If you're like me you are wondering what happened to country music. Terrestrial radio stations today only play the watered down pop mess. Country be used to force to reckon. Returning to achieve the good old days!

If you have a satellite radio, do not listen to radio stations in the country's real. Singers like Hank Williams III, Robbie Fulks and Wayne Hancock just does not get airplay. George Jones wasfirst principle of Country Music Awards kicked a few years too old. Once upon a time, I thought, George Strait I do not know how to pick a bad song. This was the first I've heard some of his stuff from his latest album. I am sorry, but George did you disappointed.

In Nashville (Trashville said Hank III), is a question of doing what we say or do not get the radio playing. Agents should have more control over what they play and record. After all that are to go out and play every night for the series of reactions. The label is not to say that there is: "Man, they love steel guitar."

The pop music market has infiltrated the country. It 'started back in 1970. Country began to sink when it allows blends pop a. Some guys do not respect they should have received. Billy Joe Shaver comes to mind. Today there are people from all over the world make the earthMusic in Nashville. Most of these singers do not know the difference between a steel guitar from a banjo. It seems crazy, and it is!

Country music is promoted, such as: "The music is not your grandfather." Well, not my music. Most of the diehard country music fans would agree. There is no soul, no pain, and there is no margin of country music today. We must not return to the day when the two phases was the greatest thingsince sliced ​​bread.

Austin, Texas celebrated as today's country music capital of the world. There you will find Junior Brown, Bobby Bare, and Billy Joe Shaver. The new talent in Austin is too big! Heather Myles is a fantastic artist tracking traditional sound. Nashville is losing face with the land base. Let's get country music back to its roots. Call your local country radio DJ and request some of the classics. If enough peopleThe request to return to his old ways will have to take note of Nashville.

What in the world and I would do if there is no such thing as music?

Can you imagine a world without music? N. songs, no tunes, no rock, no roll, no jazz, no hymns, boogie-woogie, no Western country, not symphonies. No singing in the shower. No whistling Dixie.

Lovers would not have the romantic songs. There would be something like "our song." Sinatra could not fly to the moon. Elvis could not complain even more about the people on his blue suede shoes. TonyBennett should receive a letter about how he left his heart in San Francisco to write. Willie might go on the road, but without a guitar. And Ray Charles would look pretty funny on stage without a plan, saying that Georgia on his mind.

Then, when he arrived on the wedding day, what would the bride down the island in March? A poem? Silence? Applause? And when the happy couple marched out of the church together, they would do to the bark of neighborhood dogs, or perhaps allinvited to talk at once?

And at the reception, what do you dance? The Funky Chicken just is not the same without the music. As part of the music is rhythm, the drums were not allowed to be present.

Now, the honeymoon will take place with radio news on, or perhaps the education system Conditioner channel accompanied by the hum of an airplane.

When the baby is born, we want to rock her to sleep with a reading of Shakespeare? Or perhaps random readingsDictionary or encyclopedia? We bore her to sleep with words?

Nursery rhymes should be sung or recited instead of sung. School music programs, of course, would not exist, as well as school choirs and orchestras and bands. When the football player of the school, there would be no school fight song. Cheerleaders should cheer and dance about every type of music.

And when those birthdays roll around, we would all pray together in a monotone "happyBirthday to you. "

And when duty calls, what the soldiers march to? What saves the place of music, there would be no marching band? John Philip Sousa would have had to get a job.

more than talk – and on July 4 there would be no patriotic songs. At Christmas, there would be no Christmas. No overwhelming gospel music at Easter, no hymns in church.

And can you imagine the radio without music? Nothing but the newsand talk shows and bla bla bla bla ….

Do not know about you, but I got up to here just thinking about it. I'm actually in the direction of the piano's time to celebrate that our Creator gave us the wonderful and inspiring and uplifting gift of music that we all take for granted.

I think that playing a nursery rhyme or two, then The Wedding March, then Silent Night, then Auld Lang Syne, then Fur Elise, then the blues, then a little jazz, then … and then …

You walk through the dark entrance area, so that the tropical night behind. Suddenly, the waves break over you like surfing. Breaking into a sweat, your heart beats to the rhythm, bass bongos, bells and brass. The walls seem to pulsate. The acrid smell of sweat mixed with perfume assaults you. How to adjust your eyes to the darkness, broken by hypnotic flashes of bright flash, you realize that not enclosing the walls, but dancers – dancers valuescircuitry, weaving and swirling, limbs flashing, also pushed for the quarter – a waste of time. You can fill the lungs with the spicy scent, pull the belt a notch and dive in. Welcome to Chango Cali, Colombia – one of the hottest Latin salsa dancing.

Cali, a modern, festive city is located in the heart of the valley. "When Colombians say" the Valley "is the Valle del Cauca, a garden of Eden not so small one hundred and fifty miles long and about fifteen miles wide between the coastsand the Cordillera Central mountain ranges. Until the end of this century valIey little more than an outpost of rural areas.

Then, with a population of about 15,000, the Cauca Valley town was mostly cattle, divided into large parcels of land under the "haciendados. They were proud, almost arrogant people, cattle for meat and leather in relief. Some had plantations of sugar cane used to produce "panela" and distill the crystalline sweetener but potent "aguardiente" still sipped today. Lifewas slow, measured, patriarchal and unchanging.

It 'been said that the region of Cauca in Colombia is what the South is located in the United States. Indeed there are similarities. In recent days, Calles "hidalgos dirt went into the hands of velvet or scarlet cloth embroidered with gold buttons and silver, their waistcoats, silk flowers were, and the ripples of their shirts from the best lawn," says Kathleen Romoli, author Colombia: the door. South America. And as theSouthern states in colonial Rimes, a large number of slaves were imported to work the fields and serve the gentry.

Time has brought many changes. Today vast sugar cane plantations still carpet the Valley. mechanized production of cotton, rice and livestock, Valle del Cauca in Colombia became the main agricultural region, after "King Coffee". And with economic growth has come industry. A nice colonial city in 1900, has grown into a great center of Cali-production with the mostthan a thousand industries at the last count

There is Salsa in the air

But with all the changes, Cali maintains a welcoming charm, a personality different from other cities, could create an atmosphere that one would expect to find in the Caribbean. Romoli describes it quite well:

The most striking thing in Cali is not the place today, with its imposing government buildings and rows of taxis, along the avenues of giant palm trees, the suburbs with their villas and modem churches whose bells ring melodiesInstead of rattling as it is with Colombia, or factories. And 'the air almost everywhere serenity serenity Not that there's a city with many pleasures, Cali is not gay by commercial entities organized for the deviation, but by the grace of God

Cali attracts travelers from all over tourists, businessmen, tourists, scholars and students. And, of course, fans of salsa and salsa artists. Recording Studios, "rumberias", "Night" and "viejotecas"are abundant.

What is the appeal Cali? The city is lively atmosphere? The spectacular sunsets? The natural beauty of the soaring Andes? The famous beauty of women? Maybe it's the climate in which there is always June. Or may be its remarkable cleanliness? Many Colombian cities are clean, but Cali is so clean it stings. Or maybe it's the trees and flowers – purple and purple bougainvillea waving in abundance that falls from the walls, the gold cup dripping from the eaves, thewaxy bells of the flow of the trumpet, the poinsettia bushes, gardenias beautiful trees with leaves and magenta flowers carmine or other green feathers – white flowers, or pale pink clusters – the extravagance of wild flowers including fluttering hummingbird with iridescent green belly and winter.

No sauce, no dates

Cali has all these. But no doubt to many that the main attraction, she calls this charming city is the salsa music. The sensuous tropical rhythmsSalsa pervades the lives of two million more Caleños. In each bus can hear salsa. Take a walk to school or shopping Salsa is in the air. And, of course, Salsa on nearly all more than two dozen local radio stations. The whole city, 24 hours a day, salsa blasts from the loudspeakers in the streets, in parks, shops, cars, portable radios and private homes. Cali lives and breathes salsa. But because the sauce? Many other musical traditions, styles and types ofWomen in ruffled) thrive in popular music (including traditional cumbia dancers skirts where machetes stomp full busted Cali. What's so special sauce? Vallenatos After all, a brand of folk music with roots back to the days of Spanish conquistadors, is still very popular – especially as sung by the likes of Carlos Vives, Colombian Grammy winner. Boleros (check out Luis Miguel "Inolvidable") and Merengue continue to have strong followingAmazon.de.

Because this is a style rooted so deeply in the culture? For fans, the answer is simple: "I love salsa music." Whatever the reason for the universal popularity in Cali, Salsa is not just music, more than a dance. It is a fundamental social skills, says my friend, Carmenza "No sauce -. No event" you can not hit others when they can not dance. "So there are salsa dance schools in the city. You pay for the lessons of the hour. Pricesfrom $ 2 to $ 6 per hour for more private, one-on-one instruction. Group lessons was quickly up. Salsa lessons are not just a place of learning, but to practice and perfect your moves or pick up some new ones. If you are a good "meeting place" for residents. "It 's important to dance very well, or you are boring," says Sofia, an avid salsa.

Cali is called "Salsa Capital of the World", a title from the post-Fidel Cuba torn and often with New York City.But anyone with the exception of "world capital" could take is to agree that Cali is certainly the "salsa capital of South America." The Top Latin Salsa artists, such as the New York Jerry "The King of 54th Street" Gonzalez fly regularly to show the best. At any time you can all the famous names in Salsa, Cuban artist walking the "Queen of Salsa" Celia Cruz, guitarist, singer and songwriter Juan Luis Guerra from the Dominican Republic, Frank Grillo Raul, the Cuban-American, also known asMachito, Ruben Blades, the popular Panamanian singer, songwriter, actor and politician for his musical innovations and famous traditional sauce, Willie Colon, Oscar D'Leon and others.

SALSA Capital of the World

It will not go far in this city of the dancers, all different styles and variants to hear the salsa. Juancito, with 120 of trendy dance, is the heart of the nightlife of Cali Salsa rhythm. Each week throughout the year, more than two hundredThousands of people flock to this eastern suburb to celebrate. Cali clubs abound and "viejotecas" for young and old. Latinos of the younger generation in general in favor of a smoother, more sentimental music known as salsa romantica, as popularized by bandleader Eddie Santiago, Tito Nieves. popular salsa singers of the 1990 International included Linda "India" Caballero and Mark Anthony. The Puerto Rico-based Orchestra of Puerto Rico Power "is another group of hot burningFans in both Cali and Puerto Rico.

While it's exciting to listen to foreign countries famous performers of salsa music, do not forget many of its world class musicians and groups Cali Salsa mix of old and new. Traditional and innovative. It's worth a trip to Cali, just to hear the pulsating sounds of traditional non-Jairo Varela, Grupo Niche. Or other artists like "Son de Cali", the all – female Orchestra Canela "and Lisandro Meza, who is also a new impetusBlood salsa scene in Cali. These dazzling classic sounds of salsa and Kike Santander, Joe Arroyo and Eddy Martinez thunder through the air flow in the veins of "Coca-Colos (late teens to early 20 years of youth) and" cuchos "like discos, clubs around viejotecas in the world and which attract over-35 crowd.

When I arrived in Cali in 1995, I thought that my sauce was OK. After all, the harvest of some Smooth Moves by a bevy of beauties hot Puerto Rico, during a summer in NorwaySan Juan. Even in my state of Pennsylvania, there were opportunities on Friday or Saturday night to slip away and mingle with Latinos in our local body of water in Spain. I had developed a double-quick pace in a rectangular pattern, too, and he turns to scrolls and heavy rhythm. I had no problems, and keep on dancing partner. Then in Miami, during a retreat Labor Day weekend, I met a sweet Latin. I invited her to dinner and dancing in this week's "La Cima", one ofThis is a club of hot sauce, to show my moves. He was impressed. A year later we married and after a few years we have moved more in their native Colombia.

Colombian salsa is a different animal. L ', the style, rhythm and timing are similar in other places, but it's a different story on the dance floor. My feet knew the rhythm, but acted as if the shoes he is wearing a Bozo. For a while, 'one of the places downtown, as "the Vienna Cuarto" on the banks of the brown river Cali knee is locked. It isListening to music, no dancing here. The music is so off you "and make a call on Empanadas cold Costeña. There may be just the right touch for a Sunday afternoon. Today is my cutie and Latin 1 "cuchos" (all-35). It 'been ten years. We are still here, still dancing salsa. And I'm still showing off my moves.

Indie Music continues to promote alternative means of alternative music, because the idea is to reduce the promotion of standard models in the music industry. Indie Music has created a separate record labels and ways of doing things. It is based on a lot of radio stations and websites on the Internet, for one thing.

There were many things that were left with this part of the business model that the average listener, it can be hidden. ForHow Sound Exchange has recently decided against that Internet radio should be held liable retroactively and fees.

Of course there were parties that had differences of opinion on the appropriateness of this. One the one hand, it seems the right thing to do for artists. On the other hand, the amount of fees due from the major providers of Internet radio like Pandora, the dollar could be in the millions, and smaller Internet radio stations,This threatens to erase them.

A bill known as the Internet Radio Equality Act was introduced and collected, but the net result of all this is that the price of being a broadcaster of saliva.

It seems that the Internet is the only absorbing the old business models and that these forms are the business and what makes it difficult for the average listener to find and play music, new indie rock and alternative music.

AnotherExample of this is that many Internet radio stations are so pure that make companies pay the artists for airplay. Artists or pay a fee only once for Airplay or a number of games to buy. This is, of course, inflates the idea of how the artist is popular.

Through a vote, as is done, some radio stations and music sites, artist or group may or may not 'stuff the ballot box more ..

Although the consensus seems to bethat at the end of the day is critical, and it is true that you will be wrong often, perhaps, the need for reliable and competent sources, evaluations, music is good, what once required.

Remember the days when it was almost impossible to be able at any time to listen and a good mix of music or other radio programs you wanted somewhere? I think, and believe me, if the value of your news and talk radio the way I was a time that you want to return. In those days I spent more time browsing the channels and seek between AM and FM and to be able to use the content they want, when I heard they have access. Since Sirius PortableSatellite Radio in the mix a few years this is no longer a problem.

I like to talk about the situation of having immediate access to news, music or radio at any time. I personally use the Sirius Stiletto 2, which gives me more features than I could ever use. This thing brings me crystal clear all programming, no matter where I am. This portable Sirius satellite radio makes the drive from my house, my car, my job every day.

Thewhole family enjoys the satellite radio if it is at home. My wife likes to listen to the radio Martha Stewart, my sons love the Disney programming, and the rare occasion that I get my hands on my portable satellite radio, Sirius home I have the news and talk radio, is not currently available FM or AM dial.

This thing is priceless commuting. I spend at least two hours a day in my car on the road driving to and from work through the more ruralAreas. If it were not for this Sirius radio I had to change radio frequencies for several times to see programming that, when all I could about it.

My favorite feature in this portable Sirius Satellite Radio is the built-in MP3 player. Like most people, I have my favorite talk radio hosts and news that I feel like I feel every day. The Sirius Stiletto 2 should not be on the radio when they are. ThisSirius portable satellite radio that can be up to 100 program hours! So when I am in a meeting or doing honey dos I set my Stiletto 2 to record my favorite shows are, then go back and listen when it's convenient for me.

This portable Sirius satellite radio units can only be purchased in a package including car, home or car kit installation, or may acquire as. I personally found it worth my money to buyStiletto 2 with Car Kit. I am also the kit home wherever my ability to complete this great radio to use satellites. There are also many other accessories available for this receiver.

As you know, there is a small monthly fee to access the Sirius satellite radio, but I found my investment is worth it. For the price of one and a half lunch at McDonald's are able to pick and choose from over a hundred channelsTo ensure that content simply is not constantly on the AM-FM radio.

Because this is a review I want to emphasize the bad points of a portable Sirius satellite radio, but honestly I have no complaints with my device or service. I could not be happier. If you like the quality of information or music on the radio it receives is the only way to go.

You have time to find the radio, if you listen to his playing, and do not just talk about the local college campus. The trick is called promotion. Now, that does not mean you just put in an envelope with the push of a demo, and I hope you pity. Perhaps calling a station and give you the standard tone, "left, and if we want to put in rotation." After a few months, never listen to your music, do not automatically thinkworthy.

First, do not buy, I know you're one of hundreds, perhaps thousands, depending on your city. The disc will probably end up in the trash, or for the more adventurous DJ on Ebay in a one-cent CD sale. If you want to be heard and make potential sales, you need to stand out from the crowd, and in this jewel of an article I show you five (5) Knock em 'Dead Ways to do just that!:

# 1 – Get the CD in the right hands. Inside, it is always too busy for coffee or typingReport to the station manager is not that airplay make its decision. To find out who's the boss in that direction, and the base contact with them. If the club is playing an admission fee or have an exhibition Coming Up at railway stations offering tickets to give away to send to the listeners. Now keep in mind that not give, offer tickets for staff, for this is illegal, and asked for a bribe, but you can leave the gifts for your potential audience.

# 2 – If you've alreadya station in your pocket, then drop names. Let them know that WABC listening to your music and getting a great response.

# 3 – Make genuine friends in the industry. If you have a DJ who is spinning and you really like the sound, they can learn. See why they like and see if they have received all the responses of listeners. If there is no need to ask if they can be Q & A their callers on your music, so as to obtain an objective sense for yourAudience. Not a bad idea to complete a certificate or a summons, if he becomes aware of your region if you know them personally. people helping people. That is a fact so if you treat the DJ area as a human being to live and breathe and not the $ sign, that is a foot in the door. Another good source is the club owners. If you play your music and the fans go crazy stops to ask a couple of words about your sound that you can pass along to interested parties, but be sure to sit downa drink with them. Ask them about the photo of him and his wife and two kids behind the Magic Kingdom. Do not be fake, but real interest.

# 4 – Network. Find out if you know someone (or someone you know) has connections to the music stations. Remember, Six Degrees of Separation – people are far from knowing you are, just someone on the planet and yes that includes station managers, concert promoters and record execs. The trick is, it takes a lot of time,but if you're serious, it's worth.

# 5 – The local state, national. Do not go to your local stations and state and skip the next matchbox twenty. Not working. Starting small and then get high.

receive and make contact names can be difficult, so you should start with a success http://www.TheIndustryYellowPages.com music industry and proven resources like The Industry Yellow Pages – Music Industry Contact Directory

TheTIYP is helpful and loaded with contacts you can start with immediate effect without the same climb.

Looking up this week from getting a reggae backing to sound like St Ann rather than St Felicity, I spotted the small dark mist in the usual corner behind the left monitor speaker. I have sometimes believed absolutely that this is my best muse, back from a pizza run to the outer starbelt. Or maybe just the golden ring around Uranus. Anyhoo…It seems to bring inspiration in a dark way: more Keith Richards than Cliff Richard, and I feel the urge to write something that involves leather, whips and a snare drum that sounds like Pavarotti hitting the water from the top board. I dig out my file called Heavy Riffs That AC/DC Lost Under The Driver’s Seat. It would help if the word MURDER appeared in the first lyric line: that always gets the bowie knives out. As Sam Goldwyn said: Start with an exploding volcano and build up from there to a climax.

I can’t emphasise how important the first two lines of the first verse are, in any song.This is where you the artist set the hook in their miniscule attention spans or not. If you simper your way into a song, as per a style I like to call Captain Cliche, you’ve probably lost them before the second guitar comes in. Please avoid a first verse that goes like this: ooh I love you, yes it’s true, what am I supposed to do, baby I know without you, all my dreams are down the loo…blah blah…

Anybody still awake? The only thing that might just save that song would be a beat strong enough to flip Lazarus out of the grave and over the horizon. I never thought that the years I spent writing ad copy for various ad agencies would be worth so much to me now. The rule in advertising is: when you’ve written the headline, you’ve spent 80c of your dollar. It’s got to hook them. It’s gotta say something different about a subject you’ve heard a million times. Take the neverending subject of LOVE ( also known as LURV…the NASTY…and BUMPING UGLIES) If I taught songwriting, one of the first projects I would set would have to be: write a song about LOVE, but make it interesting.Make it different. Make the listener say: I never thought of it that way before. Now Paul McCartney, being famous, doesn’t have to work as hard as the rest of us. So he calls it: Another Silly Love Song. With a chorus that goes: iloveyouiloveyouiloveyou. Phew, Macca…time to open the window!

Here’s how I do it: my song is called: If You Were Icecream… and the first verse is: If you were icecream, I would eat you, with a very small spoon… if you were starlight, I’d go to meet you, halfway to the moon… I think that’s a lot more interesting than Paulie’s but hey, he’s famous, and I’ve just started kicking at the door. For more examples of how I approach first verses and songs in general, scoot along to my new site or click on the link below.

Must get into town for some new acoustic guitar strings. Haven’t changed them for a year, and No..there’s no direct link between underwear rotation and guitar strings. And-a one…two…three…

Copyright 2005 Bill Dollar

Bill Dollar is a survivor of the record company wars. He currently lives on a small farm somewhere in the southern hemisphere, amongst cats,dogs and cobras.He writes songs he likes, because he’s not hearing anything worthwhile on the radio. Hear what he calls music at Bill Dollar Music

So you’ve got a few New Age piano pieces under your belt and you want to share your music with others. Can you do it? Yes! Here’s a working plan for you.

Create 3 Pieces of Music

For those of you who are just beginning to improvise, don’t worry about this. But for those who are beginning to compose, you’ll need to have 3 complete pieces to play. Why? Because this will come to around 10-15 minutes of music – the perfect amount of time for a mini-concert! If you’re in the process of creating your 3 pieces and haven’t finished yet set an goal date. For example, it’s a good idea to write something like this down:

By August 12, 2006, I will have 3 complete and polished pieces of music to play for others.

This is a time-based goal and will work wonders if you write it out and place it where you can read it everyday. Most likely, you will try and find excuses for why you can’t finish something on time. This goal with time and date on it will continually remind you to stay on track.

Practice Your 3 Pieces

Practice is the only way you will build up your confidence level. Practice each piece slowly at first. Never back up if you make a mistake. I repeat? NEVER back up if you make a mistake. Why? What are you going to do when you’re playing for an audience and you mess up. You’re not going to stop everything and go back. No! You go forward. Chances are very good that the audience won’t even notice. I can testify to this from personal experience.

When you practice, be with the music. The audience isn’t really concerned with you per se. They want an emotional experience through the music and the best way to give that to them is for you to be in the moment.

Overcome Performance Anxiety

To do this, you must first practice until you can play all 3 pieces straight through and you must first perform for a very small audience. Perhaps one or two people. You see you have to get used to the idea that eyes will be watching you. This makes most very self-conscious. By playing for very small groups of people, or even one person first, you get used to this and you can simply shrug it off. Playing for others should be a joyful experience. It can be if you follow these simple guidelines.

Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music’s online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/pianolessons.html for a FREE piano lesson!

The music poster has become inextricably linked with the bedroom walls of teen fans and student dorms. A poster can depict a simple glam-shot of a pop chart diva or some obscure image that only those in the know can de-cipher. But what makes hang up those music posters in the first place?

When we put a music poster up on the wall what exactly are we doing? Usually it?s because we have some kind of liking for the artist. It could be the music (Coldplay), the image (Marilyn Manson) or maybe we find them attractive (Beyonce). In any of these cases, we are displaying behaviour associated with being a fan, which is of course short for fanatic.

I have come up with the following list of fanatics, which should cover most categories of poster hangers, but please feel free to add your own.

1. The teeny. These are early teenage girls who, as yet, are unable to find any suitably mature similarly aged boys to fall in love with, so they fall in love with a poster instead. Their main targets are boy bands, ex boy band solo artists and female solo artists if they?re in ?girlie-crush? mode.

2. The mid-teen. This is where rebellion starts. For the girls, it?s the biggest, ugliest rap star they can find which will be guaranteed to upset their parents. For the boys it?s the most disgusting thrash metal group they can find which will be guaranteed to upset their parents.

3. The late teen. By now, serious prejudices have been formed and allegiance to one particular type of music is essential. Having, or not having, the right poster on the wall can mean the difference between social acceptance and rejection and will confirm the tribe that you will now be in for many years to come, if not the rest of your life.

4. The student. A little like the late teen, but in a very different way. Has allegiances, but dare not admit them. Will therefore put up ?ironic? posters usually only considered by the teeny which thus become cool because they are in a student dorm ? a bit like bricks in an art gallery.

5. The obsessed. Can be any age, diagnosed by the fact that all available wall space of their bedroom or study is plastered with posters of one particular band or artist. All possible additional memorabilia will have been purchased and will occupy any available floor space in their bedroom or study. They only come out of their bedroom or study for comfort breaks.

6. The trendy. Can also be any age, but has only one motive for poster hanging ? to be in with other people. Easy to spot as there?s no allegiance to anyone other than themselves. Also they often get it completely wrong.

7. The musician. Usually male and will have a select set of ?heroes? posters on the wall which reflect his aspirations as a singer, lead guitar player etc. When you go and see him perform he bears no resemblance to these heroes whatsoever.

Some people pass through several, if not all of these categories during the course of their life, I must admit to a couple of them myself. There?s nothing wrong with being a fanatic, but just be aware that it?ll always give other people the opportunity to poke fun at you.

John Webber is editor for http://www.music-on-posters.com where you can find articles on posters, original band biographies and poster merchants in the USA, UK and Europe

The real communicating artists seek unique expression. They are not interested anymore in sounding like their heroes, they are searching constantly, developing and refining their own unique voice.

There are musicians who are more than comfortable remaining anonymous. You know, happy to hide behind their guitars or keyboards and be sidemen to the stars of today or tomorrow. Then there are those that have grandiose aspirations of stardom, adoration and limelight. And then there are those who have a driving desire and need to say something original artistically, to express themselves and to communicate that expression to an audience, be it a small niche market or wider demographic.

Those falling into the first category can make a living, albeit fairly modest as a general rule. Those falling into the second category often live in a little bit of a dream world and, depending on their tenacity and ‘smart’ skills, usually end up disappointed because the focus is set on the destination rather than the journey. The third category usually reap the rewards of the second category gaining all the success and limelight, but as a result of focusing on their art rather than the shallow and flighty end of the musician’s world. These are usually the most fascinating people too, because they generally have a little mystery about them and because they actually possess what most entertainers really want; sincere and dedicated talent!

But there are also those that are in the early stages of artistic development who are still learning their craft, and open to influences. Possibly they will become great artists in the future, possibly not. It will be a question of choices and consequences, and doors opened and opportunities taken advantage of – or not. Life certainly will take you places.

But for those that do have aspirations of artistry and expression, then I firmly believe you must have qualities that others do not have. As an artist I believe one must stand out from the heard in order to be heard. It is so easy to make a record these days. One no longer needs to have the luxury of a recording contract in order to stand on a pedestal and say I am an artist – buy my record! With home studios costing one 16th of the price they did ten years ago and with software programs that do it all, you can churn out albums by the dozen if you put your mind to it. And many do.

However, just because you can, why would you? – is my question. Just for fun? OK, valid I suppose. But Isn’t it better to spend that time and energy searching relentlessly for something unique and different? God knows record companies are releasing enough crap by the hour, even signed artists are now under the impression they have got something to offer. Maybe they have, but for the most part I don’t think so (as public reaction and their soundscans will attest!)

Perhaps I am being extremely unfair, but I think too many artists do not realize that they have a responsibility to say something profoundly unique, certainly if they expect any kind of career longevity. We live in a world where musicians spend their lives emulating their heroes; singers spend their lives emulating Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra and so on. Rock guitarists spend their lives emulating Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Paige, Jeff Beck and Eddie Van Halen. Jazz guitarists are proud emulators of Pat Metheny, John Scofield and Wes Montgomery. Saxophone players worship Charlie Parker, John Coltrane and Michael Brecker. And so on…

Before I go on I have to say that emulating heroes is absolutely imperative in your formative years as musicians. You simply MUST listen to the greats, past and present. One has to have a strong grounding and musical knowledge and one simply cannot get there without listening. However, way too many ‘artists’ cannot get passed this stage. They need to have peer approval, have to know that other respected musicians around them recognize them and applaud their abilities. Often all this takes place subconsciously.

This ‘peer approval’ is a stage of development that is also important. Every musician goes through it at some point. It is absolutely natural, but I firmly believe that to become a great artist, you have to move beyond that stage and look inward. I always liken it those wedding band singers, who despite having an honorable and justifiable (and in some cases envious) career, they are all too often the ‘performing monkeys’. They are often fine vocalists but at the end of the day they are seeking approval and applause and not communicating or expressing anything artistic. They certainly know how to entertain but do they know how to intrigue? It’s a huge gap. Nothing remotely subtle about it as far as I am concerned.

The real communicating artists seek unique expression. They are not interested anymore in sounding like their heroes. They have moved past that, now searching constantly, developing and refining their own unique voice. Look at any of the true giants of yesterday and today. Yes you can hear their references, but they also have their own strong identity. At some point during their development something bigger than them took over. The chances are they knew it at the time and took advantage of it and made an extra effort to really hone that uniqueness.

Finding that unique inner voice might not be as easy for some. I think it starts by recognizing your technical weaknesses. It is often those weaknesses that ultimately end up becoming your artistic strengths. Let’s face it, if you were able to play the guitar technically perfect, at all speeds, meticulously so every note that came out was totally clean and audible, would this be ultimately interesting to an audience? Yes it might be very clever and impressive, but for how long could you listen to an album where every phrase felt like you were having your teeth drilled!!?

Wes Montgomery played with his thumb because he kept dropping his pick, ultimately enabling him to become the greatest and most influential jazz guitarist of all time. BB King has about three licks in his entire blues repertoire. Does anyone NOT know BB King when they hear him? Thelonius Monk refused to conform to traditional piano techniques and musical ideas. He simply HAD to play music the way he heard it in his head. He made such a bold musical statement during his time that he is emulated the world over and revered by the greatest musicians living today.

Technical shortcomings can be the very essence of your unique artistry. Now, should those shortcomings get in the way of what you need to say musically then those weaknesses might need to be turned around so they don’t restrict what you hear in your head.

Remember, the true artist simply communicates from within. All other extraneous thoughts, influences and distractions need to fall by the wayside. The minute a lick or a phrase that your hero played or sung (and made famous) ends up on your record – watch out! You might be in trouble. Absolutely steal from your heroes, but just remember that real artistry is about what YOU have to say, not what your heroes have already said before, and have possibly said better.

Push yourself to the max and search for that truly unique quality within. After all, that next great talent we are all so desperately waiting for might just be you!

Chris Standring is a contemporary jazz recording artist who performs throughout the USA and Europe regularly. He has enjoyed much radio airplay with several albums, opening up a busy touring schedule. His music appears on many compilation CDs also. For more info on Chris’ popular home study jazz guitar course go to http://www.PlayJazzGuitar.com

Visit him on the web at http://www.chrisstandring.com