How to Choose Music Recording Schools

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Whether music recording has been a passion of yours for years or if you are just getting into it you will soon discover that there is always more to learn. If you are serious about learning more when it comes to music recording then it would be in your best interest to apply to one of the many music recording schools that there are out there.

No matter what point you are at in your life there is always things that you can learn. If you have been a music lover for you whole lives and always interested in learning new technologies than choosing a career as a music engineer might be a wise choice for you.

When you decide to start your career as a music engineer you will soon discover that in order to get hired some sort of knowledge of the industry and technology is paramount. Finding a good school that can teach you all you need to know to succeed is the first step on the road to success.

Ever since music recording and manipulating has started to happen more and more on computers you will find that there is an increase in the amount of people wanting to learn the technology. The computer programs that is used currently is very complicated and hard to understand unless you are guided though it by someone who knows what they are talking about.

A music recording school can help you learn everything you need to know to get your new career in music and audio recording and engineering off to the proper start. When you have found something that you are passionate about and want to dedicate your career to it is in your best interest to get started the best way possible.

The one thing that stops many people from doing what they want to with their life is the fear of failure. The fear of failure can make many people not want to step out of their comfort zone and try new things to better their life. When it comes to making sure that your efforts are not futile it is important to realize that an education can help.

A good music recording school is sure to teach you everything about the field so that you can get a good job. Once you take the step to furthering your life through a new career and education you should stay positive and remain hopeful that it will not be for naught.

When it comes right down to what kind of music recording schools there are out there that can help you it would be best to do some research on them first. In order to get the best education you possibly can you need to trust the place where you are learning

Which Casio Digital Keyboard is the Best Choice For Beginners

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Black Friday Grab.com found a good article for guideline who would like to purchase the best Casio Keyboard for Beginners. This article wrote by Mr. Alex Buck as a Director of Internet Marketing & Music Schools at Umbrella Music and article source from EzineAticles. Black Friday Grab.com would like to share this tip “Which Casio Digital Keyboard is the Best Choice For Beginners?” for guide our shoppers.

He advised that Casio have been making keyboards for quite a while now and their name is synonymous with electronic keyboards, so you’d expect them to do what they do well, which they do. Casio are particularly good at making entry-level digital keyboards and they have a wide variety to choose from. This article will help you to choose the right one for you.

There are basically two ranges with different models within those ranges – the LK digital keyboard range, and the CTK range of keyboards. To look at the two ranges there isn’t a huge amount of difference to the untrained eye. But once you delve further into the functions and features there is a marked difference.

The main difference between the Casio LK and CTK digital keyboards is that the LK range, have what they call a back light keyboard. The back light keyboard is a tried and trusted feature designed to help absolute beginners to start learning and playing quickly.

He and the school use Casio LK digital keyboards in our own music school and he has seen countless kids and adults find this to be one of the most useful training tools, but especially for younger learners as they can become frustrated and unfocused if they can’t learn quickly. He is not saying you’ll become a piano maestro immediately upon using the tool – it just provides a very practical learning guide.

There are 5 models in the Casio LK range of keyboard: LK-120, LK-220, LK-230, LK-270 & LK-300TV. All of these models have 61 keys which all light up. 61 keys are plenty to be getting on with for absolute beginners. The Casio LK-120 is the entry level and goes up to the LK-300TV at the top end. Each model has slightly more features as you go up the range. For instance the LK-120 has 100 onboard sounds whereas the LK-300TV has 514.

Similarly the LK-120 has less rhythm choices than the LK-300 TV digital keyboard. As you go up the range you’ll find more features such as effects e.g. delay, reverb. The ability to connect outboard gear becomes possible as you go up the range e.g. adding a microphone and playing along to someone singing. One thing that is common throughout the models is the capability to connect to a computer easily either through Midi or USB. They also feature the Casio Step up learning system.

The Casio CTK-range is also suitable for absolute beginners but do not feature the back light keys. They do however all feature the Step-Up learning system as well more recording, sampling and effects features. There are 6 models in the CTK range; CTK-230, CTK-2000, CTK-2100, CTK-3000, CTK-4000 and the CTK-5000. As with the LK range of digital keyboards, the CTK range increases the number of on-board sounds, digital effects as you go up the range. The CTK-230 is the entry level, and it should be pointed out that it only has 49 keys, where as the others all have 61 keys.

Another feature of the CTK range worth mentioning is the appearance of the keys. On a lot of keyboards at this price range, you can find that they keys are a different size to those of an acoustic piano. Casio have made the keys to be the same size and to look the same as an acoustic. All of which helps with playing technique.

So the question is which is the best Casio keyboard for beginners? There is no right or wrong, but as a guideline, I would chose the LK-230 absolute beginners who are younger i.e. 4-7 years old. For older players I would choose the CTK range.

Interview with Swedish boogie woogie pianist Johan Blohm

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Boogie woogie pianist Johan Blohm (born in 1962) is a Swede who spent his youth listening to his father’s country and rock -n’ roll records. The imprint of Jerry Lee Lewis, his musical idol, may indeed be noticed as part of his singing and piano style.

Could you tell how your discovery of boogie woogie music was?
My earliest encounter with truly authentic boogie woogie was once when I watched a historical video recording on television showing Albert Ammons with Pete Johnson jamming a fabulous duet, the actual track was -Boogie Woogie Dreams- and I was mesmerised with the grove combined with the power that came out of these two pianos. Since that day I have been an absolute Boogie Woogie fanatic.

Did you already play the piano before that day you heard boogie woogie sounds?
You bet, I did indeed play piano for a few years before I discovered genuine Boogie Woogie music. I began playing piano when I was about six years old and right up until I became about thirty years old I performed rock -n’ roll as well as country from the style of Jerry Lee Lewis, Charlie Rich and Mickey Gilley. And this is what I continue to play most of the time but these days I spice it up slightly playing boogie woogie.

What boogie woogie written music books did you benefit from whilst mastering this specific music genre?
I haven’t ever used any specific written music books, I taught my own self to perform boogie woogie. I really can’t understand written music. I paid attention to the ancient pianists such as Albert Ammons, Amos Milburn, Pete Johnson and Freddie Slack and gained techniques and also inspiration through them.

I taught myself everything I play, almost everything I perform is more or less improvised and doesen’t sound the same every time. The flipside of teaching your own self is that you don’t get every aspect correct though the good thing is basically that you get a unique style, haha!

Who were your big examples in music in general and also boogie woogie specifically?
My personal boogie woogie idols are the players I mentioned before. My all-time musical idol is Jerry Lee Lewis, no person will ever come near him in terms of playing rock -n’ roll piano and/or performing. Hank Williams, Gram Parsons, Charlie Rich, Patsy Cline along with Merle Haggard are also good examples of my musical heroes.

Do you have dreams for your own work and if so, what exactly are these?
On a basic level I will be satisfied if I am able to play my songs and make a living with playing until I am very old. But I also want to be able to do concerts around the globe and have my music extend to everyone who love piano rock -n’ roll as well as boogie woogie. And I wouldn’t mind If I could easily earn some income along the way as well!

What makes me more than happy happens I perform a show for an crowd that is genuinely excited about my music and that’s really being attentive experiencing and enjoying the concert. Often times I’ve found myself performing in a bar where nobody is there to listen to the music, they simply have to get drunk and don’t care about the music. If only I were playing more often for genuine boogie woogie fans and do less of the uninspiring performances in bars but in reality it’s important to take what you can get, everybody has bills to cover.

What can recreational boogie woogie pianists do in order to arrange their first concert? To be honest, I actually don’t have a very good solution, I’m afraid. In my youth I used to be looking for locations myself, I called all of them and made an effort to convince these folks to book me. Once every 10th attempt or so the managers did. Eventually I got tired of this and I got connected with people in the industry who were far better at organizing gigs than I would ever be. I feel the key is to get yourself a booker who is able to help. However it’s a struggle, nobody really wants to book you when you’re unknown and also you won’t get known if you don’t get any gigs.

Music Review Of The Stand Ins By Okkervil River

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Okkervil River is an indie rock band from Austin, Texas. Formed in 1998, the band takes its name from a short story by Russian author Tatyana Tolstaya. Okkervil River consist of Scott Brackett (Trumpet/ Keyboards), Brian Cassidy (Vocals, Electric Guitar, Mandolin), Travis Nelsen (Drums), Patrick Pestorius (Bass), Will Sheff (Vocals/Guitar), Justin Sherburn (New Member) and Lauren Gurgiolo (New Member). Former member, Jonathan Meiburg (Vocals, Keyboards, Accordion) left the band to pursue as a singer and songwriter in his new band, Shearwater. The band has garnered positive critical reception, especially noted are each songs lyrics, intricate instrumentation, and thematic albums. 🙂 Okkervil River play songs that are heart-felt and all songs written by them are actually beautiful poems that ought to be remembered for a long long time. Clever lyrics combined with music that are full of emotions and touch everyones heart upon listen. They are as big as the Amazon River. 😀

The Stand Ins is such a matured album that even Adult and Elderly People will fall in love with it. It’s definitely a perfect album for my parents’ wedding anniversary. 🙂 It has 3 tracks which are pure instrumentals.

“Stand Ins, One” is just 48 seconds long and is the intro to The Stand Ins. It started off slowly and gradually picked up and got louder. Accordian can be heard throughout this song and at times, it sounded creepy to me. Nonetheless, this track will get you ready and build up the tempo and excitement in you for the next track. 🙂

What i love about “Lost Coastlines” apart from the awesome lyrics is its music. 😉 Patrick Pestorius’ playing of bass gets my head nodding each time i listen to this track. Not only that, the mandolin and trumpet also created an atmosphere as if i’m watching a big group of orchestra performance. As Will sings, “But we find the maps he sent to us don’t mention lost coastlines…”. He knows that they are lost on the shoreline.. And when it comes to the end, it will not be long when you finally find yourself singing along with Okkervil River.. “La, la, la…”

The beginning of “Singer Songwriter” resembles “Ain’t No Easy Way” by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club”, and it tells the story about a girl who has everything that she could ever ask for.. But due to this very same fact, she failed in everything she chose to do.. And nothing’s gonna change her world.. It’s also one of the loudest track on The Stand Ins where various guitar playings can be heard throughout this track. Beautiful country rock song where you can imagine a group of elderly people enjoying and dancing to this power-pop country rock track. 😀 Love it!

“Starry Stairs” should have been the last track on this album. It just has the quality to end an album. 🙂 Will sings as if he is sad.. “If you don’t love me, i’m sorry”. It’s the most memorable moment on this track. As he goes on, he sings about how a girl that he loves, lied to him. He has no choice but to say goodbye.. All the Starry Stairs seem to be falling apart as he climbs.. Definitely a track to look out for on The Stand-Ins! Play this song if you found out that your girlfriend is lying to you or hiding something from you! 🙂 Make her know that you’re saying goodbye..

Clocking in at over 6 minutes long is “Blue Tulip”. The longest song on this album. Blue Tulip, again sings about a girl who lies.. “Hats off to my distant hope, a little lie, a puff of smoke…”, sings Will, and as he sings, i feel the pain he’s in. I feel sorry for him. Such a sad song that it’s impossible to ignore this powerful ballad which sings the way to your heart. And it’s one of the reasons Okkervil River is famous for! 😉

“Stand Ins, Two” is another instrumental. A slow guitar plucking and piano playing. As if Okkervil River is taking a brief break from this album. 🙂

As its title suggests, “Pop Lie” is about lies. A story about a man who lies in his pop songs. Thus, Pop Lie. 🙂 Damn, Okkervil River is good at it! They write songs that’s so complicated until i have to listen countlessly to Pop Lie before i could figure out the real meaning behind this song. A man who has so many fans, from kids to adults, lies whenever he sings. Is this the real world out there? You be the judge. Anyway, it’s a guitar-power-packed song that is so radio friendly! Cheers to Okkervil River!

“On Tour with Zykos” is specially written for Okkervil River’s past member, Jonathan Meiburg. Will wishes him all the best on his future undertaking… “Roll your crew on down the road, to the next sold out show… ” I really love the piano playing of this song. I can feel the friendship shared between Okkervil River and Jonathan. And it reminds me of the friendship shared between Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon. Incredible farewell song to Jonathan! 😀

“Calling and Not Calling My Ex” is a very radio-friendly track. At first listen, i already knew i would like this song. The beat and tempo of this song is just perfect that it’ll make you go on remembering this song, especially the beginning of this song. “God knows i’m feeling really stupid now, forever having said goodbye…” is the phrase that i always recall whenever i listen to this song. And another praise for the piano of this song. I just find it very appealing and infectious.. 😉

“Stand Ins, Three”, another instrumental. Violin can be heard throughout this track until it subsides where it jump to another track… More or less, it’s the prelude to the next song…

“Bruce Wayne Campbell Interviewed on the Roof of the Chelsea Hotel, 19793 is the track that closes The Stand Ins. Before ending The Stand Ins, Okkervil River managed to close this album on thematic and anthemic note. This song is a slow ballad that Will sings, “Pull down the shades, let’s kill the morning…”, as if he’s disappointed and despair in love. But like most closing song, it ended on a high note, high spirit, trumpet, guitar and drums all came in together to make this a memorable one. Okkervil River have done it again! 🙂

Rating: I’m speechless… I’m totally impressed with the lyrics written by Okkervil River. The have this ability to write songs with lyrics that are so cryptic that we have to think through the words in order to understand the real meaning behind those lyrics. Not only that, their music landscape and genre is so focused that they are becoming the pioneer in what they are doing. Beautiful and heart-felt songs all in The Stand Ins, i honestly give it 7.5 out of 10. Cheers!

Stand-Out Tracks (My Picks): Lost Coastlines, Singer Songwriter, Starry Stairs, Calling and Not Calling My Ex, On Tour with Zykos.

Music to enhance your child’s learning skills

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A child’s development depends on all-round care and nurture. Education is one facet of their lives but so too are others. Music is one such factor. Helping to provide self-discipline, organizational skills and building teamwork, this much-dismissed program is an essential part of a child’s learning structure.

If you’re still skeptical of its ability to nourish your child, check this – according to a M.I.N.D. Institute research, music improves spatial-temporal reasoning. Scientists have found that children who take up music are better at problem-solving, evaluation and analysis and have higher thinking skills. It has also been found that children who spend time learning music are less likely to get involved in drinking or drugs.

For elementary school music lessons, planning has to be more detailed as children become more able to grasp details and harder topics or subjects. A planbook’s components should typically consist of single lessons, assessments, repertoire, resources and standards. Here, repertoire means performances; and resources mean the materials, available space and time.

Other elementary school music lessons can include integrating music with other subjects kopiervorlagen like maths and drama. At times, students can zone out if the music in the curriculum is not to their taste. Don’t hesitate to incorporate more modern music. By combining classical and modern, you’ll be able to pique their interest while also teaching them music worth learning. Remember, innovation is the key to being able to teach well.

Like any other subject, you cannot make your child -feel’ music. What you can do, however, is fill your home with music, humming and singing while they are still very young so that the trend is not lost. In fact, some mothers while still pregnant, make their babies listen to classical music to get the most out of the experience. Aside from its ability to promote developmental skills, music education is an integral part of human culture and behavior like gottesdienst. It also helps promote peace and civility in schools as the mind and body is made to integrate to create something that is beyond a person’s subconscious. Parents and others alike should band together to make music education compulsory in all schools, be it in the West, Middle East or East, if they want their children to grow up to be wholesome individuals.