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Which Casio Digital Keyboard is the Best Choice For Beginners

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Black Friday Grab.com found a good article for guideline who would like to purchase the best Casio Keyboard for Beginners. This article wrote by Mr. Alex Buck as a Director of Internet Marketing & Music Schools at Umbrella Music and article source from EzineAticles. Black Friday Grab.com would like to share this tip “Which Casio Digital Keyboard is the Best Choice For Beginners?” for guide our shoppers.

He advised that Casio have been making keyboards for quite a while now and their name is synonymous with electronic keyboards, so you’d expect them to do what they do well, which they do. Casio are particularly good at making entry-level digital keyboards and they have a wide variety to choose from. This article will help you to choose the right one for you.

There are basically two ranges with different models within those ranges – the LK digital keyboard range, and the CTK range of keyboards. To look at the two ranges there isn’t a huge amount of difference to the untrained eye. But once you delve further into the functions and features there is a marked difference.

The main difference between the Casio LK and CTK digital keyboards is that the LK range, have what they call a back light keyboard. The back light keyboard is a tried and trusted feature designed to help absolute beginners to start learning and playing quickly.

He and the school use Casio LK digital keyboards in our own music school and he has seen countless kids and adults find this to be one of the most useful training tools, but especially for younger learners as they can become frustrated and unfocused if they can’t learn quickly. He is not saying you’ll become a piano maestro immediately upon using the tool – it just provides a very practical learning guide.

There are 5 models in the Casio LK range of keyboard: LK-120, LK-220, LK-230, LK-270 & LK-300TV. All of these models have 61 keys which all light up. 61 keys are plenty to be getting on with for absolute beginners. The Casio LK-120 is the entry level and goes up to the LK-300TV at the top end. Each model has slightly more features as you go up the range. For instance the LK-120 has 100 onboard sounds whereas the LK-300TV has 514.

Similarly the LK-120 has less rhythm choices than the LK-300 TV digital keyboard. As you go up the range you’ll find more features such as effects e.g. delay, reverb. The ability to connect outboard gear becomes possible as you go up the range e.g. adding a microphone and playing along to someone singing. One thing that is common throughout the models is the capability to connect to a computer easily either through Midi or USB. They also feature the Casio Step up learning system.

The Casio CTK-range is also suitable for absolute beginners but do not feature the back light keys. They do however all feature the Step-Up learning system as well more recording, sampling and effects features. There are 6 models in the CTK range; CTK-230, CTK-2000, CTK-2100, CTK-3000, CTK-4000 and the CTK-5000. As with the LK range of digital keyboards, the CTK range increases the number of on-board sounds, digital effects as you go up the range. The CTK-230 is the entry level, and it should be pointed out that it only has 49 keys, where as the others all have 61 keys.

Another feature of the CTK range worth mentioning is the appearance of the keys. On a lot of keyboards at this price range, you can find that they keys are a different size to those of an acoustic piano. Casio have made the keys to be the same size and to look the same as an acoustic. All of which helps with playing technique.

So the question is which is the best Casio keyboard for beginners? There is no right or wrong, but as a guideline, I would chose the LK-230 absolute beginners who are younger i.e. 4-7 years old. For older players I would choose the CTK range.

Licensing Music An Intelligent Step Towards Your Musical Career Goal

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The music industry is flourishing in recent times and hence most of the individuals choose this field to gain fame and earn money. If you observe the current musical products that are being launched in the market, you will come across the fact that most of these musical pieces have either been copied from some other source or the older songs have been remixed to make a new version. Music licensing company acts as a medium through which the producers get a chance to choose an original product from wide array of symphonies. The artists who publish their products in the music libraries organized by these companies go for licensing music to assure the film makers that these pieces belong to them and nobody else.

When this remixing technique first came into existence, the listeners liked them a lot. But changing the old slow songs into hip hop type of music by remixing them, gradually became the trend of the music industry. The audiences who liked these products earlier started taking it in a negative way and the experts began to give negative comments. This, in turn, made it essential for the producers of multiple entertainment products to search for some original opus in the libraries offered by the music licensing company. These are the creations of commoners who struggle to become a renowned star in the music industry. These unknown artists, however, go for licensing music process before they publish their original musical pieces on the libraries.

The talented music artists always try to compose something unique. If you are among these composers, then always opt for licensing music process. Having a license and possessing a copyright ensures that the musical piece belongs to you. Nobody else will have the right to claim it as his own. Even if someone does, you can litigate him in a lawsuit. But, even if your music gets copied and presented as someone else’s creation, you would never be able to litigate the person in the court if you do not have a license for that creation. Thus, as soon as you create a composition, you must, first of all obtain a copyright on it. Music licensing company is the best source to help you in doing so.

The present group of audiences is smart enough to notice the defects of the entertainment industry. This is the reason that drives the producers of entertainment products towards the music licensing company. Once the unknown artists obtain a license for their lyrics or compositions, they publish it in the music libraries online. These are the sites that are visited very often by the film makers or TV commercial makers. Whenever any unique collection is required, the producers select the composition based on what their product sequence demands. Licensing music helps the artists obtain a license for their product and the producers use it on their behalf in case they place the composition of the same musician in their product.

Licensing music not only gives an opportunity to the producers to use the creation of someone else in their entertainment product, but also helps the budding artists in paving their path towards a successful musical career. Music licensing company, however, does not only help the film producers, but also the makers of TV commercials, websites, video games, etc. where music plays an important role.

Top 20 Reasons Why Children Should Study Music

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Copyright 2006 Deborah Torres Patel

All you need to do is visit the kids audio/video section of your local CD shop and you will be bombarded with a multitude of educational enhancement products to buy. You may find Baby Einstein or Brainy Baby and an abundance of similar merchandise to make your child smarter. These types of goods can be a wonderful way to introduce music to your children before the age of three. However, nothing can replace private music lessons for a 3 to 9 year old.

The brain develops at a rapid rate between birth and three and is an essential window for the development of neurons. Therefore, encouraging musical exploration is an easy way to promote intellectual development.

Before the age of three, toy instruments can be an excellent introduction to the real thing and group musical play classes can prepare a child for later study. Singing at any age is highly beneficial and linguistic & musical awareness can begin as early as the fifth month of pregnancy when the fetal brain and ears are wide open to receive stimulus.

From the age of 3 years old, a childs brain circuits are mature enough to begin instrumental and/or vocal lessons. Voice is probably the most important instrument because singing is a tremendous gateway to confident communication and full self-expression.

The piano is usually the best musical instrument to start with because it does not require any specific fingering to play. However, children should choose instruments to play by the sounds they like. Kids will practice more if they like the sound of an instrument.

If your child chooses the piano, inexpensive electronic keyboards are a good way to begin because they are very affordable and portable. Many brands on the market today will display the notes on a digital screen while music is being played. These types of keyboards can greatly assist a child to begin to read musical notes and symbols. They also often have built in rhythm and song functions that make singing and dancing along with the music easy.

Since Howard Gardners Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences in 1983 and Gordon Shaw and Francis Rauschers Mozart Effect in 1993, there has be much debate and research into whether or not music study can be linked to better academic performance.

You will find thousands of books, products, articles and websites discussing the advantages of studying music. For your convenience, the top 20 benefits reported for vocal and instrumental music study are listed below.

1. Music training has been linked to spatial-temporal reasoning skills. (I.e. ability to read a map, put puzzles together, form mental images, transform/visualize things in space that unfold over time, and recognize relationships between objects. These skills are often helpful in science, math, and chess.)

2. Musical symbols, structure, and rhythmic training utilize fractions, ratios, and proportions, which are all important in mathematical study.

3. Increases problem finding/solving, logic and thinking skills like analysis, evaluation and the linkage/organization of ideas

4. Optimizes brain neuron development & circuitry

5. Assists motor development especially coordination of hands, eyes and body

6. Expands multiple intelligences and helps students transfer study, cognitive and communication skills from subject to subject in any syllabus

7. Group orchestra or ensemble activities help promote cooperation, social harmony and teach kids discipline while working together toward a common goal.

8. Music augments memory. For example, most people learn their ABCs by singing them. Repeating a tune in a predictable rhythmic song structure makes memorization easier.

9. Singing is a great way to aid/improve reading ability and instruction. Karaoke is a perfect example. Children may learn a song by ear (auditory) but words on a TV or computer screen provide a simultaneous visual anchor.

10. In vocal music learning rhythm, phrasing, and pitch greatly enhances language, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary skills. This is especially noticeable when using songs in first and second language study.

11. Improves critical reading and writing

12. Raises test scores, decreases performance anxiety, and teaches kids how to handle/manage stress during standardized exams

13. Helps children channel unexpressed and/or negative emotions in a positive way

14. Boosts creative thinking

15. Reading music and performing memorized pieces help children to think ahead

16. Improvisation helps people to think on their feet

17. Solo performance is connected to self-esteem & self-efficacy. (concept of self capacity) Children learn to reach for their very best.

18. When kids prepare and consistently practice for recital or performance, they work to sing/play without errors. They generally apply similar determination and perseverance to many future endeavors academic or otherwise.

19. Improves understanding of homework and enables a higher levels of concentration

20. Children who study music usually have a better attitude, are more motivated and are less intimidated by learning new things

Strong music reading, writing notation, sight singing (solfege), music theory, literacy, and moving the body to music are solid, transferable skills. Learning is a two-way street. For example, one can assume that mathematics can also develop music. Academic achievement links positively with musical achievement and vice versa.

As early as the 19th century, the visionary Dr. Maria Montessori included music and arts into her worldwide school curriculums to greatly enhance and accelerate learning.

Lorna Heyge, Ph.D., says: “While educational leaders turn to early childhood music because it promotes brain development, they will stay with music because of the joy and stimulation experienced in actual music making. Music learning requires total involvement-that is why it appeals so much to young children”

Repairing A Music Box

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One of the most beautiful gifts that someone can give another person, especially a wife or daughter, is a music box. Through the gift of music, they will be able to keep a persons memory alive through the music of the music box, which can play on for decades.

Music boxes, sadly, can also break down. So, to maintain the music that may mean so much to the person who received the musical gift, it may be required that you begin to learn about repairing a music box.

Most problems in music boxes are caused by a malfunction in the starter of the music box. Thankfully, this can often be repaired at home without having to get it repaired at a shop. There are three different types of starters for music boxes, and knowing how to fix each one will make you very versatile. As well, always remember to be very delicate as you could cause more damage to a music box in your attempt to repair it.
Wire Starter

This type of music box plays when the lid is opened and pressure is released on a metal stick, and stops when the lid is closed. When the pressure is released on the metal stick, a spring pushes the spring up and moves a connected wire down, which releases an air brake and causes the music box to play. These are the types of music box movements you need to be aware of to repair it.

You should try changing the angle of the spring with pliers. You may have to adjust it quite a bit, up and down, left and right, depending on if the music starts, doesnt start, or starts but wont stop.

You can also pull the metal stick, which may be caught on something or slightly bent. If bent, it should be replaced.
Button Starter

When a button is pushed on the box, a metal plate moves the starter mechanism, which releases a latch from the wheel of the cylinder in music boxes. This releases the air brake that allows the box to play.

In these, check to make sure that the button mechanism does not have a loose nut, and if it does, tighten it. This will hopefully allow it to connect with the metal plate to start the music. You can also adjust the plate and move it closer to the starter button.
Pin Starter

These are used in toy music boxes, where the pin blocks the air brake. When pulled, the music plays, when pushed, the music stops.

If the box does not play, make sure that the pin blocks the air brake and that when it is pulled, it releases the air brake. The pin should not be too long and if it is, it may need to be filed down. If it wont stop playing, then adjust the position of the movement and make sure that the pin is not too short. If it is, put some tape on the end to lengthen it.
Summary

Music boxes are wonderful gifts for someone you love, but like anything, they can break down and it is important that when you have a music box, you know how to repair it. Thankfully, many are easy to repair and all it takes is a basic knowledge of the inner-workings of music boxes and other types of musical gifts.

It is easy to do, people love them and you can really shine with a well-made music box, so why are you not making music boxes yet? You may find that when you give a musical gift like music boxes, that you have developed a love for putting music boxes together and it could turn into something you do a lot more. It could end up being one of your favorite hobbies in fact.

Everyone loves music, everyone loves the gift of music and there isnt a person on the planet who will not appreciate the gift you have given them when you take the time to put it together for them. Two centuries after they began to be mass produced, it is still a gift that warms the hearts of millions.

Music Box Movements, Springs and Stem Pins can be purchased from http://www.giftsonline.net/catalog/Music_Box_Movements.html

Of Sound Mind And Body – Does Music Therapy Work

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Music therapy assists in overcoming issues that are emotional, physical, social, and cognitive. This amazing type of theraoy also manages stress, promotes overall wellness, helps in the expression of feelings, to reduces or eliminate pain, to improves memory, promotes rehabilitation from physical problems or disorders, and to betters communication.

1. Who Can Do Music Therapy?

Music therapy is done through a music therapist. A music therapist first makes an assessment of the clients overall emotional and physical well-being. The music therapist also takes a look at the clients level of social functioning, cognitive skills, and communication abilities. After making these assessments, the musical therapist designs individual music sessions for the client. Sessions can, Of course, also include group music therapy. Music therapy options include listening to music, writing songs, discussing lyrics, performing music, and learning through music.

2. The Supporting Research

In integrated approach to music therapy has been shown to help children and adults of all ages. Music therapy helps those with developmental disabilities and learning disabilities overcome their learning obstacles. It also helps individuals with Alzheimers disease and other age-related conditions regain their memory. In addition, those who have coped with drug abuse or who have suffered from brain injuries can benefit from music therapy. People dealing with chronic or acute pain, including mothers giving birth, can also use music therapy to alleviate pain.

3. Hospitals Use Music Therapy

Music therapy is also sometimes used by hospitals to improve the mood of their patients or to counteract depression. They also use music to help encourage patients to move during physical therapy, or to calm patients that need to be sedated or who need to rest. Music therapy is also used in hospitals to decrease muscle tension and to help patients relax.

4. Schools Use Music Therapy

Schools even use music therapy to help children be more successful. For special education students, music therapy is sometimes included in the students Individualized Education Plan, or IEP. Music therapy is sometimes used to help these children improve their communication skills or to strengthen their physical coordination, that helps them be more successful in general education classes.

5. Music Soothes The Savage Beast

In fact, the concept of music therapy has its roots in ancient times, but really gained attention after World War I and World War II. At these times, community musicians visited Veterans hospitals and played for veterans who were suffering from physical and emotional trauma brought on by the wars. The patients at these hospitals showed notable improvement from the music. As a result, the doctors and nurses requested that musicians be hired to come to the hospitals.

6. The Benefits Of Music Therapy

The positive effects of music therapy have been so well recognized that many insurance companies cover it as a form of medical treatment. Medicare and Medicaid cover it, as well, so long as it is prescribed by a physician and the patient shows improvement from the music therapy.

7. No Musical Inclination Required

You don’t need to be musically talented to benefit from this therapy! Some people believe that only one type of music can be beneficial for use in music therapy. This is also untrue. In fact, all types of music can be helpful in helping a client. The type of music used depends on the clients preferences, as well as on the individual circumstances and the purpose of treatment. Also, the clients overall goals from the therapy help determine the type of music to be used in the music therapy.

8. Reduce Stress

The reduction of stress in emotionally healthy people can also be a benefit! Drumming and listening to music can help facilitate relaxation. Music can also stimulate physical excercise when doing a routine.