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The Baka Pygmies of Cameroon

2009-08-01T03:40:00.003-07:00

The Baka Pygmies of Cameroon
By Jamie Stone

A race of hunters and gatherers, the Baka Pygmies, found in Cameroon, live together with various ethnic groups of Bantu farmers, with whom they exchange goods.
With an average height of 1.5 metres, the Baka are, strictly speaking, pygmoids rather than pygmies. Nevertheless, in everyday usage, the term "pygmy" is employed.
The exact numbers is difficult to determine, as a semi-nomadic group, they roam the rain-forest taking up temporal residence in specific areas that offers rich games and natural resources, but estimates range from 5,000 to 28,000 individuals.

They occupy forest ecology and they exploit the gifts of nature or the ecosystem. Over the years important exchange relations have developed between the hunter-gatherer Baka and the neighbouring Bantu cultivators. However, this relation has been one of tolerance and characterized by hostility. The situation has been caused by the condescending attitude and derogatory comments with which the Bantu describe their Pygmy neighbours, looking upon the Baka as goods belonging to them, they are victims of racism and exploited in plantations as cheap labour.

One of the most important differences between the Baka pygmies and their Bantu associates is the fact that they owe their total existence to the natural resources which nature has endowed on their habitat, the rain forest.

Like other pygmies the Baka are culturally, linguistically and physically different from their Bantu neighbours.
They live in huts they call mongulu which are one-family houses made of branches and leaves and nearly always built by the women. After a frame of very flexible, thin branches is prepared, recently-gathered leaves are fit in the structure. After the work is complete, other vegetable materials is sometimes added to the dome in order to make the structure more compact and waterproof. Besides the mongulus the Baka also build rectangular huts made of leaves or bark, just like the other ethnic groups do, only they use mud and wood.

The Baka, know the variety of forest foods, animals and the specific seasons when these products can easily be found. Of the different seasons which these pygmy people experience each year, the three-month period of prolonged heavy rain is the most important. During this period when the forest is in its abundance the Baka leave their permanent villages for the deep forest and for several months roam gathering food. The men perform the more prestigious but undoubtedly more hazardous job of supplying meat for the group through hunting and trapping. The women carry possessions in baskets and follow their husbands.

Types of hunting performed in the rainforest are with bows, poisoned arrows, crossbows, spears and traps. Contrary to what occurs in other pygmy cultures, the Baka do not know the use of hunting nets. The forest animals killed are a various species of primates, artiodactyls, rodents, etc, which are hunted at night. They place traps near watercourses to hunt crocodile, which is usually killed by spears.
Looking for food in the forests is one of the most important activities for the survival of the group, gathering yam, fruit, mushrooms, but in some seasons of the year it's possible for them to find small animals, such as termites and caterpillars.

Carried in baskets by the women, the products come to camp and are shared by all the families.
Hunting is one of the most important activities, not only for providing food but for the symbolic meanings and prestige traditionally attached to it. Skilled Hunters are very respected and taken into great consideration, especially if they specialize in the most rewarding and significant game activity: The Big Elephant Hunt.

Massive deforestation these days deprives the pygmies of the natural resources essential for their biological and cultural survival. Unfortunately, due to the diminishing number of prey and less frequent expeditions in the forest, today, hunting does not provide the Baka an adequate supply of animal proteins which causes serious nutritional problems especially in the children.
With inadequate diet and health problems, many live a quiet life keeping a strong cultural identity and marking the boundaries between their form of culture and that of the other ethnic groups in the forest.

Of all the aspects of nature which surrounds the Baka pygmies, they perceive the tropical rainforest as the most valuable force with which they interact.
The typical Baka pygmy will not leave his home in the forest even in exchange for an ultra modern palace in the city.
They have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the forest and its products, including the healing power of plants and are in fact, guardians of a huge natural pharmacy. Thus their whole life is occupied with the welfare of their forests.

"We are born and grew up in the forest; we do everything in the forest, gathering, hunting and fishing. Now where do they want us to make our lives? "
Mbeh: Baka guitarist

Baka Beyond/Baka Gbine
Music has a central role in the life of the Baka. From an early age they have a keen sense of rhythm, as soon as a baby is able to clap it is encouraged to participate in all the communal music-making. There is music for ritualistic purposes, music for passing on knowledge, stories and the history of the Baka people, and music for pure enjoyment. This communal music-making constantly helps to strengthen the bonds between the individuals in the groups.

Baka Music is perhaps best described as bursts of harmonic yodeling, intertwining in a dynamic, rhythmic fashion. It is quite hypnotizing and the environmental forest setting makes the overall effect fascinating.
Inspired by the magical rhythms and melodies of the Baka people, British musicians Martin Cradick and Su Hart founded Baka Beyond in 1993 after they had visited the tribal people.
They recorded an album "Spirit of the Forest" under the name Baka Beyond which pushed them into worldwide recognition. The band has since then evolved into a multicultural, dynamic live stage show with album sales of over a quarter of a million copies.

They have played at WOMAD in the UK, USA and Czech Republic and on the Jazz Stage at Glastonbury; Musica Mondial in Sao Paulo, Brazil and many more festivals in the UK, USA, France, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal as well as headlining the Vancouver Folk-Roots Festival. Their tracks are often heard on TV soundtracks, particularly in nature programmes on BBC and have been nominated for the BBC Radio 3 World Music listeners awards.

Su Hart says, "It was the amazing bird-like singing that first attracted me, the women will get together before the dawn to sing, enchant the animals of the forest and ensure that the men's hunting will be successful. Song and dance is used by the Baka for healing, for rituals, for keeping the community together and also for pure fun!”

With ongoing help from Martin and Su, they were then being invited to play at local feasts, weddings and funerals in Cameroon. After recording their album "Gati Bongo" in 2000, they decided upon the name "Baka Gbine" (Gbine translated means 'help').
The band includes guitarists Pelembir, Mbeh and Zow, percussionist Masekou, two women - Ybunga and Lekeweh, who bring the phenomenal singing to the concerts, and traditional music.

Giving it back to the Baka
Baka Gbine is one of the few groups who ensure that they put as much back into the culture as they take out. Royalties earned by the sale of the albums are channeled back to the Baka Pygmies through the UK based charity Global Music Exchange - or as the Baka call it, 'One Heart'.
This ongoing relationship with the Baka community has helped them to win land rights and recognition as Cameroonian citizens, as well as the funding of their own medical centre and a Music House. These steps all help to protect the Baka's culture, forest environment and unique hunter-gatherer way of life.

Roger Harrabin reports-
The biggest threat comes from a road into the rainforest which has been upgraded by Cameroon's government with funds from the European Union.
The World Bank and the African Development Bank refused to finance the upgrading.
They said it would accelerate logging and the hunting of endangered species. But the EU handed out the money without making any environmental assessment.

Steve Gartland, the World Wildlife Fund's man in Cameroon, says the inevitable is now happening.
"Road-building programs tend to bring development into the forest areas. As soon as you get the forest areas opened up you get the poachers going in, leading to depletion of wildlife and deforestation," he said.
Sixty per cent of Cameroon's forests are already being exploited.
Some firms wreck the forest by bribing their way round laws permitting only selected mature trees to be cut. Others appear to play by the book - felling only the occasional large tree.
Forester Jean Francois Pagot admits that the most valuable species are being depleted because they're not being replanted.

He says:

"The main reason is the long life of the trees. Some take two or three hundred years to fully mature - and no timber license lasts that long - so the diversity of the forest is being eroded."

The Baka are finding it harder to get other sorts of meat since poachers started using the EU's road to sell their catch from the forest reserve.
One Baka said: "They killed elephants, gorillas, chimps, panthers, buffalos, deer - all in the reserve".
European Union (EU) taxpayers are funding wildlife conservation in this reserve as well as paying for the road which makes life easier for the poachers.

The EU is now funding anti-poaching education projects. But hunting wildlife is too profitable for some to resist. Conservationists say it is a typical problem caused by the EU's aid program. They say aid from Brussels is often poorly administered and damaging to people at the sharp end - like the Baka.

jamiestone4870@hotmail.com
Australian Freelance Writer
copyright 2006

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Change, Adapt, Innovate, Or Be Lost

2009-08-01T03:40:00.001-07:00

Change, Adapt, Innovate, Or Be Lost
By Roger E Lear

Let me set this up before I get into it. If you are prone to pessimism, this could cause you to give up on your dreams of making it big in the music business. Read on at the risk of shattered dreams. For everyone else, this can stimulate the type of thoughts which breakthroughs are made of. Let us begin.

This is not good or bad news; it's just news. Actually, it's not even really news because it's common knowledge to anyone paying attention to the current state of the music industry. Artists, songwriters and producers, please understand this; free is more of an incentive today than ever, figure out how to use it to your advantage. Of course, nothing is really free...except in this case where free really means...well, free.

"Your music is going to be free and readily available to others without direct benefit to you." Think about it. I don't like what I just said because I am still resistant to some of the current changes within our industry.

There are at least two types of free that I'm referring to when I say "your music is going to be free and readily available to others without direct benefit to you."

Pirating
Pirating has been around since one man was able to see another man's work and steal it. Next, he sells what has been stolen benefiting only himself, with no financial benefit to the original creator of the work. Laws and sophisticated methods of disrupting the pirating practice have failed to solve the problem completely. At best, these approaches have only minimized the potential losses.

The global pirate music market is bigger than any individual legitimate music market except for the USA and Japan.

For each artist's name who appears on a song, dozens of others are involved in the writing, recording, mixing and distributing of the music; all of these people suffer when a song is pirated.

The biggest losers here are the original creators.

Free File Sharing
Free file sharing didn't start with Napster, it just got very serious attention after they were so widely touted as the place to go to get free music. In some respects, the value of the "artist" and "artist experience" started to die when it became more about the song and less about the artist and the artist experience.

Some may ask what I mean when I say "more about the song and less about the artist and album experience." Well, what was once considered a great album would be comprised of eight to ten songs which gave you a connected experience with the artist through musical continuity and a few hits. Remember liner notes? Remember track segues and interludes? Maybe not, but these were all part of that artist and album experience.

Remember cassette tape, album and CD collections? These things are pretty much gone along with allegiance to the artist in many respects. Free file sharing is perpetuating an ever disposable musical mindset which means instead of your album creating buzz, it's just your song, or songs. Even if you have 10, 20, or 80, your songs are just a few among millions. How's that for being a little fish in the sea.

Even pirates, comparatively speaking, are making less money than ever before. Why? How many people will buy a bootleg recording when they can get it for free? Online subscription services with monthly fees facilitates easy stealing for redistribution of songs.

According to a recent survey, the average teenager's iPod has about $800 worth of pirated music on it. On average, every iPod or digital music player contains 842 illegally copied songs. The proportion of illegally downloaded tracks rises to 61% among 14 to 17-year olds. In addition, 14% of CDs (one in seven) in a young person's collection are copied.

Illegal copying in some form is undertaken by 96% of 18 to 24-year olds surveyed; falling to 89% of those aged 14 to 17. Nearly two-thirds copy CDs from friends and similar proportions share songs by email and copy all the music held on another person's hard drive, acquiring up to 10,000 songs in one go.

Ask yourself, when was the last time you got a track without paying for it? Do you perpetuate the practice, which in effect, is stealing from yourself?

The biggest losers here are still the original creators.

Perspective
There is a decent living to be made in this industry, even by artists who are and will remain largely unknown. A new business model for the music industry which will be a cure-all for the financial woes of the music giants and the little guys will never come. Going, going, gone! For the few giants that remain, the end of days is in view.

In every area of life, as well as in music, the way things were and the way they are differ greatly. Greater opportunities exist. The proverbial playing field has never been this level. Just as back in the day, a record label's A&R department was swamped with new music submissions; today there is more "free" going on than ever before. The pirates aren't gone and the free file sharing won't stop.

More music is lobbying for the listener's attention and much more poorly written, produced and mixed music is present to wade through. Will you ever be heard? Is it even worth pursuing success in the music business? To both questions, I say yes!

This is vital to remember: everyone must embrace change or experience the consequences of attempting to operate with old tools, methods and ideas while watching the money go to those who adapt or innovate!

Artists, producers and entertainment companies are working on new approaches to dealing with decreased overall music sales. What will never change is the necessity to connect with the listener. The more you connect, the easier it will be for someone to make a decision to pay for your work as opposed to stealing it.

In the June 2009 edition of Mix magazine I saw this: Lil Wayne sold 9.1 million units of "Lollipop." This was the top-selling digitally downloaded single of 2008. These were paid for and people are still buying! Some folks will always be buying and others will continue stealing, but you will have to make a real connection with your audience and change, adapt, or innovate to stay relevant to those with short attention spans and an overabundance of choices.

Change, adapt, innovate or be lost!

Roger E Lear, also known as REL, has been creating and producing music for over 22 years. He has helped many new as well as established artists create money making music. He has built his career as a full time music producer by providing excellent quality music production and song writing services.

REL publishes a free weekly newsletter with helpful tips for aspiring artists at http://www.BanginBeatsByREL.com Included with all subscriptions are free sample beats. You can learn more about REL at http://www.banginbeatsbyrel.com/about-rel.html

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The Harmonized Major Scale - What is Diatonic Harmony?

2009-08-01T03:39:00.003-07:00

The Harmonized Major Scale - What is Diatonic Harmony?
By Larry Allen Brown

The importance of knowing and understanding the harmonized major scale is vital to any musicians ability to communicate something melodic when soloing over a chord progression or in composing music that makes sense.

What is the Harmonized Scale?
Most people who had some kind of basic music in grade school are familiar with the sound of the do, re, me, fa, sol, la, ti, do construction of the major scale. Those individual notes are built on a series of whole steps and half steps. If a person were looking at a piano keyboard and located the note C, he would notice that it was a white key. The very next key would be a black key a half step away, followed by another white key then another black key. Each step from one key to the next is called a half step. To go from one C note to the next C note would require 12 steps known as the Chromatic Scale. There are two places where a white key is followed by another white key. The notes E to F, and the notes B to C. If a person wanted to play a C major scale, he could play all the white keys starting on C, and the construction would be; whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step. That would be 7 notes ( no black keys ) with the 8th note being the starting point of C once again and bringing the player to the next octave.

A person could take every other note and play them together and arrive at the chords that would be diatonic to the family of whatever key he was playing in. For example, in the key of C, one could play the C, E, and G, and he would have a root position C major triad. Following that same formula, he could then play every other note starting on the 2nd note, D, and play D, F, and A which would give him a D minor triad. Applying this same formula with each successive note will present the scale in harmony.

Breaking this down it would look like this:

Major triad - C E G
minor triad - D F A
minor triad - E G B
Major triad - F A C
Major triad - G B D
minor triad - A C E
diminished - B D F

These are the fundamental building blocks of chord construction. It is how chords are built. All chords are derived from the major scale. Those chords can be altered in a variety of ways by adding additional notes called tensions, or "color tones". Those are the salt and pepper notes that make things interesting. Sometime notes that are not diatonic to the key can be added to stretch the harmony even further. Ones own ears are the final judge when it comes to what works and what doesn't.

Sources
Berklee College of Music.

Larry Allen Brown

Writer

A professional musician and teacher, with progressive political views.

Larry; an alumni of Berklee College of Music in Boston, is an accomplished guitarist, and composer, with two CD's ( Cobb Lane, and Music for the High Country..the Soundtrack of Blowing Rock ) of acoustic fingerstyle arrangements of both original music and ancient Celtic melodies. A third is currently in production. His music is published by Global Graffiti Music ( ASCAP ) and can be heard on NPR radio and as soundtracks in film and video documentary's, as well as on various internet web sites. The music is available online through digital distribution from 46 different outlets.

He lives in Birmingham, Alabama along with his wife Kathryn and their two dogs, Murphy and Dipstick.

Larry's website is http://Larryallenbrown.com

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Artist Profile - Jef Stott

2009-08-01T03:39:00.001-07:00

Artist Profile - Jef Stott
By Ted Mabbatt

I was recently back in Joshua Tree, California, for the 7th Annual Joshua Tree Music Festival, where I have participated as a volunteer since the first one of these fantastic music festivals. I was excited to hear that Jef Stott would be performing twice at the event. First was his performance with his group the Embarka Sound Project, and then the next day he performed with Jossi Fine, an incredible bass player and World Musician himself. Both shows were amazing, blending sounds of the Middle East and West. Jef is a true World musician, and while the Oud is his main "axe", he can tear it up on several instruments. I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Jef after the second show. I found his story fascinating. He has a very diverse background in music, being a musical anthropologist, and has collaborated with and produced many talented musicians.

We had a short interview. Here is Part One:

>I'm here with Producer/Composer Jef Stott, who just finished a great set with Yossi Fine. You also performed last night with the Embarka Sound System with Hooman. What's it like performing with and producing artists with such different styles and backgrounds?

"Well, for me performing with artists from around the world is what I am all about. Each person brings with them a sensitivity and orientation to their culture that is expressed through their music. You can learn a lot about someone and their heritage by playing with them. Even people from different regions within the same county have different takes on the same melody. Regional differences instead of national ones, smaller more subtle shifts. Plus most lines on maps are arbitrary anyway. Also there is the concept of time, many people from different areas are playing music that is a key or a doorway into a different way of life. One when we were not so rushed and multitasking all the time. Often I will look up from a nice long jam session and like 3 or 4 hours have passed and it seemed 45 minutes. And to bring it full circle, I feel like this music is looking to the future, where new combinations are tried out to see what fits. The global fusion music movement is the future forward music, where folks from around the world are going to start pushing back with really hot beats and these ancient gorgeous melodies. we are already seeing it now in India, Brazil Egypt etc...makes the blues or rock and roll seem pretty flat."

>What is your musical background? What instruments have you studied/ play?

"I started playing acoustic guitar in junior high. Moved quickly onto the electric and became a lead guitarist in heavy metal bands by the time I was 15. I was playing rock clubs in LA when I was a teenager. Then discovered Eno, Peter Gabriel, the Clash and the whole world music explosion that happened in the 80's. Then after a while discovered the oud, became sort of a sufi for a while, moved to SF, put out a bunch of albums, got a couple of degrees and here we are. Now I can say I play the following- string instruments acoustic/electric guitar, bass, oud, saz, cumbus, yali tambur (turkish), santoor/hammered dulcimer (persian) mandolin, banjo etc percussion all arabic percussion- darbuka, riqq, tarr, bendir daff (Iran) drum kit djembe conga etc. I'm a decent keyboard player and I also play harmonium and melodica in the dub jams."

>How did last year's release of Saracen change things for you as far as your overall exposure? I imagine the world tour was amazing?

"Yes definitely. Signing on with Six degrees has been a goal of mine for many years. I approached them back on '99 with the Stellamara project, of which I was a founder, and we were in negociations and things got weird with the band internally and we all split up for a while. But I maintained my connection with the Label and here we are 10 years later... So Six Degrees really put me on the map and I am grateful. The experiences I have had in the past 2 years have been a dream, sharing the stage with some of my heroes, Gaudi, Makyo, Karsh, Cheb I Sabbah etc...I feel like I am a peer of these artists now and it feels good. The dates in Miami and Tokyo, Vancouver, Taipei, all of it has been amazing. So many stories..."

>You have an incredible depth in your knowledge of music, Jef, having studied it anthropologically, as well as having collaborated and produced so many great musicians, such as Yossi right here at Joshua Tree Music Festival. How has the Global Electronica movement grown? Do you think its growing in popularity in the States?

"I think it is slowly moving forward, but the US is pretty insular and self centered, it is a rock town, electronica is still marginalized although I have heard rumors that disco is going to take over hip hop in the coming years... Folks don't know how to process this music sometimes. the rest of the world is so interconnected. I mean France and Morocco are neighbors right? The flow is more fluid else where, here it is this big corporate umbrella called America. That is why I moved to San Francisco from L.A. where I was born, I wanted more connectivity on a street level I think the movement is growing,. many of the best producers live here, ickodemus, Zeb, Chehab etc...but there is not that much work for us. We have to travel constantly to stay busy. The festival circuit is really growing and that is great. I heard the line up at J Tree Fest was really global this year, and that is a good thing. Also the global music is really well suited to outdoor festivals as it carries with it a built in sense of festival purpose and ritual. The origins of all this fusion music is rooted in street parties and ceremonies from around the world, so the purpose of the music is in line with the aim of many people who come out to a festival like Joshua Tree, to reconnect with the earth, the people, the spirits."

>What are your plans for the future (musically)?

"Well, I am just now finishing up a masters degree in multimedia and that has kept me pretty busy for the last 6 months or so. Our thesis project is a biofeedback installation using brainwaves and biosensors to control audio/visual media. There is a website up that has more info at subtlebody.info I am actually really itching to get back in the studio and write new material. I feel like I am at one of those nodes where everything begins again, the cycle is complete. That is when you say "what the @#$% am I gonna do now?" The material on Saracen was stuff I had been playing live for a while and I am really ready for new stuff. I think the next batch of tracks in gonna be on the deeper side and not so concerned with following the BPM or DJ trends of the moment. Things are so fickle that way. This approach may cost me some gigs, but I need to be true to myself and work with what ever comes out So it looking like more lush deep soundscapes with strong beats and deep melodies, which all sounds good to me."

BIOGRAPHY

"Jef Stott's first full-length offers a powerhouse mix of electronic and Middle Eastern music that hits on all cylinders. Not only does Stott know his Middle Eastern music, he's an outstanding producer and musician, with respect for what's before him."

-From BILLBOARD Magazine

Currently signed to Six Degrees Records, Jef is releasing SARACEN, his full length debut solo album in Spring 2008. His sound is a powerful fusion of the traditions of the Middle East with breaks, dub and electro. As a producer performer and composer, he has released albums with Stellamara, Lumin, the debut from young Arabic rock/electronica sensation MC RAI as well as several remixes including Azam Ali, Cemali, Atash, among others. He toured extensively with appearances in Japan, Canada Turkey, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. As a musical anthropologist, he has studied with master musicians from Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Iran and Turkey which led him to become accomplished on several traditional stringed and percussion instruments of the Middle East. His work has been released on several record labels including Universal,EMI, Six Degrees, Hearts of Space, Triloka and City of Tribes." Jef lives and works in San Francisco, California. Learn more about Jef Stott at www.jefstott.com.

http://www.GlobalMusicalInstruments.com

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The Profit Margin of Mobile Phone Ringtones

2009-08-01T03:38:00.004-07:00

The Profit Margin of Mobile Phone Ringtones
By Alok Kumar

In the global cellphone value-added service, cellphone music is an important one. Downloading pictures and ringtones is always the No.1 in mobile value-added service, whose business opportunities can reach up to 10 billion dollars per year. According to the survey of British research institution, global mobile phone music industry's overall output value was up to 36 billion dollars in 2004, taking up 35% in the whole mobile entertainment market, which will increase to the size of 93 billion dollars by 2009.

However, as ringtones market matures gradually, earning profit for major carriers has been less and less. Therefore, record companies join hands with telecommunication operators, and continue to open up mobile phone music market: personalized mobile phone music service.

To help users set up personalized mobile music service is becoming the next target for provider. "In addition to the simple tones, mobile music personalized service will be more fit for users' like", an insider of record company said. It is reported that personalized cellphone music includes: ringtones, alarm, sound start, sound off, and so on.

At present, record companies are preparing different types of music clips. They hope that consumers can buy these music clips in order to personalize their cellphone. In the next few weeks, numbers of mobile phone operators will launch "reminded sound" whose duration is about 2-5 seconds. When there is a text message or voice mail, mobile phones will broadcast the "reminded sound". It is reported that Sony-BMG has already provided such "reminded sound".

With the coming of 3G era, mobile phones can download the whole song, watch music videos. Their prospect is more optimistic. It is certain that downloading for pictures and ringtones will always be the No.1 in mobile value-added service.

If you are looking for more information then feel free to visit ringtones and download ringtones

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A Glimpse Into The Zero Fret Guitar

2009-08-01T03:38:00.003-07:00

Music has an eternal appeal. It is like a magic balm, which can soothe frayed nerves and enliven drooping spirits of all and sundry. From music programmes, music contests to music quiz everywhere it has found takers.

The entire global music industry is in on all time high as investors are all set to invest huge amounts. Huge billboards flashing endorsements by famous music personalities are a common thing these days. All this explains clearly that music has traversed a long way and has made successful inroads into the global music industry. With music videos being aired on music channels globally it is not difficult for guitarists to leave their mark in this competitive world of music.

In this age of technical expertise and stylishly packaged programmes a lot depends on the instrument one is using. Production channels are always vying with each other to produce the sweetest piece of music. Zero fret guitars add a touch of class to every music concert.

Successfully playing its cards music channels has carved a niche for themselves. All this has been possible primarily because of the musical instruments, which has formed an integral part of any musical show till date.

It is absolutely impossible to create good music without having the right kind of musical instruments. The musical guitar is one of them. Guitar comes in many avatars. There are several categories of guitars all tailor made to suit different needs. The entire spectrum of global music has benefited a great deal since the arrival of the zero fret guitar.

Zero fret is usually the fret, which has been placed at the headstock of a banjo, guitar and mandolin or the bass guitar. A correct spacing is required in the case of zero fret guitar so that the string is properly spaced and a zero fret is properly used.

Characteristics of a zero-fret guitar

It provides greater designing options and allows nut slot width.
Zero fret guitars are a lesser expensive proposition than other.
It allows easy changes in the strings and has got a simple design option.
A zero fret guitar is capable of controlling strings spaced out between the zero fret.
The strings can be easily adjusted in a zero fret guitar.
The scale length in this category of guitar is usually measured between the zero fret and the saddle.
It is ideally suited for beginners who are trying their hands at learning the ropes of the trade.

Some of the luminaries who graced the world of zero fret guitarists are as follows-

Gretsch
Kay

Selmer

Hofne

Anderson

Vigier

It is also very easy to play a zero fret guitar provided you are ready to master the tricks in the right manner. You can play the guitar perfectly and with natural ease if you are ready to learn.

Struggling guitarists should always try their hands at the zero fret guitars, which has got its own unique appeal. So, be ready to win hearts as your fingers run through the zero fret guitar and create magic instantly.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, and synthesizers. You can find the best marketplace for guitars, drums, and synthesizers at these 3 sites: guitars, zero fret guitar, drums, drum sets, drum kits, and synthesizers, keyboards.

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How to Start an Independent Record Label - Advice From Music Vets

2009-08-01T03:38:00.001-07:00

How to Start an Independent Record Label - Advice From Music Vets
By Emma Drosy

Are you are an artist? Are you in love with the idea of producing your own music? Do you know of a singer or songwriter who needs your help? If so, you probably will need to learn how to start an independent record label. It may be worthy to note at this point that independent labels contribute a huge part of the $48 billion global music industry.

Let me help you understand how to start an independent record label by understanding what an indie label or independent label is.

What is an independent record label?

An independent record label is a record label that is not funded or under the umbrella of a major record labels i.e. EMI, Universal or SonyBMG.

However, the learning of how to start an independent record label may also be in the minds of big name artists who want to introduce fresh talents in the music industry. This venture of established artists may be in partnership with major record labels as well.

How to start your own record label?

It may be good to know that if you are the artist of your own record label, it may be quite difficult for you to manage your business and your performance as well.

If you are however the producer, the knowledge of how to start your own record label may need some serious understanding, because you will need to learn how to deal with your talents, their managers, distribute their music and manage your business.

I did not say that to start your own record label is bordering on the impossible. Why then do you think that many indie record labels thrive? This is merely to say that there is no overnight success in starting your own record label.

Having said this let me tell you some of the basic requirements of starting your own record label:

Recognize great music.

Basic business understanding such as marketing, bookkeeping product, development and business negotiation

Patience and a lot of it.

How to start an independent record label is a learning you will need to understand deeper. This is if you truly want to succeed in producing your own labels.

Want to Find out Additional Advice on Starting a Record Label?

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A Glimpse Into The Zero Fret Guitar

2009-08-01T03:37:00.003-07:00

A Glimpse Into The Zero Fret Guitar
By Victor Epand

The entire global music industry is in on all time high as investors are all set to invest huge amounts. Huge billboards flashing endorsements by famous music personalities are a common thing these days. All this explains clearly that music has traversed a long way and has made successful inroads into the global music industry. With music videos being aired on music channels globally it is not difficult for guitarists to leave their mark in this competitive world of music.

In this age of technical expertise and stylishly packaged programmes a lot depends on the instrument one is using. Production channels are always vying with each other to produce the sweetest piece of music. Zero fret guitars add a touch of class to every music concert.

Successfully playing its cards music channels has carved a niche for themselves. All this has been possible primarily because of the musical instruments, which has formed an integral part of any musical show till date.

It is absolutely impossible to create good music without having the right kind of musical instruments. The musical guitar is one of them. Guitar comes in many avatars. There are several categories of guitars all tailor made to suit different needs. The entire spectrum of global music has benefited a great deal since the arrival of the zero fret guitar.

Zero fret is usually the fret, which has been placed at the headstock of a banjo, guitar and mandolin or the bass guitar. A correct spacing is required in the case of zero fret guitar so that the string is properly spaced and a zero fret is properly used.

Characteristics of a zero-fret guitar

It provides greater designing options and allows nut slot width.
Zero fret guitars are a lesser expensive proposition than other.
It allows easy changes in the strings and has got a simple design option.
A zero fret guitar is capable of controlling strings spaced out between the zero fret.
The strings can be easily adjusted in a zero fret guitar.
The scale length in this category of guitar is usually measured between the zero fret and the saddle.
It is ideally suited for beginners who are trying their hands at learning the ropes of the trade.

Some of the luminaries who graced the world of zero fret guitarists are as follows-

Gretsch
Kay

Selmer

Hofne

Anderson

Vigier

It is also very easy to play a zero fret guitar provided you are ready to master the tricks in the right manner. You can play the guitar perfectly and with natural ease if you are ready to learn.

Struggling guitarists should always try their hands at the zero fret guitars, which has got its own unique appeal. So, be ready to win hearts as your fingers run through the zero fret guitar and create magic instantly.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, and synthesizers. You can find the best marketplace for guitars, drums, and synthesizers at these 3 sites: guitars, zero fret guitar, drums, drum sets, drum kits, and synthesizers, keyboards.

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A Musical Web: Beethoven's Internet-Like Concept Took 194 Years to Manifest Itself

2009-08-01T03:37:00.001-07:00

A Musical Web: Beethoven's Internet-Like Concept Took 194 Years to Manifest Itself
By Rhiannon Schmitt

A 31-year-old musician conceptualized an innovative concept that would change the music world forever. He said, "There ought to be but one large art warehouse in the world, to which the artist could carry his art-works and from which he could carry away whatever he needed."

The year was 1801, the man was Ludwig van Beethoven and his concept was finally realized in 1995 with the public acceptance of the Internet.

As a violinist and violin teacher I know exactly how frustrated dear Ludwig felt. Before the Internet I too was frustrated with the limited learning resources available to my students and me. Sheet music and books were expensive, any obscure information was near impossible to unearth and researching meant hours probing through dusty outdated library books. Most difficult, however, was living in rural Canada with no connection to other violinists, big city music groups or current ideas floating around the global music scene.

Apparently other musicians felt the same way and used the Internet as a tool to overcome these and many other obstacles. Web sites, file transfer systems, message boards and music forums, software and other technologies improved communication between musicians, thus creating an advanced global music community.

To start I first used online encyclopedias for research projects and concert program notes, but soon learned to use other tools. I learned to use the web to locate song lyrics and quotations, such as the one by Beethoven. If the words or lyrics aren't in English I use an online tool that automatically translates them for me!

The availability of music on the internet is stunning! You can download any song your heart desires in MP3 format within seconds. This area of the internet has become controversial as the record companies want us to pay for the music and "peer to peer" protocol violates copyright laws.

Don't want to rip off the artists and break the law? For only $1 per tune you can legally download all the music you like from sites like "puretracks." As for sheet music, thousands of sites offer a similar pay-and-use system where you can download a wide range of titles.

Can't find the sheet music you're looking for? Search for MIDI files (music reproduced digitally) then input them into a music notation application (computer program for writing music) that automatically turns it into sheet music.

Using the one of many sheet music writing programs available on the Internet I can create a song, edit it to suit the player's skill level, add a harmony, include the lyrics and have it printed within 10 minutes. The best part, other than the cost, is the editability. I can make any changes to the music I want, such as changing the key, with ease. No more writing the music out by hand either.

Beethoven would have appreciated that.

One of my favourite things to do online is to download professional quality images of violins, musicians and composers for my newsletters and publications. Using such photos improves the projects I work on and is far cheaper than hiring a graphic artist. The search for good photos has been made easier with the invention of image searches, which scour millions of web pages and catalogue the images. During a recent image search I was completely stunned to find photos of myself playing violin!

As a teacher I am always furthering my education and training. I use the Internet as a source for enhancing my violin technique and knowledge and for sharing ideas with other musicians. If I can't find what I'm looking for I can post the query on a "bulletin board" for another musician to answer.
Recently I saw comments on such a site by a former symphony conductor of mine regarding Saint Saens' 3rd Symphony. I was surprised to "bump into" someone I know on a worldwide system with millions of users. Small world.

The 'net has become the world's largest shopping centre with millions of dollars working through the system each day. I enjoy using the internet to research instruments, accessories and music books and keep up on what products are available for myself and my business.

Gone are the days of being convinced by a sales rep that his product is the best. I check musician's forums and read feedback on any of the products I am considering before I buy. I also shop and sell online using tools such as Ebay and a mutitude of E-commerce solutions. My business attracts buyers from around the world: a huge improvement on being limited to my local market.

There are numerous other facets to music on the Internet and countless more to more to come as technology improves and people grow closer together.

Beethoven once said, "Music is the soil in that the spirit lives, thinks and invents." It's been over 200 years since dear Ludwig invented his "art warehouse" and musicians are finally reaping the benefits of such a music exchange.

For me the creation of the Internet has enhanced and improved the way I enjoy music. More importantly it has helped me feel like a part of a wonderfully vast music community: a community visualized by Beethoven himself.

**Rhiannon Schmitt (nee Nachbaur) is a professional violinist and music teacher who has enjoyed creative writing for years. She writes for two Canadian publications and Australia's "Music Teacher Magazine."

Her business, Fiddleheads Violin School & Shop, has won several distinguished young entrepreneur business awards and offers beginner to professional level instruments, accessories and supplies for very reasonable prices: Visit http://www.fiddleheads.ca.

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Download Unlimited Music – Online Music Guide

2009-08-01T03:33:00.000-07:00

Download Unlimited Music – Online Music Guide
By Davion Wong

Download unlimited music is a dream come true for many music lovers. If you happen to be one of the millions who prefer to fill your MP3 player with only your favourites and not want to buy the whole album, then signing up for music subscription service is the right choice for you. There are practically hundreds of services you can subscribe to that offer you millions of song choices. It is so convenient to download unlimited music onto your computer or MP3 player.

It was only a few years back that legal online music became available to use. Many folks are aware of sites like iTunes and Amazon, but it is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many other music stores where you can download unlimited music easily. These are direct distribution channels of music record companies or have obtained the permission and rights from the music companies to sell music through their websites. Just to quote a few examples, there is Bleep which distributes music from Warp records, offering a wide range of electronic and indie music. Connect, which is Sony’s in house pay-per-track music service carries music from all the major record labels. EMusic is a global music subscription service where you can download up to 40 songs per month at a price of $9.99 per month.

Now, these are just some of the many choices you have to download unlimited music. It’s hard to decide which one is the best, but there are handles or things you can consider before you choose a music download site.

1. Pricing

Expensive does not equate to good. Some sites charge lower fees for per track or subscription service because they have much lower overheads and advertising costs than the more famous sites. This gives them a competitive edge over the big boys in the music industry.

2. Music Quality

Is the music quality good? You will be surprised that there can be some slight differences in song quality downloaded at various sites. There is a lot of science that goes into this such as the compression format and bit rates. Check out samples offered by these sites to hear and differentiate.

3. Music Format

You need to check the format of music offered for compatibility with your PC or MP3 player. MP3, OGG, AAC, WMA, ATRAC are some of the more common formats. I have to caution you here because not all formats are playable on your PC music client application or MP3 player. Take for instance; ATRAC3 can only be played on Sony’s Connect players. There is no point to download unlimited music if you cannot even listen to them.

4. Read the Reviews

Do a quick search online and read the reviews of each site where you can download unlimited music.

Visit my blog and find out more about where you can download unlimited music. This article may be freely reprinted or distributed in its entirety in any ezine, newsletter, blog or website. The author's name, bio and website links must remain intact and be included with every reproduction.

Davion is a successful webmaster, author and music lover. Learn where you can have instant access to unlimited music downloads - all your favorite hits, latest music videos, MP3s and more at unlimited-music-downloads.blogspot.com.

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Information on Music Education

2007-07-11T09:54:00.001-07:00

Below you will find information and resources covering a wide variety of music education topics of interest to teachers, parents, students, researchers, music industry professionals, and others. If you do not find the answers to your questions here, please contact us at info@menc.org. (PLEASE NOTE: requests will be answered in the order in which they were received, and MENC members' requests will receive priority over non-members requests. It may take from 5 - 10 business days for a reply. If you need an answer/response sooner than that, please so indicate in your message. Also be sure to let us know if you're a member! Thank you!)
Your comments and suggestions for additional topics are welcome, and if you have input on any of those listed below, please let us know. New topics and resources are added as information becomes available, so visit often!
Academic Achievement and Music: Read about the positive effects of music on learning.Advocacy Information, Music Education: See how you can help support music education through MusicFriends!All-State and state-run festivals: Help with locating festival procedures, adjudication forms, audition materials, final concert programs, and more.Arts Education Partnership: a national coalition of arts, education, business, philanthropic and government organizations. Site contains many advocacy resources in support of the arts.Block: Articles covering block scheduling and various scheduling options.Booster Manual, Music Careers in Music: Salaries, educational requirements, job descriptions, links, and more.Certification: State and National certifications, and resources for certification testing.Concert Etiquette: Here is information that must be shared with your students.Copyright Center, Music Education: Information and resources.Early Childhood Music Resources Financial Aid: Links to Web sites helpful for locating grants, fundraising sources, scholarships, donations and more.Graduation Requirements in the Fine Arts, U.S. High Schools: A concise summary of Fine Arts Requirements.International Society for Music Education: An affiliate of MENC representing over 60 countries.The Music Code of Ethics: “An agreement defining the jurisdictions of music educators and professional musicians.”Music Education Facts and Figures Music Education in the Law and No Subject Left Behind: 2001 Education Act NAEP: National Assessment of Educational Progress in the Arts (Nation’s Report Card): Assessment of academic performance for 4th, 8th, and 12th grade in various subjects, including the arts.Network Communities: MENC forums where you can find resources, share, and communicate with your peers.Opportunity-to-learn Standards for Music Instruction: Grades Prek-12 Orchestra Programs in America's Schools, Status of (ASTA with NSOA)PRAXIS exam Sacred Music: MENC’s viewpoint on including sacred music in schools.SAT Scores and Arts Education: SAT scores of arts students compared to non-arts students.Scheduling Resources: Articles covering block scheduling and various scheduling options.State Music Education Standards: Helpful Web site to learn about music education standards Nationwide.Statistics, National Center for Education: Fast Facts From Arts Education (1994)Teacher Shortage/Supply and Demand: Statistics from the American Association of Employment in Education showing the supply and demand of music teachers across the nation. 1999 Report Testing, PRAXISTravel Tips for Musicians, in html and pdf.

Music Information

2007-07-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

Be An Organized Church Pianist
Playing in front of a congregation each Sunday is no easy feat. Make sure you are well prepared before giving your best for God and before others.
RAP Music and Brain Washing Issues
I am not sure if anyone has been watching out there, about the types of music that we are listening to. Let us look at them for a minute.
Taps; Piping Military Honors: A Ceremonial Guide for Highland Bagpipers
It has become increasingly popular for U.S.
Home Run Gigs
Are you still playing your heart out to small audiences on gigs at unappreciative dives (excuse me, I meant to say nightclubs) that feel paying you a couple of hundred dollars for a 3-4 hour gig is also paying you about $150 too much?Unless you are a masochist, why do you continue to take such beatings? Is it due to laziness, complacency, cynicism, your now being jaded, or a combination of any of the above?Are you aware that you could dramatically improve your live performance income by making simple changes in the types of performances that you accept?For instance, see the below list of gig types and the average earnings possible, compared to traditional nightclub work:* Weddings ($1,000 *minimum* for 2-3 hours work)Instead of working yourself to death, so to speak, by chasing wedding performance opportunities on an individual basis, consider approaching a number of area caterers and offering your services to them as an add-on to their own services as, obviously, they will have significantly more client opportunities.Not only will your music service now give catering companies more value, as the client can now also purchase the wedding entertainment through a single source as opposed to contracting performers separately, but this single joint venture alone will dramatically increase your income, and on a more consistent basis.
Silent Discos!
The press have reported this week that silent disco's are now the in thing, saying:'T in the park is to follow the Glastonbury Festival into introducing a 'Silent Disco' this year. So that revellers can party through the night, clubbers at particular stages will be given headphones so they can continue to listen to music at high volume without upsetting the festivals neighbours.
Review: The Dissociatives - Self Titled
In 1994 Daniel Johns and his group Silverchair were catapulted into the mainstream by winning a demo competition in Australia. Their single 'Tomorrow' is still widely regarded as one of the defining songs of the early 90s.
RIAA Files Second Wave of Lawsuits
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has launched a second wave of lawsuits against users of internet2 (a specialized high speed version of the internet that makes it ideal for file sharing). By adding 20 new schools to the list, RIAA has greatly expanded the number of students involved in the case.
Wal-Mart Music Downloads, Napster and Other Legal Digital Music Download Sites
Digital Music Download. Ever since file-sharing programs entered the hard drives of our computers, people have wanted the best place for a digital music download.
Right Hand Guitar Playing Tip
This lesson can open for you a secret of high-speed guitar playing. If take the given technique for 2-3 weeks you'll feel progress in high-speed playing of complex passages.
Music Bytes - Tips For Saving On Professional Software For Musicians, Part I
If you are outraged by the prices software giants demand for their tools, it's time to check out shareware. Small independent developers often provide similar solutions that cost three to five times less AND you get to try them before paying.
Guitar Humidification
Problems with humidity can lead to heartbreak for the classical (or other) guitarist. Excessive humidity or dryness can ruin an instrument probably quicker than you think.
Patriotic Music: Surprising Secrets About Those Flag-Waving Sounds
Whether played by a marching band, an orchestra, or a rock group, there are patriotic tunes that everyone in America finds familiar, exciting and uplifting. But how much do you know about how these songs were created? And what do you know about the people who wrote them?There are some surprising facts behind all of this glorious music.
3 Secrets To Understanding What Makes Music Tick
It's no secret that virtually everyone loves music in some form or other. After all, music is the universal language.
Karaoke Singing
This article is designed to help anyone to enjoy karaoke and improve their singing performance whether it be as a "virgin" karaoke singer or as someone starting out on a singing career. It contains tips designed to help old hands and newbies alike achieve a better karaoke singing style.
Piano Chords and New Age Music
There are basically two ways you can compose a piece of music. The first and most traditional way is to write out the melody and then harmonize it.
Play Piano in the New Age Style
It's not what you play, it's how you play it. These words summarize the art of piano playing in general and New Age piano playing in particular.
The Acoustic Guitar
The steel-stringed acoustic guitar is usually credited with being developed by C.F.
The First The American Idol Kelly Clarkson
There is a lot more to the story that meets the eye, at least, where Kelly Clarkson, the American Idol, is concerned. Her rise to the top of the charts was not an easy one and any struggling singer-wannabe can probably identify with the grit and determination this young pop singer has shown.
Learning To Play The Piano With Chords
Learning piano chords can help you in all your piano playing. For me chords are the easiest way to play and the simplest way to embellish my playing.
A Brief History Of Gibson Guitars
Gibson guitars have been around forever. It's funny, but although Gibson has produced some of the most amazing guitars in history, perhaps the company's largest contribution to music has been through their advancements in pickup technology.