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Archive for January, 2012

The days of needing a room full of expensive hardware to make great music are long gone, and for the beginner a home PC or MAC is the perfect platform for making music. While optimising your computer specifically for making music is beyond the scope of this article there are plenty of tutorials out there on the net such as this guide to Windows XP audio from our favourite magazine Computer Music .You’ll also need a USB MIDI keyboard to trigger samples and play note data into your computer. You may already have a MIDI compatible keyboard at home, many digital piano’s have MIDI output sockets, in which case all you’ll need is a USB MIDI interface for your computer to connect them together. Our figure below shows an Alesis USB controller keyboard and an M-Audio USB MIDI interface, with 5 pin MIDI sockets visible.One of the first choices you’ll need to make is your music sequencer software. Music sequencer programs host virtual instruments and effects, record and play back note data, allow you to edit this data, import other audio sounds from file, and allow you to arrange this data into your musical composition. This program will be the hub of your tune making!There are a few points to consider when choosing a sequencer such as your computer operating system (I.E Windows/ OS X / Linux), the features you’ll need and your budget. Most sequencer software companies will provide ‘lite’ versions of their flagship products which can be updated to the full version later on, these are useful options for beginners who won’t instantly need the most advanced functions. Many USB MIDI keyboards come bundled with these ‘lite’ versions so look out for freebies! There are often demo versions available too, so there’s no need to spend money without making an informed choice. There are of course also shareware and freeware alternatives to the main sequencer brands.The main contenders in the sequencer market are Cubase, Logic, Sonar & Ableton Live. Most sequencers are laid out in a similar fashion: a main window will hold your arrangement in a linear time line with various other windows detailing items like audio mixers and plugins. Our graphic below shows a tune laid out on Apple Logic.Ableton Live provides a more innovative method of producing, where users can build up loops and then arrange them ‘live’ while recording their performance into an editable track. For electronic musicians who want to take their sounds out to a club and perform live this program is now indispensable. The software allows the musician to assign almost any input device (we’ve used a USB game controller to trigger sounds before!) to any on-screen control allowing for limitless performance possibilities.Most sequencer software ships with a suite of built in audio effect plugins and software synthesisers , these will help you generate an manipulate your sounds from inside your sequencer software. Your sequencer will also be able to ‘host’ third party plugins and synths (common formats for these are VST and Audio Unit). check out KVR-VST’s searchable plugin database for information on VST’s as well as links to freeware plugins. You can see REFX Vanguard Below.Audio samples are a staple of making electronic music and you’ll find tons of them both free and commercial on the net. While most sequencers provide basic audio editing facilities you may rapidly out grow them, stand-alone audio editors can provide a much more detailed look at your samples and provide better processing prior to use in your music. Some of the leader sample editors are Audition Soundforge and Peak. There are plenty of freeware and shareware alternatives to these, such as Audacity. Below you can see an audio file loaded into Adobe Audition. We’ve talked a little about samples but how can you use then in your compositions? You can either import (or ‘drag n drop’ in most cases) samples directly into your sequencers arrangement or use a sampler, which will allow you to trigger the sample from your MIDI keyboard. We’re a big fan of the EXS24 sampler that comes with Apple Logic, others include Native Instruments Kontakt and Steinberg Halion. You’ll find some samplers are tailored specifically for triggering drum samples, such as Native Instruments Battery. Below you can see the Simpler plugin from Ableton Live. We love the easy to use functions on this no-nonsense sampler! Check out our Wav sample packs for some sampler fodder!Sampled drum loops are great for getting your drum sound right first off and Recycle! is one of the best (and the original) loop manipulators out there. Recycle! works by detecting the beats or notes of a sampled audio loop and cutting the file into slices based on this. The program then allows you to export these slices into your software sampler or sequencer for editing. Since the loop is now cut up into it’s component slices you’ll be able to re-arrange them in your sequencer – this technique is especially powerful for sampled drums. Our short video below shows us messing around with a sampled 140 BPM drum loop in Recycle! and then exporting it into Logic 8 for editing into a 180 BPM Drum and Bass loop! Hopefully this will have wet your appetite for some music making! Remember there’s a wealth of information both in print magazines such as Future Music and Computer Music as well as on the net. The article database on Sound On Sound is also a goldmine for more experienced users. Remember to check out our other short tutorials for some more information on music technology basics!Mark is a passionate DJ who loves to mix and make tracks with various house loops and electro loops. Mark works for dancemidisamples.com in the UK who sell various DJ Sample packs and MIDI producer packs.

Karaoke Music Is A Great Way To Have Some Fun!

These days it isn’t very difficult to find a karaoke bar. They’ve definitely grown in popularity in the past few years. Karaoke Music is a great way to have some fun!

Karaoke is a form of a Japanese word and means “empty orchestra,” which is rather appropriate don’t you think? Karaoke has been around for more than 20 years now. It all started back in 1984 in Japan and it spread like wildfire around the globe.

Karaoke works by taking the music of a singer and the stripping out the vocals leaving just the music. Then the lyrics are displayed on a screen and a person sings the words using a microphone.

Karaoke has become popular in bars, restaurants, and in the home. It’s a great source of entertainment for anyone who loves music and likes to sing.

In the early days karaoke music was delivered by cassette but the times they are a changing and technology now means new means of delivery which include VCD’s, CD’s, DVD’s and KTV boxes. It’s never been easier to set up your own personal karaoke station to entertain your friends.

It’s popularity continues to grow in North America and you know that we aren’t about to settle for anything other than the best so stereo equipment combined with lighting effects and a real fun atmosphere became the norm in bars and restaurants that offered karaoke events.

And the music choices are endless. Hip hop, dance, rock and roll, pop, jazz, soul, and even hymns are all available. So no matter what type of music you love here’s your chance to give it a try.

If you’ve never been to a karaoke party you don’t know what your missing. Fun with a capital F! Some people are naturals, they grab the mike and the songs just naturally role out. Others have great voices and no practice, others think they can sing but ah hum. And then there are the timid who wouldn’t perform to save their soul. A couple of drinks and suddenly they are boldly singing where no man has gone before. It’s great!

Karaoke is catching on from the very young to the very old. And for the shy and timid who want to be a star behind closed doors, well it’s never been easier. There are also those who want to improve their singing skills. Young kids love to sing their hearts out. Friends love to get together and have some fun.

You need to choose the right karaoke machines to fit your needs and your budget. There are many websites that provide equipment from the very simplest to the most expensive.

A basic karaoke machine has audio input and output. Higher end machines have electronic pitch control to help the singer and music match keys. You can also purchase software that will transform your computer into a karaoke box.

There are also many sights that offer karaoke music to download complete with lyrics. Some of these sites have some great forums too so be sure to check it out!

The next time someone asks you if you want to give karaoke music a try don’t run away. Don’t worry about being the laughing stock of the evening. Remember everyone’s the same – no pros here. What a great way to relax after a busy day at work. And heck who knows you might be the next Elvis or Dolly Parton.

Jazz Guitar Players And Their Music – A Historical Overview

The development of the jazz guitar and jazz guitar music has been marked by a long string of technical and stylistic innovators! In the post World War I era there appeared the revolutionary solo voice of Lonnie Johnson, one of the largely unheralded guitar players of the twentieth century who would go on to further achievement playing the blues. His one time recording buddy, Eddie Lang, performing under the pseudonym Blind Willie Dunn, advanced the cause of chordal accompaniment as well as single note improvised soloing and is credited with bringing the guitar forward as a legitimate musical instrument. Following in the twenties are the notable soloing and chord melody accomplishments of George Van Eps, Dick McDonough, Carl Kress, and Nick Lucas. The thirties produced the wild gypsy guitar genius Django Reinhardt – a virtuoso whose exciting flights of improvised solos, octaves, and aggressive chording would also have far reaching influence.The advent of the first commercially viable amplified guitar in 1936 by Gibson Guitar Company led the way for another genius and the acknowledged forefather of modern jazz guitar music, Charlie Christian. Quickly realizing the expanded soloing potential of the electric guitar, Christian sprung extremely sophisticated horn-like lines on his stunned contemporaries while playing in the Benny Goodman band. Equally important, he was instrumental in the development of bebop in the forties via his participation in after hours jam sessions at Minton’s in Harlem. Like a shooting star, his talent blazed for a brief period between 1939 and 1942 until he died at the tender age of 25. The number of guitarists who fell under Christian’s guitaristic influence is countless and still multiplying with Johnny Smith, Joe Pass, Oscar Moore, Barney Kessel, George Barnes, Les Paul, Tal Farlow, and Herb Ellis being only some of the most prominent.The next stylistic leap occurred in the late fifties when rumors of a fantastic new jazz guitarist, performing in obscurity in Indianapolis, made their way east. Wes Montgomery, using his thumb rather than a guitar pick, was absolutely dazzling in his speed, dexterity, and creativity! He knew the Charlie Christian songbook inside and out, but added his own extraordinary octave technique and bop blues sensibility to a style that became the benchmark for virtually all other jazz guitarists. Tired of playing longs hours for short pay in the jazz clubs, Montgomery took a turn towards easy listening arrangements of pop tunes in the mid-sixties, to the consternation of jazz purists, and died too young at the age of 44 in 1968.Concurrent with Montgomery’s rise in the sixties was the sighting of yet another young man gobbling up acres of guitar fingerboard. Combining the best of Charlie Christian and Wes Montgomery, George Benson was literally playing his way out of R&B bands on his way to becoming even bigger and more popular than his predecessors. With superior chops and the longevity to let them develop and mature, he is arguably the most famous jazz guitarist of all time as well as one of the greatest and continues to dazzle guitarists and audiences alike with his incredible guitar playing!

Itunes And Other Music Services – Why You Should Promote

Your music is an extension of who you are, an intimate expression of self that you wish to share with other people. If you want to make a full time living out of your passion, then you should be looking at multiple avenues of distribution. One of the oldest ways to build an audience, and still one of the most effective, is to play live shows. This is something that any serious artist or band should always include in their efforts to find and build an audience. However, the World Wide Web has offered a variety of new possibilities for musicians from all walks of life. No longer do you have to stay confined to local areas when you can release your music on an unsuspecting world at one time.

Services such as iTunes are integral to the musician’s journey toward acceptance. Since many music lovers browse the iTunes Store each day with a desire to discover the next big act, getting listed and promoted through Apple’s premier service is vital to making a career of things. While you will have to split your earnings with the service-current distribution is around 30 percent to Apple and the rest to you-the ability to reach tens of millions of users is a fair tradeoff.

In addition to iTunes, another key service that you should not overlook for reaching the public is Amazon. This online retailer has long been an advocate for the independent artist. Instead of chiming in with the gatekeepers that work to exclude new talent from being discovered, Amazon has made it possible to take out the middle man, allowing new acts to convene with their fans through instant downloads and CD sales in much the same manner as iTunes.

Yet another channel you shouldn’t neglect is that of Internet radio. Services such as last.fm and Pandora serve both established artists and up and comers by creating “channels” where listeners can discover new music that appeals to their existing tastes. In addition to Internet radio, you should consider being “seen” on the Net. Sites like YouTube are very popular for music. Millions of users visit there each day to view the latest music videos. Invest in creating one of your own. Be creative. Be compelling. Don’t rule out funny. And accompany your video with great music. All it takes is one video going viral to build a following.

However you decide to spread the word about your music, you need to realize that services like iTunes, Amazon, Internet Radio, and YouTube are merely tools. Real success still depends on good old fashioned elbow grease and determination. So when you are ready to give your music the chance it deserves, use these success ensuring tools every step of the way.

Billy Rock is a top professional in mastering music services. Billy also helps with iTunes promotion to help you gain maximum exposure.

I’ve been looking for good music on MySpace for a long time and I must say that it’s been a challenge finding it among the “top artists” in the Music area of the MySpace website. In fact, most of the music I find among the “top artists” on MySpace seems to be more an indication of the lack of taste among most people rather than an indication of actual good music being made.

At the Music By Day music blog, my colleagues and I have written reviews about a good deal of “MySpace bands.” Unfortunately most of those reviews have necessarily had to be negative due to the horrendous music made by most of these bands. Yes, most of our reviews have been about the “top artists” on the site (those are the artists or bands with the most listeners) so you would assume there would be some quality there, but that assumption would be incorrect.

Among the awful bands we’ve reviewed have been Hollywood Undead, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Mindless Self Indulgence, Lies UnKnown, and Five Times August. These bands are not merely bad, they are awful. This is the kind of music that the kids who listen to this stuff will be ashamed to say they liked in a few years time.

So the question remains, is there any good music among the “top artists” on MySpace? And this situation also begs the question “why do people have such awful taste?”

Let’s tackle the second question first. Part of the reason that such ridiculously awful music is so popular on MySpace is the very nature of the website. Most of the people who use MySpace are teenagers and teenagers almost always have bad taste in music.

Sure there are exceptions. There are the kids in high school who actually listen to good music (of course ironically they are the kids that are made fun of for their taste in music in high school because they don’t listen to the same garbage as all the other kids.) But for the most part these high school kids have no understanding of the history of music and they don’t understand how cheesy and talentless bands like Hollywood Undead and Five Times August really are. So yes, I believe demographics has a large part to play.

But is it something more than that? Is taste in our culture declining overall? It’s hard to say. Certainly it’s distressing that popular music is so bad but at the same time there is a lot of good music being made that is slightly under the radar. And to some extent it’s really been the norm that bad music is popular and the good music is a bit “underground.” There’s been a couple of exceptions to that rule. The 1960s come to mind, as do the early 1990s. But in general it’s been the manufactured nonsense that hits the top of the charts. So is today really that much different?

I’m not sure if it is or not to be honest. The ridiculous success of American Idol makes me think that yes, indeed, it is that much different. I mean is a show that glorifies karaoke singers really be so popular even after all of this time? Shouldn’t the novelty have worn off by now? What’s most amazing is that not only is the show popular but apparently people actually take these “artists” seriously and actually buy their albums! It’s incredible to me. I looked at the billboard album charts recently and it was filled with former American Idol contestants.

Back to the first question. Is there any good music among the top artists on MySpace? To be honest I was beginning to doubt it. But yesterday I came across a band called Crystal Castles that is actually pretty good. Are they the next Beatles, Pink Floyd, or Radiohead? No, I don’t think so. But they actually make music that seems to have actual artistic merit which is a nice break from Hollywood Undead and the like.

So yes, there is good music among the “top artists” on MySpace but you will have to dig through a lot of nonsense to find it. Or you can visit our blog where we’ll help you find it!

Music is one medium that can bind hearts all over the globe. Music can appeal to the soul no matter what kind of language is used to support it. Irish music or the music of Ireland is such that it has various styles and a kind of a lyrical soothing sound to it. Traditional Irish music is still very much firmly rooted in Ireland. The one thing that crops up in my mind about Irish music is the music and dance oriented act, Riverdance, which popularized many aspects about Ireland. Riverdance had such an appeal that it gave a new dimension to the Irish music and dance scene. Although experts argue about the authenticity of the Irish music used (because it has a lot of influences as well), I personally loved Riverdance; its beautiful sets, brilliant dancers, exquisite costumes and the very talented musicians had me asking for more.

Irish Music: Flashback
Irish music still has a strong foothold today despite the emergence of new styles of the music scenario. Irish music saw its peak from the ninth to the middle of the eleventh century. The voice was always used in accompaniment with Irish music. Ones voice was obviously one of the oldest instruments one could use. The traditional aspects of Irish music are still very much preserved today.

The main characteristic about Irish music is the slow moving change. In the ancient days, the ancient Celts were known to have passed the music and lyrics orally. The Irish were forbidden to speak their own language when the British invaded them. This was the time music was used to remember some of the important events and was also considered to be a way to keep their heritage intact. There were various styles of Irish music as well. Let us take a look at traditional Irish music.

Traditional Irish Music:
The traditional Irish music or the Irish folk music is a term that is used for music that has been composed in various genres all over Ireland. The traditional songs were always written in the Irish language. (Today, we find the use of the English language) The melody in traditional Irish music was always considered to be the most important factor and therefore the harmony was kept simple. This was also the time when the sean-nos were considered the highest point of traditional singing. The sean-nos are the unaccompanied vocals. This is always performed in a solo version. Ones style is also considered to be very important in traditional Irish music. The Irish folk music or songs that are completely traditional are at least more than 200 years old. Solo performances were also preferred as far as Irish folk music was concerned but bands gained popularity during the mid 19th century. One of the most famous composers who had over 200 compositions to his credit was Turlough Carolan. His style is actually considered as a classical style.

Cil dance gained popularity in the 19th century. This is also referred to as a kind of a social gathering that includes Irish music and Irish dance. A group of musicians always provided music for the Cil dance with the help of instruments such as the accordian, flute, drums, piano, banjo etc.

Irish music was also very widely used in accompaniment with Irish dance. The beauty of stepdancing was aptly depicted in Riverdance.

Sadly, one saw a drop in the number of genuinely interested people in traditional Irish music around the 1930s. Experts have their difference of opinions about the use of the various types of musical instruments in traditional Irish music. It is said that the bouzoukis and the guitars were used in the late 1960s in Irish music. Some musical instruments made their appearance only in the later years. Let us take a look at some of the musical instruments used to create the melodious tunes that are found in Irish music.

Instruments used in Irish Music:

Uilleann Pipes:
The ancient Irish pipes were given the name of Irish Warpipes or even Great Irish Warpipes. The Uilleann pipes were also known as the union pipes and were developed at the beginning of the 18th century. These are also said to be the most complex form of the bagpipes. The modern version of the Uilleann pipes was said to have arrived on the music scenario around the 1890s.

Fiddle:
The violin or the fiddle (as it was known locally) is one of the most important instruments used in the various compositions of Irish music. The fiddle, available in a variety of shapes and sizes was considered to be very similar to the violin.

Accordian:
The accordian plays an important part in modern Irish music. The popularity of the accordian gained ground, sometime in the 19th century and this was also used commonly for dance in the typical Irish traditions.

Harp:
The harp is one such musical instrument in the Irish music scene that is found at least 5,000 years back in history. Generally, the harp rests between the knees and the right shoulder. Although traditionally, the harp was placed over the left shoulder by some early Irish and Scottish harps.

Bouzouki:
The first bouzouki was built by John Bailey; for John Pearse. The bouzouki arrived on the scene of the Irish music in the late 1960s, Irish bouzoukis have a flat back or a slightly arched back as compared to the Greek bouzouki. The Irish bouzouki also has 4 pairs of strings as compared to the other kinds of bouzouki that are available.

Mandolin:
This music instrument also enjoyed a prominent position in Irish music. It is noticed that most Irish musicians who used the mandolin preferred the flat back instruments, which had an oval sound hole as compared to the Italian style.

Banjo:
The banjo was introduced on the Irish music scene by emigrants that came from the United States. The function of the banjo is considered to be similar to the bauzouki and even the mandolin which was used in Irish music.

Apart from this, the harmonica, guitar, flute, bodhrn, concertina etc., are also used in Irish music. Today, various other forms of music have also incorporated the traditional forms of Irish music in its compositions. Several groups on the music scene have combined Irish music very successfully to introduce a new kind of music or in a way to revive the traditional Irish music for the youngsters. Music therefore, has a strong foothold in Irish culture.

Read about Irish castles

The musicians can upload their tracks in various Music Licensing websites where people who are quick to spot talents will register them and provide them with a valid license along with payment. That way Music Licensing For Film ensures that fresh tracks are present in movies or advertisement jingles and young talents do not wither unseen. Whether its Bollywood or Hollywood, many established producers keep on visiting these Music Licensing For Film websites to grab hold of a fresh talent who are truly original and innovative.

This brings us to another very important correlated aspect which is Background Music. Background Music is something that makes any animation sound wonderful straight from video games to movies. Background Music is like a lubricant that holds the entire project or venture together. No sane person wants to watch animation or video with total silence. Background Music is something that makes the entire project smooth as silk. Background Music overcomes all the little glitches that might be otherwise obvious to the eye, but a beautiful piece of music makes one forget of a few certain visual technical glitches.

There are so many products or certain daily serials or soaps or a computer game that you played in tender age, which you remember just for the Background Music. Such enormous is the impact of Background Music. In short we can say, perhaps these days products are branded by how good the Background Music is. Needless to say, Background Music is extremely easy on the pocket. You can simply buy a few tracks from the store or you can even download and use it for your projects. But if you are one of those innovative musicians you can compose and use your Background Music for your projects.

Another crucial fact to keep in mind is that music is a universal language. This is even more applicable for Background Music. Your project will be viewed and appreciated by everyone across the globe if you have a real good Background Music that can people can tap their feet to and easily relate to. People irrespective of ethnic backgrounds will adore your music with all their heart.

So to make sure that your project is really good and certainly ahead of others make sure you got a real good Background Music to spice up your project in movie, advertisement or video gaming. Hopefully it will turn out to be something really good.

Modern World has been hit by a plague. The plague is the deficit in creativity as far as music required for advertisements and movies or gaming is concerned. In most cases what we find is that most music played these days is nothing but fabricated remakes of the old and classic symphonies. However this provides an excellent opportunity for young artists who are relatively unknown and who have a great sense of tune. This is why Music licensing For Films becomes extremely important. Music Licensing For Film ensures that these seemingly unknown yet talented musicians get noticed and they can approach producers who might be able to give a proper direction to their career.

Caribbean music is one of the most popular music all over the world. It a uniquely inventive music and there is different rhythm for every island. The Caribbean music is very lively and joyful. It is energetic and can boost you up. it is a very simple and soothing yet peppy and foot tapping music. It is generally not very fast. Caribbean is definitely one of the favorite music for music lovers. Reggae has different influences of African, European, Indian and native. It was created by African slaves. This music was never a pure form of music but a combination of different cultures.West Indians would tune up to anything to make a rhythm. Consider steel pan, that evolved in 1930s. The music played on it was incredible yet it was created out of the discarded 50 gallon drums of the Trinidadian oil industry. Steel pan is also an ideal instrument for providing the music for the weddings. Calypso is another inspiring style of music with great rhythms. During Carnivals, Caribbean music, particularly in Calypso, is sometimes about protest and social community but yet it is about dancing. West Indians leave their jobs to get back for carnival.Many legendary singers were from Caribbean islands. Bob Marley is the name which comes to our minds first. Reggae, Zouk, Salsa, Calypso, Merengue and Punta are some of the widely popular styles of Caribbean music. However, Reggae is the most popular and Bob Marley was known to make this style popular. Bob Marley is a legendary singer who breathed special life to Reggae. Other popular artists who made Reggae popular were Desmond Decker, Jimmy Cliff and Prince Buster. UB40 was another popular band known for this music. They popularized Caribbean music in the west. However, Bob Marley is the king and his music will remain influential forever. After his sad demise, his son Ziggy Marley took over the task of producing Reggae from him.Caribbean music was never a pure form of music but a combination of different cultures. Over a period of time, Caribbean music was used by artists all over the world. The music when mixed with other forms creates great fusion music. Remixed versions of this music specially the old ones are largely popular in clubs and discos. The best known forms are Chandracha, Mambo and Listera.Most of the styles are into folk and classical, which mostly has European influence for example Puerto Rican and Cuban music.Caribbean people have always been known for their music. This music will definitely reside in the hearts of music lovers. It is a genre that can be played all the time. It can uplift your mood giving you a positive feel.

Gharana essentially means a school of thought, or a school of music, that follows a particular style perfected over the years by rigorous practice and enhanced by coming generations that combine contemporary styles and incorporate new ideas. Gharana literally means family tradition, members of a family of musicians establishing their own unique musical discipline consistently over three or more generations. It is difficult to give an exact date when this system came into being. Ithawa gharana has evolved over seven generations of some of the finest sitar players of India. Shujaat Khan is seventh in this unbroken chain of sitar virtuosi from Ithawa gharana and is considered to be the torch bearer for the future of this school of music. With Shujaat Khan in concert today, it would be appropriate to bring forth some of the hidden facts about the history and evolution of this style of music.

Ithawa gharana in its present form owes its existence, its popularity and its distinctive style of sitar playing to Shujaat Khans father, the legendary musician Ustad Vilayat Khan. But for him, the gayaki ang or vocal style in instrumental music, which is the hall mark of this gharana, would neither have existed nor would have flourished. To talk about Ithawa gharana of recent years is to talk about Vilayat Khan and his early period of musical training, his original thoughts about bringing gayaki in instrumental playing, his improvisations and changes made to the structure of sitar to accommodate the continuity of sound or to imitate vocals in sitar playing. It is believed that only after Vilayat Khans tantalizing performance that won the hearts of the listeners, critics and musicians alike, at the 1943 Vikram Samaroh music conference in Bombay, instrumental music earned a wider acceptance in the main stream classical music.Born in 1928 in Gauripur, East Bengal, Vilayat Khan entered the world of music at an early age of four and gave his first performance when he was eight. He also made his first recording at the same age. Vilayat Khan hails from an impressive family of musicians. His great grand father Ustad Sahabdat Khan gave todays surbahar, the bass version of the sitar and a very difficult instrument to master, its present tonal and structural form. At the early age of ten Vilayat Khan lost his first guru, his father Ustad Inayat Khan, a leading instrumentalist of his days. Thereafter he moved with his mother to the state of Nahan near Delhi to learn music from his maternal grand father Ustad Bande Hasan Khan, who was the court musician of the state. During 40s and 50s there still was Inayat Khans influence in Vilayat Khans playing. Tantrakari was still very prominent. The right hand which is considered as the main subject of instrumental playing for string instruments was still distintly dominant. Tantrakari had been taken to great heights by earlier generations but now was the time to give new direction to instrumental music. It is believed that human voice is the sublime epitome of expression and all other sounds are subordinates used only for enhancing and ornamenting the vocal music. In his quest to achieve vocal continuity in the sound of sitar, Vilayat Khan introduced the gayaki ang in instrumental music during the early 60s.Khayal ras, a vocal music style with imaginative use of lyrics, began to emerge in instrumental music with Vilayat Khans introspective vision and vivid imagination. The tone of sitar was now changed. The right hand remained at its place but there were significant advancements in the left hand. The pancham of kharaj was now replaced with a steel gandhar (this change helps in establishing the mood of the raag). Several other fundamental changes were also made to the structure of sitar.There were various subjects involved in khayal ras which required ample improvisations in order to translate it in instrumental music. At first Alap, the slow but contemplative progression of a raag, was given a different approach adorned with meend, krintan and zamzama. Next were taans and bol taans, the fast tempo phrases, and thumri. The transition towards khayal ras is quite evident in Vilayat Khans recordings from 60s onwards.Gayaki ang is now successfully passed on to Ithawa gharanas next generation of musicians. Today there are many musicians who prefer and follow this style of music. Thanks to his creative genius for this enormous contribution to the world of music. It would be righteous to refer to Ithawa gharana as Vilayatkhani gharana.Shilpa Rao is a professional Indian Classical Music artist. Learn basics of Indian Classical Music system at http://www.articlestonurture.com/classical/music.html/3

For so long now there has been the debate of whether or not music actually has any effect on your concentration and the productivity you have memorizing things, studying and concentrating at any task you are working on getting done. Whether you believe this or not, there are many studies that do prove the effectiveness of music on or daily performance. While there are many that say that they can’t focus on what they are doing while listening to music, either because they get too into the music or because they fall asleep, you will be amazed to the type of music that actually helps you get the most of your time and increase your productivity. When it comes to the effect and power of music on our memory, it is the 60 beats per minute beat pattern that is found on Mozart’s music and baroque music what actually will help you double if not triple your efficiency. Why this type of music? It is said that this specific pattern activates the left and right brain simultaneously, maximizing your learning capabilities as well as your ability to retain information. We learned in high school in our science class how each side of the brain is in charge of certain things and capabilities that we have. LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS uses logic detail oriented facts rule words and language present and past math and science can comprehend knowing acknowledges order/pattern perception knows object name reality based forms strategies practical safe RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS uses feeling “big picture” oriented imagination rules symbols and images present and future philosophy & religion can “get it” (i.e. meaning) believes appreciates spatial perception knows object function fantasy based presents possibilities impetuous risk taking Therefore, while information being studied activates your left brain, the music you are listening to activates the right brain. This simultaneous activity neutralizes your brain waves having a positive reaction to your productiveness. It has been proven that those activities that engage both sides of the brain at the same time, like singing, playing an instrument, writing while listening to Mozart, cause the brain to be more capable of processing information by facilitating the recall of information.
According to many researches, if you retained the information by listening to some types of music, you will be more capable of remembering it by simply “playing” the song mentally. But now, what type of music is really the one that has an impact on you? You can’t be listening to Rhianna’s latest Album “Loud”, or to Kanye West last single; to optimize your learning or memory performance, it’s imperative that the music doesn’t have a vocal component; otherwise you’re more likely to remember the words of the background song than what you’re supposed to be learning, studying or writing. Not only will your concentration will increase, but also its duration. So, if you have a short spam of attention, consider listening to some of Mozarts best songs. This is great for your children, especially when they are studying for those mid-terms. If you just went through a moving process, getting used to your new home and the new school is not going to be as easy as contacting moving companies for a free moving quote. While you thought that coordinating with your movers was difficult, imagine how complicated it is going to be for your kid to get used to the new environment. A little music might actually help. Now, if you still have to unpack and clean the entire house (yeah we know it is not anyone’s cup of tea), choosing music that motivates you will make it easier to start moving, cleaning and getting everything done in the blink of an eye. You will even have energy left to go walking, dancing, or any other type of exercise that you enjoy. Other Benefits of Music: Reduction in the feeling of fatigue Increase in levels of psychological arousal Physiological relaxation response Improvement in motor coordination Improves body movement and coordination Music calms, relaxes and helps to sleep Reduces negative emotions While listening to your favorite artists might help you get up and start that dreading exercise routine, get over the unpacking of your recent relocation, or to get over with the dreaded cleaning Saturdays, keep in mind that listening to too much pop and hard rock music can make actually have a negative effect on you. One thing is what you really like and another is the way your brain waves react to music. That music that you love so much can actually make you feel more jittery than energized. Now get one thing straight, we don’t pretend for you to be bored all the time and not to enjoy the music that make your feet move, but you got to set your priorities straight; what it is that you want to accomplish? One way to find out is by varying the genres you listen to and find out what type of music is most beneficial for you and your overall performance. You could try classical music one day, pop the next day and jazz the third and just see how fast and efficiently you get your task accomplished. To find more information that will help you increase your performance at various aspects of your life, look for our moving blog by login in at MovingCost.com and get moving your life to maximum potential. Related Articles – moving, music, performance, Email this Article to a Friend!Receive Articles like this one direct to your email box!Subscribe for free today!