Singing the blues?

Singing the blues?: "Singing the Blues?



Singing the Blues?

The Blues is one of the truly American art forms. It has its roots in the African American culture from the Mississippi delta in the late 1800�s (historian�s opinions vary from the 1860�s to the 1890�s). Regardless of the precise year that the music we call the Blues started, we know that by the 1920�s it was wildly popular around the country with Blues joints popping up all around the country and new recording stars popping up in unprecedented numbers.
The Blues, was (and is) different from most any other kind of music known in the western world and the contribution that the Blues have made to American music and lyrics cannot be overstated. It merged western music influences with the cultural influences that reflect the African American heritage from which it was born, giving us (among other things) the �blue� notes, which are often described as bent pitches which don�t fit easily into the western tonal system. Truly, the contribution of the Blues in America is great.
Inherent in the Blues is an idea, however, that one can overcome sadness by listening to, singing, or otherwise performing the Blues. But the question that follows is, does the idea (or philosophy) hold up? Can you overcome major depression through listening to the Blues?
Without a doubt, singing (or listening to) the Blues can be a fun, even exhilarating experience, and probably, if the listener is simply tired or frustrated, this music style may well be able to help. However, a pair of studies conducted in 2003 suggests that depression and other such conditions can best be avoided by focusing on the things an individual has to be thankful for rather than their losses. In these studies they found that people who were actively keeping a journal of thi"

Successful kids

Successful kids: "To Make Your Kids More Successful, Teach Them Music!



To Make Your Kids More Successful, Teach Them Music!
Benefits of Music Education Shown to Include Leadership and Teamwork Skills

Besides being a sure way to become the life of the party, learning to play an instrument can make your children smarter, better adjusted, and better equipped to adopt a position of leadership in a diverse world.
The idea that music education makes children smarter isn't just our opinion. Music has a mathematical precision; the rhythms, pitches, and motifs in musical composition can all be expressed with numbers and equations. Maybe that is why the 1993 Standardized Achievement Test (SAT) showed above-average scores in both mathematical and verbal portions of the test by high school students who studied music.[1] At the time, President Bill Clinton and Education Secretary Richard Riley were calling for enriched arts education for all children.[2]
Being smart is important, but it's also critical that children be well adjusted. Children with music education�especially in a school setting with other musicians�develop the key people-skills that are essential to functioning in society, including teamwork, problem solving, and leadership. They gain from the hard work of music mastery, learning self-discipline and self-worth through accomplishments.[3] Studies demonstrate that the students most likely to be elected to class office, achieve the highest grades, or receive honors for academic achievement are the students who�you guessed it�study music.[4]
There is also an impossible to quantify, yet essential quality that music adds to each of our lives. If, as argued by the Oxford Review of Education as far back as 1996, the richness of music is itself enough justification for the tea"

Learn an instrumente

Learn an instrumente: "Learn an Instrument, Prepare for a Career



Learn an Instrument, Prepare for a Career
Invisible Career-Path Available Only to Musicians
For a skilled musician, there is an additional career path that is invisible to the non-musician. This is an additional benefit beyond the pleasure of playing music, the attention it brings, and the better academic performance than students who do not learn to play a musical instrument.[1] It is a broad range of extra career opportunities that non-musicians never even consider.
But if you're a musician, you can apply. Let's take a look at these careers that are available only to musicians
Education: Are you a musician who has also studied education? If so, there are numerous music education opportunities that may interest you:
Music educator at a college, conservatory, university
Music teacher at secondary or elementary school
Private music instructor
Music supervisor
Choir director
Therapy: Are you a musician who has also studied psychiatry? You can practice the trade of music therapy in a wide array of settings. Some of the sources of employment for music therapists are the following:
Schools
Universities
Nursing Homes
Mental health clinics
Correctional Facilities
Private practice
Business: Ever wonder what it takes to work in business management? Besides business smarts, an ability to talk the language of music will take you places the non-musican cannot go:
Artist Manager or Agent
Talent Agent
Concert Promoter
Independent Radio Promoter
Music Business Entrepreneur
Music Business Consultant
Record Company Executive
Music Publisher
Tour Coordinator
Performance: Actors are more highly valued if they have a musical"

I Like It -- But Is It Music?

I Like It -- But Is It Music?: "I Like It, But Is It Music?

I Like It, But Is It Music?

Learn to Describe What You Like through Musical Education
Are you frustrated when you try to explain your taste in music? Fortunately, one of the benefits of learning a musical instrument is a better understanding of your own musical taste. Learn to play an instrument, and soon you will be able to discuss what works or doesn�t work for you, in music.
It may come as a surprise, but the European tradition is rife with arguments not only about whether a song is good or bad, but also whether a song is music at all. John Cage, a composer famous for taking the position that any sound could be music, sometimes left portions of his compositions to chance and would use non-standard instruments. Often, arguments about music are really about whether you are able to express your opinion.
Let's take a look at the music fundamentals. When you understand the concepts of pitch, melody, harmony, rhythm, and articulation, you will be well on your way to expressing your opinions about music.
Pitch: Simply put, when you say a sound is high or low, you are describing the pitch. Each note in music is a pitch defined.
Melody: You could think of a melody something you hum. A melody is a series of notes played in succession. This is sometimes called the 'horizontal' part of music, in reference to written notes on a scale.
Harmony: Harmony is what happens when multiple notes are played simultaneously. The combined sound adds depth to the melody. 'Chords' consist of three or more notes played simultaneously, with each chord named for notes.
Rhythm: Most Western music relies on an even beat beneath the music. Each note takes up one of these beats or a portion of it. Other cultures"

Articles by Arnie the Fish-Master

Take some time off from your music and read these articles.

Articles by Arnie the Fish-Master

What Chords Do I Have To Know? - Podcast

Articles by Duane

Articles by Duane: "Articles by Duane About Music & Life

'The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe' Einstein Would Have Loved It!
Einstein would have loved the movie 'The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe' because it is filled with not only imagination, but also time dilation and wormholes that tunnel into distant regions of space and time and black holes and string theory and spacetime curvature... all implicated in his General Theory of Relativity. [December 05, 2005 06:34:21 am]
10 Top Reasons You Should Learn to Play 'Chord' Piano
There are roughly umpteen zillion reasons why you should learn enough chords to be able to 'chord a song' at the piano. By 'chord a song', I mean the ability to play 3 or 4 chords on the piano in some sort of rhythm while you or someone else sings the tune. To do this, you don't need to be a Van Cliburn; all you need to do is learn a few basic chords and be able to more back and forth between them in some organized rhythmic pattern. [October 13, 2005 01:23:35 pm]
Families That Hit Pine Cones Together Stay Together
It is said that families that pray together stay together. I think it's almost equally true that families that play together stay together. If play time is the glue of family life, our family is a sticky crew! [October 13, 2005 01:26:25 pm]
How To Dress Up 'Naked Music' On The Piano
What in the world is 'naked music?' You know it when you hear it, but the words that describe it sound strange, don't they? We've all heard of popular music and rock music and gospel music and jazz music, but naked music? [October 13, 2005 01:26:44 pm]
Piano Playing For Adults: More Fun Than Sex And Not Nearly As Dangerous!
The benefits of adults learning to play the piano are many and varied, but most of all, it's just plai"

Podcast -- Chords You Absolutely Positively Must Know

Podcast -- Chords You Absolutely Positively Must Know

Piano learning information...

Piano learning information...

http://www.musichords.com

Looking for information on learning gospel or jazz piano or just to play for your own enjoyment? The Real Truth About learning to play the piano as an intelligent adult... The fastest and most direct route is to
Learn Chords & Chord Progressions!
Learning to play the piano without using chords is like driving a car without wheels!
Learn all about chords and chord progressions
Chords are the "backdoor" to exciting piano playing, because with chords, you don't have to be tired to the written sheet music of a song. Chords are the magic key that unlock the secrets of exciting piano playing. You can start with just 3 chords and play hundreds of songs. Learn 4 more chords and play thousands of songs!

http://www.musichords.com/sop/sitemap_learn_music_piano_read.html

I Like It -- But Is It Music?

I Like It -- But Is It Music?

I Like It -- But Is It Music?

I Like It -- But Is It Music?

I Like It, But Is It Music?

Learn to Describe What You Like through Musical Education
Are you frustrated when you try to explain your taste in music? Fortunately, one of the benefits of learning a musical instrument is a better understanding of your own musical taste. Learn to play an instrument, and soon you will be able to discuss what works or doesn’t work for you, in music.