BMO´s Articles

Music Software – the new buzzword in the music world, which makes most of us experts in the field. Whether you are a professional, a student or simply pursuing a hobby in music, you are bound to feel enamored by the enormous potential of music software. It allows you to create your own album and songs with that extra zing and class. With music software, you can download, copy, edit, mix and match music to play it to perfection. This will make you so special in the eyes of your sweet heart. What else you can aspire for?

Internet has come as a boon for all music lovers who want to enjoy nice music at a fraction of otherwise exorbitant costs of CDs and albums. By downloading music software, you can create your own private album. In fact a large number of websites offer free music software, which is quite handy for beginners. So the old adage that ‘there are no free lunches in the world’ does not apply – at least not to the music world.

Music software allows even amateur music buffs like us to experiment and create our own music. You can add effects, waves, echoes and reverberations to the music. All this makes your music more peppy and adds a feeling of freshness to it.

Let us begin with the minimum requirements for making a start. You need a PC with 1 GB RAM (though lower end versions such as 256 MB RAM are also fine to begin with) and 80 GB hard disk (If you have less, never mind- you can add it later on). Your processor speed should ideally be 3.8GHz or more. This will allow you to work seamlessly across software and give you that extra power and speed to work on your music.

You also need to have an internet connection to download music software and other stuff. Broadband connectivity is great and is now affordable. With broadband, the speed of your download increases and you can ride the music mania.

Music software helps you in setting up and jazzing up instrument sounds, editing and converting music from one format to other such as WAV, MP3, WMA, OGG, CDA, VQF, AAC etc. You can add a good sound card which will have a great effect on quality and modulation. Music software also helps you in ripping music whereby you can copy audio files from CDs to your PCs and then work on it. As you learn the basic tricks, you may go in for other software such as MIDI converter, controller and sequencer, Jukebox, MOD trackers, software synthesizers, patch editors, multi-track recording software and samplers.

Computer aided composition music software also takes you to a different world altogether. It is an intelligent software which helps you in composing, creating arrangements, giving notations and structures to your music. It also gives that extra jazz to your music and makes it more professional.

Music software has made it possible for us to be on our own. No wonder you are seeing people getting more and more professional in the field and creating waves with their wonderful and aesthetic performances. You too can join the bandwagon. It is simple and does not cost much. Let us begin with a small exercise. Just browse the internet and download music and your favorite songs. Create an album and gift it to your dream date. Then sit back and enjoy the positive spin offs that your crooning brings!

The author loves making music. You can now set up a home recording studio easily and use to make your own music. Digital music recording is now very simple with the use of many available software. Learn terminologies through an online music dictionary before you start.

Music is major part of our everyday life. Music also has a long, complex and captivating history. It may predate language, and most certainly predates the written word. It is found in every known human culture, both past and present, varying wildly between certain periods and locations on the globe. The music of every culture is influenced by all other aspect of that culture, such as social and economic organization, climate, and access to technology.

The development of human music occurred against the backdrop of natural sounds like the lapping of ocean waves, the rippling of river water, the singing of birds and sounds created by other animals. Prehistoric music, more commonly referred to as primitive music, is the name given to all music produced by preliterate cultures, beginning somewhere in very late geological history.

The prehistoric period is considered to have ended with the creation of writing, and with it, by definition, prehistoric music. “Ancient music” is the term given to the music that followed. This music was produced by various early cultures, particularly Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Mesopotamians and citizens of the Muslim world, as well as Asiatic cultures.

Following ancient music, came “early” music which is a very general term referring to music in the European classical tradition from the fall of the Roman Empire in 476, until the end of the Baroque period in the 18th Century. Music within this enormous time span was extremely diverse, encompassing multiple cultural traditions throughout a wide geographic region. What unified these many cultures in the Middle Ages was the Roman Catholic Church, and its music served as a focal point for music development for the first centuries of this period.

The Medieval period (from the 9th to the 14th Centuries) was rich in musical history as attested by the artistic renditions of instruments, writings about music, and other historical references. The only collection of music which has survived from pre-900 AD to the present is the liturgical music of the Catholic Church, the largest part of which is called the Gregorian chants.

Renaissance music followed the medieval era, but the beginning of Renaissance music is not as clearly marked as the start of the Renaissance in the other arts, and began, not in Italy, but in northern Europe specifically central France, the Netherlands, and Belgium. The invention of the printing press had an immense influence on the dissemination of musical styles and by the 15th century, composers and singers from these Low Countries begin to spread over all of Europe.

Baroque music became quite popular after 1600, and instrumental music became dominant. Although strong religious musical traditions continued, secular music came to the forefront with the development of the sonata, the concerto and concerto grosso. In Baroque music the keyboard, particularly the harpsichord, is the dominant instrument. The three most outstanding composers of this period are J.S. Bach, G. F. Handel and A. Vivaldi.

The early Classical period was ushered in by the Mannheim School which exerted a profound influence on Joseph Haydn, and through him, on nearly all subsequent European music. Wolfgang Mozart was the central figure of this period and his phenomenal and varied output defines our perception of the Classical era.

Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert were transitional composers who led Europe into the Romantic period with their expansion of the existing genres, forms and even uses of music. During this Romantic period, music became more expressive and emotional. By the late 19th century, there was a dramatic expansion in the size of the orchestras, and in the role of concerts as part of a rapidly growing urban society. Strauss, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Verdi and Wagner comprised a powerful group of Romantic composers. A prominent feature of late 19th century music is its nationalistic fervor, as exemplified by figures like Dvorak, and Sibelius.

The 20th Century saw a music revolution as radio gained popularity worldwide and new media and technologies were created to record, capture, reproduce and distribute music. Because music was no longer limited to concert halls and clubs, it became possible for music artists to gain fame and fortune quite quickly.

And music became more mobile with the use of headphones, CD players, and iPods. Music of the 20th Century brought a new freedom and wide experimentation with styles and forms that challenged the accepted rules of earlier musical periods. Heavy metal music and rap entered the picture and joined hip-hop, jazz, country/western, ballads, folk, acid rock, Christian rock and a variety of other genres to create today’s fascinating world of music.

For a music store filled with constructive, informative and useful information about all genres of music, please visit http://www.MusicJaunt.com

By J. Larry Denton

Many pass over the thought of themselves actually working in the industry due to the common mindset… “if one has talent they have a chance in music.” If one wants weekly (or bi-weekly) pay with benefits one seeks a normal job in the 9-5 workforce. This is simply false. Most people love music to some extent. Those that are paying attention to their future and careers know or at least wish they can be involved with something they love.

Many will admit they believe they don’t have what it takes to make it in the music industry and some will admit they don’t have a desire to be a musical artist. But many will also admit they need a job, and for longevity’s sake will admit they need a career they love. They love music and need career involvement in something they love.

Well… it just so happens that the music industry employs millions all around the world in positions that are not directly artist related or even behind the scenes artist related. The fact is there are over 120 different careers with lucrative futures in the music industry. Now multiply that by the thousands of record labels, advertising agencies, law firms, and so on all over the globe. These careers range from secretaries all the way up to C.E.O.’s of major music corporations. Do you like manual labor, advertising, practicing law, or preparing clothes? If so the music industry has something for you and so much more!

The music industry has involvement in almost every facet of our everyday lives. The music industry alone is responsible for offering some of the most exciting careers known to mankind. These careers are no harder to find than any other types of job as long as you’re willing to look. Yes, of course some jobs require training and hard work and some don’t. But that’s nothing someone seeking a career wouldn’t find even if they were applying for a job at the local telephone company or the like. But! How many people really LOVE their jobs at the telephone company? Or rather how many people love their telephone company job when they can be doing the same thing in the music industry while waving to one of their favorite music artists as they walk down the record label’s hallway for a 2:00 pm appointment with the record executives?

You don’t have to settle anymore with the thought of just getting by in your 9-5 job that you either don’t think much about or that you even hate. You should be searching and conquering a job/career in an arena you can identify with. It doesn’t have to be in music but it should be in you! If you do identify with the music industry, remember there aren’t only 25 music careers. There are as many as you need to be happy.

Dave Weston is a music industry entrepreneur, song writer and music artist affiliate. He is also the author of the Insider Music Careers Guide. You can learn more about music industry careers at http://www.music-career-guide.com

Christmas Music Din

Does the din of Christmas Music,Carols and Jingle Bells in public places create a pressure wave that threatens to engulf you and make you feel as if you’ll explode?

Beating a hasty retreat is often the only answer! Just get away from that noise!

Instead, just imagine opening a secret door and the gentle fragrant honeyed sound of New Christmas Carol music floats through and over you, creating quiet, calm tranquillity in your spirit.

Time for Reflection

Spirit renewal. So much needed today. Time for reflection.

Creating the atmosphere for peace helps to heal and soothe.

MUSIC can M ake U S I C

Or

MUSIC can M ake U S atisfied, I nspired, C omforted.

Music bypasses the thinking processes of the brain and causes automatic emotional responses.

We don’t have a choice in how we respond emotionally to the music. We respond with the default emotion set by the composers and performers.

But we can choose the type of music that saturates our atmosphere.

Time for reflection. Opening Doors.

I was lying awake in India just before Christmas 2007, shivering not from cold, but from eerie music composed by the strange night noises and jackals as they howled mournfully outside our secure walls.

The spine tingling sounds merged with pictures etched permanently in my mind of many blind children at the orphanage we were visiting.

• We “saw” their needs.
• They “saw” darkness,but surprised us with their clear hopeful vision of new life. With food, shelter, loving care and education.
• We saw the skill of even the young ones writing Brailleas fast as their hands could go – on newspaper!

Old Newspaper was free. No matter that they couldn’t see because sensitive fingers searched out the bumps and hollows and “saw” the Braille writing.Writing that opens doors of opportunity. Doors that opened wide to vistas almost beyond their comprehension.

In the blackness that night our young son whispered, “It’s a bit scary isnt it?” His sensitive hands running over my goose bumps!

And we sensed the opening of doors as yet beyond our comprehension.

Back in Australia we allowed the memories to smoulder. It seemed too distressing to let the fires flare.

A New Idea – A Christmas Music Gift

But when Christmas Music started sounding in our ears in 2008, we had an idea.

An idea that quickly ignited our passions and burst into action.

“Yes, got it. Hmmmm, so our 10 year old boy has a gift. A Musical gift. Why not prepare a Christmas Music Gift?”

Our ideas flew back and forth as we boarded the plane to fly to the Gold Coast to record his album – his Christmas Music Gift that would help open new doors for his young blind Indian friends.

His First Album

And now it’s been done. Produced. Professionally. His very first album.

Peaceful, melodious Cello Christmas Music played with the sweet innocence and beauty of a gifted child. And now it is making a difference in the daily lives of precious needy blind children.

Valuable Lessons – Effort and Residual Income

Our young entrepreneur has learned some valuable lessons through the process of turning an idea into reality and then into money and then into making a tangible real difference for blind kids.

• He learned that in order to make money one needs to have something valuable to market.

• He learned that it takes lots of hard work and determination to finish a job once started. Practicing even when he didn’t feel like it. Patiently enduring endless repeats as the cameraman wanted yet one more run through to get shots at just the right angle.

• He learned that once he stepped out from under the lights and his part of the job was done. Forever done. And once the sound studio man and cameraman had done their jobs, it was completely done.

• He learned that every single year after he would be able to market that very same product – his Christmas Music Gift for those kids, without any further effort! Providing true residual income.

Busking – Giving and ReceivingHe wanted to raise even more money! To provide delicious fruit to break the monotony of rice and dahl for the blind children who needed better nutrition.

Busking with his mellow toned golden cello as people hurried by searching for the perfect Christmas gifts, gave many passers by an opportunity to give and to receive.

To give money and to receive the priceless gift of a little space of innocence and tranquillity. A few moments of calm in the midst of the rush and bustle of hectic Christmas shoppers.

And this taught him more priceless lessons.

• That trading time for money is a good thing. But not the best thing. Because when time and energy runs out, so does the money! He couldn’t play endlessly!
• He learned by experience one effective key to doing things of significance in this world. Develop income that pays over and over for work done well once! True residual income.
• That music is a tool that when effectively sharpened, blesses others.

Christmas – Time for Gifts from the HeartA time for giving Christmas MusicGifts that reflect the heart of the giver.

What Is Stage Fright?

Like you, or I doubt that you’d be reading this article, I suffer from stage fright, performance anxiety, singing nerves and public performance nerves. In fact, we are not alone, most people do! It’s a natural state of mind and comes from the fear and flight reaction that is built into each and every one of us.

There do appear to be people who relish the chance to stand up and show off regardless of how good a performance they will give, and this is really the key to understanding stage fright. The point is, they don’t care, they’re not getting paid, no one will die and quite often they will win some friends by just having the nerve to give it a go. People respond to failure just as much as they do to success.

How To Deal With Stage Fright

In the days & hours leading up to a gig or performance, feelings begin to grow and it is like a two-headed monster. On the one hand you may be looking forward to the night and your ‘positive head’ may be telling you that it’s a good thing and your going to enjoy it. But then the ‘negative head’ butts in and tells you it’s going to go wrong, you’re going to forget your words, you’re going to sing out of tune, or dry up completely and everyone is going to laugh at you and remember the day you made a fool of yourself FOREVER!

One of the ways I used to deal with the situation was to drink alcohol. A bad move and NOT the way to cope with nerves because if there is going to be one thing that will make you mess up your lines it’s being drunk! Ok I may still have the odd drink whilst on stage, but it’s not used as a crutch to lose my nerves. I actually have learned to control my nerves and use them to my advantage and I now enjoy being the centre of attention for a few hours, and hopefully the audience enjoys me being there.

Nerves are actually a good thing, if used correctly and it’s possibly part of the reason we perform. There is nothing better than turning the fear of failure turned into a big success.

The secret is to learn how to not take it too seriously and to remain calm and in control of the situation and most importantly if you enjoy yourself…then so will your audience.

I use some simple hypnosis techniques to help with controlling my nerves, and whether you’re doing your first ever gig, a best man’s speech, acting or Karaoke you can also benefit greatly.

Learn more about dealing with nerves using simple hypnosis: How to deal with stage fright