10 Benefits of Listening to Music

Benefits of Music

Music, the language of the soul, is as old as humanity. It's no secret that people love music. While taste in music differs from person to person, almost everyone enjoys some type of music. But by common observation, professional medical practitioners have linked music to our well-being and general health. A recent study concludes that listening to music has positive health effects on people of all ages.

The therapeutic benefits of music can be traced back in time to ancient shamanistic rituals. Music, as tool of healing was recognized in the writings of Pythagoras, Aristotle and Plato. They believed that it can influence physical, emotional, cognitive and social well-being and improve quality of life. Below are music's health benefits explained in detail:

Pain Killer:

Music has the ability to reduce pain through release of endorphins which act as natural pain killers. It can also divert attention away from the pain and encouraging relaxation. According to a study published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing, listening to music daily can reduce chronic pain by up to 21 percent. The study also found that listening to music made people feel more in control of their pain, reduced depression, and made people feel less disabled by their condition.

Reduces Stress:

Stress has been associated with many illnesses, including several mental illnesses that seem to occur only in people with exceedingly high stress levels. In a study conducted, subjects were made listen to a half-hour of soothing music twice daily for two weeks. It showed significantly greater reductions in stress and anxiety levels in the subjects.

Cardiovascular benefits:

Listening to soothing music also helps reduce your heart rate and blood pressure. As a result of a lower blood pressure, it also reduces the risk of stroke and other health problems over time. In a new Italian study, researchers found that people with mild hypertension (high blood pressure) who listened to classical, Celtic or Indian (raga) music for just 30 minutes a day for one month had significant reductions in their blood pressure. Good music helps to calm down the cells and tissues that make up the lungs thereby bringing down the patient's breathing and heart rate to normal.

Stimulate brains cells:

Research has shown that music with a strong beat can stimulate brainwaves to resonate in sync with the beat, with faster beats bringing sharper concentration and more alert thinking. On the other hand, listening to soothing classical music improves ability to focus for longer time and promotes a calm, meditative state. It brings about a sense of well-being and creativity, a change which lasts long after the music has ceased to play.

Boosts exercise performance:

Listening to music while you exercise may have a considerable impact on your exercise performance and commitment. Music diverts your attention in repetitive exercises thus the feeling of fatigue, exhaustion and boredom are evaded. Music can also act as a stimulant which can increase your performance. Respiration and cardiac rate is increased from music which can help you intensify your workout. According to a study conducted in 2005, listening to music while exercising boosted participants' weight loss and helped exercisers stay consistent.

Promote a sound sleep:

Listening to music as we drift off to sleep ensures that we get the rest that we need from our sleep. Sleep puts your body in a healthy condition as it takes away the effects of stress, depression and anxiety from a person.

Increase optimism:

Depression leads to weakness, headache, confusion, and loss of concentration. Music can also be used to bring a more positive state of mind, helping to keep depression at bay. Good music also makes one to remember happy moments or good days. It also increases self-esteem and self-confidence.

Helps in Cancer:

Research suggests that music may offer a number of benefits for people coping with cancer. It reduces anxiety in patients receiving radiation therapy, as well as eases nausea and vomiting resulting from high-dose chemotherapy.

Helps socialize:

Music is a great way to get together with people who share a similar passion. It helps you to meet new people, socialize and give you a sense of belonging.

Helps in spiritual health:

There is a unique connection between music and spirituality. Chanting or some kind of music helps people worship in a meaningful way, and makes them feel closer to God.

Singam

Singam Hindi Movie is a most awaited Ajay Devgan Movie of 2011 directed by Rohit Shetty, produced by Reliance Big Pictures starring Ajay Devgan, Kajal Aggarwal, Prakash Raj, and Ashok Saraf in lead roles.Ajay Devgn’s ‘Singham’ to release in Tamil Nadu & Kerela

The Suriya-starrer superhit movie 'Singam' is all set to speak in Hindi. But with Ajay Devgan replacing the south Indian star.

Hayat Shaikh of Odyssey Media & Entertainment Pvt Ltd.will present Ajay Devgan when he finally returns back to his forte-- action flicks, with the much-awaited ‘Singham’, which releases on 22 July, 2011.

This film is directed by Rohit Shetty and stars southern siren Kaajal Aggarwal in the lead. The Action-Romance is produced by Reliance Entertainment Ltd is planning a series of promotions for ‘Singham’ in the state where Tamil cinema rules and is confident that it will be able to attract audiences for this special film inspired by a south-Indian blockbuster.

The screenplay has been written by YunusSejawal, while Sajid- Farhad has written the diaylogues. The music is by National Award winning music directors Ajay-Atul who are known for their music in Marathi films.

Talking about the latest acquisition, Hayat Shaikh of Odyssey Media & Entertainment Pvt Ltd.says, 'Odyssey Media & Entertainment Pvt Ltd.is happy to associate with superstar Ajay Devgan as he makes a comeback as an action hero after a long time. We are confident that the film viewers in Kerala &Tamil Naidu will be happy to flock the theatres to watch the remake of the blockbuster south Indian hit and also to watch Ajay Devgan in action. We are doing everything to promote the film well and working closely with Reliance Entertainment and Devgan’s Production House.'

Hayat’s success story spells out big ticket films such as ‘Dabangg’, ‘I Hate Love Storys’, ‘Khatta Meetha’, ‘Aakrosh’, ‘Crook’, ‘Jhootha Hi Sahi’, ‘Help‘, ‘Hello Darling’, ‘Resident Evil After Life’ and ‘Break Ke Baad’.

In South Mr.Hayat Shaikh has released Director Hari's Vengai in South and Raghava Lawrence Starring Kanchana..Muni 2 in NSC areas on July 22nd

Bollywood Singam Release on 22nd July 2011

Hindi Film Singham Release Date 22nd July
Singam Film Remake in Bollywood
Ajay Devgn in Singam Hindi Movie News

Singham Hindi Movie Cast and Crew:

Cast: Ajay Devgn, Kajal Aggarwal, Prakash Raj, Ashok Saraf
Sachin Khedekar, Sonali Kulkarni, Anant Jog, Vijay Patkar,
Jayant Sawarkar, Ashok Samarth, Kishore Nandlaskar, Ravindra Berde, Hemu Adhikari, Agasthya Dhanorkar, Suchitra Bandekar, Suhasini Deshpande, Meghna Vaidya, Pradeep Welankar
Director: Rohit Shetty
Music: Ajay Gogavale, Atul Gogavale
Sound: Rakesh Ranjan
Cinematography: Dudley
Editing: Steven H. Bernard
Art Direction: Narendra Rahurikar
Screenplay: Yunus Sajawal
Dialogue: Farhad, Sajid (1)
Action Direction: Jai Singh Nijjar
Choreography: Ganesh Acharya

The Art of Piano Moving

In plenty of cartoons and movies, one of the more common scenes involves the moving of a piano into an apartment or a house. Obviously, the lunacy of a person moving an object 5x heavier and larger than themselves makes for a comical situation, and is placed as a way of giving comedic relief. However in real life, piano moving should only be done by experts for safety measures.

If moving a piano had to do only with weight, it would only take a few strong people to accomplish the job. It is important to know that the danger of moving a piano is not only because of the piano’s weight, but the shape should also be taken into consideration. The asymmetrical shape of a grand piano, for instance, calls for special techniques to maneuver such a large object.

It requires skill and patience for successful piano moving. Usually, a device known as a piano board is put to use when moving a piano. First, the piano’s legs are disassembled for easy movement through doors and hallways. It is then placed on its side on the top of the piano board. The piano board allows for easy movement along flat surfaces. When it comes to stairs, the board is removed and slid down in a slow and controlled manner. More often than not, movers would decide to make use of a crane or pulley instead of using stairs to maneuver a piano vertically. This is because it is more dangerous moving a piano through stairs if it is more than one floor high. The mover’s safety is mostly at risk, since the piano can slip or prove to be heavier than the movers can handle.

Piano moving does not necessarily mean transportation from one house to another. It may also mean moving it around in a contained room. Still, this task might require the help of experienced or professional movers. Even moving a piano a few meters can cause disastrous damage to the unit.

The most important aspect to keep into mind when transporting a piano short distances are the legs. They have a high possibility of breaking. Perhaps one of the legs can get caught on a crack or uneven spot on the floor and end up breaking from force. Sometimes, a smooth material, or a platform with wheels is placed under each of the piano legs for easy movement. An alternative technique requires around 5 able-bodied people to encircle the piano and lift it for easier transfer. The piano should not be lifted off the ground, rather, it should be lifted enough to take pressure off of the legs.

Another version of piano moving is international or oversea transfer. This will prove to be very complicated because of the steps required to be taken when making the move. First, a professional mover is hired to transport the piano to a freight forwarder, which is what actually moves the piano overseas. Once it reaches its destination, the customer must pay all the fines involved and process any of the documents required by the country. The customer must also be there at the time of arrival to sign for the piano. If not, the piano will be stored, which can be expensive.

Overall, piano moving should be left to the experts. There are many incidents that can occur which can prove costly for an inexperienced owner. The owner of the piano also has many responsibilities to take care of. Insurance should be secured by the owner just in case anything happens upon transportation. Also, the owner should be responsible enough to make sure that the piano can fit into its new storage place.

BANSURI AND VENU

Bansuri and venu are common Indian flutes. They are typically made of bamboo or reed. There are two varieties; transverse and fipple. The transverse variety is nothing more than a length of bamboo with holes cut into it. This is the preferred flute for classical music because the embouchure gives added flexibility and control. The fipple variety is found in the folk and filmi styles, but seldom used for serious music. This is usually considered to be just a toy because the absence of any embouchure limits the flexibility of the instrument. The flute may be called many things in India: bansi, bansuri, murali, venu and many more.

There are two main types; bansuri and venu. The bansuri is used in the North Indian system. It typically has six holes, however there has been a tendency in recent years to use seven holes for added flexibility and correctness of pitch in the higher registers. It was previously associated only with folk music, but today it is found in Hindustani classical, filmi, and numerous other genre. Venu is the south Indian flute and is used in the Carnatic system. It typically has eight holes. The venu is very popular in all south Indian styles.

Cultural and Religious Significance

The bansuri is not just a musical instrument, because it has a great cultural and religious significance among Hindus. It is an instrument associated with Lord Krishna. Numerous common names reflect these epitaphs of Krishna. Common examples are: Venugopal, Bansilal, Murali, Muralidhar, etc. Furthermore, in traditional Indian metaphysics, it is noted how remarkable it is the way the life force (pran, or literally "breath") is converted into a musical resonance (sur).

Types of Music

Different types of music help in soothing one’s disturbed soul, in the growth of concentration and also enliven us to live life to the fullest. There are varied genres of music as people have different tastes. For e.g., classical music, rock, jazz, metal, rap, folk etc. But the objective remains the same. The aim of all music is to touch the core of the heart and thus music can be called an expression of our heart’s saying. To understand and know about different genres of music, let us have a look at the following genres.

Different Music Genres

Classical Music:

Classical music is a complex form of music as it requires high musical skills, like learning the ragas and ability to coordinate with other musicians. One has to maintain the complex relationship between its emotional flows. If you wish to learn this music, then you have to go through proper training.

Rock Music:

This music genre originated in the rock and roll era of 1950s. The vocals are accompanied by guitar, drum and bass. (Read information on musical instruments.) Certain rock groups also use piano, synthesizer, saxophone, flute, mandolin and sitar for a deeper effect. This type of music has several sub genres, such as hard rock, progressive rock and metal rock. All these types of rock music are popular till date.

Metal Music:

Metal music emerged after the Second World War. Here the melody of the song is heavily influenced by the structure of the songs. While in rock music, songwriting is based within a form; in metal music, the central melody decides the structure of the song. It is also known as ‘information music’.

Hip-hop Music:

Hip-hop music always includes the use of instruments such as guitar, violin, fiddle, piano, bass and drums. In these types of music, the bass is the main instrument. This can be used in different intensities to emote feelings of anger, pride and others. This type of music is the result of hip-hop culture and is known as hip-hop music. This music shows a heavy influence of Jamaican music. The roots of the music are found in African American and West African music. It was first played by a group of traveling singers and poets of West Africa.

Wedding Ceremony Music:

Wedding music is used in the ceremonies like wedding. These can be classical and modern, according the tastes of people. Some people prefer country melodies, while others opt for classical music as wedding music. Such music varies from every culture.

Trance Music:

This type of music is usually played in club houses and discotheques. It originated in the 20th century. This music is characterized by fast tempo and repetitious beats of the percussion. It has a hypnotic effect on the souls of listeners.

Jazz:

This type of music is featured by strong and complex rhythms. The main musical instruments used for jazz music are cornet, trumpet or violin, that help carry the melody. This is a rhythmic music and has a forward momentum called "swing". However, in this music genre, the skilled performer interprets a tune in his own way. To know more about the musicians of this genre read on jazz musicians.

Folk Music:

Folk music is a kind of traditional music that is handed down from generations in every culture. This type of music reflects the emotions of common laity. Popular music and tribal music are the two sub genres of folk music. This folk music shows the social upheaval that lies among various classes of people. This also portrays their struggle for survival and their culture.

Techno Music:

Techno music is also known as fusion music. This became popular towards the middle part of of the 1980s. This is a form of electronic dance music and based on African American music styles like funk, electro and electric jazz. It features fast beats and this form was initiated by Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson and Derrick May.

Opera Music:

Opera music first emerged in Italy in the 1600s. This genre has a remarkable combination of theatrical art and musical invention and is specifically played in the theaters. This has greater appeal for its delightful orchestral accompaniment. The preludes and interludes of this music set the tone for the action on-stage.

Folk Music

In the 1960s, folk music blended with mainstream music, as the Baby Boomers came of age all at once. The music of the folk revival was narrative pop music with a social conscience. Since then, community-driven musical forms (punk rock, hip-hop) have evolved. Now, in the 21st century, folk music has strong influences from all of these musical movements.

Outside of musicology, "folk music" is more frequently used to describe a style of music that has evolved rapidly over the last century. You'll hear critics and fans alike referring to an artist as "folky," and generally that doesn't mean they’re borrowing a melody from a traditional source. Instead, that term is given to songs that are played using instruments not typically seen in a rock or pop band.

Since folk music is most adequately defined by the people who make it, it's important not to ignore that qualifiers like "folksinger" or "folky" have come to mean something different than they did 50 years ago. Folk artists today are experimentalists who dabble in different genres, integrating various musical influences into their narrative songs.

Classical Music

Classical music, like other forms of classical art, has not as many takers as those of light music. Nonetheless, classical music has its fans too and lots more are falling to its charms. Yet, those who turn to it often find it rather beyond their understanding and real appreciation. They are charmed by it, but they cannot critically explain why it appeals them. You cannot rationalize its appeal or beauty.

Another reason why a large majority of people are not very comfortable with classical music is its complexity and a sense of distance from the artist. Light music can be easily sung by ordinary artists with whom ordinary listeners can identify easily. It expresses the feelings of ordinary persons in their own language. Classical music, on the other hand, is rather mysterious and is rendered in diverse styles and it takes years, sometimes a life long time to understand .But its study has its rewards too. The more you study it, the more you enjoy it and the more you find it wonderful and worth the effort and hard work to study it.

The study or appreciation of classical music depends upon your individual taste. A form of music that appeals to you may not appeal to another person. You may come across experts who may try to influence you by their judgments about the quality of music. You may listen to them, but you should not compel yourself to like the music that they like. Or if you come across a much-acclaimed piece of music that you cannot really appreciate, you do not have to blame yourself for not liking it. You may of course try to find out why the particular expert likes a given piece of music. May be, you find some point to learn.

The most important thing about classical music is to listen to it as much as you can. Classical music CDs are available from many sources. If you are a student, your college library may have an abundant stock of classical music CDs. You can listen to radio, watch TV, and go to concerts and recitals. You can also get free downloads from the Internet, if you do not want to spend money.

US Pop Music and the Pop Culture

One of the unique cultures for which the US is popular all around the planet is its fondness for pop music. A few of us refer to the older term ‘popular music' from where the abbreviation got into existence. USA has a traditional trend of pop music with a band of popular music artists who have gained repute across boundaries. Interestingly, the US pop music reveals manifestation of regional cultures in guise. Many provincial remote cultures of the US get their true revelation through music. Pop music is in fact one of the prime aspects that has tied the United States into one forever. The US populace has a great adore for music that are inspirational and jovial.

The US pop music artists lists seem to be never-ending following numbers of bands and solo artists contributing talents in this field. American pop is an interesting mix up between blues, rock, gospel, funk, punk, salsa, hip hop, doo wop, soul, jazz, R&B, disco and heavy metal. As explained above, many of these types have their own native originations. Popular music artists have blended and molded them into unique idioms. All these music trends have their equal contribution behind the expansion of the US pop culture. The band culture also takes and learns much from these original music patterns.

American popular music is trendy in ears, feet tapping and inspirational. Most of the lyrics consist of deep insight meaning. Interestingly, pop music has an inclination to uphold the underprivileged class of the society. Still, music is for all and thus pop music has easily come over the societal barriers and has become dear to people all around the earth. Bands like Backstreet boys, Hi-Five, The Beach Boys, the 5th Dimension have earned limitless popularity and have all ways led the US pop music artists lists. People have loved pop music over everything else. From young lads to their dads, pop is everybody's hot favorite.

Explaining in a broader sense, pop culture is not about the US musical trends alone. Rather, it is a mixed bag of ideas, concepts, thought patterns, and other behavioral attributes. Anyone researching on American pop culture would astonish but surely discover imprints of European and African impact on the evolution of American music overall. This is no wonder as many popular music artists in the US belong to native stats of the US and other corners of the planet. As a matter of amazement, American pop music manifests care and concern for the underprivileged class of the society.

From above we can easily discern the unique and unparalleled traits of the US popular music. However, there is less stability in this culture with steady modifications of ideologies and eddies. Popular culture continues changing with people and time. As far music is concerned, pop music has a deep interdependence on assorted musical derivations. People love them listening often as they use to be light and motivating despite their serious survival connotations.

indian cinema

Beyond Bollywood: Indian cinema's new cutting edge
A new wave of Indian independent film is breaking the all-singing, all-dancing stereotype of Bollywood via low-cost, offbeat movies and edgier subject matter



Aiming for a younger ­audience who are disenfranchised by Bollywood … Love, Sex aur Dhokha
A sleazy shop assistant seduces a vulnerable colleague for a money-spinning sex tape; two hopelessly-in-love students are brutally murdered by the girl's family; an intrepid TV reporter embarks on an expose of the notorious casting couch. This triptych of stories set in 21st-century metropolitan India unfolds over 98 minutes of blurry, trembling CCTV, mobile phone, camcorder and hidden-camera footage in the film LSD: Love, Sex Aur Dhokha (Love, Sex and Betrayal).

Surely the only Indian film to reference sex and drugs in both its title and abbreviation, LSD: Love, Sex Aur Dhokha is one of the new wave of Indian indies – edgy, off-beat films challenging the stereotype of Indian cinema as tear-jerking, all-singing, all-dancing Bollywood. It fared more than respectably when it was released in India last year, making £1.25m from its paltry £200,000 budget, and was selected to open the inaugural London Indian film festival (LIFF) in 2010, and thereby act as the flagship for this fledgling cinematic phenomenon.

In fact, 2010 proved decisive in the breakthrough of Indian indies (or "Hindies" as they have been dubbed in India) into mainstream cinema: LSD and Peepli Live, a deliciously dark satire on media, politics and farmer suicide, made India's top 10 most profitable films of 2010 in percentage profit, while Dhobi Ghat, an elegant paean to old Bombay, and the slapstick of Tere Bin Laden were critically lauded and box-office successes in the key "metro cities" (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bangalore).

Considering the eye-watering losses incurred by big-budget Bollywood flops such as Kites, Raavan and Veer, it's no wonder the Indian film industry has woken up to the possibilities of low-cost independent films starring virtual unknowns and directed by emerging talent. Indian indies have been given a helping hand thanks to the patronage of Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, whose production company Aamir Khan Productions (AKP) is responsible for Peepli Live, Dhobi Ghat, 2007's sleeper hit Taare Zameen Par and the forthcoming caper comedy Delhi Belly, which premieres at this year's LIFF before getting a general release.

Khan has become the figurehead of Hindie cinema more by luck than design. "AKP began by accident. I didn't intend to produce films until I came across the script for Lagaan – which I loved, and nobody was prepared to produce. The industry thought a film about villagers rising up and playing cricket against the Raj was too unusual and very risky. Since Lagaan it's been 10 years and we've produced six films, and they all have been films nobody else would touch," he says. "Of these five have been first-time directors and two have been women directors, which is unusual in India. So we're a production house for young talent and film-makers who want to do different films. Each of the films is off beat and alternative, so unintentionally we have ended up supporting independent cinema."

The fact that 46-year-old Khan is one of Bollywood's top three actors (along with two other Khans, Shah Rukh and Salman) and star of the two highest-grossing films in Indian cinema, 2009's 3 Idiots (£47m), and Memento-inspired Ghajini (£26m), and 2001's Oscar-nominated Lagaan – the third Indian film to be shortlisted for an Academy award – has made the public and industry sit up and take notice of Indian indies.

Cary Rajinder Sawhney, director of LIFF, as well as curator of South Asian content at the London film festival, has high hopes for Delhi Belly. "We moved the festival to tie in with Delhi Belly's release, as we knew it was right for our audience. Rather than the standard Bollywood audience across four generations, we're aiming for the younger generation who are disenfranchised by Bollywood of their parents' era, and want something more cutting-edge," he says.

Delhi Belly certainly fits the cutting-edge bill – it's in English, and has an Adults Only rating in India for swearing and depicting sex. Despite being a household name with a family-friendly image, Khan makes no apologies for backing it. "In genre terms, it's like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and reflects audiences are changing, and so are film-makers. The writer studied film-making at UCLA and the style of the script is western. Indian cinema is evolving."

Sawhney began LIFF to showcase the fact that Indian cinema has more to offer than Bollywood. "As programmer for the London film festival for 15 years, what struck me is how few of the Indian films were picked up for distribution in the UK, or were critically acclaimed."

The two-week event aims to broaden the UK's narrow view of Indian cinema not only through smart programming but also through organising industry workshops between British and Indian film-makers. "We see Iranian or Latin American film lauded at film festivals, yet good Indian cinema is going under the radar," Sawhney says. These films should be taken as seriously as other world cinema. In the UK it seems the only conception of Indian cinema is Bollywood or Satyajit Ray. There's been a real surge in new-wave independent cinema, and it's successful in the box office."

Indian independent cinema is a different beast to Hollywood. In India all producers were independent, big or little, until the government granted Indian cinema "industry" status in 2001. This ushered in the era of corporate studios such as Reliance, Eros and UTV, which finance, produce, distribute and market films. (One result of the change was that film-makers no longer depended on the underworld for finance.)

Film critic Anupama Chopra says the term independent cinema applies, in India, to a film's creative sensibility. "We're not talking about finance or distribution, but content and storytelling. These films don't adhere to the song-and-dance formula we've had for many years," she says.

India does have a history of arthouse cinema, even if Bengali director Satyajit Ray is the only film-maker most have heard of. "There was a vibrant art house or parallel cinema movement in the 1970s and 1980s," Chopra, says "with directors like Shyam Benegal and Govind Nihalani, and brilliant actors Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil. The cinema was challenging, but only occasionally did well commercially.

"It petered out in the 1980s because audiences stopped going to the cinema because of video. The resurgence in independent cinema is not arthouse in the way we knew it. Now they're not stories of rural India or exploitation; instead we have a whole generation of directors raised on Bollywood and Hollywood, telling modern urban tales."

As with any story on contemporary India, globalisation and the opening up of the economy have been pivotal: "Modern film makers have grown up with satellite TV. It arrived in 1991; before that there was one state-run channel. People who are 20 to 25 have grown watching The Bold and the Beautiful and The Sopranos."

In 1997 the first multiplexes arrived (housed in air-conditioned shopping malls) and their rapid proliferation has contributed to the development of more sophisticated, broader tastes. "Before multiplexes," says Chopra, "you only had single-screen cinemas seating 1,000; to fill that you needed a big movie. Now you can put the big movie in a screen with 500 people and something like LSD, Peepli Live or Delhi Belly in a screen for 200 or even 90 people. Both will sell out."

The corporate entities, such as Reliance BIG Entertainment, haven't hesitated to move with the changing times, and are increasingly prepared to enter into co-productions with independent operators. "One third of the population is under 25," Mahesh Ramanathan of Reliance says. "Changing societal patterns are influencing cinema, and films made on small budgets that mirror today's youth and lifestyle can also turn in big box-office numbers."

That's not to say the age of big-canvas, megastar-led, pan-India blockbusters – the four-quadrant film appealing to young and old, male and female – is over. But the financial risk means they will be few and far between, part of a film industry that's more agile, varied and innovative in its storytelling."What's been good to see in the last few years is there have been different kinds of films being made," Khan says. "Rather than one kind of film, there's a variety that speaks for the health of the industry going forward."

Music For Weddings Event

Your wedding is the most important party you will ever plan and the music is one of the key decisions you need to make. You should seriously think about the type of wedding you and your partner want before making a decision. It is not something to rush. Take your time and answer a few questions before deciding on any music.

Is budget a constraint on the music you can select? Every couple has a budget. You should sit down and decide what you are willing to spend on music for the evening. Once you have that figure it is good to have a discussion about priorities. Is it more important to get the band you want or stick to the budget? This decision will vary for each couple but you should make sure you are both on the same page.

Do you want a live band or a DJ? Is it important to have live music at your wedding or do you prefer beats? There is no right or wrong. As a couple this is about personal taste and the style of your wedding. A DJ can sometimes be a safer bet as most DJs will have a good mix of songs that everybody knows. A band gives a more personal atmosphere.

Is the theme going to shape your music choice? Think about the theme of your wedding party. Are you going to have a theme? The music will need to reflect this. Have a string quartet at a backyard BBQ wedding would seem an impossible fit. Do you want people to dance? You need to find music which suits your theme and encourages people to the dance floor.

Do you or your partner have religious or cultural requirements? If you are having a culturally traditional ceremony and reception then you will probably want the music to reflect these decisions. The music should complement the party not stand out like an awkward thumb. The band or DJ should play music which matches this. You may need time to source bands which reflect some cultures or backgrounds.

Is your couple taste or guest enjoyment more important? The music you choose should reflect your personal taste and set the atmosphere. You need to decide is it most important to you to reflect your tastes as a couple or for all your guests to enjoy the party. If you have your hearts set on a death metal band at your wedding, go ahead, but try to understand many of your guests may not enjoy the evening. You should try to select music that both you and your guests can appreciate.

Does your venue restrict your choice? Some venues may not be equipped with a sound system or space to accommodate every band. If you have already picked a venue then you need to make sure your music choice will be appropriate. Ask about noise restrictions, it is better to be safe than sorry.

VST Guitar

VST Guitar - 4 Sample Based Guitar Plug-Ins for the Keyboard Player

In a antecedent commodity I talked about a adjustment of creating astute alive Guitar solos application my keyboard. However, if you are like me and cannot comedy a absolute guitar, how can you actualize believable guitar advance in your home flat back either composing, or bearing audio abetment advance for your abandoned performances?.

Well, the acknowledgment is VST.

Briefly, VST or (Virtual Flat Technology) is acomputer application interface advised by Steinberg, which allows a actuality to simulate either agreeable instruments or flat accouterments furnishings realistically, such as Reverb, Compression, Delay, Audio Mastering to name aloof a few.

Many VST 'plug-ins' can accomplish as stand-alone programs but about they are acclimated (or 'Plugged in') to your music sequencer - Cubase, Logic or Sonar are prime examples. There are abounding VST plug-ins accessible on the market, but for the purpose of this commodity I am apperception on the use of VST Guitar plug-ins which, through the use of audio sampling, challenge the appearance and sounds of a absolute guitar. (Not to be abashed with aloof assuming Guitar Furnishings and Amplifier Cabinets)

So, what is appropriate about actuality able to challenge a Guitar?

This blazon of appetite VST Guitar constituent uses audio samples of the absolute blazon of guitar that has been selected. This agency that as a non Guitar amateur I can realistically carbon a guitar complete application my keyboard. Also, by the use of the keyboard I can additionally affect the achievement and appearance of the produced sound.

For example, I can comedy a ambit with my appropriate had and with my larboard columnist keys (often at the top or basal annals of the keyboard) to aftermath achievement techniques such as abounding advance and sustain, arch mute, slap, harmonics, affront noise, angle bend, strum, up/down achievement - the account goes on.

Another additional to these plug-ins is that you can ascendancy them from your Midi advance aural your sequencer. This is advantageous if you are converting your midi advance to audio abetment tracks. Let's face it, if you are application abetment advance for your abandoned act, cipher wants to apprehend midi anymore, and the converted-to-audio affection is so abundant added professional.

Music Lab Real Guitar

One of the VST Guitar bales that I use is MusicLab's RealGuitar 2L. This accurate constituent appearance 8 Acoustic guitars, including Steel, Nylon and 12 String. I accept acclimated this constituent actual auspiciously converting my Midi advance and the achievement simulations are acutely realistic.

Music Lab Real Strat and Real LPC

MusicLab accept two added agnate basic VST Guitar samplers called RealStrat and RealLPC. The first, as the called suggests, emulates the sounds and appearance of the Strat Guitar. Not alone does this constituent accept the accepted ambit of ascendancy over arena techniques and articulations, but additionally has its own Pattern Manager complete with a Pattern Library, enabling the user to calmly actualize guitar accessory tracks.

MusicLab RealLPC

Next is RealLPC. This constituent emulates a Les Paul Custom Guitar which boasts an avant-garde access to guitar complete modelling and guitar techniques. The address of this high-end custom Guitar is apparently because it is acclimated by abounding Guitar Heroes such as Gary Moore, Carlos Santana, Eddie Van Halen etc.

The playability of this VST apparatus is based on different achievement modes, accumulated with an accessible to use keyboard blueprint which allows the Keyboardist to accomplish with accomplished fresh achievement realism.

Vir2 Instruments Electri6ity

There is one final VST Guitar adornment I appetite to mention, and that is Vir2 Instruments' Electri6ity. In my chase for "the perfect" VST Guitar, the best difficult to acquisition has been a basic guitar which can aftermath beauteous astute advance guitar - abnormally the added Rock blazon of abandoned you ability apprehend John Petrucci or Eddie Van Halen perform.

Electri6ity uses 8 guitars including the Les Paul, Strat, Tele and Rickenbacker and thecomputer application incorporates added than 24,000 audio samples of anniversary guitar acceptance you to comedy every delivery on every cord of every affront to aftermath that accurate guitar sound. Certainly for advance work, this constituent absolutely rocks my boat.

Conclusion

If you are a Keyboard Amateur attractive to affairs a VST Guitar constituent and are a bit borderline about which, again I achievement the aloft has accustomed some acumen which one may be appropriate for you. Excellent affection VST samplers for appetite of added instruments like Piano, Drum, Orchestral instruments etc. accept been about for absolutely a while, but award that appropriate astute guitar appetite - abnormally for advance assignment - has alone been available, in my opinion, absolutely afresh acknowledgment to added able accretion ability - administration huge quantities of aerial affection audio samples in real-time, accumulated with a able and able-bodied anticipation out ascendancy via your keyboard.

Audiophiles Unite

True Audiophiles Affiliate - Accumulate Abundant Music Alive

True audiophiles affiliate to accumulate abundant music animate and vinyl annal are at the top of the list. There is annihilation added agitative to a music activist than putting a almanac on the turntable and alert to the admirable complete it makes. Vinyl annal are recorded in analog and back you absolutely apprehend in analog, it's a added accustomed complete that's added adorable to the ears.

When you're accessible to accompany music lovers everywhere to advice accumulate in apportionment some of the best aural music in history, actuality are bristles abundant means to accumulate vinyl annal alive:

1. Participate in apology projects advised to restore vinyl records. Back you booty allotment in and advice these projects through your abutment and funding, you advice to accumulate vinyl annal and all they accept to action accessible for approaching generations.

2. Start up a accumulating of singles and albums from all music genres.

3. Go arcade for annal on eBay, Amazon and added sites that action abundant deals on all types of music.

4. Look for vinyl albums at barn sales, acreage sales and austerity food area they may be tucked abroad in a bend somewhere.

5. Talk to others about the accent of chain calm to abutment the affairs and affairs of annal forth with assuming your abutment for projects advised to restore or charm vinyl.

Let others apperceive that you are accomplishing your allotment and anybody charge appear calm to accumulate vinyl animate for approaching ancestors to enjoy. Back accurate audiophiles affiliate calm you can achieve aloof about annihilation you set your apperception to do. Make your attendance accepted and appearance aloof how important it is for all audiophiles to appearance their support.

It's adamantine to accept that there are some bodies who don't alike apperceive what a vinyl almanac is or what abundant complete it produces. These are the ones that accept developed up on iPods, MP3 players and CDs. This is a abashment because they are missing out on so abundant and don't alike apprehend it. You could be the one to accompany archetypal vinyl into their lives for the aboriginal time.

When accurate audiophiles affiliate to accumulate this music alive, it gives this and approaching ancestors the adventitious to apprehend music in its purest form. Vinyl annal were the aboriginal adjustment acclimated to accompany music into homes area you could aces and accept what you listened to back you capital to apprehend music, clashing the radio area you had to accept to whatever they absitively to play.

Classic Country Artists

Classic country artists accept fabricated such an consequence on the music industry that abounding of them accept becoming a appropriate abode in the history of music. Archetypal country music or as it is sometimes called, Country and Western music, has fabricated its mark on association and it will consistently a big allotment of our lives.

It's aloof as accepted today as it was in the alpha alike admitting there are abounding added types of music to accept to such as bedrock and roll, pop, hip-hop and so forth. Abounding fresh country singers are arising up every year who archetypal themselves afterwards one of the aboriginal singers who helped get things started so abounding years ago.

Classic country music began evolving in the 20s and Jimmie Rodgers was accustomed the appellation "Father of Country Music" because it's believed that this blazon of music began with both Rodgers and the Carter family. Of course, abounding added abundant musicians accept fabricated a cogent appulse over the years and they still authority the absorption of music lovers today.

In fact, so abounding country artists accept fabricated an appulse on the music industry that it's difficult to attenuated bottomward the account to aloof a few but actuality are 10 of the top archetypal country artisan of all time:

1. Johnny Cash

2. George Jones

3. Conway Twitty

4. Charlie Pride

5. Buck Owens

6. Patsy cline

7. Merle Haggard

8. Hank Williams

9. Dolly Parton

10. Waylon Jennings

These names will consistently be remembered as some of the greatest singers and in some cases, songwriters of the 20th century. Their music is played over the airways and collectors everywhere seek out albums created by these artists to add to their collection. Some of them are account a lot of money abnormally back they are in excellent condition.

Many singers accept dabbled in altered types of music throughout their careers. Jimmy Buffett was one of these who seemed to add a canton song or two to his albums alike admitting he was more good accepted for his pop and folk music. Others like Elvis Presley began their career as a country accompanist but again confused on to sing bedrock and cycle music. He will consistently be remembered for his amazing appearance of music in both genres.

Country music has appear a continued way back those acclaimed artists began their career and in some ways, it has alike changed. This is why canonizing the archetypal country artists of yesteryear are so important for music lovers everywhere.

Double Dhamaal

It's the season of sequels! After last week's Bheja Fry 2, which got a thanda response, all eyes were on Double Dhamaal, the sequel to 2007's comedy Dhamaal. With obvious comparisons in tow, Double Dhamaal manages to create just a stir and No Dhamaal, forget it being Double.

The movie is like a circus show, where various artists don different avatars, hit each other, fall down, make funny faces and do other amusing things with the sole aim to make you laugh. Sometimes they hit the Bull's eye, sometimes they don't. Similar is the case with Double Dhamaal, where various characters struggle to perk up the movie, succeed in some scenes but fail on the whole.

Director Indra Kumar, with wacky comedies like Ishq and Dil to his name, which were marked with some beautiful emotional and romantic moments, has tried to meet his fans' sky-high hopes in Double Dhamaal with an ensemble star cast, foreign locales and some mad-cap and adult humour, which definitely makes you giggle but strictly in some parts. Unfortunately, the man ended up making another mindless comedy, which is not at all 'hatke.'

What to say about the writers, must admit that they have done their homework well (read getting inspired by recent Bollywood comedies) as the movie exploits the sexual and adult humour to the core. So, be ready for some 'balls' and 'marbles' rolled at you and don't get zapped if the names of characters sound like popular expletives!

Talking about the story-line, first half looks quite clichéd and predictable, in the way Sanjay Dutt plans to fool the four boys and then they decide to take revenge. Post intermission, the plot begins to show some signs of twists in the tale but all that comes to the fore is usual jokes, typical funny situations and over the top scenes, which begin to irritate you after some time. However, the movie can boast of a few scenes that will definitely tickle your funny bone - gorilla scene, coat hanging scene and the spoofs on Guzaarish, Taare Zameen Par and Wanted, deserve a mention here.

Double Dhamaal begins where Dhamaal ends. The four friends of Dhamaal are back with Double Dhamaal - Roy (Riteish Deshmukh), Boman (Ashish Choudhary), Adi (Arshad Warsi) and Manav (Jaaved Jaafrey) are leading a life of paupers after donating all of their money to the orphanage. They meet the supah rich Kabir (Sanjay Dutt) and the two sexy ladies - Kia (Kangana) and Kamini (Mallika Sherawat) and that ignites their desire to lead a luxurious life. And soon, begins the mad race to become rich, richer and richest - a race that's marked with silly ramblings, mistaken identities, disguises and lots of tamasha.

As far as characters are concerned, you can say only they are the saving grace. While, Sanjay Dutt delivers what's expected - nothing more, nothing less, Arshad, is really asardar with his comic timing and dialogue delivery, Riteish once again takes the cake for his performance, specially for his outstanding mimicry. Aashish Choudhary is a revelation as sex-siren Barbara Horie and Do Do, though, he is just 'ok' as Boman. Jaaved Jaffrey will win your heart with his vulnerability, which creates some humorous moments. Mallika Sherawat is just a 'show piece,' a sexy one at that. We're wondering if she was funnier as the Hiss-torical Naagin or Kamini? Even the controversial and 'blink and you miss' bikini act and the anticipated item number 'Jalebi Bai' couldn't save her sinking character. Last but not the least, Kangana's character could have explored a lot more. The girl definitely has some comic sense, which if exploited well can work wonders.

Music (un)wise the film doesn't offer anything remarkable minus the 'Chal Kudiye' number by Mika, which might become a party-anthem for some days. 'Jalebi Bai,' which was being promoted as a competition to 'Shelia' and Munni, doesn't even come close to them. Rest of the songs are forgettable, and you will for sure! Anand Raj Anand has been better in the past.

On the whole, Double Dhamaal is a movie for those, who are in no mood to handle 'heavy duty' stuff and are looking out for just any movie to kill three hours with some under the belt humour. A statutory warning from us - A BIG tub of pop corn is a must! After all you deserve a treat for sitting through the movie!

Dubai Cinemas

Best Way of Entertainment!
Dubai is a beautiful place famous for its scenic attractions as well as mesmerizing skyline. Tourists in large numbers visit Dubai to experience these enthralling sites. A wide variety of entertainment centers are also located in Dubai that entertains visitors as well as local people. Besides these entertainment centers, Dubai Cinemasalso offer excitement and entertainment to the viewers.

Many cinema centers such as Grand Cinecity, Grand Cineplex, Grand Mercato, CineStar Cinemas at Diera City Centre, Lamcy Cinema, Grand Metroplex, etc are few of the prominent cinemas in Dubai. Besides local people, visitors can also enjoy good movies and forget about their day to day stressful lives.

Grand Cinemas offer quality entertainment to their viewers. The hall is state of the art and attracts people in large numbers. The success of Grand Cinemas is phenomenal and has given way to many more additions to the group. Sustainable growth has been witnessed in cinema facilities in Dubai.

CineStar Cinemas are located inside Mall of Emirates. One can shop around for a while and then can watch cinema to culminate the day at a happy note. Most of the movies give a positive message to the society but some are through and through entertaining and comedy. People love to watch these movies as they do not have to apply their mind and get serious. One just needs to let go of himself and enjoy thoroughly.

The VOX cinema is another feather in the cap as far as entertainment industry is concerned. Located in Deira City Centre, this cinema offers 4k Digital projection systems. In this system the number of pixels is four times more than any other digital cinema in the nearby region. A visitor can experience more enthralling and compelling cinema on these screens. The picture quality is impressive thereby making the experience more exciting.

The passion for cinemas is reflected everywhere. Seldom there are people who do not enjoy movies. Cinemas are a source of good entertainment that helps people to forget their worries and real life for a while thereby taking them to a fantasy land. The passion of movies is so great that children and youngsters start emulating their favorite superstars. They walk like them, talk like them, wear designer clothes, etc. So far it is within the limits, it is alright but at times things go out of control and a person gets cut off from reality.

Cinemas are responsible for offering relaxation to people otherwise busy in their day to day monotonous life. Today's highly competitive world does not give them a breather and they are forced to work hard to stay afloat. Watching cinemas once in a while relieves their tension. They feel relaxed and ready to work with double enthusiasm.

It is fact that despite a huge variety of other means of entertainment available these days, the charm and excitement of cinemas is not going to recede. This form of entertainment has carved a niche for itself and continues to entertain people from all walks of life. Dubai Cinemas offer best cinematic experience to their viewers.

Cat Caught King's

A Review of The King's Speech (2010)
At the 83rd Academy Awards, The King's Speech won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Director (Tom Hooper), Best Actor (Colin Firth), and Best Original Screenplay (David Seidler). The film had received twelve Oscar nominations, more than any other film. Besides the four categories it won, the film received nominations for Best Cinematography (Danny Cohen) and two for the supporting actors (Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush), as well as two for its mise-en-scène: Art Direction and Costumes.

I am not sure how strongly the story of a stammering, early twentieth century Duke of York will appeal to audiences in Dhaka, but The King's Speech is a must-see for our local moviemakers. Natoks and non-FDC cinema in Bangladesh are usually similar dialogue-driven dramas. Therefore, a comparative analysis with The King's Speech is pertinent. This film has won the top award at the Producers' Guild and the Directors' Guild of America, the People's choice at the Toronto Film Festival, seven Golden Globes and has been nominated for twelve Oscars. Moreover, according to market data providers, Rentrak, it has grossed near about 100 million dollars and counting, in the US and through international markets.

Of course, the scale of this production is incomparable with the size of Bangladeshi productions, but the subject matter The King's Speech handles is of the nature that Bangladeshi filmmakers feel comfortable dealing in. Presupposing that the wily, know-it-all Bengali filmmaker receives this film positively, there may be many lessons to be learned from The King's Speech. The question I want to pose to them before I go ahead and review the film: Does the success of a drama depend on the bare rudiments? A formidable screenplay, some stellar acting, a picky director and, and: a knowledgeable team? Or, is there some mantra behind it?

The story of the The King's Speech is as thorough a look into the world of a stammerer as ever seen. The three character plot may seem rather linear, but it is perforated with subtext. Director Tom Cooper does a good job of executing the tension that writer David Seidler writes into the relationship between his Royal Highness, or Bertie, (Colin Firth) and his Australian speech therapist, Lionel Louge (Geoffery Rush). My one complaint about the script: the viewer has to suffer through too many of Bertie's excruciatingly agonizing failed orations. To call for empathy is alright, but the repeated pain inflicted on the audience needed to be curtailed.

In his screenplay, writer David Seidler in effect, creates three worlds-the early twentieth century time period; the protocol encrusted world of the Royalty and Lionel's world- where he is king and the Crown becomes a commoner. There is a reason behind his impudence: he supports that his unorthodox and controversial methods will work on the Duke, only if they behave as equals. The discomfort that this situation creates for the Duke, opens up a novel avenue for both textual and subtextual investigations on sociability in the monarchy. Also, as the relationship between patient and "doctor" grows, a unique friendship is explored.

Geoffery Rush, Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter's acting does justice to the script. Variety Magazine's Peter Debruge claims, in his September 4, 2010 article, that the big scenes are indisputably the monarch's. Yet, the therapist's stubbornness in choosing his way over the king's, has more onscreen visibility than the monarch's royal perseverance to deliver and finish a speech. The Duke of York does have the more emotional scenes, but, the memorable character sketch and performance is the therapist's. Geoffery Rush gets to play a delightfully independent persona and everything Rush does onscreen enriches the story. His every gesture, every deliberation brings us closer to this period piece.

We are reminded very early into the film that Lionel the therapist is a failed actor. This bit of information foreshadows the later revelation that he is also an actor, somewhat, in real life: he is not a certified practitioner. This foreshadowing illuminates Lionel's inner conflict and gives the goings-on of his mind as much importance as the conflicts in the title character's mind.

The props and sets have a distinct charateristic of their own. Every wall is rich and textured, every room borrows heavily from a particular palette and every character and every staging uses spaces to make them look like lived-in places. Tom Cooper and the director of photography, Danny Cohen, exploit the locations to a point of flaunting their baroque beauty. Actors are shown with ample headroom, they are often short-sided and the close-ups are shot with wide lenses giving the viewer a much wider, almost askew, angle of view behind the actor.

Production music libraries

Production music libraries will typically offer a broad range of musical styles and genres, enabling producers and editors to find much of what they need in the same library. Music libraries vary in size from a few hundred tracks up to many thousands. Library music composers and session performers typically work anonymously and have rarely become known outside their own professional circle. The production music market is dominated by libraries affiliated with the large record and publishing with latestmusicbook.blogspot.com.

Directcomposer.com is a premier provider of world-renowned production music libraries online. We provide you a powerful production music libraries combined with experienced sales agents to find the music you need for your project, getting you back into the edit, fast. We house thousands of cuts of great production music libraries for you, allowing you to do what you do best: Be creative.

If you are looking for a powerful yet simple way to make your own beats online, then you have come to the right place. I am going to show you the easiest way possible to produce your own music and create beats with some of the most incredible beat making software ever to be seen. If you are interested in producing hip hop beats, rap beats, r&b beats, drum and base, dj beats or any sort of music instrumentals then here are some of the best music libraries you can use to make your own beats.

Full Sail attracts people from all over the world with a passion to create, music, film, games, animation, design, and live events. They come here to learn in an environment that is essentially one of the biggest entertainment production facilities on the planet, and to be part of a community of likeminded peers.

Creative mp3 players

Getting bored while travelling in metro buses, ion you bikes and some time sin your cars too is something no would prefer to. And to stay away from that kind of boredom most of all switch to music because some (the real readers) stick to reading fiction as well as nonfiction material. But one thing that only some of us are peculiar about and it is only those ‘some' who do I, where the thing actually stands for getting an amazing pair of headphones for one' self. Spending three hours every day listening to music make sour ears do a little, in fact a lot of extra work. The ear strain is what leading to many hearing problems.

To avoid these problems and enjoy the music for as long as you want, the best you can do for your ears is to buy the branded and high-quality MP3players which would take good care of the quality of the sound, base, treble and beats. MP3 Players Price of any brand is not fixed; it keeps changing as per the brand that it is manufacturing and in accordance with the features of the player. If you are buying an MP3 player with high memory and extravagant features it will of course cost you much but if you are satisfied with low memory, less features yet supreme audio quality, the price would be quite economical.

Creative is one brand which is famous for such kind of gadgets. Be it headphones, MP3players, stereo system, creative manufactures all of them in the best possible way and with the most supreme quality. And if you have thought of buying a creative mp3 players Price, one thing that you must know which you must be concerned of is that the Creative MP3 Players Price is neither high nor it is over the neck. Creative will give you variety and economical prices on the same hand. However, if you are looking for a more esteemed brand and a brand that has higher brand value, Samsung would do it for you.

Samsung has got great recognition quotient in the field of electronic items. Samsung MP3 players are definitely better than the creative ones in terms of appearance and looks. However, in the aspect of technology both give tough competition to each other but in terms of better sound quality creative is ahead. Also, the Samsung MP3 Players Price is more than that of creative players.

Jazz Bands

Introduction to Jazz Bands
Jazz music is one of the many forms of music that is usually played at parties, quiet kickback pubs and dedicated jazz venues. Most people like jazz music because it is not too loud and noisy, has minimal instruments, and is extremely pleasant. A Jazz band doesn't always need a singer as it is very interesting to listen to, even as simple instrumental pieces. Jazz music, many people say, got its birth in New Orleans. The Kid Ory's were the very first jazz band that began playing their music in New Orleans and recorded it. They became extremely popular and the people's love for jazz grew rapidly. The dynamic city of Chicago soon took over and gave birth to numerous jazz musicians and bands.

A Jazz band is a group of musicians that usually comprise of a drummer to provide the beat and tempo to the piece and a bass guitar which plays single or flowing bass notes. The piano or guitar is also included in a jazz combo. In most places in the world, the saxophone is one of the most important instruments of the jazz group along with the trumpet.

In the present day, with the rapid growth of fusion music, jazz bands are incorporating other forms of music too. Many jazz bands include a light touch of Indian string instruments like the sitar and also the Indian violin. Although this kind of music is still not very well known, it seems to be rapidly growing and will catch up to other genres in the years to come.

The most special feature of a jazz musician, when compared to any other musician, is his ability and talent to improvise and update his style of playing. A jazz musician will rarely play a tune in the same way each time. There is always a slight change in the way he plays the tune, or in the repetitions of notes.

Perhaps the greatest jazz musician the world has known would be Louis Armstrong, whose legacy peaked during the 1950's. As time went by, jazz music gave birth to many derivatives and they came to be called different forms of jazz music itself like modal jazz, Latin jazz, African jazz, soul jazz, modern jazz, fusion jazz etc. To this day jazz music is played all over the world at parties, weddings, clubs and pubs. With the growth of hard rock and freestyle rap, the love for jazz, country and other old western styles is also morphing into new directions.

Jazz Music

Jazz: The Growth of Contemporary Jazz Music
Born in the early 20th century in African American cultures, jazz is a musical style that has developed and evolved all different genres of music. Dating from early 1910s to the 1990s, jazz has contributed to the growth of music. Sparking a rise to a variety of music styles, the spread of jazz across the world influenced trends from early New Orleans Dixieland styles to Latin Afro-Cuban even playing a part in the development of funk and hip hop in the 1990s.

Aside from playing a part in the growth of subgenres, jazz within itself has been influenced by a variety of musical genres. Most commonly the trends of R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles helped shape jazz fusion into what we know to be smooth jazz. With tracks of encoded rhythms and down tempo beats, smooth jazz is often confused with styling of contemporary jazz music. A modern growth is urban contemporary jazz, which slot in aspects of hip-hop; which is intended for listeners who would normally listen to radio stations that play an assortment of hip-hop and R&B. While smooth jazz is soft and mellow is content; contemporary jazz music is blunter and grabs the attention of its listeners.

Among the players who commonly perform free jazz are Dave Koz, Boney James, Paul Jackson Jr., Nick Colionne, Bobby Perry, Urban Jazz Coalition, Streetwize, and Tha' Hot Club. As well as other free jazz artists such as Bob Baldwin, Michael Lington, Brian Bromberg, David Lanz, Bobby Ricketts, Kim Waters, Daniele Caprelli, Ken Navarro, Walter Beasley, and Peter White. As popularity for late night radio airplay throughout the years grew; doors where open for contemporary jazz music artist like Kenny G, David Sanborn, the late George Howard, George Benson, Marc Antoine, Bradley Joseph and contemporary jazz flautist Najee. These modern jazz musicians had a tendency to play their instruments in at such a harmonious frequency that it was rare for the measures to go un-noticeable.

The free jazz radio arrangement, which commonly played fifteen-minute sets involving instrumentals wrapping a vocal song or two continued to grow and flourish over the 1990s and early 2000s. In the late 2000s, most markets began losing jazz stations and in a variety of media markets, this arrangement does no longer exist over the air except online or on HD Radio.

By 2009, as contemporary jazz remained on its persistent decline on the syndicated radio airwaves, an increasing number of non-commercial stations have grown an interest in the music and began to add it to their programming.

Tizzy Bac Interview

Tizzy Bac Interview: A Cross-Cultural Music Exchange
Formed in 1999, the Taiwan indie band Tizzy Bac has gained lots of attention for their unique music style. The three young and ambitious music lovers decided to start their "piano rock" style despite the fact that guitarists were ruling the indie scene at the time. Fast forward to 2011 and Tizzy Bac recently returned from performing at the SXSW festival in the US. SXSW was a great experience for Tizzy Bac as they met and mixed it up with indie bands from various countries and backgrounds. But it merely whet their appetite for something even bigger in the future - their first US tour, calling the possibility "a unique and precious opportunity."

Although most audiences coming for their show were Chinese, some westerners were also there, which was quite noticeable. Unlike the Chinese audiences who had already known their music before the show, the westerners were purely drawn there by curiosity or what little buzz there was for "Taiwan Rocks SXSW." Tizzy Bac believes that their appeal for American fans lies in their merging of music and cultures. They feel that music is an international language that everyone can speak, and it doesn't matter whether it's in Mandarin or English, as long as it's good. "I remember at the SXSW festival, there were several foreigners watching our show. We can tell that the were captivated by our music from the expression and smile on their faces."

At the same time, they recognize the challenges of conveying their lyrical message to fans who don't understand their native tongue. "Although audiences in America and Europe listen to our music, there are language barriers in their trying to understand what we're singing. Our plan is to sing in English in order to more deeply connect with our fans."

The band has toured abroad in various countries including the UK, Singapore, Canada, Japan, Malaysia as well as mainland China and Hong Kong. Their music is quite popular in Japan and mainland China, which can they attribute to having an audience with similar cultural backgrounds who simply 'get it'. In fact, in some areas, fans organized pre-performance social events. When the band went to perform at Fuji Rock, they could feel that the love Japanese fans had for their music in order to come see a Taiwan indie band perform. They didn't know Chinese, but they understood the charm of their music.

When Tizzy Bac formed ten years ago, most bands were focused on hard-rock and guitar-based music. Tizzy Bac, whose members played the piano, could only play the 'supporting role'. To distinguish from other bands, Tizzy Bac focused on keyboards and formed a guitaristless band (still rare in Taiwan). Ironically, being a piano-based indie rock band became their brand. "Every music lover can go for their dreams--- for us three, who all came from different bands, our brand became unique because of our passion for music." They became the exception, and not the rule. "The exception makes us think about the direction we are going and also influences choosing the following members of the band."

While the band members usually collaborate in the studio to produce songs, Tizzy Bac's vocalist Chan Huiting usually comes up with a basic structure, such as the tempo for chords. Each member of the band strives to keep the passion in their music, and have each dedicated themselves to the fine art of recording and performing, which they credit to their longevity and success.

Tizzy Bac admits that while all of the members have listened to a wide variety of western music, with a particular emphasis on rock, Taiwanese music (especially Taiwanese folk songs) has had the greatest influence on their sound. While their music is certainly flavored with western elements, they manage to maintain a very 'local' sound. Taiwanese, the local dialect that has a much longer history than the more currently used Mandarin, has also had a significant influence on their musical inspirations. Other native influences also include Chinese local operas, and traditional music from China and Japan.

Being an island, the market and circle for music in Taiwan is relatively small. Because the history of Taiwan indie music is quite short, barely ten years before the formation of Tizzy Bac. However, while all the Taiwan's indie music community is relatively tight, those that are able stick to stick it through are far and few. Tizzy Bac thinks that Taiwanese indie bands have not done enough to collaborate and learn from each other. However, Tizzy Bac will still go on to as the industry changes. "We want to do the band until we are 50 and experience all the transformations along the way."

Yamaha PSR-S710 Keyboard

The Yamaha PSR-S710 Keyboard is an arranger for professional musicians who are looking for an affordable option but something that is still a professional keyboard, something that is better than the psr-s550 in Yamaha's arranger keyboard series. In case you have been using an entry level or mid range keyboard like the psr-e423, then the PSR-S710 is a good keyboard to own especially if you are keen on music production as well. It has many useful features and is available at a much lower price than the psr-s910.

In terms of cost, this Workstation keyboard is less than the 1500 dollars mark. Not real cheap but this is the range from where most entry level arranger workstation keyboards start. There are many keyboards that are much more expensive, but this keyboard offers a nice balance of features and cost. If you have been looking for professional sound & features then this is the keyboard to consider. The addition of USB audio to recording on the Yamaha psr-s710 keyboard delivers tremendous benefit for all musicians, irrespective of whether you are a hobbyist musician or pro looking to use this keyboard in public. As you go higher in the PSR arranger series, you will find most of the keyboards retaining some sounds from the topmost models like the Tyros and the psrs910. The same applies to this keyboard as well.

Most sounds have been retained from the higher PSR arranger models, so you can certainly expect the sounds & styles to be a lot better. You get around 850 plus realistic sounds. It has Polyphony of 128-note max, which is good enough for most purposes. The 16-track sequencer will let you create complex arrangements. Large LCD screen lets you see lyrics, chords, notations and all the selections that you have made. Internet Direct Connectivity and USB connectivity lets you expand the capabilities of your keyboard since you can make it work with useful software on a computer.