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Saturday, August 22, 2009

The Celebrated History Of The Drum

By Jim Samposzi

The concept of the drum goes way back in time. People played the drum to achieve sounds as far back as 6000 B.C. In these ancient societies, like the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayas, the drum was a big part of society and was played during festivals and other events and gatherings. Drums were dug up in many caves and caverns in these ancient burial areas by scientists and discoverers.

Many believe that it is the barrel of the drum that is responsible for making sound. But, in fact it is the pulled out fabric over the top, sometimes referred to as the membrane, that makes the noise. The sound is triggered by impact from a stick or other object. When the drum is hit, the membrane vibrates and sends the sound waves into the hollowed out stock of the drum. The Indians actually fashioned sticks to pound onto the instrument during rituals and festivities.

In the 20th century, this instrument started to be further built upon, and eventually, the drum set came to music. A drum set consists of: a tom-tom, cymbals, snare drums, and bass drums (one of them has a foot pedal to produce the sound. Other percussion instruments like bells, chimes, and wood blocks were used in conjunction to produce even more bass and treble in tunes. These collections were introduced in the 1930's and by the 1960,s, when rock took form, drum kits similar to the types described above were a necessary component for these bands. You were not a rock band if you were without drums.

Like many other types of media and sensory objects, drums became digitized for further manipulation. Digital instruments, such as keyboards, synthesizers, and drum machines allow for the individual to fabricate their own beats. These sounds put together with synthesizers were unique and not available to be heard from set of drums. For this reason, modern music employs these machines to do the work for them.

Drums were not exclusively used for music. In fact, people of other continents used to beat drums as a form of speaking with one another. A series of beats would signal a certain sentence or command that others in the tribe can decipher. Drums were also the pinnacle of a symbol of religion for Native Americans and people around the world. Most referred to drums as a male and so gave them to male children when they became of age as a rite of passage.

The drum produces a sound like nothing else. Drums have been played in different types of music, such as: rock and roll, alternative, country, classical music, and many more genres. Next time you go to a concert of sorts, look around the stage and you can view a drum or arrangement of drums of some sort. These instruments are good for percussion and low tones; because of this, these instruments can be a perfect addition to a concert or band of any kind. - 18762

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Live Music on Tap Every Night of the Week - Night Life in Marin County

By David DuPont

There are a number of places in Marin County where you can eat dinner, have drinks and hear live music, and in some cases, youll have to eat dinner before going, but get ready. Live music is alive and well in Marin County! In fact, quite a few towns have more than one place thats their claim to fame. Fairfax is perhaps best known for its line up of nightclubs on Broadway, including their 19 Broadway, The Sleeping Lady and Peris Silver Dollar. These places rock almost every night of the week.

For the more sedate among us, theres Sausalito, which features three places with live music. These include Saylors, which used to be Sailors Landing; the No Name Bar, which jumps with live music every night of the week; and Taste of Rome, which used to be Cafe Trieste. Both Saylors and Taste of Rome feature live music on the weekends.

The following are listings of Marin Venues with live music.

Bolinas

Smileys Schooner Saloon, 41 Wharf Road, Bolinas, Tel: (415) 868-1311. Full menu and bar. Bands every night of the week, including reggae. Web: coastalpost.com.

Fairfax

The Sleeping Lady, 23 Broadway, Fairfax, Tel: (415) 485-1182. Live music nightly. Web: sleepingladyfairfax.com.

Peris Silver Dollar, 29 Broadway, Fairfax, Tel: (415) 459-9910. Varied music is offered nightly except hip hop and reggae. Monday is open mike night.

Nineteen Broadway, 19 Broadway, Fairfax, Tel: (415) 459-1091. Full bar. This place bills itself as "the hottest nightclub in the North Bay." Live music is provided most nights " jazz, blues and rock.

Mill Valley

The legendary Sweetwater, New Address: 32 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley, Tel: (415) 388-2820. Music is featured nightly. Note: As of this writing, the new and improved Sweetwater is still under construction.

Nicasio

Rancho Nicasio, Well-known entertainment venue with restaurant. Music like Zydeco, blues, rock, rockabilly, jazz and more. Town Square, Nicasio, Tel: (415) 662-2219.

Point Reyes Station

Station House Cafe, Main Street, Point Reyes Station, Tel: (415) 663-1515. Full menu and bar. Music on Sunday nights. Folk, Americana.

San Rafael

Fourth Street Tavern, 711 Fourth St., San Rafael, Tel: (415) 454-4044. Full bar. There is live music most nights and its eclectic, many kinds of music.

Panama Hotel, live Jazz music and restaurant, Bed & Breakfast in San Rafael. Full menu and bar. Music Tuesday and Thursday and every other Wednesday. 4 Bayview St., San Rafael, Tel: (415) 457-3993.

Petes 881, full menu and bar. 721 Lincoln Ave., San Rafael, Tel: (415) 453- 5888. Jazz band every other Tuesday.

Sausalito

No Name Bar, 757 Bridgeway, Sausalito, Tel: (415) 332-1392. There's a small jazz band 5 nights a week, Tuesday through Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

Saylor's (was Sailor's Landing) Restaurant & Bar, Friday and Saturday - light music, including soft jazz, blues. 2009 Bridgeway, Sausalito, Tel: (415) 332- 1512.

Taste of Rome, Italian food, coffee and tea. Music Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Jazz and other types of music. 1000 Bridgeway, Sausalito, Tel: (415) 332- 7660.

Because these kinds of listings change with time, it's important to telephone the venue to verify this information. - 18762

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The Remastered Beatles CDs Are A "Must Buy" For All Real Beatles Fans

By Laurence Henry Hanson

If you're like most Beatles fans then you probably already own their albums on CD and you may be wondering "Why should I buy them all again just because they are being released as part of a box set?"

But you need to realize that these new remastered versions of The Beatles albums are not like the ones you have on CD now.

The difference between the 1987 CDs (1987 is when The Beatles music was first released on CD) and the CDs included in The new Beatles Mono Box Set is obvious. This is the first time that the original mono mixes of The Beatles albums are on CD.

I think all serious Beatles fans should be very curious to hear these mono mixes because these are the mixes that The Beatles really intended their fans to hear back when the albums were first recorded in the '60s.

The reason for this is that in the '60s nearly everyone listened to their albums in mono so it made no sense for The Beatles to worry much about the stereo mix. On the other hand the mono mix was slaved over until it was perfect.

The Beatles thought of the mono mixes as the "final versions" of their albums and many have claimed that the mono mixes are actually far superior sounding to the stereo mixes that most Beatles fans are now familiar with (because up until now the stereo mixes have been the only ones available on CD.)

So that explains the importance of the mono box set, but what about the stereo box set? Don't we already have The Beatles albums in stereo on CD? Yes we do, but these are newly remastered.

What does that mean? It means that these CDs should sound significantly better than the ones we've had over the last 22 years. They will be louder and there will be more details heard in the music. These remastered stereo CDs will be the new standard for The Beatles albums, so you don't want to be one of The Beatles fans who is "left out" because they haven't heard these new versions. - 18762

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Before You Learn to Play Acoustic Guitar Tips

By Ryse Edwards

The acoustic guitar is the most traditional type of guitar. The 1930s first saw the invention of the electric guitar. The 16th century witnessed the birth of the acoustic guitar. The Oud and Lute are close relatives to the acoustic guitar they have existed for centuries. While learning to play the acoustic guitar you are in good company.

Many people use the acoustic guitar more often than other string instruments. Decades of musicians have made use of it in unplugged sessions. The amplifier is what causes the electric guitars produce louder sounds. The acoustic guitar is a powerful instrument and can provoke strong emotions in the right hands.

Learning to play the acoustic guitar is not that hard. First you must choose the right acoustic guitar that you will use to learn how to play. It should have the right size and weight for you.

When you learn to play acoustic guitar you should never try using an acoustic guitar that does not belong to you. It is essential that you have the proper size and weight to suit you. You should purchase your own acoustic guitar.

Acoustic guitars are quite easy to obtain. You can buy them brand new at most every music store. You can also easily obtain a second hand acoustic guitar as well. Again, just be sure it is the right size for you.

You can learn how to play the acoustic guitar in different ways. You can start after purchasing your own acoustic guitar. Then you will have to determine the best method to learn how to play. There are two popular means of learning to play the acoustic guitar.

Lessons - The majority of individuals take lessons to learn how to play the acoustic guitar. You can hire and then pay a qualified acoustic guitar teacher. One-on-one lessons has advantages, your teacher will show you correct techniques and motivate you to excel in your lessons. If you have problems, they can aid you.

This method also has some disadvantages. It can become very expensive. Your lessons are weekly and you have to pay weekly. These costs can really add up. You have to work the lessons in around your busy life. Finally, you have to pack up your guitar and drive to the lessons.

Internet - You can learn many skills online including learning how to play the acoustic guitar. This is the miracle of the internet. There are free online guitar lessons as well as paid online guitar lessons. Be careful not to waste too much time searching for, free quality guitar lessons. Invest in some good paid quality guitar lessons, instead of wasting your time.

Getting all the good quality guitar instructions, you need with a one time payment has clear advantages. You take lessons when it is convenient to you without ever having to leave home. It is as close to one-on-one instructions as you can get, without the weekly payments.

You will progress along fine when you learn to play acoustic guitar from the right source. Following the right steps, you can learn how to play acoustic guitar without difficulty. Follow these suggested steps to begin learning how to play acoustic guitar. - 18762

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Learning To Sing - Where To Start

By Charle Rivers

Singing is an innate part of human nature. There is just something that is so freeing when you sing out in celebration of life. Some choose karaoke, others reality television, and still others, the privacy of their own homes, where they choose to share their natural singing abilities. There is always room for improvement, though, in your vocal prowess. There are just a few myths that need to be eliminated from everyones perception of the human beings capacity to sing " whether they are extremely talented or not so much.

Lots of people do not learn to sing simply because they have been told or believe that they cannot do it. Some people think they are "tone-deaf," while others think nature bestows the gift of music on just a select few. Some people are born more talented, but you can improve no matter where you are starting!

While some very few persons have no ability to detect tone at all, this is very rare. In fact statistically only approximately two percent of people in the world are identified as truly tone deaf. Much more commonly, people who sing "off pitch" only lack "ear training" to hear pitches more accurately.

Frequently, people fail to sing commensurate with their ability merely because they are not singing in an appropriate range. Even an excellent alto cannot sing in a sopranos range with the same accuracy. A voice teacher can help you find your natural range and choose songs appropriate for your voice.

Breathing is also important when trying to sing. After all, who wants to listen to someone gasping for breaths between the melody and verse of a song? When you teach yourself specific breathing techniques, always try to use your diaphragm when singing. You know that you are doing this if your stomach expands with air intake.

Next, sing out of your head, not just your mouth. See your voice moving through your forehead. You will learn to use your "head voice," which sounds pleasing and better to others.

Once you learn all of these basic skills, even the least confident singer will be presenting their voices in the best light. Also, infusing passion and emotion into your performance will certainly up the ante and improve your overall performance because you will be pulling the heartstrings of your audience. This is why just living in the moment and experiencing the song with your most passionate and heartfelt emotions will increase the effectiveness of your performance even if you are not Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston!

As an adult you may regret not learning to sing at an early age while in fact adults benefit from professional training more readily than children. Your voice is fully developed and your ability to understand instruction is too. Be patient with yourself as you try to change a lifetime of incorrect singing habits. A qualified singing teacher can give you the tips, techniques and feedback you need to progress. Your best singing voice is in you, just waiting for the right training, plenty of practice and a chance to show off! - 18762

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