Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Playing the Bones of the Xylophone

Playing the Bones of the Xylophone
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand]Victor Epand

The xylophone was first created in Indonesia and is a member of the percussion family. The instrument has a set of different sized bars that are made out of wood and are each made to make a particular note when struck. The different bars are struck with wooden, rubber or plastic mallets to make different sounds. This particular percussion instrument has been around for thousands of years. This has been proven by artifacts found from as far back as 2000 BC. Throughout history, there have also been other variations of xylophones made, including ones that were made and used by ancient temples in China.

It must also be noted that xylophones are not always created in a single row of low notes to high notes. There have been xylophones found that have the bars hanging, where the musician will strike the vertical bars with the mallet. Michael Gusikov played a xylophone that had three rows of the bars situated in the shape of a triangle. It would appear that like many other instruments, the xylophone went through a number of changes and modifications over time.

While it is uncertain when exactly the xylophone made it to Europe, it is suggested that it could have arrived there sometime during the 1500s. Though, it wasn't until the early 1800s that people in the west were becoming familiar with the xylophone. Michael Josef Gusikov can be credited with making the instrument known. He had an interest in the instrument and performed with the xylophone around Europe on tours. It was not long before this musician became known for his music and gained some decent recognition for it. In fact, there were other well-known musicians who spoke well of the Michael Gusikov's performances, including Frederic Chopin, who was a fairly well-known pianist.

When most people think about playing an instrument, few will immediately think of the xylophone; instead, many will think about taking up guitar, piano, or saxophone before thinking of playing something like the xylophone. Xylophones are not an overly common instrument in the western world and are forgotten as a result, though this is not to say that no one plays it. Many people play the xylophone because they enjoy the sound and they are aware of the unique and natural sound it has. The xylophone is perhaps best known by the sharp and bright tone the bars have when struck with the mallet, especially the modern xylophones that have been created with resonating tubes placed under the wooden bars to enhance the sound of each note. The frames of the xylophone are made of wood or steal tubing and the more expensive, higher end models have the ability to have their height adjusted to fit the musician.

The higher quality xylophones also have more stability, while the cheaper ones don't have as much stability. Musicians who are serious about playing the xylophone in concerts and other performances will most likely spend more money on the higher quality instruments, while younger students who are simply looking to try it out will go for the cheaper, used xylophones.

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Korean Folk Songs

Korean Folk Songs
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jennie_Gandhi]Jennie Gandhi

The music of Korea is over 1000 years old. Isang Yun - a musician teaching in Berlin included Korean songs in his course which was later brought back to Korea. Like all other strong influences, war definitely had its impact on Korean music. Korean music is mostly influenced by shamanistic and Buddhist thoughts. The dance, drum and the sinawi dance music is clearly evident in folk music.

The Dongbu folk songs are unique in various areas and are typical about the styles. The songs from the Jeolla and chungcheong area are known as Namdo folk songs. They are full of drama and the collections are tasteful. The Pansori and the Sanjo were created out of Namdo music. The music of Jeju from Jeju Island is simple and rich in their compositions. The Pansori is actually a one man show which involves dialogues, enactment, dance and a drummer assists with the rhythm for the singer. The Pansori is done at a stretch for eight hours. It is actually required to make the voice hoarse by shouting, so as to become a Pansori singer. The props include a handkerchief and fan.

A troupe of thirty musicians performs the Nongak. The Sanjo is a tempo based playing which accelerates and moves to a high tempo. The musical instruments of Korea include Kayagum which can be played in the solo style, duet and as a group of three. The instrument has to be placed on the lap with the tail on the ground level. Tanso is the wind instrument and played along with the flute. The original bamboo of Tanso is now replaced by resin. The sound produced is pure melody. Yanggum is made of bamboo and is a string instrument almost as big as a piano. The fourteen keys which is now increased to the count of twenty six keys. Most of the string instruments of Korea in the contemporary folk times are made of silken threads.

There are bowed, plucked and struck varieties in the folk string instruments that encompass the Geum, Bipa, Sohaegeum and Yangguem. There are flutes, horns and oboes and mouth organs and also the jeok, so, Hwa, Dae piri and Nagak in the wind instrument folk variety. There are other chimes, gongs and cymbals of various varieties in the percussion musical instruments. Folk songs are still evident in the villages. Rituals, ceremonies and festivals mark the occasion with traditional Korean folk's songs. Though a evolution is also seen in the making of musical instruments, traditional Korean folk songs bring pure melody.

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The Hollow Sounds of the Tubular Bell

The Hollow Sounds of the Tubular Bell
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand]Victor Epand

The tubular bell is a member of the percussion family, because it is played by striking the tubes with a raw hide or plastic hammer. Also referred to as chimes, the tubular bells are a set of hollow tubes that are held in a vertical position on a rack from shortest to longest. The longer tubes will make lower pitched sounds while the shorter tubes will make higher pitched sounds. The diameter of all the tubes is the same; it is just the length of each tube in the set that differs. Studio chimes, which are a smaller version of the tubular bell set, are often used instead, because they are more affordable.

The history of the tubular bells is quite vague, but the western world appears to have developed them in the latter half of the 19th century. It was apparently a huge success and the person who put them together and patented them won some awards for his instrument. From there, the tubular bells made their way into North America where they were also welcomed.

Today, tubular bells have many different uses, including entertainment and religious purposes. The reason tubular bells are used will often depend on where in the world they are being used, as well as who is using them.

Few will choose the tubular bells as the instrument that they want to play. Part of this could be that it is not often seen as an instrument that fits in well with much of the music that young people are familiar with today. It could also be that the instrument can be a little awkward to carry around. People will often think about the guitar, drums or a wind instrument to play because they are more influenced by the music they hear where these instruments are more prominent. It could also be that many believe the tubular bells are too easy to play, so there is little challenge in it.

People who do choose to play the tubular bells enjoy the sound. Sometimes musicians aren't looking for a challenge; they are looking for something they would enjoy playing and listening to. This instrument can make beautiful music that is attractive to many musicians.

Someone who has an interest in learning how to play this instrument will probably not have too much trouble in finding a teacher, though it could take some searching because this instrument is not as popular as the more familiar instruments. Finding a set to play can take a bit of searching as well. It is possible that tubular bells can be found at a used music store, which might be preferable for most people who are just starting out.

Purchasing new tubular bells can be expensive, which is why it is often suggested to buy a used one. Learning how to play the instrument is not too hard. With practice, someone could easily learn to play the instrument very well in a short period of time. Tubular bells are fairly basic and not too complex.

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The Differences Between A Tuba And Sousaphone

The Differences Between A Tuba And Sousaphone
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand]Victor Epand

The sousaphone is basically a tuba, with the biggest difference being that the instrument will fit around the body of the musician. This makes it easier for someone in a marching band to carry the instrument and focus more on playing it rather than how to hold and balance it properly for a longer period of time. The fact that this particular instrument is most often seen in marching bands has earned it the name, "marching tuba". One might wonder why this instrument is called the sousaphone when it is basically a tuba. The instrument is named after John Sousa, who was a well-known composer and conductor.

The sousaphone is a fairly young instrument, only being created in the late 1900s. John Sousa wanted to replace the helicon with the tuba, but the tuba was too big and awkward to use; the sousaphone developed was the answer to his problem. It was an instrument that gave what he wanted out of the tuba, but also offered the convenience and the ease with its special design. This brass instrument has the same length of tubing as other tubas; the main difference is in its sap so that it easily fits around the musician and the bell is over the head so the sound carries better. Another convenience built into this instrument is the ability to remove the bell when the instrument is put into storage or transported somewhere.

People who are not familiar with their instruments will sometimes mistake the tuba and the sousaphone for being completely different instruments when they are, in fact, the same instrument, just designed differently. Someone who is familiar with playing the tuba or a brass instrument will have little difficulty getting used to the sousaphone. The instrument is not overly difficult for people to learn how to play, even if they are completely new to wind instruments.

One will need to learn how to control their breathing and controlling the pitch through their lips, but many will enjoy the ease of playing the sousaphone that many will miss out on when playing the traditional tuba. This could very well be the reason why more people will consider the sousaphone over the tuba. It is quite easy to integrate the sousaphone as a result. The music will not differ from that of the tuba much, so having the opportunity to play this instrument in school bands is quite possible.

The cost of the sousaphone will vary, depending on the material it is made out of and whether or not it was bought new. It is often recommended that new students purchase a used instrument, or one that is made out of fiberglass before upgrading to a more expensive model. This way, a person is not spending a large sum of money on something that the person will have little use for after they have lost interest in the instrument. Many, however, will remain with this particular instrument because they enjoy playing it, as well as the warm sound it has when played right.

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Ear Training Exercise - Some Basic Things to Learn

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Carolyn_Anderson]Carolyn Anderson

A good ear training exercise is not only an important way in helping you develop a great singing voice but also a great way to help you learn to play musical instruments easily without any guide whatsoever.

Playing instruments by ear is one of the many techniques that many aspiring musicians want to learn as this allows you to play an instrument by just listening to it and without any sheet music or guide.

A good ear training exercise helps you learn and master elements in music such as chords, rhythm, intervals and developing your pitch. Among the exercises that you get to learn to help train your ears to music are interval recognition, pitch recognition, rhythm and chord recognition.

Interval recognition is an ear training exercise that will help you identify intervals or those two-note combinations in a music or melody. Being able to identify those notes in a melody is an important skill that can also help you play instruments by ear. Most often, this exercise involves associating intervals with very familiar songs and even nursery rhymes that you have mastered for years such as associating the Major 2nd interval with the song 'Happy Birthday' or the perfect fifth with the nursery rhyme 'Twinkle, twinkle.'

An ear training exercise may also involve some rhythm recognition practice as this is also important in being able to sing well and play musical instruments by ear. Tapping your hands or feet is often a technique that can aid you in identifying the rhythm of the music. The metronome is also an important device that can help you with the timing. Muscle memory is also an important aspect of mastering rhythm and can be very useful in being able to play a melody by ear.

Another thing that you can learn in ear training is identifying chords. Of course, being able to recognize chords is important to play by ear and to play easily with other musicians as well. It also helps a lot in making your own improvisations, in composing music as well as in improvising.

Of course, playing music by ear or singing nicely in the correct pitch all need time and practice and if you want to do well in either of them, everyday practice is important. Some people who can play musical instruments by ear easily may amaze you but you can actually learn this skill by regular practice and patience.

If you intend to do ear training to hone your singing voice, it is also a great tip to have a training buddy while you practice. This will help you determine if you are singing in tune. It will also help to record your singing while you practice and play it back to help you listen to your voice or have someone else listen to your voice.

Another best way to practice ear training is to get yourself a good tutor. With the convenience of the internet today, you can also find great resources to help you train your ear to help you play music by just listening to it.

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The Music and Life Of The Genius Vivaldi

The Music and Life Of The Genius Vivaldi
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand]Victor Epand

Antonio Lucio Vivaldi was a Baroque music composer, a virtuoso violinist and a Venetian priest. He was born in 1678 in Venice and was taught to play the violin by his father when he was a young boy. When he was in his mid teens, he took an interest in becoming a priest and was ordained at the age of twenty five. He appeared to have a sickness that may very well have been asthma, so he was unable to play wind instruments. This shortness of breath, however, did not prevent him from playing the violin or composing music.

Antonio Vivaldi spent many years playing with his father and eventually took his first position as master of the violin at an orphanage in Venice in 1703. There, he would teach the young boys and girls what he could of playing the violin. Six years after taking this position at the orphanage, he lost the job and spent the following year as a freelance musician. He was then asked to return to the orphanage after the board realized how important it was for them to have Vivaldi there. Following his return to the orphanage, he spent much of his time composing his own music.

In the early 1700s, Antonio Vivaldi began composing music for operas. He had his own style, which was new and relatively unorthodox, that caused him difficulty throughout his career. Some of his work was not to public taste and so was not really accepted, until he was offered the position of Maestro di Cappella by Prince Phillip of Hesse-Darmstadt in 1718. He spent about three years there producing more operas. His musical career continued to improve greatly after this, receiving commissions from nobles and royalty and so on; however this height was not too long lived. After a time, his music was once again not seen as the music of the time and he soon ran into financial difficulties. He eventually had to sell many of his manuscripts in order to make his way back to Vienna. He passed away in 1741.

This particular musician may not have achieved the greatness that such musicians as Mozart and Bach did, but he was successful in breaking away from the traditional music at the time. His music may have been forgotten for a time, but was rediscovered in the early 1900s and is still enjoyed by an audience today. Antonio Vivaldi is seen as the composer who changed baroque in such a way that it became more classical in style and is proof of his innovative ways. In fact, Vivaldi was quite an influence on Bach, who transcribed many of the concertos created by Vivaldi. It is unfortunate that he was not as recognized, but he was more or less the start of the evolution of the period music. Bach continued the change and was more recognized for it as he made a larger splash in the public eye than Vivaldi ever did.

Antonio Vivaldi was more a quiet priest who kept more to himself, especially as a result of his health, but this did not hinder his affect on music. His talent may not have been as appreciated as it should have been during his life, but he is shown more of the recognition he deserves today.

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Buying Good Quality Used Tubas

Buying Good Quality Used Tubas
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand]Victor Epand

For some reason, everyone loves the sound of a tuba, and they also find it to be one of the funniest instruments around. Tubas are also a staple of many marching bands and high school bands. In fact, why don't you try picturing a marching band or high school band without a tuba? It is not easy, and hence that is the importance that the tuba plays in the musical environment of sports and school.

Of course, when your child decides they want to play the tuba, and yes there are some out there, you are going to have to pay out hundreds of dollars for something they may stop using in a few weeks. No parent wants to put pressure on their children to succeed just because they paid a lot of money to get them something they had an interest in only briefly.

What can you do then, instead of buying a new tuba? Well, one of the best options, if not the best option, is to buy used tubas. When you are looking for a used tuba, you can do no better than visiting a pawn shop. However, it needs to be noted that you are actually quite unlikely to find the tuba you are looking for at a pawn shop because it is not exactly one of the most popular types of instruments out there. This means that you could find yourself doing a lot of searching for a tuba in pawn shops around the city, and you could come up with absolutely nothing as a result.

If you are thinking of getting a used tuba but simply can't find one in your city, then your next best option is to look online. Through used musical instrument websites and auction sites like eBay, you may be able to find the tuba you are looking for. You will stay pay much less than you would if you bought a new tuba, but you will pay a bit more than you would at a pawn shop because of shipping costs.

That being said, don't shy away from checking online and it should actually be the first place you check in the case of a tuba. You do not want to pay too much and even a tuba with shipping won't hurt your pocket book that much, so do a search for used tubas on Google and see what you find.

When you are thinking of having your child learn how to play the tuba, you can't go wrong when you find them a used tuba online or in a store. You just need to be persistent and work to find the tuba you are looking for. It may take some time, but you should be able to find what you are looking for online or in a store. Don't get frustrated and keep concentrating on the amount of money you are going to save when you buy a used tuba and find out that your child has a skill playing the tuba.

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