Music and Band

Music and Band Ezine: Vol II, Ed 9, 3/6/10

March 6th, 2010

Online Only Free Shipping Exclusives from Guitar Center.

Greetings!!!
Welcome to this Week’s E-dition of Music and Band Ezine!

Please follow the link to visit this week’s Music and Band Ezine
“LIVE ON THE NET!”

http://www.musicandband.com

We’re also now on Twitter, check us out!
http://twitter.com/musicandband

_________________________________________________________
ON THE COVER
_________________________________________________________

The Whole Note – from the Publisher

The Porcelain Doll Interview
Presented By:
Music and Band Ezine’s Publisher, Paul Heingarten

_________________________________________________________
Page 2
_________________________________________________________

Asking Venue Owners For Gigs
Written By: Ty Cohen

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Page 3
_________________________________________________________

What Makes a Great CD Packaging
Written By: James Hill

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Page 4
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Top 5 eMusic Downloads for the week of March 6, 2010

1) “ODD BLOOD” – Yeasayer
2) “In the Sun” B/W “I Can Hear Music” – She & Him
3) “Work” – Shout Out Lands
4) “The Magician’s Private Library” – Holly Miranda
5) “The Golden Archipelago” – Shearwater

Download these and more at
http://www.musicandband.com/top5downloads

_________________________________________________________
THIS WEEK’S HEADLINING SPONSOR
_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________
DEAL OF THE WEEK
_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________
Cover
_________________________________________________________

The Porcelain Doll Interview
Presented By:
Music and Band Ezine’s Publisher, Paul Heingarten

Decay of The Porcelain Doll answers the Music and Band Ezine
Interview this week.

Q: How did you come up with the name of your band?
A: The name of the band came about with the very first show I
played, I had women dressed in lingerie with white painted faces
as my live band and after the show someone came up and said, “Hey,
they looked liked porcelain dolls.”

Q: What genre (if any) would you classify your music in?
A: It’s really hard to classify the music as a whole, but the
latest efforts sonically could be described as black metal/shock
rock/Terror EBM

Q: Do you play only originals, or do you do covers?
A: Live I have only played my own material, however I have done
some extremely dark cover versions of Carpenters songs for my own
amusement.

Q: Who are your musical influences?
A: Early Marilyn Manson, NIN, Tool, Madonna, Psyclon Nine,
Xasthur, Pink Floyd just to name a few.

Q: What are your songs about?
A: They are about my life and a way to suppress certain urges I
feel. This project is my therapy and If I wasn’t doing this I
would probably be a serial killer.

Q: What are your band’s goals?
A: The band is currently shopping for a bigger label to support
future releases(metropolis and Noitekk)

Q: Do you sell CD’s or MP3’s of your music? If so, where could
someone find them?
A: The last two albums soundtracks for suicide and RU-468 can be
purchased through CD baby and on www.myspace.com/mrmime55

Q: What are your most and least favorite venues to play, and why?
A: I don’t wish to mention names of specific venues, but I hate
the ones that book you for a show then someone new starts running
booking and cancels your show because we are “offensive” Aside
from that I cannot stand venue bookers that think they are god of
the music scene(stop pushing mainstream and break out a little
support the arts). Venues I love are 1st Street in Oregon, they
always treated me right early in my career, and Mt. Tabor legacy
great acoustics and always an awesome crowd.

Q: Which songs do you perform most frequently?
A: I play a lot of the more aggressive fast paced songs live, it’s
hard for me to get into my slower stuff anymore(makes me feel
silly).

Q: On a gig, do you play from a set list or do you just pick songs
on the spot?
A: I have 3 set lists per tour. 1 for acoustic, 1 for electronic
and one with a little bit of both.

Q: Who in the band writes your songs?
A: I do. I write all of the music and lyrics, with occasional
session members contributing to a very small part of a song.

Q: How has your music evolved since you started playing together?
A: The music started out as funeral doom and has since evolved
over four albums to a sound all my own. I can say the music is a
lot more aggressive these days, but it’s still as scary as it’s
always been.

Q: Last thoughts?
A: Thank you for the time you spent with me to talk about the
band. To my fans who think you know the band this far you haven’t
seen anything yet.

About the Author:

Paul Heingarten runs the Music and Band Ezine
http://www.musicandband.com

_________________________________________________________
THIS WEEK’S STAGE SPONSOR
_________________________________________________________

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Page 2
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Asking Venue Owners For Gigs
Written By: Ty Cohen

As musicians, sometimes we have to make our own luck. If we
don’t step up to the plate, it may be months between gigs.
Rather than wait for gigs to just magically appear, we need to
learn how to ask for what we want.

Step One- Preparation

If you are going to ask for a gig, you want to look like a
professional musician. Prepare a CD or take your digital
recordings and laptop with you. By prepare a CD or audio
recordings, we mean make clean audio recordings that are on the
same par as recordings that you would release for sale, edited
to remove background noise and professional sound quality. The
more professional your music sounds, the more likely you are to
walk away with a new gig.

Step Two- Research

Ever hear the phrase “Know thy enemy.”? While the hopes are
making the venue owner a new ally, at the moment you need to
consider getting the gig a conquest. Assume the venue owner is
going to try to shoot down the idea and be prepared with
comebacks that might get your foot in the door. Better yet,
eliminate the arguments before they crop up.

If you are trying to get a gig at a local night club, visit a
few times and get an idea of how busy they are. If the owner
says “I don’t think we have enough business for this” you can
say, “Really? I was here last week and the place was packed.”
This little exchange might get you in the door but it could have
been avoided by saying “I was here last week and noticed you do
a really good business. There must have been at least a hundred
people in here all night and that’s just the type of crowd I
like to play in front of so I thought I wanted to come meet the
guy who can draw a crowd like that.”

In this example, you did two things: You avoided the quick NO
answer and you made the venue owner feel obligated to help you.
If you just told him he is doing good business, how is he going
to say he isn’t doing enough business to warrant giving you a
gig?

Step Three – Don’t Ask, Tell.

I know the title is asking venue owners for gigs but the truth
is when you ask for a gig in the form of a question, you set
yourself up for the quick NO. We are asking for the gig but it
needs to be done in a different manner.

Don’t say “Can I play here Friday night?”. Instead, say “I would
like to play here Friday night. What time can I set up my
equipment?” Yes, it sounds brisk. Yes, it is aggressive. But if
you followed the advice in step two, you have already told the
owner why there is no reason you shouldn’t get the gig. Being
direct in telling them when you want to perform further enforces
their feeling of being compelled to comply with your request.

You can get the gigs you want. All you have to do is ask for
them.

About the Author:

Ty Cohen wants you to learn how to market your music
successfully, without becoming a slave to the major record
labels and others in the music industry. To get his free
information visit http://www.MusicIndustrySuccess.com

_________________________________________________________
THIS WEEK’S CREW SPONSOR
_________________________________________________________

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Page 3
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What Makes a Great CD Packaging
Written By: James Hill

CD packaging may seem less significant than the actual CD inside
it but nevertheless, it still plays a very important role in
promoting your album. It is one of the best ways to advertise
your music and it could greatly affect album sales. A really
eye-grabbing CD packaging can even convince customers to buy the
album even if they do not really know the band. Some would buy
it merely for the amazing CD packaging and some are somehow
persuaded to buy it because they associate good CD packaging to
good music. A kick ass CD packaging is highly necessary if you
are still new and if you want to have a good impression.

If you are thinking of a CD packaging design of your upcoming
album, here is a checklist of what I personally think
constitutes a great CD Packaging.

The CD packaging should protect your CD First and foremost, a CD
packaging should be able to perform its basic function. Its
primary purpose is to store and protect the CD from scratches,
dust, liquids, and other elements that could damage the disc.
There are many CD packaging designs nowadays that try too hard
to be unique that the functionality is compromised. This should
be the first consideration when thinking about a creative
concept for your CD packaging. Try to be creative without
sacrificing the CD cover’s main function.

The CD packaging should be easy to ship When planning the design
of your CD packaging, always consider how it will be shipped.
Choose materials that do not consume too much space and can
easily be stacked. This may mean that you choose regular shaped
containers over irregular ones. You should also consider the
weight of the CD packaging. Try to make sure that the materials
for your CD packaging is not too heavy to minimize hassles and
additional shipping costs.

The CD packaging should grab attention The tough competition in
the music retail industry calls for a really eye-catching CD
packaging. With the increasing popularity of piracy and the
Internet, the CD packaging is one strategy to convince the
consumers to buy the actual album. Think out of the box and find
creative ways to make your CD packaging standout. There are
thousands of ways to do this! You can use a different material
like cloth or foils instead of the usual jewel cases. You can
use shiny paper, big images and freebies; whatever you think
attracts the buyer’s eye.

The CD packaging should reflect the musician’s personality The
design of the CD packaging should somewhat reflect, if not
showcase, the musician’s personality and style. If you are a new
artist who’s still trying to build your name in the music
industry, it is one great way to show your character so the
buyers would love to know you more. If you’re band plays
psychedelic pop music and you all love neon colors and pop
culture, show this quirkiness in your CD packaging.

The CD packaging should be eco-friendly This is not a must but
you would be doing something good to the industry, and to the
whole world, by promoting green CD packaging. Imagine if all
musicians produce eco-friendly CD packaging, then the world
would be a much better place. Musicians influence a lot of
people thru their music and style and maybe by producing
eco-friendly CD packaging, they could convince others to be more
aware of the environment. You can use recycled paper instead of
jewel cases, you can use stickers instead of shrink-wraps, and
you can use soy-based ink instead of petroleum-based ink. There
are tons of ways to produce an eco-friendly CD packaging! The
downside of choosing this path is that it could cost a bit
higher but it is definitely worth it.

About the Author:

CD packaging may seem less significant than the actual CD inside
it but nevertheless, it still plays a very important role in
promoting your album. If you are thinking of a CD packaging
design of your upcoming album, here is a checklist of what I
personally think constitutes a great CD Packaging.

_________________________________________________________
CLASSIFIED ADS
_________________________________________________________

Your ad can be here!!!
Email paul@musicandband.com for more information.

******

Learn all the songs you want to learn on guitar
with this easy to follow system
http://anim8orman.jamorama.hop.clickbank.net

******

Trumpet player for hire: weddings a specialty
Email paul@musicandband.com for details.

******

25 FREE iPod® compatible downloads from eMusic!
Choose from over 4.0 Million songs!
http://www.musicandband.com/freemusicdownload

******

Want to advertise your band gig or opportunity?
Email me at paul@musicandband.com for more details.

_________________________________________________________
Page 4
_________________________________________________________

Top 5 eMusic Downloads for the week of March 6, 2010

Download these and more at
http://www.musicandband.com/top5downloads

That wraps up another edition of the Music and Band Ezine. Your
questions, comments and/or concerns can always be forwarded
directly to me at Music and Band at paul@musicandband.com.

If you would like to post an article in a future edition of the
“Music and Band Ezine”, please email your submission to
paul@musicandband.com for review and consideration.

I personally thank you for your readership and interest in this
ezine. Looking forward to bringing you the next edition of Music
and Band, I am…

Paul Heingarten
Founder
Music and Band Ezine
paul@musicandband.com
http://www.musicandband.com

***The views expressed in this ezine do not necessarily reflect
the views of the publisher***

Tags: band, band ezine, cd, marketing, music, Music and Band Ezine, music ezine, promote band, promotion
Posted in Music and Band Ezine | No Comments »

music and band ezine blog carnival – March 3, 2010

March 3rd, 2010

Welcome to the March 3, 2010 edition of music and band ezine.

band

Jamie presents Circa Survive posted at Mahalo – New Pages.

John M presents An Interview with Philos | jpmblog.com posted at jpmblog.com, saying, “An interview with the up and coming American band Philos”

U2 Media presents U2 ALERT:Not playing O2 or Docklands posted at U2TOURFANS, saying, “U2TOURFNS provides a complete 360 Social Media Experience. You can download our site to your iTouch, Iphone, sign up on Facebook, Follow our tweets or just watch some of the thousands of hours of concert videos on our Youtube Channel.”

Matt Fonda presents Why Does My Drumset Sound Like Foo-Joo Burgers? posted at Matt Fonda Personal Development, saying, “Drumhead Selection, Properly Seating New Drumheads, Tuning Your Drumset with Existing or New Heads and Recording Your Drums.”

concerts

David Beaufoy presents Laneway Festival 2010- Mumford + Sons…. Florence + the Machine …etc etc posted at The Streets Of My Town, saying, “Brisbane gig review page with original video and photography”

music

Madeleine Begun Kane presents Simon, Say It Ain’t So! posted at Mad Kane’s Humor Blog.

music reviews

Edwin Choi presents Noteworthy Albums of Late Pt. 1 (Instrumentals) posted at Hip Hop Octopus, saying, “Noteworthy trip-hop and hip-hop instruments.” Jester Goldman presents CD review – BigBang, Edendale (2010) posted at Jester Jay: music and other essential thoughts.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of music and band ezine using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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Technorati tags: music and band ezine, blog carnival.

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Music and Band Ezine: Vol II, Ed 8, 2/27/10

February 27th, 2010

Greetings!!!

Welcome to this Week’s E-dition of Music and Band Ezine!

Please follow the link to visit this week’s Music and Band Ezine
“LIVE ON THE NET!”

http://www.musicandband.com

We’re also now on Twitter, check us out!
http://twitter.com/musicandband

_________________________________________________________
ON THE COVER
_________________________________________________________

The Whole Note – from the Publisher

Feeling Good with the Dave Young Band
Written By:
Music and Band Ezine’s Publisher, Paul Heingarten

_________________________________________________________
Page 2
_________________________________________________________

Equipment to Make Beats – The 4 Things You Need to Make Your Own
Rap Beats
Written By: Pedro Rocha
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Pedro_Rocha

_________________________________________________________
Page 3
_________________________________________________________

Gibson Les Paul Studio Guitars Review
Written By: Pedro Rocha
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Pedro_Rocha

_________________________________________________________
Page 4
_________________________________________________________

Top 5 eMusic Downloads for the week of February 27, 2010

1) “ODD BLOOD” – Yeasayer
2) “The Golden Archipelago” – Shearwater
3) “Transference” – Spoon
4) “Work” – Shout Out Lands
5) “The House That Dirt Built” – The Heavy

Download these and more at
http://www.musicandband.com/top5downloads

_________________________________________________________
THIS WEEK’S HEADLINING SPONSOR
_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________
DEAL OF THE WEEK
_________________________________________________________

Online Only Free Shipping Exclusives from Guitar Center.

_________________________________________________________
Cover
_________________________________________________________

Feeling Good with the Dave Young Band
Written By:
Music and Band Ezine’s Publisher, Paul Heingarten

I recently came across the Dave Young Band, out of Honolulu,
Hawaii. Their sound is a blend of folk rock, acoustic and
country. Lead singer Dave uses “Eagles meet Matchbox 20″ as a
comparison to their sound, and I think it fits.

Their MySpace page currently has a six song playlist, kind of an
“e-EP” if you will. The list starts off with “Out of the Blue”, a
song about love. Without any overbearing of emotion, it’s a great
heartfelt tune with some nice guitar work, tight harmonies and a
really great feel. It’s about one of those universal emotions…
finding someone and not being able to get them off your mind.

My favorite song on this list is “Starting Over”. Full of wistful
sounds and a story about a guy losing his girl, having a dead end
job and just coming to that point of realizing that his life is at
a stopping point and a new beginning is needed. It’s rough, but I
bet most of you have been through some kind of new beginning at
one point or another. It’s a song that has a touch of hope in the
midst of despair, which is one of my favorite ideas that can come
through in music.

I’m really glad there are people out there like Dave Young Band
making this kind of music. I came of age in the 1990s when the
likes of Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, etc were making
their splash in music. I liked and listened to that music
frequently, but looking back I realize how much that music had a
lot of negativity behind it. I guess I knew back then but I just
went along with it. To me, too much of that vibe ends up wearing
you down and you end up taking on that attitude yourself.

As far as the attitude of the Dave Young Band and what they
project, I definitely feel the positive vibes coming from the
Aloha state. Keep up the great work, guys!

You can hear all of the music from the Dave Young Band at their
MySpace page:
http://www.myspace.com/dybdaveyoungband

About the Author:

Paul Heingarten runs the Music and Band Ezine
http://www.musicandband.com

_________________________________________________________
THIS WEEK’S STAGE SPONSOR
_________________________________________________________

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Page 2
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Equipment to Make Beats – The 4 Things You Need to Make Your Own
Rap Beats
Written By: Pedro Rocha
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Pedro_Rocha

Music Production Software
This is probably the most important piece of equipment to make
beats, even if it’s virtual. Your choice of software could have
big implications in the style you develop as a music producer. But
for somebody starting from zero I would recommend to not pay too
much for this yet.

Most of the peripherals needed to make beats come with light
versions of popular music software. Even though the purpose is to
temp you to upgrade to the more expensive versions, these light
editions have more than enough sounds to keep anyone going for a
long time.

If you have absolutely no experience you could check something
like Sonic Pro, a very popular online program that for only $30.00
USD offers a sequencer, sounds, instruments and more important,
video tutorials on how to make your own beats.

An Audio Interface
One of the most important reasons why to get a decent audio
interface is their handling of a common problem with computers and
music, latency. This is the amount of time that it takes the
computer to process an incoming signal.

Latency can create very annoying issues when making beats, like
playing a midi note and hearing the sound a second later. It would
be extremely difficult to record live that way. Also if you want
to connect instruments, external synths and drum machines, audio
interfaces feature the proper inputs.

A Midi Controller
Most of today midi controllers plug to the computer via USB and
are recognized automatically by most music software, requiring
almost no technical knowledge to get them going.

The most popular midi controllers come in 2 flavors, keyboard or
pads. The keyboard is the most popular and the most practical, but
rubber pads can yield more rhythmically interesting beats. Even
better is the new breed of controllers that blend both together.

Monitors
It might seem like the least important feature for someone getting
started, but this depends on how much you enjoy making music. The
issue lies in the reproduction of the entire frequency spectrum.
Small computer speakers by default mess with the audio content,
hyping up frequencies because of their inability to fully
reproduce them.

Even though the monitors at beginner prices are not the full
solution, as you go up in price you start to get a more realistic
image of the sound you’re working on. At lower prices most
monitors still hype up the sound a little, but in a way that
compliments music making and not video game playing.

About the Author:

For a review of my favorite choices for the equipment needed to
make beats please visit my review page
http://www.squidoo.com/how_to_make_beats2

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Equipment-to-Make-Beats---The-4-Things-You-Need-to-Make-Your-Own-Rap-Beats&id=3825942] Equipment to Make Beats – The 4 Things You Need to Make Your Own Rap Beats

_________________________________________________________
THIS WEEK’S CREW SPONSOR
_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________
Page 3
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Gibson Les Paul Studio Guitars Review
Written By: Pedro Rocha
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Pedro_Rocha

Ever since this electric guitar came out more than 25 years ago,
it has made it possible for many players like myself to have a
guitar like this. The legendary Standard model can be quite out of
the range of many players.

These days the Gibson Les Paul Studio electric guitars are made in
a few different models, some of them costing a lot less than what
they normally have been known to go for.

Gibson Les Paul Studio Review

Even though the latest American Les Paul Standard guitars feature
a higher level of craftsmanship than before, the assumption that
the main difference between the Studio and the Standard is the
neck/body binding is mostly true.

Now that Gibson installs new pickups on the Les Paul Standard
guitars, the Studio kind of has a place of its own. It features
the humbuckers that used to come in the Standard for many years,
the 490R and 498T. These pickups have a pronounced upper midrange
that makes them sound very modern.

The dimensions of the neck follow the thick Gibson 50’s profile,
even though this is one of the thickest necks available a lot of
players have associated it with this guitar.

While some of the newer and cheaper Gibson Les Paul Studio guitars
come with a gig bag this one is still shipping with a hard shell
case.

Gibson Les Paul Studio Faded Maple Top Review

The first thin satin-finished Gibson LP Studio guitar I saw was
about 6 years ago, what was called the Vintage Mahogany, now
called the Faded.

A lot of players understood the incredible deal this guitar is,
but found it a little boring due to the lack of a maple top and
color. Now there’s the Faded Maple Top. The specs of this guitar
are almost the same as the regular Studio.

The pickups are the Burstbucker Pro, the same ones that come in
the much more expensive Standard. These put out a great tone, they
offer less upper midrange than the 498T/490R pickups for a more
vintage sound that still sounds great for hard rock.

The thick nitrocellulose lacquer finish has been substituted for a
very thin satin finish. I’m not alone in believing that guitars
feel much more organic with this type of finish.

Gibson Les Paul Studio Faded Review

It’s documented that Mr. Les Paul often preferred an all mahogany
guitar. Gibson Les Paul Custom guitars with this formula are still
available, but their price can be quite high. Luckily the Studio
Faded is very close to that guitar for way less money.

This guitar has such a meaty and opaque sound that is hard to
believe it is available at this price. The pickups are the same as
the Faded Maple Top, the Burstbucker Pro.

The more intimate sound of this guitar is perfect for a wide
variety of music styles, a very good jazz sound from the neck
pickup and an even better 70’s style hard rock from the bridge.

About the Author:

For a whole review of the different Gibson Les Paul Studio guitars
available please visit my review page
http://www.squidoo.com/Gibson_Les_Paul_Studio_Review_

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Gibson-Les-Paul-Studio-Guitars-Review&id=3824058] Gibson Les Paul Studio Guitars Review

_________________________________________________________
CLASSIFIED ADS
_________________________________________________________

Your ad can be here!!!
Email paul@musicandband.com for more information.

******

Learn all the songs you want to learn on guitar
with this easy to follow system
http://anim8orman.jamorama.hop.clickbank.net

******

Trumpet player for hire: weddings a specialty
Email paul@musicandband.com for details.

******

25 FREE iPod® compatible downloads from eMusic!
Choose from over 4.0 Million songs!
http://www.musicandband.com/freemusicdownload

******

Want to advertise your band gig or opportunity?
Email me at paul@musicandband.com for more details.

_________________________________________________________
Page 4
_________________________________________________________

Top 5 eMusic Downloads for the week of February 27, 2010

1) “ODD BLOOD” – Yeasayer
2) “The Golden Archipelago” – Shearwater
3) “Transference” – Spoon
4) “Work” – Shout Out Lands
5) “The House That Dirt Built” – The Heavy

Download these and more at
http://www.musicandband.com/top5downloads

That wraps up another edition of the Music and Band Ezine. Your
questions, comments and/or concerns can always be forwarded
directly to me at Music and Band at paul@musicandband.com.

If you would like to post an article in a future edition of the
“Music and Band Ezine”, please email your submission to
paul@musicandband.com for review and consideration.

I personally thank you for your readership and interest in this
ezine. Looking forward to bringing you the next edition of Music
and Band, I am…

Paul Heingarten
Founder
Music and Band Ezine
paul@musicandband.com
http://www.musicandband.com

***The views expressed in this ezine do not necessarily reflect
the views of the publisher***

Tags: electric guitar, ezine, les paul, music, Music and Band Ezine
Posted in Music and Band Ezine | No Comments »

Music and Band Ezine: Vol 2, Ed 7, 2/20/10

February 20th, 2010

Greetings!!!
Welcome to this Week’s E-dition of Music and Band Ezine!

Please follow the link to visit this week’s Music and Band Ezine
“LIVE ON THE NET!”

http://www.musicandband.com

We’re also now on Twitter, check us out!
http://twitter.com/musicandband

_________________________________________________________
ON THE COVER
_________________________________________________________

The Whole Note – from the Publisher

Sammy Dee Blues Band Interview
Presented By:
Music and Band Ezine’s Publisher, Paul Heingarten

_________________________________________________________
Page 2
_________________________________________________________

CD review – BigBang, Edendale (2010)
Written By: Jester Jay

_________________________________________________________
Page 3
_________________________________________________________

Why Does My Drum Set Sound Like Foo-Joo Burgers?
Written By: Matt Fonda

_________________________________________________________
Page 4
_________________________________________________________

Top 5 eMusic Downloads for the week of February 20, 2010

1) “ODD BLOOD” – Yeasayer
2) “Transference” – Spoon
3) “I’m New Here” – Gil Scott-Heron
4) “The Golden Archipelago” – Shearwater
5) “Astro Coast” – Surfer Blood

Download these and more at
http://www.musicandband.com/top5downloads

_________________________________________________________
THIS WEEK’S HEADLINING SPONSOR
_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________
DEAL OF THE WEEK
_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________
Cover
_________________________________________________________

Sammy Dee Blues Band Interview
Presented By:
Music and Band Ezine’s Publisher, Paul Heingarten

Sammy Dee of the Sammy Dee Blues Band answers the Music and Band
Ezine Interview this week.

Q: What genre (if any) would you classify your music in?
A: Blues – Louisiana Texas style blues

Q: Do you play only originals, or do you do covers? In your
average gig, what’s the ratio of original songs to covers?
A: 50/50…In the blues business, it is customary to give tribute
to who made the blues what it is. And at the same time deliver
the blues in your own way.

Q: Who are your musical influences?
A: Albert Collins, Tab Benoit, Kenny Neal, Ronnie Earl, Robert
Cray, Freddie King, just to name a few.

Q: What are your songs about?
A: Blues is usually about pain, misery, and love. Blues is also
medicine for the soul.

Q: What are your band’s goals?
A: We are currently forming our next tour. We have many big
things in the works. Currently writing new material for a new
CD.

Q: Do you sell CD’s or MP3’s of your music? If so, where could
someone find them?
A: At the shows or we can mail.

Q: What are your most and least favorite venues to play, and why?
A: For some strange reason, biker bars have not been the best for
us. We don’t know why.

Q: Which songs do you perform most frequently?
A: My original material. Redheaded Stepchild has been a big hit
for us with our fans.

Q: On a gig, do you play from a set list or do you just pick songs
on the spot?
A: In smaller rooms, I tend to read the audience. In a concert, I
always use a set list.

Q: Who in the band writes your songs?
A: Myself

Q: How has your music evolved since you started playing together?
A: We have achieved authenticity in the blues. We have a great
band sound.

Q: Last thoughts?
A: Please look at our website, www.sammydeemorton.com. In
particular, the video – opening at the Boulder Theater for Robert
Cray.

About the Author:

Paul Heingarten runs the Music and Band Ezine
http://www.musicandband.com

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CD review – BigBang, Edendale (2010)
Written By: Jester Jay

Norway’s BigBang embraces an American sound. If I didn’t know
their story, I never would have guessed that they’re not American.
Their second US release, Edendale, has a mellower down-tempo feel
than their last album (From Acid to Zen), but they’re not soft.
BigBang has created a fusion of left and right coast sounds,
covering retro California sounds like the Joe Walsh and the Eagles
and then pulling in the East coast vibe of Steely Dan and Patti
Smith. They’ve sifted some bluesy R&B over the top along with a
little Roxy Music and made a great groove of an album.

This is a strong and varied collection of songs. Still, there are
a couple of songs that rise to the top. The tentative, reflective
start of Isabel hints at decisiveness. The driving bass and drums
cement the focus. The threatening lyrics and imposing vocals add a
perfect element of tension. The rich and emotionally expressive
lead guitar at the end contrasts with the structured rhythm.

Now Is Not a Good Time has a similar soft beginning. Here, though,
the vibe is a laid back groove that feels like Simply Red’s
Holding Back the Years. Tasteful keyboard accents back the Robin
Trower style guitar work. Eventually, they smoothly shift into a
My Morning Jacket progressive section, with repetitious staccato
riffs building in intensity as the guitar wails over the top.

Singling these out, it’s feels like I’m ignoring plenty of other
great songs: the edgy Adrian Belew sound of Call Me, the cool
Steely Dan tone of Swedish Television, or the funky Cajun blues of
Bag of Leaves. I’ve listened to Edendale eight or ten times
already and it stays fresh. The smooth, laid back tone remind me
of a great Pacific Northwest barley wine, like Pike Brewing’s Old
Bawdy.

About the Author:
See this original post at
http://jesterjaymusic.blogspot.com/2010/02/cd-review-bigbang-edendale-2010.html

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Page 3
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Why Does My Drum Set Sound Like Foo-Joo Burgers?
Written By: Matt Fonda

Lots of newbie drummers, correction: newbie-parents, spend
hundreds of dollars on overpriced drum kits. But when they get
them home the drums sound similar to the ghetto-brand store model.
Why? The heads aren’t tuned. Every time you hit the heads, you
alter the tuning.

Maybe you’re going into the studio and you’re spending your
hard-earned savings on recording. You’re worried your drums won’t
cut it because of the brand name. Or that it will cost you an arm
and a leg to engineer your mediocre drums into the majestic vision
in your mind.

This article will show you how to make any drum set sound decent
and an average drum set sound spectacular.

For your convenience, this article is broken into five sections:

1) Introduction
2) Drumhead Selection
3) Properly Seating New Drumheads
4) Tuning Your Drumset with Existing or New Heads
5) Recording Your Drums

Introduction
There are a few points I need to make first:

1) If your current heads are in working condition, meaning there
are no significant dents, they are not stretched beyond normal
tuning and they were replaced less than 18 months ago, then you’ll
survive the tuning process. Using old heads is far from ideal for
any situation, especially recording. Even with semi-worn heads,
you can get your drums sounding awesome for your next show or
basement demo.

2) If you have any expendable money, buy new heads. This goes a
looooong way with tuning. New heads will do the most to enrich a
drum’s sound. If you’re professionally recording your kit, you
absolutely must, must, must buy fresh heads before you record.
I’ll touch more on this later.

3) If you’re not sure what heads to buy, talk to the Drum shop
Tech. Generally, 2-ply (or two-layered) drumheads will have less
resonance or less “bonggg” and are generally for heavy hitters,
i.e.: metal, hard rock. Single ply or 1-ply heads will have more
resonance and are generally for jazz and lighter rock music.

*Note for Newbies: The “batter” side is the side you strike with
your stick, the “resonant” side is the side that you do not hit.

New Drumhead Selection
For Toms
I usually get the same brand heads for all my toms, but it’s up
to you. Picking drumheads is like picking your favorite
toothpaste: some taste like candy, some taste like foo-joo
burgers, some perform a specific task better than others, but
they all have fluoride.

Usually drummers get 1-ply resonant side (bottom of the tom) and 1
or 2-ply batter side. The sky is the limit with brands and type of
skins. Coated, black, clear, muffle ring built-in, Kevlar, etc. My
best advice is to know what styles of music you’ll be playing.
Tell the Drum Tech at the store what genre you’re playing. Start
there.

For Snare
For snare heads, use a single-ply resonant (bottom of the drum
where the snares touch) and a 1 or 2-ply for the batter side (the
part you strike). Again, personal preference. Ask for help at the
store.

For Bass Drum
For Bass heads, make sure your batter side has a muffle ring built
into it or comes with a foam insert. Remo’s Powerstroke 3 is a
good example. Your resonant side head should have a sound hole, a
small factory cut hole, to provide options for miking.

Seating New Heads
You’ve just purchased new heads.

Start with one drum and remove one old head completely. Clean off
the rim and bearing edge of the drum. Leave the grease on the
lugs!

*Veteran Note: If you tune your snare drum to a high pitch and
you’re replacing the snare heads, detention each side gradually to
avoid buckling of the shell.

1) Remove the drum rim and lug bolts. Toss the old drumhead. Make
sure you have the right new drumhead for the side of the drum
you’re replacing, i.e.: resonant or batter side. Check the rim or
“hoop” and make sure it’s clean of debris. Make sure your “hoop”
is not warped or uneven. It should be a circle.

With a soft cloth, make sure the bearing edge (where the plastic
head touches the drum) is clean. The bearing edge condition is
important in getting a clean tone out of the drum.

2) Place the new drumhead on the drum over the bearing edge. Make
sure it’s even all the way around. Rotate the head so the drumhead
logo is out of your playing zones. Check the Tom mounts to see
where that would be.

3) Place the rim or “hoop” over the drumhead. On each side, reach
under the rim to make sure the drumhead is even. This is the most
critical step. Place the lug bolts in loosely and finger tighten
them only, continually checking under the rim with your fingers to
make sure the drumhead is even all the way around the drum.

If the metal part of the drumhead is uneven, remove the lugs and
start over. Improperly seating a drumhead will give you an uneven
sound and has been known to cause chicken pox. Not really, but
seriously, this is the most important part. The rim and drumhead
should be even all the way around the drum.

4) Don’t use the drum key yet. When you’re sure the head is set
evenly all the way around the drum, finger tighten the lugs. Don’t
use the drum key yet. You may see slight wrinkles in the head.
That’s ok. If the drumhead really resembles an old-man face, your
head is not properly seated. When you’re comfortable the head is
seated evenly, repeat the same for the opposite side. The newly
seated head should have a low but audible pitch for that
instrument.

*Note: For new resonant side Snare heads, you’ll need to remove
the strainers. You should be able to do this easily with a
drum key.

Tuning- “The Tune and Push Method”
For the remainder of this article, I’ll be assuming you’ve either
already seated your new heads on each drum or you’re working with
used heads that are in good condition. Each lug is finger
tightened evenly. If you’re tuning used heads, de-tune the drum so
the lugs are finger tightened only.

*Note to Newbies: The “batter” side is the side you strike with
your stick, the “resonant” side is the side that you do not hit.

***Note: Try not to turn lugs that are next to each other. Always
go across the drumhead. You want to keep the drumhead tension
even. Do not tune each lug around the circle in a clockwise
motion!

As a general rule, don’t just start twisting the drum key right
away. Tuning should be done as you raise the head in pitch
gradually. If you don’t, you can get wrinkles and dead spots where
the drum doesn’t make much sound. It may mess up the head and cost
you another trip to the store.

To avoid this, remember to follow the “tune and push” method
described below after you have seated the head properly, (see
above). If you have any muffling rings or materials on the heads,
take them off before you tune! If you want great sounds from the
drums, here’s what to do.

Toms
1) Start with your highest tom batter side. Place it on a pillow
or drum stool so the resonant (bottom) head is completely
dampened. You only want to hear one head at a time. With your
favorite finger, tap the drumhead near each lug (about 2 inches in
from the rim). Listen to each pitch. Do it again. Listen carefully
at each lug. It should sing you a note and some “overtones”, extra
miscellaneous notes. Pick the main note and sing it.

Some taps will sound flat, others will be sharp, others will give
you this face (It helps to have a guitarist or tension tuner
handy at this point). Pick one lug to be your “default pitch” to
tune all the other lugs to.

Carefully, turn each lug a little bit to match the pitch of your
“default lug”. Remember, lefty loosey (bring the pitch down),
righty tighty (bring the pitch up). These should be very small
turns, 1/16th of a full drum key turn.

***Note: Try not to turn lugs that are next to each other. Always
go across the drumhead. You want to keep the drumhead tension
even. Do not tune each lug around the circle in a clockwise
motion!

2) When you’ve got every lug about the same pitch, put down the
drum key. With both hands, gently push down in the center of the
head like you’re performing slow CPR into the surface of the
drumhead. This will simulate playing on the head and pull out and
catches on the bearing edge.

3) Go back to your “default lug” and tap it. It should be a little
lower than before. Again, match the pitches of all the other lugs
with your “default lug”. Push into the center of the head with
your palms. Repeat this process one more time or until you’re
satisfied. It doesn’t have to be perfect! The pitches at each lug
should even out when the head is in tune.

Beginners usually keep turning the drum key until their Tom sounds
like a Timbali. Avoid this. Small turns. Keep a low pitch at first
and be patient. You can always tune much higher, but not always
much lower.

Tuning a drumhead is like tightening a thin plastic bag over a
barrel. If you tighten it gradually you find the sweet spot. If
you tighten it too much it can break or more commonly, when you
tune it back down it will sound like floppy foojoo-burgers.

4) Flip the drum over and repeat steps 1 through 3 with the
resonant side facing up now, making sure the batter side is
completely muted.

5) When you think you have the overall pitch of each drumhead
matched, pick up the drum by the rim and strike it on the batter
side with a drumstick. Any good? If not, find out which head is
too low or too high. Place it back on the pillow or throne and tap
the head. Flip it. Tap it. Which head sounds funny? Fix it.

Typically you want to match the pitches of the two heads. You’ll
know when this happens. The drum will give you a nice loud
pleasant ring, or resonance, “Bonggggggggggggggggg…..”

The Tune and Push Method takes 5 minutes to learn but months to
master. Be patient. Tuning toms is the easiest way to practice
because you can clearly hear the pitches. At first it may take 30
minutes per drum to get it properly tuned, but it’s worth it.
Especially when you’re recording. You can save hundreds of dollars
depending on the mixing engineer’s rate, where he won’t have to EQ
your drums and use plug-ins like SoundReplacer.

Snare Tuning- Batter Side
Tuning the batter head is easy. Just make sure the drum is resting
on a pillow or throne so the bottom head is completely dampened.
Refer to the 5 steps above for tuning. Note that some lugs may be
hard to turn. Tune to the pitch of each lug, not how hard it is to
turn the drum key.

If it’s super hard to turn your drum key in the beginning of
tuning, the thread on the lug may not be aligned properly. Take it
out and check it. You may need more grease in that lug.

Snare Tuning- Resonant Side
So you already made sure the drum is resting on a pillow or throne
so now the batter head is completely dampened and the resonant
side is facing up to be tuned. Hey, there’s something in the way -
the snares!

The trick here is to loosen the snares to their “off” position and
place a single drumstick underneath the snares. Make sure the
stick is perpendicular to the direction of the snares and crossing
the center of the drum. Rest the ends of the stick on the rim. If
the snares do not have enough slack, give ‘em some!

Tune the head exactly as you would any other head. For a really
poppy-crack ringing snare, tune the bottom head of your snare
higher. *Word of warning* Tune gradually and push on the head to
stretch it out periodically. Heads will break if you crank them
too high.

Bass Drum- Either Side
When you first seat a new bass head, it will sound like floppy
construction paper. I usually tune my bass drum to an audible
pitch, but still low. The batter head is usually a little tighter
than the resonant side. Follow the exact same method we used for
the tom tuning.

If you want, throw in a small blanket for additional muffling. I
prefer an open sound, using only the muffle devices that are built
into the physical heads. The kick drum is much louder when it’s
not full of your grandmother’s moth-ridden afghans.

Recording Your Drums
It’s best to purchase your heads one week before your session.
Seat and tune the new heads a few days before you track, tune them
and play them lightly. After you’re done rehearsing, give them a
quickie tune. Repeat this process a few times so the heads have a
chance to settle.

Here’s the most important piece of advice that I can offer for
getting great drum sounds. The day before you’re going to track,
drop your drums off in the room you’ll be tracking- tune them
there.

The reason: drastic temperature changes and transporting your
drums will definitely knock them out of tune. The easiest way to
avoid this is keep them static until you record them. Tune them
the morning of recording as well.

The rest of this article is my personal preferences for recording
rock drums. All the mic placements are subjective. Experiment if
time permits. Always go with what sounds best, not what
convention or an article tells you!

Bass drum- purchase a resonant side head with a sound hole. This
will allow the option of miking inside the drum to get the
“thwap!” of the beater against the batter head. For bass
frequencies I always recommend an AKG D-112 or an RE-20

Snare- use a Shure SM57 close to the rim & drumhead. I’ve compared
dozens of snare mics- use an SM57

Toms- use SM57s near the head. Experiment with location to find a
sweet spot. Sennheiser 421s are great too.

Overheads- Ideally, use two large diaphragm condenser mics to pick
up the overall drum set and cymbals. If you can’t get two, use at
least one condenser mic as an overhead. Any mid-priced large
diaphragm condenser should due. U-87s are awesome but obviously
expensive. Always get the best you can afford. Borrowing and
renting is a great option because it’s likely you’ll only be
recording every 6-18 months.

About the Author:

See this original post at
http://mattfonda.com/archives/892

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Your ad can be here!!!
Email paul@musicandband.com for more information.

******

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with this easy to follow system
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Want to advertise your band gig or opportunity?
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Top 5 eMusic Downloads for the week of February 20, 2010

1) “ODD BLOOD” – Yeasayer
2) “Transference” – Spoon
3) “I’m New Here” – Gil Scott-Heron
4) “The Golden Archipelago” – Shearwater
5) “Astro Coast” – Surfer Blood

Download these and more at
http://www.musicandband.com/top5downloads

That wraps up another edition of the Music and Band Ezine. Your
questions, comments and/or concerns can always be forwarded
directly to me at Music and Band at paul@musicandband.com.

If you would like to post an article in a future edition of the
“Music and Band Ezine”, please email your submission to
paul@musicandband.com for review and consideration.

I personally thank you for your readership and interest in this
ezine. Looking forward to bringing you the next edition of Music
and Band, I am…

Paul Heingarten
Founder
Music and Band Ezine
paul@musicandband.com
http://www.musicandband.com

***The views expressed in this ezine do not necessarily reflect
the views of the publisher***

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Posted in Music and Band Ezine | No Comments »

Music and Band Ezine: Vol 2, Ed 6, 2/13/10

February 13th, 2010

Greetings!!!
Welcome to this Week’s E-dition of Music and Band Ezine!

Please follow the link to visit this week’s Music and Band Ezine
“LIVE ON THE NET!”

http://www.musicandband.com

We’re also now on Twitter, check us out!
http://twitter.com/musicandband

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ON THE COVER
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The Whole Note – from the Publisher

The Atma Weapon Interview
Presented By:
Music and Band Ezine’s Publisher, Paul Heingarten

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Page 2
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Starving Musician? Learn How You Can Profit From an Audio
Mastering Program
Written By: Johnnie Roberts
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Johnnie_Roberts

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Page 3
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An Interview with Philos
Written By: JPM

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Top 5 eMusic Downloads for the week of February 13, 2010

1) “Transference” – Spoon
2) “ODD BLOOD” – Yeasayer
3) “There Is Love In You” – Four Tet
4) “Astro Coast” – Surfer Blood
5) “The Courage of Others” – Midlake

Download these and more at
http://www.musicandband.com/top5downloads

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_________________________________________________________
Cover
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The Atma Weapon Interview
Presented By:
Music and Band Ezine’s Publisher, Paul Heingarten

Q: How did you come up with the name of your band?
A: I’m sure a few gamers that were around in the 90s can figure
that out.

Q: What genre (if any) would you classify your music in?
A: 8-bit crossover prog/metal

Q: Do you play only originals, or do you do covers? In your
average gig, what’s the ratio of original songs to covers?
A: We only play originals.

Q: Who are your musical influences?
A: We have so many, but the big ones are Rush, Queen, Protest the
Hero, Coheed and Cambria, lots of old NES soundtracks, Nobuo
Uematsu and tons of classical.

Q: What are your songs about?
A: The first album we’re working on is a concept album, so all of
the songs deal with the same story. Everyone will have to listen
to hear the story and interpret it for themselves.

Q: What are your band’s goals?
A: I’d say our goal isn’t dissimilar from the rest of the bands
out there now; tour, get signed and make a living. Yet, we do
strive for something more – perhaps show people that there are
still real musicians out there making real music and taking the
time to hone their craft. Popular music in the 2000s has been
unforgettable for the most part, and we hope to reach out to
those that feel the same.

Q: Do you sell CD’s or MP3’s of your music? If so, where could
someone find them?
A: As of right now, we’re giving our music away for free and you
can pick it up at any of the shows we play.

Q: What are your most and least favorite venues to play, and why?
A: We love playing Herman’s Hideaway, they’ve been real attentive
and friendly. We really love any venue that understands the
progression of music and is willing to devote some extra time into
putting a show together with bands that fit together.

Q: Which songs do you perform most frequently?
A: We like to give every song an equal opportunity – you never
know who’s going to like one song more than the other.

Q: On a gig, do you play from a set list or do you just pick songs
on the spot?
A: We always pick a set list. It works better that way for
everyone – we can play a set that flows well to keep the crowd
involved and we aren’t left standing around trying to decide what
we want to play next.

Q: Who in the band writes your songs?
A: Primarily, David and Ryan (guitars) are the key songwriters
considering we’re a very riff-oriented band, but everyone
contributes. Typically, one of the guitars will come with a riff
or two and we’ll run with it from there.

Q: How has your music evolved since you started playing together?
A: I think the music has started to reflect more on our classical
influences, with the use of more arpeggios and the progressions.

Q: Last thoughts?
A: Any fans of progressive rock/metal, Nintendo and lots of guitar
will love The Atma Weapon.

About the Author:

Paul Heingarten runs the Music and Band Ezine
http://www.musicandband.com

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Starving Musician? Learn How You Can Profit From an Audio
Mastering Program
Written By: Johnnie Roberts
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Johnnie_Roberts

Audio mastering is not mixing. In fact, the process uses a
completely different technique. So you may well ask; what is it?
It is actually the step that comes right before the pressing of a
CD. Most professionals would agree that audio mastering it is a
vital step in creating a good quality CD. So, after your songs
have been mixed and recorded, they need to be mastered.

The Mastering process includes the forming, equalizing and
compression of your final tracks. The reason this is important, is
because the clarity, volume and intensity of your songs depends on
it. Without it, your songs simply would not sound professional.

It has only been until recently that mastering was done in the
studio by a mastering professional. Now, modern technological
advances enable you to do things yourself, provided you have an
affordable and good quality audio mastering program. Further, you
do not even have to leave home to do it.

Mastering is a unique task that can be tricky. The process
requires a new skill set than what you may be used to if you are a
musician. This does not mean you should not do if you are not
already an expert though. You can simply use a high quality and
affordable online audio mastering program that is easy enough to
let you try it for yourself.

A good audio mastering program can help you tighten your studio
tracks. In addition, it also can add amazing quality to a live gig
recording. Then, you can easily duplicate your recording and sell
it at your next concert or online. A well mastered track can
provides your audience with a far better listening experience. It
is how you can that professional sound you are after.

Here are the five steps of Audio Master Success. Use these five
processes to get your track to a professional standard and
increase your sales.

1. Maximize volume level
2. Balance frequencies
3. Reduce unnecessary noise
4. Encode
5. Re-check for errors.

Every audio mastering program should help you through the above
steps; but not all do! The program you pick should walk you
through the above steps with an easy-to-use and well designed user
interface.

A good audio mastering program is specifically designed just for
editing audio programs. The navigation on the program you choose
should let you zoom right in on a specific wave form so you can
easily eliminate any unwanted noise. Then difficulty of this
process is based only on how complex you want your tracks to be.

You can use conventional multi-track beat programs to do some
mastering. Although a pro programs may have a few advantages, the
opposite is also true. In the final analysis, your own needs
should really dictate the right program for you to choose. And of
course, your budget is additional consideration.

The great thing about having your own audio mastering program is
that you can practice and improve your mastering technique. You
may not want to do your own mastering once you strike it rich, but
these skills can also help you understand your musical
compositions much better.

Who knows, you may discover a hidden talent for audio mastering
and benefit from an additional stream of income to make more
money!

Visit MusicProductionBeats.com contains articles and tips for
creating your own beats. Read the next article in this series:
Secret of creating great beats with a
[http://musicproductionbeats.com/beat-maker-application-secret-to-making-great-beats/]
beat maker application.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Starving-Musician?-Learn-How-You-Can-Profit-From-an-Audio-Mastering-
Program&id=3472571] Starving Musician? Learn How You Can Profit From an Audio Mastering Program

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An Interview with Philos
Written By: JPM

Recently Philos have taken time out from their busy Schedule to
take part in a quick Question and Answer Session with jpmblog.com

jpmblog: Who were your musical idols growing up?

Philos: The great thing about our band is that we all have
different idols and musical influences. When we come together and
work on stuff, we’re really pulling from a vast history of music.
In no particular order, our idols were: The Beatles, The Normals,
Gin Blossoms, Dave Matthews Band, Derek Webb, Third Eye Blind,
Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, Foo Fighters, Tonic

jpmblog: If each of you had to pick a favorite song that inspire
you, what would it be?

Vince – One of my most inspirational songs, Jimmy Eat World’s “For
Me This is Heaven” I just love the melody and the lyrics, and the
way it builds and builds. Just beautiful.

Kenny – Oh geez.. Really? One song? Ever? You’re killing me…
Ummm.. I’ll have to go with the first one that pops up.. How about
“If You’re Gonna Leave” by Emerson Hart?

Michael – This is never an answerable question, but today, I’ll go
for “Two Of You” by Jackson Browne.

jpmblog: If you had to compare yourself to any other group, band
or artist, who would it be?

Philos: We get a mix of “Switchfoot, Third Eye Blind, Dashboard
Confessional” (but better… haha!)

jpmblog: Where did you guys meet and when did you first decide to
form a band?

Philos: We all met while attending Belmont University in
Nashville, TN. We met in 2003. We were roommates in a few
different houses until 2007. While living together, we’d always
write and play music with and for each other…The band started as a
joke, in all honesty in 2008. We wanted to see if we could play a
show as a band, and have fun. We had 150+ people to our first
show, and from then on, we’ve been Philos.

jpmblog: You have just released your version of the Wicked hit
Defying Gravity, what made you pick that song for release, and why
does it standout for you, and how cool is it that you have a song
available on iTunes?

Philos: Vince saw the musical in Chicago, and walked away from it
singing the song to his sister. As they’re walking through the
streets of Chicago to catch a train, he, a drummer, started air
drumming to the song and told her, “Defying Gravity needs to be a
pop tune”. She halfheartedly agreed, mainly just to please him.
When Vince got back to Nashville, he worked on a rough track of
the song before he showed it to his roommate and lead singer,
Kenny. Kenny had seen the show. Vince played the rough, then the
original for Kenny. Something truly came over them as they
listened to the lyrics this time. They knew the song had to be
recorded. The message in the song is perfect for what we, as
20-somethings and musicians trying to make it in a very difficult
industry, want to say. But beyond that, It relates to everyone…
That’s why the song is such a great success. The lyric transcends
the Broadway/musical-theater genre, and resonates with anyone that
hears it. As far as we know, we’re the only male fronted version of
the song. (We don’t count the guy from Glee. Yes, he’s a male, but
his vocal range is insanely high).

We’re extremely grateful to be on iTunes. It literally allows us
to reach the world. Up until recently, if you were an independent
band, it was really difficult for people across the country,
never mind the world, to hear your music. Now, anyone anywhere can
find our songs. It’s truly amazing.

jpmblog: How many gigs have you guys performed in?

Philos: a lot. Uh… Combined? Hundreds. We play a lot, but we
haven’t started extensive touring yet. We still need to sell more
records. (*hint hint*/ahem… readers!!)

jpmblog: What’s been your favorite gig so far and do you have any
funny touring stories?

Philos: Favorite gig, hands down…. Playing at the Pantages Theater
in Los Angeles for the composer of Wicked’s birthday party which
was also a benefit for the Actors Guild.

We got invited to play with a whole slew of Broadway stars to
honor Stephen. The LA leads from Wicked were there. The original
Belle from Beauty and the Beast… etc. and … us.

We got to open the Wicked portion of the show. We went into the
show as the only unknown, and we ended up being the last to leave.
So many people wanted to talk to us, and get our story. It was
really wonderful.

There are strings of stories about having calendar models sign our
bodies, fitting an entire band in a four door sedan, and our
guitarists getting in a mix up and knocking each other out with
their guitars on stage, but we’ll leave those for a next
interview.

jpmblog: If you could pick any song to cover for your next
release, which song would it be?

Philos: Well… we’re not really TRYING to be a cover band…so
ideally, we’ll get to do originals. HAHA. Vince has always wanted
to do “circle of life’ , Kenny’s a fan of “Welcome” by Caleb.
Michael likes the song “Maneater” by Hall & Oates.

jpmblog: Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

Philos: Bigger than Coldplay and U2 combined. Naw, really… we
don’t know. The goal has been, and always will be, to be able to
sustain our lives by doing what we love to do. That’s happiness
for us.

jpmblog: What’s next for Philos?

Philos: We’re hoping to have our 2nd EP done in the next month or
so. We’re going do some little tours, and hopefully we’ll get more
wonderful fans like we have now. It’s all about them.

A Big Thanks to Philos for taking the time the answer my
questions.

About the Author:

Follow JPM on Twitter: http://twitter.com/netbookjohn
See this original post at
http://jpmblog.com/2010/02/an-interview-with-philos/

_________________________________________________________
CLASSIFIED ADS
_________________________________________________________

Your ad can be here!!!
Email paul@musicandband.com for more information.

******

Learn all the songs you want to learn on guitar
with this easy to follow system
http://anim8orman.jamorama.hop.clickbank.net

******

Trumpet player for hire: weddings a specialty
Email paul@musicandband.com for details.

******

25 FREE iPod® compatible downloads from eMusic!
Choose from over 4.0 Million songs!
http://www.musicandband.com/freemusicdownload

******

Want to advertise your band gig or opportunity?
Email me at musicandband@prhsolutions.com for more details.

_________________________________________________________
Page 4
_________________________________________________________

Top 5 eMusic Downloads for the week of February 13, 2010

1) “Transference” – Spoon
2) “ODD BLOOD” – Yeasayer
3) “There Is Love In You” – Four Tet
4) “Astro Coast” – Surfer Blood
5) “The Courage of Others” – Midlake

Download these and more at
http://www.musicandband.com/top5downloads

That wraps up another edition of the Music and Band Ezine. Your
questions, comments and/or concerns can always be forwarded
directly to me at Music and Band at paul@musicandband.com.

If you would like to post an article in a future edition of the
“Music and Band Ezine”, please email your submission to
paul@musicandband.com for review and consideration.

I personally thank you for your readership and interest in this
ezine. Looking forward to bringing you the next edition of Music
and Band, I am…

Paul Heingarten
Founder
Music and Band Ezine
paul@musicandband.com
http://www.musicandband.com

***The views expressed in this ezine do not necessarily reflect
the views of the publisher***

Tags: band, ezine, foo fighters, music
Posted in Music and Band Ezine | No Comments »

music and band blog carnival – February 2010

February 6th, 2010

Welcome to the February 1, 2010 edition of music and band ezine blog carnival.

band

Decibel Music Blog presents No Fatal Flaws with South Jordan | Decibel Blog | Your Place for New Music posted at Decibel Blog | Your Place for New Music, saying, “Here’s a band we reviewed back in December that is just getting started but already has a small fan base.”

concerts

Zhu presents Green Day In Ottawa posted at Correr Es Mi Destino, saying, “I remember listening to Green Day when I was in junior high, back in the nineties. I had a tape of Dookie and we would try to understand the lyrics of Basketcase… I like the late American Idiot album too. The show was just great. The band had a lot of energy: “This ain’t TV,” frontman Billie Joe Armstrong shouted. “Get off your fucking asses.””

music

Dan Hood presents Nadmit.com Top Ten: Rappers posted at NADMIT.COM.

Dan Hood presents Alice In Chains Album Review posted at NADMIT.COM.

Nelson Onofre presents NEW YORK BLUES: The Beat Goes On- Kenny Wayne Shepherd posted at American Blues News, saying, “this is an article I posted on American Blues News, a blues website I shoot for and the photos are my work. Check out the rest of the site as there some great articles posted there.”

Doctorate Upholder presents Rivers Cuomo Is a Dead Man. Miss Him, Miss Him. | Aesthetic Octopus posted at Aesthetic Octopus.

Storm presents Welcome To The Official Website For Ametrine posted at Ametrine.

kilby presents Knifefightingjesus.com » Blog Archive » Joe D’Amato’s Anthropophagus (1980) posted at Knifefightingjesus.com, saying, “yup” Storm presents New Song Added posted at Floopsy.

Jeff Cook presents Only I’ve…: My immense fascination with abstract music posted at Only I’ve….

Peter Kimmich presents Seven 2010 Albums That Have the Panties in a Bunch posted at Monitor Down, saying, “Let me know if this is a good fit for your carnival. Thanks!” David James presents Music Industry Helps Haiti – Noteworthy posted at Breakthrough Band Blog, saying, “An open ended question to see how the music industry is helping haiti.”

music lessons

Deepak Eapen presents Compare the BEST Guitar Online Lessons Available Today ! updated Tue Dec 29 2009 8:06 am CST posted at Restoring Your Finances and Your Faith.

music reviews

Lisa Taylor presents 25 Must-See Japanese Artists Who Have Nothing to do with Anime or Manga posted at Photography Colleges. K. Douglas presents Is Jamorama a Good Way to Learn How to Play the Guitar? posted at Arts and Entertainment: Music Articles from EzineArticles.com. Suzane Smith presents Celebrity Photo Shopping Revealed: 16 Pics of Celebrity Photoshop Blunders posted at Photography Colleges. Liz Wright presents Cayman Jazz Fest: Headliner Alicia Keys Stole the Show posted at Travelogged. That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of music and band ezine using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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Technorati tags: music and band ezine, blog carnival.

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Music and Band Ezine: Vol 2, Ed 5

February 6th, 2010

Greetings!!!

Welcome to this Week’s E-dition of Music and Band Ezine!

Please follow the link to visit this week’s Music and Band Ezine
“LIVE ON THE NET!”

http://www.musicandband.com

We’re also now on Twitter, check us out!
http://twitter.com/musicandband

_________________________________________________________
ON THE COVER
_________________________________________________________

The Whole Note – from the Publisher

The Shelter Boys Interview
Presented By:
Music and Band Ezine’s Publisher, Paul Heingarten

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Page 2
_________________________________________________________

Circa Survive
Presented By: Jamie

_________________________________________________________
Page 3
_________________________________________________________

How to Market Your Band Without Breaking the Bank
Written By: Tyler Cohen
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tyler_Cohen

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Page 4
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Top 5 eMusic Downloads for the week of February 6, 2010

1) “Transference” – Spoon
2) “Astro Coast” – Surfer Blood
3) “The Courage of Others” – Midlake
4) “Embryonic” – The Flaming Lips
5) “Romance is Boring” – Los Campesinos!

Download these and more at
http://www.musicandband.com/top5downloads

_________________________________________________________
THIS WEEK’S HEADLINING SPONSOR
_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________
DEAL OF THE WEEK
_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________
Cover
_________________________________________________________

The Shelter Boys Interview
Presented By:
Music and Band Ezine’s Publisher, Paul Heingarten

Q: How did you come up with the name of your band?
A: We used to get together, grill out and play music every Sunday
afternoon in the shelter at Les Meyers Park.

Q: What genre (if any) would you classify your music in?
A: We tend to get placed in the Jam Band genre because we play a
blend of several genres and delve into improvisational jams.

Q: Do you play only originals, or do you do covers?
A: We play mostly originals

Q: In your average gig, what’s the ratio of original songs to
covers?
A: Our typical gig consists of 2 – 3 sets in which we try to play
a cover or two in each set.

Q: Who are your musical influences?
A: Our influences are from across the board, pioneers in rock,
funk, jazz, grass, blues, folk, and reggae. Anyone who has ever caught
our ears, turned our heads and shook our bones.

Q: What are your songs about?
A: Life’s experiences, life on the road, feeling good.

Q: What are your band’s goals?
A: We want to play live 4-6 nights a week, college circuit
throughout Winter and Festival filled Spring and Summer.

Q: Do you sell CD’s or MP3’s of your music? If so, where could
someone find them?
A: We currently have 1 CD, “Live At The Sylvia”, which can be
requested for free by contacting us @ www.myspace.com/theshelterboys2009.
We have hours of live archives we plan to make available in the future
and are currently working on our first studio release.

Q: What are your most and least favorite venues to play, and why?
A: Most favorite would be the festivals and theaters because
people are there to enjoy music and be entertained. Least favorite
would be bars that also do music because a lot of their patrons are
there for the beer and not the music.

Q: Which songs do you perform most frequently?
A: Off The Chain, Mexican Jam, Goin’ Down The Road, Think Pink, Dat
Funk, A Song, Bad Luck, Today, On Top Of The World, Green, Tribal
Fusion for originals and covers like Knockin On Heavens Door, Last
Dance With Mary Jane, Long Haired Country Boy, Can’t You See/Hey
Jude Medley.

Q: On a gig, do you play from a set list or do you just pick songs
on the spot?
A: Almost always off the cuff, we have tried to make set lists, but
unfortunately that requires the ability to read and follow the
list.

Q: Who in the band writes your songs?
A: Everybody writes both individually as well as collaborative.

Q: How has your music evolved since you started playing together?
A: In the beginning everything was total improvisation, which still
plays a relevant part in all shows. We now have several originals,
some of which began as an improvisational number and have been
honed and polished, we also have a handful of foundations that
pave the way for improv jams and a large selection of covers to
chose from depending on the crowd.

Q: Last thoughts?
A: All in all our music reflects a piece of each of us,
representing many different backgrounds and walks of life. We all
have different likes and interests and the music that we create is
the common bond that pulls it all together. No matter where you
are from, how old you may be, or what your particular musical
preference, it is safe to say The Shelter Boys have something for
you. See you out there!

About the Author:

Paul Heingarten runs the Music and Band Ezine
http://www.musicandband.com

_________________________________________________________
THIS WEEK’S STAGE SPONSOR
_________________________________________________________

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Page 2
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Circa Survive
Presented By: Jamie

Circa Survive is a rock band categorized as progressive or indie
formed in 2004. The five band members are: Anthony Green, Colin
Frangicetto Brendan Ekstrom, Nick Beard, and Steve Clifford. They
released their debut album, Juturna, in 2005 and their sophomore
album On Letting Go in 2007. Currently Circa Survive is working on
their third album set to release in 2010.

After Anthony Green headed back to his hometown of Philadelphia
for a dentist appointment and to visit, Anthony Green went to the
airport to return to California to work with the band Saosin,
where he was their front man. While on a delay in Phoenix, he had
an epiphany – despite the fact that Saosin was close to becoming
big, he knew he would be miserable if he went back to them. Green
returned to Colin Frangicetto, a friend with whom he had played
music with during his stay, and they decided to begin recording
and finding new band members. Circa Survive was formed. Colin
Frangicetto and Anthony Green, with full support from Equal
Vision Records, then brought in Brendan Ekstrom. Ekstrom had been
Frangicetto’s band mate in This Day Forward, which had recently
disbanded. Both Ekstrom and Frangicetto had worked together with
Taken during their This Day Forward days, and got Nick Beard,
previous bassist of Taken, as Circa Survive’s next member. The
band met Steve Clifford through Vadim Taver of the band Marigold
(and also from This Day Forward); “Steve jammed with us for a week
and from there it was on”, says Frangicetto.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circa_Survive3

2010 Tour Dates

3/11/10- Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
3/12/10- Nashville, TN @ Exit/ In
3/13/10- Birmingham, AL @ WorkPlay Theatre
3/14/10- Little Rock, AR @ The Village
3/16/10- San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
3/17/10-3/21/10- Austin, TX (SXSW festival) @ TBD
3/22/10- St. Louis, MO @ The Firebird
3/23/10- Indianapolis, IN @ The Emerson Theater
3/24/10- Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop
3/26/10- HOODWINK Anaheim, CA @ Grove of Anaheim
3/27/10- THE BAMBOOZLE Anaheim, CA @ The Festival Grounds at
Angels Stadium

About the Author:

Find this original post at
http://www.mahalo.com/circa-survive

_________________________________________________________
THIS WEEK’S CREW SPONSOR
_________________________________________________________

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Page 3
_________________________________________________________

How to Market Your Band Without Breaking the Bank
Written By: Tyler Cohen
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tyler_Cohen

Marketing and promotion is a fact of any musician’s life. Yes,
making music is personally fulfilling and the joy of it can be
felt when playing or singing alone at home. But if you want to
earn a living at it so you can devote yourself to music full time,
you need to have fans. Fans are the people who pay for your band’s
music career. You could be the most creative musical genius but if
you play in an empty club, you’ll never be full-time performers.

But most bands just starting out do not have a lot of money. So
you need to get creative and market your band without breaking the
bank. The first thing to do is talk about your band. Word of mouth
is still a powerful tool. When you run into friends, tell them
about your band and let them know where you’ll be playing next.
Tell your family and ask them to tell their friends and
associates.

Next, build a killer web site. There are all sorts of tools and
widgets available now that let’s even the most modestly computer
savvy person build a great website. It will cost you less than
$100 for build a site, host it and add a bunch of bells and
whistles. Once up and running, add videos of performances,
information about the band members and upcoming performances,
offer ringtones and you can even set up a chat area for fans to
social network with one another. Have one or more band members
blog. The more often you update and add fresh content, the more
people will visit the site.

It may sound old fashioned but legwork can reap big benefits.
Invest the time to go meet people in person. Introduce yourself to
club owners, booking agents and others who can give your band’s
career a boost. Obviously, the best tool to hand out is a demo CD.
But if you don’t have a demo yet, hand out a business card with
your band’s website on it.

College radio shows and community access TV shows are a great way
to promote your band for free. Similarly, use Social Networks to
promote your band through posts, tweets and uploaded video. If
you’re willing to put in the time and effort, you can successfully
market your band and still have money left in your pocket.

To get his free information visit
[http://www.musicindustrysuccess.com/]
http://www.MusicIndustrySuccess.com and read his blog at
http://www.MusicBizCenter.com/blog

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Market-Your-Band-Without-Breaking-the-Bank&id=3665711]
How to Market Your Band Without Breaking the Bank

_________________________________________________________
CLASSIFIED ADS
_________________________________________________________

Your ad can be here!!!
Email paul@musicandband.com for more information.

******

Learn all the songs you want to learn on guitar
with this easy to follow system
http://anim8orman.jamorama.hop.clickbank.net

******

Trumpet player for hire: weddings a specialty
Email paul@musicandband.com for details.

******

25 FREE iPod® compatible downloads from eMusic!
Choose from over 4.0 Million songs!
http://www.musicandband.com/freemusicdownload

******

Want to advertise your band gig or opportunity?
Email me at musicandband@prhsolutions.com for more details.

_________________________________________________________
Page 4
_________________________________________________________

Top 5 eMusic Downloads for the week of February 6, 2010

1) “Transference” – Spoon
2) “Astro Coast” – Surfer Blood
3) “The Courage of Others” – Midlake
4) “Embryonic” – The Flaming Lips
5) “Romance is Boring” – Los Campesinos!

Download these and more at
http://www.musicandband.com/top5downloads

That wraps up another edition of the Music and Band Ezine. Your
questions, comments and/or concerns can always be forwarded
directly to me at Music and Band at paul@musicandband.com.

If you would like to post an article in a future edition of the
“Music and Band Ezine”, please email your submission to
paul@musicandband.com for review and consideration.

I personally thank you for your readership and interest in this
ezine. Looking forward to bringing you the next edition of Music
and Band, I am…

Paul Heingarten
Founder
Music and Band Ezine
paul@musicandband.com
http://www.musicandband.com

***The views expressed in this ezine do not necessarily reflect
the views of the publisher***

Tags: band, funk, making music, marketing, music, musician
Posted in Music and Band Ezine | No Comments »

Music and Band Ezine: Vol 2, Ed 4

January 30th, 2010

Greetings!!!
Welcome to this Week’s E-dition of Music and Band Ezine!

Please follow the link to visit this week’s Music and Band Ezine
“LIVE ON THE NET!”

http://www.musicandband.com

We’re also now on Twitter, check us out!
http://twitter.com/musicandband

_________________________________________________________
ON THE COVER
_________________________________________________________

The Whole Note – from the Publisher

Trapaw Interview
Presented By:
Music and Band Ezine’s Publisher, Paul Heingarten

_________________________________________________________
Page 2
_________________________________________________________

Noteworthy Albums of Late Pt. 1 (Instrumentals)
Presented By: Edwin Choi

_________________________________________________________
Page 3
_________________________________________________________

Become A Better Musician With Better Practice Habits
Written By: Gregg Hall
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hall

_________________________________________________________
Page 4
_________________________________________________________

Top 5 eMusic Downloads for the week of January 30, 2010

1) “Transference” – Spoon
2) “Astro Coast” – Surfer Blood
3) “Embryonic” – The Flaming Lips
4) “Romance is Boring” – Los Campesinos!
5) “July Flame” – Laura Veirs

Download these and more at
http://www.musicandband.com/top5downloads

_________________________________________________________
THIS WEEK’S HEADLINING SPONSOR
_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________
DEAL OF THE WEEK
_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________
Cover
_________________________________________________________

Trapaw Interview
Presented By:
Music and Band Ezine’s Publisher, Paul Heingarten

Bill from Trapaw answers the Music and Band Ezine Interview this
week.

Q: How did you come up with the name of your band?
A: I came up with the name in high school. I was having a really
rough time and I felt really trapped, like I couldn’t help myself
in any way. I felt like a fox caught in a bear trap that was ready
to chew its own paw off just to get away. I was at that point in
my life, ready to do anything to get out. It was around that time
that I started writing music. The music became my way out, so I
named the project Trapaw (short for Trapped Paw).

Q: What genre (if any) would you classify your music in?
A: It’s mainly based in the hardcore/metalcore genre, but it has
influences from across the board.

Q: Do you play only originals, or do you do covers? In your
average gig, what’s the ratio of original songs to covers?
A: I do only originals.

Q: Who are your musical influences?
A: Bands such as KillWhitneyDead, The Acacia Strain, Strapping
Young Lad.

Q: What are your songs about?
A: Well they’re about a lot of different things from relationships
to life’s tragedies to those little moments that make life worth
living.

Q: What are your band’s goals?
A: At this point, I’m planning on doing a label push and once I
get signed, I plan on putting together an actual band so we can
get some gigs.

Q: Do you sell CD’s or MP3’s of your music? If so, where could
someone find them?
A: I plan to have copies of my debut album, Bury The Living, for
sale on my MySpace page once I get the final product out.

Q: What are your most and least favorite venues to play, and why?
A: Well, with it being a solo project, I don’t really gig all that
much. However, I’ve always been down for throwing the instrumental
tracks in a stereo and doing the vocals at parties. You’d be
amazed at how well that goes over.

Q: Which songs do you perform most frequently?
A: At Life’s Limits and Fair Fights Are Overrated seem to be the
two most popular off the album at the moment, so I usually throw
those out there. Yet, with only one album, I usually perform the
entire thing.

Q: On a gig, do you play from a set list or do you just pick songs
on the spot?
A: I actually perform the CD cover to cover. Kind of difficult to
mix it up when it’s just you.

Q: Who in the band writes your songs?
A: I write all parts, but I expect that to change once I get a
full band together. In my opinion, everyone in the band should
have a say in what’s written.

Q: How has your music evolved since you started playing together?
A: We’ll see once I bring in other people. However, just by
myself, I can tell a major maturing in my songwriting from when
Trapaw FIRST began in 2005.

Q: Last thoughts?
A: Nothing really other than don’t give up your passion for music
because of lack of others to play with. With that said, keep an
eye out for my debut album, Bury The Living, coming early 2010!

About the Author:

Paul Heingarten runs the Music and Band Ezine
http://www.musicandband.com

_________________________________________________________
THIS WEEK’S STAGE SPONSOR
_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________
Page 2
_________________________________________________________

Noteworthy Albums of Late Pt. 1 (Instrumentals)
Presented By: Edwin Choi

I haven’t posted in about a month due to mainly work related
concerns, but during that time I’ve had the luxury to listening to
a new, full album during my job activities as I grind along.
Amazing how quickly the day can fly by when you’re steadily
digesting and thinking about new music!

Lately I’ve been listening to many albums which are entirely
instrumental, and do not contain any lyrics. However, all of the
albums I’ve listened have strong hip-hop influences, and also
borrow elements from jazz, trip-hop, and other related genres. I
find it amazing that producers can have such a vast amount of
skill with a wide variety of instruments, in which they use to
convey a huge range of emotions. Not only that, but these songs
often retain the ability for a rapper to easily rap their lines
over the music due to their bass hits and melodic structure.

Here are some recent highlights, with some quick thoughts that
don’t quite constitute a full review:

Blockhead – Music by Cavelight. During my recent travels to the
trip-hop and instrumental scenes, I stumbled onto Blockhead’s
offerings. His debut album Music by Cavelight is a medley of
haunting and unique instruments with a distinctive hip-hop flavor.

Nomak – Muziq and Foto. Nomak is a little known, Japanese hip-hop
producer who has been garnering praise worldwide (especially in
Eastern European countries). He makes strong use of
instrumentation such as piano chords and violins to produce
spiritual and calming beats which seem to shimmer in your head as
your listen to them. Muziq and Foto often take advantage of
lacing three or four separate melodies on top of each other to
create a strong harmonious effect, such as Wind Beat and Ample
Energy (two of my favorite songs in the album).

Uyama Hiroto – A Son of the Sun. Uyama Hiroto is another Japanese
hip-hop producer, on Nujabes’ label no less. Artistically, it is a
bit similar to Nomak and Nujabes’ hip-hop beats, but Hiroto
refines some elements in this album that clearly showcases his own
unique talents. Strong jazz influences are seen throughout the
album, as well as hip-hop influences. For example, the lead track
“81summer” contains strong swing and cool jazz influences when you
listen to the piano fill in the notes between bass hits. The voice
that can be subtlety heard in the background is a skillful use of
sampling, which makes the voice more of an instrument than for any
vocal purpose. Lastly, the violin can be heard riding the beat,
much as a rapper would flow along with the melodies presented in
the song.

About the Author:

See this original article here
http://www.hiphopoctopus.com/album-highlight/noteworthy-albums-late-instrumentals/

_________________________________________________________
THIS WEEK’S CREW SPONSOR
_________________________________________________________

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Page 3
_________________________________________________________

Become A Better Musician With Better Practice Habits
Written By: Gregg Hall
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hall

As with anything in life, you will become a better musician the
more you practice and even though you can’t expect to be an
overnight sensation in most cases, you can dramatically increase
your performance by the way you practice.

Most people don’t think about warming up before practicing their
music but just like an athlete it will help you to perform better
and learn faster. Always warm up before you begin practicing to
settle your nerves and get your body relaxed so that you will get
the best results from your practice session.

Another crucial aspect to practicing music is setting realistic
and attainable goals. Very few people can sit down and play a son
perfectly with just a little practice, it takes time and
repetition. Many musical scores may take weeks of practice just to
master one song. For exceptionally long pieces, separate them into
sections and concentrate on a particular section during each
practice session.

Strategy is also important, especially when trying to learn a
complex piece of music. You can play a tough to learn section
repeatedly until you get it down or you can play it more slowly
than intended and gradually increase the speed until you are
playing at the tempo the music was written for.

Before you begin to play a certain piece of music, analyze it to
determine the style it is supposed to be played in, what the
timing should be, and the speed in which it is meant to be played.
It is best to read over the entire piece a couple of times first
so that you will know what the music should be played like before
you get started.

If your aim is to become as good a musician as possible you need
to practice as much as you can. When you see professional
musicians who seem to play so flawlessly, you can believe that
they practice their craft for several hours daily with extreme
dedication.

You should break your practices up into segments such as this:

First you should warm up, going though through scales, chords,
arpeggios, and book warm-up exercises before attempting a
complicated piece of music.

The next step should to practice increasing the speed of your play
by beginning at a slower tempo then moving up. This is similar to
what we mentioned above about learning a difficult song.

Another way to help you to learn to read music better is to
attempt to play an entire sheet of music you have never done.
Doing this will assist you in your reading skill and enable you to
learn to play new music much faster.

Mastering the art of music isn’t something that can be done
overnight, it takes years of practice and dedication.

About the Author:

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about
music and Mp3 Accessories at http://www.musicstoreplusmore.com

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Become-A-Better-Musician-With-Better-Practice-Habits&id=262183] Become A Better Musician With Better Practice Habits
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Page 4
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Top 5 eMusic Downloads for the week of January 30, 2010

1) “Transference” – Spoon
2) “Astro Coast” – Surfer Blood
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5) “July Flame” – Laura Veirs

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That wraps up another edition of the Music and Band Ezine. Your
questions, comments and/or concerns can always be forwarded
directly to me at Music and Band at paul@musicandband.com.

If you would like to post an article in a future edition of the
“Music and Band Ezine”, please email your submission to
paul@musicandband.com for review and consideration.

I personally thank you for your readership and interest in this
ezine. Looking forward to bringing you the next edition of Music
and Band, I am…

Paul Heingarten
Founder
Music and Band Ezine
paul@musicandband.com
http://www.musicandband.com

***The views expressed in this ezine do not necessarily reflect
the views of the publisher***

Greetings!!!
Welcome to this Week’s E-dition of Music and Band Ezine!

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ON THE COVER
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The Whole Note – from the Publisher

Trapaw Interview
Presented By:
Music and Band Ezine’s Publisher, Paul Heingarten

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Page 2
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Noteworthy Albums of Late Pt. 1 (Instrumentals)
Presented By: Edwin Choi

_________________________________________________________
Page 3
_________________________________________________________

Become A Better Musician With Better Practice Habits
Written By: Gregg Hall
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hall

_________________________________________________________
Page 4
_________________________________________________________

Top 5 eMusic Downloads for the week of January 30, 2010

1) “Transference” – Spoon
2) “Astro Coast” – Surfer Blood
3) “Embryonic” – The Flaming Lips
4) “Romance is Boring” – Los Campesinos!
5) “July Flame” – Laura Veirs

Download these and more at
http://www.musicandband.com/top5downloads

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