The MapIntosh Center Blog » Music Info

It Is a Funny Thing but Music Is unlike Many Other Activities

admin — Fri, 06 May 2011 14:49:04 +0000

The guitar, be it electric or acoustic, is the most flexible of instruments.

You can strum a few chords, adopt a very trained classical guitar methodology, or play complicated jazz chord and scale progressions. The decision is down to you. No matter what your bag, the journey to achieving your goal and the elemental sound is the genuine buzz. It is a funny thing, but music is unlike many other activities. Take soccer for instance, there’s no escaping the indisputable fact that if you would like to play pro-football you had better be good and there aren’t any short cuts. Methodology and fitness is an essential. Musical expression is dissimilar and shares may likenesses with the spoken word. One or two well selected words can be much more effective than a tidal wave of complex oral statement.

So it is with playing guitar. Possibly, the most successful vocalist songwriter who ever lived is Bob Dylan, whose delivery is based fundamentally on guitar sounds mixed with an overwhelming talent as a lyricist. His musical structure is usually straightforward – but the simpleness of the music mixed with great hook lines and words is bang on the nail as a musical statement. So that the fact to take on board is that technical ability has very little to do with musical talent. If your groove is a simple country, reggae or blues feel you may be damn good and highly topical without being a technical genius. It is fantastic how officially trained musicians, i.e. Classical, or other technical jazz players, are customarily the most ineffectual exponents of rock, country, pop or blues music. Playing the guitar is largely an approach, mixed with feel and the mandatory musical information to express what you would like to play. Do not be conned into following the path of so many probably great musicians and be fazed by more accomplished players. When you zoom in on the ease of a player like the great blues guitar strummer B. B.

King, you can not help but be influenced by his economy of notes, played in such a food, soulful musical context. You will not stop learning guitar. Each time you pick it up you will find something new and it need not be tough to play to be relevant!

Source: bruno mars

Thursday, a Post-Hardcore Band, Is from New Brunswick, New Jersey

admin — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:38:04 +0000

Thursday, a post-hardcore band, is from New Brunswick, New Jersey. The band formed in 1997. Their first full-length album was released in 1999 with a New Jersey based company called indie Eyeball Records. The band gained significant commercial radio airtime when they released their 2nd album which changed into a discovery. Their hit single ‘Understanding In A Automobile Crash’, landed the band a big label record handle Island. Their hopes were in continuing to create music and an image that truely represented themselves.

The whole collection of Thursday albums were produced by Sal Villanueva and mixed by Rumble Fish.

The sound of Thursday is built on both post-punk atmospherics and hardcore’s abdominal instrumentation. Repeated high-pitch guitar riffs piled on top of heavy bass lines echo Thursday’s UK influences like the Cure, The Smiths, and Joy Division as well as Long Island City’s Sonic Youth. Lyrically, Thursday is a masterwork with lead vocalist Geoff Rickly. Geoff focuses hard on the tussles of being raised in the world today using violent images along side glistening, and frequently lovely phrases.

Thursday’s Discography * Waiting ( December six, 1999, Eyeball Records ) * Full Collapse ( October eighteen, 2001, Victory Records ) * War all of the Time ( Sep sixteen, 2003, Island Records ) Thursday’s Singles * 2001 – ‘Understanding In A Automobile Crash’ * 2002 – ‘Cross Out The Eyes’ * 2003 – ‘Signals Over The Air’ * 2003 – ‘For the labour pool, Drowning’ * 2004 – ‘War all of the Time’.

Source: Justin Bieber

Classic Musical Shows Still Running in London’s West End

admin — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 09:29:00 +0000

The West End accounts for the best possible professional theatre on the planet, fighting only with The Big Apple for the globe’s very best plays and also musicals. London’s West End is furthermore host to some of the longest-running shows worldwide. These recognized musical shows stand for stunning classics that keep both travellers and also local people wanting more.

The West End of London hosts a number of musicals that have been running for many years and don’t stop to draw in the crowds.

London’s longest running show of all time is the time honored Les Miserables. Based on Victor Hugo’s memorable novel of the same name, the musical show is a storyline of love as well as redemption set with bloody along with violent French Revolution. Famous tracks contain “I Dreamed a Dream” along with “Can You Hear the People Sing.” The show opened in 1985 and currently is in their twenty-fifth year.

Queen jukebox musical show We Will Rock You is in its eighth year. The show talks about Galileo, a young noncomformist who faces off with corporate Killer Queen in a dystopian planet that’s set 300 years in the future. The most popular musical is a fan favorite and also features famous Queen tracks such as “We Are the Champions” as well as “Another One Bites the Dust.”

The Phantom of the Opera is London’s second-longest running show as well as opened just one single year soon after Les Miserables. The musical is in all likelihood composer Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most well-known show and also is primarily based off of Gaston LeRoux’s renowned book. The show tells the story of a raising opera star and also the tortured man who is addicted with her. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score is a intricate blend of opera as well as rock and the show offers spectacular special effects in numbers like “The Point of No Return” and “Masquerade.”

Disney’s Lion King The Musical show is in the eleventh year on london’s west end as well as is taken from Disney’s memorable animated film The Lion King. The show endlessly excites complete families with its stunning puppets along with visuals together with a familiar score which includes Lion King favorites just like “Hakuna Matata,” “Circle of Life,” and Elton John’s memorable “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.”

Kander and Ebb’s gritty musical show Chicago is currently in its twelfth year on london’s west end. The show’s storyline revolves around Roxie Hart, a jailed murderess who desires a career in vaudeville. The musical is renowned for its unique Bob Fosse choreography as well as time honored numbers like “All That Jazz” and “Cell Block Tango.”

Last of all, Mamma Mia opened in 1999 and also is recognized for its score made up entirely of songs from the Swedish pop group Abba. The storyline involves a young girl, Sophie, who decides to ask all three of her potential fathers to her upcoming wedding. The musical features timeless Abba hits including “Dancing Queen” and “Mamma Mia.”

Come across details about performances and also tickets for We Will Rock You and The Lion King musical shows at http://www.lsbo.co.uk

The Return of the Ting Tings

admin — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 09:43:13 +0000

The Ting Tings, one of Brit pop’s largest current success stories, are about to begin their 2nd attack on our charts. The couple, Katie White and Jules De Martino, started off in 2007 in an arty community in Manchester’s Islington Mill development. Thru the next year, they conquered the United Kingdom airwaves with hits including ‘Great DJ’, ‘That’s Not My Name’ and ‘Shut Up and Let Me Go’.

When the latter song was employed in an iPod ad they changed into a smokin’ in America, Japan and beyond and by the end of last year, they’d shifted 2,000,000 copies of their album, ‘We Started Nothing’, and 4,000,000 singles shocking figures for a new pop act in the age of illegal filesharing. On the way, they also picked up an Ivor Novello award, and a Grammy proposal. Among all that global expansionism, one might’ve predicted them now to have left their roots far behind them. Their first records were put together according to a frugal DIY cultured, whereby they made all of their sound using loops, basic PC technology, an inexpensive guitar, De Martino’s small drum kit and White’s shouty singing. Their comeback single nevertheless, keeps the entire loud, punky disposition of its forefathers. It could also finish up being an era-defining recessionary anthem. Called ‘Hands’, it romps along on a bouncey disco beat, with the right away notable desist, Hands up if you are working too hard! Which should ring home with anybody fighting against the side effects of the recession? We would been touring solidly for 2 years, says White, and the month after next we came out here, sat at a keyboard to draft for the 1st time, and wrote this song.

We were feeling pretty sorry for ourselves. While we might be away, everyone we all know had been feeling the same. I’d be like, how’s my uncle? Oh, he is not well, he has got a problem with him, but he is still working till 10 each night, because his company’s almost gone bust. Everybody appeared to have gone into disintegration, or got downsized. When I first met White and De Martino in Jan ‘08, their ascent was going to begin, and their aspiration was palpable. They’d suffered an ignominious fake start in their pop career, when their prior band, Dear Eskimo, was signed by a big label, and then swiftly dropped again. 2nd time out, they were really clearly prepared to work doubly tough to break thru.

We wanted it, asserts White.We would have liked to see the world, nonetheless it got to the point at which we should’ve stopped.We could’ve, but then someone would say, do you want to play in Jakarta? You know, how could you not go? You could never get the possibility again. Then somebody would say, South America?

The Ting Tings Hands

Alexandra Burke ‘Would Love to Be in Film’

admin — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:38:12 +0000

She has taken over the charts, however it appears that Alexandra Burke still has other ambitions. Chatting to the Sun, the 2008 X Factor winner declared she wishes to star in a film in the future and has been approached with one or two offers here in Great Britain. “right now I am focusing on my music but I’d really like to get into films at some particular point. I like action,” she announced. “Angelina is brilliant. I might kick ass.” the baddies frontman stated that she is in fine condition right now. “I’m now in coaching for the Inca Trail I also used to do kick-boxing with my old tutor which I’d really like to get back into,” Burke added.

The star disclosed earlier on that she intends to celebrate her last top selling single by getting 2 new tattoos. She shot to the pinnacle of the charts with the familiar track Start Without You. In different story, Alexandra Burke defies Simon Cowell. Previous X Factor winner Alexandra Burke has confounded Simon Cowell by ignoring his advice about not getting any more tattoos. The Hallelujah vocalist, who won the show in 2008, was suggested not to brighten her body with any more design. But Alexandra has disclosed that she has zero intention of doing that – and even plans to celebrate her 3rd UK number one single by getting not only one, but 2 new tats.

I can be celebrating with new tattoos on my foot and my stomach, Simon has told me ‘no more tattoos please ‘, but hey, I have never been one to do as I am told, she told Metro. Alexandra has enjoyed a successful solo career following her time on the programme. In the meantime last year’s winner, Joe McElderry, is ready to release his first album at the end of October. The teenager frontman, who revealed recently that he’s gay, will release the single Somebody on October eleven, 2 weeks before the album hits the shelves.

Alexandra Burke Don’t Let Me Start Without You

Top Secrets of Common Sense ~ Part 1

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:25:15 +0000

If you believe you can, you will. If you believe you can’t, you won’t.

No matter what your musical skill level is right now, there are going to be many significant challenges ahead of you. Your attitudes, and the ways you deal with musical challenges, will be single greatest factor in determining how much you will achieve as a musician. If you believe that you can, and will, overcome your greatest challenges, you will find a way, or you will seek help from a teacher, trainer, coach or mentor that will help you through it. If you don’t believe you can achieve, your done, it’s over, because you won’t.

A true story of self-fulfilling prophecy

OK, a short history lesson here might go a long way, so here it is. In early 16th century Mexico, existed a great empire called the “Aztecs”. In fact, it was the most powerful civilization in North America up to the year 1519. It was in that year when the Spanish conquest began. Cortez brought with him about 400 men, and with these soldiers, they defeated virtually the entire Aztec empire. How did Cortez’s men defeat this great empire with only 400 men? Was it with superior weapons or superior military tactics? No! The Aztec emperor (and many of his people) believed in a myth that some day in the future a “god” would return to Mexico to destroy them. When the Spaniards arrived with their strange skin color, beards, clothes and weapons, the Aztecs “knew” they couldn’t win. They believed they could not overcome the power of Cortez’s tiny army because they thought Cortez was the “god” who was returning to destroy them. The Aztec empire was destroyed forever by a false belief (that Cortez was their “god” and that it was impossible and useless to try to defeat him)! There are many other military defeats throughout world history caused by other types of false beliefs. Had the defeated armies and/pr rulers had different beliefs, the history of the world could have turned out to be quite different.

As you see above, the negative results of false beliefs, and not believing in oneself, can be devastating for entire civilizations, so imagine how badly your negative beliefs can hurt your ability to effectively learn your instrument!

Lets find out where your attitude is likely to be

1. Play something on your instrument that you cannot play perfectly yet.
2. Listen critically to your playing.
3. Identify problems and try to define for yourself what they are.
4. What are your mental thought patterns? What is the voice inside your mind telling you?

Lets say what you played above was a scale at high speed. You noticed that not all the notes were played cleanly. Now lets look at two types of thought patterns and attitudes you might have about that:

1. You say to yourself, “These notes are not even, clean and clear….I can’t get it!… This sounds terrible!….I guess I have to try harder….it still doesn’t sound good…I just CAN”T do it!….Maybe I just don’t have what it takes……?”

2. Or you say to yourself, “These notes are not even, clean and clear….I’m going to record myself playing these scales, so I can listen while I am focused only on “listening” and not on “playing”….Where do the worst spots seem to be happening?…..Where are the better notes located?……Hmmm, I notice the problem seems to be occurring when I change from string to string or every time I use my ring finger…..Perhaps, the string changing problem is caused from inefficient right hand motion and maybe the ring finger is causing problems because it’s not working independently from the other fingers…..I’ll ask my teacher about this and he will probably offer specific exercises I can do to strengthen these weak areas. Then I’ll be able to play these scales correctly!….”

The results

Obviously the differences between these two opposite attitudes are huge. More importantly is the difference in “results” one will get from choosing to approach the same problem with opposite thought patterns and attitudes. The first attitude offers only self-doubt, pessimism, a negative self-image and hopelessness. The second offers confidence, self-reliance, hope, optimism, security and the desire to get through the difficulty of mastering this technique. Even though working with a great teacher is the very best way to improve your skills, only your thought patterns, positive attitude, and the way you deal with challenges, will make significant improvement actually happen. It’s that simple!

Why most people fail to ever become musicians.

More than half of people in the United States who begin to play an instrument will quit in less than one year from the time they begin to play. Another significant percentage of people will play occasionally, but will not make much forward progress on their instrument. Why? Well there are many possible factors, but the biggest two reasons are:

1. They took the first attitude mentioned above.

2. They didn’t learn from a great teacher on a long-term basis.

Inaction: The worst possible thing

Inaction (taking “no” action), when action is necessary, is the worst possible thing, I can think of, for all areas in life. For most people, inaction comes easily and naturally. It’s so easy to do “nothing”. It’s so easy to “not” take guitar lessons. It’s so easy to “not” find a better teacher, coach and mentor. Hey, I’m not perfect either, there were plenty of times in my past when I too took the path of least resistance and did nothing when I really needed to. Those decisions to do nothing (or to do little) led me to…..

Regrets

A few years ago, I got tired of living with regrets and made some interesting observations about them. Regret is a poison, a toxic waste that marinates in your soul. What drives our regrets? Most of our regrets in life occurred, not from what we have done (or said or thought), but from we didn’t do. Our failures are not the main cause of regret and unhappiness, it is passing up our opportunities to grow, improve and make things better that hurts us most. Think about it.

What will you do?

I teach a private and correspondence music careers class where I teach, train and coach my students to become professional musicians, music teachers, etc. The very first (and probably most valuable) thing I do as my student’s mentor is ask them this question: “What are you committed to do, RIGHT NOW TODAY, to reach your goals? Even if you are only able to make a small baby step forward, tell me WHAT WILL YOU DO RIGHT NOW?!?! This very moment is the first moment of your future. You create your future by what you do in the present!

So, what will YOU do right now? What thoughts will you allow to fill your mind? Who will you call or email? How will you spend the rest of your day? What action will take right now? What will you do in this “present” moment, which will contribute to your future?

I invite you to sign up for my free newsletter which is filled with valuable guitar instructional resources!

More articles by Tom Hess are available for free here: http://tomhess.net
My email: hess@mc.net

See Tom Hess on the HolyHell world tour in 2006. Tour dates posted here: http://tomhess.net/news.php?rubric=1

Iyaz Ready To Reach The Top Of The Charts With His New Single

admin — Sat, 15 May 2010 05:30:09 +0000

Iyaz, the UK Virgin Islands recording artist whose song ”Replay” hit No. One on Billboard’s pop chart, and Charice, a Filipina vocalist who became preferred thru her YouTube videos and now is Iyaz’s protg, will round out the May twenty-eight strap line B104 Night at Allentown’s Mayfair holiday. Iyaz and Charice Pempengco will join ”Whatcha Say” vocalist Jason Derulo on the Commemorative Day weekend festival’s Cabaret stage in Allentown’s Cedar Beach. Opening the show will be Bethlehem’s Sandlot Heroes. Entry to the show will be free with tickets to Mayfair — $5 every day or $10 for the May 28-31 holiday. Officers for radio station WAEB-FM 104.1, which is sponsoring the show, did not want to confirm the lineup — though there are footage of the artists on the radio station’s site — and asserted it will officially be articulated Monday with an extra part. Derulo co-wrote ”Replay” for Iyaz with pop / reggae / hiphop frontman Sean Kingston, and it ended up knocking Derulo’s largest hit, ”Whatya Say” out of the No.

Iyaz Solo

One spot. ”Replay” spent virtually half a year on the charts. Iyaz’s 2nd single, ”Solo” is at No. 39 this week after two months on the chart. Both songs are anticipated to be on Iyaz’s debut album, ”My Life,” which was prepared to be out this month but now has a June date of release. It is reported to also include contributions from Busta Rhymes, Rick Town and rock rapper Kevin Rudolf — who strap lined B104 Night last year. Charice Pempengco, seventeen, started competing in beginner singing contests at age seven to help her single ma. In 2005, Pempengco appeared on ”Little Massive Star,” an ”American Idol”-type show in the Philippines, and came third. Primarily based on Charice’s YouTube performances, Ellen DeGeneres invited her on her show in 2007. She since has shown up on a number of other shows, and her song ”Pyramid,” featuring Iyaz, was released in Feb . It hit the lower reaches of the Poster advertisement chart. Her self-titled first album is lined up for a May eleven release. Derulo, whose song ”In My Head” is Billboard’s current No. One pop song, was confirmed as the show’s headliner Wed. . Sandlot Heroes’ song ”Out of My Hands” has been played B104. Its current single is ”Believer.”.

Now Is the Best Time to Hire a Property Company if You Want to Make Money on Your House

admin — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:05:06 +0000

With so many things that had occurred in property, the market has paved way for many individuals to take part in investing. Since market values of homes have dropped, folks have great purchasing power to obtain properties in prime locations at a discounted rate. As a consequence, folks who’ve been hankering to speculate in property can now own properties to resell them or even hire them out investing on numerous properties has its own demands. With that in mind, it could be that now is the best time to hire a property company like Simarc.

One being having the ability to manage them all ( particularly when you have entered the rental business ). If you’re a busy person with a daytime job, you may doubtless have a troublesome time handling your investment properties. Or maybe if your properties were found in different areas, it might also be tricky to do the handling. Running a rental property has its own demands also. You want to retort to your renter’s request inside a fair amount time. If you were restricted due to locations or your other work, then it might put you in to bother. Therefore , when you suspect on investing multiple properties, you may as well think about hiring a chief.

But you can’t just hire any person to control this type of business. You’ve got to be in depth in choosing who can do the job for you, since part of their duty involves enormous amounts. Property financiers, who have purchased multiple properties, could have considered hiring property management corporations to be more efficient and effective in handling their property investments.These corporations can handle large range of properties, may it be home, commercial and whatever you have.

Most property management corporations have similar jobs to perform.

Kasabian Set to Rock 2010 Just like They Rocked 2009 with More Festival Gigs and Tours

admin — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:46:34 +0000

British rock act Kasabian are set to play at the 2010 Brit Awards Ceremony. The band look set to have an eventful 2010 as they have already been confirmed as the headline act the Scottish T in the Park Festival.

Kasabian had a fantastic 2009 with their album reaching the top spot in the UK chart and the band playing over 20 sold out arena tour dates. Kasabian aim to follow up this success in 2010 with the release of their next single Vlad The Impaler. The Music video features Mighty Boosh comedy star Noel Fielding.

The last Kasabian album sold over 500,000 copies in the UK and also received very positive reviews from music critics in all the UK music press. Kasabian were also rumored to have former Oasis singer and songwriter Noel Gallagher joining them on a permanent basis as the group’s guitarist. This speculation led to many believing that Noel would also tour with the band, however these rumors were denied by the rock act from Leicester.

Kasabian have long been held in high-regard by many in the music industry and their work on their latest album confirmed the potential that many people thought they had after the release of their first record.

How to Convert ASF Videos to DV AVI

admin — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:46:20 +0000

The cutting edge Need4 Video Converter has the capacity to convert your video clips in the ASF format to DV AVI. This will allow them to be played on your computer, cell phone, mobile devices or video sharing files. It couldnt be faster and simplier to convert ASF videos to DV AVI

The First Step. Launch

First of all you will need a video converter program, such as a Need4 Video Converter.

Download it and follow the steps below.

The Second Step. Add ASF Video To Converter

To add video that you would like to convert, click the +Video button. In the Files of type field, select DV AVI..Select a necessary video file and click Open

The selected file will be added to the list of opened files.

The Third Step. Select Output Format

Open the Profile list and select General Video. In the Presets list opened on the right.Select a necessary output format in the Presets list and click open.

The Fourth Step . Specify Folder to Save Video

Enter the name of the converted video in the Save as field. In the Save to field, highlight the folder where you want to store the converted videos.Specify any additional options that you may need for saving video.Overwrite existing files and check it to replace any existing video files with the same name with brand new ones.Open the output folder. You can then review the folder with a ready file.

The Fifth Step . Select a Video Segment to Convert

If you wish to convert an individual section of your video, click the Edit button next to your video in the list.Drag the left marker to the start of the video episode you want, when opening the window. Then havewith the right marker at the end.

The Sixth Step Hit Convert to Save ASF Video to DV AVI

You can check the added video file in the List of opened files.Hit Convert to convert it to DV AVI.

Need4 Video is always on the cutting edge of the latest innovations in video converter software. Why not check out the range of file formats that we work in, to suit any programmeer?