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8 Books for Dancers

Teaching and educating kids is one thing – of course, it fills the parent with joy to see their young bundles of joy succeeding academically. But most of the time, we take a passive role in their academic excellence through paying their school fees. We leave the teachers to do most of the work as we get to see the efforts by the end of the term or semester. Now, teaching our children an art, like painting, singing or dancing; now that’s something else altogether. I’m sure there is a form of art out there that inspires you.

Learning to Dance Made Easy

What inspires us here is music and a lot of dance. We pride ourselves in having the privilege to help you through your journey as you teach your child all about music and dance – whether it’s from a musical instrument, vocal classes, or even ballet dancing.

Most parents, nonetheless, prefer to supplement all forms of studies with other material. We would actually advise everyone, both learned and learning dancers and musicians to make good use of a book about dance and music in general. In that light, we’ve compiled a list of 8 of our best-researched dance books that’ll get your kid’s dancing to quintessential style.

Ballet Shoes

By Noel Streatfeild, Diane Goode

When you start a music career, you never see the uphill tasks it takes to reach a certain peak. Sometimes you actually never realize that peak or things happen and your vision changes as you dedicate your focus elsewhere. The book is about three little orphans who’ve decided to change and save their lives as they assist their new family by becoming members of the Children’s Academy of Dancing and Stage Training. Your kid will have the time of their lives and you’ll surely enjoy a good read too.

A Ballerina Cookbook: Simple Recipes for Kids

By Sarah L. Schuette

Schuette does a pretty handy combination of mixing dance with the kitchen. Young dancers who want to also find their way around the kitchen are likely to find pretty easy manuals and recipes. Teach your kids easy names and applications of words such as Tutu Toppers and Prime Ballerina. Easy snacks for ballet dancers which might be pretty useful as they grow up and their dance careers flourish.

Dance Trilogy (1) – Born to Dance

By Jean Ure

Once your kid develops and gets a deeper interest in books, you can think of introducing dance series novels to them. The storyline should be thick enough and yet laid out in simple terms to ensure they understand and aren’t lost in the process. This book about dance features a kid’s life as they discover dance – ballet to be specific – and makes friendships along the way as they discover life. Inspirational, motivational, full of wise teachings and a sure good job from best-selling author Jean Ure.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay

By J.K. Rowling

I’m yet to come by a single soul that wasn’t impressed by Harry Potter. How about a taste of Rowling’s screenwriting debut! Magizoologist visits New York hoping to shorten his stay. Nevertheless, once his magical case goes missing, and some of his fantastic beasts escape, there’s only trouble in the air and he has to overstay his welcome. What a thriller!

A Time for Dancing

By Davida Wills Hurwin

Your emotions are likely to run high, let alone your children’s. This classic book features a life of long-time friendships from, childhood to building careers to unexpected happenings. The book is a perfect illustration of what real friendship smells like and what it means to be there for each other. The dance book culminates to a peak when one of the two friends is struck by a disease that threatens to take away her friend. Read through the pages with a hankie because the tears might not spare you. A sure utopian debut from a writer to be watched!

Firebird

By Misty Copeland

In as much as we offer dance lessons, we strongly believe inspirational words from established dancers go a long way to create an impression in the mind of a growing child. Perhaps your pleas of hard work will come much better from the 1st African American female principal dancer under the flourishing American Ballet Theatre. You never know, they might just as well grow to become even better shooting stars.

The Fairy Dancers

By Natalie Jane Prior

Your young kids will fall hopelessly in love with the development of the story and the extra fun from the magic twirls, hops and skips. The three little girls become fairy dancers every Saturday and enter another world. It’s all fun and dance in the fairy world and includes teachings on friendships. Could be a good place to start off your 4-year old who has an interest in dance.

Ella Bella Ballerina and Cinderella (Ella Bella Ballerina Series)

By James Mayhew

When a young girl studying ballet loses her slipper, her baller ballet teacher recalls the Cinderella story and recounts it to the kids. With heightened interest, little Ella lingers around the theatre after classes and locates the teacher’s music box. As she listens to the story a second time, magic happens and the fairy godmother appears and transports her to Cinderella’s world. The twists and fixes inspire a keen interest and anticipation and you’ll be happy to watch your kid flicker through the pages of this dance book.

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Final Remarks

You need a wise strategy when looking for a book about dance for your young ones. You might buy them manual manuscripts that’ll have them hating dance instead of building on their moves. The younger ones prefer story books – give it to them that way. This way, they’ll build interest in their own way and develop as they grow. The examples given above of dance books should set you well of your kids’ training journey. Should you aspire to take the next step of introducing them to a dance school, we would be honored to take your kid’s hand through the path.

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Podcasts Musicians
The Best Podcasts for Musicians

Ask every qualified musician you know, and they’ll tell you of a certain music podcast they use to get them through the day. This is especially so for music lovers with good knowledge of the net – if you know where to look, you’ll be sure to find something that’s worth your time. That’s inspired us to carry out wide research and bring you the best podcasts. Some aren’t as popular as they should be, but you’re sure to have the time of your life.

Know What You’re Looking For

It’s quite crucial to understand that different podcasts will serve different purposes. Some will be purely informative while others will seek to explore all the gossip in the music industry. Some will teach you about music and scaling through the heights and some will only give you real life music experiences. You just have to know what you’re looking for in podcasts for musicians.

The New York Times Popcast

When you become a desperate follower of Cardi B and honestly consider Migos some form of legends, you’ll want to know the latest developments in real-time stories. News on your best artists coupled with the latest releases and some old time hits. When considering what podcast for musicians to start you off on your podcasts journey, Popcast would be a perfect choice for all your glassy gossip.

DIY Musician

Remember what it felt like when you were beginning your musical journey? Probably you are starting your music journey right now and are already overwhelmed since you’re taking up more roles than just merely singing. You’re probably lacking support and have decided to produce your own music, record it, and market it and whatnots. Well, it’s very doable, but it calls for skill and dedication. Get a chance to get quality advice from recognized industry figures that have already made it in their niche.

Sound Opinions

The longest-running show of its kind – falls squarely in the league of rock ‘n’ roll ancestors, we present Sound Opinions. The show features several veterans who first started in 1993 and will be sure to give you a wonderful time and some insights too. Music podcasts for musicians should offer consistency in attracting people and Sound Opinions knows this best.

Disgraceland

In as much as music podcasts for musicians talk about music and interview recognized figures, you could always do with a little bit more of thrill and entertainment. You know what you hear on TV and radio concerning your favorite artists but how well do you actually know them? In cases of criminal activities, how well do you think those stories are actually told and how much do you think is covered up? Disgraceland takes you through a different path by keeping you hooked on all the indecent undertakings and actual criminal happenings affecting the music industry. You just can’t touch that dial!

Déjà Vu

If you want a whole diss-track written for you, try comparing Kendrick Lamar to Tupac on his face! Musicians hate it whenever they’re compared to other musicians especially if the object of comparison is of questionable character. In short, most musicians like to feel like they’re gods – can’t be likened to any other beings. But it’s often the case where you find music lovers finding more than one comparison between past musicians and their influence on existing ones. We might as well have that talk with the most informed individuals in the industry and we get to see how old souls get to be reborn and live again even in the present.

Soundworks Collection

It’s pretty educative whenever you’re talking with certain industry leaders. Nonetheless, the talk becomes really constructive once you’ve combined different industry personalities and bring all that knowledge to the table. In other words, it’s not enough when you just interview artists and other publicists; once you’ve brought in sound designers, film composers and the likes, that becomes one podcast for musicians you can’t be found missing!

Dissect

Even before partnering with Spotify, Cole Cuchna was already doing a wonderful job in his one-man army music podcast where he brings in a different sensation. He spends time on his music podcast analyzing and dissecting a music album into bits which could take over 20 hours to fully cover. He breaks down an album a song at a time and each season differs depending on the size and nature of the album. Some of his best works include the analysis on Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly.

Couch Wisdom

There are plenty of qualified music schools which have helped thousands of musicians in the past. Some have a deeper focus on the younger learner and others will take students of all ages. Nonetheless, some knowledge you just don’t acquire from school but have to learn on your own. In that light, Red Bull has done a wonderful job in compiling this podcast for musicians with the main aim of informing. Red Bull Music Academy gathers ‘lecturers’ with a wide industry knowledge who get to share it out on Couch Wisdom. Some of the best speakers from the already featured series include Alex Tumay, Bjork, Q-Tip and Kaytranada. There’s no looking back once you get started on this podcast for musicians.

Questlove Supreme

You obviously know Questlove or have heard some of his best hits. What you probably haven’t heard is Questlove giving you one-on-one on music love. The podcast for musician features other well-recognized personalities who all had a little humor, gloss and a ton of experience from their years in the industry. You’ll enjoy intelligent discussions from Scarface, label executive Jason Flom, Steve Miller & Charlie Wilson, and Grammy-winning sound engineer Michael Brauer, among many more. Access all the action on Pandora.

Podcasts for Musicians

Music, Money & Life

It’s vital for every musician to know stuff about music – it is even more important when they have that knowledge combined with useful money knowledge and life lessons to get you on your way. This music podcast for musicians is all about that – talk on money, life and a lot to do with music.

Conclusive Thoughts

Presently, there are more than a couple thousand podcasts for musicians with each promising to offer something different. You just need to know what you’re looking for whether it be industry news, glassy gossip or simple how-tos to see you through your music career. If you don’t know what to look for, however, the mentioned choices are a good place to start your podcasting journey.

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Tips to Improve Your Voice at Home

The internet is full of vocal fixes that many musicians love to use and try their luck to find the perfect fix to smoothen their voices. It would be unfair and unjust to say that these methods don’t work: some members have, however, not yet witnessed the full potential of such means it leads to a search for further options and probably end up with disappointments and frustrations at the end of the day. We, therefore, took it upon ourselves to conduct some research after seeking out different music instructors, voice specialists and online sources to come up with the surest tips for any upcoming singer to use. Take care not to kill with your charming voice if you are to follow through!

Understand Your Vocal Range

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The very first thing to do if you want to dive head-on into singing is to discover your capabilities. Knowing just how much you can do and achieve with your voice gives you even the morale to work towards maintaining that brilliance. Start by singing out different songs on a microphone as you record your voice with an app on your smartphone or computer. Adjust the input settings to enable it to record the unaltered version of your voice.

Do It Repeatedly

As you’re getting to understand your vocal range, you can sing your favorite songs over and over again as you get to work on it repeatedly over time. It’s advisable here to go for a song that matches up with your vocal range to minimize instances of strain.

Make Use of the Different Parts of Your Vocal System

Again, since you’re basically doing vocal training, you want to experiment out on different stuff just to be well equipped when you’re finally on stage or in the limelight. You can manipulate your tongue, nose, diaphragm, throat, and mouth to produce varied vocal inflections which might have amazing untold results. For instance, push more air out via your nose during your vocal training and note the effect. Try adjusting your tongue and have it transfixed to the roof of your mouth and note the voice that comes out.

Also, try making different notes and funny sounds as you affirm your resonance space and work on your voice box too. Try visualizing the vowel sound “UH” as you make different long pitches with it to sharpen your codes.

Let Emotions Out

Singing is all about communicating the unsaid words that fill our hearts, minds, and souls and having it come out with a rhythm. As you expressed what’s buried in you, even in your vocal training, don’t keep the emotions locked in.

Have a Stronger Voice

Next thing once you’ve analyzed your capabilities and strengths with your voice, it’s about time to perfect what we already know. You obviously know you have an amazing voice, what next?

Breathe Like a Pro

This should have been the very first point since it forms the foundation of your ‘singing house’. Most vocalists when vocal training will start with a breathe-in-breathe-out session to have their diaphragms adjusted. This also assists you to build up and be able to contain more air which might make singing the toughest operas a walk in the park for you. Work on your breathing even more frequent during your vocal training and see how strong your voice gets in the coming weeks. Try it for 5 minutes after you wake up and before you go to bed: inhale slowly via your diaphragm and exhale at the same pace as you let out a hissing sound.

Try Out Books & Articles

How are books supposed to be of any use in your vocal training? It’s not like you’re researching how to sing since you already know that! Well, books aren’t supposed to only be a source of knowledge to you as a singer; they can easily enrich your voice just the way they do your brain. Get into reading out loud on a daily basis as you maintain the tonal variations even in the writings.

Sing Out Too

Practice and perfection lie on the same page in the singing world – be faithful to your practices and you will refine your voice every day. Engage in holding consistent notes by singing out “Do Re Mi” up and down the scales.

Observe Your Posture

Avoid bending over, slouching or leaning when singing. A nice trick here would be to sing in front of a mirror as you observe yourself from a side view angle as you go on with your vocal training. This helps keep you in check even midway.

Your Health is a Priority

Once you realize you cannot do much singing when in a poor condition health-wise, you’ll be keener on preserving your own health. Simple practices will not only be beneficial to your general health but also will be transformational to your vocal appeal.

Stay Hydrated

You’re obviously old enough to have come by the advice – ‘drink 6-8 glasses of water each passing day!’ I’m not about to start narrating the health benefits to that, but you should know that this also works for your voice. Let the water be lukewarm and if possible, add a spoon of natural honey or a lemon slice to smoothen your throat.

Sleep Some More

It’s not only children who are recommended to get longer sleep: resting for 8 hours every night will have a positive effect even on your vocal codes.

Smoke!

You don’t require rocket science to know that smoke will have a grievous effect to your voice: no matter the level of vocal training you get into, smoking will bring about a natural death to your singing career before it even gets started.

You do not have to attend awesome music classes to perform the mentioned tips. Be faithful enough to carry them out at home and note the change that takes over your voice! Don’t be in a rush for results, rather, conduct everything with moderation.

 

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The 12 Greatest Guitarists of All Time

It was back in 1970 at his live performance in Atlanta when I decided I would become a full-time guitar player! Even though he passed on, Jimi Hendrix has ever since been my inspiration and motivation all through my career. I, therefore, understand how crucial it is to not only know your guitar but to also know who rocks the guitarist world. Following these iconic figures might perhaps trigger some passion out there for this sacred music instrument – it happened for me; not saying it won’t happen for you too. Without wasting much time, let’s dive straight on and look at some of the figures who have dominated our screens and filled our hearts with joyful tunes through the years.

Departed Legends

It’s much better to classify the guitar players so you know the ones who have kicked the bucket, the living, retired ones as well as the ones who are still rocking the music scenes. First, let’s take a look at our heroes of old.

Jimi Hendrix

Meet the American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist who would later earn himself the title of the greatest instrumentalist in rock music history – my personal idol! The guitarist would embark on his career at the tender age of 15 before joining the army in 1961. He specialized in electric blues and American rock and roll and would live to become the highest-paid performer by 1969, before his untimely death in 1970! He was only 27 years when he passed on: one is left to wonder what magnificence he would have up his sleeves if he had not succumbed to asphyxia. Rest his soul in everlasting peace.

Stevie Ray Vaughan

If you start perfecting an art when only 7 years, you can be rest assured very few people will match up to your skills when you are entering the prime of adulthood! This was the case for Stevie who would have all eyes on him as he went about his deep blues and hammy shtick. Blues lovers back in the day would definitely concur that Ray was and still is the greatest guitar player of all ages.

B.B. King

Riley B. King was the classical blues guitarist who liked to spice things up with something different. He is associated with introducing a complicated soloing style that’s still in use today by a number of electric blues guitarists of the day. The style was based on a shimmering vibrato accompanied by a fluid string bending – you could always expect a sensational high pitch in any of his plays.

Prince

If there was a performer who knew to take the stage by force without shying off and dominating the audience with relative ease, it’s this Minnesota based guitarist and record producer. The legend who gave up his ghost back in 2016 would usually furnish himself in makeup and would go on to win 8 Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe award, an Academy Award, 6 American Music Award and would later be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004!

Living Legends

The beauty in music is that it never gets old. You will, therefore, find some of the old timers of the 20th-Century still hitting the music scenes today and actually influencing it greatly. There are also certain notable upcoming artists whom you should keep an eye on who have both talent and effort.

The Edge

David Howell Evans is better known as the lead guitarist of the music rock band U2 since 1976. He has graced the music industry with 14 studio albums all recorded with the band as well as one solo record. The 57-year-old Irish singer is lucky to have won 22 Grammy Awards and is also inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

James Hetfield

All ladies love him while all the guys envy him: he is the co-founder, rhythm guitarist as well as lead vocalist of your most loved heavy metal band – Metallica. Not only have his skills on the guitar revolutionized and made the band popular worldwide but his well-scripted songs have also set him aside as the main talent. One can only say, Metallica is as good as it has Jamie rocking the scenes.

Slash

Talking of lead guitarists for popular bands, Saul Hudson has not escaped our watchful eyes. The legend is best recognized for forming and leading the rock band Guns N’ Roses and later departing in 1996 to co-found yet another hit rock band – Velvet Revolver. The 53-year old British-American guitarist would spin a successful career over the years before returning to Guns N’ Roses in 2016.

John 5

John William Lowery earned his stage name after leaving David Lee Roth to join the industrial metal group Marilyn Manson in 1988. As a solo artist, he has managed to decorate his career with 8 guitar albums with his latest live album recorded earlier on in this year – It’s Alive. He seemed to have gotten his inspiration after watching Buck Owens and Roy Clark play in their show Hee Haw when he was 7!

Eric Clapton

Getting inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is no big fete: getting inducted 3 good times is almost an unattainable challenge! He was first inducted as a solo artist, next as a member of the Yardbirds and finally as a member of the British rock power trio, Cream. The Times magazine would even recognize him as number 5 on the list of the best electric guitars players back in 2009. How about that for the greatest guitar player?

Buddy Guy

The list for the greatest guitarists would not really be complete with George Guy lacking in it. Baby boomers, as well as the modern millennial, all have a thing for this 82-year old American blues guitarist. His popularity would begin once he teamed up with the father of Chicago blues – Muddy Waters – back in the 60’s. Guy has been an inspiration to major figures such as Hendrix, Vaughan, Jimmy Page, and even Jeff Beck.

Tony Iommi

As one of the founders of Black Sabbath, this 70-year old English songwriter astonished the world after recovering from his accident of younger years which had him lose the tips of his middle and ring fingers of his right hand. The artist emerged from the factory saga with a different playing style that has stuck and galvanized the masses to date.

Armik

Armik Dashchi is a new-age classical instrumentalist who brings a new flavor to the musical theme in the Middle East. The Iranian Armenian flamenco composer and guitarist has taken a liking to jazz and plays it almost as powerfully as the great Miles Davis!

Now you know a bit about the artists who have revolutionized music through the guitar. Your aim should not only be to know these figures but to also emulate them by playing the guitar just like them or even doing a better job if possible. So, get down to those exceptional guitar classes and sharpen your skills as you make a difference in your niche.

 

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4 Bad Excuses to Ban from Your Next Dance Lesson

Since the beginning of times, dance teachers have heard just about all excuses in the books as students fight even for just a single lesson away from class. Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t bad whatever you’re trying to do, nor is it good.

Dancing isn’t as easy as the dancers like to make it out. It calls for an all-rounded body and thus involves varied forms of exercises to bring about the perfect stretches, curves, and reflexes. This continued persistence is what brings about perfection – something that many students only realize when it’s too late. Enough said; what are these petty excuses that every dance instructor has come by at some point in their career? Remember the world is the same all round – just because you live in some cozy apartment doesn’t make anything different from someone leaving on the shores of Mexico. The dancing taught might have differences as a result of culture, but the individuals being taught are all the same – so are the excuses.

1. No Time – I’m Too Busy

 

 

Do you think you will ever have more time than you do presently? If your answer is yes here, you seriously need to sit down and re-evaluate your decisions and life choices too. Unless you’re making plans to quit your job and be a ‘stay-at-home mom/dad’, then trust me when I say, you will never have more time allocation than you have presently.

Set Aside Some ‘You-Time’

You need to set aside some ‘you-time’. This involves the hour or two you set aside for your dance lessons. Remember, it doesn’t have to be a daily basis for you to reach the kind of perfection you have in mind. You can make it twice a week to your dance classes and determinedly decide not to allow anything to distract you from that sacred goal. After all is said and done, it ceases to be a goal whenever you keep altering it with minor distractions that seem better than the dance lessons.

So, the next time you think you don’t have time, remember this; you will never really have sufficient time. It’s totally up to you to make some work for you.

2. I Don’t Really Know How to; That Also Makes Me Look Stupid

 

 

Come on! Are you paying for dance lessons to just mingle out with your classmates or are you really there for yourself? Of course you don’t know how to dance; otherwise, you would be in the instructor’s position and not the one giving out your hard earned cash. But who am I to condemn they who lack any excuse to use but these!

Some personality traits dictate that particular individuals will give a lot of attention to what other people say or think about them. But come on darling, this is a dance class, and remember, you decided to do it for you. You need to cut yourself some slack or risk never getting better in your classes.

Take a Chance and Just Dance!

So, next time that nasty thought hit you that you don’t know how to dance, remember, we all started out from exactly that point. Even the best footballers were not birthed clenching on to little balls – it took years of practice. Take it easy and dance like you don’t give a single care in the world. It’s your mistakes that will see you making moves better than Madonna’s and the likes of Mikhail Baryshnikov.

3. It’s That Time of the Month!

 

 

Years ago, girls would get away from just about anything whenever it was ‘that time of the month’ for them. But seriously! Are we still in the dark ages or something? Staining one’s clothes is never an issue or an option nowadays; unless you bring about cramping issues, which raises a whole other topic.

Together with cramps, girls have always added muscle pains to make their excuses even more legit. That doesn’t work anymore nowadays – after all, you’re not working with barbaric choreographers, are you?

Good Exercise and Rest

The best cure for muscle pains is some good exercise. I mean, whenever that is accompanied by a nice good bath and sufficient rest overnight, then you give yourself the best physiotherapy. Moreover, the same is also applicable if used to address the monthly cramps that come with periods. A whole lot of girls have attested to lesser strain and reduced aches from cramps after a good workout.

That said, the next time you think of quitting a dance lesson as a result of your monthly flow or disrupts from sore muscle, this article should ring a bell or two up in your big head.

4. It’s Hard; I’m Too Tired

 

 

It’s quite hard, huh? Did you go for a sitting and standing competition or did you go for your dance lessons? You don’t expect it to be easy – that’s exactly what should motivate you to even do better as you master all you’re taught. This is also exactly how you’ll know you’re having the right kind of classes.

Strength of Will

“I’m too tired!” I wouldn’t even try this out on my instructor if I were you. Dance needs as much strength of will as it calls for a revitalized body. You need to summon that inner power you got to pull through all your classes without postponing. That’s the meaning of a goal – a vision which you stuck up to and wasn’t deterred from.

Now, this is where I help you out; for the best excuse to get away from class, why don’t you try the truth for once? Coming out straightforward goes a long way to foster relationships between dancers and their teachers. It creates a conducive environment in the dance studio that’s appealing at all times. If you really need or have to be away from class, just tell it straight to the teacher. However, if the issue is personal, you might also choose to keep it to yourself and can otherwise say you are engaged with family. Just don’t make this a habit as it kind of eliminates the essence as to why you are attending the dance lessons in the first place.

How to Start to Learn Piano

It’s a beautiful thing listening to an expert play the piano – it’s a magnificent thing actually being behind the keys, aptly stroking the keys and notes without a care in the world. Words cannot really describe this feeling to its entirety! It is this feeling that prompted me to continue my intimate relationship with my vintage piano for the past 18 years. We are honored to be the ones guiding you through this journey you are about to embark on.

There is so much beauty in everything concerning the piano: nonetheless, reaching that ecstatic point is the major problem for most people. Most students will lose focus of learning the piano as soon as they realize how tricky it is to master the notes. They attach this to learning a completely new language! As a matter of fact, this group of learners is correct: the piano has its own different language which you need to get yourself acquainted to, if you are to make any progress in your training. Having said that, what do you need to know to set this ship to sea and have it brave the storms?

Start from the Basics

Perhaps you have been unlucky enough to encounter one of those over-ambitious students who think they can start learning medicine today and get to treating patients the next day! These are the toughest to deal with since, more often than not, their over-zeal makes them skip a lot of basics, therefore landing themselves in trouble when in the spotlight. You better mess up when practicing than when actually performing. The following tips should come in handy.

A Piano Should Come in Handy

Since you aim to become not only a piano player but a professional piano player, you want to kick it off on a high note by actually saving up for a great piano in contrast to using keyboards or other Android apps. Practicing with a full piano will get you familiarized with the different notes, sounds, and keys. If however, you have an old one, you should consider having it tuned by a professional to ensure the notes come out as they should. Otherwise, you might have a really tough time dealing with the old dog and trying to teach it new tricks.

Master the Keys & Chords

Your aim is to use your piano the same way you use your computer – effortlessly! If you can type without looking at your board to find the right buttons, you should be able to play artfully with your eyes closed. Start by learning the major keys and even assign numbers to them if need be – it’ll make it easier to master them. For instance, the major Middle C can be assigned number 1. Different keys will also produce different chords. You should be able to master how each chord is created with the different key combination. Remember the chords have names – you might not get to know them, but you need to know exactly how they sound. This can only be achieved by spending more time with your piano.

Hum & Play by Heart

Once you’re sure of what the different chords and notes sound like, you should be able to reconstruct a song you’ve heard and play it. To really get down to playing, you ought to first accustom yourself to proper finger placement. This can be learned from beginner’s piano books which can also be found online.

Develop & Sharpen Your Skills

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Now you are no longer a beginner in your learning piano process – you need to take your learning to a different level. You can actually learn the piano on your own, but the best thing to do would be enrolling for piano classes which might really be useful – you will have quite a tricky ride nonetheless.

Source Extra Material

Instructional books will really help you as you get started and even progress in this path. By now you should fully conversant with your “Do-Re-Mi’s” and should even be able to play easy songs such as Jingle Bells. Multimedia tools such as DVDs and YouTube videos will also enhance the already acquired knowledge.

Clue in On the Important Knowledge

Certain knowledge should be at your fingertips as you learn the piano. For instance, you should know the 88 keys and differentiate the sounds made by the naturals as well as the accidentals. Understand the chords in the majors as well as those in the minors. Let your finger placement mirror in your dexterity as you move up and down the scales. Eventually, you can use this extra important knowledge to try out playing on simple songs. Once you get the hang of it, try playing more without looking at your finger movement but rather focus on the notes or look straight ahead.

Going to the Next Level

You should confidently slap anyone who calls you a piano rookie by now – your strong and flexible fingers should be proof enough of the efforts and progress. By this time, you should have sourced as many books as you can and fully gone through the basics. Now, what next?

Consider Hiring an Instructor

It’s admirable the efforts you’ve achieved so far all on your own: but they usually say that no man is an island. At the end of the day, there is always someone who can take you to the next level since you are yet to be a pro. Having an instructor will also help you avoid the more common mistakes made by most artists.

That notwithstanding, if still looking to learn piano on your own, you can plan yourself to visit the instructor once in a month just to have a check on your progress. Taking a class will also have the same effect as you will teach yourself more by an experienced pianist. Before I forget, you should also consider downloading apps on play store that teach you on the piano. These are available to be used by the hopeless beginner to the experienced piano guru!

 

The 12 Greatest Violinists of All Time

Immersing yourself in a musical career that works with stringed instruments happens to be one of the toughest ordeals for artists. Finding one’s way around all the strings and codes and learning the exact spots to touch, the right pressure to apply to bring about the sound that’s needed and also the correct level of tightness to be applied all form challenging aspects for most players. That’s why many end up just singing music or playing the piano or something easier. Nonetheless, the beauty in finding the chords and beats with a sound instrument is that you learn to make music out of anything. It builds in one a level of creativity and awareness that’s hard to attain using other instruments.

Time has presented masters upon grand masters of stringed instruments, especially violinists. Some of them have emerged to be influential philosophers who have shaped the way we perceive music amongst other different things. Once in a while, it is crucial to give cognition to such symbols who are idolized even after their deaths. After all, they help us shape our own stories.

The Best Violinists of All Time

Most of these icons started out training at a very tender age. Learning to play can start as early as 6 years and has several advantages attached to it. These include a higher sense of intelligence, stress reduction as one enter a meditative trance, unleash creativity as well as building one’s social standing and interactions, brings about a healthy heart as negative energy is released, as well as improving memory span and one’s attention.

Jascha Heifetz (1901-1974)

When you make your name in the business as the undisputed one and maintain that same appearance for 6 decades, then you are only bound to be herald, even long after you’re 6 feet under. He created a recording legacy that made him appear a supernatural and not just a mere mortal. His 65-year long career started at only the tender age of 5 and at 19, some magazine had already noted how he made God jealous with his flawless techniques. He was also an influential leader and is recognized with establishing ‘911’ as the emergency call line. He also led crusades to fight for fresh air and elimination of smog and became a perfect example of his fight and beliefs by converting his Renault passenger car in 1967 into an electronic vehicle.

Niccolo Paganini (1782-1840)

He lived in a time void of instant worldwide communications, yet his classical play and fame garnered an extraordinarily mythical scope. Other than the violin, he also was a master composer and played the guitar with such adorable poise. By 1832, his name had earned him such massive wealth and power that in the coming year, he settled down in a posh apartment in Paris. He was a flamboyant showman who fancied the stage and was always exceptional amongst audiences. Even if he later indulged himself in alcohol and gambling becoming an addict, he never lost sight of the actual game with his stringed-instrument.

Sarah Chang (1980-Date)

History isn’t really history if it fails to give recognition to individuals in existence at today – at the time of writing this article. This American nationalist has not escaped our list and is recognized as one of the many musicians making a difference in the music scene. As a matter of fact, in a 2006 issue, Sarah Chang was labeled under one of the top 20 women in, “Women and Leadership, 20 Powerful Women Take Charge”. She was later honored in 2008 as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum for all her professional achievements. What a violinist!

Viktoria Mullova (1959-Date)

Name the stage or the audience or city of performance, and she’s probably been there and done it. She won her first prize in 1980 and proceeded to best her performance getting her very first gold in 1982 at the International Tchaikovsky Competition. She will humor her audience with her defector tales from the Soviet Union until she managed to acquire political asylum with her lover in the United States. Follow her on Twitter for her latest updates on recent works and accomplishments.

Georges Lammam

Meet the Lebanese violin artist with two brothers who are in professional music too. This teacher is well known for his Arab style of instrumental improvisation. He has dominated the Middle Eastern scenes and partnered with a whole bunch of musicians making him not only loved and respected but also popular and influential. He has a certain reputation as a reputable instrumentalist accompanist with a very strong command of maqamat. It’s only fair to describe him as the dreaming diaspora violinist who’s aiming to put the Arab music somewhere notable on the global scale.

Nathan Mironovich Milstein (1904-1992)

When you spend 7 good decades of your life perfecting an art so dear as playing the violin, you are only bound to win yourself a Grammy Award or two, which would definitely mark the hallmark of your career. This fete he managed to pull off in the year 1975 for his recording of Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas. The Ukrainian went deep into his career even after reaching 80 and only called it quits after suffering a broken hand. The stars were shining on him since the very start as at the tender age of 11; he was placed in the hands of the very gifted Leopold Auer at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. All this would culminate to his American debut in 1929 where he played alongside Philadelphia Orchestra and Leopold Stokowski. As a composer and a renowned transcriber, one of his best works happens to be Paganiniana.

Gil Shaham (1971-Date)

Described by the New York Times as one of today’s preeminent violinists, the Israeli-born American artist seems to have it all. The young Grammy Award winner was also named “Instrumentalist of the Year” by Musical America. Although young touring the world is nothing new to this personality as his services have been demanded by orchestra concerts all over the world. Follow the auspicious violinists as he skydives into his career and brings us more creative plays.

Anne-Sophie Mutter (1963-Date)

In a world where men occupy almost every bit of it, Sophie astonished the masses since her start-up works and partnerships with appraised conductors such as Herbert von Karajan. She does a notable combo of some sexy old favorites with a tone of modern works endowing her with an enviable musical versatility and an unparalleled prominence in the classical music arena. At only 55 and she is still a beauty to behold – the same could be said for her refreshing piece of art.

David Oistrakh (1908-1974)

You know you’re doing astoundingly well when both Khachaturian and Shostakovich dedicate their violin concertos to you. This legendary Russian violinist started out his close relationship with the violin at only 5 and proceeded to his debut performance at age 6. He amassed universal attention as soon as he emerged the winner in the 1937 Ysaye Competition in Brussels where he bested 67 violinists from 21 different countries. He would later join a trio group consisting of a pianist and a cellist and formed a relationship that lasted 23 years. The teacher would, later on, impart his knowledge of the violin to his son, Igor Oistrakh, and he would then perform with him in later years. His good relationship with the Soviet Union finally managed to acquire him principal cultural ambassador position to the West in live concerts and recordings.

Ginette Neveu (1919-1949)

Meet the girl wonder who never was! In a tough competition in the Wieniawski Competitions, the young beauty proved to be the better of David Oistrakh. She had even begun making classical recordings before her fateful plane crash at the prime of her youth – 30 years – which claimed her life. It’s a sorrow just contemplating all the wonders that these set of French hands could have accomplished had she managed to live a few more years.

Pasha Cazan (Present)

The gorgeous artist who discovered the graceful art of violin playing at only 3 years is right here in the Middle East, and she plans to stay. Genetics must have had a serious play here as she knew her instruments quite well by 8 years and had even started assembling prices throughout the nation. The young and sassy ambitious violinist has traveled different parts ranging from Pakistan to Japan, Lebanon to Egypt and even made visitations to Cuba and Brazil enabling her to indulge in varied cultures. As a result, she stands out from the rest as a musician with a different approach to music, all of which is visible right from her play.

Pablo de Sarasate (1844-1908)

Making it in the “Who’s Who” list of the 19th Century, we present to you the master, the legend, the kingpin! The exotic Spanish decided to make a life in Paris, France and made a unique profile for himself in the film industry. He is featured in the fictional detective movie Sherlock Holmes who finds himself and his sidekick Dr. Watson spending a day in a Sarasate concert (watch “The Red-Headed League”). The prolific performer would later on forge deals and friendly relations between Germany and French which extended from the artistic to military affairs. Most of his works were published in Germany and include The Concert Fantasies on Carmen of 1883 and Zigeunerweisen (Gypsy Tunes) of 1878.

 

Better performances are bound to happen in the future; when it comes to violin playing, the violinist will always have some thrilling surprise in store for you, and the very experienced ones will have you on your feet as you award them a standing ovation. Violin playing is a physical art with pretty interesting traditions behind it. Therefore, take hold of your violins with the perfect knowledge that the longer you keep it silent, the harder it becomes for it to find its truest voice again – play, play and play some more!

 

Fan of music and dance, discover your rankings:

Guide: How to Choose Drums

Experienced drummers know there’s more to drumming than just entering a music shop and purchasing the first set that appeals to the eye. Drumming is as sacred and varied as playing the guitar, piano or even the sensational violin. If you’re a seasoned drummer, however, you want to make sure you have the appropriate gear and attire for all your gigs; something appealing that should match your genre, character as well as style, and prove to be durable. You also need to consider the design and elements of the drum as well as the size. What’s more, you don’t want to be impressed by something your pockets can’t handle; you obviously want to take a pick that’s within your budget line.

When these factors are put into consideration, then the drums serve the exact purpose they were made for. With that said, how do you go for the perfect drum in the market made just for you?

Drum Set, Things to Consider

The Size & Purpose Matters

Who are you buying the drums for? Is it for your massive weekend performance which have touring different parts of the country or is it for your 12-year old kid who has developed a sudden liking to the art? Size is an important factor when determining which drum to go for. As a matter of fact, they might all be big but luck some essential drum sets.

A full-sized drum kit will be particularly suitable for artists measuring up to 120cm in height. This ensures they can freely adjust the stool to reach the kick pedals as well as the rack toms. Whilst the bass drum here measures 22 inches, the bass drum for a junior sized drum kit measures approximately 16 inches making it suitable for a player of 80-120cm in height. There is also the artist mini drum kit which will have your kids perfecting their drumming skills in no time.

Electronic Versus Acoustic

As a beginner, you might be tempted to go for the easier option to eliminate much hassle. This would basically involve you going for an electronic drum whose sound you can easily control if you have nearby neighbours. They also have a compact size which enables them to fit in lesser-spaced rooms. The electronic drums work by triggering a pre-recorded or electronic sample which generally implies you will never learn how to tune a drum or otherwise hit it to bring out the diverse sounds.

If by any chance you decide to switch from an electric drum to an acoustic one, the difference even in how you play, will be easily notable. It never sounds as good as it used to, simply because you never went through the necessary training. Hence, the electronic drums might not be such a good option if you are seeking a career in the drumming music industry.

That notwithstanding, electric drums have added advantages including rubber pads which prevent you from breaking sticks, offer the best option for recording using connector cables plus the availability of different sounds built into the onboard sound module. However, they aren’t as responsive to your play as compared to the acoustic drums. They also present another challenge since they usually don’t allow space for expansion – additional electric cymbals or drums might come in real handy for your gigs, but this might be impossible with most electronic drums.

choose a drum

The Construction

In the making of a good drum, four variables come into play to determine the level of perfection for the specific drum made:

  • Shell construction
  • Woods
  • Finishes
  • Rims

The ideal drum shell wood relies upon three factors:

  1. Tone: The sound produced has to bring about a nice taste obviously.
  2. Abundance: It should not be too rare or upgrading some parts might be difficult; should also not be very expensive.
  3. Workability: Molding the drum into a shell should not be a hassle and when molded, it should maintain its shape for a long time.

In assessing the best wood for making drums, the following most appealed to us and emerged as the highest rated:

  1. Marple: Most popular with a highly-versatile make and happens to have a properly-balanced tone.
  2. Birch: Ideal for recording because of its accentuated highs and lows plus are sufficient enough to be used on both dear and cheap kits.
  3. Mahogany: Scarcer than the two mentioned above and is hooked with a warm vintage tone.

If the above doesn’t appeal to you, you can try premium options such as basswood, poplar or even falkata.

The quality of results when designing the shell primarily depends upon 3 factors which are the shaping technique, the thickness, and the bearing edge. Finishes on the outer coating, on the other hand, is done through one of the following 3 ways:

  • Staining: An easy process which could even involve rubbing some tung oil on the drum.
  • Lacquer: A more sophisticated process involving lots of layering and buffing.
  • Wrapping: A thin vinyl sheet comes in handy to cover the shell.

Rims, otherwise referred to as hoops, come in three common design categories which are wood, die-cast and flanged.</> The former two are considered much stronger than flanged hoops. They also maintain a firmer grip on the drum head’s outer edges. This brings about a more focused sound with a lesser level of sustain plus a stronger projection with rim-clicks and more tuning stability.

Drum Accessories

You cannot have a drum set made up of drums alone. A couple of things need to accompany your set for making a meaningful kit. You’re not going to be using your hands to hit the drum, are you? The accessories also need prior research before buying any, to come up with the right combination for your plays. They range from drum heads to bags, cases, and drumsticks. For starters, if you’re going to be moving from place to place with your drum, you need to stop budgeting everything into the slickest drums to be found and set aside a small portion for cases that will withstand time and different other modalities.

Drumsticks also come in different sizes with each particular size, suitable for a certain type of play. The 7A sticks are very light and recommended for playing jazz. The 5A sticks are also light and all-rounders but don’t work well with hard hitters. 5B sticks, on the other hand, are of medium weight and offer a quality experience for rock artists and hard hitters. The 2B sticks happen to be among the heaviest in the market and are appropriate especially for marching drums and the very hard hitters.

 

Now that you know your drum, are you ready to learn how to play too? Playing can only be as good as the equipment is. If you go for sloppy tools, they won’t last, and you won’t become the drummer you are aspiring to. Don’t be in a rush, therefore; take time, save up and buy yourself a drum worth your dreams. It shouldn’t take you that long to master the beats and hits required – patience will eventually pay.

5 Advantages of Providing Your Kids Musical Education

One of the most common extramural activities that parents can enroll their child into is music lessons. Whether you choose to make your kid learn a musical instrument or just expose him to the many forms and types of music, there’s no denying that the universal language is one that can positively affect people, young or old.

But if you’re still undecided, just know that your child could be missing out on the many benefits that music can bring.

1. It can facilitate learning and enrichment of other subjects and skills

According to Mary Luehrisen, Executive Director of the non-profit National Association of Music Merchants Foundation, making music has been found to assist in the formal learning of other subjects and enhancement of skills that are essential to the children. “A music-rich experience is really bringing a serious benefit to children as they progress into more formal learning,” Leuhrisen said.

As it involves more than one action, making music can also tap into a child’s multiple skill sets simultaneously, such as when they play an instrument using fingers while singing and listening to the sound.

2. It can help build coordination

For toddlers, listening to music can encourage them to move to the rhythm and improve their fine and gross motor skills. Movements like jumping can even help with their muscle, strength, and balance development.

3. It can foster language and literacy development and communication skills

Music education can enhance a child’s natural abilities to decode sounds and words. According to the Children’s Music Workshop, this effect can be seen in the brain. “Recent studies indicate that musical training physically develops the part of portion in the left side of the brain involved with processing language and can actually wire the brain’s circuits in specific ways,” the group claims.

Dr. Kyle Pruett of the child psychiatry department of Yale School of Medicine also found that it can strengthen the capacity to be verbally competent, adding, “The development of language over time tends to enhance parts of the brain that help process music.” Music can also develop the communication skills of a person, including listening, reading, and writing.

4. It can increase Intelligence Quotient

Research by the University of Toronto, Mississauga found an increase in the IQs of 6-year-olds who took weekly voice and piano lessons for nine months. Drama lessons were also provided to another group of kids, and compared to this group (who developed their social behavior instead), the children who took music lessons on, saw a higher increase of IQ points with an average of three points.

5. It can improve brain power

A musician’s mind works differently than that of a non-musician, even as a young kid. “Children involved in music have larger growth of neural activity than those who are not. Playing a musical instrument uses more of your brain,” says Dr. Eric Rasmussen from the Early Childhood Music Department of Peabody Preparatory at The Johns Hopkins University.

Another study by Ellen Winner, a psychology professor at Boston College, and Gottfried Schlaug, a neurology professor at Harvard Medical School, established that students who receive music instructions had improved sound discrimination and fine motor tasks, with brain imaging showing changes to the brain networks associated with such capabilities.

To be clear, music alone won’t make your kid smart. The primary reason to educate your child on music is not to make him a genius, but to make him/her appreciate every aspect of it. They will also learn to respect the process of being musically educated, which may not be easy and should be valuable on its own merit.

 

By: Andrea Harper

Andrea Harper works as a Marketing and Events Director at Fun Kids Guide, a site that lists down fun things to do with kids in Melbourne. Passionate about teaching kids with good habits, she spends most of her time writing about tips and ideas for parents to have the best childhood experience with their children.

The Emerging Musicians and Bands from Dubai

Great news for music lovers – Dubai is in the frontline in the music world with the best performances stemming out from the Dubai populace. As a matter of fact, the best acts and artists are yet to be given the recognition they deserve, yet, they are the most loved by the ones who have gotten the golden opportunity to attend their events. The upcoming sounds are taking over the streets and backyards of Dubai with fresh, new and amazing talent that is yet to be seen anywhere else.

So, which are some of these names you should look out for?

 

Jay Abo

It’s always an amazing sight to see an artist who knows his way around his tools. When it comes to the guitar, Abo tops that up with a layer of sensational voice in his bluesy originals. He has some reputable repertoire and his upcoming album, ‘FRAMES’ features exclusives like ‘City Lights’ and ‘Wait for Me’. You are sure to be dazzled by the artists whose domain still remains Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

 

Jay Abo Dubai

 

Follow him on Instagram @jay.abo.

Hadi Sarieddine

This is not particularly a new name; as a matter of fact, it has become a common household name since his works as the lead guitarist in the metal band Benevolent to being featured in the Rolling Stones magazine. It would be a crime to mention music in Dubai without giving recognition to the invincible Hadi.

Follow the songwriter on Facebook at Hadi Sarieddine for the latest updates on his works.

Hadi-Sarieddine-Dubai

Julian – The Iraqi Rising Star

Taking over the rap-scenes, we have Julian Michael, the rapper who wants it all and gives it all in return. The young rapper combines a mix of traditional UAE culture and all that Dubai has to offer, together with a sexy mix of Western touch. After his most recent release, Got It On Your Ownfeaturing Jeremih, he’s sure to be making a blast on the global arena in no time!

Follow Julian on Facebook at @juliansmind and on Instagram @juliansmind.

Julian-Dubai

ROOH

Bands from Dubai have a way of mashing up events with a sassy vibe that appeal to all types of ages. Nonetheless, ROOH does something different to the music industry. They don’t just offer the best sounds; they also impart to people’s lives by teaching music. They combine the rich cultural heritage of the Dubai people to bring the History of Dubai music and dance to real-time performances.

Follow the band on Facebook on their official page ROOH and join the masses for sensational soul music.

ROOH-Dubai

Afrocentric

New music bands in Dubai have neglected the spicy African voice – be it jazz, reggae or just Afrikana. This pushed the group by coming up with a group that caters for the black man and still appeals to the massive Arab locals: after all, music is but one language! Check out some of their best works hoping you will be impressed enough to keep an eye on them.

Afrocentric-Dubai

Hasan Malik

Music should come with a wave of energy that threatens to push the audience to the ground. No one understands this better than the 19-year old Houston-born artist. His works have received major applause and an ear from worldwide artists such as Rihanna and Coldplay. His heart-touching soul and contemporary R&B has enabled the singer to s

lowly dominate a section of the Dubai music listeners. He has continually displayed an in-depth level of musical awareness via improvisatory piano playing making him command a presence whenever on stage.

Hasan-Malik-Dubai

Follow him on Instagram @hasanmalikmusic.

Millie Page

The teenage Indie folk has only been in the industry since September 2016 but has used her talents in the guitar, vocals, and piano to create original pop music that’s sure to capture your ear. She has appealed to both locals and foreigners; starting out from the Jazz Pizza Express through the hurdles and obstacles to reach Tribeca with Go Play the World.

Her presence on Instagram @milliebvbxd is a sure sign of her slowly rising star – don’t take your eyes off that glow.

Millie-Page-Dubai

Imelda May

Imelda Mary Highem, the professional Irish singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, is nobody new to the music platform in Dubai. Her initial works include ‘No Turning Back’ in 2002 after forming her own band, and the likes of Love Tatto and Mayhem. She’ll be seen performing later on in the year at the Dubai Opera alongside plays such as Ghost the Musical, Jingle Bell Favourites and Swan Lake.

Imelda-May-Dubai

Dubai Music Band

Meet the guys who give you a balmy combo of western melodies and the insistent strum of Middle East instruments. Their sounds carry with them a charm that soothes the audience and relishes the soul in all the ways music should. Their plays have been heard in great audiences such as the Dubai Opera giving the group a large following amongst the large young Dubai populace. When they play, you have no choice but to hush as your soul plays along to the rhythm.

Dubai-Music-Band

Samer Egy

Meet Samer Egy, the underground Egyptian sound engineer and DJ who needs no headphones – he sees the sounds right behind each beat and instrument. His concerts have given him much popularity amongst different music lovers allowing him to gain worldwide bookings.

New musicians from Dubai have quite bunch to learn from profiles such as Egy. The level of determination and effort put by these characters over the years to make it in the music world is an inspiration in itself alongside the talented works.

Samer-Egy-Dubai

Follow the brand on Twitter and be part of the conversation.

As Per Casper

Moustafa, Zachary, Wadeeah and Carla – the Syrian-Palestinian songwriter and vocalist have made it in the music scene in Dubai through collaborations with upcoming music bands. Their collaboration with talented musicians over the years, coupled with their symphonic folk-pop sound added to the tone of Arabic makes this group particularly catchy and entertaining to the majority.

As-Per-Casper-Dubai

Follow the Dubai-based fusion band on Instagram @aspercasper for the latest releases and all glossy vibe.

Bands from Dubai as well as new musicians promise to make your Dubai vacation and stay a complete peaceful haven. What’s more, the music is accommodating to both foreigners and locals alike. The fair acceptance and combination of different music spices up the entertainment industry: some of these artists have even reached global stages and performances. New artists are seen, as the main contributors to the rapid growth and leaps made in the music industry – they actually put Dubai on the map as a sure music hub for all races.