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Should You Buy a Piano or a Keyboard

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Piano or Keyboard: Which Should You Go With?

Although the piano and the keyboard appear to have the same basic features, there is a wide range of differences between the two. These differences become apparent when considering how they are constructed, used, and the type of music each one plays. History

Over three hundred years ago, an Italian harpsichord maker decided to broaden the range of his instrument. His invention had similar keys to the harpsichord, but when the keys are pressed a felt tipped hammer hits the appropriate string(s) producing a sound that has been found to be impossible to reproduce. Over the years this invention has been changed slightly, but eventually came to be known as the piano.

The keyboard on the other hand, originated from the pipe organ. One of the biggest differences between the two instruments is the fact that a piano is considered an acoustic string instrument, while a keyboard produces music digitally, generally requiring electricity to function. The Differences

The feel of the two instruments also differs. Some keyboards have small keys and feel like plastic to the touch, while higher end models may feel more like the wooden keys of a piano.

Another key difference is the sound produced by each instrument. Electronic keyboards can create a variety of sounds and effects, while the piano produces a set of the same sounds that vary by tone, generated by the keys and pedals. The hammer system makes a piano touch-sensitive, meaning the sound produced depends on how you press the keys, while a keyboard will sound the same no matter how u press them.

The piano and keyboard also differ in range. A piano has 88 keys (88 notes), but a typical keyboard today has only 61 or 76 keys. Probably the biggest drawback of the electronic keyboard is the quality of the sound. It is almost impossible to replicate the rich tone of a well-made acoustic piano with an electronically produced sound.

Of course the size of the instruments also differs significantly. Keyboards are portable and do not take up as much room space as a piano, and moving a keyboard isnt nearly as difficult as moving a piano from room to room or location to location. They also dont have to be tuned, while a piano does. Cost is another factor when evaluating the two instruments. A good acoustic piano can be quite costly, and may not be affordable to many musicians. A keyboard, on the other hand, can range in price from $300 to $1,000, or less if you consider purchasing a used model.

How To Write A Music School Business Plan

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Your music school business plan is a document that defines your music school business with its objectives and shows how those objectives ought to be achieved.

Without a music school business plan it is unlikely that prospective “angel investors” and the like will invest in your music school business if that is your requirements to start-up or if you need to take it up another level

The plan should be customized for the likely lender or the investor. The substance of the plan should imitate the potential interests of the lender and persuade support for your music school business venture.

After completion,your plan also provides a powerful tool for monitoring the forward movement of your music school business. It will assist you to focus on the objectives set up in the plan.

You must keep your investor’s attention by making the detailed description as reader friendly as possible. Use simple, direct language and graphics to illustrate your points. Make sure your copy reflects the assured approach of the management team. Still, it is advisable to be realistic whilst presenting fiscal predictions.

Try to make the business plan as encouraging as possible but do not shy away from any observable problems there may perhaps be in setting up your music school business as your backer will more than likely have thought of them anyway; so if you can get their first and counter the likely questions before they think of them so much the better.

Make a lasting first impression by presenting the document in a clear and professional approach by using an understandable, uncomplicated design that conveys a proficient image and avoid jargon, keeping the subject matter concise and hard hitting. Any technical or supporting information should be provided in the appendices.

Keep all the figures between the main body of the document and your appendices – if you put large sections of figures in the body of your article you will distract your investor from the flow of the plan.

If your business is a new venture then give background information as to why you intend to start it. Affirm the considerable advantages of your product or service. Point to would-be markets and explain your pricing policy and promotion strategies. Identify the competition and outline your proposals for dealing with it. Be positive but brief.

It is crucial that your backer (if that is what your plan is to begin with used for) believes in you and your lineup (if you have one). If you come to an financier having just had a brain wave…”wouldn’t it be fantastic to have my own music school business” – you’re going to get laughed out the door. You must make plain your awareness and confirm your know-how and skill-sets as well as any other managers involved in the music school business. If you need any staff highlight these in the appendices – it is crucial that any essential roles in the music school business are ironed out before you meet your financier – if it is a pivotal role you have need of for your music school business then you will not get the capital you need.

How an Audio Interface Can Help Your Music Career

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Everyone who loves making music and wants to make a career out of it needs to record their music. The only way to truly record your own music so that it sounds professional is through the use of an audio interface. An audio interface has come a long way over the past several years, making it more compact and much more affordable so that just about anyone can have their own studio.

When you want to record music, a USB interface can plug directly into your computer so that you can download what you’ve already recorded. The interface itself is very small and contains storage on the machine so that you can take it everywhere you go. If you want to record a live session at a night club, you can do so using the interface.

Once you get home, you’ll use the USB audio interface to plug into your computer and download your jam sessions. Most of these interfaces come packed with their own software to make the downloading very easy. After you’ve downloaded the music, you even have the option of modifying the sound waves, adding techniques, voice overs and much more to customize the sound. You can also designate what kind of file you want to save the music as to make it easier to share online, burn to CDs or send to potential agents.

The audio interface will go wherever you go. It is a fairly small device in most cases – smaller than a shoebox. This allows you to keep it in your backpack, set it in your garage or take it anywhere that you plan on making music. You can plug microphones and instruments directly into it or have the device record from the amp or speakers.

There are many USB interface systems available in the marketplace, so you need to determine which one is right for you. Some will give you a screen so that you can do playbacks right from your interface without plugging into a computer while others depend on the computer for playback. You may also be able to adjust pitch and other parts of the music with controls directly on the interface.

Ultimately, you need to determine how much you want to do with the USB audio interface. If you plan on tweaking the sound in the field, then you will need to spend more money on one of the higher end interfaces that will give you more control. This doesn’t affect the size much, but it will give you more controls and a screen to be able to adjust your settings easier.

The USB interface can help you with all of the digital changes that you’ll do from the computer, too. The software bundled with the interface should be stand alone, meaning that you don’t need to buy additional software. Read through the features of each software program to make sure that you’re getting everything you need to produce the right kinds of sounds. Some programs feature background tracks and synthesizers to adjust your recorded sound as needed.

Once you have the USB audio interface of your choosing, you can start to record the sounds that you or your band are capable of. The only way you can improve your chances for success in the music career is if people hear what kind of music you’re playing. You will be able to create electronic files to share across the internet and send out to anyone so that you can be heard.

Importance Of Music Videos

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Music videos represent a very important part of the music industry. There are even artists that owe their careers to their music videos. Music videos have become a venue where music artist is given a chance to impress the public not just with their vocal talent but also with their looks or moves. There are people who become an instant fan because of the music videos they see on TV. It even gave birth to a new type of video directors, those who has credits in making popular music videos. Although there are some video directors that dont specializes in music video directing, there are many who started their directing profession in directing very well known music videos. This is a very important lesson to those directors who are just beginning and trying to make a name in the industry. Directing music videos can be their stepping stone on the way to movie directing that they desire.

Music video is not that important before as it is today. MTV (Music Television) was one of the pioneers that take advantage of the power of music videos and discovered its importance to the music industry. Since 1981, MTV started broadcasting in the USA. From that day on music video gradually rule the music industry. Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buggles was the first video ever played on MTV. MTV instantly become of the most highly controversial show on TV. Some people saw it as the beginning of a new era in the music industry, where people can show what they got aside from singing. On the other hand were people who considered it as an end of true musical talent because artists will become more appreciated if they have good looks instead of having great vocal abilities. Music video aims to deliver the song or give meaning to the song. People can easily relate to the song once they see where it is intended for. It can help listeners relate to the song and somehow feel that the song was written for them.

Today, music videos have already proven how essential it is to an artist success. It is now considered as important as the song itself. There are artists and songs that have become so popular and well known because of their music videos. The industry have also found new ways to generate additional income from selling music video collections that are being sold on tapes or DVDs. Music video creation no matter how small or big the project is can give jobs to people. From music directors, artist and down to the smallest staff also benefit in creating music videos. There are some fans that enjoy watching music videos because of its artistic value. Some fans also think that music videos should be assessed based on its visual qualities and not on the song quality. Although there are many people who think that the song is only secondary to the music video, the music video will only be a tool for the business and will be used to sell the song of the artist.

Running An Underground Death Metal Music Record Label

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My first injection of Extreme Metal Music was back in 1985, i was 13 and a Metallica – “Ride The Lighning” cassette crossed my paths (Yes back then that was considered Extreme). I remember being at home alone with my crappy old “Ghetto Blaster” (that ‘ate tapes’) and fascinated at the cool “Electric Chair” cover art, it was at that moment within the first 30 seconds of “Fight Fire with fire” that my life would no doubt be set down a new path and Extreme Death Metal Music would be my fate. I remember being blown-away and scared shitless at the same time. The shear aggression and speed of the music was unlike anything i had ever heard (remember this was 1984 and i was 13 and Def Leppard was about the heaviest i had ever heard) and it was that very song that forever changed my life (thanx James) and led me to investigate this style of music even more. Bands like Slayer, Venom, Possessed and Death became the metal music that “Got me thru the day”

Well, the year is now 2008 and even though Metallica’s “Ride The Lighning” is still one of my top 20 favorite albums of all time, Extreme Metal Music is like drugs, one is too many and a thousand is not enough. The need for faster, heavier, more brutal and intense music dosages becomes the addiction. In today’s world of Extreme Metal Music – Metallica would probably be considered choir boys.

I guess it’s time to talk about what this article is actually about… running an underground Death Metal Record Label. First off, running an underground death metal label like this usually means running it from your parents basement, or if your a grown man who just can’t seem to grow up, your running it from your own basement and are constantly having to remind your wife, “would you rather me be here at home with you wasting all our money, or at the strip clubs wasting all our money). Truth be told probably 90% of Death Metal Record Labels that exist do it for the pure love of the music and do it on top of working 40 – 50 hours a week doing something that actually makes money, and to those who continue to do it while investing their own money and risking their marriages and relationships i raise my Corona and “Cheers You!”… But that’s just what Extreme Metal does to people, there is a devotion to it, there is just this undeniable force that encapsulates you… it’s likebeing in a gang… a really large gang!

I work for a small record label CDN Records, a basement run 2 person operation managing over 2000 Extreme titles in the genres of Death Metal, Brutal Death Metal, Melodic Death metal, Grindcore, Goregrind, Black Metal, Thrash Metal and more. The other person involved again and actually the one who started the label, a grown man like myself in his late 30’s obsessed with metal music in it’s most extreme form and probably the biggest “Death” (the band) fan you will ever meet. He started the label over 15 years ago, originally called “Civilian Death Network”, but after 9-11 it was apparent that we needed to change the name, hence (CDN Records). The label started out mostly as a “Tape Trading” network trading various Death metal bands demos with other Death Metal music fans around the world, and back then without the internet and low-cost’s of producing cd’s the cost involved could bankrupt most people. Most of us doing this tape trading stuff usually spent every last extra penny we had, we begged borrowed and stole just so we could pay for postage.But with the advent of the internet and the ability to manufacture “CD’s” cheap the label was able to evolve into a full-blown record label, signing and releasingbands.

Currently we have over 15 of our own titles, and what we do is trade our titles with other Extreme Labels around the world which increases our distro catalogue. It’s a great system, and its probably the only form a music in the world (that i know of) that operates like this… again reminding me of the bond and devotion to Extreme Music us “Metalheads” have. It’s like there is no competition between all Underground metal labels, we work together to create an even larger network. Its and even better deal for alot of the bands in the Death Metal, Extreme Music genre. We have taken bands who would never have been able to get their music on a cd let alone shipped out and into the hands of metalheads around the world… and that’s a great feeling and what fuels us to keep going.

Although, we first do this for the love of Death Metal music, we definitely work very hard at trying to get “Death Metal Music” to pay the bills. How much better could it get? promoting the music you love and making a living do it…

Tips for staring your own Death Metal Record label:
1. Find a band that you really like and has already recorded their own full-length cd (This saves you money)
2. Sign the band to a simple distribution deal, you press 1000 copies and give the band a few hundred copies (most death metal bands will jump at the chance for this)
3. Get yourself a simple web site and the ability to sell your product online.
4. Spend countless hours surfing the internet looking for other small Extreme Death Metal labels… create a long list
5. Contact all the labels you found online and ask if they do “Trades”, usually trades are based on a point system you’ll figure that out quick.
6. Most labels will trade 3-5 copies to start, trade with 100 labels you now have 300-500 titles to add to your web sites online catalogue
7. Don not take more than 10 copies of any one title… 3-5 at most
8. Promote online, Promote Online, Promote online… forums, blogs, myspace etc etc.
9. Repeat steps 1 thru 7 once you have no more of the original 1000 cd’s you pressed, of the cd traded well press the same release, if you struggled
to get other labels to take it on trade, search for a new band and try again.
10. You will be very lucky to sell more than a few thousand copies of any 1 Extreme Death metal cd, Grindcore cd or Black Metal CD (unless you happy to get lucky enough to sign the next Cannibal Corpse or Cradle of Filth) release so don’t get frustrated, the key is to
build your online catalogue with 1000’s of titles to chose from and enjoy the fact that you are now promoting and selling 100’s of Extreme Metal bands.

For all you Death Metal, Brutal Death metal, Melodic Death metal, Grindcore, Goregrind, Black Metal and Thrash Metal needs, stop on by www.cdnrecords.com