String Musical Instrument

String Musical Instrument

Humans discovered a long time ago that music could be made from vibrating strings. A string musical instrument such as the lute or mandolin was the means by which traveling minstrels would entertain the crowd. Even today, there is interest in these early forms. Rock star Sting has recently released an album of 16th century lute music and American band REM has often featured a mandolin. The Rod Stewart hit, Maggie May also featured the distinctive sound of the mandolin.

Every culture has produced their forerunner of the modern guitar. Africa and Asia have several versions of string musical instrument, often with only three strings. In America, the banjo became popular in country and folk music. The guitar was used for jazz and blues before becoming the backbone of rock and roll. Western rock music has also incorporated the Sitar, an instrument used in Indian music, first heard in a pop song performed by The Beatles with Norwegian Wood.

Many of the greatest pieces of classical music have been written for a string orchestra or string quartet. The violin, viola and cello are wonderful for solo string musical instrument compositions and to blend together. These are the bowed instruments; the violin is sometimes plucked with a technique called pizzicato. The double bass is very versatile and can be found in jazz bands, orchestras and for rockabilly groups. The violin too is versatile and often used in rock and folk music. The fiddle is a staple of Irish, jigs and reels. Jazz violinists such as Darryl Way and Jean Luc Ponty are very accomplished performers. Jimmy Page, flamboyant guitarist from Led Zeppelin, even took a bow to his electric guitar to produce an experimental sound. Most string instruments can be fitted with electric pickups to amplify the sound, to fit in with any genre.

Technically speaking, keyboard instruments such as the piano, clavichord and harpsichord are categorized as a string musical instrument as they have strings, which are struck by hammers. The piano however, is sometimes classed as a percussion instrument.

Whatever genre all these instruments are employed in, they bring a range of sound that is unequalled. A fiddle can make you want to get up and dance and a cello solo can make you reach for the tissues. Music is very often programmed these days with instruments being simulated through a computer, but there is nothing to equal the sound of a live violin in an echoing hall.

Australian Artists

Australian Artists

When I was a teenager I was a huge fan of the eighties hair bands. I can admit that comfortably because I have no interest in them any longer. I know there are a lot of people that are my age that still listen to these bands, but I am not one of them. As far as I am concerned that scene was played out a long time ago, and I would rather listen to Lawrence Welk than to list to hair metal. There are still a few songs that I like, but it is very rare that I hear one. Right now my taste in music is more international. All of the people I listen to right now are Australian artists.

There are only two Australian artists that I listen to really, but they are all that I will put in my CD player. My husband watches VH1 a lot, and it makes me want to pound my head up against a brick wall. I have to admit that he is normal though. A lot of people have their tastes in music from when they were younger and they listen to that when they can. I have to give him credit though, he is into a lot of new stuff, and he listens to a good mix of both. For me though, it’s just my two Australian artists that I listen to when I have the chance.

One of the Australian artists I listen to is one who is famous for something else. His name is Greg Page and I think he has the best voice I have ever heard. When I listen to him sing I come as close to swooning as I would allow. He is better known as the Yellow Wiggle, though he has retired from that endeavor recently due to health issues. Because he is one of my favorite Australian artists I do hope he will continue with his solo endeavors in the future. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have him to listen to each day.

The other of my favorite Australian artists is a woman named Lisa Chappell. Most people probably have never heard of her, but I first show her as an actor. When she left the show she was on I was sad to see her go, but I soon found out that she has put out her own CD. I have to admit while I don’t listen to it as much as I listen to Greg Page, I do like to put it in once in a while. She’s very mellow, and there are many days when I need just that. Though both of my favorites right now are Australian artists does not mean I don’t appreciate other music from other places. That is just where I am right now, and I could not be happier.

Lahaina MUsic - Blend Of Old And New Music

In 1843, Hawaiian King Kamehameha the Great declared Lahaina, Maui the capital of the kingdom. Lahaina was once known as the whaling capital of the world. The waning whale industry and the move of the capital from Maui to Oahu caused the local economy to become dependent first on agriculture and later on tourism.

Lahaina offers visitors to Maui a unique glimpse into the past while enjoying what Maui has to offer today. Visitors are enticed to walk, shop, eat and enjoy. Spending the day in Lahaina is a must-do on any visit to Maui.

The Old Courthouse was built in 1859. Visitors may walk through this historic building and view exhibits from top Maui artists presented by the Lahaina Art Society. The lower level galleries still feature windows with the bars that held Maui prisoners in days past. Informational brochures about other historic sites in this Maui village are available here as well.

The Courthouse Square is home to what is, perhaps, the most memorable tree on Maui. The Banyan Tree, planted in 1873, has aerial roots that have grown into twelve major trunks. What appears at first glance to be a small forest is actually all part of one tree. The tree provides nearly an acre of shade in the square and is a popular meeting place among Maui tourists. While in the Courthouse Square, take a moment to find the restored ruins of the original Maui waterfront fort built in the 1830s.

The streets of Lahaina are lined with small shops and restaurants catering to Maui visitors. At the quieter southern end of Lahaina is an oceanfront boutique mall (505 Front Street). Stores feature made-on-Maui products, Maui souvenirs and gifts.

There are several waterfront restaurants in this area and live music is available on weekend evenings for Maui tourists to enjoy. The Lahaina Center (900 Front Street) features 30 stores and restaurants offering apparel, jewelry and microbrews. A stroll along the streets of Lahaina will fulfill the shopping needs of any Maui visitor.

Maui visitors looking for a party atmosphere at night will find it here so a well-planned day visit can turn into a night full of fun.

Lahaina offers great night life and plenty of fun but it lacks the features that make accommodations on Maui special. It is missing the clean beaches and slow pace the makes a Maui vacation special. A limited amount of lodging is available in Lahaina but most area accommodations are north of Lahaina. Lahaina is a great place to visit on Maui but not to stay.

Visitors looking for water activities to enjoy on Maui will find themselves drawn to the offerings at Lahaina. Vendors at the harbor offer day and evening cruises, submarine rides and other boating activities that provide a water-based view of Maui.

Visitors to Maui rely mostly on rental cars for transportation. Because Lahaina is a popular destination greater crowds are found here than at any other location on Maui. As a result parking can sometimes be a bit difficult. Plan arrival for before 10 a.m. and parking should not be a problem.

Lahaina offers Maui visitors a special mixture of old and new that is not to be missed.

Old And new Music Through Internet

There is an addiction waiting out there for you on the Internet. It could be a good addiction, if you like great actors performing great stories. They may be actors that you have not heard of before, and stories that you have only heard about. Orson Welles performs Captain Bligh from Mutiny on the Bounty. Carlton Hobbs analyses and uncovers the answer to the Speckled Band as Sherlock Holmes. Judy Garland sings her way into your heart in another old time radio show. These great actors and actresses make these classic stories come alive, and revive the art of storytelling for modern America. It is almost ironic to have an audio book in MP3 format revive the ancient art of storytelling, but the combination works very well. These old time radio shows in MP3 format are a treasure that you should take some time to enjoy.

This interest in these MP3 audio books can also spread to your family, and with a little influence may replace the influence of television. Not only are a number of old time radio shows done with better stories, but the whole idea of storytelling triggers the imagination. When the crew of the Bounty are not given enough food and are caught in a storm on the high seas, no movie director can make it as thrilling or real as your own imagination. Even if you listen to Sherlock Holmes in modern MP3 format in an audio book, you can be walking with him in a dark and fog shrouded London street with the sound of only one other person in the street, rapidly drawing closer to you. Driving on a modern interstate to work is much more interesting when Daniel Boone is making a trail through the forest from another old time radio show. These audio book programs can accompany you anywhere, and can make many tedious times more pleasant.

One really good use of these audio books are when travelling with the family. You may have a van or other vehicle that allows the kids to watch videos as they travel. The advantage of this is that the kids are generally quieter and fight less than if they were just left to themselves. The disadvantage is that the main things the kids remember are the videos, and not the parts of America that they drive through. Having a classic story in MP3 format, such as Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped, allows the kids to look out the windows and still pay attention to the various towns and countryside that makes up that part of America. In this way, using an audio book program keeps one of the benefits of road trips intact - actually learning something firsthand about the country that we live in.

Search the Internet for old time radio show stories that would be of interest to your family. The stories are presented by good actors, and are a wonderful way to take a trip or spend an evening with your family. Order a few on audio books and MP3 format and set a new routine for your family. Perhaps they will forget there is a television in the living room.

Bob Dylan CD,

Bob Dylan CD

My favorite musical artists are singer songwriters, especially those who write wonderful lyrics. A Bob Dylan cd is very often on my player, both new and old releases. Some albums stand out over others but I never tire of the gravelly voice and words full of metaphor. Take the music away and the songs stand up as poems, holding their own with the other great poets.

In the 1960s, Dylan was revered as a protest singer, a label he didn't really like. He refused to be boxed in and didn't want to be hijacked as a spokesman for any movement. He identified more with the hobos and wandering musicians such as Woody Guthrie than with political doctrine. There are great political songs of course, such as With God On My Side and Masters of War. He is equally capable of producing a tender love song like Just Like A Woman or Lay, Lady Lay.

He went to New York as a young man and performed in the folk clubs in Greenwich Village. Meeting his heroes and drawing inspiration, he honed his skills as a songwriter and musician. The first Bob Dylan cd was simply called Bob Dylan and the legend was born. He popularized acoustic music and developed a following that eclipsed other folk singers like Pete Seeger. His records reached the pop charts and the world was at his feet.

Dylan then did something that shocked the folk purists when he performed on stage with an electric guitar. He wanted to develop his sound and produced the first plugged in Bob Dylan cd. This lost him fans and gained others but there was no turning back. Whatever people thought of the musical method, the lyrics were just as good. Sometimes they were savage insults and they were often beautifully lyrical.

My favorite Dylan tracks are ones that perfectly blend words and melody into a sublime whole. A best of Bob Dylan cd should feature Gates of Eden, Boots of Spanish Leather and It's Alright Ma, I'm only Bleeding. He may have gone in and out of fashion and alienated some fans with his various phases but he remains one of the true geniuses of music. A Bob Dylan cd should not be played as background music but listened to properly. In this world awash with mediocre manufactured pop, he is a poet and deserves our respect. There are those who are greater than the sum of their parts and Bob Dylan is a member of that stellar few.

Album covers

Album covers are conspicuous in their expression of the bands' visual side. An album cover says “I'm a painting with words”. The cover may be symbolic, a summary of stage performances, propaganda-like, the artwork of a band member or simply designed to grab more sales. Some are so simplistic in nature that two colors can say everything there is to be said. Whatever the message conveyed, album covers should artistically parallel the sound of the music.

When music first became available in a home listening format, it was engraved on large wax disks. Stored in compressed paper sleeves, the artwork reflected the classical music popular at the time. Black and white printing was the only kind available. At first, classical works of art were sketched and then printed on the covers. For example, the Venus de Milo was printed for Korsakov's musical styling. As the technology of photography developed, a few select albums had photographs of classical art printed on them. People from that time would have been shocked at how the album cover would evolve.

During the 1940's, some album covers were both photographic and printed in color. Some covers were airbrushed paintings, or pastel drawings. The popularity of these impressionistic photographs quickly waned, as the album cover gave way to color photographs. Many of the new covers depicted the feel-good sounds of the albums, with people frolicking on the beaches or in fields. Other covers featured photographs of the artist or band itself, with the person or band performing on stage or simply in front of a microphone. A few albums today use the same concept.

During the 1960's and 1970's, album covers tended toward conceptual protests of previous ideas of good cover design. Abstract psychedelic patterns were popularly tied in to this new concept. The “hippie” times were a period of mind expansion and discovery, characterized by demands for social and political reform. This was expressed through the medium of the album cover, with photographs of war contrasting with portrayals of aristocratic wealth. On a lighter note, “flower children”, nature, and Eastern religion were combined with psychedelic mind-blowing color-infused patterns.

Album covers of the 1980's and 1990's saw a sharp decline in artistic designs, changing gears, leaning towards rebellious youth looking to break away from their parents' pacifist natures. With the introduction of KISS, the heavy metal sound was on the rise. Covers often depicted harsh, gory scenes. Offensive and shocking designs became the new cover message. Unnerving and disturbing people was considered a revolutionary concept.

Today, album covers are more diverse than ever. Ideas and art work from genres and milieus throughout history are used. Everything from the original Venus de Milo to entirely computer developed graphics may be found on today's album covers. Almost every style used for album covers since their first debut has been integrated since 2000. It's hard to imagine what will come next.

Online Services Available For Old Music

Everyone who was old enough to be listening to music pre-CD has a collection of grooved vinyl records and magnetized tape cassettes stashed somewhere. Those records are not only great for the cover art; some of them have music that still sounds great. Now there has been a concerted effort to develop the hardware and software to allow you to convert that music from its current analog form to digital, and reorganize it on a CD or an MP3 player.

First, of course, you're going to need a turntable and/or a cassette player. You'll be using a computer to convert your old music to digital format, so a cable that connects the turntable or cassette player to the PC (or Mac) is also in order. Apparently cables that have the old audio jacks at one end and a UBS connector at the other are relatively common and can be found in electronic emporiums such as Radio Shack.

Your computer will need to have a sound card - sound cards have been standard issue for PCs for some time. You may also need to incorporate an amplifier of some sort into the mix, as the turntable or the cassette player alone may not generate enough sound. That shouldn't be too difficult however - the amplifier that drives your current sound system still has "audio in" and "audio out" jacks, no matter when it was built.

The final element in the process is the appropriate software. While you can purchase software for this purpose, there is also freeware available: one example is an open source recording and editing program called Audacity, found at http://audacity.sourceforge.net/. Adobe has a program called Encore that is available for a 30 day free trial, and for Mac users there's GarageBand, which is part of a Mac software package that is sold through retail outlets.

That's the package. Once you're in upload mode with your old school hardware, you'll have to stop after each song in order to make it a discrete recording. There's a fair amount of oversight to all this, especially if you've got a lot of records. It's one tune at a time, unless you want to upload the entire album as a single MP3 file. So the sentiment that's attached to those old tunes is going to come into play, as this can turn into a labor of love.

There's a streamlining tool on the market from Audio Technica which is a turntable with all the right cabling, amplification and software. A similar product can be found at www.firebox.com which is called a USB Turntable. The cost on these conversion spinners is $100 - $130 dollars.

There are also some online services available that will make the conversion for you - but most of them appear to be pricey. One service, http://avconvert.com/audio/price_list_cassette.html, will not only convert your LP or cassette tape but will remove any audio flaws and reproduce the cover art as well. You send them the recording and they do the rest - but the prices are twenty dollars or more, depending on the medium and the level of service you desire.

Best Piano Music For Free Download

Over the past decade, the rise of the Internet has dramatically changed the availability and presentation of piano music. Free downloads of sheet music -- as well as audio recordings of piano performances -- are easy to find in abundance through a simple Web search. Because of this, old-fashioned sheet music publication has been on the decline in favor of Web-based documents -- image files, .pdf's, eBooks, and other formats. As with a lot of technological change, this is neither a good thing nor a bad thing. It's just different. Today, conscientious adult piano players should have a basic understanding of the current state of sheet music publication, and where it is headed.

After all, when we examine our habits as consumers, we find that most of us tend to look for the cheapest and easiest options whenever possible. So these days, when there are so many free piano music downloads to be found all over the Internet, why would anyone ever pay money for sheet music?

In truth, more people cling to the old mediums of sheet music than one may think. And, of course, there is nothing wrong with this. Some people are simply not comfortable with the Internet, and may never be. Besides, what adult piano player doesn't enjoy the look and feel of a thick, comprehensive collection of the piano works of Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Debussy, or Rachmaninoff? Most contemporary pianists learned how to play with such books, and most still own tons of those old, worn, and wrinkled collections. Until recently, these books were the lifeblood of the piano world, which had been the case ever since the advent of the printing press.

Indeed, something has certainly been lost in the decline in popularity of such books. "The Complete Piano Works of Beethoven," for instance, holds pieces even the most passionate Beethoven fan might not know. In contrast, for years since the inception of the Internet, only the most popular works by the most famous composers have been available on the Web. When it comes to Beethoven, "Fur Elise" and "Moonlight Sonata" are easy to find on numerous sites, but what about more obscure works like "Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-flat major?" For years, pianists were hard-pressed to find such works on the Internet.

Fortunately, the world of online piano sheet music is now working to overcome such shortcomings. Yes, "Fur Elise" is as easy to find as ever, but now, former no-shows such as "Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-flat major" are almost just as available. This is thanks to a number of sites offering free downloads of piano music. The Mutopia Project, for instance -- an online source of free piano music downloads -- offers free piano music by hundreds of composers, from the origins of written music up to the 20th century.

Plus, piano teachers are now learning about the expansiveness of music available on the Web. Many piano teachers will tell you that the most difficult thing about their work is choosing pieces to perfectly suit the needs of a student. Because of the Internet, this is no longer such an issue. When a teacher feels that her student needs to learn a certain piece, that piece is likely available on the Internet. Just a few years ago, this wasn't true. Now, thanks to the continued growth of the Web, almost every piece of piano music by every significant composer is available to download for free. Instead of those old, massive piano music collections, today's piano teacher is more likely to use folders of sheet music printouts from the Web.

Of course, the availability of piano music free to download does not change the fact that many of us still love those old-fashioned piano books. After all, such books are still high-quality products, and they always make great gifts. Thus, even though the Internet is now a huge and ever-growing source of sheet music, the old mediums aren't likely to disappear any time soon.

The Old and New MUsic Collection

One item that I had as a child that I wish I still had is my music box. The one I had was simple, yet was a treasure to me throughout the younger years of my life. It was small, made of wood, and had a tiny ballerina that rotated to music when it was opened. I have seen many a music box since that time, but none can compare to the one I had. Perhaps it’s special to me because this particular music box was a gift from my grandmother, and something like that can never be replaced.

Memories of my music box have come back to me recently when I took my daughter to see the Wiggles. They do a song called Music Box Dancer, and I can’t help but think that is the same music that was once played by my own music box. The song is beautiful, and I remember sitting mesmerized the first time I heard it. Perhaps the feeling is from another memory, but I don’t know. Whatever the case, the song Music Box Dancer reminds me of my treasured box, and I often wonder what become of it. I do know it is no longer around.

If you had a music box like mine when you were young, you may no longer have yours either. There are many places you can look, but if you want something just like the one you had, you should look on eBay first. There are so many different things on eBay; you never know when you may run across the very same music box you had when you were a child. You may find other items from your childhood as well.

You can also find a music box in an antique store. Many stores that sell antiques also sell vintage items from the sixties, seventies, and the eighties. While I was in one such store, I saw the same brush and mirror set my mother had presented to me when I was young. She had it from when she was a child, and she saved it for me. Sadly, I don’t have this set anymore either, and when I went back to get the one I had found, it was gone. So if you find your music box in a store like this, you should buy it right away. Chances are good that you are not the only one looking for that particular music box.

Music - Old And New Populars

The union of two lovers has understandably been steeped in tradition for centuries. Over time, some wonderful and interesting customs have sprung up around this important rite of passage.

One of the nicest may be the tradition of the bride's gathering "something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue." These four items each represent a special symbol, and the very act of carrying on this tradition provides a real connection with past and future brides and the people close to them at the time of the wedding.

The meaning of the item for "something old" has to do with the bride's heritage. Usually, a treasured family heirloom will be chosen, often a piece of jewelry.

Almost anything can be designated as "something new," including the bride's wedding dress. But to make it meaningful, many mothers or fathers give their marrying daughters a new piece of jewelry or another special gift, such as a brand-new Bible in which to record the family's names.

The significance of the "something borrowed" is usually interpreted to symbolize the support the bride can count on in her new life from her family. A very nice borrowed token can be as simple as a pair of lace gloves, worn by the bride's own grandmother at her wedding, especially if that lady was happily-married.

For "something blue," the hands-down favorite choice of most brides is still a blue garter or a pretty blue ribbon tied around her thigh and hidden under her wedding dress.

There is another part to the old rhyme, which is fast becoming history these days:

"And a silver sixpence in her shoe."

The sixpence symbolizes good fortune with money and a prosperous life together. One could substitute a penny.

This wonderful four-part "something" wedding tradition is often a last-minute scramble, which—far from diluting the significance of the wedding ritual—only adds to the fun and provides a lighthearted way to deal with the high emotion of the moment.

We're of the opinion that every little bit of luck helps, and it certainly couldn't hurt!