BMO´s Articles

Have you ever faced your time to shine, and felt overcome with an intense hesitation or worry about an upcoming performance? As the time nears for you to address your audience, do you suffer from sweaty palms? Is there a lump in your throat? Do you experience tremors, tension, stuttering, upset stomach or loss of focus? All of these symptoms are a sign that you may suffer from performance anxiety, which is a common problem that requires a little mental rewiring to get you on the right track.

Music performance anxiety develops from the thoughts, feelings and habits of a musician. The level of anxiety that one has will affect a musician’s desire to perform, as well as their ability. In order to deliver a high-quality performance, a musician must overcome the mental obstacles that create a barrier between wanting to perform and actually completing the act. When you feel anxious, pressure begins to build up that makes it impossible to pick up an instrument or sing a song.

Main Types of Performance Anxiety

There are three main kinds of performance anxiety that musicians encounter. The first occurs before a performance date is even mentioned. Fear of rejection or self-doubt regarding their abilities may hinder a musicians attempt to arrange a showing of their talents. The anxiety sometimes mounts to the point where a musician never feels they are truly ready to perform in front of others.

The second type of anxiety occurs during an actual performance. Gripped by fear of what the audience thinks of them, a musician’s body might tremble. Sweat may form on their forehead, nose, neck or hands. These bodily reactions may also impact the way an instrument is played. Voices become tight or locked, emitting cracked, flat or quivering notes. The anxiety of a musician might be so high that they may actually self-sabotage their performance without even knowing it.

Anxious musicians often become quite distracted by the slightest movement or noise during a performance. They might take this opportunity to blame their inability to complete their set because of outside interruptions. This is just an excuse. Within themselves, they do not feel completely adequate to continue their performance. Musicians with performance anxiety often exhibit poor concentration, as well as loss of focus.

After a performance, the anxiety madness continues, which is seen through a harsh, unforgiving critique of their presentation. The musician will nit-pick every aspect of their set and despite positive encouragement and comments, they will continue to downplay and dismantle their ability.

Tips On Managing Performance Anxiety

When it comes to getting over the hump of performance anxiety, there are numerous ways to combat the fears and doubt that come with presentation. Below are five aspects of performing that a musician suffering from anxiety should take into consideration:

1) Self-Assessment

When you get to know the ins and outs of yourself as an individual, as well as a musician, you are inching your way towards overcoming performance anxiety. Knowing what makes you tick both inside and outside musical circles will help you to better deal with the problems you face before, during and after a performance. A musician should analyze their performance goals, personal capabilities and limitations.

Musicians should also know that everyone has to start somewhere with infinite room for improvement. It is quite important for a musician to perform to the best of their abilities, as well as learn from mistakes and peer criticism.

2) Exposure: Baby Steps

Musicians should take the opportunity to gradually expose themselves to varying levels of performing. One moment a full-length mirror becomes a suitable audience, while the next could be a crowd of five friends. Testing low, medium and high levels of stressful performance situations will help musicians slowly overcome the issues faced in regards to performing. Additional suggestions include practice performances in an empty theater, dress rehearsals with friends and taping acts, then viewing them with family and friends.

3) Preparation

In anything that we do, preparation is an important component for achieving success. A good performance is one that has been thought out, thoroughly visualized and played over and over again in the mind. Once the mental preparation is complete, the physical part of the process involves sufficient practice and specific rehearsing for the particular venue you may perform at. Before a performance, a musician should enter this moment with a clear head. Meditation, yoga and other muscle relaxation techniques can create the right state of mind.

4) During a Performance

Every musician at some point in their lives will feel the flutter of butterflies before, during or after a performance. This is a normal occurrence that just takes some longer to get over. When it comes to the audience, you shouldn’t focus on blocking them out, but instead embrace them as support. If you go into a performance thinking that no one likes you or during a presentation focus on scowling faces, you will surely surrender to your flight or fight performance anxiety tactics.

Try to put anxiety in the backseat and attempt to stay calm. If you make a mistake, such as tickle the wrong piano keys, simply move on and do not dwell on small imperfections that pale in comparison to the overall scheme of things. Sometimes, if you don’t wear your disappointment or errors on your face, the audience is less apt to remember or care about mistakes. Breathing techniques will also come in handy once you get into the thick of performing and feel a touch of anxiety.

5) After the Performance

After each performance, take the time to assess yourself before relying on the approval or criticism of others. No one but you truly knows all of the hard work and preparation that went into your performance. Take the time to give yourself a mental pat on the back. Next, combine outside comments with your gut feeling to decide on what you can do next time. Regardless if you had the performance of your life or tanked on your first break, there are always aspects of your musical craft that you can still shape and mold for the future.

Music is too big a world for a one-size-fits-all model of music career success. Musicians’ career paths are as unique as their individual finger prints. Nevertheless, there are a few guidelines that I believe apply to anyone trying to make a living career out of their love of music. Here are five:

1. Hone your talent and realize there is a place for you. Not everyone is a Quincy Jones, a Beatles, or a Bruce Springsteen, but if an artist like Tom Waits is a vocalist, then there is definitely room for you too. Do the work necessary to excel in your niche, whether it’s writing a chart, engineering a session, providing backup vocals, or teaching kids the basics of music.

Your goal, to use marketing lingo, is to “position” yourself in your “market” as the go-to person for that particular skill or talent. Don’t worry too much about industry rejection. Every record label in Britain initially passed on the Beatles and The Rolling Stones. The key is believing in yourself and persevering beyond others’ opinions (even those of “the industry”).

2. Connect with as many people as you can because relationships drive music careers more that anything else, even talent. Music is a “who-you-know/who-knows-you” kind of business. The quality and quantity of your relationships will be the primary engines of your progress. Try developing creative projects with fellow-musicians. Perhaps you can combine your live show with two other acts and present the package to a local promoter. There is strength in numbers. Finding the right combinations takes experimentation.

If you’re interested in working in the business side of music, then interning at a music company is the best way to both learn how the biz works and connect with those who can help move your career along.

3. Accept the new powers in your corner and take responsibility for creating your own success.The last twenty years has given you the means to both produce and distribute your own music on a global scale. New models of business are emerging in the world of music. A “record deal” is not necessarily the goal any longer. The Internet has clearly become your “open mic” to the world, and desktop technologies provide you with ways to have the look, reach and efficiency of larger companies. Dare to be different.

Remember, new power also means new responsibilities. Global reach means a potentially far-flung audience. You need to be ready for the incoming messages and questions from this new market. Have you created the best business structures to hold and express your work? Are you setting up effective systems to communicate with your audience? It’s up to you to create your own success and not merely rely on a record company or agent to do the work of making you visible in the marketplace.

4. Understand that every business is becoming a “music business” and so musical opportunities are multiplying. It took a coffee company and a computer manufacturer to teach the music industry how to sell music in the digital age! Non-music businesses everywhere are seeking creative ways to add music-related services to their mix. This means that you needn’t be dependent on the traditional “music industrial complex” for music career success.

Think of companies you already resonate with and try brainstorming ways you can link up. Start on a local scale. It might be a gift shop, bookstore or arts organization. It may even evolve into a full-fledged sponsorship for a tour or recording project. Finds ways to add value to what these businesses are doing with what you have to offer. Forging creative alliances is key to building a multi-dimensional music career.

5. Prepare to be versatile and to wear several hats initially, until your “brand” is established. Most musicians I know have had to cobble together several revenue streams in the early stages of their careers in order to make enough money to support themselves. Many have also had to take on a non-music “lifeline careers” just to make ends meet, pay down debt, or supplement what they earn from music.

I tell musicians to not so much look for “a job,” but to seek out the work that needs to be done. It might be arranging a song, playing a wedding gig, helping organize a concert series, doing a jingle session, offering private music instruction, or writing a review of your favorite band’s new CD. Eventually, all the different experiences merge together into the roaring river that will be your music career. At that point you’ll be visible, in demand and able to name your price. And
that’s career success.

Peter Spellman is Director of Career Development at Berklee College of Music, Boston, and author of the new book, Indie Marketing Power: The Guide for Maximizing Your Music Marketing

We have all heard the statement, “Practice Makes Perfect”,…and it is a proven fact that this is so very true.
There are many different ways, and technical aspects of just how one should practice.

I am going to talk about the solo single line musician, and what you can do to get all the practice you need, and how to get paid for your efforts.
When I say single line solo musician, I mean those musician who play woodwinds, brass, violins, cello, any instrument that does not have the advantage of making chords.

In this article, I will use my real life experiences to demonstrate the fact that this does work.
To what degree depends upon the individuals efforts, and desire to succeed.

First,…The one thing that we all need, and want, is a joyous life, and abundant living.
One of the main questions that we ask ourselves when taking this journey through life is,…Just how can I make a living, and enjoy what I do?
One answer I know is true, is to find that talent that one has been blessed with, nurture it, pursue it, build on it, and it will take care of you, and the question of a joyous life, and abundant living will be answered.

To begin, I will use my life, and experiences as a basis, and outline for this article and show just how to, “Get Paid For Practicing”.

For starters,…I am a blind individual,… I play saxophone,…and that is what I know how to do well.
I have been playing the saxophone for 40 years, 36 of those professionally.
As I dont consider myself an awesome musician, I absolutely love to play!
I love to hear other musicians,whom I consider awesome, play.
I can tell, as well as any music lover can tell, when some one has spent the time, and effort, and many, many hours in the practice shed.

Practice is an absolute must, if you want to be a successful musician.
There is no way around it.
I cant tell you just how many thousands of hours I put into practicing, not because I was made to,…but, because I loved it.

I went through high school, and attended Berklee College of Music, in Boston,…in the pursuit of a career in music.
It was while I attended Berklee that I discovered the princible of getting payed for practice.

I remember being dirt poor, as most musicians were at that time, having no food, no job, not knowing what to do.
So…I called my cousin, who lived about 40 minutes outside Boston at that time, and asking her if she could bring me some food, and money.
She said,…”you had better take your horn, and go out on the street and play somewhere”!
I was completely shocked!…I could not believe she said that to me!…How could she?
I said,…”Are you Kidding”?
You cant be serious?
She said,…Yes, I am,…I hear musicians playing every day, and I know that you can do just as well, if not better than a lot of them.
That moment right there, was a turning point in my life.

So, I did what she suggested,…I found a spot that I thought was acceptable, took my sax, and set out to make some money.
I realized very quickly that there was more to this street playing than just dropping on a spot, and just making some noise.
First: I didn’t have a clue on what to play,…What did people actually like to hear?
So, the first time I did this, I just played scales.
Can you believe that?…I played scales!
I made about $20, just playing scales!
I couldn’t believe it!…I just could not believe it.
Out of all the songs that I knew, the only thing I could think of to play were scales.

One thing lead to another, and I learned to pick, and choose the songs that people liked to hear.
I also learned that being a single line instrument took a lot of work.
It is very hard to play by yourself, without chords, and have people understand what song you are playing.
So, I started to invest in play-a-longs to help me build a song list by which to continue this new found source of income.
I would get a new play-a-long as my finances permitted, and build my song list, which in turn put more money in my pocket.

It wasn’t until later that I got an idea from this guy that used to play his guitar while roller skating up and down Boylston street with a battery powered amplifier strapped to his back.
I thought,…Boy, it would be great if I could get a battery powered amp like that,… and play all of those play-a-longs, That I have acumulated, through it while I am out playing.
So, that’s what I did.
As soon as money permitted,…I bought a battery powered amp,…a Peavey KB15, got a cassette player,…and proceeded to play with my new play-a-long band.
You know what!…It worked!…It really worked!

Not only was it better playing,…people really liked it!
I could last longer,…and I made more money!…A Lot More Money.
There were many benefits that I had not considered.

1. I made money 2. I got more gigs 3. I made a name for myself 4. It made my chopps a lot stronger 5. I met other musicians to play with 6. It was steady work, at my own hours 7. It has lasted a lifetime, even to today

I was literally getting paid for practicing!
So,…if you are a solo musician, and you live in a major city, or even a small town,…consider this example.
Take advantage of every opportunity to further your musical career.
there are many ways to make a living as a musician if you look for it.
Check around in your area,…look for places were you can play,…you will be surprised at the response you get when you do things right.

This followed me through my whole career.
I have played all over the world,…in all kinds of venues,…in all styles of music,…in all kinds of bands, and orchestras.
I have not regretted that very first time I set out to play on the street in that place called, “The Bean Town”, Boston”.

Patrick is a blind, jazz saxophonist. His intense, improvive style of playing is both soothing, and captivating to the listener. Patrick is producing some of the best sounding jazz on the market today.

http://www.cursebustersound.com

I’m a native. A California native. Worse, I’m a Los Angeles native. Born, raised, and most likely will die here. I reek of surfer inflection in my English, of West Coast fashion, gait, brazenness, and rebellious long hair. I grew up in a musical family, recording in LA studios, with LA musicians from the time I was twelve. Tragic.

I know AFM rules like my social security number, how to balance string player eccentricities with trumpet player pride, and I definitely know when an orchestra has lost respect for me. In LA, it happens after your first mistake. Thus, one day, like a frightened fish drowning in a bowl of apple juice, I found myself conducting a recording session in London, England, and my usual LA intuition had to be scrapped. Apparently, my session coincided with both a John Williams and a Jerry Goldsmith session…all in London. I’m not sure how but, I still got the cream of the London Philharmonic crop. The players smelled my California aroma immediately upon arrival. These were the very players that had performed some of my favorite scores. Feelings of inadequacy permeated me as I took the stand and was announced by the contractor. The players applauded! I realized that it was a British custom, but my heart didn’t care.

They paid me respect, and now I could conquer Everest. As we recorded, there were several orchestration problems that I had to deal with on the stand to my great dismay. After the second “conductor” mistake, I figured I’d lost that respect. Not so. They encouraged me on with winks and smiles even though they had every right to ridicule me. On one particular cue, the poor first trumpet player had to hit high “E”s over and over while the violins were playing sixteenth notes. Unfortunately, the violins kept blowing it, and because of the setup of the studio, we couldn’t overdub. Had we been in LA, by the third take, the lead trumpet player would have bounded into the violin section and bent his “C” trumpet around the concertmaster’s neck.

Rightfully so. But on our fourth and final take in London, not only did the brass section perform perfectly, they never complained. Even though it was causing the brass a good deal of pain, their respect for the music and their peers allowed the violinists to do their unencumbered best and eventually nail the part.

It has been said that to make an atmosphere of creativity, one must first make an atmosphere of respect. I have to agree. Now, I’ve been told that what happened that day was completely atypical of a London session. Perhaps so. It was a bit idyllic, and I’m a bit naive. But I have to wonder how much more enjoyable the human experience would be if we showed a little more respect in our everyday LA sessions.

Mark Edward Lewis is an award winning Hollywood director of commercials, films and television. He has also written music for films and television for the last 18 years. Mark’s mission is to move millions of people throughout the world into living the life they love. Media is his main outlet for this. However, bringing the genders together in peace and powerful communication is his means. Mark is also a regularly requested lecturer on the topic of relationships, dating, and treating chronic illnesses through a breakthrough technology called quantum techniques (http://www.quantumtechniques.com)

If you are interested in more articles, especially around powerful communication and partnership between the genders, Horray! This is Mark’s specialty. Go to his website and get your free “5 Steps to Having the Perfect Date” e-zine and start living the life you love now!

http://www.lemmediaproductions.com/5steps/index.html

This topic is sure to raise many eyebrows. If anyone has seen the movie “Sister Act 2″, you would have paid attention to what Whoopi Goldberg says to a teenager when it comes to music and singing. She said “When you wake up in the morning and can think of nothing else but singing, you should be a singer”. For those of you who live, breathe and eat music, this is an article for you. This topic lists 10 essential tips on how to make a living with music. I’m sure many of you would like to take up music professionally. From what I’ve seen, this list contains tips followed by professional and famous musicians who have made money and fame up to their ears. This will give you an insight of what you are really made of in this totally unpredictable industry.

1) You should get people who love music to become lovers of your music

We are living in an age where anyone and everyone can and does make their own music. Ok…maybe you have composed a couple of songs, but is that enough to impress big time recording companies? Your music must stand out as a creative, unique and dynamic piece. Be prepared to try out your music in front of people who love music and prove to the industry that ordinary people in your locality or city love your music. You can give away samples of your music in street corners, live gatherings and public meeting places. But make sure that you include all your personal information on your CD covers. You can even upload your songs on social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and Orkut. This is a sure fire way to know if people dig your music.

2) Perform live often and don’t worry if you’re not paid at first

There is always a difference between an artist who plays for money and an artist who is in it for the music. The dedicated musician will never pass up an opportunity to play live in places where he gets the slightest opportunity. Only a greedy artist will whine about making money wherever he or she plays. You can never make money in just a few years time in this industry. If you have any thoughts like that, just “erase” it from your mind. It will only lead to regret and disappointment. You have to take the initiative and be prepared to perform in schools, festivals, church groups, meetings, fairs and charities. Try to organize jam sessions in your local club or look for places and venues where people will welcome you. If you get an opportunity, play, play and continue playing. That’s what real musicians will do.

3) Know your instruments inside-out

Always take care to analyze and rectify your instrument. We won’t like it if something goes wrong with the keyboard or guitar when performing live in front of an audience. That’s asking for a major turn off and loads of embarrassment. So get in tune with your instrument and let it become an extension of your hand. Take lessons, listen to your favorite songs and pay attention to your timing and rhythm. This will make you “stand out” from the rest and you might find yourself a new “sound”. Record Labels love to hear innovative new “sounds”, so be prepared to practice till you drop!

4) Protect your Investment and register your songs as Copyright

Never be stingy to spend a little of your money for registering your songs with a Copyright Office. When an Inventor comes up with a new product, he will file for a patent on his invention. The same method should be followed for any aspiring and serious songwriter. If you really believe in your capability of composing original and unique songs, take time to learn the importance of Copyrighting. This is an essential task so go to www.copyright.gov today and register and don’t wait or take too long to carry out this simple task.

5) Design and Write your promotional materials

This involves writing various materials like biography, cover letters, fact sheets, quote sheets etc. This will help musicians, promote their careers and contribute them in getting good offers from recording labels. So take time to design and write your promotional materials in a way that will attract all top executives in the music industry. Take the time to make an inventory on all your accomplishments, awards, training, positive reviews, sales and live appearances. Send your materials to the right people and don’t include any “generic” kits.

6) Know your Labels and Music publishers you are signed to

When you’re applying for a job in a company, you will want to know their reputation in the industry as well as their stability in the field. These are the things you should look for when you’re signing with a recording label. Always check what they are offering you in regard to publicity, money and contribution towards your kind of music. They should be easily approachable as people and it’s imperative that you make the right decision when choosing the right music publisher or executive. This decision will decide your future prospects in the industry, whether it will make or break your career.

7) Hire an Attorney

The music industry is a business and it’s important to hire an entertainment law attorney to guide you through the process of making a deal with a recording label. The Attorney will take all the responsibility in negotiating with the record label in regard to signing of contracts and agreeing to the terms and conditions put forth by them. The musician is never present during the actual negotiations. The musician’s attorney and the music company’s attorney will talk and negotiate over the phone, in person or fax their offers and counter-offers amongst themselves. A reputed, respected and ethical law attorney is needed for carrying out business transactions for any serious musician in this kind of industry.

Choose a Personal Manager

If the band or artist is well established in the music industry, the daily tasks of doing the business takes up too much time and in order to ensure the smooth running of your career, you need a good reputed personal manager. However you can hire a manager only when you start generating a steady income. Making money as a personal manager is no easy task and many bands fail to realize that money can be generated from their music only through years and years of slogging and dedication. Well-connected and respected managers get a percentage over a particular period. On no account must you part with your money unless the manager does some “real” work. Cheats are around who pose as “so-called managers” so be warned. A manager’s responsibility is to secure recording and publishing contracts for their clients. That is why it’s important to choose the right person for the job.

9) Don’t take advice from anyone and everyone

It’s not good to take advice from someone who doesn’t know a thing about the music industry. They may mean well, but if things go wrong, only you’ll be the sufferer. It’s essential to take advice from people who have made themselves known in the industry by good standards. So if you know someone who knows what they are talking about, be receptive and learn from them. Choose wisely and carefully.

10) Educate yourself

Don’t be naïve when it comes to making a deal with a recording label. You will only be a menace to yourself. I don’t mean to sound rude, but that’s the name of the game. There is a lot of exploitation going on in this industry so be aware of the risks involved. Don’t get ripped off by some sleaze ball who sounds too good to be true. Always do some research before sticking your neck in. It’s no use crying over spilt milk as the saying goes. Consult legal advisors and read a lot of books on the business of music. Attend seminars and workshops and make a commitment to educate yourself. This is the most important tip I can give to ensure a successful musical journey. Please spend time and money on this issue. This will protect your future forever.

Samritha Subhash
Writer
http://www.mediaarrow.com

How many times have you hunted every music shop in the vicinity for a particular song that you just cannot seem to get out of your head? Every music lover can identify this situation as a part and parcel of his daily life. However, the internet is all set to change the scenario. The advent of a host of music related websites and the emergence of free music has brought about a revolution in the world of music. Now gone are the days when a student would save a considerable chunk of his pocket money to buy an album by his favorite artiste. All he needs to do now is surf the World Wide Web for websites offering his kind of music and just the click of a mouse can download his favorite track onto his computer, absolutely free of cost.

Many music lovers may harbor the notion that any music that is freely available will definitely not have a good sound quality and worse, the track may even be incomplete or just a promotional offer. It’s time to shed these misconceptions and log onto the virtual world where music is big business. Numerous sites offering free music spread across diverse genres will flood your senses. An elusive musical number from yesteryears may be hard to find in a music store. The internet offers the option of not only downloading the free music but also the lyrics and chords, in case you want to strum the guitar while crooning with your favorite artiste. Easily available in MP3 format, free music is all set to rock the music world.

A huge collection consisting of all songs by their favorite artiste is ‘a dream come true’ for any music enthusiast. Free music on the internet has made this a reality. You can easily surf the web for sites offering your kind of music and not only do you get every information on the artiste, the albums, other albums in this genre but you also have the option of exploring other genres. You can also download any number of songs according to the storage facility in your computer and the download speed of your internet connection. A speedy broadband connection helps you take the maximum advantage of the free music that is so easily available.

Free music that is available on the net is mostly uploaded by fellow music lovers from their cd. It promotes the concept of expanding the music lover’s community by sharing your collection with like-minded individuals. This trend is very positive for widening the circle of music lover’s across the world. As this free music is made available on the websites with the objective of sharing it with as many people as possible, a music enthusiast should have no guilt about downloading such music free of cost. However, the internet like any other place is prone to tricksters and frauds and it is always advisable to be sure about the website from where you are downloading your music to ensure good quality of the tracks. Any popular website though, will ensure that you get the best quality sound whenever you opt to download free music from their sites. So go ahead and add your favorite songs to your music collection, all thanks to free music.

Tom Janison is a music fanatic. He loves downloading music of all his favorite artists. http://www.ez-tracks.com is one of his favorites sites for Free Music, Glamorous by Fergie, Love songs, Nickelback, Akon and other songs.

Music can be found anywhere, whether in the flowing water, bustling of trees, knock at the door and even in the waves of the ocean. Music can be created but it’s difficult to destroy it. Music doesn’t know any boundaries and everyone on this earth can connect to music in some way or the other. Many studies have been done to find the affect of music on plants, pets and humans also. The effect of music is not subtle but can be easily seen almost instantly. Music has been used to cure people either by enhancing existing emotions or many be changing the basic nature of a person. It is used for increasing productivity, decreasing anxiety and many other functions that it performs which go unnoticed most of the time.

Choosing music on your taste can be boring, try something new like choosing music on by thinking what you have to accomplish and how will you do it. If you choose music on this criterion, you would definitely feel the difference and will be benefited by the power of music. If you wish to do some work which requires active participation or something that consumes lot of mental energy, listen to music which is fast paced and more upbeat. Don’t go for heavy metal or music with heavy beats as it will increase the productivity but will also increase the level of adrenaline and stress making it tough to accomplish a task.

If you are working in stressful conditions where physical work is not required and more of concentration is required in the work, listen to music like jazz, something soft and soothing. Once choice of music is done, you have to look for music from various sources. Since ages, people have been working on ways to disseminate music among people. People have been struggling with the ways on how to make available all varieties of music to every one so that every individual has something to hear. Earlier, portable written form of music was introduced so that orchestras and individuals can play it. Magnetic tapes and Vinyl records were introduced so that it is available to the masses.

But today compact discs are far better than earlier music storage devices. Magnetic tapes and vinyl records were subjected to mold, mildew, scratching and breakage but CDs are free from all these factors. One needs not to be too careful while handling CDs. Internet has also changed the way we used to listen to music and when combined with Mp3s, iPods and CDs can make any piece of music. Internet has made music available to every one and now a music maker doesn’t have to worry about his market, whole world is his new market.

Downloading music from internet is easy and less time consuming. You can download music, video clips, concert recordings, and even lyrics. Advantages of downloading music from internet are many like its free, good quality, large collection, MP3s and iPods compatible and compatible with every operating system. Choose the right music and see how it works wonder for you with its magical powers.

Is Something Lacking In Our Musical Performers?

There seems to be a gap in the musical industry at this time. It seems that only the most extremes of music have survived this very fickle industry.
For example, if you turn the radio on, what you’ll hear are extremes and styles of music. On one station you’ll hear just talk. On another station you’ll hear rapping, with words of violent underscores. On another station you’ll hear classical music. On another station you’ll hear someone singing about whiskey and forgetting their pain. On yet another station you’ll hear what’s left of what we used to call, “pop music.”

The change in pop music, and what may be lacking, is what I would like to address at this time. It seems there used to be a larger variety of pop music available when listening to pop music stations. However, at this time it has decreased to a narrow amount where one singer sounds like much like the last singer. There is not many songs available to hear of Celine Dion. One’s singer that has managed to stay on top consistently is Christina Aguilera.

One could not argue with the fact that twenty years ago popular music was much different than today. And I’m not sure it could be argued that it is getting better all the time. Just about ten years ago Elton John had hit songs from the movie The Lion King, Celine Dion had a hit song from the movie Titanic.

The eighties and nineties had many hit songs from movies, including CaddyShack, Officer and a Gentleman, Dirty Dancing, Good Morning Vietnam, Moonstruck, and La Bamba. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that there are not many hit songs or hit song soundtracks from popular movies these days. Hollywood has attempted to do this but has not reached the peak it once achieved.

Going back farther in time, one could trace pop music back to the roots of rock-and-roll itself. Elvis Presley carved out a whole new trend in music. The Beatles followed with great songs and performances that changed the music world. The Beatles seemed to go through several stages and reflected it in their music.

When the Beatles first came to America, they recorded songs of love with lollipop lyrics. Following this, they let their hair grow out, and recorded music with more convoluted meaning, which seemed to question the rulers and authority of the times. When the Beatles finally broke up, brand-new music trends evolved with the music of Paul McCartney and Wings, and John Lennon’s solo work.

Elvis started out as the Hillbilly Cat, recording for Sun Records. His Southern drawl was very prominent and his hair was a dirty blond color. Then he entered into the era where he died his hair black, completed a stint in the Army and had a whole new career in movies. This was the “movie Elvis.” Then, Elvis entered into his musical comeback phase. He recorded music and performed live in Las Vegas during this time. The final stage was his jump suit stage, sometimes called the last days of Elvis Presley. This was the time during which, although he still sounded good vocally, he appeared overweight and bloated.

Let’s change styles right now in music and turn to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin were part of the Rat Pack. They performed in Las Vegas, recorded records, and made several movies. Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra certainly reflected unique talent, good voices, and wonderful music that we have to enjoy.

However, who is the next big talent we follow with a fine-tooth comb, from beginning to end? Who is the next Elvis Presley, Beatles, Dean Martin, or Frank Sinatra?

There is certainly a gap in popular music today. Sure, you can find many popular artists with popular songs. However, they all lack that certain uniqueness in caliber of performers of days passed. Maybe it’s a lack of charisma. Maybe it’s the lack of mystery. I don’t know.

However, shows like American Idol are certainly trying to recapture that with what they are doing. American Idol is trying to discover talent that could be turned into another Elvis Presley or someone who will change music and be remembered forever.

Although they have discovered many unique and great talents, if you ask Simon Cowell or Randy Jackson, I believe they would tell you they have not found talent that has achieved what they originally intended.

Yes, they have found great talent. The talent they have discovered certainly lacks nothing on the vocal side of things. However, perhaps it is something in the personality of the performer that’s missing that has not launched them to the status of Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Dean Martin, Jim Morrison, or Kurt Cobain.

Perhaps it is something these legendary artists possessed that was mysterious and unknown to us. There is definitely something missing. American Idol, along with many other music labels, are certainly still looking for someone to turn the music industry upside down.

I don’t know, perhaps that won’t ever happen again.

Perhaps the performers that managed to change music forever, like Elvis, the Beatles, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, are of our history and days past. I hope not.

Jonathon Bates is a reporter and researcher of past myths and legends of Rock and Roll, and publisher for various news programs and publications. His weekly column can be read at http://www.searchforelvis.com.