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It is the oldest Beatles discussion: “John vs. Paul!” Which one was more essential to The Beatles music? It’s my opinion as an enormous Beatles fan that the real answer is “both!” It may sound like a cop-out but I definitely believe it’s the best answer.

I’m definitely not one of those critics that goes out of his way to disparage the solo careers of Lennon and McCartney but I do think it’s clear that they never reached the same amazing level by themselves as they did together as The Beatles (of course who has?) I think that’s pretty good evidence that there was something magical about their songwriting partnership that allowed their work together to to reach a level that has rarely been reached by other songwriters.

Many of The Beatles greatest tunes were those that Lennon & McCartney wrote together. Most of their early singles such as “She Loves You” and “Love Me Do” were written together and some of their greatest songs such as “We Can Work It Out” consisted of different song segments that Paul & John wrote which were stuck together to form a whole song.

And even when a song was mostly written by one or the other such as in the cases of “Hey Jude” and “Dear Prudence” there was still some great input by the other one.

For example with McCartney’s songs like “Hey Jude” and “Getting Better” John would give Paul very helpful lyrical advice. John told Paul to keep a lyric in the song “Hey Jude” that Paul felt wasn’t clear enough. With “Getting Better” John added the “it couldn’t get much worse” bit which helped to add a bit of weight to the positive lyrics of the rest of the song.

Paul McCartney added some incredible bass guitar parts to John’s songs such as “Dear Prudence,” “Rain,” & “Come Together.” Try to imagine those songs without the bass, they wouldn’t be anywhere near as awesome!

The essential point that I’m trying to get across is that both Paul & John were necessary parts of what made The Beatles such an excellent band.

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There is certainly no dearth of ways to teach yourself to sing. Professional voice coaching sessions are one of the choices in front of you. However most of these classes are fairly expensive. And most youngsters simply cannot afford them so here are a few other ways to teach yourself to sing without burning a hole in your pocket. You should try and find an option that doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg yet it provides you with all the necessary information to develop your singing skills.

Where free singing lessons are concerned, internet is one of the most suitable places to look for them. The sheer amount of information available on the internet is impressive when you want to teach yourself to sing. If you want to learn about the various singing techniques there is certainly no dearth of websites that can help you. Also, many sites have instructions for the various exercises needed to condition your vocal organs. The exercises will include ones that will teach to the correct way of breathing for improved singing. Most online programs which include instructional audio/video and tutorials that teach you the various singing techniques and exercises are available online at an affordable price. One way to find out about your shortcomings is to compare your performance with the ones on video.

Another way is to buy the various singing software available online. Using software almost feels like using the professional versions available in recording studios. A good way to monitor your progress is to record your performance and that’s exactly what you will be able to do with the software. The software analyzes your performance to give you automatic feedback that will include information on segments where your performance went awry. This makes the software almost as good as an instructor who is with you every step of the way. And the best part is that these programs cost a fraction of what you would spend to go for a professional voice coaching session. Also a big benefit is the fact that you can learn whenever and wherever you want.

There are also many acclaimed voice coaches and trainers who offer online training sessions. You can get the same feel and benefits from these sessions as you would from a normal voice coaching session. Most trainers use different messenger services like Skype. You may have to pay more for this option as compared to the other two but the benefits outweigh the cost. The best part is that you will also be able to learn from coaches all across the world. It is not unusual to find many trainers who offer free beginner level sessions so that you can get information about the trainer’s teaching style before you start.

Teaching yourself to sing online is an extremely viable option for people who don’t want to spend too much to learn but don’t want to compromise on the quality of learning either.

If you want more information about learning how to sing please visit Teach Yourself To Sing

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Check out my blog Teach Yourself To Sing

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Finding the right DJ equipment cases for all your gear can be a real challenge. There are so many different types and styles out there that you may not know where to begin. The first step is to determine which pieces of equipment need cases. Cases are usually made for particular types of equipment. You will also need the exact dimensions of your various pieces of equipment since there can be many sizes of the same case.

It is helpful to determine how you regularly use your equipment. If you use a laptop a soft shoulder case is perfect for local use but a hard case will be better if you will be shipping it. If you want the best in terms of durability look for DJ equipment cases that come with ATA certification. This means the meet the quality standards of the Airline Transport Association and would quality for airline insurance.

Some DJ’s like to use a projector while they are working. Projector cases are usually built to work with certain kinds of projectors. Usually they will hold any projector which fits within certain dimensions but sometimes there are custom foam cutouts that only work for particular models. To order these you will need the make and models number for your projector.

When it comes to rack cases there is so many to consider. The technical requirements of your equipment and your personal taste will be two important things to consider. Standard rack DJ cases always have the same height and width. They will vary when it comes to depth. Think about how deep your equipment will go, how you use your equipment, and how much protection your equipment needs when picking rack cases.

Some rack cases include a power strip that you can use to plug in all your componants. This makes setup a cinch since you only need to plug this strip into one outlet. You can also have rack cases custom built to handle whatever specialized DJ equipment you may have.

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Your knees are shaking and you feel faint, this is stage fright. Your very performance may be threatened by this debilitating condition. You must remember that almost every performer has felt this way and probably still deals with nervous symptoms before every performance. This is part or every players life. With some good teaching and practice, you can control your fear and eliminate stage fright.

Practice and practice some more until your music is perfect, this is the first step toward stopping stage fright. You will play or sing the right note automatically if you study enough. You can work on refining your performance later, just get the music down pat. You may make the stage fright worse if you make a mistake and lose your place. You may begin working on your interpretation of the music after you memorize it. The art of performance begins to take shape at this point.

Only think of your performance in healthy terms beforehand, do not think of what bad things may happen or could happen. It is not a good mindset to think and anticipate bad things happening to your performance, think positively. You have to narrow your focus to concentrate on the music, not the blot out the    commotion around you. Now you can think about smiling and breathing deeply, things that will naturally help you to succeed. Most of the time the audience will not notice the small things in your behavior that you think stick out. This can be considered a blessing. The audience wants you to succeed.

If you can get the first part right on, no one will notice anything else. After you get a few good phrases or measures behind you, you will feel better. You may actually enjoy yourself and wonder why you worried so much. You will improve as you go and get better at your performance as you gain confidence.

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Studying music is often perceived as only for beings who want to make a living out of it. After all, unless it completely required, what would an accounting major do with a few units in Music Theory? Or what use would a house wife have for taking up voice lessons? It’s not as if singing success has anything to do with house task or taking care of the family’s needs. Then why learn music at all?

First of all, the study of music brings deeper approval of music itself. Skeptics may have been wondering to know but the appreciation of music brings, not only many profits to one’s physical health but also it enhances a person’s mental health. Studies have shown that music appreciation can decrease the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. Stress is controlled by music appreciation and this is the cause of many health problems we encounter. It could make one energized mentally and physically, music appreciation allows one sleep better and relieve muscle stress. A vital factor to keep yourself healthy, as some people have realized, is to embrace music in your life. Steve Krenz from Learn Master Guitar is proof.

One’s intellect and mental capacity is enhanced by taking music lessons as well. College students who chose to learn a few units of music tend to stay in school longer than those who take up units that are only related to their field of study has been proven by studies.Study has shown that college students who take up a few units of music tend to stay in school longer than those who take up units that are purely related to their field of study. Music and spatial intelligence seems to have relation which is the ability to form mental pictures. Learning music has been said to help students organize their thoughts more coherently. The part of the brain in control language and reason is said to be enhanced by learning music.

Third, studying music can actually broaden your horizons. The study of music will definitely aid you understand and appreciate better other cultures by means of the very diverse language of music.

Another reason is that the study of music will help develop your persistence and passion for excellence. It is either you’re in tune or not, dealing with music rarely has a gray area between its notes. Studying music requires the passion to learn as well as attention to details such as what style would work best for you and what won’t.  Knowing music can become an avenue for one’s self-discovery.

Without a doubt, this is a  fantastic means for self-expression. Music is a encouraging means of saying what you feel and it can eventually build up your self-esteem. Some painfully shy people can become quite confident by looking for means for positive self-expression they are comfortable with. Housewives can do something out of their usual schedule such as doing household chores and taking their kids to classes. Music is a good way to express yourself even as you enjoy and profit from the process at the same time.

It is never too early or too late to know music. Whether you want to learn how to play an instrument so you can make an impression to your friends by playing your favorite song, or whether you want to make your occupation, it’s a good thing to start studying music. Give it a shot, go ahead and find the music you want to learn.

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The clarinet has a delicate sound and is equally at home in jazz or classical music. The clarinet is of the woodwind family as it was generally made of wood. Its sound is produced by the instrumentalists wind on the reed or mouthpiece. The clarinet and its proper use is described here and we hope your imagination is kindled to explore this wonderful instrument.

Take a reed and place it in your mouth to absorb moisture and allow it to work properly. Adjust the ligature to keep the reed in place while in use. The ligature is a device made to keep the reed in place and can be of many materials. Many instrumentalists still use string to keep the reed in place. Place your lower lip a little over your teeth and take a half inch of reed into your mouth. With your teeth on top of the mouthpiece and the bottom resting on your lower lip, seal the corners to all outside air.

If at all possible, it is best to start with a teacher to understand the proper techniques involved in playing the clarinet. You can progress in the learning of music faster on the clarinet or any other instrument by getting a good teacher.

Singers share the need for proper posture to a player of the clarinet. Keep your head and body in alignment, especially if you are sitting. If your head is up and your chest is out, the clarinet will be at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. Begin with open notes and practice blowing steadily through the mouthpiece. At first just practice blowing steady and hold a note for a few seconds. Keep your instrument dry as it will accumulate a lot of moisture from your breath. A cloth pulled through the body of the clarinet helps to keep it dry. Keep your reeds protected and you can also trim them to last longer.

In time you will learn to play beautiful music on this wonderful instrument, the clarinet.

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Working as a mobile disk jockey (DJ) brings with it a number of challenges that a resident club DJ doesn’t have.One of the main issues is the need to carry all of that essential DJ equipment to each and every gig, wherever it is.

I’ve worked as a DJ onboard cruise liners, in a hospital, on the radio and in various clubs but these days I make my money as a mobile DJ. Each week I meet new people with diverse musical tastes in some fantastic locations. I’ve played gigs in stately homes, tents, gardens, onboard ships and yachts and even on a private jet flying to America. It’s the variety that I love about this work, but lets get back to those challenges.

One of the biggest problems that us mobile DJs must overcome is the need to carry all of our equipment to every gig. The club DJ only has to turn up with his selection of records and CDs whereas I need a medium sized van to carry all of my DJ gear.

These days I’m lucky enough to have a fantastic assistant who helps setup and break down my sound and lighting rig at each gig. But back in the old days, before I was commanding a decent fee, I had to do it all myself. The key to selecting equipment for mobile use is compactness. It should ideally be small and as light as possible.

The DJ speakers that I use are the powered variety. This means no need to carry power amplifiers and much simpler system setup. These mean fewer cables to worry about and less that can potentially go wrong. For the past two years I’ve been using an excellent pair of active JBL PA speakers and they have proved to be a fantastic choice.

Another key consideration is lighting. Club DJs rarely need to concern themselves with club lighting systems as these are generally already in place and often have their own dedicated operators. Working as a mobile DJ means we’ve got to do it all ourselves. But luckily these days there are some compact DJ lights that use LEDs making them relatively lightweight, low power and cool.

But I think the most important piece of DJ gear is the music. This isn’t equipment you say, and you’re right. But I’m actually referring to the medium which can be vinyl records, CDs, DVDs and these days MP3 files. This all means that I need some turntables, a CD player, a DVD player and something to play MP3 files. I tend to stick to just one CD player, a pair of Technics decks and my laptop computer. I route all of these through my excellent DJ mixer and I’m just about ready for any requests, from Mantovani to the Wombles.

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Guitar amplifiers fall into two categories. First, the combination (combo) amplifier is a single unit containing both the amplifier head and audio speakers. The amplifier head, commonly referred to as the ‘amp head’ houses electronic circuitry for the preamp, installed effects processing and power amplifier.

The second category of guitar amplifier is called an amplifier stack or ‘amp stack’, for short. The amplifier head is a separate unit and connects to the audio speakers via a series of cables. The amplifier head is conveniently placed on top of the audio speaker cabinet.

In regards to engineering designs, there are a range of options.

Solid State. These types of guitar amplifier were engineered to improve on their predecessor, the vacuum tube amplifier. Solid stage guitar amplifiers are considered superior to the original tube amplifier design, as least in engineering and technical terms. However, many do not agree. Solid state guitar amplifiers use higher frequencies compared to tube amplifiers, deliver more audio range and produce more power and wattage. Solid state amplifiers are generally easier to repair, lighter, less expensive.

Vacuum Tube Amplifiers, On The Other Hand, Are Considered By Many Musicians To Be The Superior Choice Simply Because Of The Perceived Analogue Audio Quality Guide. A sound reproduction that is termed rich and full. This analogue and human bias prevails among purist musicians despite tube amplifier limitations such as: lack of power, fragile and prone to tube failure, comparatively heavy and higher repair and servicing costs.

Hybrid Amplifiers are an attempt by some designers to capture and blend the qualities of both solid state and vacuum tube amplifiers.

Modeling amplifiers started to appear in the market in the late 1990s and incorporate microprocessors, digital signal processing and software. The objective of this engineering direction is to simulate the sound qualities of the analogue tube amplifier.

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So you always wanted to learn how to sing harmony? The following tips will give you information on how to sing harmony. Harmonizing is one of the more difficult aspects of singing. The fact that you need to synchronize with another singer is what makes it so difficult. Add to this the fact that most mistakes made in harmonizing are very obvious. Here are a few exercises that will get you started.

Even though learning to harmonize is fairly difficult it is one of the most rewarding things that you can master. When you harmonize your voice with that of another singer the cumulative effect is a very rich tone. It will require a lot of patience and hard work since harmonizing involves blending different notes sung by different people. So the first step is to train your ear to recognize harmony. You can do so by carefully listening to a song of your choice. Listen carefully to the melody and the instruments.

Try to pick out the instruments that are being played in harmony with the melody. You will have to train your ear to pick up these sounds since they will not be very conspicuous.

The next step after you recognize the harmony is to try it yourself by matching your voice with the instruments. Now this is where things may start getting a little difficult. So take the help of a musical instrument like a piano.

Start by playing any note on the piano and try to sing in harmony with it. It may take you a few rounds to get it right. This is a god exercise to learn about the different notes that work in harmony.

Continue practicing with another note. it is important to record yourself while practicing. It is also important to listen to your performance. This will help you to understand to how to sing harmony by picking a good note to harmonize with and singing in pitch with it.

Each harmony will create its own mood and this technique is a good way to learn the moods.

Now go back to your favorite song and pick out a few notes of melody that you want to harmonize with and try singing notes that are three notes higher or lower than the melody simply try sliding up and down three notes to find the harmony and the different moods that the different combinations bring out.

As a last step, put everything you have learnt to practice and harmonize with another singer as you record yourselves.

It will be a wonderful experience to hear yourself singing in harmony with another talented singer, a fruitful culmination to all the hard work.

If you want more info on the art of harmony singing take a look at Singing Harmony

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Visit my Blog Harmony Singing Blog

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The internet is a truly wonderful resource. It is often said, but still very true, that young people today don’t know how lucky they are to have easy access to the worlds knowledge on the internet.

I’ve been playing guitar for well over thirty years having started out with the classic Bert Weedon’s ‘Play in a Day’ book, way back in the 1970’s. I couldn’t afford guitar lessons so I would avidly watch the fingers of every guitarist I could, trying to pick up playing techniques, riffs and licks.

Modern technology has revolutionised the way that people learn to play the guitar. Tuition DVDs, for example, can be played repeatedly, unlike face to face guitar lessons. And the internet provides an ideal platform for the presentation of guitar tutorials.

There are an abundance of guitar teaching websites but my favourite place for guitar tutorials is Youtube. You can find instructional videos on everything from choosing guitars to making your own electric guitar. There are videos for every level of learner from beginner through to old guys like me who want to learn a few new tunes and techniques.

Learning new licks, techniques and tunes from Youtube has become one of my favoured pass times. If the weather is bad then you will generally find me learning a new tune or two from Youtube. I can safely say that I have learned more from the internet over the past five years than I learned from books and from watching other guitarists in the preceding twenty years.

Another useful feature is that the system is interactive. When I find a video that I like I will always make it one of my favourites and maybe drop the performer a comment to say thanks. Also, I like to ask the odd question and invariably the person who created the video will respond with an answer. It’s a bit like having every online guitarist in the world available as a personal guitar playing consultant.

These days I find myself feeling a little bit envious of the young people learning guitar with all these great resources available to them. I like to fantasise that if I had been learning to play using all of these excellent resources who knows, I might have become the next Eric Clapton.

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