Lady Gaga Costumes For Halloween For the Truly Outrageous

Halloween is a time when you can be truly outrageous and they don’t get anymore outrageous then the fabulous Lady Gaga. That is why Lady Gaga costumes for Halloween are right in step for this holiday. I must warn you though that you have to be really cautious here because dressing like the Lady is for the truly outrageous. The outfits she wears on and off stage makes her the perfect character to dress like for this holiday.

Halloween used to be thought of as a night to dress up as something scary like ghost, goblins or monsters. As a matter of fact the original holiday, which was All Hollows Eve, was the day before All Hallows day or All Saint’s Day or “night of the dead”. This was the day when the souls of the people who died that year crossed over into heaven, but before doing so would mingle with the living. On the night before All Hallows day, folks would set cakes and wine out for the dead to take on their journey. The holiday has gone through a lot of changes since those early days.

These days Halloween is thought of as a day to dress up in any outlandish, crazy, wacky and yes even outrageous costume you have a mind to. It can be funny, silly and even scary if you wish. Lady Gaga costumes for Halloween actually fall on the outrageous side. If you have ever seen any of them you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Take for instance her meat costume. I mean who dresses up like meat? Well, you can if this is one of the Lady Gaga Halloween costumes you choose to wear. Other outfits include her Kermit the frog dress, the bubble suit, the shower curtain outfit and more outrageous stuff.

Maybe you don’t want an entire outfit, maybe you just want to accessorize. Well here are some things you can do. You can get yourself some really high, high heel boots and a Nuevo dress or get some Gaga sunglasses and wear an old time swimsuit or just put a bolt on your face and wear anything and you can have that Gaga look.

Lady Gaga is ultra popular, ultra talented and ultra outrageous. There’s no doubt you can have a lot of fun dressed up in any of the Lady Gaga costumes for Halloween. This year get outside yourself, get one and be outrageous. There are even Lady Gaga Halloween costumes for kids. Above all have a happy and safe Halloween.

If you’re looking for Lady Gaga outfits to buy for this Halloween click the link and stop by the Outrageous Lady Gaga Halloween Costumes web page to see the selection costumes found there.

Music Therapy – Improving Health

If listening to a classical concerto makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, music therapy may unlock the secrets to life’s many mysteries for you. Similarly, if hearing an Abba song or even a cheesy old Marie Osmond recording makes you swoon with joy and delight and can bring you out of a funk, then music therapy may be just what you need.

Music therapy is thought to originate in veterans’ hospitals, helping those who came back ravaged from the war acclimate better to the often traumatic injuries they suffered.

Actually, music therapy is not as daft as it may seem. The idea is that music is used as a therapeutic vehicle to achieve goals that are not really related to music at all. The parallels are obvious: speech and singing, walking and movement, rhythm and motor skills. As music has been scientifically proven to enhance mood as well, it’s thought that music therapy can optimize people’s abilities to interact and communicate on many, many levels.

People who can benefit from music therapy are manifold. They can be both adults and children, either those who suffer from certain disabilities, or those who have chronic health problems. Advocates of this type of therapy say it works in a variety of ways, and can improve not only an individual’s emotional well being, but also help them physically, cognitively, socially and even on an aesthetic level.

Some people find it hard to communicate for a variety of different and varied reasons that are either developmental, social and/or physical, and feel that communication through or with the use of music is the best way to open up. Music is used purely as a vehicle; it’s thought that the communication between the patient and the therapist is the most crucial aspect.

According to the American Music Therapy Association website, music therapy can:

* promote wellness

* manage stress

* alleviate pain

* express feelings

* enhance memory

* improve communication

* promote physical rehabilitation

History of Music Therapy

The use of music to make us feel happy has been around for time immemorial, while the therapeutic effects of music have been recorded more than 1,500 years ago. The idea of music as an established therapy, however, has only been around since World War II, at least in the United States.

Music therapy is thought to originate in veterans’ hospitals, helping those who came back ravaged from the war acclimate better to the often traumatic injuries they suffered. An undergraduate degree program in the discipline was founded at Michigan State University not long after, and the rest is history. Many universities now offer degree programs in music therapy, and it is not as uncommon as you might think.

In case it all looks a tiny bit airy-fairy, rest assured that contemporary music therapists must go through intense training before they become certified. This includes not only gaining counseling and health skills, but also reaching proficiency levels in guitar, voice, music theory, piano, improvisation, and music history and reading music, as well as other disciplines.

Music Therapy and Strokes

Music therapy to help people with strokes is seen as being especially important as music has been shown to have a strong impact on the brain, affecting particularly social interactions and emotions. The therapy has been proven to help people who have experienced strokes improve their speech and communication, cognition, mood, motivation, movement and muscle control.

This can be accomplished by a variety of exercises set out by a trained music therapist. They include rhyming, chanting and singing to exercise mouth muscles, playing on the drum to exercise arm muscles and control and creating songs to match the patient’s gait.

Particular emphasis is put on exercises that can increase mood and motivation, which in turn affect a lot of other activities. They include song-writing, lyric writing, performing, improvisation and more. “The emotional and aesthetic qualities of music are used to improve mood, to increase motivation, and to assist in pain management,” says the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function.

Music Therapy and Heart Disease

Music therapy can also help heart patients. An American Heart Association Scientific journal reported the results of an Italian study saying that music can “synchronize and influence” the cardiovascular system, and that crescendos increased the heart rate and lowered blood pressure.

Previous studies showed that music could be used as a therapeutic tool for people with neurological impairments. The studies showed that music improved athletic performance, enhanced motor skills and reduced stress overall for people with impaired brain function.

There is also evidence that music therapy can help limit nausea and vomiting experienced by cancer patients on a course of chemotherapy, and that it can help alleviate symptoms of depression and insomnia.

Music Thanatology for the Sick and Dying

Another aspect of music therapy that is less widely prescribed is known as music thanatology, dervied from the Greek term “thanatos”, which means death. It involves the use of music to help with the physical and spiritual care of people who are dying, and to help their loved ones deal with the grief when they eventually do pass away. Incorporating the use of music in palliative care programs is becoming more and more common, as people begin to understand the benefits it can bring.

Music thanatology can take many forms. Sometimes a trained musician will come to a dying person’s home and play harp music for them. Other times people will play a “music vigil” for the dying patient, easing their passing and providing support and comfort to their friends and relatives as well.

“The goal is to support the patient and family, not to seek applause. Some musicians avoid using words like ‘perform’ or ‘performance’ to describe what they do, because these words may put focus on the person creating the music rather than on the patient for whom the music is being played,” says growthhouse.org, whose motto is “Improving care for the dying”.

A music-based approach has been scientifically proven to help people in many aspects of their lives. Both children and adults can benefit from its application. Look for a music therapist near you if you think you or someone you know could benefit from this well established health care profession. And the next time you hear a rendition of Paper Roses, suppress the urge to run the other way and think how much it could do for you…

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care an appropriate health care provider.

Sarah Matthews is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Specialist at Yodle Local or more Health & Medicine articles at Yodle Consumer Guide.

Unlimited Music Downloads – Where to Download Quality Music

Unlimited music downloads are now made readily available on the internet from different online music stores and services. Some go on a pay-per-download basis, while others go on a subscription service, either on monthly or one-time basis. They reportedly carry millions of sound tracks and MP3 files from all the known music genres you can ever find. The question of where to download music is therefore answered by going to these music services which provide unlimited music downloads. But it is equally important to know which are the best deals in town when locating where to download music online. We take a look at what is downloading online music from these music download sites all about.

Major online music stores like HMV, Amazon and so on carry many labels and their selection is fantastic with loads of music pieces, movie soundtracks, songs, music videos and practically unlimited music downloads are available for you to download. Never worry about where to download music again. However, music lovers after getting the thrill of downloading lots of music files start to feel the pinch. This is where the latest new generation of music download sites would make them scream with excitement again.

You see, the new music download sites offer unlimited music downloads. And by that, it means that you not only can find any title or album you want but also download them without any quantity restriction. Be it 1000 songs or 10,000 songs that you intend to download, it does not matter. These music download sites would charge you only once for unlimited music downloads at an affordable rate that even teens have the ability to get their memberships. That is the whole intention of the music download sites, to reach the mass musical audience.

But there are almost a dozen of unlimited music downloads sites that solve your problem of where to download music quickly. So it can be quite a challenge to decide which to go for. Do not worry as here are some useful tips to help you along to decide where to download music from which music download sites for unlimited music downloads. These would find you the suitable music download site.

Be sure to first check out the music selection of these music download sites. There is really no point in using them even if they have millions of music pieces and songs, ie unlimited music downloads in their collection but none are what you want. Most should carry the general range of music that are more common like pop, rock and so on. But if you are looking for specific niche genres which are a little bit uncommon, you need to check if the music collection at these music download sites carries your desired label or brand of music.

Secondly, you need to confirm the file format of the music files you are downloading from the music download sites. This is easy as many have unlimited music downloads in MP3 format. This is the most commonly readable format used by most MP3 players or digital portable players. So as long as the music download site has it, you know this is where to download music so that you can enjoy unlimited music downloads on your player.

Another thing to take note of is some music download sites for unlimited music downloads require you to download special client application in order to download music online. If you are a frequent traveller, you may not like the idea that you need to install software on your computer in order to download music. This means that you can only do so from home. As such, you may want to go for those that do not require any client applications to do so. That said, the client application does not need a lot of computer resources and can be easily installed and removed. It is really your choice when getting the unlimited music downloads from the music download sites.

Anyone who wishes to learn more about where to download music at amazingly low one-off prices can visit my music blog and begin your journey of putting unlimited music downloads on your computer or MP3 player.

Davion is a music addict and carry do without them. Find out about hot and limited offers for unlimited music downloads. Also read his wildly popular article for unlimited music downloads tips.

Top 50 Music Quotations

Discover the phenomenonal complexity of music and reflect on the way it can positively influence your life with this sound collection of riveting quotes…

“Music, the greatest good that mortals know, And all of heaven we have below.”
— Joseph Addison

“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.”
–Maya Angelou

“Music is either good or bad, and it’s got to be learned. You got to have balance.”
— Louis Armstrong

“Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
— Berthold Auerbach

“The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.”
–Johann Sebastian Bach

“Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life.”
— Ludwig van Beethoven

“Music – The one incorporeal entrance into the higher world of knowledge which comprehends mankind but which mankind cannot comprehend.”
— Ludwig van Beethoven

“Music can change the world. ”
— Ludwig Van Beethoven

“Music can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable.”
— Leonard Bernstein

“Music has to breathe and sweat. You have to play it live. ”
— James Brown

“Music is well said to be the speech of angels.”
— Thomas Carlyle

“All music comes from God.”
— Johnny Cash

“If you learn music, you’ll learn most all there is to know. ”
— Edgar Cayce

“Music is nothing separate from me. It is me… You’d have to remove the music surgically. ”
— Ray Charles

“Good music is good no matter what kind of music it is. ”
— Miles Davis

“There is no feeling, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find relief in music.”
— George Eliot

“You are the music while the music lasts.”
–T. S. Eliot

“We need magic, and bliss, and power, myth, and celebration and religion in our lives, and music is a good way to encapsulate a lot of it. ”
— Jerry Garcia

“Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife.”
— Kahlil Gibran

“When people hear good music, it makes them homesick for something they never had and never will have.”
— Edgar Watson Howe

“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossile to be silent.”
— Victor Hugo

“The history of a people is found in its songs.”
— George Jellinek

“Music is the vernacular of the human soul.”
— Geoffrey Latham

“It requires wisdom to understand wisdom; the music is nothing if the audience is deaf.”
— Walter J. Lippmann

“Just as certain selections of music will nourish your physical body and your emotional layer, so other musical works will bring greater health to your mind.”
— Hal A. Lingerman

“Music is the harmonious voice of creation; an echo of the invisible world.”
— Giuseppe Mazzini

“Music is a beautiful opiate, if you don’t take it too seriously.”
— Henry Miller

“I started making music because I could.”
— Alanis Morissette

“Music helps you find the truths you must bring into the rest of your life. ”
— Alanis Morissette

“Music is spiritual. The music business is not. ”
— Van Morrison

“Like everything else in nature, music is a becoming, and it becomes its full self, when its sounds and laws are used by intelligent man for the production of harmony, and so made the vehicle of emotion and thought.”
— Theodore Mungers

“Without music life would be a mistake.”
— Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

“In music the passions enjoy themselves.”
— Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

“Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don’t live it, it won’t come out of your horn. They teach you there‘s a boundary line to music. But, man, there‘s no boundary line to art.”
— Charlie Parker

“Music should be something that makes you gotta move, inside or outside. ”
— Elvis Presley

“It’s the music that kept us all intact, kept us from going crazy. ”
— Lou Reed

“The music business was not safe, but it was FUN. It was like falling in love with a woman you know is bad for you, but you love every minute with her, anyway.”
— Lionel Richie

“Music should never be harmless.”
— Robbie Robertson

“Give me a laundry list and I’ll set it to music.”
— Gioacchino Antonio Rossini

“All music is important if it comes from the heart. ”
— Carlos Santana

“Music is the key to the female heart.”
— Johann G. Seume

“The best music… is essentially there to provide you something to face the world with. ”
— Bruce Springsteen

“All I try to do is write music that feels meaningful to me, that has commitment and passion behind it.”
— Bruce Springsteen

“In music one must think with the heart and feel with the brain.”
–George Szell

“When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest.”
— Henry David Thoreau

“For heights and depths no words can reach, music is the soul’s own speech.”
–Unknown

“Most of us go to our grave with our music still inside of us.”
–Unknown

“I believe in the power of music. To me, it isn’t just a fad. This is a positive thing.”
— Eddie Vedder

“Music at its essence is what gives us memories. ”
— Stevie Wonder

“There‘s a basic rule which runs through all kinds of music, kind of an unwritten rule. I don’t know what it is. But I’ve got it.”
— Ron Wood

Resource Box – ? Danielle Hollister (2004) is the Publisher of BellaOnline Quotations Zine – A free newsletter for quote lovers featuring more than 10,000 quotations in dozens of categories like – love, friendship, children, inspiration, success, wisdom, family, life, and many more. Read it online at – http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art8364.asp

Licensing Your Music

Licensing is a great way to make money by placing your songs in film, TV, commercials and video games. This article explains what licensing is and how it works so that you can join the legions of music artists who are enjoying additional income from having their music licensed.

What is licensing?

Licensing means granting permission for the use of one’s music to which you own the copyright.

Certainly the goal of an artist who writes their own music (a la the copyright owner) is to maximize the revenues generated by the musical composition.

When you license the use of your song, say in a TV show, you not only get a fee for the use of the license, but it gives the song and the artist greater exposure to the listening public, which can increase one’s fame and fortune. The use of music in the TV program, “The OC,” has launched the careers of several previously unknown independent artists, Rooney, in particular.

Before we dive into how to get your music licensed, we need to go over some terms that are commonly used with licensing.

Copyrights

Be sure to file a completed copyright form along with a copy of the music with the US Copyright office before attempting to license your songs.

You can find the forms and instructions at www.copyright.gov. There are two copyrights for a song; a copyright for the sound recording (Form SR) and a copyright for the underlying song (Form PA). For our purposes here, let’s clarify that we are talking about licensing original music of an Independent Artist who is not signed to a label or a publishing company and who owns both these copyrights.

Publishing

Publishing is one of the most complex parts of the music business and yet it can be the most lucrative area of income for musicians. Music publishing is the owning and exploiting of musical copyrights. A song is made up of two equal shares: the writer’s share and the publisher’s share. Songwriters affiliate with Publishers because their main job is to commercially exploit (increase use and value of) songs. Most independent artists/musicians are their own publisher, and therefore own 100% share of the song. If that is you, then this is why you want to get educated on how to pursue licensing for your music.

Licenses

The license for use of the sound recording is called theMaster Use License. The license for the underlying song is called the Synchronization License (aka synch license), used when a musical work is synchronized in time with visual images, either background, theme or feature use in TV shows and Film.

Now we know the basic terms…time to learn what to do next.

Do your research by watching existing TV programs and write down every show you think your songs would fit into. From TV programs including reality TV, types of scenes in movies, video games, and commercials. Learn to think and listen visually; everything visual has a potential sound accompaniment.

Music & Presentation

What you will send will be a CD of your music with the track listing and contact information on both the CD case and the CD label, and a great cover letter indicating the genre, maybe who you sound similar to and which production would fit the music. Do not send a bio, reviews, photo or any extraneous paper because the music is what is being considered, so the rest will just be thrown away and not strengthen your case.

Research & Relationships (DIY licensing)

This side of the business is like all the others, driven by relationships. Start networking and reaching out with purposeful letters, calls or emails to those in the film and TV industry.

A really good start for the Independent Artist is to work with college students who are working on independent films. Although there will most likely be too low of a budget to pay you, you can begin building your resume/reel of having your music placed.

Next, begin researching who the music supervisors are on the programs you seek. Check credits in TV shows and movies. Go to film festivals and conventions such as The Film & TV Music Conference that music supervisors attend and meet them. Other sources to locate them are “The Film & Television Music Guide” (www.musicregistry.com) where you can find contact information for Music Supervisors and Music Publishers specializing in film and TV placement. You can also get leads by reading trade magazines like “Hollywood Reporter” and “Variety.”

The Music Supervisor

Music Supervisors are constantly looking for music of independent artists who release their own CDs. Independent artists are willing to negotiate for a lesser amount (with the risk that a TV show may not even survive the season, music supervisors try to keep costs down) and can create new music without having to get permission from a label or have a label delay the time sensitive process.

If you are a fan of a particular show and your music seems to you that it would be perfect, send a letter to the musical supervisor and let them know you are a fan and you have a song that you believe will work for the show & tell them which situation/ mood it would be best for.

The better you know the business of licensing and the terms used, the more likelihood for establishing a relationship with a music supervisor who finds you easy to work with and that, along with your obvious talent, can build a lasting alliance. An insider tip from a music supervisor told me if you

write “all sync & master controlled” or “pre-cleared” on the CD label and CD case, that they will know immediately your music is ready for use which is invaluable to them when time is an issue and that alone can help your song beat out another’s.

Negotiation & Getting paid

They want your song! Now what? A good idea when first licensing your music is to have a manager or attorney or someone who really understands licensing to help you evaluate the deal for use of your music. Things to be considered are intent of use, scope, and fee. Once there is a verbal agreement, make sure to get it in writing as well.

It is important not to devalue the song by licensing it for whatever a user offers. But also be aware that music supervisors may let you know their budget constraints give them no room for negotiation; that’s when you determine if the exposure is going to make the deal worthwhile. Think of unknown group, A3, placing their song “Got Yourself a Gun” in the then un-known HBO pilot, “The Sopranos.”

Walk away from any deal that asks for 1. your publishing 2. exclusive rights to your songs 3. your music in any way they want and for any length they want.

Good Songs in the Right place

There will always be a demand for good songs and music is used in every visual platform, so you, the artist/musician/ songwriter, have a great opportunity to make money in this business through licensing. Continue to educate yourself about publishing & licensing, continue to nurture relationships with people who place music, and continue to write and record fantastic songs.

Kerry Fiero is an Artist Manager, Director of the San Francisco Chapter of NARIP (National Association of Record Industry Professionals) and an adjunct professor at San Francisco State University teaching Music Artist Management and Music Marketing. Her company is Strive Management.

The Potential And Purpose Of Music

The dictionary defines Music as “the science or art of combining tones into a composition having structure and continuity:Also as vocal or instrumental sounds having rhythm,melody,or harmony.

This is a wonderfully academic definition and be it far from me to question the authority of the dictionary,however this definition describes more the process of producing music than it defines what music actually is. Music is far more than a science it is in fact a creative force a spiritual dimension of life. Music has been apart of the human experience in every culture and society of mankind since time began. From the earliest cultures of man until now music has been used to express a wide range of human emotions from love, joy and celebration to sadness,anger and fear.Music has been used to inspire patriotism,incite wars and promote peace. Music is so much apart of us that we could not imagine a world or an existence that did not include this dimension of life. My point here is not to make a case for any particular genre of music but rather to help us understand that whether we know it or not the reason music is so much apart of us regardless of our age, race ,cultural background, or preferred musical genre and the reason it affects us the way it does is because in essence music is spiritual.

Understand that any thing that has the ability to alter our mood(positively or negatively), give language to feelings we cannot express, or transport us back in time or forward into the future is a spiritual force. Music does all these things on varying levels. When we speak of things being spiritual we are speaking of that which possess the following: potential,purpose and power

Potential

At this point I must inform you that music like many other things in life such as money and even religion has the potential for good as well as evil. If we believe that music is spiritual than it is crucial

to understand that there is a good and an evil side to spirituality and spiritual things. For example the same knife that can be used to prepare a wonderful meal can also be used to mortally wound some

one. The same wealth that can be used to feed the poor and promote positive change in the world could also be used to fund the trafficking of Illegal drugs or guns. In recent years the positive potential of music has been rediscovered as many mental health and therapy organizations are now including the use of music as a part of there therapy and recovery programs. Yet this is nothing new, in the bible there is a story of a great king named saul who was tormented in his soul and mind by an evil spirit. it was recommended to him that he employ the service of a skillful minstrel(musician). He was made aware of a young man named david who it was said was a cunning(expert,master) musician. David was brought before the king and he became the kings personal attendant. Whenever king Saul would start having one of his tormenting episodes David would play his instrument and the scriptures declare that as david played Saul would be refreshed and made well (read more in I SAMUEL 16). The positive potential of music to change our society and culture cannot be underestimated. Which brings us to the next thing we must understand about music.

The Highest Purpose

Someone has aptly stated: “that when the purpose of something is not known abuse is inevitable”

when those who have been uniquely gifted to release the dimension of music into the earth fail to

understand the reason for there gift it is possible to unknowingly(and in some cases knowingly) use the musical gift in a way that it becomes a conduit for the release of evil,perversion and negativity into the world. This is where we come to a very important point. music in and of it self is a neutral spiritual force. what do I mean? Its like a glove lying on a table it’s just there until someone with the ability to give it form puts his or her hand into it and then it assumes the form of the hand that it contains. In the same way music with all of its potential and possibility simply hoovers in the spiritual atmosphere around us awaiting to be employed by some one who has the musical ability to take it and form it into a song or composition and bring the awareness of it into the earth for the world to hear. When this process takes place the music simply assumes the form of the one forming it. What ever philosophy of life or worldview the gifted musician holds good or bad will inevitably be transmitted into there music and songs. So what is the purpose of music? I do not believe that we can answer this question, until we answer the question of the origin of music. since we know that music is a neutral spiritual dimension, we must then conclude that it has a spiritual origin. in other words, that which is spiritual comes from that which is spiritual. The bible declares in the book of John 4:24 that “God is a spirit” one of the most profound aspects of God’s spiritual nature is the creative aspect of his nature, in fact the first thing we learn about God in the bible is that he is the creator of all things,that means that every realm,domain,sphere,atmosphere and dimension was created by God(read Genesis 1 &2). in the book of revelations 4:11 it says “worthy are you our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for you have created all things, and because of your will they existed, and were created. All things include the dimension of music with all its potential and power which includes those who have been gifted musically to release the benefit of music into the earth. Herein lies the purpose of music.

Let me say right here that I am not talking about whether your chosen genre is classical, jazz, pop, r&b gospel or contemporary Christian, the issue is one of heart motivation. As a gifted musician,composer,singer what is the heart motivation behind your music. The bible says that that our highest motivation as musician’s should be to perform,write and produce music that glorifies God and demonstrates the greatness of his creative spirit in the earth. Might I add that that this does not always mean that the songs or musical compositions have to be in the genre of what is known as gospel or Christian music. If the music was inspired buy Gods creative spirit

and the heart motivation of the musician or composer was to inspire and add value and meaning to

the life of the hearers in a positive, creative,powerful and beautiful way than this is a good work that glorifies God. This is what we learn when study the life of Great composers of the past such as Bach, Handel, Beethoven and Mozart. These men were master musicians and composers who were aware that there musical genius was a divine gift, but their music was more than just religious, it was inspired by Gods creative spirit within them. I only use the classical genre to make a point not to say that it is better or more meaningful than another genre,however there is reason why the works of these men are still used and referenced in the musical programs of our institutions of higher learning and even today are used as bench marks of Excellence and music mastery.

My point is that music has a purpose and the potential to change the spiritual climate of the earth.

And I believe that we are about to see a modern renaissance as the creative spirit of God inspires

musically gifted individuals both inside and outside of the church to begin to compose and bring fourth

music that will promote change in our societal and cultural landscape.

If you are a musician reading this and in your heart you sense that this is your destiny begin

by asking God to change your heart, recognize that your gift was given to you by the God of heaven and earth to be a conduit of his presence and voice to the world. dedicate your life to knowing God in a personal way and dedicate yourself to the craft of your music as a service for humanities good.

Charles M. Smith is a guitarist,psalmist, worship leader, songwriter, author and full time Minister and. He is the founder of CMS Ministries and Clearzone Music Inc. in addition he serves as the national director of worship for the Liberty International Network of churches.

For more information or to receive our free periodic newletter and E-courses Email us at: cmsministries@aweber.com, you can also visit [http://www.cmsministries.org]

The Benefits Of Learning Music Theory

That’s music to my ear is a common phrase used to express a person’s emotional response to how a particular tune can make them feel. Some people listen to music all the time. Some study the art of playing an instrument. It’s therapeutic; it’s enriching; it’s a way of creating moods in any environmental setting. If you are interested in music for more than the pure enjoyment people get out of listening to it, then learning about music theory is an ideal mode for you.

Music theory can be an important attribute in a person’s life, for many reasons. People often ask, “Is music theory necessary?” “Why do we need it?”

First of all, even though you don’t have to understand how to read sheet music to perform as a musician, you will need an understanding of music theory. It opens so many other doors for you in the world of music. Music theory will not show you how to understand music, but with music theory you will be able to communicate musical ideas, explore music in whole new ways, and redefine the tremendous scope that entails the magical world of music.

Music theory allows you to voice your opinion with others in the field, expand your musical horizon. Give a little input to a fellow musician and you’ll get something in return.

Notations And Communicating With Other Musicians

Music lovers all develop a keen sense of awareness, musically speaking. Sometimes, musicians explain that if they study music theory, then it’ll stunt their creativity. Wrong! The world‘s greatest composers were all masters of music theory: Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, J.S. Bach. These experts composed a keen understanding of the theoretical concepts. Years were spent studying the concept, down to some of the smallest details.

Music can be played by ear, picking out tunes without the aid of written music. Your ears can be your guide. The reason this is brought to light is that some musicians with strong theoretical training often disregard the art of playing by ear.

Think of playing music by ear this way: We’re all born as non-verbal creations. Communication begins with crying, making sounds, displaying body language. Parents quickly become experts on baby talk. It’s an innate sense. Over time, language develops by mimicking sounds. Toddlers don’t learn nouns and verbs; they learn to speak by example. Music can be the same way. Hence, the reason so many people pay top dollar for live performances. It’s invigorating, magical.

Understanding Harmony And Chord Progression

Chord progression and harmony, two features of music theory, help broaden any musician, regardless of their genre of study. Chord progression is a series of chords that are used to harmonize music. All compositions use chord progression. Those that improvise – which, as already mentioned, adds charm and magic to the environment of music – invent brand new melodies that blend in with an existing chord. It’s a musical transition, something that must be practiced, repeatedly. The great composers and musicians develop chord progressions and transitions until it becomes natural, a second-natured maneuver.

If a musician improvises in a more interconnected manner, these new melodies show the musician the progression as one whole unit, and not a series of bumpy transitions. The more practice that goes into this aspect of music learning theory, the more interesting substitutions they will develop along the way. Once the concept of chord progression and its structure is understood, it will be easier to remember. Jazz musicians, therefore, show a keen interest in the study and analysis of chord progression.

The study of music theory will show musicians and musical scholars that the objective, initially, is not to consider an entire composition in one sitting. Instead, musicians, students and teachers alike, view a chord progression in segments, or units. These units correspond to musical sections known as stanzas.

A stanza is the complete statement and development of a single musical idea. It’s a fairly simple act of dividing pieces into small manageable sections, with the melody itself forming, or suggesting the boundaries for sound.

Tonality, another element of chord progression, means different things to different people. Some would consider it to be this: any piece of music with a well-defined key center. Others envision any music that uses the conventional chords as tonal.

Music without the use of chords in a functional manner to reinforce a tonal center is not tonal. It is referred to as non-tonal music. The names of these styles are not always agreed upon between musical connoisseurs. But expressing difference is one key element that makes music such a beautiful art form, with countless possibilities.

So, if you are considering studying music, be it to play an instrument, teach music, or simply hone in on personal curiosity, learning music theory is a must for you.

Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of MusicianHome.com, a site that provides information and articles for musicians at all stages of their development.

How to Find Production Music for Any Project

If you are a producer, director or project coordinator for any type of film, television or video project, you know how challenging it can be to find production music that encapsulates fully the important themes and the message of your project. Not only is production music and background music for film and television often incredibly expensive, but the time required to shop around to the multitude of music providers or composers is also extensive. And since musical originality is often a concern, typically producers with limited budgets that can’t afford to pay a composer to create a score of music specifically for their film, television show or video project, but can buy popular music or previously used film scores run the risk of hearing the very same production music and background music they paid so dearly for in another film weeks or months later.

Many film and television professionals that do not have multi-million dollar budgets wonder what to look for in high quality production music. Because the market for background music of all varieties, particularly those that claim to be “affordable” and “original” can be so inundated with poor-sounding, purely imitative scores and individual musical pieces, weeding through the rocks to find the gems can be a painstaking process for which no one has the time or energy.

The following are four important elements to look for when shopping for the right production music and background music for your film, television or video project:

1. Excellent sound quality. This may seem like an obvious element, because it is often the most immediately noticeable when listening to good music, but many don’t think about sound quality unless it is very bad. If you are a producer or director, you probably have an understanding of sound quality in film or television, but may be less certain of your ability to gauge it in production music and background music. If you don’t have the benefit of having a musical expert on staff, you can certainly gauge the quality of the music yourself by thinking about a few important aspects. If the music has been recorded under the best conditions, you will hear a perfect balance between bass and treble, as well as consistent sound and textures regardless of the volume at which you are listening to the music. You will be able to pick out the individual sounds of different instruments and not just a muddle of sounds, some fairly indistinguishable.

2. Vivid, true instrumentation. Some production music that claims to be “affordable” sounds more like bad elevator music or music that has been recorded in a dark room by someone’s younger brother using a cheap synthesizer from the 1980’s. Even if the music is synthesized (and as a professional with a limited budget, you should understand that sometimes it has to be in order to keep costs down), it does not have to sound fake and hollow. Synthesizers are capable of producing instrument sounds that are true-to-life, and the best production music and background music will have depth and approach if not fully embody the richness and intricacies of real violins, cellos, brass, woodwinds, electric guitars and percussion. If you can tell the instruments are merely simulated, your audience will know as well.

3. Originality. This one seems like something obvious to look for in great production music, but is actually much more complicated than at first thought. If you can’t afford popular music, or don’t want to risk hearing the music you’ve selected in other films or television programs that have nothing to do with your unique project, you want to find background music that is exciting and innovative, but also makes some musical sense and has continuity, and most importantly, fits the overall feeling of your production. First-rate production music will have technical accuracy and stylistic importance, but will be special and able to stand alone as a piece of good music. Still, as a producer, director or project coordinator you will want something original that still invokes the attitude and style of your film and perhaps even reminds audiences of the popular pieces of music you could not afford.

4. Well-written and -performed music by artists with real and verifiable credentials. Production music providers, even the smaller ones, that are legitimate and of the finest quality will provide credentials for the artists and composers they enlist, and will have full and confirmable information about all aspects of their production music. Film and television professionals should be prepared to ask specific questions of these providers if this history is not readily available, because sometimes a very new production music provider will have talented musicians involved, but not necessarily yet have the resume to prove it. If the provider’s music has been used in other films and projects, you should ask for a list and make sure the projects are similar or at least remotely relevant in style and quality to your production.

Everyone has had the experience of buying popular music, even at cheaper prices, only to hear it in every film that comes out in the same year. Many producers and directors are thinking about alleviating the struggle of searching for production music by turning to providers of royalty free music and royalty free production music to fulfill their complex needs. Royalty free music and buyout music offers an excellent alternative to the hassle of searching for the right production music that fits a tight budget. Clients of royalty free production music companies pay a one-time, low fee and gain unlimited use of the pieces of music.

Companies such as Award Winning Music and http://www.royaltyfreemusic.com offer a very comprehensive library of royalty free music and royalty free production music that will suit the many and discriminating needs of producers, directors and project coordinators, and even offer experts that will help design packages of royalty free music and buyout music or even entire film scores for film, television and video projects at a fraction of the cost of the major music providers. Buyout music and royalty free music is an excellent option for professionals looking to communicate the themes and attitude of their project, and will make a film sound as original as it would had a score been created specifically for it.

3 Tips for Starting A Music Box Collection in 2006

For those who love to collect inlaid music boxes, musical jewelry boxes, ballerina music boxes, and antique music boxes such as disc driven cylinder music boxes, musical snuff boxes, and the like, there are many things one can look for when it comes to finding the perfect box. However, there are distinct characteristics that cause some music boxes to stand out above others. These are materials, decoration, and the date of the music box.

Materials

All music boxes are not made the same. The type of material a carousel music box, wooden music box, inlaid music box, or an antique music box is made from is what helps to create its uniqueness. For example, in the early 19th century, musical snuff boxes were made of inexpensive material from the precious metal family such as gold and silver. There were also some music boxes made of brass, which back then, was rare.

Other musical boxes such as snuff music boxes were made from wood, horn, and tortoiseshell. Wooden snuff music boxes, made from material such as burr oak and burr walnut were very beautiful. Boxes made amboyna wood, which originates from Amboyna Cay, a small island in the South China Sea, were also gorgeous. For those collectors who love to collect wooden music boxes, finding a box made from one of these materials would make a wonderful asset to their collection.

Decoration

Music jewelry boxes, inlaid music boxes, children’s jewelry boxes, and other types of antique music boxes are all decorated differently. The type of decoration a collector of music boxes seeks is based on personal preferences. Some music box collectors might enjoy early 19th century music boxes since many of the lids were used for decorations. For instance, the lids of many musical snuffboxes were done with miniatures painted on ivory. For a music box collector, finding one such as this would be quite a prize. In Music Boxes: A Guide for Collectors, David Tallis suggests that “A good artist to look for is Charles-Claude Delaye, who worked in France in the first half of the 19th century. One of his miniatures on a music snuffbox is fitted with a gilt copper frame, and a bevelled glass. . . If you are lucky you will find a musical snuff box whose lid has been decorated with Italian miniature mosaic. They are the most skillfully made and not too common. If you are even luckier, you will find one with a Swiss enamel miniature on the lid.”

Careful research, time, and patience most likely can assist a music box collector in finding a music box whose decorations they will fall in love with.

Date of the Music Box

There are specific things a music box collector should look for when they try to assess the date of a music jewelry box, inlaid music box, ballerina music boxes, carousel music box, and other antique music boxes. A collector must carefully study its design. Once more, author David Tallis says that “Strict rules cannot of course be made, but if features of design indicate a period which is confirmed by the type of box and choice of musical programme, a fairly accurate guess can be made as to the date of the manufacture.” Examples of what collectors can look when trying to date a music box, as outlined by Tallis are as follows:

Laminated comb: 1796-1810 Sectional comb in groups of 1: 1796-1820 Sectional comb in groups of 2: 1810-1820 Sectional one piece comb: 1820 onwards

Other features to look for when assessing the date of a music box include ascertaining is a cylinder is hollow or without wax. This gives a music box a metallic tone and means the box predates 1820. These are just a few examples of what collectors can seek. If a collector wants to know for sure the date of a music box, Tallis says that ” There is only one way to be completely certain about the year of manufacture. If the box is silver or gold and English, it will have a hallmark which can be looked up in an invaluable book called “Guide to the Marks of the Origin of British and Irish Silver Plate”, by Frederick Bradbury. This booklet shows all the hallmarks of the major assay offices from the mid-sixteenth century to the present day. Other books recommended by Tallis are “Silver Collecting for Amateurs” by James Henderson, “Hallmarks on Gold and Silver Plate” by W. Chaffers, and “Les Poincons de Garanties Internationaux pour L’Argent” by Tardy.

Lastly, Al Meekins, owner of the Meekins Music Box Company in Collingsworth, New Jersey has this advice to give for those music box collectors who are seeking the ‘Stella’ or ‘Mira’ box. Meekins says: “Look for a quality-a machine that isn’t too badly worn and is in restorable condition”. In addition, a purchaser can check for the craftsman’s initials, which can be found at the top of the cap, on the tune card, or on a plaque on the music box.

Many lovers of collectibles enjoy collecting antique music boxes, wooden jewelry boxes, music jewelry boxes, and inlaid music boxes. Finding the right one to start a music box collection or to add to an existing one can certainly be done. Follow the above tips and start a collection today.

Copyright 2005 Monique Hawkins

Monique Hawkins is the owner of the online store http://www.my-music-Box.com/, a music box gift store specializing in products such as inlaid ballerina music boxes for ballerina rooms d?cor, whimsical carousel music boxes, and musical jewelry boxes. The company provides interesting information for music lovers of all ages. Monique is also the author of the blog “What You Never Knew About Music” http://whatyouneverknewaboutmusic.blogspot.com, and owner of the eBay store “Monique?s Music Box” at: http://stores.ebay.com/moniquesmusicbox/

A Few “Notes” On the History of Music

Music is major part of our everyday life. Music also has a long, complex and captivating history. It may predate language, and most certainly predates the written word. It is found in every known human culture, both past and present, varying wildly between certain periods and locations on the globe. The music of every culture is influenced by all other aspect of that culture, such as social and economic organization, climate, and access to technology.

The development of human music occurred against the backdrop of natural sounds like the lapping of ocean waves, the rippling of river water, the singing of birds and sounds created by other animals. Prehistoric music, more commonly referred to as primitive music, is the name given to all music produced by preliterate cultures, beginning somewhere in very late geological history.

The prehistoric period is considered to have ended with the creation of writing, and with it, by definition, prehistoric music. “Ancient music” is the term given to the music that followed. This music was produced by various early cultures, particularly Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Mesopotamians and citizens of the Muslim world, as well as Asiatic cultures.

Following ancient music, came “early” music which is a very general term referring to music in the European classical tradition from the fall of the Roman Empire in 476, until the end of the Baroque period in the 18th Century. Music within this enormous time span was extremely diverse, encompassing multiple cultural traditions throughout a wide geographic region. What unified these many cultures in the Middle Ages was the Roman Catholic Church, and its music served as a focal point for music development for the first centuries of this period.

The Medieval period (from the 9th to the 14th Centuries) was rich in musical history as attested by the artistic renditions of instruments, writings about music, and other historical references. The only collection of music which has survived from pre-900 AD to the present is the liturgical music of the Catholic Church, the largest part of which is called the Gregorian chants.

Renaissance music followed the medieval era, but the beginning of Renaissance music is not as clearly marked as the start of the Renaissance in the other arts, and began, not in Italy, but in northern Europe specifically central France, the Netherlands, and Belgium. The invention of the printing press had an immense influence on the dissemination of musical styles and by the 15th century, composers and singers from these Low Countries begin to spread over all of Europe.

Baroque music became quite popular after 1600, and instrumental music became dominant. Although strong religious musical traditions continued, secular music came to the forefront with the development of the sonata, the concerto and concerto grosso. In Baroque music the keyboard, particularly the harpsichord, is the dominant instrument. The three most outstanding composers of this period are J.S. Bach, G. F. Handel and A. Vivaldi.

The early Classical period was ushered in by the Mannheim School which exerted a profound influence on Joseph Haydn, and through him, on nearly all subsequent European music. Wolfgang Mozart was the central figure of this period and his phenomenal and varied output defines our perception of the Classical era.

Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert were transitional composers who led Europe into the Romantic period with their expansion of the existing genres, forms and even uses of music. During this Romantic period, music became more expressive and emotional. By the late 19th century, there was a dramatic expansion in the size of the orchestras, and in the role of concerts as part of a rapidly growing urban society. Strauss, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Verdi and Wagner comprised a powerful group of Romantic composers. A prominent feature of late 19th century music is its nationalistic fervor, as exemplified by figures like Dvorak, and Sibelius.

The 20th Century saw a music revolution as radio gained popularity worldwide and new media and technologies were created to record, capture, reproduce and distribute music. Because music was no longer limited to concert halls and clubs, it became possible for music artists to gain fame and fortune quite quickly.

And music became more mobile with the use of headphones, CD players, and iPods. Music of the 20th Century brought a new freedom and wide experimentation with styles and forms that challenged the accepted rules of earlier musical periods. Heavy metal music and rap entered the picture and joined hip-hop, jazz, country/western, ballads, folk, acid rock, Christian rock and a variety of other genres to create today’s fascinating world of music.

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