The 2012 Billboard Music Awards
were as flashy and over-the-top as one would expect from a show located in Las
Vegas. Artists sang from the stage, from the sky, and from the audience. (We saw
you singing along to “Fight For Your Right (To Party)”, Carrie Underwood!) Three
fallen artists were paid tribute to, Chris Brown brought his bikes, and Katy
Perry brought her grandma. It all made for a jam-packed evening, though we must
admit that some moments worked better than others. Head below to relive the best
five moments from last night’s awards fest — and live to regret the five
worst.
TOP 5 BEST MOMENTS:
1. Katy Perry bringing her grandmother as her date.
Perry reportedly broke things off with Robert Akroyd, the Florence + The
Machine guitarist she was cuddling up next to during both Coachella weekends.
Instead of just going stag to the awards show, Perry brought her 91-year-old
grandmother, Ann Hudson, as her date, and even gave her a shout-out from the
stage while accepting the Spotlight Award. Hudson also attended the 2011 Grammys
with her granddaughter, you may recall. Who needs a man when you’ve got your
grandma by your side?
2. Miley Cyrus’ shocking outfit.
The 19-year-old pop star looked like the long-lost daughter of Sex & The
City‘s Samantha while wearing a stark white blazer — and little else. We can
always count on Miley to stir the pot (when she’s not smoking it).
3. Goodie Mob paying tribute to Adam Yauch and Beastie Boys.
The one-legged dancer already won us over during Goodie Mob‘s “Fight To Win”,
but the gang’s performance got even better when it transitioned into a tribute
to Beastie Boys‘ Adam Yauch, who died earlier this month after a battle with
cancer. Even Carrie Underwood couldn’t help from singing along in the
audience!
4. Old home footage of Taylor Swift.
Before the country star took the stage to accept the award as Woman Of The
Year, we got to see Swift back in the day. We love seeing what she looked like —
poofy hair! no makeup! clothes without sparkles! — before she hit it big at the
ripe old age of 16.
5. Idols ruled the night.
To borrow a line from Carrie Underwood’s new single, we were blown away by
all the performances from former American Idol winners. Kelly Clarkson wowed
with her new single “Dark Side”, and Jordin Sparks got us so emotional, baby,
with her tribute to her Sparkle co-star Whitney Houston. (Watch it here.) But
Carrie was the queen of the night, delivering a powerful performance of her new
album’s title track. Everyone bow and worship these these Idols.
The piano is one of the most popular instruments because it is versatile
and easy to learn. You have to put a lot of time into practicing for it to be
easy to learn. It is used as a solo instrument, an accompaniment for other
instruments, or for singers. The tone is amazing, and the types of music you can
play are endless. The piano is also an important foundation for all musicians,
even if it is not their "main" instrument.
Many classical teachers will stress the importance of musical theory and
being able to read sheet music. While this is indeed important if you are
playing classical music, the casual rock and pop player will be able to get by
without these skills. I want to get you up and playing tunes from bands such as
the Beatles, Animals, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Red Hot Chillie Peppers and any
other band you fancy, with as little effort as possible. Most guitar players
have little formal training, they tend to pick things up by ear and play songs
by chords, this is how I am aiming to teach you piano on this page.
Pianos can be very expensive, so if you can't afford to buy one, keyboards
are an excellent, cheaper alternative. There are also some great crossovers such
as digital grands from brands like Roland and Yamaha. If you can afford a piano,
there are several criteria you should consider beforebuying yourself a piano.
Before buying a piano, make certain you are willing to practice for thirty or
more minutes each day. If you're not, then save yourself the expense of buying
the piano and books or lessons. If you have the passion to learn, you can often
borrow a piano from someone or get an old piano that someone is getting rid
of.
Specific computer games can also help if you want to have a bit of fun
while you learn. There are some free games on the Internet that can help you
with both reading music and playing piano, such as 'Jayde Musica', or 'Grand
Staff Defender'. There are also electronic devices that can aide in your piano
practicing. For example, the PianoMaestro is a strip of lights that rests on top
of the black keys of your piano. The lights guide you on which notes to play,
enabling you to progress faster and stay motivated.
Practice daily for at least thirty minutes or more. Your fingers will
"rust" if you do not play for even a week. However, you may find that a short
break or holiday is alright, provided you practice diligently. At first,
practicing might be a pain and you might get very frustrated. As your skills
grow, you will become better and playing piano will become pure enjoyment. It's
best to warm up at the beginning of every practice session with a relaxing
finger exercise. This will stretch your fingers and hands and help you play with
your hands relaxed. When you play, you should be able to see your finger bones
move. Let your hand just hang and move only your fingers.
As we progress in musical knowledge I will be getting you to apply your new
found skills not by practising boring technical excercises, but by applying your
knowledge to play popular tunes. Every time I show you something new, I will try
to give you a tune which exploits that new skill so that you automatically get
practise with it!
While we will be keeping the musical theory to a minimum there will be some
items that you will be required to memorize. This is unavoidable however I aim
to show you the building blocks of the various chords and scales that will allow
YOU to work out any chord you need on the spot. If you dont know what a chord or
a scale is, dont worry, everything will be explained. It is not as daunting as
it sounds.
I have been searching the internet for a page such as the one you are
reading now. Many pages claim to have courses that you can purchase that will
teach you how to "play piano by ear" or "learn the chord method", this website
contains the same information as those courses and whats best of all, its all
free.
You do not neccecarily need to have a piano at home, but some sort of
keyboard instrument will be required.This can be something as simple as a $100
keyboard bought from your local music store. I would suggest a keyboard with at
least 49 keys preferably full sized, anything smaller and you will be struggling
to use it as your piano skills get more advanced.
In general, it's is chosen to follow and discover on a real acoustic piano.
That living living being said, if you do choose to purchase just a piano
initially in attendance are some clothes you must take into consideration. It's
best to forever buy a piano that has slanted keys and an first-rate reproduction
of a piano sound. If you choose to play on a piano with unslanted keys in
attendance is a tangy possibility that you may well injure your hands.
Additionally, it will be very arduous to transition from a unslanted piano to an
acoustic piano. You may end up thumping many off beam notes. So, slanted piano
is the way to go!
Once you purchase your piano you'll need music to start playing. A
beginner's piano instructional book is a perfect solution. Not only does a book
like this give you the opportunity to start playing music but it will also
function as a guide for improving your overall skill level and knowledge of
playing the piano.
In order to improve your rhythmic coordination you'll want to follow with a
time keeping device called a metronome. In order to sound authentic and clean
when playing music you'll need to make sure your timing is very tight. A
metronome is a fantastic follow tool to help you achieve It's best to follow
with a metronome almost all the time when practicing piano. You can make the
tempo slower and faster on modern metronomes with just the turn of a dial. This
is a nice strategy to implement to help you work through arduous passages of
music. You can also use a metronome to help you gradually build your endurance
and technical ability when playing a piece of music.
The gig finished last time - nearly three hours but it flew by, so many
great songs and moments within songs - and I was up to the front of the stage
desperate to snatch a set-list, a take-home memento; I needed a connection to
this concert beyond the memories that I will always have. I had to have
something tangible. I'm no longer a collector of set-lists - that phase ended a
long time ago - but the Lil' Band set-list sits above my computer, pinned to the
wall where I can see it.
Every night I tap away at the keyboard, I've finished work for the day but
it's time to create a post for Blog on the Tracks. I may have been to a gig so
it's particularly late, or I may have time to dash out the blog-post before I go
to a gig. In the weekends I write too. That's my choice. But it's also something
I have to do. I'm compelled to. Sometimes I'm commissioned so the choice of it
is less of an option. But you have to keep trying. You have to punch the clock.
Sometimes you really do want to punch it.
The audition process was not always like this. The word audition did not
have its current connotation until the late nineteenth century. Prior to this,
if a young man was interested in acting, he arranged an interview with a company
manager, not an audition. Young Mr. Prescott would arrive at his appointment
with the august Mr. Postlethwaite who was waiting in a book-filled office, a
warm fire burning in the fireplace. Over tea, the company manager would ask
questions about young Prescott’s intentions and interests, summing up the boy’s
moral character and judging his suitability for the troupe. If all went
smoothly, Prescott would be engaged as the company’s newest apprentice. He would
start by playing Spear Carrier before graduating to a small speaking
role—“Yes, my liege”—in another show. The grand actors of the company would
perform their best Hamlets and Cleopatras, and Prescott would absorb all the
training he needed through osmosis. After a number of seasons, his name would be
on the bill playing a leading role. Mr. Prescott appearing as Romeo. Quaint.
Genteel. Encouraging.
My favorite auditioner was a young woman who sang Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me
With Your Best Shot.”Just the choice of song was an invitation to ridicule. That
poor girl was probably no older than I was when I auditioned for The Sound of
Music. But I let her sing the whole song, not because I was kind or because I
thought the theater would hire her. No, I let her sing because I was so
entertained that someone would earnestly sing this rock-and-roll song a
cappella, swaying to the music that only she heard in her head. She was a rock
star in a private universe, complete with imaginary microphone and spotlight. I
let that kid think she was doing well, that I liked her, that she might have a
chance. Oh, I liked her alright. That night I had my friends roaring with
laughter: “This girl with leg warmers screeched out a Pat Benatar song! You'll
die!”
I worked as a casting director for three years and had to give it up. There
is something wrong with a job where you judge 99.9% of people as wrong. I came
to view the world through ugly glasses. When I would meet anyone anywhere,
shortcomings and quirks became grotesquely magnified. “It’s so nice to meet
you,” I would say to a new acquaintance while thinking, “Those jeans are two
sizes too small. You should sue your hairdresser. Is that a nose job?”
After I got out of the casting biz, I was hired to direct a play at a
smaller theater, a company with no casting director. I had to run my own
auditions. Luckily, some good actors appeared and I swallowed any impulse to
laugh at them. Toward the end, I had cast the entire show in my head. All but
one role. I still needed someone to play the minor, comic role of the
loud-mouthed, over-bearing waitress.
The last actor walked in for her audition. She was tiny, not the powerhouse
I wanted. She read from the script tentatively, messing up lines. I mentally
dismissed her. But instead of cowing to the pressure and turning red or
crying—she laughed. Hard and long. At herself. “It’s the worst audition ever!”
she screamed. She started again, fumbled words, paused and laughed again.
“Forget it! I’m nervous. I’m terrible! Thanks anyway.” She exited.
I was excited to hear the news that Lil' Band O' Gold is returning to New
Zealand. I saw the band 18 months ago, just after they had released The Promised
Land and were touring in support of both that and a superb documentary film, The
Promised Land: A Swamp Pop Journey (click on that link to see the trailer). I've
watched that film a few times now and I'll be returning to it before the show. It's heart-warming. And it
gives a context for so much of the music - for the players in the band too.
Have you considered how music affects you in your daily lives? The choices we make reflect they way we think and feel. It shows our personality and the way we feel about life. Music makes us laugh and lightens our mind. They many ways music is presented, from the old songs to the new, can be utilized to give us the best compiled list that will help enjoy life a little more.
No longer do we have to buy a full CD just to get the one song we like. IPods and the internet are allowing for a more mixed collection of the music most important to us. The many downloads on the internet and sites strictly dedicated to giving us a huge selection of music. We can pick and choose the songs that mean the most to us.
Music can make us happier when w are happy and lift our mood when we are not. A true music lover understands the transformation that music does to us. Not all out there utilize the calming affects of music and should launch into the life changing effects that music can do. Inspiration, understanding and acceptance can all be pulled out of music hen we are open to the idea that music can change us. Music can be used to increase productivity, decrease anxiety and allow us a new outlook on life. People need to embrace this and pay more attention to the effects of the music they listen to in their lives.
Good music can change our outlook and affect our soul. It is said that a positive outlook on life can change the happiness you feel. Believing in the changes music can have on emotion and behavior can lead to a more productive positive outlook on life. Music is essential and everyone should reap the positive affects and desire it invokes.
Music plays a big part in your life and you want to share that with your children. Not only is this natural, but it is very healthy for your children. Music has developed over time as a way for humans to express emotion, share thoughts, and communicate in a very deep, soulful way. There aren't many other things available today that can teach your children to get in touch with their emotions, communicate with others, and have lots of fun in a controlled manner.
The fact that you love music yourself is a great start. Children naturally watch their parents for cues as to how they are supposed to behave as they grow up. When they see parents enjoying music they are more likely to enjoy music themselves. It is something they just naturally connect with because of the influence of their parents.
That means you are doing a great thing for your children just by enjoying music in your own life! The following tips will help you take it to the next level so your children can grow up to love and appreciate music just as much as you do.
Music is one good thing to teach to children and in fact, those children who start learning music at an early age tends to become good in their chosen fields and does well with reading music, playing instruments and other goals they pursue in terms of music.
If you are looking forward to teaching music to kids, here are a few things that might help you make it easy for you and for the kids as well.
- Help them by introducing musical instruments to them. This will also help them realize what they want to play and find out which of the instruments they would love to play best. Their love of music may start from a simple introduction of an instrument and kids can actually learn a lot by trying to play an instrument. Of course, teaching music to kids by letting them play the instrument can provide a good experience and make music more interesting than just learning about the theories behind it.
- Allow the kids to listen to a variety of music and songs and help them produce sounds. You can also help them with activities that allow them to listen to music and create their own as well. Of course, children are easy to teach, thus make sure you are exposing them to music, songs and how to listen to them.
- Teach them by showing them. Music is often a great thing to teach to children and it is important that you can also show them what it is like to be able to learn music. You can show them how to play certain instruments or you can also expose them to great musicians so they can appreciate music more. You cannot just talk about music and the instrument. Showing them and letting them experience the playing is also another interesting and helpful part of teaching music to kids. Aside from showing them how to play the instrument, you can also teach them how to dance with the rhythm of the music or learn proper timing with a certain sound.
- Teach them how to read notes. Reading notes is one of the important things that you can teach children even at a young age. Of course, aside from listening skills, you can also help them develop their love for music by teaching them how to read notes. You can make it fun though so they will not also be bored. Try to make the learning fun for them as well. There are easy ways to help you teach children how to read music, so try to use these child-friendly ways and strategies.
You can also use games, pictures, words and sounds to help you in your teaching. Of course, a fun strategy will not only make teaching music fun but will also help little kids to enjoy and learn music easily as well. Of course, there are some tools and structured learning strategies that will also help you in teaching music to kids. Just always make sure though that you are teaching these kids correctly so that they will start learning music the right way at an early age.
