Listen to the imperative of the drum and you will become a guest in the drummer’s world; a deep, prehistoric throbbing, marking time with the universe. But ask a drummer why they do it and you’ll likely get a fairly prosaic answer along the lines of because I love it. This might be disappointingly mundane for some spiritually minded people, but hidden within it is a fundamental truth – drumming can refresh and renew the soul, causing you to love life again. Of course for some it remains nothing more than an unholy racket!

Our infant brains are pre-programmed to find rhythm. Rhythms are fundamental – they open blocked energy channels and drive away destructive negativity, and they can help people into beneficial trances. Newborns find solace in the warm breast of a parent in part because they find the rhythmic heart beat soothing – many parents have recordings they made of mother’s heart beating during pregnancy and use it to relax their child. Maybe the reason some folk are so appalled by drumming is because it touches a deep and unexplored part of them. In the same way others are addicted to the emotions that the drums call forth.

The very youngest kids keep time. When they are walking, when talking… they love rhymes and can find emotion in beating sounds. They are listening to their rhythmic emotions when they thrash away on the back of cooking pots and pan lids. Though most parents naturally want to end the racket they are making, scientists have found kids who are left to get their emotions out in this way have better psychologically balance! There are even studies that have linked improved IQ scores with drumming – it seems that kids with a well-developed sense of rhythm are better able to think complicated thoughts (Shallenber of the University of Toronto published a paper on this in 2001). Children with traumatic stress disorder can be helped with drumming therapy too.

The ability of drumming to reach deep down into our psyche is therefore not surprising. Drumming in many cultures represents a significant part of celebrations and gatherings. Around the fire individuals gather to dance to the polyrhythmic or shamanic rhythms of the drummers until trance-like states are reached. This helps anger and pent up emotions to be released. These cultures see this act as a means to reduce violence in their society and improve social relationships between their citizens. Drumming is felt to be a simple and honest act by a lot of drummers. Nothing is hidden. Beginning with the rudiments of drumming, it is only an individual’s creativity that will take these rhythms to a new realm. Drumming, like running, is an aerobic activity often achieves a real high that can be addictive so that most drummers want to drum every day.

Ask a drummer and you may find they love the openness of their art – drumming leaves no where to hide. From the simple-seeming basics of the practice it takes deep and inspired creativity to make art. And because it is a very physical form of activity, many drummers get a sort of exercise addiction like the runner’s high that keeps them returning to their drums day after day.

To share your love of drumming with fellow enthusiasts, check out several popular drumming magazines such as Modern Drummer (www.moderndrummer.com), visit drum chat forums such as Drummer World (www.drummerworld.com) or start with a visit to http://www.fordrum.com for a quick pointer to all kinds of drum resources.

Copyright 2006 Froggie Stevens. All rights reserved. Froggie Stevens is the resident instructor at Drum & Drummer, a leading web-site about drummers & drum gear. Don’t miss the articles at: http://www.fordrum.com/articles/

Hip Hop music is popular with today’s youth. The Hip Hop audience ranges in age from the very young to the seasoned at heart. The messages in the music are clear and often depict life in the real world. Most artist use their own life experiences to tell stories that reflect what their world is like. Hip Hop music is a venue that gives the artist an opportunity to tell it like it is. Many of today’s youth find that through the sounds and messages of Hip Hop they are able to see reflections of themselves and the world around them.

Although some of the messages conveyed by Hip Hop are viewed as negative, it must be understood that the lyrics in these songs are someone’s reality. Hip Hop artist sing about what they have seen and many of their personal experiences. Unfortunately, many of their experiences are not so pretty. Other Hip Hop songs carry a positive message and force the listener to think and dream beyond their current situation. Hip Hop music has taken America by a storm and it will continue to influence our youth. We must all these free expression and the growth of Hip Hop music because what we hear is relative to what’s going on in the world today.

GMP Records, Inc. http://www.godmadeitpossible4me.com also check out http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/deepcover

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While many people think that the mixing of the separate audio tracks is the final step, a recording must be mastered well in order to sound good. CD mastering is the last chance for creative input when creating a compact disc. After a disc is mastered, it can be printed, reproduced, and sold.

The process of mastering a CD includes several steps. The first step is putting the songs, called tracks at this point, in order. Next, the volume is leveled for all of the songs. The length of time between songs is also adjusted, and any editing on the intros and ends of the songs (such as fades and crossfades, etc.). Also, any unlisted, secret songs, usually known as hidden tracks, are added at this point.

There are several ways to master a CD. First, the mix can be sent to a professional CD mastering engineer, which is what professional musicians with major recording contracts usually do. These mastering engineers often work in their own mastering facilities, which are different from standard recording studios, in that they have much less gear and are designed for the best playback of the mix as possible in order to fix any slight discrepancies.

Aside from professional CD mastering engineers, CDs can be mastered at home using computer software. This option is usually more realistic for unsigned artists or musicians who are just starting out. Depending on the quality of the software and the skill of the person doing the mastering, the CD may sound great or it may sound muddy and unprofessional.

Online CD mastering is another option. CDs mastered online can be a great time-time, in that, instead of sending a mix to a mastering engineer, the mix is sent over the Internet. This option requires a high-speed Internet connection.

Free CD mastering is obviously the cheapest way to master a CD. Artists may want to use free mastering programs on demos or other early recordings that artists use to send to record labels to generate interest. Many CD burning programs included on many computers can be used to do basic but necessary mastering functions.

The difference between a professional sounding CD and an amateurish recording is often found in the mastering. All of the songs played on the radio are extensively mastered in order to sound slicker and more listenable.

CD Mastering Info provides detailed information on CD mastering engineers, facilities, and software, as well as online and free CD mastering. CD Mastering Info is affiliated with Original Content.

The origin of hip-hop can be traced back as far as the ancient tribes in Africa. Rap has been compared with the chants, drumbeats and foot-stomping African tribes performed before wars, the births of babies, and the deaths of kings and elders. Historians have reached further back than the accepted origins of hip-hop. It was born as we know it today in the Bronx, cradled and nurtured by the youth in the low-income areas of New York City.

Fast-forward from the tribes of Africa to the ghettos of Kingston, Jamaica in the late sixties. The impoverished of Kingston gathered together in groups to form DJ conglomerates. They spun roots and culture records and communicated with the audience over the music. At the time, the DJs comments werent as important as the quality of the sound system and its ability to get the crowd moving. Kool Herc grew up in this community before he moved to the Bronx.

During the late sixties, reggae wasnt popular with New Yorkers. As a DJ, Kool Herc spun rhythm and blues records to please his party crowd. But, he had to add his personal touch. During the breaks, Herc began to speak to his audience as he had learned to do in Jamaica. He called out, the audience responded, and then he pumped the volume back up on the record. This call and response technique was nothing new to this community whod been reared in Baptist and Methodist churches where call and response was a technique used by the speakers to get the congregation involved. Historians compare it to the call and response performed by Jazz musicians and was very much a part of the culture of Jazz music during the renaissance in Harlem.

Hercs DJ style caught on. His partys grew in popularity. He began to buy multiple copies of the same albums. When he performed his duties as a DJ, he extended the breaks by using multiple copies of the same records. He chatted, as it is called in dance hall, with his audience for longer and longer periods.

Others copied Hercs style. Soon a friendly battle ensued between New York DJs. They all learned the technique of using break beats. Herc stepped up the game by giving shout-outs to people who were in attendance at the parties and coming up with his signature call and response. Other DJs responded by rhyming with their words when they spoke to the audience. More and more DJs used two and four line rhymes and anecdotes to get their audiences involved and hyped at these parties.

One day, Herc passed the microphone over to two of his friends. He took care of the turn table and allowed his buddies to keep the crowd hyped with chants, rhymes and anecdotes while he extended the breaks of different songs indefinitely. This was the birth of rap as we know it.

Hip-hop has evolved from the days of the basement showdowns to big business in the music industry. In the seventies and eighties, the pioneers and innovators of the rap record was the DJ. He was the guy who used his turntable to create fresh sounds with old records. Then, he became the guy who mixed these familiar breaks with synthesizers to produce completely new beats. Not much has changed in that aspect of hip-hop. The guy who creates the beat is still the heart of the track. Now, we call him the producer. Even though some DJs work as producers as well as DJs (quite a few start out as DJs before they become producers), todays title DJ doesnt carry the same connotative meaning it did in the eighties. Todays hip-hop producer performs the same tasks as the eightys DJ.

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I could write a book (and I will one day) on what took place in India, a hilarious experience. We really did have a fantastic time creating the complete freedom to write and record whatever came into our heads. We traveled all over Tamil Nadu and Kerela looking for another crazy experience to write about. Our house in Mamallapuram, which had become a community of European travelers, had started to feel the pressure of having foreigners reside there. Things started to go missing, PC’s and electrical gear started to breakdown etc. We had nothing left to steal and we had played in every venue possible, including South India’s oldest Dance festival. We were the first Foreigners ever to play on that stage. It was quite an experience! But now time to move on! We spent many months in India then all of a sudden new visa?s were required, it was either ‘leave the country’…or erhh…’leave the country’ We had forgotten about the Visa thing, we were having such a great time. Anyway, it was time to leave India, it was getting hot, the monsoon rains were coming soon, and to be honest, India does get up your goat after a while!! Thus, a well deserved break in beautiful Sri Lanka was Imminent, with Sri Lanka being the nearest country, it was our only choice really, apart from dragging all the gear in a train all the way to Nepal…..and ‘shift’ sleeping on a Indian train for four days, keeping one eye open and on our gear, was not an option. We packed what we could carry, guitars, Violins and one Laptop and headed off to Madras Airport. We locked all the rest of the stuff up in the house and had a friend stay there acting as security guard. To be honest, we didn’t really know if we would see all our gear again, it was a big chance leaving it in India….we had little choice…….but a lot of faith……a certain requirement when traveling in India.

It was great arriving in Colombo, another world away from India…well, it seemed that way at first, they DID have ice cold beer….something incredibly hard to get in India. We had been given an address of a cheap and nasty Hotel in Mount Lavinia, just outside of Colombo, but it was full. A taxi driver said he knew of another cheap place to stay, we went with him; the place seemed ok so we booked in for Two weeks. It took us that long to find out we were living in a brothel…lol. I remember saying to Will one day Have you noticed that no one booking into this so called Hotel, has any bags with them?

We caused quite a storm in Sri Lanka, we got involved with a Colombo night club owner who organized a few gigs for us. This was really great because we had very little money left. We actually played a couple of classy Gigs, one at the National Cricket club, where just by coincidence England were playing Sri Lanka, another gig was at the Hilton Hotel In Colombo, were we found ourselves playing for the extremely rich and boring ‘High Society’ of Colombo. It all went to our heads a bit, not having earned ONE CENT in India and also not really trying too hard to do that. In fact our lives had picked up so much, we decided to stay in Sri Lanka and see what happens. We had jobs, money and we had rented a really nice apartment off a guy named Jude, a Bible bashing Christian Buddhist with a severe attitude.

We later found out that he had rented the apartment without the owner, who lived in the states, knowing anything about it. When she finally found out he was renting HER apartment to strangers, he tried his best to evict us, although we had a contract for three months. His secretly turned off the water supply, it was June and 45 degree’s and without water it was unbearable…..I actually ended up fighting with him once after coming home one day and finding all my stuff evicted from my room!

Things were good for both of us. We were getting paid for playing at various gigs, parties etc. We made friends, mixed it large with the rich and famous of Colombo, and regularly seen staggering out of the Hilton Hotel’s ‘Blue Elephant Disco’ at 5 O’clock in the morning totally pissed out of our heads…lol. Jesus, what a contrast from India! Watching the locals shit in a field next to our house in Mamallapuram…..to working in the Hilton Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka……and eating? Steak’ everyday, not the done thing in ‘Vegetarian Tamil Nadu’….the cows weren?t so sacred in Sri Lanka…and for the blood thirsty KB members…..that wasn’t really a problem. Life was good at that moment.

A couple of months went by….so did the jobs, money and food…..things started to take a turn for the worse. We had no ticket home and no money to buy one, we had exhausted all our (?) family/friends resources….to the point that most thought we were taking the p**s. We thought that we would earn enough to pay for tickets home, don’t forget, it wasn’t just us that needed to get back, but also all our recording gear, computers, instruments etc….we had like 250 Kilo’s of equipment in four huge boxes and the only way to get that back to Europe was DHL or FEDEX it….and those who know….it isn?t cheap!!

To make matters even worst, war had broken out with the Tamil Tigers in the north of Sri Lanka, It was time to leave Colombo…..we didn’t do wars!! The Airport in Colombo had been attacked, with many people being killed. A state of emergency was called out for on Television by the prime minister. There were soldiers on every street corner and a sense of paranoia I had never experienced. That was it for both of us, enough is enough. We borrowed the money with one last bullshit story (there was only one person who believed the’ we were in a war zone story’) and bought tickets to Milan, Italy, where a good friend of mine had offered us her home to compile and finish the music, as long as we left Sri Lanka…….and went to Italy.

I traveled to Milan alone, Will stayed on in Colombo to organize shipping all the gear back to Europe. It was a long and tiring trip, full of reflection. I don’t think I spoke a word to another passenger. A friend of mine picked me up from Malpensa Airport and drove me to Agra, on the Italian/Swiss border overlooking ‘Lago Majorie’ an absolutely beautiful part of the world. This was to be home for the unforeseeable future.

We spent about six months mixing, arranging and re-writing everything we had recorded in India and Sri Lanka. We were missing just one thing……the ‘Voice’ to front the music.

We both envisaged a Female singer. I proposed Mattanja as Lead Vocalist and left by train for Holland to talk with her about taking the lead role with Karma Bonita. She agreed and we started work straight away. Will followed on a few months later. The team was now complete.

Mattanja, Will and Kevin locked themselves away for another Six Months in an old Farmhouse in South Holland. All three of them worked 24 hours a day at different intervals recording, writing and re-arranging the music. It was a difficult time, money had gone from scarce to completely invisible, and relationships with others were abandoned due to the stress of finally completing this project.

In the end and after nearly three years of traveling and recording?…..we did finally finish the project…we called it……..Karma Bonita

Kevin Kearney

Link to original story including photos ‘Click Here’

These days it isn’t very difficult to find a karaoke bar. They’ve definitely grown in popularity in the past few years. Karaoke Music is a great way to have some fun!

Karaoke is a form of a Japanese word and means empty orchestra, which is rather appropriate don’t you think? Karaoke has been around for more than 20 years now. It all started back in 1984 in Japan and it spread like wildfire around the globe.

Karaoke works by taking the music of a singer and the stripping out the vocals leaving just the music. Then the lyrics are displayed on a screen and a person sings the words using a microphone.

Karaoke has become popular in bars, restaurants, and in the home. It’s a great source of entertainment for anyone who loves music and likes to sing.

In the early days karaoke music was delivered by cassette but the times they are a changing and technology now means new means of delivery which include VCD’s, CD’s, DVD’s and KTV boxes. It’s never been easier to set up your own personal karaoke station to entertain your friends.

It’s popularity continues to grow in North America and you know that we aren’t about to settle for anything other than the best so stereo equipment combined with lighting effects and a real fun atmosphere became the norm in bars and restaurants that offered karaoke events.

And the music choices are endless. Hip hop, dance, rock and roll, pop, jazz, soul, and even hymns are all available. So no matter what type of music you love here’s your chance to give it a try.

If you’ve never been to a karaoke party you don’t know what your missing. Fun with a capital F! Some people are naturals, they grab the mike and the songs just naturally role out. Others have great voices and no practice, others think they can sing but ah hum?. And then there are the timid who wouldn’t perform to save their soul. A couple of drinks and suddenly they are boldly singing where no man has gone before. It’s great!

Karaoke is catching on from the very young to the very old. And for the shy and timid who want to be a star behind closed doors, well it’s never been easier. There are also those who want to improve their singing skills. Young kids love to sing their hearts out. Friends love to get together and have some fun.

You need to choose the right karaoke machines to fit your needs and your budget. There are many websites that provide equipment from the very simplest to the most expensive.

A basic karaoke machine has audio input and output. Higher end machines have electronic pitch control to help the singer and music match keys. You can also purchase software that will transform your computer into a karaoke box.

There are also many sights that offer karaoke music to download complete with lyrics. Some of these sites have some great forums too so be sure to check it out!

The next time someone asks you if you want to give karaoke music a try don’t run away. Don’t worry about being the laughing stock of the evening. Remember everyone’s the same – no pros here. What a great way to relax after a busy day at work. And heck who knows you might be the next Elvis or Dolly Parton.

Nan worked in a karaoke bar for 9 years before starting his own audio electronics store. His store specializes in karaoke machines and accessories and a much larger variety of items than almost all large department stores. At http://www.karaokeadvisor.com , he shares his experience with you by listing out the top karaoke essentials with buying advice on various products.

Purchasing a classical guitar can be a difficult task particularly if you are not yet an accomplished player. Here are some tips and hints on finding a good quality classical guitar whether it is in the hundred dollar range or the thousand dollar range.

If you are have ever gone into a well stocked guitar shop you have no doubt been confused by the selection of guitars. There are literally hundreds of shapes, sizes brands and types of guitars. And the price can range from a hundred dollars to several thousand. .If you are a beginner, judging the sound quality can be difficult to do because your ear is not yet highly trained. Here are some tips to help you make a good choice.

When in a guitar shop and looking at the guitars you should always ask a sales person to help you. This way you can take guitars down and play them. If you cannot play very well you should ask the sales clerk to play for you so you can get a feel for the sound of the different guitars. If the sales clerk doesnt play you should ask if there is someone working in the shop that does play. As a last resort you should even ask other customers in the store. Not listening to the different guitars is like shopping for a car but never test driving any of them. Guitars have very different feels and tones and you should listen to a lot of them to get a sense of what you like. Dont be bashful in this respect. Guitarists are usually a very gregarious bunch and a guitarist will almost always jump at the chance to play for someone else. If you dont yet play well and you cant find somebody to play for you I recommend you not purchase a guitar. You should come back another time when someone is available to play or you can bring a friend who knows how to play.

Check the size and shape of the guitar

Classical Guitars, of course, come in different sizes and shapes and you should sit with a wide variety of them to get a feeling for what is comfortable to you. Your body shape has an effect on this. If you are over six feet tall the smaller guitars might not be comfortable for you and the fret board may be uncomfortable for your hands. So even if you cant play music you should always hold and sit with the guitars to get a sense of how the different ones feel.

Check the mechanics and playability of the guitar

Here are several things you should do when considering the purchase of a classical guitar.

1. Play every note on every string all the way up and down. Listen for frets that dont play properly. They will give a rattling sound and if this occurs on any fret at all you should put the guitar aside and try another one. This is a sign of inferior quality. Every string should play cleanly on every single fret.

2. Check the action of the strings against the frets in terms of how much pressure is needed to play notes and chords. You should play bar chords all the way down the frets to insure good pressure. If it is too hard to press the strings in order to make a clear chord this could be a sign of an inferior guitar.

3. Play harmonics on the strings. This is an excellent test of the quality of the guitar. Playing harmonics is the technique of plucking the note with your right hand and only lightly touching the string with your left hand. Test the harmonics of all the strings on the 5th, 7th, 12th and 19th frets. If you do not know how to play harmonic notes ask the sales clerk to help you.

4. Examine and test the tuning pegs. Do they look clean and sharp? Wind and unwind them while watching and feeling for smooth turning motion.

5. Visually examine the whole guitar. Look it over very carefully from front to back and top to bottom. Are there any small cracks? Are the frets firmly installed into the fret board? Are there any cracks or glue exposed around the bridge?

6. Tap on the front of the guitar (The sound board) in a variety of different spots. Does it have a rich echoing sound or are there spots where it sounds dead and limp? The internal structure of the classical guitar is very important for the sound and important for the longevity of it. Dull thud sounds could be an indicator of an inferior instrument.

7. Examine the details. Look at the purfling around the edge. This is the decorated pattern that goes around the full body where the soundboard or face meets the sides of the guitar. Is it accurately laid in? If this has variations and inconsistencies it is a good sign that the guitar is of inferior quality.

8. Dont hesitate to take a good look inside the guitar sound hole. You will see wooden braces in there. Do they look straight, accurate and well placed? If you see sloppy globs of dried glue around these braces it could be an indicator of inferior craftsmanship.

9. Remember that there are three distinct areas you must consider when purchasing a classical guitar: The Look, The Feel, and the Sound. If you keep all three of these things in mind and carefully examine the guitar in relation to these you will be able to choose an instrument that will bring you a lifetime of trouble free playing enjoyment.

A Classical Guitar is a purchase that can give you a lifetime of enjoyment and you should consider the purchase carefully. Even if you dont plan on playing every day you should buy an instrument that is of good quality so it will maintain its sound quality for a lifetime. And to do this you dont need to spend thousands of dollars you just need to know how to identify a well made guitar.

More articles at articles database

Children in piano lessons often have ideas about learning to play that come from television, the movies, and well, their own imaginations which are not accurate. To make sure your beginner in piano lessons has realistic expectations help them to focus on the basics ? simple things that make a big difference. Here are five simple things that will make a big difference to your beginner in piano lessons.

1. Attending weekly lessons ? The enthusiasm beginning students have when they start their piano lessons needs to be capitalized on, not forgotten. Students who are excited about starting lessons quickly lose interest when they miss their lessons. This is because they forget what the teacher has already shown them, and when they return to lessons they have to review the same lessons again. Having to stop and start over an over again with the same information because students miss too many lessons is demoralizing and breeds discouragement.

2. Bringing music books to every lesson ? Without their music books the piano lesson has no plan or focus. It ends up being whatever the teacher can make-up on the spot because the music the students need to be following up on isn?t available. When students come to lessons in a haphazard way not bothering to bring their music the result is equally haphazard training that results from an unnecessary lack of organization and lesson planning.

3. Setting aside a routine daily practice time ? Children need help from their parents to set a routing practice time. Parents can help by making sure their student is home at the agreed upon time to practice and limiting other activities that would compete with their lesson practice time. Keeping a routine is the best because it builds the practice habit and that?s most of the battle. At any given time there will be a choice of how to spend that time. When this decision is make ahead of time it is a lot easier for kids to stay focused on their goals.

4. Following the teacher?s practice instructions ? The best way to get some place is to focus on specific goals that will help us achieve our dreams. Each piano lesson assignment will require specific learning and playing strategies that will make learning easier. By following the teacher?s instructions students will make much more progress, much faster. For example, singing the note names as they are played and keeping eyes on the music, not looking down at the hands.

5. Attending piano recitals and activities that set important learning goals – Goals are important because they give us direction and something to work toward. Without goals the idea of time management is just an empty word. Recitals target specific learning goals that will help piano students achieve their musical dreams. Focusing on those goals helps students manage their time in order to be prepared for their recitals.

By following these five steps to a good piano start your beginner will make a lot of progress in their first year of piano. This foundation of good habits, knowledge and skills are what students need to achieve their goals and go on to reach their musical dreams.

For great home piano activities parents can use to help children ages 5 to 11 develop their musical talent, visit Piano Adventure Bears Music Education Resources You?ll find a treasure box filled with piano resources to create an exciting musical adventure for your child – right in your own home! Visit their website and subscribe to their f?ree internet newsletter so you can download f?ree piano sheet music and mp3s of original piano compositions.

These exciting stories, games, piano lessons, and inspirational gifts feature the Piano Adventure Bears, Mrs. Treble Beary and her new piano student, Albeart Littlebud. Young students follow along with Albeart to learn what piano lessons are all about in a fun way that kids readily understand appreciate. Click here to visit PianoAdventureBears.com For a wealth of information about piano lessons, visit tallypiano.com

Purchasing a classical guitar can be a difficult task particularly if you are not yet an accomplished player. Here are some tips and hints on finding a good quality classical guitar whether it is in the hundred dollar range or the thousand dollar range.

If you are have ever gone into a well stocked guitar shop you have no doubt been confused by the selection of guitars. There are literally hundreds of shapes, sizes brands and types of guitars. And the price can range from a hundred dollars to several thousand. .If you are a beginner, judging the sound quality can be difficult to do because your ear is not yet highly trained. Here are some tips to help you make a good choice.

When in a guitar shop and looking at the guitars you should always ask a sales person to help you. This way you can take guitars down and play them. If you cannot play very well you should ask the sales clerk to play for you so you can get a feel for the sound of the different guitars. If the sales clerk doesnt play you should ask if there is someone working in the shop that does play. As a last resort you should even ask other customers in the store. Not listening to the different guitars is like shopping for a car but never test driving any of them. Guitars have very different feels and tones and you should listen to a lot of them to get a sense of what you like. Dont be bashful in this respect. Guitarists are usually a very gregarious bunch and a guitarist will almost always jump at the chance to play for someone else. If you dont yet play well and you cant find somebody to play for you I recommend you not purchase a guitar. You should come back another time when someone is available to play or you can bring a friend who knows how to play.

Check the size and shape of the guitar

Classical Guitars, of course, come in different sizes and shapes and you should sit with a wide variety of them to get a feeling for what is comfortable to you. Your body shape has an effect on this. If you are over six feet tall the smaller guitars might not be comfortable for you and the fret board may be uncomfortable for your hands. So even if you cant play music you should always hold and sit with the guitars to get a sense of how the different ones feel.

Check the mechanics and playability of the guitar

Here are several things you should do when considering the purchase of a classical guitar.

1. Play every note on every string all the way up and down. Listen for frets that dont play properly. They will give a rattling sound and if this occurs on any fret at all you should put the guitar aside and try another one. This is a sign of inferior quality. Every string should play cleanly on every single fret.

2. Check the action of the strings against the frets in terms of how much pressure is needed to play notes and chords. You should play bar chords all the way down the frets to insure good pressure. If it is too hard to press the strings in order to make a clear chord this could be a sign of an inferior guitar.

3. Play harmonics on the strings. This is an excellent test of the quality of the guitar. Playing harmonics is the technique of plucking the note with your right hand and only lightly touching the string with your left hand. Test the harmonics of all the strings on the 5th, 7th, 12th and 19th frets. If you do not know how to play harmonic notes ask the sales clerk to help you.

4. Examine and test the tuning pegs. Do they look clean and sharp? Wind and unwind them while watching and feeling for smooth turning motion.

5. Visually examine the whole guitar. Look it over very carefully from front to back and top to bottom. Are there any small cracks? Are the frets firmly installed into the fret board? Are there any cracks or glue exposed around the bridge?

6. Tap on the front of the guitar (The sound board) in a variety of different spots. Does it have a rich echoing sound or are there spots where it sounds dead and limp? The internal structure of the classical guitar is very important for the sound and important for the longevity of it. Dull thud sounds could be an indicator of an inferior instrument.

7. Examine the details. Look at the purfling around the edge. This is the decorated pattern that goes around the full body where the soundboard or face meets the sides of the guitar. Is it accurately laid in? If this has variations and inconsistencies it is a good sign that the guitar is of inferior quality.

8. Dont hesitate to take a good look inside the guitar sound hole. You will see wooden braces in there. Do they look straight, accurate and well placed? If you see sloppy globs of dried glue around these braces it could be an indicator of inferior craftsmanship.

9. Remember that there are three distinct areas you must consider when purchasing a classical guitar: The Look, The Feel, and the Sound. If you keep all three of these things in mind and carefully examine the guitar in relation to these you will be able to choose an instrument that will bring you a lifetime of trouble free playing enjoyment.

A Classical Guitar is a purchase that can give you a lifetime of enjoyment and you should consider the purchase carefully. Even if you dont plan on playing every day you should buy an instrument that is of good quality so it will maintain its sound quality for a lifetime. And to do this you dont need to spend thousands of dollars you just need to know how to identify a well made guitar.

More articles at articles host

HOW TO USE MUSIC LEGALLY IN YOUR WORK: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: WHEN DO I NEED A LICENSE TO USE MUSIC IN MY WORK?

A: You need to acquire a license when you want to take music that you have not personally created and use it as a soundtrack in your production. Acquiring a license gives you the legal right to include someone else?s copyrighted work as a part of your own work.

Q: WHAT IS A COPYRIGHT?

A: Copyright is a federal law that protects creators by giving them exclusive rights to their works. Once a work is under copyright, it is illegal to use the work without the permission of the copyright owner.

Q: HOW DOES COPYRIGHT EFFECT MY DECISION TO USE MUSIC?

A: Music that has been recorded and issued on CD is protected by 2 copyrights. To use a recording of a musical composition in your work, you need to get permission from both copyright holders.

The first permission you need is from the music?s publisher. The music publisher holds the copyright for the actual written music ? the melody, the lyrics, the accompaniment, the actual music as it would appear in sheet music. This copyright is shown by using the familiar ? symbol.

The second permission is for the recording itself. To get this, you would approach the record company that released the recording. The record company holds the copyright for the actual performance of the song captured and mastered on tape and released on CD. The symbol for this copyright is the letter (P) inside a circle. (look on the back of your own Cds, you will see these symbols in use). (Author’s Note: This is where we used the 2 small graphics in the html version showing the (C) and (P) copyrights)

Q: HOW DO I GET PERMISSION TO USE COPYRIGHTED MUSIC?

A: The fact that music is protected by copyright doesn?t mean you cannot use it, it simply means you have to seek permission to use it. To receive that permission you will typically have to pay a licensing fee.

Q: WHAT LICENSE DO I NEED?

A: Here are the licenses you need for the right to use music in your media project:

Synchronization License ? This license is issued from the music publisher. The Synchronization License (often abbreviated as sync license) gives you the right to synchronize the copyrighted music with your images and dialogue

Note: Having a sync license means you have permission from the publisher to use the music but it doesn?t give you the right to use a specific recording of the composition. For that you need the following?

Master Use License ? This license is issued directly from the record company. Fees can range from several hundred dollars to millions of dollars depending on the popularity of the music.

Once you have paid the music publisher for a Sync License and the record company for a Master Use license, you have the legal right to use the music in your production.

*****Sidebar***** This article is about music that is under copyright and NOT in the public domain. Music written before 1933 is in the public domain and can be used without having to acquire a synchronization license (you still need a master use license if you use a recording of a piece in the public domain). Music written after 1933 is still under copyright according to US law. I hope to discuss the public domain in more detail in a future article. ******************

Q: WHAT ARE PRODUCTION MUSIC CDS?

A: As you can see from the process described above, licensing music can be a time- intensive, form-laden, and expensive process. Using Production Music CDs (also referred to as Royalty Free Music CDs), is the quickest and easiest way to license music. When you buy music from a production music library, you are immediately granted both synchronization and master use rights to use the music in your work.

Production Music fills a niche for producers who don?t have a million dollar music budget and can?t afford to license a major hit song. Production Music gives the smaller, independent producer the ability to use music soundtracks in his or her production.

Q: IS PRODUCTION MUSIC UNDER COPYRIGHT?

A: Production music is protected by both the (C) and (P) copyrights. When you buy a track from a production music library, you?ll receive a license agreement which gives you both synchronization and master use rights.

Production Music is not copyright-free as some have termed it. It is fully protected by copyright law. With production music you get ease of licensing. You don?t have to contact several sources to seek sync and master use licenses.

Q: CAN I LICENSE A FAMOUS SONG FROM A PRODUCTION MUSIC LIBRARY?

A: There are no production music pop hits. You won?t find an Eminem track in a production music library. To use an Eminem cut you would have to negotiate a license with Interscope Records. That?s not to say you can?t find Hip Hop tracks in production music libraries but you won?t find current or past pop hits.

Unlike a pop song, production music is composed to be used specifically as background music. It is usually instrumental, with no vocals or lyrics, and is similar to a film soundtrack.

Q: HOW OFTEN CAN I USE PRODUCTION MUSIC TRACKS?

A: The license agreement grants you very broad usage rights. For instance, with the license agreement from my company, UniqueTracks, you are not limited to one-time usage; you can use the music again in any other production you create. You don?t have to inform us of your intent to use or report back once the production is complete. Once you have purchased the music, you are free and clear to use it as often as you like within the boundaries stated by the license (i.e. the music has to be used in synchronization with narration or visuals)

The simplicity of Production music licensing makes it a perfect choice for corporate videos, Flash animations, PowerPoint presentations, independent film, multimedia applications, – virtually anywhere where music is helpful but where the project budget doesn?t included hundreds of thousands of dollars to license expensive songs.

John Bickerton is Creative Director for the UniqueTracks Production Music Library. He writes the monthly e-newsletter Underscore – Secrets of Successful Soundtracks, published by UnqiueTracks. Click to subscribe http:// http://www.uniquetracks.com/Newsletter.htm