Drum Solos - The Highlights That Every Drummer Wants

When you are a drummer, drum solos are excellent instances when you can highlight your talent and skill. In each drummer's career, he needs to be able to make those solos that are meant to establish himself as a talented drummer.

You will need to know what a drum solo will require of you. Enlisted below are several things that will help you make a solo that will give you the recognition you deserve.

What Other Drummers Do

Consider what other drummers do in their solos. What is attention-getting in them? Look into how they beat the drums, what are the patterns that they use? What is the speed of the beats? Find out about these things and find as many samples of solos as you can. Study them and look for the flavor that makes those performances great.

The Charisma You Have

What makes the audience listen to you? It isn't only the talent that you have. You should also have the ability to hold the audience's attention by the personality you project. An important factor to consider is your own style. Keep the audience captivated by your own moves and your own personal style. Make your music as enticing as you are.

The Patterns

You need to make your own beat patterns. Make an interesting interplay of fast, slow, and melodic patterns that will surely make the audience listen. You are the spotlight of the moment. Make use of that moment in a way that your music is listened to. Avoid making the same patterns all the time. Make them mixed in with different speeds and with different beat counting.

The Suspense

It is also good to put in some suspense in your performance. Do not blast their ears with beats that are too loud all at once. Keep it interesting with a suspending intro and then hold their attention with the gradual rise of the beats.

The Audience Will Compose Of Musicians Too

Keep in mind that many of your audience will be fellow musicians like you. You are certain that they will not like to be bombarded with a performance that is packed with everything all at once. They key thing here is to give them a performance that will hold their attention and see you for the talent that you have. As in a conversation, you will like to expound on everything. However, make that conversation interesting. Keep them interested in your performance by giving them the techniques one at a time during the performance.

Conclusions

Drum solos are special performances in a drummer's career. As a drummer, make sure that you make each performance a show of the skills you have. Keep them interested by making a performance that will highlight not only your technique and talent but also, your personal style and individuality.

Look into more drumming system reviews. Check out our website and read about the Learn And Master Drums review today!

What Is The Best Music Maker To Use On Your Computer?

Even if you are still a beginner in the music making world, you really want to have the best music maker available, right? To have this would be a real advantage, considering that there are other aspiring music producers out there who are up for the competition. If there is already a high level of competition amongst music producers, then competition amongst music making software is even steeper.

The Best Music Maker Today: Sonic Producer

There are many music producers out there who still aren't that experienced but really have the gusto to push through with what they want to do. If you're into making music and you want to get your hands on the best music maker in the market then you have to check out the Sonic Producer.

Here are some of the reasons why you should get Sonic Producer for your computer:

Not Complicated

The Sonic Producer is definitely the best music maker out there primarily because it's not complicated to use. This is a very simple software that you can access through the Internet. It's perfect for those who are just beginning to make their own music.

If you want an instrumental solo or something that's hip hop, you'll absolutely have no problem making this happen when you use the Sonic Producer. It's easy to use because of its interface that's user-friendly.

Tutorials

When you use the software, you will have no problems getting things started because of the video tutorials available. These videos will certainly serve as expert guides as you start making your own music. It also gives lessons about music production in general. With the Sonic Producer you will fulfill your dream of becoming a full-fledged music producer without having to wait too long.

Mobile Capabilities

If you created your music already then you could download it straight into your MP3 and listen to it wherever you go.

Cost Reducer

Not every music producer has millions of dollars to produce great music. The Sonic Producer helps those who are just starting to make their own music by keeping the price very affordable. You can use this application online and start making music. You don't have to pay for shipping fees or packaging fees at all.

Large Beat Collection

The program has a huge collection of beats that you can play around with. They are recorded professionally, vary in genre such as hip hop and rap and are very high quality.

How To Hire The Right Wedding DJ

When booking a wedding DJ for your entertainment, there are a few things to keep in mind besides the price.

1. Does the DJ have the experience to make your wedding reception a good memory?

This is a question few people think to ask a DJ. If you haven't seen the DJ in action or at least on a video, how do you know they have the experience to handle your reception? Most times, if the DJ is experienced in receptions, they will provide references you can call or email as well as pictures of the events they have entertained. Another way to check the background of the DJ is see if they have a Facebook Fan Page or a website. The Facebook page will give you an idea of what kind of shows they do on a regular basis, what other people are saying about the shows, and if the DJ is as outgoing or as reserved as you want them to be.

2. Does the DJ also handle the announcing at the wedding reception?

Most DJs that have wedding reception experience can also MC the event. When you ask for an MC, make sure the person has been trained on how to make announcements. You want an MC that can get your guests attention without too much effort and can make your announcements in a clear, easy to understand, voice. Also, your MC will go over any last minute details (like the pronunciation of the names) before the reception to make sure all the announcements are done to your specifications.

3. Does the DJ have insurance for their company to cover liability?

Too many DJs do not have insurance and have lost their livelihood and sometimes their personal possessions like homes and cars because of accidents that could have been covered by insurance. Make sure your DJ has insurance and can provide a declarations page at the time of the contract signing. Also check with your venue to make sure they don't require the insurance to list them as an additional insured. Some venues will tell you about Wedding Day Insurance, which typically costs from $100 to $200 depending on the venue and the type of reception you are having.

This is a two part series. There is so much information regarding interviewing DJs on the internet.

Be on the lookout for the second part of this article coming soon.

Janine is a co-owner of a San Antonio DJ and Karaoke company called Big Tyme Entertainment. Big Tyme has been in business since 2004 and has continually grown since then from just a little one man Karaoke show to five regular shows a week, 40 to 50 additional private parties and weddings a year, eight employees and has an expansion coming soon. To book your event, go to http://bigtymeentertainment.com/djservices/

Kids Guitars

Your child for a while now has been begging you to get him or her a guitar. And you, being the great parent that you are, who cares so much about their child and wants their child to succeed, and who knows the great benefits children gain by learning to play a musical instrument (such as learning the concepts of reaching goals, practice, a boost in self-confidents, etc.), is willing to give your child their wish- A Musical Instrument.

Thinking of going in to any local retailer, picking up the first guitar you see and that's it? Well, in a short while you will notice that you probably should have spent a bit more time while shopping for that instrument. Your child will 'forget' about the guitar and it will just sit there collecting dust, and it's NOT your Child's fault!

The reason for this is that like most things in life, guitars come in many different shapes and sizes. There are big and small guitars, and guitars with various number of strings. There are acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and classic guitars. Buying for your child a guitar that is big in size will not do because the child will not be able to hold it properly. A guitar with numerous strings will be just too complicated for any beginner. An electric guitar is generally more complex than an acoustic guitar. These are all important details to look for when shopping for a guitar for your young ones, in order for them to truly succeed in reaching their goals and their musical ambitions.

As a music teacher, I can tell you from experience that the best way to go when getting your child a guitar, or even for yourself as a beginner, is getting an acoustic guitar with no more than eight strings. This type of guitar is the most simple and easiest to learn. The guitar should be the right size for the child as a big guitar will just be too much to handle and hold properly. It may seem obvious to you, but I can't tell you how many people make these simple mistakes.

The best method when shopping for a kids is to look for a guitar that is a REAL KIDS GUITAR, that is to say that the guitar is REAL and not just a toy (a child will NEVER be able to learn how to play guitar with a toy guitar!), but is uniquely designed with the young musician in mind, to fit their size and is simple to learn and use. If you would like more information, may I suggest to you http://www.kidzbeats.com, a website that is devoted to kids real musical instruments.

Top 5 Best Kaskade Songs You Don't Want To Miss

Ryan Raddon (aka Kaskade), in addition to being the #1 DJ in the United States (according to a 2011 DJ Times poll), the world's #30 DJ (DJMag Top 100 DJs poll, also in 2011), is, in his own right, a chart-topping producer as well.

With 9 artist album releases and countless top remixes, there are myriad songs to choose from to determine a top 5 list. However I've got 5 that I think represent Kaskade's best work. I've included a couple of remixes here because, well, they are fantastic and you won't want to miss them.

Here's the countdown:

5. Call Your Girlfriend (Robyn -- Kaskade Dub)

This gem of a remix did not make it on the commercial release of Robyn's album, but, this track is definitely "hands in the air," and the drop is fantastic. This one can be found on Kaskade's Soundcloud page.

Favorite moment: the drop. First one is at 1:27.

4. Be Still (Love Mysterious)

This song was released as the first single from Love Mysterious, which was released in 2006. It topped the Billboard Dance Club Play chart at #4. American singer Sunsun provides the very fine vocal work. Be Still also features some great guitar work throughout, a rarity in electronic dance music (EDM).

Favorite moment: 1:56. The start of the build up into the last refrain of the chorus. Backing guitar complements Sunsun's gorgeous voice here. Also 3:04, the guitar solo. Rockin' in a House tune. Couldn't be better!

3. Room For Happiness (Fire & Ice)

I had never heard of Skylar Grey before I bought this album. But the combination of her passion-filled vocal rendition, the meaning-laden lyrics, and a pounding beat makes for a great song.

Favorite moment: 3:16. The break/bridge.

2. Love Is Not Enough (Above & Beyond -- Kaskade Remix)

Kaskade's remix of this track from Above & Beyond's Group Therapy album is, not to put too fine a point on it, fantastic. The original mix was already top-notch, and Kaskade has add his brilliant and unique touch and made this into a favorite of mine.

Favorite moment: 3:40 the build-up into the last chorus. And overall, the piano. I love piano in EDM, and this is the perfect touch for this remix.

1. Don't Stop Dancing (Dynasty)

This album, like most of Kaskade's artist releases, is brimming with fantastic music. But the track that stands out to me is this one. Kaskade worked with EDX on this track, and Haley provides the excellent vocal work.

Buy Hip Hop Beats For Projects

There are many musicians who spend their time composing unique instrumental sounds that they wish to offer for use to others. The musicians will have their music licensed to keep other from copying their work our outright stealing it. They then list their music on an online beat site that will offer the leasing rights to any number of creative people seeking out great beats to make their own projects the best they can be.

Sites that sell rhythmic beats online will offer a wide selection of all genres and styles of this musical form. They choices will generally be broken down into regional categories like dirty south, west or east coast beats. They are sometimes further broken down into dance categories such as club, gangsta, urban or underground to help the customer find what they are seeking.

Music set the mood for most productions. The sites will offer tunes with dark, angry and suspense inducing overtones as well as music that makes the listener happy, relaxed or inspired. Whatever mood needs to be set, there will be a beat to help get it done.

Purchasing the licensing rights to the music selection must be done before it can be utilized in the project. For simple projects, the most common rights option is to purchase download rights. No profit can be earned from a project with download rights and the owner must be given music credit in the finished product, but it can be used as sampling and amateur video background sound.

A more complex rights option would be leasing rights. In this choice the owner will outline how many times the purchaser can use the music and sometimes limit the forums in which it may be played. In general, the leasing rights will outline how much profit can be earned from the project before additional rights must be purchased or royalties paid to the owner. This option is good if the project is only intended for a limit run.

The most expensive, yet least worrisome lease option is to purchase exclusive rights. This means that the beat becomes the sole property of the purchaser and they are free to do anything they wish with the tune. It can be used as often as desired and the earning potential is limitless. The original owner no longer has any entitlements to this beat. This option is great for serious productions such as videos intended for mass viewing or full length songs as it offers the ultimate amount of freedom of usage.

Buy hip hop beats online to suit every production need imaginable. All moods and genres are available to enhance the productions quality. Just go online and choose a tune, make sure to purchase the required rights and begin producing a masterpiece.

Why People Love to Play Guitar

Guitar playing is not just a craze but it is a lot more than that. Those who are so much into music love this instrument due to some seemingly unknown reasons but the fact remains that majority of the people who love to play instruments usually end up with guitars. It is actually a pretty tough question to answer as human psychology is very hard to understand. Regardless of how difficult or impossible this task seems to be, what I want to do is find out the most possible reasons of guitar's godlike popularity among the musicians. Let's see what gives this particular instrument the edge over other musical instruments.

A Reliable Singing Companion

This is pretty obvious that guitar makes a suitable singing companion as it forms the base and the rhythm of a song which makes it easier for a vocalist to sing along. If the correct chords are played then you will see that it will provide you with a backup or a base on which you can sing without fear of losing the tune. Perhaps this is why in most cases guitar is the most primary instrument played alongside a song - especially in the Western part of the world.

It Produces Great Solos

Guitar is not only used for playing alongside a song or for providing a rhythm to it; it is also used to provide great heart-wrenching solos as well. For most of the serious guitarists this usually becomes the sole aim: to be the lead guitarist and play solos that can shake the world. However, not everyone will understand the importance of a lead guitarist. While base or rhythm guitarists don't often make the cut, the lead guitarists rule in the music world. Think of Santana and you will get the idea of what a star guitarist is all about!

The Sound is Different and Beautiful

People just love the way a guitar sounds! Someone said that the sound coming from the steel strings of an acoustic guitar is pretty much one of the most soothing and beautiful sounds ever heard by mankind and it seems to be true if you consider the level of popularity this instrument has today. Perhaps this is also why the girls are mostly attracted to the guys who play guitar than who play drums or the keyboard. So it is actually no wander that young guys would much more happily consider being a guitarist than being a drummer today.

While these are not the only reasons why people like to play guitar over the other instruments but it is also true that these are the most basic reasons that work behind the massive popularity of guitar these days. Almost in every part of the world you will find someone resting on the porch and playing a guitar and singing freely; at least this is how a boy called John became the famous John Denver one day, right?

Beethoven - 32 Variations On An Original Theme For Piano

Variation in music is perhaps as old as music itself. When the ancients played their tunes on flutes made of wood or the bone of animals (or even humans) I can't imagine those prehistoric musicians repeating their music the same way all the time. Why would they not use their imaginations any less than a modern day musician? Even a classically trained musician understands it is hardly possible to play a piece of music the same way twice. Sometimes the differences in playing are subtle, such as hanging onto a note a fraction longer or shorter than before, changing the volume or any of a myriad of ways to change a performance of a work.

Scholars consider the first formal trace of variations on a theme to have appeared sometime in the Renaissance era. In the Baroque, Classical and even into the Romantic era, performers improvised variations on a theme for audiences. Bach, Mozart and many other great composers were also great performers and improvisers. Beethoven was in the category of great performer/composer and his audiences marveled at his abilities as an improviser.

Beethoven wrote 21 sets of variations for piano, but gave opus numbers to only 4 of them. The majority of the sets of variations were written on melodies from operas written by contemporary composers. The 32 Variations On An Original Theme does not have an opus number. It carries a WoO 80, number which is an abbreviation for 'without opus'. Why Beethoven never gave the work an opus number is anyone's guess. He only gave opus numbers to compositions he deemed worthy of being in his official catalog of compositions. Perhaps the piece didn't meet his standards, but the work was published in his lifetime, and has been popular with pianists and audiences ever since.

The work begins with the theme, an eight-bar, simple melody over a descending bass. The variations are different in character, mood, and difficulty of execution. This is a work for an accomplished pianist with a good range of technique. The 32nd variation has some especially interesting rhythmic variation going on. The right hand plays twenty-one notes to the measure while the left hand alternates between eight notes to the measure and ten notes to the measure. These compound rhythms gives the impression of an improvisation, and lead to what some consider a 33rd variation in paired sixteenth note slurs that are played off the beat. A short coda finishes the work, which averages about eleven minutes to play. Beethoven packs a lot of imagination and artistry in those few minutes, so much that the work can seem longer than it really is.

Visit Musical Musings for thoughts and impressions about musicians, composers and their music. http://muswrite.blogspot.com/

Baby Grand Pianos - Great Reasons To Buy One

Are you thinking of buying a piano? If anyone at home knows how to play this instrument, there isn't much discussion as to whether purchasing a piano makes sense. However, once you start thinking about the huge investment that would go into buying one, people do tend to think twice. In this case, look at how a piano will benefit you and your household so you can prove the cost. If you are considering looking at baby grand pianos on the market, there are many reasons to go ahead with the purchase.

Keep in mind that the only time these pianos are impractical is if no one uses them or if they don't match with the rest of the decor in the room. So as long as someone in the family can use it, it is a worthwhile investment. But what makes a baby grand piano a preferred choice among other types of pianos?

First is that a baby grand piano features horizontal strings, which offer richer and fuller sound. They are sometimes seen as a superior choice to upright pianos. That being said, Fischer upright pianos are more affordabld, but a baby grand piano produces a better quality sound. True grand pianos to allow more freedom for vibration, resulting in purer overtones and better accuracy of the sounds being produced.

Apart from the quality sound these pianos have to offer, it is also a great addition to the home. They are beautiful pieces that can instantly improve the aesthetic appeal of any room. You can create a focal point that unifies the look of an otherwise dull living room. Also, for homes with limited space and where a bigger piano cannot be accommodated, a bay grand piano is the next best thing.

Furthermore, it is very durable. Rest assured that they will last long and will probably be passed down to several generations in the family. In fact, they can make the perfect heirloom for your children. Also, the pianos can open the way for great family bonding moments. Music is therapeutic, and the music from a piano is especially so. As such, wouldn't it be great if the entire family could gather around while one of you played?

Once you consider the benefits, it becomes easier to decide whether to buy one or not. However this decision is only the beginning. You have a lot of things to learn to succeed in the buying process. Learn more about the options available to you, including the different brands on the market. While you don't necessarily have to buy the best, at least get the best you can afford.

Guitars: Several Differences Between Archtop and Flattop Guitars

When you sit an archtop guitar next to a normal flattop guitar, there are obvious visual differences. However, you might not know what these differences mean for the guitar in terms of sound and other features. The different parts of these guitars end up creating some different sounds and actions that help give its type its own guitar category. Here are a few of the differences between archtop guitars and flattops.

First, a bit of history. The term "flattop" guitar was not around before the dawn of the archtop. The invention of this arched top instrument made this descriptor necessary. The reason an archtop guitar is called an arch top is because the top of the body, which is called the soundboard, is more rounded than on its flattop counterpart. This combined with the hollow inside presents a different sound than a typical flattop guitar.

Another way the sound of an archtop guitar differs from a flattop is through its sound holes. On a traditional guitar, such as a flattop acoustic, the sound hole is located in the center of the body underneath the strings. On an archtop, these sound holes are actually called "f-holes," and are borrowed from the same holes found on violins. These f-holes are located on either side of the guitar's body.

Archtop guitar strings are also a bit different than the strings you'll find on a flattop, such as an acoustic. The strings on an archtop are usually longer and more thick, which adds to the unique sound an archtop provides the guitar player. Archtops are capable of putting off a nice acoustic sound, but many of the models that are produced also have electrical pickups that allow the sound of the archtop to be amplified. These pickups are, more often than not, of the "humbucker" variety, which utilizes two reverse-polarity coils to reduce the interference and noise the archtop has when played as an electric.

These are some of the major differences between archtop guitars and the original flattop guitars that preceded them. The two guitar types have unique benefits, which is why you'll find fans of both in the guitar community. By knowing why one has certain design features and the other takes a different approach, you can better determine which guitar is right for you, and start looking at different guitar manufacturers or luthiers to find the next guitar you want to add to your collection.

Shawn Farner independently authors articles for WebDrafter.com, Inc. SEM clients like archtop guitars website Fine Archtops. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only, and not those of any other person, company, or organization. No guarantee or warranty, express or implied, is made regarding the accuracy, fitness, or use of the content herein.

Tips to Be a Good Guitarist

To be a good guitarist is an easy task if you have the passion to be one. Being a good guitarist may not even require you to get lessons from a professional, but it will certainly require abundance of time, profuse concentration, dedication and devotion. The biggest encumbrance in becoming, from trainee to good guitarist is lack of confidence and frustration. Below are some tips to become a congenial guitarist:

Tip 1: Get Past through Finger Hurting Phase

Well, this tip comprises of two parts. The first one tells you to practice so much that your fingers start to hurt and the second one tells you to continue practicing until the pain vanishes again. Practice is the greatest factor affecting your expertise as a guitarist, you will know playing guitar better only if you practice more.

Usually people give up when skin on their fingers start to get hardened and cracking, and the pain in finger joints shows up. Actually, this is when the fun begins; the pain in your fingers is common. Every good guitarist goes through this phase and this is more of paranoia than pain. This is the first time you are bracing the pain. As a good guitarist you will face it most of the time whenever you change a guitar.

Tip 2: Learn Tablature

A tablature is easier to learn but it comes with some impediments: it is not as detailed as musical notations or sheets and it does not show time period between each note. As a beginner it will work, just buy a book and learn to read tablatures. Also make use of a good music forum to for tips and read music discussions.

Tip 3: Start With Short Pieces of Most Familiar Songs

Starting with a harder task will do nothing but reprieve your first success. A delayed success de-motivates the beginner and dilutes the passion to become a good guitarist. This also helps your fingers remember formations or notes that might be used in other songs.

Tip 4: Be Conscious About Miniscule Details

Practicing to much doesn't mean you should keep the guitar in your hands and thrash its strings like a maniac. Always stay discerned about each and every chord and its minute details while listening or playing a song. The ability to learn quickly and being a keen observer will help you to learn playing guitar very quickly.

Tip 5: Be in a Company of Polished Guitarists

Your company directly affects your abilities, being with talented guitarists will increase your talent. You will learn their expert ways and ideas for playing guitar and you will rectify your mistakes expeditiously. If you are unable to find any, simply find a good music forum and read music discussions recurrently.

Steve Augeri's Different Journey

Ten years ago, some friends and I at music school got free tickets to see Journey way out in San Bernadino, CA. We were prepared to be underwhelmed by 'the new guy' at the mic, and since we were more interested in guitars, we thought seeing Neal Schon (and Peter Frampton, opening the show) would make it all worth while.

As the show opened with a roaring 'Any Way You Want It', we became transfixed with this new singer who confidently commanded the whole show with incredible vocals and an easy swagger that Steve Perry's prima donna persona never seemed to quite capture. What we saw was a guy who genuinely looked like he liked being in Journey, and was totally confident leading one of rock's most successful acts. As he led Journey throughout the early 2000's, he didn't just do Steve Perry impersonations at the mic every night, he brought a brand new warmth and confidence to the live shows, the songwriting and the recorded work all at once. Songs like 'All The Way' and 'Higher Place' propelled a revitalized Journey into an arena-rock powerhouse once again.

All these years later, Steve Augeri has found his way back to the mic after a battle with paralyzed vocal chords, only this time, the sound is all his own. Free of Journey and Steve Perry comparisons, Augeri's first single: 'Riverside', is a soulful mid-tempo rocker that has about as memorable a hook as you are likely to find. The well-crafted, organic feel of 'Home Again' is a stellar showcase for Augeri's soaring vocals and expansive songwriting.

Surrounded by a stellar group of musicians, Augeri's singing and songwriting is absolutely world-class. While the sound of Augeri's gritty tenor might bring to mind his old gig, the lyrics and melodies are something completely outside his old Journey catalog. Layers of warmth in acoustic guitars and incisive keyboards create one great melodic hook after another. When Augeri hits the mic, it's an absolute home-run.

While Journey soldiers on, Steve Augeri proves he's not just a pinch-hitter for a great singer, but rather a superb vocalist and songwriter in his own right. As these individual tracks start to flesh out Augeri's new album, you can see he's definitely found a combination of laid-back and instantly arresting that you typically only find in the world's greatest songwriters. Steve Augeri definitely is finding his place among them. You can check out his work at: steveaugeri.com.

Brahms - Piano Concerto No 1 in D Minor

Brahms was a very self-critical composer. He revised and edited his compositions, some of them for years, until they met his high standards. Those compositions that he couldn't refine to his liking were destroyed. He claimed to have destroyed twenty string quartets before he wrote one that met his standards.

The beginnings of the first piano concerto are also an example of his drive for perfection. He began the work as a sonata for two pianos, then began to revise it as a symphony. For whatever the reasons (as his new friend Joseph Joachim, the famous violinist and composer encouraged him) Brahms again converted the music, this time to a piano concerto.

Brahms doted on the score, refining and editing it over and over again. Brahms had heard Beethoven's 9th Symphony for the first time in 1854 and it had influenced him deeply. His drive to create a composition worthy of the tradition created by Beethoven and the other masters he revered while at the same time utilizing his progressive ideas made the work on the concerto last many years. Finally in 1859 Brahms played the premiere of the work with his friend Joachim at the podium. A few days after this performance it had its premiere at Leipzig with Brahms again at the piano but with a different conductor at the podium. The critics were harsh in their appraisal:

"This work... cannot give pleasure. Save its serious intention, it has nothing to offer but waste, barren dreariness," said one critic, with another saying, "The work, with all its serious striving, its rejection of triviality, its skilled instrumentation, seemed difficult to understand, even dry, and in parts eminently fatiguing." And it fared no better with the audience, especially at the Leipzig performance. Brahms described the scene in a letter to Joachim about the Leipzig performance:

"Nor reaction at all to the first and second movements. At the end, three pairs of hands tried slowly to clap, whereupon a clear hissing from all sides quickly put an end to any such demonstration... I am only experimenting and feeling my way, all the same, the hissing was rather too much."

An audience's appreciation of a work is most often gauged by the amount of applause. That also works in reverse, as when as audience 'sits on their hands' (sometimes literally as well as figuratively) it can be hard for a composer or performer to bear. Boos and cat-calls are worse, but an audience hissing is the ultimate negative reaction. I've been present in an audience when it has happened, and it can send a chill down your spine just observing it. Brahms was 25 years old when he experienced this, and it made Brahms all the more cautious about his works, but he also resolved to work even harder to perfect his craft. He vowed to rewrite the work, but all he did was correct a few minor details. Despite the negativity shown the work at the premiers, Brahms judgement proved correct. It is now regarded as a classic and is a staple of the repertoire, although it took years for it to happen.

The concerto is in three movements:

I. Maestoso - The menacing and fierce trills that open this concerto are one of the most recognizable pieces of music in the repertoire. Brahms has begun the work with music that is brutally confident, sounds that grab our attention and are portents of things to come. From the treatment of themes to the entrance of the soloist, Brahms finds his own way from 'point A to point B', and manages to use the inspiration of Beethoven's ninth symphony to communicate his own ideas in his own way. Looking at this movement in an historical perspective, we can see just how innovative Brahms was. He was at 25 years old (and for all of his career) not only an upholder of tradition, but an innovator in ways that are not always apparent (or obvious) to the listener. His phrase structure, use of sonata form and rhythm, lead to a type of virtuosity that isn't always apparent (or obvious) either. It is a virtuosity that stresses the making of music, of expression, with very few purely technical fireworks. Everything works towards the musical whole.

II. Adagio - This movement is usually thought of as a tribute to the Schumanns, both Robert and Clara. Robert had died in an insane asylum in 1856 and Brahms always had deep feelings for Clara. Again, there is no mere display of pianism, but music that in turn is passionate, dramatic, rhapsodic. Near the end is a chain of trills for the piano that go up the keyboard that is resolved by the slow, gentle ending of the movement.

III.Rondo: Allegro non troppo - The piano begins with what always sounds to me like a foot-heavy dance, not really a peasant dance but not anywhere near a sophisticated one. The dreamy tune that endures brings a needed contrast. The orchestra plays through a short fugue that shows Brahms' already considerable contrapuntal skills. The rondo plays itself out until the cadenza, after which Brahms changes the mood to a 'maestoso' but unlike the dark and foreboding maestoso of the first movement this maestoso is bright, confident, jubilant, and marches its way to the end.

How To Maintain Your Guitar Strings

Guitar strings are the most important part of any guitar and if you are going to have a nice guitar you need to have nice strings and maintaining your strings is one of the biggest tasks you have to handle in maintaining the guitar. Guitar strings are fragile and so they need extra special care; if you are not going to be giving them the attention they need then you might as well not buy them in the first place. There are a few steps that are important in maintaining your guitar strings; here are some things to keep in mind and some instructions to follow to help maintain your guitar.

· Apply Hand Sanitizer

Hand sanitizer can help you maintain your guitar and here is how: before playing the guitar apply a pea size drop of hand sanitizer to your palms especially your fingers that will be coming in contact with the guitar, what the hand sanitizer is going to do is that it will help you kill bacteria but also vaporize and get rid of the natural oil on your hands and keep them fairly dry. These natural oils present on your hand damage the strings of the guitar with time and wear them out, so using hand sanitizer would reduce this.

· When you are done wipe with lint free cloth

It is important that you wipe the strings of the guitar so that you remove any oil and any dirt or dust that remains on the string of the guitar before you put it away. The oil and dust will damage the guitar over time if you are not carefully cleaning it after you use the guitar. It is also important that you use lint free cloth and not anything else, because lint will get trapped in the strings and you do not want that to happen because it can be very damaging to the strings of the guitar.

· Try commercially available products to clean strings

I would not recommend doing this unless you have a serious problem with your guitar. If you do not have dirt issues then simple maintenance according to the first two points above will be fine. If you have to use commercial cleaners make sure they are aerosol free and make sure that they are not going to damage your strings. Go online and find out from forums or reviews about different products as to which one you think will serve you best amongst all.

Maintain your strings and you will maintain your guitar, make the right choice of strings, don't go off and buy low quality cheap items.

Exploring Online Jazz Drum Lessons

As we all know, jazz drumming is one of the most admired forms of drumming. Jazz is a soothing music that gives every listener a whimsical sensation. Due to the popularity of this music genre, many drummers seek to master jazz drumming. Acquiring an expert skill in this aspect could be very difficult due to the fact that jazz, itself, is hard to perform. However, this problem is never that hard to solve because there are jazz drum lessons to help you in the process.

Online Lessons

Do you want to play jazz drums? Well, learning new skills in drumming does not only depend on the commitment and dedication that you give to your passion. It should be coupled with various ways in order to improve your skills. If you want to create a good jazz drummer in you, learn it through online lessons.

The different courses, that you can have online, are suitable for musicians who really do not have specified time to learn. It is a highly flexible way to learn because you are given the ability to choose your own time preference. If you are busy, you can always take these lessons in your spare time or during weekends. It does not follow a specific time schedule so you should not worry about it.

Video Drum Lessons

Jazz drumming can be effectively learned by watching videos where the different tactics to drumming can be seen and observed. This method is simply easy. It is a way to help individuals acquire jazz drumming musical abilities easily and effectively. With the videos, you can see examples of how to do jazz beats and the like.

Video drum lessons, that you can find online, offer you drum tips, drum rudiments, speed tips, how it is to play drums. These video lessons can be available in digital formats such as CDs or DVDs. Furthermore, making use of the videos can let you learn the different tips and tricks in mastering jazz beats and patterns so as to bring you to the expert level.

Music Sheets, Modules And Supplementary Materials

Relying on videos alone cannot give you the best outcome that you wish to have. Not all the things about learning new skills are achieved by watching these techniques in videos. Thus, it is a must to complement it with music sheets, modules, and other supplementary materials. This will give you more ideas as regards playing jazz.

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