SimpleMusicSecrets.com Blog

October 6, 2009

Play The Clarinet Tips and Advice

Filed under: Uncategorized — editor @ 3:44 pm

The clarinet has a mellow sound and is equally at home in jazz or classical music. The clarinet is of the woodwind family as it was generally made of wood. Its sound is produced by the instrumentalists wind on the reed or mouthpiece. Here follow some valuable tips and advice on how to play the clarinet.

play the clarinet

play the clarinet

Take a reed and place it in your mouth to absorb moisture and allow it to work properly. After placing the flat side of the reed against the flat side of the mouthpiece, adjust the ligature to keep the reed in place. The ligature is a device made to keep the reed in place and can be of many materials. Many soloists still use string to keep the reed in place. Place your lower lip a little over your teeth and take a half inch of reed into your mouth. Seal the corners of your mouth after you are sure the mouthpiece is in the proper position.
A good advisor is very helpful to understand the proper techniques in playing the clarinet. It is always best to have a reputable teacher to help you learn music on any instrument.

Singers share the need for proper posture to a player of the clarinet. Keep your head and body in alignment, especially if you are sitting. If your head is up and your chest is out, the clarinet will be at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. Blow steadily through the mouthpiece as you start on open notes. Blow a steady note and hold it for a few seconds at first. It is important to keep your clarinet dry as moisture will damage it over time. A cloth pulled through the body of the clarinet helps to keep it dry. You can trim your reeds to last longer and you should keep them in a container for protection.

While the first sounds you make on the clarinet may not be the music of your dreams, in time you will learn to perform well on this mellow instrument.

play the clarinet

October 5, 2009

How to Start and Keep a Rock Band

Filed under: Uncategorized — editor @ 2:18 pm

Like many artists before you, you want to be in a successful band. You have a artistic desire and a song in your heart. How can you start on your road to greatness?  Many factors affect the make up of the band, personal preference and the characteristic of the music.

start a rock band

start a rock band

A very common make up for a rock band would be guitars, bass, drums and a vocalist. When you have a new band, you must not fail to practice enough. It goes without saying that this must now be the most important thing in your life if you want to compete.

You need to be so familiar with your music you can perform it many times in a row with no mistakes. There are many ways to keep things interesting for your other band players. In addition to playing in public, provide new songs to learn so members keep their interest up. It helps to have some recording time also so members can critique their own playing.

Respectful treatment is the order of the day between you and the members of the band. Band members are indeed like family, perhaps more so. It is also imperative to listen and watch other bands play live.

Have a band meeting every so often. At meetings you can discuss common goals and problems. If you want to be like a family, all must have their say. Technical issues should also be discussed at this time so you can avoid disasters on the stage.

Take a vacation once in a while to recharge. Vacations can allow your mind to get fresh creative insight.

It can be difficult to keep a band together. These suggestions will definitely help you to keep your band together. If you can follow through, practice and communicate, you will be on your way fast.
Rock Band

October 4, 2009

The Guitar, How Is It Made?

Filed under: Uncategorized — editor @ 5:29 pm

How is a guitar made and what is it made from? How has the movement of time affected the guitar?.  A guitar is made from partly science and partly art. Composite material now plays a role in many of today’s guitars. All of the metal parts of the guitar have also benefited from technology.

The making of a guitar has not altered very much over many centuries. The guitar uses a varieties of woods from around the world to produce its tone.
Maple is the most often used material for the guitar neck as the wood must be very hard. The truss rod came to be used in the neck of the guitar to resist the forces applied to the neck.boywguitar125x125
Rosewod and maple are used for the guitar neck as well. These woods will last almost forever as they are hard wearing as well. Fret boards may last a very long time if taken care of properly.

For many years the tuning pegs of a guitar were exactly that, a wooden peg with the string wrapped around it. With modern machine heads, as they are called, much finer tuning adjustments are possible. Bridges are also adjustable now as well.

Together these two items have made it so you can tune a guitar and it will stay in tune.Now we also have the guitar tuner which helps all guitar players be in tune with each other as well as in tune with themselves.

The electrical pick was a major landmark in the history of the guitar. At first crude and simple, the pickup evolved into a precise affair with identifiable sounds. The solid body electric guitar came fast on the heels of the invention of the electrical pickup. Now the pickup allowed the guitar to be heard with a drummer or a band. The pickup altered the guitar forever.
The basic design and construction of the guitar has not changed despite the advances that have been made.

Guitar Making

October 2, 2009

Do you Sound Like A Frog In the Shower? Learn to Sing With Easy Tips

Filed under: Uncategorized — editor @ 7:26 pm

One of the best techniques to improve your singing performance is to observe other singers. Observe for breath control and posture. It is often the most overlooked aspect of proper singing, stand up straight. Notice their posture and stance. Do they appear bored or nervous? The first impression can be very powerful, so be aware of how you appear. Do not be afraid to over-enunciate, it is easy to mumble your words and not be understood.

how to sing

how to sing

Make sure you are standing tall and observe your posture. Your airway must be open and your chest out if you are to be heard at your best advantage. The breath must be controlled at all times in order to sound properly. The whole body is your instrument, not only your voice.You must have all parts working together to get the perfect sound. Moving your body slightly or taking a deeper breath can alter your sound considerably, it all goes together.

In any athletic activity it is necessary to warm up your muscles before you push them. There are several muscle groups involved in singing. The diaphragm, the vocal folds and the intercostals are all actively engaged during singing. If you sing at full volume without warming up your voice, you may regret it.

Learning to understand written music is a great way to improve your singing. It is vital to understand written music. It can be said that it is not necessary to read music but it is so much better if you can. Many options are available to learn to read music. In addition to instruction books there are college courses and online educaiton. If you join a choir or another vocal group that is a good way to learn to read as well as to sing better. Take advantage of any musical friends you may have to see if they have any tips .

Vocal exercises can help strengthen your voice. It is vital that you are able to be understood as you sing so do exercises emphasizing the over enunciating consonants. To comprehend a singer they must practice proper diction. It is the first rule of singing that the audience must be able to hear and understand you.

« Newer Posts UA-538182-3

Powered by WordPress