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Contemporary Klezmer music - History And Development Drummers Guide.–Music Blog Site

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The term Klezmer comes from the Hebrew words, “kley” and “zemer”, meaning “musical instrument”. The first written documentation of Klezmer dates from the 16th century, while its creation and development stems from the Jewish population exiled to Poland, Romania, Ukraine, Belarus, and Lithuania (all of which came to be referred to as “the Pale of Settlement”).

Many medieval governments and societies restricted Jewish musicians to specific instruments (flutes and stringed instruments among the most prominent), and music itself was one of the few occupations Jewish people were allowed to practice. Thus, every major European city possessed highly skilled, professional Jewish bands. These bands, along with Rom (gypsy) bands, traveled in order to earn a living. Forced out of Spain, Portugal and Central Europe(Germany in particular), 17th century Jews found themselves relocated to the Ottoman Empire in the Pale of Settlement. There, foreign musicians traveling on trade routes injected Jewish music with Turkish, Greek, Armenian and Middle Eastern influences, contributing to the formation of early Klezmer. It was characterized by: 1) an extremely high level of musicianship; 2) unique instrumentation; 3) Middle Eastern polyrhythms. Initially restricted to the quieter instruments clarinet and violin, Klezmer musicians adeptly explored their musical capabilities, developing an emotional depth and expression patterned after the human singing voice (a prominent characteristic still inherent in Klezmer today).

With the 18th-century Hasidic tradition (worship through heightened emotion) and the release of Jews serving in the Tsarist army bringing in more militaristic instruments, (trumpets, trombones, concert snare or “little” drums ["tshekal"], mounted bass drums ["puk" a.k.a "poik" or "baraban"], cymbals ["tats"], tambourines, woodblocks, cowbells and other percussion effects) the sounds of modern Klezmer began to emerge. When 19th-century European governments imposed yet even more hardships upon the Pale of Settlement, emigration to the United States became the logical choice for much of the Jewish population. During the years 1880-1924, Jewish immigration to America (specifically New York City) exceeded more than two million people, bringing Klezmer to the New World.

By the early 20th century, several Klezmer musicians came into prominence, among the most respected being clarinetists Naftule Brandwein and Dave Tarras. Additionally, band leaders such as Harry Kandel produced a wealth of Klezmer recordings, making Klezmer accessible for future generations and furthering the Klezmer tradition via Bulgar Khosidl Terkisher, and other dances.

Since the 1920s, Klezmer’s popularity has fluctuated, though it has been routinely performed in wedding ceremonies, parties, and theater productions. After the founding of the Israeli state in 1948, the younger generation felt the need to modernize its culture, causing Klezmer’s popularity to diminish further. However, are surgence began in the latter part of the 20th century in Europe and the United States, with Klezmorim(”musicians”) from Berkeley, California and Kapelye (”bands”) from New York City leading the way. As the number of young European musicians eager to learn the style rapidly grew, one of Klezmer’s primary markets became, of all places, Germany. Musicians from the United States (many with Rock n’ Roll experience) found excited students and audiences in Berlin, with Brave Old World (with bassist Stuart Brotman, formerly of Canned Heat and Kaleidoscope), the Klezmatics, and the Klezmer Conservatory Band among the most prominent groups. Continually evolving, contemporary Klezmer musicians accepted the drum set. The grooves offer a wide range of practical choices for playing authentic Klezmer music on the drum set. Please note that dancers sometimes perform different dances to the same series of songs, and the choice of drum pattern depends on which dance the dancers are performing.

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Second Line Good Music Style - History And Development Drummers Guide–Music Blog Site

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Situated at the mouth of the Mississippi, New Orleans has been a major port for nearly three centuries. It’s a melting pot of cultures: African, Cuban, South American, European, Caribbean and many others. The fusion of all these cultures created a new style of music, laying the foundation for all types of Jazz which followed. The end of slavery was a catalyst for a specifically New Orleans type music, especially what is known as New Orleans “Second Lyne”. In the latter part of the 19th century, funeral and parade bands consisting of former slaves and their descendants became important musical and cultural activities. The first “line” of the funeral consisted of the hearse and immediate family while the “second line” was composed of musicians, dancers, and friends hence the name associated with this style. The basic drumming feel was triple rather than duple, though it was played “in the crack” (halfway between straight and swung), which is still the defining characteristic of Second Line drumming.

The make up of parade bands in New Orleans was similar to the marching or parade bands that we are familiar with today, consisting of horns with a marching percussion section. In a New Orleans percussion section, it was common to find at least one snare drummer as well as a few bass drummers playing both their bass drums and cymbals simultaneously. Typically, a bass drummer would play his drum with one hand, using the other hand to strike a mounted cymbal on top of the drum with a wire hanger. The patterns created by all the drummers when playing together led to the construction of the drum set or trap set (short for “contraption”) for a single performer. When performing New Orleans Second Line drumming today, it’s helpful to look back at the drum sets of that era.

The trap drum configuration used was not today’s familiar five piece set up. Some of the more common pieces used with a trap drummer’s set in the early 20th century were Chinese Tom Toms (small drums with calfskin heads that were usually tacked on), wood blocks (usually of various pitches), trashy sounding cymbals, a very large bass drum (sometimes up to 40″ in diameter!), and a shorter version of the hi hat known as the “low boy.” (The standard hl hat set up wasn’t established until the mid 1930s.) Second Line drumming transfers the parade style rhythms to the drum set. Examples of patterns played by parade drummers, but now arranged for a single drum set player, are explained in this article. The role of the bass drum is to project a “1 & 3″ feel. Though the first measure sticks to the strong 1 & 3 feel, the following measure has a strong beat 4.

That beat acts as a rhythmic “kick” which pushes the music ahead to the next measure. The hi hat acts as the “answer” to the bass drum pattern, primarily on beats 2 & 4. The foot kicks the hi hat with the heel for a “splash.” sound. Keep in mind that the hi hat did not exist on a trap kit originally, so the modern day practice of playing the hi hat here is to mimic the sound of a wire hanger on a cymbal. Finally, the hands should be playing eighth note patterns with varied accents on the snare against the foot patterns. The trick here is to obtain the correct “in the crack” feel. The tempo range for Second Line is quarter note = 144-216 beats per minute.

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Hip Hop And Rap - History And Development Drummers Guide Part One–Music Blog Site

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Typically, Hip Hop music consists of one or more rappers speaking or chanting semi autobiographic tales, or coded information in an intensely rhythmic lyrical form, making abundant use of techniques like assonance, alliteration, and rhyme. Though rap may be performed a cappella, it is more common for the rapper(s) to be accompanied by a DJ or a live band providing an appropriate beat. The Popularity of Rap Music and the Hip Hop culture has increased immensely over the past 20 years. With its roots in the earliest forms of African influenced call and response vocalizing, Hip Hop and Rap utilizes the advanced technology of electronic sampling and sequencing and has become a leading force in the music industry.

Hip Hop and Rap music can be traced back to two sources: spoken lyrics (usually rhyming) and a Rhythm and Blues and Funk musical base. The reasons for the rise of Hip Hop are found in the changing urban culture within the United States during the 1970s. Perhaps most important was the low cost involved in getting started as the equipment was relatively inexpensive, and virtually anyone could “Rap” along with the popular beats of the day. One of the most prominent early examples of spoken word technique (in a call and response format) in a popular song is the chant “Hi-de-hi-de-hi-de-ho” from Cab Calloway’s “Minnie the Moocher” in 1931. While early Hip Hop arose through the decline of funk and disco while still employing their musicianship, there was rise of artists who employed the use of the turntable as an instrument in itself.

Hip-hop Turntablist DJs use turntable techniques such as beat mixing and matching, scratching, and beat juggling to create a base that can be rapped over. Turntablism is generally focused more on turntable technique and less on mixing. By the 1950s, early forms of Rock n’ Roll and Do Wop utilized spoken word technique in sections of songs (”Little Darlin” written by Maurice Williams). Within the next few decades, popular songs such as “Alice’s Restaurant” by Arlo Guthrie and “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” by The Charlie Daniels Band, not to mention countless Country songs, had lyrics primarily in spoken word format. In the 1970s, African American musicians coupled the spoken word format with the sounds of Funk to produce the earliest easily recognizable antecedents of Rap music.

Artists such as Lou Rawls, Barry White, James Brown, The Brothers Johnson, and Isaac Hayes helped define the earliest sounds of this musical style. In addition, Jamaican Djs in New York City began incorporating improvised rhymes over Reggae music and rhythms. By 1979, the style began to find a wider audience through its first recordings, most notably “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugar Hill Gang. At the close of the decade, drum machines such as the Linn Drum and slightly later the TR-808 appeared and helped create the first significant electronic grooves to accompany the Rap style. The success of MTV in the early 1980s exposed original forms of Rap to a worldwide audience through artists such as Grandmaster Flash, Blondie (with her top ten hit “Rapture,” though she’s not considered an essential Rap artist), and the immensely popular Run DMC.

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Panic At The Disco! Climbing To The Top–Music Blog Site

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The rock band Panic! At The Disco offers fresh sounds for enthusiastic rock fans. They are a young group that has made great success with their debut album, and their fans will enjoy them for a long time to come.

The group was originally formed by Ryan Ross and Spencer Smith in the suburb of Summerlin, Las Vegas. Brent Wilson and Brendon Urie later joined the group, which was originally called Summer League. They were originally a garage band that played locally. In the hopes of gaining a music label, they searched out Peter Wentz, bassist for the band Fall Out Boy, and sent him a link to a site online on which he could listen to their music. Liking what he heard, Peter Wentz traveled to them and listened to them play live. He later signed them to his label, Decaydence/Fueled by Ramen. Brent Wilson left the band for unexplained reasons which are still quite controversial and was later replaced by Jon Walker who currently plays bass for the band.

Their single “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” has had much commercial success. They were on MTV’S Total Request Live January 17, 2006. They first showed their video there, and it was subsequently seen all over the Internet and music television waves shortly after. They have published a few other videos since then, but none with the same kind of success as the first. In fact, the video for “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” won an award for Video of the Year on MTV’s Music Video Awards.

Their album, “A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out,” has also enjoyed success, having gone platinum. Of course, “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” is the most well-known song, but some of the others on the album have become well-known with the music videos that have been created for them.

Panic! At The Disco’s live performances not only feature them in combination with headliners but have a circus-like quality about them. They have dancers and other performers on stage with them as they perform their own work. They have also covered several well-established bands, such as The Beatles and the Smashing Pumpkins. They are currently working on their second album which is due out sometime this year.

This one-time, small-town garage band has enjoyed successes that many would envy. They are enjoyed on more than one continent. Their fans have spoken by awarding them for their creativity in their video-making and their talent as musicians. Their talents are proven time and again through the making of their wonderful and creative music, as well as the time and effort that they put into creating their videos.

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Learning How To Play Good Musical Instruments–Music Blog Site

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Some children could find learning how to play musical instruments very hard in some ways; but, in other ways very interesting. Musical instruments such as the clarinet or the piano are very different from each other in a physical sense, but both of these musical instruments have the same notes that people can learn to play. The clarinet has musical notes that range from the low E and to the high A. The B-flat clarinet is about 23.6 inches long, and has a range of more than three octaves.

The piano is a great musical instrument that consists of eighty-eight notes. The musical range for the musical notes on the piano will range from a low A as the lowest, and the highest note would be the C key. The piano is the easiest musical instrument to learn, and is often selected by beginners because this musical instruments follows the alphabet scale in note placement of A, B, C, D, E, F, G. they also will consist of sharps and flats. Once a beginner learns the fingering techniques for a piano, it is easier to learn how to play other musical instruments because the finger placement techniques will not seem to foreign.

Some musical instruments will need to be tuned in order for them to be played in concert. For a concert pitch, the piano key A above middle C would be tuned to a pitch that was precisely 440.000 Hz. This tuning principle is based on a standard keyboard that is equipped with 88 keys. This type of piano tuning should always be provided by a qualified technician because they have tuning instruments that will ensure that each note emitted from a piano will be just as it should be for concerts and other public performances.

Learning the notes as a young child is a challenge to those who do not practice as much as they need. Children as young as three years of age can learn to play a musical instrument if they have a teacher and are willing to practice every chance they get, but at least thirty to forty minutes a day. Practice lessons will consist of learning the scales, filling in various workbooks, and note-taking skills. There are different types of workbooks that will focus on techniques that your child can use when at home. There are usually five or more workbooks for every level involved in learning to play music and that means there will need to be a lot of practice time devoted to each.

The electronic keyboard can recreate the sounds of different instruments. The keyboard is also a popular version of the piano, but requires electricity. Some keyboards have hands on practice session programs and the key will light up on a song that is put on the keyboard. People that use the keyboard to learn how to play the piano without an instructor think this style of learning is great but the keyboard will not be able to tell a student if the notes are played correctly. It is a good idea for a child to remain in classes with a teacher in order to learn to play a musical instrument to the fullest extent possible.

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The necessary low-down on the Karaoke music–Music Blog Site

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Many people wonder whether it may be possible to have the music coming from the original artist; the answer is no because there are a lot of copyrights involved along this process. One may also consider the licensing rights in order to become aware that the Karaoke dvd can actually be the best solution for him in case that he is highly interested in performing older hits. The disc producers are also likely to consider this demand when producing their items; they will try harder in order to get an accurate sound that is similar to the original version of every song that is being used in a karaoke machine. You will find it impossible to tell a single difference when comparing the karaoke CD with its original version.

So, you must go looking for quality Karaoke dvd in order to enjoy a similar sound with the one that is to be found in the case of every original version of a particular song; for instance, you have to listen to a sort of sample before buying a certain DVD in order to avoid purchasing a bad quality item that can even damage your equipment. You can even try to sing along with the sample in order to determine whether that particular DVD will fit your demands.

You can also choose to buy customized DVDs in order to enjoy the Karaoke music that belongs to a certain musical genre; there are many suppliers who are able to provide you with everything you might need when looking for a DVD collection for your home equipment. The suppliers may be convinced in order to customize a certain DVD for your use; you will have to select the songs you are interested in and put them on a cdg in order to have them recorded on a Karaoke dvd. This type of customized DVD can provide you with good quality and every song will be recorded in order to suit your musical skills. You will not have to worry that you must buy and entire DVD when you are interested in just one of its songs. Customizing your own DVDs is to be taken into consideration because you can actually save your time and money by making this simple step.

The next step to be made is choosing the proper disc format; the capabilities of your own home equipment are to be taken into account in order to decide the best format that will suit this equipment. This is the main influence when it comes to buying the disc or the DVD. Therefore, you must pay attention to the fact that buying the wrong discs that are not likely to work with your equipment is plainly wrong. Time and money is to be saved because there is no use for such wrong investments. No definitive solution can be given in this case; therefore, every buyer should think of his home karaoke equipment when purchasing the DVDs or CDs. You may also pay attention to the fact that all formats are likely to have their own good points together with the odd drawback.

If your home equipment consists in a DVD player, you have to be aware of the extra features that may be provided by this type of karaoke equipment. For instance, if you are planning to play some Karaoke music, you may also choose to allow different film sequences in order to appear on the screen together with the necessary lyrics. Every DVD will be interleaved at regular times and it will be provided with different navigation controls. The necessary data that is used in this case will be regarded as a sort of information that is very helpful for every user; these instructions may tell the player the necessary steps that are to be made in case that he desires to make a certain musical movement. The player will relay the necessary information to a special application; the responsibility of this application is to act on its features in order to make the DVD player work in the desired manner.

The information is also used in the case of the Karaoke music; the player will be able to use his Karaoke dvd in order to play his favorite tunes together with additional pictures that will flow on the screen in the same rhythm. Additional data can be provided in case that the player does not succeed to make use of all the features that may be provided by his home equipment. Special tutorials are to be searched for in order for the beginner to learn more about using his DVD player for karaoke singing.

Article Source: Music Blog Site

Violas–Music Blog Site

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“Audiences across the world enjoy various concerts through the year, each one different and unique. Most of them are either solo performances or in groups of about 4-6 members. In case of groups, you will see a drummer, guitarist, vocalist and one who melts out beautiful tunes on the viola. Yes, you read it right; it is the viola and not violin. This is also a stringed instrument which is bowed very much like the violin. A person unfamiliar with this instrument might mistake it for the violin at first glance going by its size and near similar pitch range, but will realize it is very different upon close inspection. The timbre is much more full bodied and is used to play soft harmonies in concerts. Unfortunately there are not many violists as there are violinists. At times referred to as the big fiddle, the violas parallel the alto voice in a choir group.

Violas are also placed with a bow where the instrument is placed on the shoulder, which gets people more confused. If a child is playing the instrument, the size of the viola would be around 12 inches and for adults it could go anywhere from 13 to 16.5 inches depending on their comfort level and their years of experience. Off late, with people facing problems in holding and playing the viola, there are some being made using lighter material and are much shorter. Some are manufactured with a shoulder cut while others come with an additional bout for comfort. Because of its large body, it needs higher amounts of physical stamina to hold and play this string instrument. For a person interested in playing the viola, they need to understand that since it is fitted with thicker strings, they will have to apply extra pressure to get music to come out perfectly.

There are different kinds of violas, based on a persons level of experience and while making a selection, this factor should be kept in mind else the viola player will find it difficult strumming it. But the beauty of this instrument is that all are hand made and each one is exquisite to look at and play. Among the most famous violas are the ones that Mozart used in his musical notes. He wrote quintets that used two violas in the orchestra and had as important role as a violin.

If you are looking at purchasing a viola, unlike earlier when you had to make a trip to their nearby store to take a look at all the instruments, today you can do the same online. The purchase or rentals come with the assurance that they can return the product if unhappy with it. Simply approach one of the leading websites, such as stringworks. So, if you are just getting curious about the violas and are not very keen on purchasing, but would like to try your hand at it, no better way but to rent a viola and watch your hands create music.”

Article Source: Music Blog Site

How To Handle Your Good Music Business–Music Blog Site

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As you might know already that, finding the right name can take a lot of time and few know that it can end up becoming a waste of time, where if you do not own, your own name is very dangerous cause you can spend countless hours, months, and maybe years promoting your stage name to find out that it has already been owned or trademarked by another artist anywhere else in the world.

In return you will have to find a new name or spend tons of money to use a name that somebody else owns, which can also make you look foolish to any record labels as well as prevent you from signing, when you are pursuing or being pursued for a record deal. Simply because if a certain major record label did not check if somebody is using that stage name already and then they put your album out, then that same person owning the name legally can and will sue the record company, instead of suing you, just for the usage of that name.

(Quick note) if you are ready to sign a record deal, then you should be aware that the record company that plans on signing you to a contract will take ownership of your stage name, publishing and copyrights all for themselves with out you ever taking ownership. Which is the only way for the record company to protect their investments, as in this typical clause of contract it forbids the artist from utilizing his or her name to advertise or promote other records made by other artist or firms?

As this restriction might seem natural and the right to do. However if the artist is likely to produce or perform on records of other artist, he or she may seek to trademark all associated names. So now the first step into owning your stage name which is basically owning your self, is to trademark, and do not be confused about trademarks and copyrights, because the difference between the two is that copyright protects the expression of and the usage of words, whether its in a printed or in a musical format. Whereas a trademark serves as something like an identification badge that protects the name that is attached to a particular service or product like a recording artist and it keeps the public from confusion as to the source or identity of the products or sources involved.

For example say if I called my self-50cent and then I put out an advertisement saying that my album is going to drop next month then I would be able to make money based on his name alone. But if he didnt own the name 50cent by trade marking it, then I would be able to use his name, and then trade mark it to prevent him from ever using it again.

The differences between Copyright and Trademark COPYRIGHT

U.S. Copyright Office

- The copyright lasts as long as the life of the author and 50 years after his death.
- Certificate issued by the government without a search for other conflicting names.
- The notice of copyright can be used from the first publication.
- The copyright is needed for published and unpublished music at any time.
- Originality is needed for a valid copyright.
- And whoever uses the copyright does not need to supervise the person using the copyright.

TRADEMARK: United States Patent and Trademark Office

- A trademark last for 10 years which has to be renewed.
- A certificate issued by the government only after a search for conflicting names, a notice to the public of the pending application, and an opportunity for objections to be filed.
- You will receive a notice indicating a registered federal trademark.
- Registration not allowed until proven in use.
- Originality is not needed for a valid trademark.

The next phase I want to get into is to incorporate and this very important cause this is where you must separate your personal life from you business and it also earns respect from record labels. Incorporating is to enable you to become the actual business.

Incorporating will help you to separate your personal identity from your business. Sole proprietors and partners are different in which you are subject to unlimited personal liability for business debt like any monies being owed to the record label for putting out a album that didnt sale. Once incorporated, the shareholders of a corporation (which can be family or friends or your business team) have only the money they put into the company to lose, and usually no more.

Corporations can offer protection to its owners. For example, if you want to open an independent label or studio of any kind and do not want your involvement to be public knowledge, your best choice may be to incorporate. If you open as a sole proprietorship, it is hard to hide the fact that you are the owner. And as a partnership, you will most likely be required to register your name and the names of your partners with the state and/or county officials in which you are doing business.

A corporate structure communicates permanence, credibility and stature to the record companies. Even if you are the only stockholder or employee, your incorporated business may be perceived as a much larger and more credible company. Seeing, inc. or corp at the end of your business name can send a powerful message to the record executives, suppliers, and other business associates about your commitment to the ongoing success of your venture.

Basically incorporating would ensure ownership of oneself and the products that the person creates, whether its is musical, books, movies scripts, jokes, poems (etc.) in which it will also allow you to pay separate taxes on all musical profits, apply for business loans on whatever you might need as well as pay all the people that works for you like, your agent, manager, business manager, lawyer, stylist, producer, and so fourth.

Now you will need to take your incorporated name and then you need to sign to one of the three Performing-Right Organizations, which are something like a union for songwriters and publishers.

A.S.C.A.P

Founded in 1914, ASCAP equally shares its revenues with songwriters and music publishers. It collects on a general basis to all stations, be it radio or television for use of ASCAPs entire musical catalog. With the fee being based on the gross receipts of the station, which they are basically paying ASCAP to play your songs on the their station. There is no fee to sign up to ASCAP as a songwriter or a publisher. But what is needed to sign up with ASCAP as a song writer is that you must have had at least one song commercially published or recorded, and for any publisher who has had at least one song commercially published and/or recorded and publicly distributed for at least one year,

B.M.I

As for BMI, which is a major competitor of ASCAP, is actually owned by 300 broadcast stations. BMI was started in 1940 by broadcasters as a move toward increasing broadcast industry bargaining power with ASCAP as well as become an alternative to songwriters and publishers who are not affiliated with ASCAP. So with BMI, operating just like ASCAP, it charges broadcasters a licensing fee to play music created by BMI registered artist. Unlike ASCAP, BMI pays all the money it collects unto its affiliated songwriters and publishers. With some set aside for operating costs and reserves.

To sign up with BMI as a song writer or a music publisher you must have had at least one song commercially published or recorded, and for any publisher who have been currently working in music and had at least one song commercially published and/or recorded and publicly promoted and distributed for at least one year, and the terms for an publisher affiliation is 5 years and the terms for the song writer affiliation is 2 years.

SESAC

It is well known that SESAC is the smallest company out of the three Performing-Right Organizations in the country. SESAC is a private silencing company started up in 1930. Where SESAC is different from BMI and ASCAP is that it pays 50 of the profits after first taking out some money for expenses and then keeping the rest of the profits for themselves. What further makes SESAC different from the other two companies is that in SESACs collection of payment to artist, is not based on how many times that your song plays on the radio unlike BMI and ASCAP, but instead on the position of the song on the charts. It also pays based of the growth of your catalog of copyrighted songs (basically how many new songs you write and submit to them) and additional bonus payments to song writers and publishers in respect to a certain song, are paid for crossovers (songs on more than one type of chart), being on the charts for any long period of time and for any music that has achieved a top 10 spot on the charts.

(Quick Note) remember that no certain song writer or publisher can collect money from more than one Performing-Right Organizations for the exact same songs at the exact same time, as double memberships is not allowed or even a split membership as far as being a certified song writer with ASCAP and being a publisher with BMI.

Article Source: Music Blog Site

Popular phone models that support MP3 ring tones–Music Blog Site

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Over the years with the way the mobile phone industry has evolved across the globe, the fine line between a mandate and a feature in a mobile phone has become blurred. Surely, who would say that a 1.3 mp camera is a feature anymore or for that matter even a radio? Phone book memories are supposed to be large. It is a mandate, not really a feature. And with technological upgradation of existing mandates to peg them as unique features having a strong selling proposition, it is no wonder that consumers are making the most of this scuffle between leading manufacturers.

With the craze of mobilizing music having caught on with a large section of the mobile phone users market, manufacturers are bundling their handsets with software’s compatible with a variety of sound formats such as MP3, WAV, WMA, et al. Experts say that consumers prefer to have an MP3 ring tone player on their mobile phones as compared to a music playing software or even a video recorder. This could probably be the insight behind Motorola’s RAZR V3. This super slim phone has a basic camera, MP3 ring tone player, and Bluetooth connectivity, all packed neatly into a very stylish looking handset. Although it can playback video MPEG 4 with sound, it does not have the more advanced features such as memory card, music player, or even a video recorder. Yet, it is doing very well for itself. Launched towards the end of 2004, the RAZR V3 is still a head turner being really thin at 13.9mm and looking extremely suave because of the anodized aluminum finish. This keeps the handset lightweight and strong at the same time protecting it from the wear and tear of everyday use. The Motorola RAZR V3 is a steal for someone looking for basic features packaged into a high end looking handset.

The Samsung D500 with its 1.3 mp camera, and, video recording and messaging, bundles MP3 ring tone playing software as well. This large display screen gadget has Bluetooth connectivity along with a USB cable port. Industry experts say that this has been one of Samsung’s best offering to the market and pegged the product as a complete entertainment package. The D500 has Java embedded games and the integrated hands free speakerphone plays good quality songs through the MP3 player.

The Sony Ericsson series of W phones meaning WALKMAN phones took the market by storm. One of the improvised and therefore better versions of this series the W890i is 10 mm thick, and weighing only 78 g, still looks very attractive. The featherweight look and feel does not mean that there is a compromise on the offering. The WALKMAN plays MP3 and other format tracks, the sound of which can be boosted through the Bluetooth stereo provided or just by plugging in authentic Sony ear phones to the proprietary jack. This also means that the MP3 ring tones are played at a better quality of sound. This phone comes with SensMe software installed that allows the user to create a playlist based on the tempo and mood of the songs. Although it has a 3.2 mp camera, the absence of LED flash and auto focus restricts the photographic output produced. However, as analysts defend, this phone is not meant to substitute one’s need for a camera as much as it is meant to fulfill one’s need for a music player whilst on the move.

Although most of Nokia’s handsets now have MP3 ring tone player capabilities, the 6300, according to industry reports, is one of the top favourites. The stainless steel finish along with good multimedia capabilities makes this handset a classical piece for someone who is looking at getting good value for their money.

article writen by Grigoriy Anoshenko.

Article Source: Music Blog Site

Gospel Good Music And Funk Rock - History And Development Drummers Guide–Music Blog Site

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Gospel Music brings the tradition of Blues into the music of the African American Baptist Church. It took the form and name of “Gospel Music” (originally called “Gospel Songs”) in the early 20th century through the efforts of a single individual, Thomas A. Dorsey. Born in Villa Rica, Georgia in 1899, Dorsey learned to play piano as a youth in the African American Baptist Church. As an accompanist for such famed Blues singers as Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith, and after seeing Charles A. Tindley perform at the National Baptist Convention, he became inspired to compose church music with a Blues influence. Though these new sounds were initially rejected by the Baptist establishment, Dorsey continued to promote his music. After several years of Dorsey’s struggling to find acceptance by the church, other singers and musicians such as Mother Willie Mae Ford and Lucy Campbell also began to promote Gospel Music.

This, along with Dorsey’s persistent efforts, finally led to Gospel Music’s acceptance. By 1932, Dorsey had established The National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, an institution which continues to flourish today. By the time of his death in 1993, Dorsey had written over 800 songs, spanning the near century of Gospel Music’s existence. Originally sung by large choirs, in the 1930s Gospel Music began to emphasize the solo vocalist. Inspired by Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Gospel singer Clara Ward sang Gospel Music in nightclubs, creating a wider audience; she soon received attention from the recording industry. Her 1950s hit, “Surely God Is Able,” is credited as Gospel Music’s first million selling record.

By this time, several Gospel singers such as Mahalia Jackson and James Cleveland had emerged as national stars along with such notable Gospel groups as The Caravans and The Soul Stirrers. During the 1950s, Gospel Music and its musicians, along with blues performers, began to create the beginnings of Rhythm & Blues. Composers such as Ray Charles, Little Richard, and Sam Cooke (The Soul Stirrers), and later musicians like Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett (The Violinairs) and Ashford and Simpson (The Followers) all created music with strong Gospel overtones. In the last quarter of the 20th century, Gospel continued to thrive in both the secular and sacred worlds, particularly in large ensembles and choirs within the African American Baptist Church.

Contemporary artists include Sweet Honey in the Rock, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Al Green, Shirley Caesar, Marion Williams, and Yolanda Adams along with Christian pop recording star, Michael W. Smith. As always, time keeping is the most important task for the drummer. Supporting the lyrical message of the vocalist requires a drummer to remain in the background virtually at all times, making simplicity another important component of Gospel drumming. The ones presented here are the most practical choices. Tempos can range anywhere from slow ballads (quarter note = 50 beats per minute) to fast gallops (quarter note = 280 beats per minute).

Though not technically an established style, the term “Funk Rock” describes music that can be classified as Rock incorporating elements from Funk, such as syncopated rhythms and percussive horn lines. Bands and artists such as Earth, Wind and Fire, The Commodores, Michael Jackson, and Sly and the Family Stone could all be included in both the Funk and Rock genres. As opposed to the above Funk styles, Funk Rock usually has fewer ghost notes, a steady back beat, and an emphasis on bass drum displacement (syncopated bass drum, displaced from the standard strikes on 1 & 3). The practical tempo range for Funk Rock is similar to Ghost Note Funk at quarter note = 92-126 beats per minute.

Article Source: Music Blog Site