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.