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So, What Are Apple iPod Nano's? by Alex Rider

At this time of writing the iPod nano has its thinnest shape yet, 0.26 inches thick, 3.5 inches high, 1.6 inches wide and 1.41 ounces in weight. Available in a tough anodized aluminum case, colors are olive, blue, pink, black or white. This mp3 player also has a 40% brighter 1.5 inch display capable of detailed album art and slideshows, and there is 24 hours worth of rechargeable lithium ion battery life to boot. Three models exist, the 2GB, 4GB and 8GB, the cheapest at around $149, a max potential of 2000 songs in the largest storage model!
In addition to music iPod nano can house a staggering 25,000 pictures and play podcasts and audiobooks, all downloadable from the iTunes Store online.
Locating and playing music, or indeed anything else, is a simple affair. Various menu options can lead you, for example, by artist, composer, album, tune, genre or playlist. Songs can be mixed by utilizing the 'shuffle songs' option.
Podcasts come from all manner of places, from the well known to the obscure. ESPN, NPR, ABC News, Comedy Central, amongst many other names, are available to browse and subscribe to.
A huge variety audiobooks are on offer at the iTunes Store. If you want you can learn languages, read sci-fi's, or catch up on natural history, amidst the huge array of information available, everything is available within a few presses of the click wheel. A perfect way of getting into reading, iPod nano bookmarks and has an adjustable reading speed function.
Photos can sync from your Windows PC or Mac with iTunes to your iPod nano. Photos can be viewed in full screen by pressing the center button. Up to 5 hours of slideshows have time between slide adjustment functions and transition effects.
As extra features to this nifty device, the iPod nano has an array of useful tools like calendars, world clocks, a stopwatch, contacts pages and a screen lock to hide your secret four digit combination. Forgotten combinations are no problems since you are able to reset them when you next sync. Games such as Solitaire, Brick, Music Quiz and Parachute are there for when you want a fun challenge. Slow (1.5 hours achieving 80% battery capacity) and fast (3 hours for 100% capacity) charge time options are standard.
Menus are customizable, storage capacity can be checked, different languages and sound qualities are available. The number of songs residing on your nano, alongside the max volume and various graphic equalizer options and the backlight timer are modifiable.
The dock on the underside of the nano can be connected directly to stereo systems, and the address book can be updated through Outlook or Outlook Express on the PC. Windows system requirements are USB 2.0's, Windows 2000 with service pack 4 onwards, Windows XP Home or Professional with service pack 2 or later, and iTunes 7 onwards. Similarly, Mac specifications are USB 2, OS X v10.3.9 or later and iTunes & onwards.
All manner of accessories exist to make your nano experience yet more enjoyable. A stylish iPod Hi-Fi, nano armband, in-ear or lanyard headphones, dock, Nike+iPod Sport Kit, USB power adapter and radio remote are all available in stores.
A massive range of car companies and in-car sound system companies have teamed up with iPod to help you fully integrate your nano for a great driving experience, whether your car is brand new and already incorporates nano friendly features, or older and needs customizing.
I hope this information has been useful, check out the official Apple website for finer details.

About the Author
If you are searching for an iPod video have a good look at http://www.ipodtipsandtricks.org/You-Can-Download-IPod-Videos.php for useful advice and information.

Learn To Play The Guitar Like A Pro And Amaze All Of Your Friends! by Joshua Johnson

Have you always wanted to be the guy at the party that everyone else is crowded around, fascinated by their skills with the guitar? Well now that guy can be you when you discover the secrets to learning the guitar with Jamorama - The Ultimate Guitar Learning Kit. Inside, the book series covers guitar lessons for beginners, intermediate, and advanced levels of playing. It also includes "GuitEarIt!", an ear training game to recognize music notes by sound, "JaydeMusica Pro", a music reading game that will accelerate your music reading skills, and two bonus e-books! This comprehensive package is the most thorough guitar learning kit on the market, and guides you through the learning process, avoiding the pitfalls so many other training programs seem to fall into. Avoid the pitfalls and accelerate your learning process. See results in minimum time! And best of all, you will be playing songs that your friends will love! It's that easy!
Visit: http://vancesj28.jamlg.hop.clickbank.net
And find out how to play guitar like the pros today!

About the Author
I just began playing guitar about 6 months ago. Have tried a number of teaching programs with no luck. I finally found one that is easy and works.

Free Guitar Lessons by S.J. Clark

Have you come across anything totally free in your lifetime? Most of us have, but when it comes to specific subjects like guitar lessons, most of us haven't. Well that is about to change. There is a website out there that offers free guitar lessons. It's called Guitars For All.
Blues guitar is the current subject and what is being shown is mostly for beginners, however advanced lessons will be added soon. Arpeggios and how to play some super fast leads will be included.
Basic rhythm progressions for blues guitar and also some lead guitar riffs are covered now. Everything is written in an easy to read tablature with an explanation of what is being taught as well.
One thing I am sure of is that whether these lessons suit your needs or not, you at least owe it to yourself to check it out. Why? Because it is free! GO LOOK.

About the Author
Author is a guitarist of 30 years who also builds replicas of vintage amplifiers.
Enjoy the lessons found HERE!

Looking Back on Elvis by Ez-tracks

Although he died in 1977, Elvis Presley still lives on to his legions of fans as "The King of Rock and Roll." Presley was America's first real rock star and was one of the country's most popular entertainers in the mid to latter half of the 20th Century, perhaps eclipsed only by Frank Sinatra. Presley sung the blues and laced it with both gospel and country music elements, leading to his nickname "The Hillbilly Cat." His voice has been described as having a unique tonality and extraordinary range, giving him the ability to tackle an array of songs and melodies that none of his contemporaries could conquer. In performing his music, Presley exuded sexuality and swagger, becoming a role model for generations of young rebels.
Elvis was born on January 8, 1935, in East Tupelo, Mississippi. He was the son of Gladys and Vernon Presley, a sewing machine operator and a truck driver. Presley's twin brother Jesse Garon was stillborn, and Elvis grew up as an only child. Presley cut his first recordings--the songs "My Happiness" and "That's When the Your Heartaches Begin"-- in 1953 at Memphis Recording Studios, a sideline record producer Sam Phillips had started at his Sun Records studios, where anyone could record a ten inch album for four dollars. After recording several more songs for Phillips, the record producer is said to have found what he was looking for--"a white man with the Negro sound and the Negro feel". After signing with RCA in 1956 and recording "Heartbreak Hotel" Elvis became a national star. On January 28, 1956, he made his television debut on the Dorsey brothers' Stage Show, followed by six consecutive appearances. In March, Colonial Thomas Parker became Elvis' manager. He would receive 25% of Elvis' earnings through a contract that lasted the singer's lifetime and beyond.
By the 1960's Elvis had become a pop culture icon. He toured and played old songs and new hits on the road and in Las Vegas, where he was known for his sartorial splendor and highly electric performances. He started to break all sorts of entertainment records including those for concert attendance, television ratings, and records sales, becoming one of the best-selling artists in music history. Elvis continued to perform until he passed away at age 42 from a combination of obesity, depression and abuse of prescription drugs. Although Elvis has been gone for three decades, his popularity has remained in tact. Thousands make the pilgrimage to Graceland each year to pay tribute to the king of modern rock.
Download Elvis Presley MP3 for free legally -on our site
Download Elvis Presley Pictures for free on our site
Read more about Rock and Roll Music

About the Author
I have written for newspapers and magazines nationwide, including The New York Times and Newsweek.

Hip Hop on the Big Screen -- Reel Success Creates a New Genre of Film by Sharath Cherian

It started out simple enough. Film studios and movie makers started to pepper their soundtracks with hip hop or rap tunes here and there. Soon more and more songs began to appear on film soundtracks and trailers eventually leading to most of the films non instrumental score being dominated by hip hop music. As the music became more dynamic elements of the film, movies started featuring hip hop stars trying their acting chops. Once films like New Jack City (Ice T), Boyz n the Hood (Ice Cube) and Juice (Tupac Shakur) hit it big the floodgates were opened suddenly creating a new genre of films almost entirely created around hip hop and rap.
In as little as 10 years films featuring hip hop stars and music became top grossing movies creating a format that has now become commonplace in Hollywood. Take for example 2002's Exit Wounds starring DMX and Steven Sigal. That film grossed $52 million domestically. (The hip-hop economy: part 2 of a series - Industry Overview Black Enterprise, July, 2002 by Sakina P. Spruell).
Thank You Krush Groove
Flashback to 1985 and the low budget film Krush Groove and you'll see the early beginnings of how this genre of hip hop films began. At that time these films were in essence a new way to promote new artists -- for that film LL Cool J and Run DMC -- and to further popularize the burgeoning sound that would eventually become a billion dollar industry. After a series of less memorable films like Beat Street, Breakin and the Disorderlies, the 90's suddenly introduced moviegoers to the aforementioned films and directors who wanted to do more than put rappers and hip hop artists in movies. Movie makers like John Singleton, Spike Lee and the Hughes Brothers tapped into the raw and explosive talent some of these artists had outside the studio and suddenly a whole new crop of movie stars who would become as visible on the silver screen as they were audible on the radio and on their records.
The Silver Screen's Undiscovered Gold Mine
Thanks to the critically acclaimed and commercial success of movies like Boyz in the Hood Hollywood soon discovered untapped profitability this genre. Rather than just plunking some big named hip hop star or rapper into a plot there were opportunities to create entire stories about the life and culture that had already made the music so successful. On the one hand, it created opportunities for talented artists like Will Smith, Ice Cube and Tupac Shakur to show off their versatility. On the other hand it also this world and this culture to a whole new audience that had never had such a clear glimpse of this universe. While sometimes unpleasant and uncomfortable, the gritty nature and subject matter of some of these films like Menace to Society offered a truer perspective of the African American community that many movie goers thought to be glorified or exaggerated in the songs and posturing of some of the artists. Ultimately, this new brand of film and new generation of filmmakers found success not just in the black community but across all racial divides and found a new way to express their art in a bolder, bigger format.
Not just a genre but an award winning genre
The same year that saw DMX in a starring role, 8 Mile starring Eminem made $116,700,000 domestically and nabbed an Academy Award for best song (Lose Yourself). Bringing home the point even stronger at the 2006 Oscars, rapper Ludacris was part of the ensemble cast of the film Crash, which won best picture. Additionally, actor Terrence Howard was nominated for best actor in the hip hop film Hustle & Flow which also featured the oscar-winning song It's Hard out Here for a Pimp by Three 6 Mafia. The industry has spoken; hip hop and rap are now a viable film genre that is no longer just a vehicle to help artists sell records but have just as much value and meaning as any other film out there.

About the Author
HIPHOPDX - The premier spot for all things Hip Hop, Rap and R&B culture, what'chu know 'bout that?

The History Of The Electric Guitar by Al Beckett

The popularity of the electric guitar began in the big band era when guitarists needed to amplify their instruments to compete with the large brass sections found in most jazz orchestras. In the beginning, electric guitars were primarily made up of hollow archtop acoustic bodies with electromagnetic transducers attached, to convert the sound into electricity for amplification.
Some of the earliest electric guitars, then just hollow bodied acoustic instruments used pickups made of tungsten, and the guitars themselves were manufactured by Rickenbacker in the 30's. In 1935, Rickenbacker manufactured a solid bodied electric guitar made from Bakelite, which was nicknamed "The Frying Pan" for its shape.
In the early 1940's, after working after hours at a Gibson Guitar factory, guitarist Les Paul created a guitar consisting of a simple 4x4 wood post with a neck attached to it, homemade pickups and hardware, and two detachable Swedish hollow body halves attached to the sides for appearance only. He called it his "log" guitar, and is considered to be the first of its kind. The solid body Les Paul guitar sold by Gibson in 1952 does not share its design or its hardware.
In 1950 and 51, Leo Fender designed the first guitar to be commercially successful. Originally named the Esquire, it featured a single magnetic pickup, with the two-pickup version being called the Broadcaster; this was later renamed to Telecaster in homage of the television. The telecaster featured an ash body, 21 frets and a bolt-on neck, which allowed for cost effective and easy manufacturing or replacement.
In 1954, Fender introduced perhaps one of the most recognised guitars of all time, the Fender Stratocaster, or simply the "Strat"; known for its double cut-away body design, 3 pick-ups and synchronized tremolo mechanism. Leo Fender is also credited for the design of the commercially successful Fender Precision Bass, first introduced in 1951.
The electric guitar achieved wide popularity in the 1960's; with the success of guitar-based pop groups. Electric guitars were soon being manufactured by individuals and companies all over the world, often as copies, and became available to the keen amateur as well as the professional musician.
Electric guitars are now seen in many genres of music, from Rock to Surf, over to Ska and Punk. Fender and Gibson, perhaps the two biggest guitar manufacturers of all, have helped inspire nearly three generations to learn or get in touch with music, and they will continue to do so for a long time to come.
If you would like to learn how to improve your guitar skills in just on weekend, then visit Learn To Play The Electric Guitar

About the Author
If you would like to learn how to improve your guitar skills in just on weekend, then visit Learn To Play The Electric Guitar

The Romantic History of Ballet by Nadya Petronas

The art of ballet dance is actually very old. It takes a disciplined and athletic body to perform the beautiful movements that tell us a story. Performances usually take place in a theater. Many young girls fantasize about becoming stars in the ballet world. In actuality it takes a lot of hard work and many years if they make it at all.
Since so many French names are given to ballet postures, for instance the plie, most people think that the dance itself began in France. Actually ballet is known to go back as far as 15th century Italy. These movements performed during the Renaissance led to the French development of ballet as we now know it. The Queen's Ballet Company was the very first and was located in France.
As the years passed the beautiful dances began to be performed in gorgeous and complicated costumes, and intricate sets and props were introduced. Royalty fell in love with the ballet as it became more popular. The costumes became more elaborate and within a few hundred years dancing on toes began. Since there were no block toe shoes yet, the dancers could only hold a pose for a few seconds at a time.
La Sylphide is credited with introducing the romantic style of ballet in the 1800s. This style used the toe dancing technique extensively and brought about many changes to ballet. However, to answer the question posed by many, the traditional tutu came from the ballet Giselle where the tutu was worn by all the ghostly spirits.
All romantic ballets focused on women and this encouraged women to take on increasingly to become ballerinas. They grew up in Russia, Denmark and even the United States. While ballet prospered in other nations, it started declining in France. The decline could be because ballet was seen as being very other worldly with mythical steps.
The shift from mythical steps to a more reasonable style that could be co-related to human movements came about in the twentieth century. This was because of the many different styles of dance that were becoming increasingly popular. The change that started in the twentieth century continues to transform ballet even today where it incorporates different styles of dance.
These days ballets have evolved as a combination with another style of dance to produce a new symphony in the art of dance. This process began in 1944, when a ballet called Fancy Free was introduced. This ballet used jazz dance with the ballet steps to create a revolutionary dance form.
Today many more modern ballets are being performed, while at the same time audiences still love the classical and romantic forms. All of these styles are still taught and performed as ballet is immensely popular. People are constantly impressed at the variety and complexity of movements that humans are capable of. Even though most of us will never be able to perform these moves, we can marvel and dream when we see ballet on stage.

About the Author
About the author: Nadya Petronas is the chief editor for Ballet @, the best place on the internet when you are searching for the latest knowledge, accurate up to date advice and commentary to do with Ballet, For more articles on Ballet why not visit: http://www.balletat.com/articles

The History or Hip Hop and Rap Music by Kurt Chrisler

The origin of hip hop music can be traced back as far as the ancient tribes in Africa. Rap has been compared with the chants, drumbeats and foot-stomping African tribes performed before wars, the births of babies, and the deaths of kings and elders. Historians have reached further back than the accepted origins of hip-hop. It was born as we know it today in the Bronx, cradled and nurtured by the youth in the low-income areas of New York City.
Fast-forward from the tribes of Africa to the ghettos of Kingston, Jamaica in the late sixties. The impoverished of Kingston gathered together in groups to form DJ conglomerates. They spun roots and culture records and communicated with the audience over the music. At the time, the DJ's comments weren't as important as the quality of the sound system and its ability to get the crowd moving. Kool Herc grew up in this community before he moved to the Bronx.
During the late sixties, reggae wasn't popular with New Yorkers. As a DJ, Kool Herc spun rhythm and blues records to please his party crowd. But, he had to add his personal touch. During the breaks, Herc began to speak to his audience as he had learned to do in Jamaica. He called out, the audience responded, and then he pumped the volume back up on the record. This call and response technique was nothing new to this community who'd been reared in Baptist and Methodist churches where call and response was a technique used by the speakers to get the congregation involved. Historians compare it to the call and response performed by Jazz musicians and was very much a part of the culture of Jazz music during the renaissance in Harlem.
Herc's DJ style caught on. His party's grew in popularity. He began to buy multiple copies of the same albums. When he performed his duties as a DJ, he extended the breaks by using multiple copies of the same records. He chatted, as it is called in dance hall, with his audience for longer and longer periods.
Others copied Herc's style. Soon a friendly battle ensued between New York DJs. They all learned the technique of using break beats. Herc stepped up the game by giving shout-outs to people who were in attendance at the parties and coming up with his signature call and response. Other DJs responded by rhyming with their words when they spoke to the audience. More and more DJs used two and four line rhymes and anecdotes to get their audiences involved and hyped at these parties.
One day, Herc passed the microphone over to two of his friends. He took care of the turn table and allowed his buddies to keep the crowd hyped with chants, rhymes and anecdotes while he extended the breaks of different songs indefinitely. This was the birth of rap as we know it.
Hip-hop has evolved from the days of the basement showdowns to big business in the music industry. In the seventies and eighties, the pioneers and innovators of the rap record was the DJ. He was the guy who used his turntable to create fresh sounds with old records. Then, he became the guy who mixed these familiar breaks with synthesizers to produce completely new beats. Not much has changed in that aspect of hip-hop. The guy who creates a rap beat is still the heart of the track. Now, we call him the producer. Even though some DJs work as producers as well as DJs (quite a few start out as DJs before they become producers), today's title "DJ" doesn't carry the same connotative meaning it did in the eighties. Today's hip-hop producer performs the same tasks as the eighty's DJ.

About the Author
Would you like to learn how to make your own rap beats and hip hop beats? You can with the Rap Beats Manual. Create Rap Beats

Tips on Helping Your Child Learn to Play Music by Cyndie King

As a music teacher that teaches private lessons, I am so excited when I get a call from a parent that wants their child to learn to play music by taking lessons. My excitement comes from the fact that I believe that learning to play music is one of the most enjoyable lessons of life that a person can experience. Learning to play music at an early age means that a child actually is learning a new language. Just as children pick up languages quicker than adults, the same is true of music. This also includes the manual dexterity issues as well as music related thinking skills such as improvising and ear training. As I believe is true with formal education, the single most important determinant in the success of a child in learning to play music is the support and the involvement of the parents. As lessons begin, here are some tips that supportive parents can do.
Instill realistic practice goals and times
The first question a lot of people ask is how much should my child practice? For a young child whose attention span is not very long, it can be as short as few minutes a day, later 15 minutes a day and then increase to 30 minutes a day. This can vary from child to child and is really based on the maturity level rather than the age level.
Watch for frustration
As a parent and teacher, you want to make sure that the practice time is as fun as possible. As a parent you can pay close attention to their moods, and then act accordingly by delaying, shortening or canceling their practice time. If they are too tired or hungry to practice, the practice time will not be effective.
Play Music around the House and in the Car
Just like learning a new language, hearing music whether playing or singing or listening will help them in the long run as they are learning to play music for themselves.
Introduce them to different Music Venues
No, parents, we don't want to take them to the local bar. There are always concerts, festivals, and workshops where they can be introduced to different types of music. My belief is to not choose for them but introduce them. You never know when they might see a musician that will inspire them to achieve new heights.
Playing With Others
As they get older, introduce them to the possibility of playing with others or in groups. Some of the lessons that can be learned while playing with others are learning how to play a solo, continuing to play even if you make a mistake, and learning how to play loud and soft with others.
Don't Quit
Learning how to play any type of music on any type of instrument is a lifelong journey. I encourage parents to help their children stick with it. This will be a decision that they will never regret.

About the Author
As a small business owner, I write a lot of articles and I also recommend products that are useful to others. For more information on a wonderful product please visit http://www.gardmyfamily.com

Having Fun with your Cell Phone Ringtones by Craig Thornburrow

One of the great things about technology today is that we are no longer locked in to one simple ring on our cell phones. In fact, there are all sorts of ringtones that you can download and enjoy. Here are some examples.
If you happen to enjoy one particular genre of music, there are a bunch of cell phone ringtones out there you can enjoy. For instance, if you happen to be a fan of the rock sound sounds of the Sixties, you can find several places online that will allow you to download snippets from all sorts of legendary material - and all by the original artist. How would you like to have your phone ring to the sound of your favorite guitar solo? These days, you can do exactly that.
In addition to music that you remember and love, cell phone ringtones are also available with a wide selection of chimes. The chimes may sound like a doorbell, or even like a cowbell. One of the more popular ringtones from this type of tone sounds amazingly like wind chimes.
Audio snippets as a ringtone are also popular. If there is a punchline from a favored comedy monologue that you really like, check around. That very piece of dialogue is most likely available to use as a cell phone ringtone. Whether the comedy routine is recent or several decades old, there are plenty to choose from.
Of course, you have the standard and usual cell phone ringtones. Those are the ones that your cell phone came equipped. If you are more interested in utility rather than jazzing up the sound of your phone, chances are one of these will do the trick nicely. Typically, a cell phone will come with eight to ten different ringtones, with the range going from sounding a lot like an old fashioned rotary tone all the way through to a bomb dropping. These do have a touch of whimsy, and you may very well find one that is perfect for you.
Finding ringtones that are fun and speak to your sense of humor can often be found on a number of sites that specialize in various ringtones for a cell phone. Often, these will come with a nominal price and will be something that can be charged to you through your current cell service provider. Many of the sites will allow you to listen to a ring that interests you by logging into an Internet site before you commence with a download. This is a great idea, as most of us want to have some idea what we are buying.
Downloads are usually done by dialing a short number on your cell phone and then connecting with a remote server that allows you to capture the ringtone of your choice. The process usually does not take very long, and once the ringtone is saved into your phone, you can alter your settings to use the new tone with no problem.
Cell phones have changed the way we communicate. Is it any wonder that in addition to the increased communication and ability to manage our time that we would also want to make our ringtones distinctive among our friends and family? For more information, check your local cell service provider or do a quick search online. You are sure to find several ringtones that are right for you.

About the Author
Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on ringtones and you can find and download cell phone ringtones at http://www.ringtonesvault.com

Some Awesome Music To Listen To by Morgan Hamilton

People can now find more and more ways to find great music to listen to, and the options for how they can listen to that music are growing. The Internet is teeming with great music, which is the same stuff that is available in your local music store. Before the Internet, you had to purchase your favorite music from a music store, and quite often, you had to buy the whole album. After a few years, singles were released, but there was no guarantee that you can get the single you are after.
Nowadays, you are able to download music to listen to on a variety of different sites. You can choose the exact song you want without purchasing the entire album, but you still have to pay for it. You can choose a random variety of songs and download them to your computer. Then you simply have to burn the songs to a CD or download them into your MP3 player. Modern technology has given us more ways to get great music to listen to.
You can also store your music right in your computer. If you are craving for some music to listen to, you can listen to them through one of the many music players on your computer. You can use Windows Media Player, Real Player, or QuickTime. On the recent computer models, you don't even need any kind of media player, you simply pop in the CD and a control panel will pop up.
If you own an older computer model, it is advisable that you listen to music when you are not doing anything else on your computer. When you open your media player, and choose your music to listen to, everything else on your old computer will drag. This may also cause your music to skip and stutter. This normally doesn't occur with newer computers. If your music is skipping, or your computer is lagging, it usually means that you are doing too much at once.
Don't forget that the music store is still an option when you are choosing music to listen to. It can be very easy to get your music online, but it can be also fun to buy an album. You may be interested on a single song from an album, but you haven't heard the rest. You may find that there are many songs on that CD that you will also like. There is just something special about the experience of browsing through a music store and finding something amazing.

About the Author
Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Music To Listen To. Visit our site for more helpful information about Music To Listen To and other similar topics.

Zune vs iPod - Which media player will you buy? by Shirley

Apple's ipod has been long dominating the digital media player market. And why not; ipod has been far superior in performance and features when compared to its rivals. But Microsoft is set to change this by coming out with their own media player named zune, which will debut to the world on November 14, 2006. The product will be available for exactly the same price $249 as the 30GB ipod.
Here I'll list a few key differences between zune and ipod. Below are the list of features supported by zune and not Ipod.
1. Preloaded Audio and video 2. Built in FM tuner 3. Zune to Zune sharing by Wi-Fi wireless (social networking) 4. Custom background 5. Landscape video With all the exciting and promising features, Microsoft will definitely take a big chunk of media player market form apple, but how much only time will tell.
But the real question is which device is right for YOU? Let's look at the specs of the system, the features and services we know about. We're going to be comparing the 30GB iPod to the 30GB Zune, since they are closest in price, storage, and battery life.
OS Support - Winner: iPod Zune only supports Windows. iPod, on the other hand, supports both Windows and Mac.
WiFi Connectivity - Winner: Zune The current iPod features no Wi-fi connectivity whatsoever, Zune, however, is 802.11g Wifi enabled, and features a slew of sharing and broadcasting features.
Content - Winner: N/A Right now the iPod, through iTunes, has thousands of songs, hundreds of TV shows, dozens of movies, and a handful of games to download for the device. As of this writing we still don't know what all the Zune Marketplace will hold for Zune owners. But as we know, iPod has some preloaded music and videos.
Storage - Winner: iPod iPod has 30GB, 60GB, 80GB, while at present Zune has only 30GB product.
Screen - Winner: Zune iPod features a 2.5 inch diagonal screen, while the Zune has a slightly larger 3.0 inch diagonal screen.
FM Radio Capability - Winner: Zune Zune comes with a built-in FM tuner. If you want to listen to radio on your iPod, you have to buy an accessory.
Music purchasing - Winner: Zune With iTunes, if you want to buy music, it will cost you .99 cents per song, or you can purchase by the album. But with Zune Marketplace, You could subscribe to the marketplace for $14.99 a month with unlimited downloads for that month. You can also go for individual downloads. Purchase up to 50 songs (4000 Microsoft Points) with $50. Once you purchase Points, you can browse and purchase songs or albums through the Zune Marketplace for 79 Microsoft Points per track (roughly 99 cents). Microsoft Points, the coin for the Zune Marketplace realm, is a universal system that works across borders, including Xbox Live Marketplace and other Microsoft properties.
Does that mean the Zune is your best buy this holiday season?
That depends. If the Zune wireless music sharing is appealing to you, and you're a Windows user, then Zune is probably your best choice. If you're not interested in the Wifi and FM tuner, you will definetly want to look at the iPod.

About the Author
More iPod and Zune comparison information: http://www.dvdtozune.com
This article may be reproduced in a website, e-zine, CD-ROM, book, magazine, etc. so long as the bio information is included in full, including the link back to this website.

How To Buy A Guitar-Acoustic and Classical Guitars by Ronn Espy

So you are ready to learn how to play acoustic guitar. Are you confused and dizzy from all the models available? All you want is a comfortable, good quality, good sounding guitar made to last, right? If it's your first guitar you you honestly may not know what you want. You need basic information so you can learn how to buy a guitar. Buying your first guitar can be rewarding and fun, once you learn how to buy a guitar.
If this will be your first guitar an acoustic guitar or classical guitar will be an excellent choice.
When you learn how to buy a guitar: construction, sound, and feel will be your focal points. Oh...and price of course. Luckily if you learn how to buy a guitar right you can get your first guitar for a price that won't break the bank, without sacrificing comfort, quality and sound.
Acoustic guitars and classical guitars have the same basic parts. As you learn how to buy a guitar you need to know the differences.
Some differences: acoustic guitars have a narrower neck which is good if you have small hands. They are also louder than classical guitars. Classical guitars are smaller.
Strings: 6 (there are also 12 string guitars) Classical guitars have nylon strings, Acoustic (folk, blues, rock etc.) have steel strings. Nylon produces a warm and mellow sound. Steel strings have a stronger, bolder sound.
The body and wood it's constructed out of determine greatly the sound emitted from a guitar. Basically you have a top, sides and bottom. Tops can be laminate or solid. Temperature and humidity have less of an effect on laminate tops and these will tend to be less expensive. Solid tops will offer superior sound with more cost.
The Body: You have a hollow body, the top soundboard transmits the strings vibrations to the body, a sound hole allows the the hollow body to emit the sound. The middle of the body has what's called the waist or narrowing. The waist the bulges above and below the waist are called the boughts.
The Bridge: Is a wedge of wood where the strings attach to the body,it has a saddle (plastic or bone) that helps transmit vibration from strings to the body.
The Neck: Has the fingerboard on the face of the neck. It has metal pieces cut into it that are spaced these are called frets.
The Nut: Attached to the end of the neck, keeps strings suspended along with the bridge.
The Head: Attached to the top of the neck, has six tuning pegs where strings attach and can be tuned by adjusting the tension. As you figure out how to buy a guitar take into consideration your specific needs such as sound, comfort and budget. If this is your very first guitar at this point you might not actually know what you want, don't worry.
Do your research first. Go to a local music store and test drive different guitars. You will also find a wealth of helpful information there. Take someone with you to the store who knows how to play if you don't. Have them play something that reflects what you will be learning to play. Nothing too advanced.
Be sure to ask the salespeople questions. You will find some are very knowledgeable and more than happy to share what they know. An important part of how to buy a guitar is asking questions. If you have heard someone play or like the sound of a particular guitar try that model and similiar guitars. Some stores even offer courses and seminars.
Make sure to see if the guitar fits you. That's right, how does it feel in your hands, is it comfortable.
You can buy good quality low and midpriced guitars locally, online or even craigslist. When you find the guitar that fits your criteria you should now know how to buy a guitar.
All that's left is to get good guitar instruction and practice. You can find a guitar teacher locally or get convenient online guitar lessons. You will be strumming your favorite songs in no time.

About the Author
For more expert how to buy a guitar information and free online video guitar lessons: Click Here.

Rap Beats For Sale by Randy Jackmon

Finally a Music Website That Offers Unlimited Rap Beats There is a new music website in town. Mix Me Entertainment Mix Me Entertainment is your source for unique Rap and Hip-Hop Beats. Download 100s of original, royalty-free hip hop instrumentals for your album, mixtape and/or demo.
The brain behind Mix Me Entertainment's website is run by the music & internet guru, DH, from NYC. DH has been performing high volume internet sales for over 6 years , in addition to working in NYC as a session musician, composer and music producer for major record labels and advertising agencies.
After being approached by hundreds of independent, underground and starving artists, DH established Mix Me Entertainment. The website offers artists, producers and composers a chance to download industry quality beats for a one-time of $19.99.
The website also offers drum kits, industry contacts, free music loops and an artists/producers corner for highlighting talent.
Since the launch of the website, Mix Me entertainment has become one of the leaders in online music production, providing a source for quality rap & hip hop beats for artists around the world.
The company has also become a top performer on Clickbank and offers a fairly simple method for customers and internet marketers to receive extra cash through PPC Ads.
In November 2006, DH & Mix Me Entertainment will be launching (2) new websites.
www.addmyplaylist.com (hip hop directory) www.powercashpro.com (wealth building system)
If you would like more information about Mix Me Entertainment.
Contact:
www.mixmeentertainment.com

About the Author
Internet Article Guru

Learn to Play Guitar Online Free by Corey Palmer

If you have been interested in playing guitar and been online for any amount of time, you'll know that there are a large number of online resources to learn to play guitar online free. The sites you will find will have loads of instructional guitar videos, rhythm guitar background tracks to play with, small online guitar lessons with instructional guitar tablature and many other tools to help you learn to play guitar online free.
So, you are looking to learn to play guitar online free but you do not know how to start? Here is an excellent way for any beginning guitarist to learn to play guitar online free!
The first thing you want to do is surf over to the search engine site that you like to use. Now there are hundreds of things you can search for but if you want to learn guitar you'll want to search for a guitar learning start point - open chords. Search "open guitar chords" and you should receive a number of websites that will show you images, charts showing guitar chords, and how to read the chord charts. Spend some time with open chords and learn the G, C, D, E, F, A, and G chords and practice quickly switching between them while strumming the strings.
The next step to learn to play guitar online free is to search and learn different guitar theories and techniques. Search for "songs using open chords" for song charts that you can learn and pick songs you recognize. After you are comfortable with songs using open chords, search "barre chords" and learn these as well. Next, try "pentatonic scale", and so on.
Another good thing to try is to just seach "beginning online guitar lessons". This way you should find a number of online guitar lessons that will step you through each technique and usually give you examples of the technique as well. Look for some that have video and audio as well.
When you learn to play guitar online free, knowing what to search for is one of the main advantages. There are hundreds of guitar learning tools, just go out and find them!

About the Author
Corey Palmer enjoys playing guitar both at home by himself and in his band, gNosh. If you want to check out another great guitar learning book, check out http://banddomain.unlkgtar.hop.clickbank.net

Learn How To Play Acoustic Guitar-Online Lessons by R. Espy

Ready to Learn How To Play Acoustic Guitar? Do you want a most rewarding and fun addition to your life? That's what you will get when you learn how to play acoustic guitar. It's very rewarding when you play your favorite song or for that matter your first chords. Nothing could be more fun than playing for yourself, friends, family even strangers. Now you can learn how to play acoustic guitar with guitar online lessons that make it convenient, fast, fun and less expensive.
When you learn how to play acoustic guitar you will be able to play electric guitar as well. You just won't have the added initial cost of amps, pedals, effects, pickups etc.
What is required to learn how to play acoustic guitar with online lessons? 1) The Guitar 2) A Computer 3) Guitar Course 4) Practice
That's a short list isn't it? The computer and guitar online lessons take away the biggest reasons people have for not starting or quitting guitar lessons, inconvenience and expense of never ending scheduled classes. Now learn how to play acoustic guitar at your own pace in the comfort of your home.
Buying a guitar should be fun also. Whether you buy it from a local music store or online music store don't buy the cheapest guitar. It doesn't have to be expensive either. There are good quality, good sounding guitars in the low and mid price ranges, get one.
The computer you use to learn how to play acoustic guitar with online can usually be a Mac or PC. It should have at least Win2000 OS, speakers, a monitor and optional CD player/writer.
The guitar online course should be comprehensive, covering all you need to learn how to play acoustic guitar effectively. Guitar online lessons range from text and graphics only to multi-media (most effective). They should have a one time fee, eliminating recurring costs.
Whether you have never picked up a guitar or are returning, pick the right course. One where the teacher is an accomplished guitar player and a proven teacher. They are not one in the same.
When you learn how to play acoustic guitar with text and graphic only online lessons it's basically learning with a book. There may be some audio but essentially that's it.
Good multi-media guitar online lessons have text, audio, graphics and much more. These courses are rich with interactive features, such as video lessons, audio, audio tracks, interactive exercises and games. Which helps you learn how to play acoustic guitar fast because it's convenient and fun. You have a teacher in the computer who's ready whenever you are.
One proven and effective guitar online course for beginners to intermediate players is by Ben Edwards. He's played guitar professionally in bands for over 12 years and holds a Bachelors Degree in Education. His Learn How to Play Acoustic Guitar course is the standard by which others are measured online. To find it click here. This course is media rich and full of effective bonuses.
You are the final and most important requirement needed to learn how to play acoustic guitar. Your commitment to practice is what will make the difference. Guitar online lessons make it possible for you to learn how to play acoustic guitar like a pro in your pajamas, with a guitar and your computer. The right course makes it fun and the price is right. No more excuses to keep you from your goal to learn how to play acoustic guitar. Just do it. You will never regret you did.

About the Author
Get expert Learn How to Play Acoustic Guitar information and FREE guitar online lessons Click Here!
Begin playing acoustic guitar after one weekend Click Here.

The Future Of MP3 Players by Adam O'Connor

What will tomorrow bring for MP3 players and other portable media players? No doubt digital players have enjoyed tremendous success to date. They've quickly replaced portable CD players and regular radios as the perfect traveling companions. But will MP3 players continue to sell or will they be replaced just as quickly by new technology? Consider 5 possible trends of the future.
1.The MP3 Player Market Will Grow
A technology research firm by the name of DC recently released a market prediction that the MP3 player market will grow steadily until 2009, perhaps by improving sales some 4 times over%. Flash player technology is also expected to advance and grow in total gigabyte storing capacity.
2.Units Will Grow More User Friendly And Energy Efficient
Older models, not to mention small and simplistic devices, will be discontinued, though many have been axed already. The latest design to beat is a full-featured MP3 player with video capabilities that's as small as a regular MP3 player (IPOD anyone?). (Ideal size, smaller than a common PC mouse) Large bulky systems are out and so are internal iPod batteries that you can't replace without professional help.
3. Wireless Technology
Digital players now face a serious threat from cell phones provider, which are now incorporating MP3 playback into their products. Therefore, in order to keep up with the competition, expect many MP3 players to soon utilize wireless technology and feature a Wi-Fi connection for quick and easy Internet downloads.
4. Portable Media Players
MP3 Players are also being scrutinized for value when compared to similarly priced products such as Pocket PCs, Ultra Mobile PCs and even portable game consoles. The Nintendo DS and Sony PSP use wireless technology to provide users with more multimedia entertainment beyond games, including DVD and MP3 playback. Pocket PCs cannot only play MP3 files; they can also open word processors and spreadsheets, check email and browse the web. In order not to be replaced by more efficient and similarly priced gadgets, MP3 players will have to truly become media players--that is, incorporate image viewing, audio and video recording, and more into their systems.
5. Prices Will Drop

Going along with that prediction, a realistic belief is that in the coming years multimedia players and especially MP3 players will drastically fall in price. Pocket PCs and Ultra Mobile PCs are expected to be reduced as technology improves and the market changes. People certainly won't mind buying a media playing device with limited features--but they won't want to pay the same price for it that they would a complete portable PC for $400.00-$500.00.

MP3 player manufacturers like Creative Zen, iRiver, Dell Hewlett Packard and Apple iPod are certainly banking on the present--namely that MP3 players are relatively novel. Whether or not they bank on the future, however, remains to be seen.Article By Adam O'Connor, MP3 Player Reviews

About the Author
Advice Columnist

The iPod Is Almost Obselete by Chris Campbell

The iPod, in all its aliases such as nano, and the shuffle are practically antiques. Functionally, it's really just a personal stereo, which was originally patented by Srirekam Jayram Purushotam in 1974. It first reached true commercial success with the electronics giant Sony in 1979 when they sold their first Walkman model called the Soundabout. The iPod is still filling the same need, but using newer technology to do it better. Many of today's generation of clones marching around with white ear buds growing out of their ears, have probably never heard of a Walkman. Much in the same way the next batch will have no idea what the heck an iPod is.
There is technology just waiting in the wings which will replace the iPod as we know it. The iPod (and most mp3 players) markets, and differentiates its line of products by capacity. All the models really do the same thing, with the same set of controls. The biggest difference between them and the biggest factor determining price, is the capacity of the drives inside them. The second differentiating factor is of course the color. Kind of hard to charge more for blue or pink though. Anyway, there will come a time, when actually having a drive in your mp3 player or iPod will not be necessary. It really doesn't make sense. It makes the unit bigger, and drives the price up. Those little drives are far more expensive than comparable drives for bigger machines. Carrying your entire song collection on your person is kind of risky as well. What happens when Uncle Bob thinks its funny to pick you up and throw you into his new pool? Ooops, is that your 80Gb iPod with 20,000 of your favorite being sucked towards the pool drain? You've got that thing backed up right? Ha!
The answer is of course to store your entire song/picture collection on a server somewhere with proper data protection and backup facilities. Then all you need is a network ready receiver about half the size of a iPod nano with the ability to access your music off that protected server wherever you are. Capacity becomes meaningless. Running out of disk space on a current iPod / mp3 player means either deleting songs (are you nuts!) or buying a new player. Great for the manufacturer, but not so much for the consumer. The different pieces of technologies are there, it's just a question of someone putting it all together, and marketing it to the masses.
I think, maybe I'll just hold on to my old cassette Walkman, for a little longer. The next really great personal stereo for me is just around the next corner.

About the Author
If you enjoyed this article and want to learn more about iPod Nanos procedures visit http://audiomp3players.info or simply read other articles about iPod Nanos and other topics by this author at http://foolishmumbles.com

Getting in to Gigging... by Pete Crewdson

There's a lot more to organising a gig than most people think; it can be an easy process, but most of the time troubles arise. Make sure you do it the right way and avoid the problems that so many others have to face.
Start Early: Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to get the gig organised. Yes, you want to get bands playing and get your teeth in to it as soon as you can, but the longer you have to organise and promote your gig is ultimately better. Try to book a gig a few months in advance.
Don't go for all the popular bands: So you can get 4 big bands to play together and bring in quite a big crowd with each, but realistically, how many times does that band play in the same place within a few month of each other; the bigger the band, the more times they've been there before. Try out a gig with one bigger headliner and three smaller up-coming bands. Each of the bands get the gigging experience, and being younger and newer they probably haven't played many shows; that means more of their fans want to see them, and their show is something more special even than the headliners.
Don't overload: Both on equipment and bands. Only put on as many bands as you think is necessary, don't try to squeeze out 5 minute change-overs just so you can stick another band on, play it safe and keep it smooth. The same goes for equipment, using one drum kit all night is best, and getting the bands to help each other out when it comes to amplifiers is always a big bonus. Less equipment = less hassle, which ultimately = smoother gig.
Think big: Just because your putting on a small gig at the local music venue doesn't mean it can't sell out. With the right promotion and the right bands, any gig can get close to selling out on the night. Always think big when it comes to creating posters and promoting; look at professional posters and find the bits that draw attention. Stay away from cluttered posters with band websites and reviews scribbled all over them - when it comes down to it, the only thing people need to know is who and where the bands are playing.
Get on the bandwagon: So you don't like MySpace, you don't like Facebook, you don't like PureVolume - get over it and get on promoting. MySpace is the biggest promotion tool you could ever dream of. Make a digital copy of the poster and send it to all your MySpace friends; tell the bands to send it to theirs and tell them to keep sending it on to their friends. Viral marketing is key to a successful gig.
Pre-Sell tickets: This can not be stressed enough! Pre-selling tickets means that those people who like to say they're coming to a gig, but fail to show up have a ticket before they get there. It works as an insurance policy so people know they have a ticket, and will come to the gig because of it. If the worst comes to it, then you've still got the money from the advance tickets.
Sound check everyone early: Most engineers will tell you that it is better to sound check each band, and it is. Make sure that you get the bands to the venue quite a while before the gig so each gets time to sound check fully. Most bands will be happy to show up if they know they're having a good sound check for the show.
From experience, gigs go much more successfully when you inject a bit of common sense in to the equation; don't go in feet first, plan and get it right. Anyone can put on a successful gig when they know how.

About the Author
Pete is a music journalist and gig promoter. He runs his own online music magazine in the devon area and is famed for his online fan site for Linkin Park.

Is the Zune better than iPod? by Stephen Davis

So what is the Microsoft Zune? And where is the best place to buy Zune, Zune accessories, Zune music and Zune downloads?
Zune is more than a brand from Microsoft that incorporates a line of portable media players. It is also software that will drive the devices, and an online service for acquiring and sharing media. The flagship Zune product is the portable media player, that will compete directly with Apple's Ipod. The Zune was released on the US market on November 14, 2006 with a price tag of $249.99, and you can order it today here at OneStopZuneShop - as well as all of the Zune Accessories.
The Zune has a 30 GB hard drive which stores up to 7,500 songs, 25,000 pictures or 100 hours of video. It has built-in FM tuner with Radio Data System, 3.0-inch screen, and 802.11 wireless networking. The player comes in three colors--black, brown and white. Supported codecs include H.264, MP3, WMA, WMV, MPEG4, JPG and AAC[6] [7].
The wireless networking connects two Zunes together, enabling the sharing of "full-length sample tracks of select songs", recordings, playlists and pictures with others. Tracks received from another person can be played for up to three days or three plays, whichever comes first, after which it will need to be purchased via the Zune Marketplace store--their official name for the store.
The Zune is able to connect to the Xbox 360, which allows the user to stream music, videos, and pictures via USB. Microsoft Points is used to buy music via the Zune Marketplace. The Zune Marketplace can be used as a per-song purchase plan or as a subscription-based flat-fee service, known as a "Zune Pass".
What does the future hold for the Microsoft Zune?
Rumours suggest the Zune will, in the near future, also act as a mobile phone. But in the interim, we'll have access to a broad range of Zune accessories, such as:
* Zune Car Pack and Auto Installation Kits* Zune Cases* Zune Speakers* Zune Docks* Zune Movies* Zune TV Shows* Zune Music* Zune Videos* Zune Software, and* Zune Downloads
You can buy Zune products and Zune accessories at the One Stop Zune Shop by clicking here.

About the Author
Stephen Davis is an independent reviewer of business websites.

They don't make singers like that anymore! by Peter Cross

Thomas Edison made the first recording of a human voice on December 6, 1877, but he did not record a singer. The first great singer to be recorded was Enrico Caruso, and he made over 250 sound recordings. There may have been singers prior to Caruso who were even better virtuosos but we have no way of knowing that because sound recording is the definitive judge of a singer's ability. In recording studios, it has often been said that "tape don't lie". Even the best recording engineers cannot make a good singer sound like a great singer. Skipping briefly through the jazz era, a few great singers who deserve honorable mention are Billy Holiday, Al Jolson, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby and Tony Bennett. The concept of what constitutes a great singer is subjective, but the key qualities a great singer must possess are range, timing, phrasing, pitch, timbre, emotional impact and originality of style.
Elvis Presley was the first great rock and roll singer. His first hit record in 1954 entitled That's All Right was a blues song written by Arthur Crudup and it proved that Elvis had a unique quality in his voice. Songs like Jailhouse Rock and All Shook Up demonstrated that Elvis was the epitome of rock and roll, and songs like Are You Lonesome Tonight and Can't Help Falling in Love showed the world that Elvis could put the emotion of love into a vocal track with intense male sexuality. With one of his last blazing bursts of energy in 1972, Elvis proved that he was still a hunk-a hunk-a Burning Love during his twilight years. Elvis can be credited for breaking down the racial barrier that existed for black singers within the record companies in the 1950's. Little Richard said, "He was an integrator. Elvis was a blessing. They wouldn't let black music through. He opened the door for black music." Elvis opened many doors. He let Pandora out of her box and girls all over the country began to scream at the very sight of Elvis. Much has been written about the King of Rock and Roll and his impact on our culture, but the focus of this article is on a unique vocal quality that has not received attention. Elvis pioneered many instantly memorable vocal mannerisms that shall hereinafter be collectively referred to as the rock and roll vocal schtick. It is possible that Elvis picked up his vocal schtick from Otis Blackwell, the songwriter who wrote many of Elvis' early hit records, because Otis sang his original songs on the demos that Elvis listened to and Otis originated much of the phrasing that Elvis recorded. But much water has passed under the bridge since those days and we may never know whether the Memphis chicken's schtick preceded the Otis egg.
The word "schtick" is derived from a Yiddish word and it refers to various bits of business that cause an entertainer to be instantly memorable. Prior to Elvis introducing the concept into rock and roll, it was very common in the movie business for actors to achieve fame by virtue of their schtick. Jack Benny became notorious for being stingy and a bad violin player even though in real life, he tipped lavishly and he was an expert violin player. Groucho Marx had his stooped strutting, his lascivious eyebrow raising, and his cigar. Elvis had his gyrating hips and his out of control, shaking leg, but he also put a new kind of mannerism into his singing. On All Shook Up, he turned "Mm mm mm, oh oh oh, yeah yeah yeah!" into a memorable chorus, predating the Beatles famous yeah yeah yeah's by about 10 years. Predating Elvis by four years, Fats Domino had already developed his signature vocal style by the time he hit the R & B charts in 1950 with The Fat Man which sold over a million copies. One year after Elvis opened the door with That's All Right, Fats crossed over into the mainstream with Ain't That a Shame in 1955, and soon millions of people found their threeee-ill on Blueberry heeee-ill. That there is rock and roll vocal schtick in a nutshell, and countless singers picked right up on the groove.
In the 1950's, original vocal styles literally oozed out of the radio every day. Tony Williams, the lead singer for The Platters, was a truly great singer who had it all - range, timing, phrasing, pitch, timbre, emotional impact and originality of style. As a professionally trained singer, Tony was able to express the emotional essence of previously recorded songs like Smoke Gets in Your Eyes with professional style and grace, but he also influenced the new rock and roll vocal style. In the number one selling hit record, Only You, Tony could have sung the words "Only you can make this change in me" using straightforward and traditional phrasing, but instead he sung "cand-a make this change in me" and threw in a bit of schtick. Marty Robbins and Ben E. King were also two seminal rock and roll singers who embodied all the qualities that define a great singer. There were many other outstanding singers during the 1950's but the most sublime singer of them all was Smokey Robinson. In addition to every other quality previously discussed, Smokey sang complex blues melismas as if God told him the secret and said "Smokey, you will make everybody think this is easy." Nobody can sing like Smokey Robinson, nobody can duplicate his vocals, and when Linda Ronstadt recorded her version of Ooh Baby Baby, she had to white out his melismas because she had too much sense to even try to duplicate him. Buddy Holly, among his many achievements, may be credited for introducing the hiccup into rock and roll vocals (fantastic schtick). But the award for Most Outrageous Rock and Roll Schtick of All Time goes to Little Richard for "a wop-bop-a-loo-mop alop-bam-boom" and his earth shaking, high pitched woo's that Paul McCartney duplicated with enormous commercial success. Other great primal rock and roll singers of the 1950's who deserve Most Honorable Mention include Roy Orbison, Brenda Lee, Del Shannon, Jimmy Jones, Frankie Valli, and the list goes on and on.
The great singers of rock and roll peaked during the 1960's and 1970's with John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Jim Morrison, and Janis Joplin. Robert Plant's 12 year career with Led Zeppelin began with the band's formation in 1968 and continued until John Bonham's death in 1980. That fatal day may have been the turning point in the history of great rock and roll singers because even though some very good singers achieved fame and success after 1980, none are in the same exalted league with the Great Ones. Discussing each of the great singers could generate an entire article for each one of them, but suffice it to say that history has already passed judgment on them and declared their venerable status. In terms of the key vocal qualities defined in the first paragraph of this page, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin must also receive honorable mention. But in terms of the sheer number of hit records and brilliant vocals that incorporate all the qualities of a world class singer, Paul McCartney is arguably the best rock and roll singer of all time. It's always nice to end a treatise with a provocative pronouncement like that one, and then to immediately disappear into oblivion before anyone can throw a tomato.

About the Author
You can find this article at: They don't make singers like that anymore! and the home page at: Rock and Roll with an Immortal Soul. The "best of" Peter Cross CD is entitled A Hard Day at The Orifice. Copyright No. TXu1-257-177.

Piano Lessons Using Rocket Piano by ali rae

"Someday I would like to learn to play the piano." I have heard this many times, but somehow time and money seem to get in the way. Now we have a solution to both of those problems. Technology has made it possible for people to realize their dreams. First, digital music has made the inexpensive keyboards of today sound as good as their expensive counterparts of only a few years ago. You can buy a nice keyboard for under $100. Second, the internet has made it possible for the lessons to be delivered to many people simultaneously rather than just one at a time by a teacher in a private studio. The piano lessons can be downloaded for you to use any time it is convenient for you. The delivery of lessons on the internet has made the cost miniscule compared to going to a studio for lessons.
Rocket Piano is undoubtedly the best choice for most people wanting to learn to play the piano without breaking the bank. Even if you did spend more money on lessons, you would be hard-pressed to find a better quality product. The lessons were developed by Ashleigh Southam, a professional musician and jazz artist. Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced students will benefit from these lessons. They are presented in multimedia. Numerous video and audio clips are contained throughout the lessons that demonstrate exactly what a song should sound and look like. Rocket piano lessons will teach you any style of music you want to learn to play: jazz, rock, pop, gospel, blues, or classical.
These are not your mother's piano lessons. For most people, the point of learning to play is enjoyment, relaxation and to have fun! Ashleigh understands that. Yes, to become highly skilled a person would need to spend many hours practicing speed drills, arpeggios, and scales; I know, because I did. However, to play for pleasure you don't need hours of practice each day.
Being classically trained is something I will never regret, but I never was able to just sit down and play for fun. Unless I had memorized the piece, I needed the sheet music to play. There is nothing wrong with that, except that you don't always have it handy. The most memorable and happy times when people gather around the piano to sing or just listen are often spontaneous. I longed to learn to play by ear; Rocket Piano made that possible. It is possible for you as well. Join Ashleigh and me in learning to play the piano!

About the Author
ali rae is a freelance writer and former teacher/tutor (and loves playing the piano)
Piano Lessons Today!

Music Sheets by Sergio Guardiano

Everyone who can play musical instruments are needed in sheet music. The world famous repository of sheet music for piano, guitar, violin and etc. is http://www.musicsheetstore.com You will be able to find a big variety of music sheets there. There are a lot of information about musical instruments, world show business news and reviews of many well known musical albums and groups.

About the Author
I'm a guy blogging musicsheetstore.com

CHRISTMAS VOICES OF ALLERDALE by Brian Melville

CHRISTMAS VOICES OF ALLERDALE.
Allerdale is a scenic area of Cumbria that sits by the Solway coast to the west, bordered by the Lake District National Park to the east and sandwiched between the districts of Eden to the north and Copeland to the south. It's diversity and beauty is reflected in its people who are as varied and diverse as the landscape.
"Christmas Voices of Allerdale", was conceived by Brian Melville who, as head of music at St. Joseph's school in Workington for 34 years, organised the "Christmas Concert" which ran until his retirement in 2004. The "Christmas Concert" at St. Joseph's over the years, like many other schools all over the world, became a special event during the year for the music department and on occasions involved as many as 140 pupils singing or playing Christmas songs arranged specially for the event. Some of these arrangements over the years became such a "hit" with school children and parents that to consign them to obscurity would have been a sad option. . After retiring from mainstream teaching in 2004, Brian then established Solway Music, an independent music support service for junior schools in Allerdale. Having already forged a working partnership with Loose Records, it then became apparent that a CD of Christmas arrangements could become a reality. The next step was to secure the co-operation of a number of schools in Allerdale and every one approached was happy to participate in the project which was beginning to take shape. The logistics of bringing together around 50-60 voices from around the district was a problem that would have been difficult and expensive to overcome given that all the schools are situated many miles away from each other. The solution was to work with each school in their own location and bring together each one in the recording studio. In effect, we had an Allerdale choir from six schools who never met. This involved teaching, rehearsing and recording each school in situ. The recordings were then mixed together and mastered at Record X studio.
Loose Records and Solway Music would like to thank the following Allerdale schools for their co-operation and patience during the production of this CD.....All Saints Church of England Primary School Cockermouth.....Cockermouth School....Our Lady and St.Patricks Catholic Primary School Maryport......Raughton Head Church of England Primary School.... Church of England Primary School.....St. Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School Wigton......St.Joseph's Catholic School Business and Enterprise College Workington.
The ten tracks are an eclectic mix of songs old and new but all given a modern treatment......... 1. We wish you a merry Christmas 2. De Virgin Mary had a baby boy 3. Babe of Bethlehem 4. When a child is born 5. Coventry Carol 6. Christmas Medley 7. Lullaby 8. Lead our people 9. African crib carol 10. O Little town
Some samples from the CD can be heard at.........
http://www.solwaymusic.co.uk
It's also available from............ http://www.crucialmusic.co.uk http://www.cdbaby.com and iTunes,

About the Author
Brian Melvillle is a multi-talented musician who recently took early retirement from a long career in teaching in Cumbria having originally gone to school in Wigton at The Nelson Thomlinson School. Wearing another hat many people around Cumbria will have seen him perform solo or as part of his jazz combo.

Learn Piano Online by Nick Krueger

Many adults give up the idea of finding a program, course, or lessons to learn how to play piano online. They might be worried about not finding one that meets their needs, or they feel that there is no way they will be able to learn quickly or effectively over the computer.
In this day and age of the World Wide Web, where billions upon billions of pages can be surfed by anybody 24/7, one could find nearly a million references to learning about the keyboard, piano, and classical artists such as Beethoven online. This could also be another reason so many people give up their piano-playing dreams. They simply become overwhelmed with the millions of search-engine results and cannot find exactly what they are looking for. The first aspect that someone seeking an Internet-based piano course should look for is quality. This might be time consuming and sometimes frustrating if you aren't able to look at or review the products before you buy. In this case, one of the best avenues to take is to look at a site that reviews products to learn how to play piano online. Little do many Web shoppers know that these sites review and compare products in an unbiased manner. These sites do all the comparing, analyzing, and reviewing before you buy.
The next step when searching through the multitude of online piano material is to create a list of what you are looking for and ways you enjoy learning. After you have seen what products, lessons, and courses are available online, whether they are online piano e-books, software, games, virtual teachers, videos, audio, or other methods, you'll be able to evaluate the selection with your own personal criteria. If you don't want to read an e-book, then you might look at sites that offer video lessons of how to learn piano online.
The third step is to ask yourself: does this program or package offer all that I want, at a price I can pay? Be skeptical if a website claims you'll learn how to play the piano overnight. Evaluate different websites that offer a variety of materials and meet your overall budget. Again, consulting a website that reviews all the important factors will save you a lot of time, hassle, and money.
Finally, once you have found the perfect online piano program and carefully analyzed what it offers, you will be ready to make your final purchase in confidence. After you have made your purchase, give yourself time to get used to the new software, e-book, or video. If the product suggest that you practice 15 to 30 minutes each night, then be sure to stick to that program to gain all the benefits and rewards that come through learning piano online.

About the Author
Nick Krueger is a review specialist at Reviewica.com. For more infomation on learn piano online and related product reviews, please visit: http://Learn-to-Play-Piano.Reviewica.com.

Learn How to Play Piano by Nick Krueger

Some people are more musically inclined than others, but that doesn't mean you cannot learn how to play the piano. Many tricks of the trade exist that can have you playing the piano within a couple of months of practice, and some online courses even claim to help you learn much faster. No matter what is claimed or what is available, the most important aspect of learning how to play any new instrument, hobby, or art form is dedication and practice.
Listening to Beethoven, Mozart, or any other genius composers might make you want to sign up with the best instructor you can find. Your aim might be to enthrall others with the beauty of classical, modern, or even jazz piano playing. Many adults who learn how to play the piano choose to do so through rigorous methodologies of learning the fundamentals of music first. This requires dedication and lots of practice, not to mention the cost of an instructor.
For other learners who want to give the piano a try, quicker methods won't mean you will enjoy playing the piano any less. It simply means you will not have the fundamental base that someone else has learned over a longer period. One of these quicker methods, both on and offline, involve the learning of chords. In an evening, someone who knows nothing about the piano might have the ability to play a melody just on chords alone. Playing by chords is usually encouraged more than playing by tablature. And, there are no problems with those who first learn chords then learn to read music later on.
Any piano melody is made up of its smallest parts - its notes. Those who learn chords do not actually learn these 'smallest' pieces, but instead learn how to break the music into chunks. By dealing with songs one chunk at a time and matching what is heard, many piano players enjoy greater freedom of creativity as they progress.
One who learns how to play the piano using chords does it more so through trial and error. This person may not actually be able to read musical notations or scores, but he or she will at least be able to judge what chord is played and for how long. As the tune or melody is practiced, usually by breaking a song up into its basic elements and listening to it as it is being played, the person matches what he or she is hearing.
A player who learns how to play the piano by ear will not necessarily be able to judge if a key is sharp or flat, and that's where having some basic knowledge of the notes comes in handy. If you need to stay in key F-major, for example, then you will know how to keep that note flat during the entire scale. While flat keys and sharp keys follow similar patterns, learning how to play the piano is not based on this alone. For teenagers or adults who are inspired and self-motivated enough to pursue their goals, learning how to play the piano can be done within a short amount of time.

About the Author
Nick Krueger is a review specialist at Reviewica.com. For more information on learning how to play the piano and related product reviews, please visit: ttp://Learn-to-Play-Piano.Reviewica.com.

Learn to Read Piano Music by Nick Krueger

Learning a chord-based approach to playing the piano might have you rockin' and rollin' in not time, but many people want to know and understand what they are playing by learning how to read piano music. This could take time, a few months or even years, but those who learn to read piano music don't have to hear a song before they play it. They simply look over the piece of sheet music and are able to 'hear' the score before them. Understanding the notes is like being able to read another language.
The first steps to learning how to read piano or keyboard sheet music involve learning the notes and clefs that a piece of music is composed of. This will let you know whether you need to play in a treble clef, or high tone, or if the piece is written for deeper or lower tones, called a bass clef. Next, you must be able to designate which notes are what, where they are located, and why they are there.
Notes are broken down and depicted individually on what is called a stave, the five parallel lines music is written on. Depending on where the note is on the stave, on the lines or in the spaces, this will formulate how a song should be played. Different parts of the musical score will detail each section's notes all at once to help the conductor lead an entire symphony. The next step to reading piano sheet music is a bit more complicated. The time signature is another important feature to focus on because it tells you at what pace the song should be played. These are often made up of vertical bar lines, which indicate when and where a song begins and stops. On this time signature there are numbers that indicate how many beats exist per measure. You'll learn to recognize the time signature, what it means, and how it controls the rhythm of a song as you continue learning how to read piano music.
The final step to understanding a piano score involves understanding the next type of signature. This is called the key signature. The key signature tells you in what key the piece should be played. This can vary from sharp, to flat, to natural. Sharp keys are the black keys found just above the white keys on a piano or keyboard. The notations on the key signature indicate what part or parts of a song need to be emphasized or not. By learning to read piano music, you will not only be able to understand the piece before you, but you will also gain a deeper appreciation for the music.

About the Author
Nick Krueger is a review specialist at Reviewica.com. For more information on learning to read piano music and related product reviews, please visit: http://Learn-to-Play-Piano.Reviewica.com.

Learn To Play Your Favorite Christmas Songs By Ear: Gospel Piano Course by Andre Hayward

Dear Friend,
The Christmas season, my favorite season of the entire year, is ALMOST here --- and courtesy of Jermaine and HearandPlay.com, I have the PERFECT gift idea that YOU or one of your relatives would LOVE to see under the tree (...or better yet, on top of their piano)!
Jermaine just let me know about his brand new 3 H-O-U-R Christmas course, Christmas Keys Vol.1 - "Conquering Christmas Classics, which has just been released.
After he takes you through his UNIQUE song learning process, you'll not ONLY know how to conquer the songs shown in this course but tons of other Christmas songs since most songs follow familiar patterns.
Christmas Keys Volume 1 is LOADED with tons of powerful tips, easy-to-do tricks, and techniques that will have you playing like an expert by this Christmas season - GUARANTEED! Click here for more details:
Christmas Keys
In this course, you'll...
* Learn how to play every song, step-by-step, with no guessing (whatsoever) or any information left out! By the end of this course, you'll have what it takes to fully play all of these Christmas songs by ear!
* Learn several variations of each song so you can play these Christmas classics a different way every time!
* Beginners: How to play an entire song with only three-fingered major chords (...also known as "major triads").
* Discover the power of "inversions" and how changing one note in your chord can totally alter the way a progression sounds!
* How to add fuel to your bass by understanding how "power" chords work in holiday music.
* How to play "Go Tell It On The Mountain" in a churchy praise style! I'm talking about bass lines, runs, fill-ins, and more (...similar to our other GospelKeys courses)!
* And tons more!
Click below if you're ready to finally learn your favorite Christmas songs by ear:
Christmas Keys
Please note: Due to the high demand and moderate supply, this incredible offer for Christmas Keys will only be around for a short time. So...
...Don't waste time! Order TODAY!
Click here for more details:
Christmas Keys
God bless,

About the Author
Andre Hayward is jazz trombonist/educator in the Boston area.
He is akson an 8 year member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra
led by Wynton Marsalis. He serves as adjunct trombone professor at
both The New England Conservatory and New York University.

Laurie Larsons Aquila a Hidden Gem that Needs Discovery by William McRea

I recently purchased Aquila at CD Baby after reading a press release about Laurie Larsons latest CD. The 10 song compilation may be one of my best purchases in the last two years. On the whole the album features the amazing vocal styling of an artist obviously influenced by the music of the 60s. Yet there is something modern and compelling about both the sound of the music and Ms. Larsons vocals. Within each song lies a well crafted and produced performance that validates the singers pedigree and many talents.
Some of my favorite songs include My Time Will Arrive which has a bluesy, 60ish feel to it and Architect of Dreams a more spiritual song with haunting vocals that linger in your head long after the song is over. Road to Elysium is a very beautiful song with Ms. Larsons best vocals. I am particularly fond of the end of the song which features an a cappella vocal that is by far the best display of Mr. Larsons amazing vocal talent.
My favorite song on the CD is On This Day which not only features an amazing vocal performance but also a very tasteful guitar solo, that demonstrates the talent of the musicians that perform with Ms. Larson on Aquila.
The song Aquila is a bit pop, a bit reggae and a lot of fun. Mr. Larson combines her vocals with an augmented almost hip hop vocal accompaniment. Add to that some killer guitar playing and you have a fun sound that stands out on the CD.
Utopia features more great vocals and excellent finger style guitar playing. This highlights an important part of the production on Aquila the musicianship is truly first class, always adding to the vocal performance without over whelming it.
Child of the Wind is another favorite of mine. Ms. Larson captures the essences of a young girl, and her struggles to make the right choices. I relate to this song, because I have a young teenage daughter, and every time I hear the song it reminds me of her.
Light of Freedom and Center of Light are also well crafted songs. As are all the songs on this CD. It is no surprise that Ms. Larson is starting to receive strong radio play across the country. Each song is well crafted and very listenable. The best quality of Aquila is that you believe what Ms. Larson is singing. The lyrics are very personal and you know they are important to the singer. Nothing contrived or forced.
Is Aquila a folk rock, classic rock, or alternative rock CD? Honestly you cannot categorize Aquila or Mr. Larsons debut CD Artist Mirage in such simple terms, as her music truly cross many boundaries. And that is what I find so appealing about her music.
Aquila is a self produced and self promoted effort, but it is professionally recorded and the songs are complete performances. Most self produced albums simply do not have the quality and production to be worthy of distribution. Laurie Larsons Aquila is an exception to that rule, and is a hidden gem that needs discovery.

About the Author
Bill McRea Web master for Kansas Fans http://www.kansasfans.com. For more information about Aquila and Laurie Larson visit Lauries website at http://www.laurielarson.com.

Classic rock by Georgi Kostov

The period of 1968-1970 saw the appearance of credence Clearwater revival, with their hits green river and the anti Vietnam song fortunate son. But the classic rock uprising actually burst out in 1969 with Woodstock. The Woodstock Rock concert took place in Bethel, New York and witnessed a fan gathering of 500,000.
When you put collectively 500,000 fans with guitar distortions and The Who, Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Joe Cocker, Jimi Hendrix, credence Clearwater revival, Janis Joplin and many more, what you get is the most electrifying experience of the century. Jimi Hendrix became a legend and Woodstock was etched deeply into the hearts and minds of those who were there to see history happen.
The year 1969 also was a year of rock catastrophe as it lost 3 stalwarts of the era, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Brian Jones of Rolling Stones and all three of them succumbed to drug overdoses. In the 70's, Classic rock gave the world some of the greatest talents that the music industry had ever witnessed.
The popular mainstream of the 70's was conquered by the Rolling Stones and new bands with guitar contorted sounds were catching on like wild fire. Lead guitarists came into the forefront with their solos that set the stage afire. David Gilmour, Jimmy Page, Tony Iommi, David Coverdale and Ritchie Blackmore became legends of the guitar world.
Growing up with classic rock.

About the Author
The author of this article about classic rock is a writer in Enthuse Entertainment.

Spanish Song Lyrics Online Archives Launched by Diane

As music in Spanish becomes an international standard rivalled only by English, and as more and more Spanish and Latin American singers and bands choose to combine Spanish and English as well as to modernize and internationalize their styles to attract the whole of the Western world, millions in non Spanish speaking countries have developed a taste and interest for Spanish language music.
This makes them want to know the text of the Spanish songs they like, even if their Spanish is not so good. In fact, this whole development has resulted into a renewed interest to learn Spanish, as it is noe clearly perceived as the second most important language in the world. But even those who know very little Spanish wish to know more about the singers they like and the lyrics of the songs they love.
For the first time ever a great publishing effort has been conducted to gather thousands of top Spanish language songs. This is how the Spanish Song Lyrics (http://www.spanishsonglyrics.org) site has been born. Carefully chosen by music experts, the songs included in this archive appeal to all ages and tastes. Spanish linguists have reviewed the way the texts have been treated, while the interface and general informations are in English and targeted at an international audience of music lovers who wish to know more about their Spanish and Latin American idols.
The Spanish Song Lyrics online archive contains already over five thousand song lyrics, from oldies to the latest hits and from Spanish and Latin American floklore to the newest pop, rock, house and rap music in Spanish. From flamenco, cumbia, merengue, bachata or corrido lyrics to the most vibrant hard rock bands and romantic soloists or bands, the Spanish Song Lyrics has it all. The site also caters for its non English speakers as the main explanations are also available in four other languages.
Frequently updated with the best of Spanish songs, this online archive has been welcome by the online community, who have already produced a large traffic and a permanent flow of further song lyrics requests and comments. The Spanish Song Lyrics site is a proof of the increasing importance of Spanish language and culture around the world.

About the Author
Material copyrighted Free distribution and publication providing it's content will not be altered in anyway, shortened or manipulated of any sort and as long as it's links will not be removed.

Christmas Music a Timeless Treasure by Philip McDonald

Christmas music is some of the most fun choral music out there, both to sing and simply to drink in. Some of my favorite Christmas music is more contemporary, but several have quickly become standards in our home. Celebration is always incomplete without music and Christmas music is always special. Christmas Music is the best way to get yourself in the holiday spirit. Christmas music is a tradition. Christmas music is perhaps one of the best known associations to Christmas traditions. But, the stock of Christmas music is so vast, that one can easily choose those which suit their individual style and mood. The reason we like Christmas music is because we only listen to it occasionally, so it brings back memories and warm feelings. For me, Christmas music is the quickest shortcut to sentimentality and nostalgia; yet I also love to explore new groups and find new sounds.
Choosing your Christmas music can be critical there may be members of your family who likes the traditional music while others will like the more contempory, the most important thing is to find a happy balance for all. Christmas music is probably my favorite thing about Christmas. Traditional pop Christmas music is glorious, if staid, and will always have its place of honor. Christmas Music is something the season cannot do without. Christmas music is written to accompany worship services, enliven the hosting of friends and guests in celebration, and to tell again the ancient story. It is great during the holiday season, but you can also download Christmas ring tones all year around, too. Christmas Music is the Music of joy and gladness.
When you choose to begin your Christmas music is fully up to you. It is the topping on the decorations, in my perception. Currently, the group that comes to mind with Christmas music is the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. One of the great things about Christmas music is that it is steeped in tradition. Amongst my favorite Christmas music is the old religious ones, like my absolute favorite 'Oh Holy Night', but I enjoy Frosty the Snow Man as well. Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas music is a seasonal joy, blending both secular and religious moods.
Setting the holiday mood, Christmas music is as essential as tree trimmings, Yule logs and gingerbread men. And one of the most beautiful ways to hear our favorite yultide music is with a choir and orchestra. Christmas music is unique, naturally endowed with a cyclical shelf life that allows each hit to stay fresh forever. It is more enjoyable every day as the big day approaches. Christmas music is not just heard in stores and churches anymore - but on a number of radio stations in the nation's top 100. Listening to holiday music is a beloved tradition that helps get us into the spirit of peace on Earth and good will to all. If the usual Christmas music is really grating on your nerves, try different music, like classical or choral renditions of carols. Wherever you go this time of year, Christmas music is almost inescapable. The holiday lights are flashing and the Christmas music is playing softly in the background while you work.
Traditional Christmas music is some of the most fun choral music out there, both to sing and simply to get you in the festive mood. A better class of Christmas music is out there, waiting to be heard by those who seek it. Part of Christmas music is having fun. Typically, Christmas music is recorded in the summer or early fall, a time not conducive to thinking about snow, holly and rosy cheeks. The karaoke machine can be used in place of the traditional piano and is a great way to spread the Christmas cheer with friends and family in singing the old standards. Christmas music is great and when mixed with an alternative style, there are great results.
With the varieties of Christmas music available from the traditional to the contemporary, from CD's to ipods indulging in Christmas music at this time of year is not only easier but can be made to fit your taste with little effort.

About the Author
Philip McDonald maintains http://christmas-alert.blogspot.com/ This content is provided by Philip McDonald. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.