Note book

Keep a notebook in which you can write down songs and thoughts .... it will come to some good use. A small one that fits in purse or pocket can help you save those "great ideas" that occur spontaneously.

Timbre

Timbre -The quality of a musical tone that distinguishes voices and instruments.

Phrase

Phrase - A small section of a composition comprising a musical thought. Comparable to a sentence in language.

Romantic

Romantic -Relating to the nineteenth-century musical period characterized by subjectivity on the part of the composer, emotionalism in music, longer musical forms, and richer harmonies.

Pain

It´s not a good idea to see how tight you can get the strings on your guitar ... the result can be a painful one, not only for your fingers, but for the neck of your guitar!

Slur

Slur-A curved line drawn over two or more notes of different pitches, indicating that they are to be executed in a smoothly connected manner without a break.

Stuck Mouthpieces

NEVER try to remove a stuck mouthpiece on instruments such as the trumpet, trombone, baritone, tuba, etc. ALWAYS consult your teacher or music dealer or damage will result.

CD Burner and CD Recorder

The difference between a CD Burner and CD Recorder is that CD Recorder is self-contained, able to record in real time through its audio and digital inputs.

A CD burner must be used in conjunction with a computer running CD burning software, and it´s unable to record in real time.

A CD recorder can also burn a CD from a computer if they both have a SCSI port. CD recorders are usually priced higher than burners, because they include a burner, a computer, and software in a single unit. Both use the same process of laser burning the CD, and there is no difference in sound quality.

Distinctive Sounds

Never be afraid to run vocals through guitar effects, or mike drums through guitar flangers, etc. There are NO RULES and a distinctive sound is what you want.

Defining music

Your definition of music will not always be someone else´s definition of music. Keep an open mind.

Chord

Chord -Three or more tones combined and sounded simultaneously

Burning MP3s to CDs

For PC users: If you want to burn MP3 files to a CD without converting them to WAV files, use Easy CD Creator 4.0 Deluxe.

For Mac users: Toast handles MP3s like a charm.

Universal

"Music is the universal language of mankind." -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Player piano

Fingers cramped from too much tickling of the ivories? Well, buy yourself a newfangled player piano. The player pianos of yesteryear are making a comeback in a very digital way, and the new technology can be added to your old acoustic piano. (The one covered in dust in the corner). These devices use electronic solenoids to control the hammers of your acoustic piano and employ disk drives and onboard computers that take the place of the old-time paper rolls. The device costs between $5000-$10,000, and for a fully outfitted new piano, you can expect to pay $7,000-$52,000.

What should our name be?

It is VERY common for a new band to go through dozens of names. So don´t stress too hard when thinking of a name for your band. Although the name is important, it is not the only factor to your band. Have fun with the names until you find something you really want to stick with. Be sure to remember that a name is NOT a reason to fight with other band members!

I´ve learned this through personal experience.

Pricing Your Stuff

When you sell your music equipment, be realistic. Don´t try selling it for the price you paid for it ... you wouldn´t buy used stuff for the new price, would you? Go at least 20% lower.

What is Music Therapy?

* Music Therapy, is the use of music and music related activities to modify ineffective learning patterns, to promote emotional, mental, social and physical growth and to develop non-musical goals.

* Music Therapy is a creative, flexible and sometimes spontaneous means of using the appeal of music to help people of all ages and abilities.

* Music Therapy is also an established health care profession that uses music to address physical, psychological, cognitive and social functioning.

* Music Therapy positively affects the lives of thousands of children and adults each year. From a child with autism to an elderly person in a bell choir, Music Therapy can make the difference between isolation and interaction.

Grunge

Grunge? Hey! Isn´t grunge that orange stuff on you shower curtains?
Actually, Grunge was what they called the alternative music that arose in the mainstream in the early 90´s, originating in the Seattle area. Grunge arose with the bands Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Sound Garden. Though you don´t hear many Grunge bands now, Grunge started a musical revolution that hasn´t ended.

Don´t Care Too Much!

One of the worst things about flute care is that you can OVER care for it! Hard to believe? Well, check this out! I found it pretty interesting myself.

You have to be careful when you use a polishing cloth ... flute pads skins are very thin, and constant rubbing with a cloth can tear them. There is also a spring for each key, which the cloth can snag and unhook, that is a real *&^$ to replace!

Don´t over oil your flute ... that can cause the pads to get "sticky," and keycorks to fall off. There is no adhesive out there that will work on an oily surface. Make sure you apply oil in the tiniest amounts, directly at the key ends. Maybe the best thing is if you leave that to the professionals ... just take it to the shop once or twice a year.