve Become” he drops any pretense of wailing and provides one of the albums best moments.

The overall highlight of the set is the song “Long Way”. While pays some obvious debts to more melodically heavy bands such as Jane’s Addiction and Tool, this is actually a good thing. This song coveys a sonic depth and maturity most of the rest of the album lacks. You actually find yourself pulled into the center of the heaviness rather than being bludgeoned by it. This is one of the more beautiful and dangerous elements of extreme music in all of its forms. There is a way it has of surrounding one in another person’s singular vision. We experience thoughts and emotions that may not bear any particular relation to our own. The sonic overload shuts off our reactionary mind for an instant and we’re swept up in some else’s dream or nightmare. “Prey For Murder” is an interesting if at times bland listen.

The band should follow their more creative impulses and pull away for the herd of other metalcore sound-alikes. When they do, they can create moments of dreamy, devastating beauty. When they don’t, they fall victim to the predictable and formulaic routines of so many of their contemporaries. While I know that this predictability and sameness can also be a part of the appeal for fans of the heavy genres, I think it’s safe to say that those who cast off further from shore tend to find new land first.

Most people who took piano lessons as a kid, including me, grew up learning to read music exactly as it is written on the printed page. Being able to read mus...]]> How To Play The Piano Using "Shorthand" - Chord Symbols - Instead of Reading the Full Score

Writen by Duane Shinn

Most people who took piano lessons as a kid, including me, grew up learning to read music exactly as it is written on the printed page. Being able to read music is a valuable skill, and I am delighted I learned that skill at an early age.

But there is a downside to only being able to read music without understanding what you are reading. A couple real-life examples illustrate the point:

What happens when you are playing and your sheet music slips off the piano and onto the floor? Unless your name is Victor Borge and you can turn the situation into comedy, you will probably find the situation extremely embarrassing. I have seen it happen several times to pianists who play well but who don’t know how to improvise, and it’s not a pretty site. It happened to me once years ago as well. I was accompanying a singer and someone opened a side door, letting a gust of wind sweep into the auditorium and right across my piano. The sheet music scattered onto the stage and a couple pieces blew off the stage. If I hadn’t understood the music and had a grasp of it’s harmonic form, I would have had to stop, pick up the music, get it back in order, and so forth, delaying the soloist and the performance. As it turned out I had several people ask me how I kept playing without the music in front of me. I replied that I knew the chord progressions of the song, so was able to “wrap the chords around the singer” and therefore keep the song going.

So what are chord symbols, and how do they work?

Chord symbols are a shorthand way of writing what is going on harmonically in a song. For example, if I were to write the chord symbols of the first line of What Child Is This? (also known as Greensleeves and several other titles) in the key of Am, I would write:

Am G F E7 — which corresponds to the first line of the song and would appear directly above the melody line in the treble clef, so all the pianist would need to do would be to read the melody (tune) of the song — not all the supporting notes.

I think you can see that once you know a few chords this would be infinitely easier to remember than the entire score of the song. Not only that, but that chord progression — A, G, F, E7 — repeats several times during the song, so once you know the form of the song, you have a huge advantage over someone who is chained to the written music and has no idea about the logic of the song.

So how does a person learn this “musical shorthand”? It’s no secret — there are books galore on learning chords, plus web sites that teach chords, or you could even pick up a chart of chords in your local music store.

Then buy a “fake book” — a songbook with hundreds or even thousands of songs, each song showing just the melody of the song with the chord symbols listed above it. Each song alone would be known as a “lead sheet”, but cumulatively the collection of songs is known as a “fake book”. Then every day play a dozen or so songs just with the melody in your right hand and the chord in your left hand. It will sound barren at first, but you’re learning how it works.

After a couple weeks of that, instead of playing the melody in your right hand, sing the melody (doesn’t matter at all how it sounds) and use your right hand to break up the notes of the chord you are playing in your left hand. Once you get the hang of it, you can start breaking up the chord in both hands and experimenting with various rhythm patterns.

I am not saying it’s easy; I am saying it’s fun and exciting and that it is worth it many times over!

During my last tour, Brent (my groups bassist) and I were discussing our practice routines and what it takes to succeed at playing our instruments. I mentioned to him how peopl...]]> What it Takes to Motivate Yourself to Become a Great Guitarist -And How to Succeed

Writen by John Gilliat

During my last tour, Brent (my groups bassist) and I were discussing our practice routines and what it takes to succeed at playing our instruments. I mentioned to him how people will tell me I have such a gift for playing the guitar and even though I’m extremely flattered, my subconcience is grumbling back at me “It’s not a gift, it’s an extreme amount of never ending HARD WORK!

Brent’s reply to me was it’s not that we’re born with a magical ability to learn our instrument effortlessly. The “Real Gift” is that we have the motivation & drive to learn and study at all costs! Never to give up! We have a real burning desire to learn and play. If we let the instrument sit untouched too long, a piece of our being disappears. (Similar to feeling a loss of a good friend who has moved away)

So…

How do you find that burning desire (the gift) to becoming a great guitarist?

The desire comes from discovering, seeing and listening to great professional guitarists. For me, it is guitarist such as David Gilmor (Pink Floyd), Joe Satriani, Steve Morse (Deep Purple), Joe Pass (Jazz), Django Rienhardt (Jazz), Tony Rice (country), Paco DeLucia (Flamenco), and my current guitar idol… Vicente Amigo. When I grow up, I’m going to be just like all of them! It’s so exciting, there’s so much to learn from these guys!

Every time I need a shot of desire to get me practicing and playing I would put on a cd or DVD of any of my favorite guitar heros!

Instantly! That feeling comes over me… “I WANT TO BE JUST LIKE THEM”

So… How do you become just like them?

Identify who you idolize and want to be like. Buy the book or instructional DVD on how to play like your guitar hero. If you have the book and are not working through it then it’s back to step 1. Listen again to your hero for the renewed desire and start playing.

If the instructional book or DVD is too difficult, find a good teacher. “Not Just Any Teacher” But a good teacher who can teach you specifically to learn to play like your hero. If you are not sure were to find such a teacher call the musicians association closest to you and ask for phone numbers to musicians who play the style of music your interested in. Get out and see them play for maybe a little more inspiration and well as to judge if they can play the music you most desire to learn. Most musicians do teach privately and really love teaching students interested in the same style they love to play.

If your guitar hero’s music is too difficult for you to play now. A good musician/teacher will be able to teach you the techniques necessary to grow into your heros music or will be able to water your hero’s music down so it’s playable at your current level.

The very first thing I do with my own students is make a list of their guitar hero’s and the music styles & songs they wish to learn. I then taylor my lessons so they can achieve there goals at their own pace.

HERE’S A FEW VERY IMPORTANT WORDS OF ADVISE!!!

After years & years of study and practicing I have discovered learning the instrument is a life long venture. You get out of it what you put in. Accept that it takes time and most importantly you have to learn to enjoy the process!

The track was then e-mailed to Luke in Los Angeles, then forwarded to Amsterdam with the strike sample. From there the strikes were added along with a very cool percussive guitar. Once completed in Amsterdam the track was sent back to L.A. for Santino to work his vocal magic!

Be sure to share what you are playing with others! Even if it’s just a family member or friend. Your hard work to learn a piece of music should be given to others as your gift to them.

The biggest payoff learning guitar has ever given me is the joy it gives to others. If you end up getting an opportunity to perform for a large audience and your performance is long enough to get past the nerves. The payoff is an amazing euphoria. You can’t buy drugs that give you the natural high and energy I feel when every thing is clicking and we’re in the performance zone!

If you are asked to play something and you are to nervous, try what one of my students does. He will tell everyone, “I’m just going to sit and practice a few songs, your more than welcome to listen. It will be rough and I will make a few mistakes, I may even stop to work out a section or two.” This approach is great because it allows you permission to relax and not worry about getting it right.

Another great way to begin performing is find another guitarist to practice and perform with. This approach will create some amazing results in accelerating your journey to becoming a great guitarist. Working with others will motivate you to practice more because you will not want to let your partner down when playing together. As a bonus, when you perform together, the focus is off you and you have each other to lean on to get you through the music.

Another bonus to working with a partner is that he or she may also introduce you to their guitar heros and share with you what he has learned. I’ve accelerated my learning greatly by performing and rehearsing with other great players.

ONE LAST WORD REGARDING PERFORMING…

One thing I’ve learned is no matter how bad I though my performance was, there are people listing that absolutely loved it, and some that I’ve moved to tears.

I guess that is really what the “GIFT” is all about.

So do what you love and try to share it with others!

Your performance, your gift, as simple or complex as the music is to learn and play could touch someone in a way you never counted one! How Wonderful Is That!

Best wishes to all you aspiring musicians & check the website for more lessons, music, videos, news & stories.

John Gilliat