Playing a musical instrument often entails uninteresting tasks such as playing scales that can become boring. Scales are a necessary evil, if you will and if applied properly can be a path to better playing, no matter the instrument. If you can remember why you are playing scales you can receive the best result from their use.

How Do Scales Help?

Scales are helpful for the improvement of technique in your playing, being it guitar or piano. Scales help you to perform more challenging pieces. You will understand music theory more when you grasp scales, they go hand in hand. Jazz players will attest to the importance of scales to playing jazz music. To be unfamiliar with scales is to not be able to read the road map of music, especially in jazz.

Scales must be a part of every serious practice in order to make them second nature. One of the benefits of scales is to warm up your fingers before you begin playing.

Tips for Practice With Scales

It is important to start with a scale that is easy for you. Remember to not push too hard at first. A short run, say a triad or even less is a good place to warm up before you move to a full octave or even more. Move your starting point up a half step at a time until you have moved up an octave. Next you will repeat the process with a different scale, say a minor one instead of a major one.

The patterns you learn as you play scales will become part of your permanent muscle memory. As you progress you will be able to play one scale after another as you move up and down. Your technique as you play scales is vitally important. Scales practice is often dreaded and feared by all musicians until you understand what it will do for you.
You are developing good or bad habits as you play scales, so concentrate and play well.

It doesn’t matter if you are completely new to performing on stage or you are a seasoned performer, there are a number of things you can do to make the very best of your performance. These tips have been taken from the experts – those who get up and perform with stability and amazing talent every week – we have compiled them here to make sure you perform at the best of your ability every time you go on stage.

1)    Ignore the self-doubt. Have the courage to share your talent with others. Almost every single musician in the world will hear a little voice somewhere in the back of his mind just before he goes on stage that will say something along the lines of “what are you doing? You can’t do this!” Remember that you have worked hard to practice your guitar, and that you know exactly what you are going to play.

2)     Know your repertoire. Once you have a repertoire of songs, it only has to be ten or twelve songs that you play well and enjoy playing, memorize them.

3)    Mix it up a bit. When you have the ten or twelve songs that you have chosen, take a look at them and make sure that they are crowd pleasers! Make sure there is s a good mix of rhythms and tempos – a variation in music is much more valid to an audience than a selection of songs based around the same chord. Make sure that the songs you have chosen vary in difficulty as well – if it’s your first time on stage then playing something technically difficult may be a stretch – but you should also push yourself a little at the same time. By challenging yourself your skills will develop quicker.

4)    Distract yourself. There is one famous case of an outdoor concert going out live where the band on stage had to put up with the next band warming up directly behind them – these sorts of things will happen when you perform. When you play in front of an audience, there will be distractions. So be ready – when you practice at home, put the TV on, or the radio. By doing this you will be training yourself to play with any distractions a room full of people will throw at you!

5)    Play easy to start. Seasoned performers often start with a strong upbeat song with a medium tempo – not only does this warm you up nicely, but it also warms the audience up as well. Then, when the more technically difficult songs come later both you and the audience are prepared. Put the songs that you have selected in order so that the easiest to play come first. By doing this, when you get to the more difficult songs your fingers should be nicely warmed up

6)    Sleep! Make sure you get a good night’s sleep before any important gig, as sleep will naturally lower your anxiety levels as well as increase your concentration and eliminating mistakes.

7)    No Alcohol! Alcohol and caffeine are the destructors of many a good concert. Alcohol works by slowing down your reaction time, and your awareness of what is going on around you. Therefore, you might think you are playing superbly, when really the audience switched off quite some time ago. Caffeine does the opposite – it heightens your awareness which leads you to become even more anxious and make more mistakes.

8)    Be prepared! Make sure you have the directions to the gig – the last thing you want to be doing is having an argument about where the venue is half hour before you go on stage! Make sure you have all your clothes, equipment and directions ready the night before.

9)    Be equipped. Stock your gig bag with extra strings and plectrums in your gig bag, as well as extra batteries and leads. If you leave nothing to chance, then you diminish the possibility of anything going wrong that can’t be fixed.

10)    Relax and enjoy it. What is the worst thing that could possibly happen?? Playing in front of an audience is a massive part of the creative process – the more you practice it the better at it you will get!

Copyright 2009 Liam Gibson (Stage Guitarist)

Almost all people will feel the effects of stage fright when performing. You must learn to not think about  the audience when you are performing.  If you have learned your number, the performance is your main concern, not what someone may think of you. It is best at first to not look any audience member directly in the eye for fear of losing your place or being distracted by their demeanor.  Pick a spot on the wall in the back or a light fixture and sing to that spot.  No one will notice.

Start with an easy selection for you; one in which you do not have to worry about making a mistake.  The first number should be the one that gets you past the jitters and allows you to relax a bit.  Do not attempt the difficult portions of your performance until you are at ease and warmed up.  After your first number, the audience will applaud and you will feel much better about your performance.  Let small steps lead to larger steps.

With help, time and study all of us can learn to manage our worst anxieties; even stage fright.  To be humiliated is the anxiety we face.  Learn how to manage stage fright and manage you own phobias .

Over and over again, I have heard someone say, “I don’t like classical music!”  But did you know that all music evolved from classical music? Some of the early music can hardly be recognized as a sound, let alone music!

Most of the early music resembled what we now term “chant”.  The chant is still used in protests, religious services, sports games and other ways.  The early musicians used composition of new music to practice and contribute to their religion. Music evolved through the periods of medieval, renaissance and baroque styles. Some of these styles were not very melodic.  When the classical period was borne, music was exceptionally creative and drew listener interest and respect.

From this beginning, all of the greatest composers evolved.  Many of the great composers were very involved in their personal religious efforts and wrote their music for that purpose.  George Frideric Handel is a prime example of religious purpose when he composed “The Messiah”.  Many of the independent pieces of “The Messiah” are performed and listened to almost daily . . it’s just the unknowing listener who does not connect the music with the name of the composer and the composer’s works. Another example of religious purpose is “Silent Night” a very well known Christmas anthem composed by Franz Gruber.  “Largo”, listened to fairly frequently, is another example of an individual piece extracted from a much larger composition.  It is actually from an Italian opera, composed by George Frideric Handel.

Johann Sebastian Bach, a descendent of a long line of musical “Bachs”, was a church organist at 18 years of age. As history progressed, he was known as the greatest organist in Germany and very much in demand.  Many of our current day organ preludes (music played before religious services begin) were the compositions of Johann Sebastian Bach. Much of his music concentrated on the organ but other music has been written for the orchestra, piano and voice. One of of his works of modern favoritism is (Aire on a G-String). While this piece was written for the violin, there are also variations written for the piano, full orchestra and guitar.

Among the composers and their serious or light hearted dance music, there was one well known comic, Joseph Haydn.  “The Surprise Symphony” in G Major pulls off the surprise using dynamics (extreme tones varying from very soft to very loud) and, if the listener is not aware of what is to come and if the music is played correctly, could lift you off your chair! Hence, “The Surprise!”

Much of today’s music is written in variation.  It can be played on many instruments or on one and, perhaps, not the instruments it was orginally designed to be played on.
Variations create more interest to the listener, particularly, when the listener can identify with the instrument carrying the major part of the composition.

The summation of all this is never say, “I don’t like classical music!” because, more usually than not, you have probably listened to some of it every day of your life without being aware you were listening to classical music!  Understanding the history of the composers, who pleasure us with their compositions, will bring a new respect for their music.

1) Ease of Learning: Right now, learning to play the piano is incredibly easy! With the advancements in communication and the easy availability of multi-media, there really are no obstacles in your way. Consider professional teachers, online tutorials or you can even learn now by watching a DVD!

2) Cost: The cost of learning to play has also gone down considerably over recent years. For the cost of a good meal in a restaurant, you can buy a really good standard instruction DVD or a tutorial book. Personally, I prefer the DVD route, as you can learn to play at your own leisure; you can pause to make a cup of tea whenever you want, and you can learn at your own pace. Think of the DVD as your own private teacher at your beckon call 24 hours a day! Also, you’ll find that the vast majority of the good standard course books are accompanied with their own audio cd, which is always a help.

3) Use As Gift: It’s a wonderful gift to give someone. It’s a real treat to be able to share music with those around you, loved ones such as grandchildren, children or that very special someone.

4) The music: Got a favorite song? Play the piano and you can hear it any time you want! How many times have you listened to a song you particularly liked and then thought to yourself, I wish I could play that? What, exactly is it that is stopping you from doing so? A quick visit to your local library will present you with sheet music for all levels of expertise. You can even go online and print off sheet music; some websites even let you listen to the music online as you play. This way you can get a real feel for the song.

5) Bonding: There’s really nothing better for that bonding experience. For hundreds of years the music of the piano has brought people together; imagine if you could initiate a sing along with your family! Believe me when I say, it really is a special experience for all the family. To take it a level further, get them to join in! There is a great deal of music that can be played by two people (called a duet) at once.

6) Music Basics: It’s very much like riding a bike – when you know the basics, you
are off and riding! Piano playing can only get better with practice and longevity (unlike riding a bike, which can be a bit challenging as you get older). The more frequent you play, the more you will learn.

7) Depth of Sound: It’s like having your own mini-orchestra! The piano is a wonderfully versatile instrument. You can play simultaneous notes (treble and bass, usually right hand and left hand) on it without too much difficulty. Most other instruments are restricted to a single sound which is why it stands out from other instruments.

Learn Music Language: You will find yourself understanding how music is put together, and this, in itself, will give you a much better idea of what exactly the composer was trying to get across. When you play an instrument such as the piano, you will find you have a much better understanding of the music you hear every day. You may even surprise yourself by thinking up better ways to play, or even to improve it!

9) Body Fatigue: The piano does not require the physical exertions of, for example, the accordian or the bass violin! Physically, playing the piano is much easier than some other instruments and other activity– it doesn’t take such a toll on the body. Some people continue playing to a very late age.

10) The Tradition: Since it first appeared on the musical scene over 250 years ago, the piano has influenced just about every genre and style of music, and has even prompted the rise of many new styles. Any musical concert you go to, of practically any genre, has a keyboard somewhere on the stage.

Learning the piano is a wonderfully gratifying experience, and when you learn properly you won’t regret it. The above list is only a very few of the countless reasons why you should learn to play the piano. There are many more; I’m sure that you could even think of a few more yourself! It really is one of the best things you could ever do for yourself.

One of the most relaxing activities we can find,  is listening to music.  This helps relax our body as well as our mind.  Gender or age doesn’t matter when it comes to listening to music;  it is an enjoyable experience.

Of course, people rarely find time to listen to music in the comfort of their own home, sitting on their favorite sofa.  Fortunately, mobile Mp3 players have become a common electronic device allowing people to listen to music whenever they want, whether in the subway or when having lunch.

Mp3 players now allow people to do much more than just listen to music. Advanced players, called portable media players, even allow users to view photos or their favorite videos.

Zen 4gb player is one such advanced player which offers a FM radio tuner in addition to the player.  Using the Zen 4gb player is simple and it easily fits into your pocket.  Besides its advanced features, the player also offers enough storage space to fit a large number of songs.

Since listening to music in public has become common, even people who found this weird in the past are using them now.  Headphones have gotten smaller and smaller, so small, no one will even know you’re wearing them. Finding a little time to listen to some of your favorite music, or watch a favorite video is a very important method of relaxation, and the Zen 4g player helps you accomplish this. Give it a try; you won’t be disappointed!

Being able to read music is a requirement to speak the music language.  Music is a language unto itself.  Given that, how can you communicate if you cannot speak it?

Ensembles, bands, choirs, opera, jazz all operate on the written notes first.  As far back as we can research, some sort of written notation existed to pass the songs of a generation to the next one, as well as teaching people to sing together.

Before improvisation, defined as creating unwritten music over the written notes, there was the written note.  The written note dates back to 1307.  Simply put, if you cannot read music, you will never perform in any ensemble that requires it.  We could really stop right here.

Reading music is essential to understanding the theory of music.   The written note is the basis for all communication in music.  I know, you say, “Well, this is boring”, but someday you will be so glad you started now.

You can learn music by only reading it,  like you would a book.  How many times can you try to play the music from a CD or from another source and not know if you performed it right?  If you can read music, you can go straight to the book (sheet music) and receive all of the basic information on your own.  If you can read music, you can learn a song much faster and more completely without having to play a CD over and over and wonder if you played it right.

Know the way the composer of those songs meant for them to sound.  This is a very compelling aspect of reading music.  It can open up new worlds when you read a song from the composers’ point of view.

You may find all of the versions you ever heard or played, did not include the introduction, coda,  repeat or proper dynamics.  In “Georgia On My Mind”,  by Hoagy Carmichael, for example, no ones plays the introduction. Even if you have known a song all of your life, you may not know the entire version or the way it was meant to sound.   I know, as a performer myself, if I wrote a song and no one ever included a large part of it,  I would want them to know they are not performing it correctly!

If you can read music, you can discover new music.  Imagine if you were in a library full of books and you could not read.  How sad that would be.

When you can read music the discovery of a new world awaits you.   It may seem a little hard at first, but so was riding a bicycle as I recall.  In fact, the first time my mother let go from holding me on a bicycle, I ran into a post and knocked it over!

You will only become a better musician if you can learn to read music. Learning to read music will make you a better, well rounded musician and isn’t that worth the effort in itself?  Isn’t improvement what we are all striving for?  Learn to read music today and be a better musician, you will not regret it.

Finding music which can be tolerated while you work on your computer is a tough task! Your media player is not very accomodating in this respect. The available genre’s, I have experienced, are not compatible with sitting at your computer while you are answering emails, developing websites or writing for ezines.

My search for tolerable music led me to classical. The problem with classical is that some of it tends to put me to sleep. I needed something that would allow me to be alert.

One day, I tried typing in the genre box of my Media Player ll, “classical piano.” Only a few stations were available, but I clicked on Boston Pete.com. I discovered this station plays classical piano music but also orchestral by the great composers of all time.

In the next timeframe as I listened, I opened a text editor and started making notes about the music I was hearing. The result was an outline of my favorite songs and performers of those songs.

Preferred performers were Richard Clayderman and Fiona Joy Hawkins, both pianists. I found I could be on my computer anytime of night or day and really accomplish a lot of work when listening to their selections.

Richard Clayderman is a pianist and hails from the UK. He plays the old classical standards with a style all of his own. My music knowledge reveals that he does not always play a selection as the composer intended. Perhaps, this is why his style appeals to me. Richard has so much music available, there is something that should interest anyone who likes to listen to great music. Richard is generally accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Fiona Joy Hawkins is also a choice pianist. Her style and choice of composers is quite different from Richard Clayderman’s style. I believe the composers she plays selections from, may be a little more modern. I don’t hear Beethoven, Bach or Schubert selections. Her music and interpretation are very interesting and will keep your interest. Fiona’s country of origin is Australia.

Make life a little easier on yourself and find some great music to listen to while you concentrate on your computer work. Break the monotony of TV you are not paying attention to or listening to music which sends you reeling off your chair and prohibiting completion of your computer tasks. Read More . . . . .

Benefits of purchasing music online for downloading is that you are able to:

Listen to the music before you buy it. Most online music sites allow you to listen to each track so that you can decide if you want to purchase the full album of music or just tracks (songs).  Of course, you have the right to search for something else. This saves you the trouble of buying a CD disc offline and then arriving home to discover that you really don’t like it.

Portability: When you download digital or recorded music, you immediately have portable tunes! You can upload tracks on your MP3 player so you are able to take it wherever you go or, you could place it on your external flash drive, enabling the ability to put the music on a   notebook or another computer.  Downloaded albums are very easy to carry around and super enjoyable!

Downloading album music has quite a few benefits.  Below are some good reasons for downloading  music:

Cost Effective: Usually, it is more cost effective to purchase the album you want by downloading  rather than it is to buy a physical CD disc.  Downloaded music won’t wear out as quickly as a physical CD disc.  In some cases, you will receive    freebies which are included when purchasing the entire album for download.  Even if you pay full price for  an album when you download the music, you save in the long run because your downloaded album will not wear out as fast as a physical CD disc.  It is less expensive to download album music from an online store because an offline store has higher overhead expenses.  Consider this, when you download the music you aren’t paying for distribution, transportation to the shop, packaging and other expenses which are associated with physical distribution of   CD’s.

You May Receive Extra Bonus Tracks:   Frequently, when you are downloading album music, you receive additional tracks that are included with the album which aren’t available for single song purchases. Though lots of albums provide some or most of the songs, or tracks, as stand alone purchases, many albums include bonus tracks or certain tracks that are only available when you purchase the complete album.  When you download an album, besides receiving your desired music, you additionally receive some nice bonuses as well.

Convenience: Downloading music albums and/or songs is just plain convenient.  You can easily go online and purchase your favorite music while you are lying on the couch.  You don’t need to change out of your pajamas in order to go shopping for music!  You simply purchase the album online and then download the music.  Now, you have it right on your computer!  You can choose to listen to the music or add it to your MP3 player.

The next time that you catch yourself standing in an offline music shop, holding a handful of CD discs, relax for a moment and consider if it wouldn’t be easier, less expensive and more convenient to just go home, boot up your trusty pc, log on at your favorite online album retailer and download those albums.  You may decide this is the better way to proceed!  For additional interesting posts about various types of music downloads, come see us at: http://musicdownloadsforyouonline.com

Music has a way and an ability to bypass our rational defenses.  So you’re walking around singing a really irritating song which you really don’t like, but you just can’t get it out of your head?  Another example would be, think about how different music makes you feel; it’s not that music ‘can’ affect our mood;  it ‘does’ affect our mood.  Again, this is because it connects with us at an emotional level.  This, together with the physical nature of music, quite literally connects with the heartbeat of the listener.  This makes music a quite different channel of communication.  The music experience is a very personal one.

It is, therefore, no surprise to hear that:

“Music is the fastest medium for people to form an association (with)”
David Aakers – Building Strong Brands

How does this information help those who are starting an industry music label or running an independent music label?

Well, these insights are very important to anyone working with brands and music in the music industry because it highlights the potential potency and power of music to communicate at an ‘unstoppable’ emotional level with your prospective audiences.  Music is extremely powerful as it has a way of speaking to us all in one voice, and it needs no interpretation.

It is a fact that increasingly, our purchasing decisions are based on emotional attributes rather than rational ones and, given that, the strongest brands have strong emotional bonds with their audiences.  It follows then that music should be a key ingredient in helping to create and form that bond, and influence our decisions.

From an artists/band’s viewpoint, this means that your music can develop and grow as a brand.  It then follows that you can manage your music as a brand – extrapolating relevant brand theory and practice, as and when appropriate, to help you add value and sustain yourself over time.

While you might think that the above is common practice in the music business, I have come across very few artists, music managers, bands or labels (independent labels or otherwise) who adopt this approach.  The music business does, in fact, tend to be more emotional than strategic in general.

Understanding brand theory and practice , such as positioning, target audience, brand values and personality, and communication, will help you take a more strategic approach to your music business overall, but more importantly, it will help you create long term value over time.